For some reason last year I kept reading about body brushing. First, I read about it in a Deepak Chopra book (you don’t have to say anything. I know.), and then I read about it in a couple other fashion magazines. So, I thought I would give it a try. Now, I’m kind of addicted to it.

Apparently it’s technically a form of “ayurvedic massage” called Garshana. It’s supposed to stimulate the skin and lymphatic system, enhance circulation, and help the body eliminate toxins. Plus, when you do it consistently, I think it gives your skin a nice rosy glow, perfect for an upcoming wedding or event.

The key to body brushing is that you do it dry. I like to brush in the shower every morning before I turn it on (I have a vision of getting my skin flakes all over my bathroom floor which kind of grosses me out). Start with your arms and make sure to get every area on your body, including the bottom of your feet and tush. It’s also great for your legs before shaving.

I’ve had several wooden body brushes, and they’ve all gotten mildewy in the shower. You’re better off buying a bamboo body brush, since bamboo is naturally antibacterial and antifungial. Whole Body sells them, or you can find one online, such as this bamboo bristle brush from Eco Tools.

I got my nails done the day before my wedding. I wanted to go somewhere where they could wash/blow-dry my hair (the wedding hairstylist said my hair shouldn’t be freshly washed for an up-do), and also do a mani/pedi. Since I was in Miami and didn’t know where to go, I just chose a place close to the hotel I was staying at. The blow-dry was great, but their regular manicurist called in sick, so I think they literally called in someone off the street and asked if they could do nails. The manicure was so bad that by the time she got to my feet I told her I had to go. There was no dryer, so the super-thick polish she put on me ended up a smudgy mess. I had so much to do before the wedding that I didn’t have time to get it re-done, and ended up getting married with hilariously bad nails.

Back home in Nashville, I try to go to my trusty mani/pedi place about once a month. While I always get color on my toes, I usually stick with a natural color on my hands because they always end up chipping (or I don’t let them dry enough and they smudge). I went in today, and since I’m going out of town next week I thought it was the perfect excuse to try that new long-lasting gel I keep hearing about. That way, I could also get a fun red color and it would last me throughout my trip. I have to say, I got it done and I’m obsessed now!

I got the OPI Axxium gel (there are several different kinds of gel manicures that are explained really well here). It’s supposed to last two weeks, and basically look like new the entire time. I was in a clothing store a couple weeks ago and the saleswoman ringing me up had amazing nails. I told her how great they looked, and she said they were gel that was now three weeks old. They seriously looked like she just had them done. The only down-side was that you could see where it was growing out near the cuticles, but it didn’t look bad at all (mostly because she was wearing a lighter color).

The process itself was easy, and took about 25 minutes from start to finish and cost $45. As you’ll read in the article above, they have you stick your hands in a UV dryer (just like the one you normally use), for every layer they apply (base, two coats of polish, and a top coat). The most amazing part about it was that my nails were completely dry by the time they finished drying the final layer. And not just “freshly dried,” but more like “you got a manicure YESTERDAY” dry.

I probably won’t get this every time because there’s a bit of a process to get it off that you can’t do at home, but I think it’s perfect if you’re getting married. Not only will you NOT have to worry about your nails drying in time so you can do the other gazillion things you most likely have to do, but they won’t chip (so you can get them done days before). Plus, they’ll probably last you throughout your honeymoon . OPI also has a wide range of colors to choose from. I got “Big Apple Red” today.

I’ll report back on how long it lasts….

UPDATE: They looked perfect for a week, and stayed on for exactly two. Because of the fact that they were red, I could see where they were growing out. It might have lasted longer if I hadn’t been in Florida and gone to the beach a few times. On the 14th day one peeled off, and I somehow managed to cleanly peel all of them off. At least I didn’t have to go back to the manicurist to get them soaked off! All in all, I think they’re great to get a couple days before your wedding, so that way you won’t have to worry about your polish chipping.

NOTE: THIS POST WAS ORIGINALLY POSTED IN JULY, BUT I JUST DID MY OBAGI SKINCARE UPDATE TODAY, SO CHECK IT OUT BELOW!

