Need to look your best for a big
event? Let me show you how to get ready in one month, one week, or one day!
Is there anything more exciting than
an event you’re looking forward to? Whether it’s a school reunion, wedding,
birthday party, or anniversary, it’s always fun to have something to get
excited about! Of course, events can also bring stress, particularly regarding
your beauty habits. To help keep the occasion joyous, I’ve created this no-fuss
guide to help you prepare for a big event.
Get
ready to look your best – one month in advance:
Figure out your skin type. It’s
easier than you think; just wash your face with a cleanser intended for normal
skin, rinse well, and pat dry. Wait about an hour and then evaluate
your skin. Does it feel tight, flaky, or ashy? That means you have dry skin. If
your entire face feels as though you should blot it with a tissue, it means
your skin is oily. If your forehead and nose is slightly oily, you may have
combination skin. And if none of the above applies, you have normal skin!
Repeat this test at the beginning of each season to see if your skincare needs
change with the weather.
Start planning your hair, makeup,
and wardrobe for your event. It’s better to work these out ahead of time. You
can try them without the added pressure of an event right around the corner!
Try drinking hot tea. Its
antioxidant properties will help your skin look radiant with repeated use, and
as part of an overall de-stressing ritual, tea will help you remain calm and
focused before your big event.
You’re
already looking good – one to two weeks in advance:
See your hair stylist and get a
trim. This will remove any tired ends but still maintain length – and by doing
it 1-2 weeks in advance, you give the style a chance to “soften” a bit before
your big event.
Deeply cleanse your face with a
facial and pluck, wax or thread your eyebrows, if desired.
Try to avoid putting this off until right before the event just in case your
skin gets irritated!
Consider a self-tanning regimen.
This is optional of course, but if you’re just not comfortable without a little
bit of a tan, you should start this now! Remember the golden rules of
self-tanner: Exfoliate the skin the evening (and shave or wax if desired)
before you self-tan, moisturize thicker skin areas such as knees and elbows,
and moisturize regularly. Watch my video for helpful self-tanning tips.
Focus on teeth whitening. If you’re
going to do an at-home kit, consult your dentist first.
Time
to get busy – 48 hours in advance:
Exfoliate your body from head to toe
with an at-home body treatment. Try a body buffing scrub or low-cost salt
scrub. Make sure you scrub vigorously but don’t be so enthusiastic that you
pull and scratch your delicate skin.
Get a manicure. Doing this just 1-2
days in advance is ideal; you avoid regrowth, don’t have to worry about
smudging wet nails and you probably won’t have time to chip that polish! You
don’t have to go to a salon for great-looking nails… you can do it yourself.
Go to bed on time. Getting beauty
rest is essential to help you look calm and refreshed the day of a big event! My top tip if you’re
staring at the ceiling, worrying at 2am? Pull out a pad and pencil and write a
to do list to tackle those issues another time.
Shine
like a star – you’re looking your best! Day or night of event:
Fix last-minute breakouts with a
quick ice pack before applying make-up. Ice will help reduce blemishes by
reducing swelling. Try to be gentle with your skin to avoid irritation.
Calm puffy eyes with cool teabags.
Simply pop two used teabags in the fridge for half an hour or more, then lie
down and apply them to your closed eyes for about ten minutes. Expert tip: if
you have a very light complexion then avoid black tea, as you could end up
temporarily staining your skin!
Stick with what you know! It might
be tempting, but the night or morning of a big event, don’t try a product
you’ve never used before. This is doubly true of “active” products (serums,
anti-blemish creams, etc.) – you don’t want your skin to have a negative
reaction and leave you scrambling to fix it! And let me add to the list of
things to not try the day or night of a big event: eyebrow waxing/plucking,
facials with extractions, and dyeing your hair. If you haven’t done it by now,
just embrace it and rock your natural beauty.
Stay hydrated. It’s easy to get
caught up in the excitement of an event, but remember to drink enough water.
Hydration is key to beautiful skin and will keep you looking refreshed and
radiant all day!
