How to make your skin glow in time for the weddingANYONE WHO HAS to contend with Scottish weather, with its lashing rain and battering wind, knows all too well the punishment it can inflict on the face. But is it too much to ask that for one day - just one day, dammit! - we can cover up those wrinkles and unsightly blemishes and have teary-eyed guests proclaim that, indeed, 'the bride was radiant'? In a word, maybe...
Crow's feet
We're not all skipping down the aisle as teenagers any more, so this is a concern for many expectant brides. A really good foundation can work wonders, but those looking for a more radical solution to telltale wrinkles may wish to consider a treatment called the oxygenator facial. Beauty manager at Glasgow based hair and beauty salon Saks, Suzanne Drysdale, explains: "Many treatments only work on the skin's surface, which can sometimes produce merely satisfactory results. But the oxygenator actually penetrates the skin and the difference is really extraordinary. You can really see the lines fill out, and the effects last for up to 72 hours." The injection will set you back around £60, with a full course costing in the region of £300. A more affordable option is a top quality cream such as Avon Anew Ultimate Transforming Eye Lift Cream, £9, which has the revitalising vitamin E needed to iron out those lines. Put it on for a good few weeks beforehand, mind. Rome wasn't built in a day.
Spots and acne scarring
Whatever you do, don't put a face mask on the night before the wedding. While it's true that a deep heat mud mask can cleanse the skin and bring spots down, the immediate effect is to bring pimples to the skin's surface. If done two or three days before, there's a better chance your complexion will be smooth as silk by the time the organist strikes up the Wedding March. For those with really stubborn blemishes, an anti-bacterial treatment is probably required. A cream such as Elemis SOS Emergency, £26, is completely natural and aromatherapy-based. It's got a good reputation for taking down redness and inflammation, and will hopefully heal the spots that a concealer just won't cater for.
Dry, scaly or patchy skin
If you're already using a tried and tested moisturiser, it's probably best to stick with it. If, however, the merest breeze blowing in from the coast saps every last drop of moisture from your face, it may be time to contact the professionals. Mulberry House, a complementary health clinic in Edinburgh offers a revolutionary treatment called Medical Microdermabrasion. It sounds complicated, but the results are pure and simple - your skin looks brilliant! The safe, non-surgical treatment involves a highly controlled flow of fine crystals that remove the dead outermost layer of skin. At £85 per treatment, with a six-session course costing £450, it's not cheap. But considering the average wedding nowadays costs £15,000, it seems a small price to pay. The day itself will soon be a beautiful blur, but remember - the photographs are for life.
To tan or not to tan?
Depending on your hair and natural colouring, you may wish to get a little tan for the big day. The ideal solution is to go on a fortnight's luxury holiday in the Bahamas prior to the wedding. Realistically, though, a trip to the local sunbed shop or a self-administrated St Tropez tan is probably more feasible. But as anyone who's endured the horror of a fake-tan-gone-horribly-wrong moment, the pitfalls are all too apparent. The cast iron rule is obvious: a dress rehearsal is essential. Whatever your preferred means of bronzing up, do it a good few weeks or months in advance so you can work out the most suitable product and the correct amount to apply. If you leave things to the last minute, you could well end up with unsightly streaks or obvious markings. Tears will inevitably follow.
Give your ring an attractive setting
Gushing friends and relatives will demand to see the ring, but you want to ensure they gasp in admiration of your beautiful jewellery, not in horror at the state of your hands. A universally accepted treatment for dry or coarse hands is a nightly application of almond or olive oil, while a dipping of the fingertips in milk ensures strong and healthy cuticles. Alternatively, pop down to the nearest beautician for a manicure, and use the milk to make a pre-wedding pina colada for you and the girls instead.
And finally...
The lead up to the big day can often be stressful, and scientific research proves that stress is a big cause of skin complaints and general weariness. Try whatever works for you when it comes to relaxation, whether it be massage, a herbal bath, meditation or a major shopping spree. It's a cliché to say 'it's your day', but it really is, and everyone there will be willing you to enjoy it.
Got a health and beauty question? Get help from other brides-to-be at the SWD Forum... CLICK HERE!