Since you’ll be photographed more on your wedding day then probably any other day in your life, there are a few things on my personal checklist that are what I call “beauty priorities.” Of course, there’s the day-of beauty that involves your hair/makeup, and to some extent your dress (if you don’t look good in your dress, the other things are kind of moot.). But some things you need to start thinking about months before your big day. You want to make sure you have the Big Three:  A great haircut/color, white teeth, and glowing skin.

It’s less than three months before my wedding, and I’m beginning to tackle the Big Three now. First item on my list was skin. At 31, I’m at the point where I’m starting to notice changes in the way my skin looks compared to the way it did when I was in my 20′s. It’s a little more dull, my pores are bigger, and while I don’t have a whole lot of wrinkles, I do have those pesky forehead lines. As someone who’s visited the dermatologist a lot in my lifetime (I used to have acne…thankfully I don’t have any scars) I knew that was where I needed to start if I wanted to see real results.

Last week I had my first appointment at a local Aesthetics Center located within my dermatologist’s office (since wrinkles aren’t really considered a medical problem, you’ll want to look for an Aesthetics center, or a dermatologist who deals with cosmetic procedures). Now, I’ve been to some very pushy dermatologists who will try to get you to do more radical things like Botox and fillers. I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with those things, but at this point I’m not quite ready to go there yet (the whole idea of paralyzing my muscles freaks me out). But luckily, I met with the nurse practioner within the aesthetics center, and she was so informative, helpful, honest, and not pushy at all.

I told her that I had a wedding in the Fall, and asked her what she thought I should do in order to achieve that glowing, fresh, semi-younger look I was going for. After explaining all my options and their prices, she recommended the following skincare plan for me. If you have the budget (and honestly…I’d rather spend less on other areas and put it into this) and the time, this could work for you as well. Of course, you’ll find out the best option for you if you make an appointment with a cosmetic dermatology center in your area.

First Step: Vitalize Peel

Price: $130

I had this peel done in-office last Friday. It took 20 minutes and was fairly painless, except for some mild stinging and burning which seems intense at moments but is totally manageable. It was performed by the nurse (who is the only person I’ve seen. I believe you only see the doctor if you’re having something like Botox or fillers injected), who told me that I should leave it on for 8 hours, then wash it off. She gave me a gentle cleanser and moisturizer, and said that I would have glowing skin that night, glowing and somewhat “tighter” feeling skin the next night, then on Sunday I would start to peel, at first around my mouth and then it would move outward over the week. And that’s exactly what happened. By Sunday, my skin was feeling super tight. Over the next few days, my skin continued to peel. I was told not to peel it off, so I tried my best not to. However, some of the skin is just dangling there so you kinda have to! The peeling is very similar to the kind you get after a sunburn (thin pieces of skin that seem to come off in one big piece…Sorry, I hope you’re not eating!), and if you can help not going anywhere that week that you would want to wear makeup to, than that’s ideal. (If you’re going to work, I would just tell them you’re peeling from the sun.) I went into the aesthetics center again today for a one week checkup, and my skin has pretty much stopped peeling, minus a few flakes around my hairline. I definitely notice a difference in my skin…my pores are smaller, I have a rosy little flush, and my skin tone is very even.

Second Step: Obagi skincare system

Price: Around $480 plus any discounts offered by the dermatologist (mine was 20% off, so I got the whole system for $385)

The last time I was in there, we discussed what other treatments I should do leading up to the wedding day, and how I could get the most bang for my buck. We decided to do the peel first, to kind of kick-start everything. Next, she recommended using a prescription skincare system called Obagi. I had heard about this system before, but always shied away from it because of the hefty price tag. Yes, it’s definitely not cheap. The complete kit costs around $480 (though check for discounts, a lot of docs offer them) and lasts you around 5 months. If you do the math, that’s a lot of money per month, especially considering that my current skincare routine involves some Neutrogena Deep Clean and Weleda Skin Food moisturizer (which costs $16 in Target). However, I justified it because the nurse, who also uses it, said the majority of her patients use it INSTEAD of other treatments, such as lasers and peels. I’ve also met people who swear by it. So, I’m giving it a shot. I bought the kit today, and the nurse walked me through it.

