BUT…

Make sure you test the facial scrub months or weeks before your wedding day. You don’t want to use it a couple of days out from your special day, only to emerge as the Creature from the Blotch Lagoon!!!

If you have sensitive skin, an aversion to over-the-counter products, or you simply like to know what you’re putting on your body, here’s a home made facial scrub that you’ll love, and which will cover you for about ten applications…

Wedding Rose Facial Scrub

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons ground almonds
3 tablespoons oatmeal
3 tablespoons powdered milk
2 tablespoons powdered rose petals

Method:

1. Place the ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
2. Store in a sealed jar.

To use the facial scrub:

1.  Mix 1 tablespoon of the scrub with a little almond oil.
2. Dampen your face.
3. Gently rub the facial scrub onto your skin in a circular motion. Avoid the delicate skin around your eyes.
4. Splash your face with warm water to rinse the scrub completely from your face.
5. Gently pat your skin dry with a soft towel.

“There is no such thing as an ugly woman – only a lazy one”

What highly enlightened individual said that? I believe it was a make-over specialist for the stars. And there are no truer words spoken! And every single woman has the potential to be even more beautiful with a little help…

If you’re not comfortable with your complexion, then don’t despair – apply a sheen of foundation, or get a little fresh air and the teeniest bit of sunshine. You can try some Witch Hazel to clear skin of blemishes and blackheads.

If your waistline is hanging over your jeans and that makes you depressed, then take up walking or some other exercise. One woman bought one of those mini tramps and every evening bounced around on it while she watched her favourite TV shows. A month later she had trimmed her waistline, toned her legs and lost a goodly amount of weight. Not only that, she seemed to glow with vitality and was fit enough to climb the Storey Bridge with her workmates… and fit into the wedding gown of her dreams!

If your hair frizzes like a wild thing with its finger in a live electrical socket, and you’re embarassed about it, then maybe it’s time to visit the hairdresser for a trim. Take some time out to make a DIY hair conditioning treatment at home to further nourish your flowing mane.

If people cringe everytime you flash your nails, then sit down and manicure until you’re ready to apply for a job as a hand model.

If your breasts aren’t as perky as you’d like them to be and you hunch your shoulders hoping no one will notice, then use a push-up bra or wear something that you feel won’t highlight them. (Personally, I haven’t had ‘perky breasts’ since I was a teenager – and who cares???)

If the hair on your legs or under your arms has become a bidding zone for a logging corporation then shave, or wax, or use a delap cream next time you shower or bath.

If your skin is drying and you’re beginning to feel like a dinosaur, cut out the fizzy drinks (they can be dehydrating) and up your water intake – either as pure H2O or in the form of water-rich fruit (avoid juices – they can be fattening and give you an energy spike that leaves you feeling drained later as the pancreas over reacts to balance the sugar boost).

If the blackheads on your nose are starting to look like intergalatic black holes, then wet a face-washer and gently circle it on your skin. Alternatively, try an exfoliant scrub.

Just a little effort can make a big difference!

• Eyes can be accentuated with eye shadow – and even a bridal bouquet could match a brilliant eye cololour.
• Delicate arms and wrists could be shown off with a bracelet.
• Beautiful skin may not need much make-up at all.
• Exquisite lips can be defined wih a lip liner.
• A glorious mane of hair could be left free with just a few flowers pinned here and there.
• An attractive bust line can be accentuated with a plunging neckline (not too plunging!), or lead the eye with a long pendant.
• Lovely hands shouldn’t be hidden behind gloves.
• Gorgeous legs may invite a shorter bridal gown, or a tighter gown with a split either in back or the side.
• Entrancing shoulders may like the open air in an off-the-shoulder styled dress.
• Delicate ears don’t need to be overshadowed by long dangling or heavy earrings.
• A tiny waist could be accentuated by a large ribbon pulling into a bow at the back.

Work out what you like most about you – and do your best to show it off on your wedding day.

The choice of gloves in this picture are perfect. They are sheer, simple and elegant. You’ll notice too that the hairstyle, veil and dress too are sheer, simple and elegant.

The era is almost 40′s – simple and practical with no unnecessary accessories (bling), yet elegant and feminine.

The simpleness of the ‘outfit’ draws the eye to the hair acessory (the only ‘bling’ present) which frames the face… thus leading to it.

Perfect!

Step One:
Use a non-acetone nail polish remover to get rid of any lingering nail polish.

Step Two:
Use an emory board (not a hard metal nail file) to file your nails into shape. Don’t run the emory board backwards and forwards at a furious rate, you’ll over splinter the nail fibres. File gently one way from one corner of the nail to the centre, and then the other way from the other corner towards the centre. ie. file towards the centre of the nail.

Step Three:
Fill a small bowl with warm soapy water and allow your hands to soak for about a minute. You’ll probably feel like soaking for the next five minutes because it’s a very relaxing experience – but remember your fingers will shrivel up like prunes.

Step Four:
Pat dry your hands and fingers with a clean towel.

Step Five:
Use a good quality hand cream to massage your nails, fingers and hands. Take your time with this and enjoy the experience, and the trick is to not use too much cream.

Step Six:
If your cuticles are messy, push them back gently with a cotton bud or cuticle stick.

Step Seven:
Wipe your hands, fingers and nails with a damp towel and dry.

Step Eight:
Apply your favourite nail polish…

… and voila! Your nails will look lovely and you can show off your Engagement Ring or Wedding Ring with much flair.

If you don’t like wearing nail polish, you could always buff your nails. Get yourself a nail buff (usually under $10) and use the roughened section to ‘sand’ off any ridges in your nails. Then buff them to a glossy finish. This natural look shouts cleaniless and health.

1. Don’t attempt anything too different from your usual style… you don’t want your future husband / partner wondering who the hell they walked down the aisle with!
2. Don’t get a ‘permanent’ styling the day before your wedding.I’m sure you’ve heard the horror stories…

   A friend of my sister-in-law cried many tears the day before her wedding when she got a perm, which turned out to be a total disaster. Does the term a ‘poodle with rabies’ give you any idea of how bad it was? She ended up having to wear a french braid on her wedding day. This upset her all the more as she is very self-conscious of her ears and was hoping to keep them hidden under a mass of curls.

   Then of course there’s the stories of colour that simply didn’t take – the blonde that turned a silvery pink, the red that stained a forehead and one ear, and so on… Maybe some that you’ve heard are urban legends, but it’s my guess that most are true.

3. If you’re getting a permanent styling, whether it be colour, cut or curl, do it about a week out. 

   This gives you plenty of time to go to Plan B if something disastrous does take place. Obviously don’t go too much further out than that time frame, because if your hair grows quickly you might be sporting a monaro stripe by your wedding day with new growth after colouring!

4. Organise a practice run on how you’ll wear your hair.Once again, do this a week out from your wedding day.

   And so very importantly, make sure the person who practices on your hair (hopefully successfully!) is the same person who will do your hair on your wedding day. Be very firm on this. There is nothing so disappointing as arriving at the hairdressers only to find the person who made your hair look amazing a week ago, isn’t working that day, or is booked by someone else. You’d be amazed at how many different ways someone can misinterpret your hairstyle request!!!

5. Match your hairstyle with your dressThis is an obvious point, but one so often overlooked: 20′s style dress matches well with a bob, ‘antique’ matches height with lots of tendrils and flowers, a free flowing dress works perfectly with the natural look of long, unpinned hair, and so on…