Pre-wedding bridal beauty by Tara King

While most brides will give quite a lot of thought to their beauty-routine for the big day itself, its important to realise that your beauty-routine in the weeks leading up the wedding is just as important.

Nothing plays more havoc with skin, hair and nails than stress, and as every former bride will testify, planning a wedding is a primary stress inducer! From bright clear skin and shiny hair to longer lashes and whiter teeth, its all achievable without the expense! Here are a few tips and tricks to help you look your absolute bridal-best on your big day! Just remember, you have to repeat these treatments regularly in order to attain the best results possible!

Longer thicker lashes

Coating lashes with olive oil or castor oil is a well-known    remedy for helping them grow longer and thicker. For best  results, apply the oil to the lashes every night or every  morning for at least two weeks. To do this you can use a  disposable mascara wand, or if you prefer, take an old mascara wand and clean it thoroughly with eye make up remover.

Not only will your lashes look more voluminous, they will also hold a curl far longer after mascara has been applied. Castor oil and olive oil are also effective for thickening brows.

Soft Hair

Using a small bowl, mash one avocado before adding one egg yolk and one teaspoon of olive oil. Fold in the ingredients until a smooth paste is formed. Apply the mixture to your hair and allow it to remain in place for 30 to 60 minutes. Afterwards, shampoo as usual. When your hair is dry, you should immediately notice the softness.

An end to dark circles

Ÿ        TIP 1 – If you’re plagued by dark under-eye circles, simply dab on some almond oil underneath the eyes twice a day. Allow it to sit for 15 minutes before rinsing away with water.

Ÿ        TIP 2 – Another method is to blend half a cucumber with one tomato. Next, add in four drops of vitamin E oil. Place the mixture around the eyes, sit back and allow it to soak in for 10 to 15 minutes. Afterwards, rinse your face and moisturise.

Shiny hair

Using a small spray bottle filled with milk, spritz it all over dry hair and allow it to sit for 20 minutes. You can dampen your hair before applying the milk if you wish, however if you have frizzy hair, it is best to spritz it over your hair when it’s dry. Comb the milk through and then shampoo and condition as usual. You should find that your hair is shiny and straight. The more you carry out this remedy, the better the results. Massaging milk into the scalp is another great method for achieving soft and glossy hair. Just make sure you shampoo and rinse with cool water afterwards.

Firmer Skin

TIP 1 – Dabbing Vaseline in the delicate area underneath your eyes is a popular method for preventing those dreaded crow’s feet from appearing.

TIP 2 – To lessen the appearance of fine lines, apply some egg white below the eyes. Once it dries, wash it off with cold water. Do this every day and you should experience noticeable results within a month.

Ÿ        TIP 3 – Before you head off to bed at night, dab some unscented castor oil around your eyes to keep the skin smooth and fine lines at bay.

Ÿ        TIP 4 – Fight blemishes by washing your face with potato juice on a daily basis. Rinse with cold water afterwards. Potato juice is also a wonderful fighter of ageing. Washing your face daily with the juice should discourage wrinkles and fine lines

Smoking

If you’re pre-wedding health kick involves giving up smoking, then try the following crave-curbing tip! Every time you feel the need to light up, simply lick a little salt with the tip of your tongue. Apparently this will help you break your habit within weeks. Once you give up the cigarettes, you can look forward to enjoying greatly improved health, more energy and healthier looking skin, hair and nails!

Soft Skin

TIP 1 - Applying honey to the face and skin is one of the best ways to improve its overall condition. Just let it sit for 10-15 minutes before rinsing off with cool water and patting dry. Repeat this regularly for best results.

Ÿ        TIP 2 – If you want full-body radiance, then add some milk to your bathwater (use anything from four cups to a full litre carton or more if you wish). To reap the full benefits of the milk, don’t use any bath or shower gels. Soak in the bath for half an hour to an hour. Your skin should look healthy and feel smooth when dry. For the best effects, try to soak in a milk bath at least once a week. Remember, this was Cleopatra’s favourite trick and her skin was famously beautiful!

Ÿ        TIP 3 – If you want to achieve a clean, soft and youthful appearance, mash up a cup full of watermelon pulp and apply it to your face and neck, then simply rinse after 15 minutes.

