Bridal Beauty Dos & Don’ts Before The Wedding

This is a sponsored post brought to you by Crest 3D White.

Brides, we get it. You want to look your very best on your big day. And trust us, regardless of whether or not you actually follow the dos and don’ts below, you will.

Because you’ll be smiling from ear to ear and there’s nothing more beautiful than a smile. Audrey Hepburn believed that “happy girls are the prettiest girls”.

Well, we think the same can be said for brides too!

Photo by Depict Photography via Bridal Musings

The following tips are not about making drastic changes to your appearance, after all, your fiancé loves you just the way you are.

They’re just about taking steps to look (and feel) like the very best version of you. Think glossier hair, stronger nails, smoother skin and whiter, brighter teeth.

That’s where Crest 3D White Whitestrips comes in. Whether it’s one month, one week or even just a few hours before you say ‘I Do’, Crest has an option to help you whiten your teeth, safely and effectively and keep them looking pearly white.

Let the countdown to your wedding day begin!

1 Month Before Your Wedding

With one month to go, now’s the time to focus on building upon (or getting started with) daily routines. Theses are the little things you can do every day to make a difference to how you look (and feel) on your big day.

Don’t go on any super restrictive diets or hardcore exercise regimes. You’re going to need to keep your energy levels high for all that last minute prep and planning over the next few weeks. Depriving your body of essential nutrients or pushing it to the limits will wreak havoc with your metabolism, as well as your skin, hair and nails!

Do start a Crest 3D White Whitestrips teeth whitening routine. These innovative little dental strips are used by brides in the know (and a whole host of beauty bloggers) because of their noticeable whitening results – all from the comfort of your own home.

There are a variety of Crest 3D White Whitestrips to choose from, according to the results you’re looking for (and how quickly you need them!), each using the same enamel-safe teeth whitening agent that dentists use.

If you want professional level teeth whitening then Crest 3D White Supreme Flexfit Whitestrips will make a great addition to your bridal beauty prep kit – They whiten as well as a $500 professional treatment*. On a tight wedding budget? Crest 3D White Glamorous White Whitestrips could help you achieve dramatically whiter teeth, without breaking the bank.

*vs. LASER.

Do try meditation and/or yoga. Wedding planning is fun but it can also be very stressful so take a few moments out of your day/week to practice mindfulness, engage in relaxing activities and breathe deeply. (Check out our bridal meditation series for lots of practical tips.)

Photo by Andrea Lee Photography via Bridal Musings

Do book any ‘week before the wedding’ beauty appointments now. Like, right now. You don’t want to be scrabbling around a few days before your big day trying to slot in appointments to see your favourite, trusted therapists who may be fully booked.

Do get your hair trimmed and coloured (if you regularly colour your hair, that is) but don't go for a complete restyle so close to your wedding! If you’re having your hair professionally styled, it will completely throw your hairstylist’s plans from your hair trial out of the window. And, could leave you feeling unlike ‘yourself’ when you walk down the aisle or when you look at your wedding photos years later.

Photo by Dasha Caffrey Photography via Bridal Musings

Do develop/keep up routines for your skin, nails, hair and teeth to have them looking at their most optimal.

Hair: Apply a nourishing hair mask once a week to keep your locks looking luscious. Facial skin: Cleanse, tone, apply serum and moisturise day and night (begin this 3, 6, or even 12 months before your wedding, if you can!)

Body: Body brush everyday to stimulate circulation, then apply body lotion.

Nails: Apply cuticle oil and use hand cream once a day – we think applying it night time, just before you go to sleep, is easiest but anytime you can fit into your daily routine will work just fine.

Teeth: The 3D White collection also includes toothpastes, toothbrushes, rinses and floss that work in combination with Whitestrips to clean, whiten and protect plus provide the benefits expected from Crest and Oral-B

Check out our bridal beauty kit essentials below for some of our favourite pre-wedding pampering products.

1 Week Before Your Wedding

So you're at the “OMG I’m getting married in a week” mark, this is usually the point in your planning when everything starts to feel a bit more real. It’s also the perfect time to have one last beauty blitz! But don’t forget that sometimes “less really is more”.

Don’t have a facial (unless it is part of a series of facials with a trusted therapist/aesthetician who knows your skin and how it reacts to products very well). This is to avoid any potential rashes or breakouts.

Do have a mani/pedi 1-2 days before your wedding. If you opt for a gel mani/pedi this will see you through the honeymoon too!

Photo by Her Lovely Heart via Bridal Musings

Do get your eyebrows (and any other unwanted facial/body hair) threaded, waxed or plucked. Go for a tidy up as opposed to a re-shape and time it according to how fast your hair grows. But ideally, leave at least 24 hours before the big day, so any redness and/or swelling has time to go down.

Don’t worry if you haven’t begun a teeth whitening regime yet, with Crest 3D White there’s still time to perfect your big day smile. Try Professional Effects or Supreme Flexfit Whitestrips to start seeing results after just 3 days!

And why not introduce your finance to these nifty little strips too? After all, two beaming, white smiles are better than one!

Photo by Ashley Ludaescher Photography via Bridal Musings

The Night Before Your Wedding

The excitement is unbearable. There’s just one more sleep to go! Why not use this evening to really pamper yourself?

Don't pluck your eyebrows. Just don’t. It will only end in disaster.

Do be gentle with your skin – this is not the time for harsh exfoliants or intensive masks that could potentially break you out in a rash, or cause redness/irritation.

Don’t apply fake tan. If you want a faux glow on your big day, do this at least two days before so that you have time to exfoliate away any patchy areas.

Do run a bath, light a scented candle or two and completely switch off for half an hour or so. Get lost in a book or your own thoughts (but strictly no wed-min allowed!).

Photo by Courtney Stockton Photography via Bridal Musings

Do give your teeth a thorough clean using a whitening toothpaste – we recommend Crest 3D White Brilliance toothpaste to ensure you wake up with the sparkliest smile possible on your big day.

And, if you haven’t had time to focus on your smile yet, we recommend using the Crest 3D White 1 Hour Express strips. This quick, easy whitening option could be a great last minute confidence boost! For best results, use the full kit.

Do follow your hair stylist’s advice to a T. Depending on your chosen bridal hairstyle, you’ll be instructed to wash your hair the day/night before or on the morning of your wedding. Often for updos and styles that require a lot of texture, hairstylists prefer to work with day old hair because squeaky clean, just washed hair doesn’t have the same grip.

Most important of all…

Do try your best to relax. There’s no point worrying about anything now, it’s all in hand, just focus on getting a good night’s sleep so you can wake up feeling refreshed and excited. Tomorrow you’ll be marrying your beloved, surrounded by your favourite people, and probably smiling more than you ever have in your life!

All that’s left to do is dream about your special day.