If you don’t know about the system, it’s pretty extensive and is prescription strength. It contains a Foaming Cleanser, Toner, a 32 SPF, and four “repair” “stimulate” and “maintain” products. Those include a Hydroquinone cream (called Clear) that corrects discoloration and improves skin tone. Another, Exfoderm (called Exfoderm Forte), removes the top layer of skin cells while a prescription Tretinoin (also known as Retin-A) workes to turn over your deepest layer of skin cells. A product called the Blender is made to mix in with the Tretinoin, which is also a Hydroquinone and is supposed to enhance the delivery of the Tretinoin.

During the first two weeks you use the system, you’re supposed to experience some flakiness or breakouts, mostly because of the Tretinoin, which is working to bring everything “out.” Within 6-8 weeks you should see the results.

I start the system tonight, so I’ll let you know how it goes!

Are you planning on starting a skincare regime for your wedding countdown?

UPDATE…

I continued to use the Obagi skincare system until after my wedding. Overall, I would say I was pretty happy with the results. My skin stopped the initial breakouts/flakiness after about 6 weeks of starting the system, and I had clear skin for my wedding. HOWEVER, I did need an additional moisturizer on top of the Obagi system the week leading up to my wedding. I didn’t realize my skin was all that dry until I had my makeup trial a week before the wedding. Since I never wear foundation, I couldn’t really tell that I had some patchy spots, but when the makeup artist put foundation/powder on, they were visible. Keep in mind, though, that my skin was pretty much like this BEFORE I started the system, too, so I don’t think it’s to blame. Anyway, I started moisturizing like crazy. Two days before the wedding I had an “Oxygen Restore” facial at the Fontainebleau in Miami (which was seriously amazing), and it really re-hydrated my skin. The facialist used an awesome Yonka serum on me, and gave me a sample. I used it religiously before AND on the day of my wedding, and I loved it. The makeup artist said my skin was SUPER hydrated when she did my makeup on the day of the wedding, so apparently it worked!

Ladies, you are not *technically* supposed to get a facial so close to your wedding! However, I felt like I needed a little skin pick-me-up, so I decided to get a “calming” one that had no extractions. I also told the facialist that I was getting married in two days so she was aware of what not to do to potentially aggravate my skin. If you decide to get a facial, be sure to let your facialist know when the wedding is!

So, what was my wedding day skin verdict? I would say I felt pretty happy with the way my skin looked at the wedding, and I was glad I had gotten the peel and used the skincare system. My skin wasn’t completely transformed, but it looked healthy, which is all you really want. NOTHING is going to give you baby skin…you just want your skin to look the best it can. I would say mine did.

I got lazy and stopped using the Obagi system after our honeymoon, and I started breaking out! I think this has to do with stopping the Retin-A (Tretinoin). So, I’m using that again and it seems to have subsided. While I still have A LOT of the original system left (except for the toner/cleanser), I found the most useful part of the program to be the Blender (a cream you mix equal parts with the Retin-A), and the Retin-A. Because I don’t have any sun damage or splotchy skin, the Clear cream (which has the Hydroquinone in it) didn’t do a whole lot for me. I think the Exfoderm Forte cream was also useful, but I don’t think it’s as powerful as the Retin-A.

Overall, if you’re willing to pay the money, I would use it. Considering how long the products last and their effectiveness, it’s a worthwhile investment. But for long term, or if you don’t feel like spending that much money on a skincare routine, I think a Retin-A prescription, combined with a serum like the Yonka one I linked to above would suffice.

When you’re in the midst of planning a seating chart, sending out invitations, booking bands or DJs, and basically trying not to freak out, you also have the added pressure of wanting to look amazing on your wedding day. In the months/weeks/days leading up to my wedding–as silly as it might sound–I kept telling myself that on my wedding day, I should essentially look better than I’ve ever looked before, or may ever look in the future. It’s all downhill from there! While that’s hopefully not true, we can all agree that you want to look gorgeous, and you don’t want to spend a thousand dollars to do so.