Ÿ        TIP 4 Next time you’re running a bath, add in a small amount of baby oil (preferably containing aloe vera). This will leave your skin feeling smooth and beautifully fragrant. It will also add a touch of shine without leaving your skin looking greasy.

Ÿ

TIP 5 – Dip a cotton wool ball in milk and apply it to the face. Try to apply at least two tablespoons of milk. Allow it to remain for 30 minutes before washing it off with water. It might be hard to believe, but this simple trick alone will help improve your skin quality as well as leave it soft and smooth. For best results, use frequently.

Younger looking skin

Ÿ        TIP 1 – The best ingredient for youthful skin is Co-enzyme-Q-10. Anti-ageing creams often boast about their levels of Co-Q-10 however I would suggest that you instead pay a visit to a health food shop and buy Co-Q-10 supplements. As well as upping your energy levels and greatly improving the health of your heart, the supplements will also help you attain healthy looking skin. In addition to the supplements, it’s a good idea to fill your diet with foods rich in Co-Q-10.

Ÿ        TIP 2 – Massaging coconut oil into dull-looking skin is one of the best-known ways to give it a refreshing kick. It also removes dryness and leaves it smooth with a healthy-looking shine. Applying it to the skin strengthens its elasticity and restores that youthful appearance when used regularly. What’s more, it also gradually removes blemishes and spots when used daily!

Ÿ        TIP 3 – For soft skin and an anti-wrinkle mask all in one, mash a banana into a thick, creamy paste before applying it to your face for 20 minutes. For best results, make this part of your daily routine.

Ÿ        Tip 4 – When black tea is applied to the skin, its strong antioxidants, along with its supply of vitamins E and C, will effectively help battle against premature ageing. Soak a cotton wool ball in some warm or cooled black tea and dab it onto your face. Be warned though, it will stain your skin, however in order for it to work, you can’t rinse it off immediately. The best time to carry out this treatment is just before you go to bed. This will allow the tea sufficient time to work on your skin while you sleep.

Dry skin

Boil a cup of milk, then allow it to sit for about 10 minutes, after which time you should notice a thick, creamy skin forming on top of the boiled milk. This is milk cream and works wonders when applied to areas of dry skin, in particular elbows and knees. Allow it to sit for 15 minutes, then rinse afterwards with water.

Whiter teeth

Ÿ        TIP 1 – Baking soda is one of the good old-fashioned means of whitening teeth. It can be found in most households and is very safe to use. The powder can be used alone on a damp toothbrush, although people often prefer to mix it with toothpaste so as to reduce the salty flavour of the baking soda.

Ÿ        TIP 2 – Believe it or not but strawberries contain natural teeth-whitening components! Their seeds are wonderful for cleaning, but since they also contain sugar and acids, it’s pivotal that you brush your teeth immediately afterwards with a fluoride toothpaste. To use this remedy, either rub the strawberry against your teeth, or mash it up until it’s quite pasty in texture and apply it with your toothbrush. Don’t brush too hard, however, as doing so may cause the seeds to damage your gums and teeth.

Banishing blackheads

To help get rid of blackheads, mix together equal amounts of baking soda and water (make enough to cover the affected areas). Using the tips of your fingers, rub it gently onto your skin for three to five minutes. Afterwards, lightly exfoliate the skin with a loofah for one minute before rinsing with warm water.

Puffy eyes

To cure puffy eyes, the usual solution is to place a slice of cucumber over each lid, however if you don’t eat cucumber, it’s such a waste to buy it for this purpose only. Instead, you can eliminate both the puffiness and the lines around the eyes with the help of a potato. Grate a raw potato, cram the mushy mixture together, and mould it into the general shape of your eye. Place the mixture over your eyelids and let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes. A faster method is to simply slice a potato and place a slice over each eye. The starch in the potato will smooth the delicate skin around the eye area as well as reduce puffiness.

Shiny Nails

Try soaking your nails in lemon juice. Not only will the juice eliminate all stains, but if you buff your cuticles immediately afterwards, it will leave them shiny and healthy looking. Just make sure you moisturise them well afterwards, otherwise the lemon may leave them slightly dried out.

Plumper Lips

For subtle bee-stung lips, dab them regularly with some peppermint oil.