Wedding Countdown : My Beauty Prep
It’s almost here! In just two weeks Marc and I will finally say I Do in front of family and friends in Mexico. I can’t believe how quickly the time has flown by, but we can’t wait to get this party started.
Over the last several weeks I’ve been sharing many of our wedding elements from the story of how we met to possible rehearsal dinner outfits. I’ve saved this post for the second-to-last because it has truly been a work in progress.
Once the New Year hit I started to get serious about my own personal wedding preparation, from a new workout routine to having regular facials and getting my skin in shape for the Big Day.
This is a breakdown of my basic beauty routine over the last four-plus months. It’s been a lot of fun planning everything out and really taking the time for some self-care, even if it was just focused on the outer self!
WORKOUT ROUTINE
I have always worked out semi-regularly but always on my own and always rather aimlessly. So, I thought I would hire a personal trainer to help me get ready for my wedding, but financially I couldn’t swing it right now.
Then I found out about Kayla Itsine’s BBG (Bikini Body Guide) as it spread like wildfire through social media. It seemed everyone was using it and achieving great results. I downloaded the Sweat app, paid for the entire year, and got to work.
I. Love. It.
The workouts are all laid out for you by the week and come with easy how-to descriptions of each exercise. The best part? The workouts are all around 30 minutes long, so it was almost always easy to make the time.
After about four weeks I started to really notice a difference in my body tone, and now 18 weeks in I feel stronger and leaner. I haven’t changed sizes at all, but I am definitely in better shape.
FACE CARE
I’ve been obsessed with Hawaiian skincare products for years now, but I still rarely made time to get regular facials. I think it’s because I didn’t want to spend the money. But over the last few months I budgeted it into the wedding costs and started getting regular facials.
I went to SkinSpoke in the West Village based on the reference of a friend of mine who has amazing skin. I worked with Carol and she was wonderful. My first facial was complimentary but I paid for every service after that.
In total I had four facials since the beginning of the year, each about 4-6 weeks apart. I noticed a difference immediately. My skin was softer and had a bit of a glow.
I had always battled redness and bumps around my nose which I thought was acne. Turns out it was due to excessive dryness. Carol told me to start moisturizing the area and it has gradually improved.
We scheduled the final facial about two weeks before we leave for Mexico to give my skin time to settle down. Facials do amazing things for your skin but the first few days immediately after can be rough. But it’s worth it.
My skin is by no means perfect after four months of intense care, but it is clearer and brighter, and I will definitely continue to make time for regular facials after the wedding.
SKIN CARE
Once I had my face taken care of I got to work on the rest of my skin. I’ve always moisturized daily but I wanted a deeper hydration. Enter Malie Organics, pronounced mah-lee-ay.
Malie is a small, family-run brand from Hawaii. They reached out to me and sent a variety of complimentary products. But after using up a few I quickly ordered more myself! The scent is amazing—noticeable but still light and not overpowering.
My favorite product has been the Mango Butter Bun. You rub it onto your skin while still in the shower. I add a little moisturizer after drying off, but the Butter Bun works to soften and hydrate the skin.
I will also add a little body oil to my moisturizer and it leaves a subtle fragrance and also makes my skin glow. I will be bringing all of these products to Mexico for sure.
HAIR CARE
I haven’t gone too crazy when it comes to my hair care. I’ve been trying to grow it out for about ten years now, but it’s always a struggle. I typically get it cut two-three times per year and used to have it highlighted twice each year.
But because it has been so difficult to grow I stopped highlighting almost three years ago and have just let it go to my natural color. As a result, it has been so much healthier but also much darker, and I want a lighter look for the wedding.
So, I got my regular trim about four weeks before the wedding, and today I’m finally getting a few fresh highlights. I’m going to keep it very simple and just lighten up the area around my face, but I can’t wait!
It’s perfect for a beach vacation when you don’t want to be weighed down by eyeliner and mascara, which is why I’ll be seeing Angela again right before we leave for the wedding.
So, there you have it! Just a simple little beauty maintenance plan to prepare for the Big Day (eye roll!). Oh, the things we ladies go through! But, it’s all worth it.
Now I can get married!
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