I am a drugstore junkie. I’m also a Sephora junkie, but in my mind that’s just a really nice drugstore without the Tampon aisle. In my lifetime, I have probably tried every cleanser, moisturizer, lipstick, mascara, blush, hair remover, and shampoo/conditioner on the market. As I’ve gotten older (and more wise with my bank account) I’ve tried to sustain from making my usual $100 drugstore trip every two months…it takes a lot of self-restraint, I tell ya.

95% of the products I’ve purchased over the years have been crap. But 5% have been keepers that I will most likely continue using as long as they make them. Below are my tried-and-true beauty favorites. If you’re on the hunt for some great skincare and makeup products to get you prepped for your wedding day, I highly suggest giving these a try!

Buy it Here

Buy it Here

Maybelline Ultra Brow

Buy it Here

I had some, uh, major eyebrow issues when I was growing up and pretty much throughout college. I got so overzealous with plucking that one day I just decided to pluck them all out and start over. Good idea? I think not. This brush-on brow definer/filler is the best I’ve found…even beating out the Anastasia pencil, which, at three times the price, is great but still not as good as this.

Maybelline SuperStay Lipcolor in Flame

Buy it Here

At one point I thought about going with a very 1940′s glamour look for my wedding, complete with bright red lips and side-parted, loose waves. I decided it would take too much away from the dress/jewelry, but had I gone that route this is the lipstick I would have used. It has lasted entire days/nights on me, and is the perfect shade of red.

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipsstick in Kiss Me Coral

Buy it Here

I think coral looks great with any skintone/hair color. This lipstick is way more subtle on than in the tube, and generally just makes you look pretty and awake. It would be a great color for a spring wedding.

From Sephora

  Make Up For Ever HD Invisible Cover Concealer

Buy it Here

I have searched high and low for an undereye concealer that can cover my dark circles without drying/caking up around my eyes. Out of the 5,100,000 concealers I’ve tried, this is the only one I’ve used that I love.

Nars Blush in Orgasm

Buy it Here

I am obsessed with blush, and this is hands down the best blush on the market. I use it spring/summer/fall/winter, and it always makes me look like I just sprinted down the street. It gives you a great glow that is actually believable.

Nars Concealer

Buy it Here

When I get a zit, this concealer is my best friend. It has great coverage without being too cakey, and it comes in colors that will blend into your skin perfectly.

As someone who has produced photo shoots for major publications, one of the things I’ve learned is how much great hair/makeup artists and photographers should cost. I’ve already written about how photographers get you to pay more,which was something I was shocked to discover. (It still amazes me to see photographers charge the same amount for one wedding as they do for a 5 day shoot!)

The quotes I’ve seen from wedding makeup artists, however, seem to be more in-line with what I’ve seen for shoots. However, while the average, magazine-worthy hair/makeup artist will charge around $500/day for several different looks, it still seems overpriced to pay a potentially less qualified wedding hair/makeup artist $300 for one look.

After going through multiple nationwide quotes from bridal hair and makeup artists, I’ve come up with an average you can expect to pay for a quality hair/makeup artist. Now, I’ve seen a WIDE range of proposed prices…with $300 being the highest quote for a bride’s hair/makeup and $150 being the lowest.  While there are going to be hair or makeup artists that charge way more (or in a rare case, less), these ballpark figures are, in my opinion, what you SHOULD pay for a reputable makeup artist in a major city. Which means if you find someone with higher prices than this, you should attempt to negotiate your way down to this pricing level.

Bridal hair/makeup: $180

Bridesmaid/mother of the bride hair/makeup: $150

Hair or makeup only: $80

*Note, these prices do not include a “trial” hair/makeup run, which can cost anywhere from $50-$150. IMHO, I think $65 for hair/makeup trial is a fair price to be argued for. You can also expect to pay for their travel, which typically runs you $30 depending on location, plus the cost of valet.

Did you hire a hair/makeup artist for your wedding? If so, how much did you pay?