Photography: Jenny Packham
Every bride should feel and look like a queen on their special day, but looking your best on this day is no easy feat. Most brides begin pampering themselves and paying attention to their skin at least six months before they have to step onto the altar — makeup and hairstyle trials, seeing an esthetician and setting up workout or diet regimes. Sounds complicated? From regular maintenance to an unexpected beauty emergency on the big day itself, we have got you covered from head to toe with these simple get-gorgeous DIY beauty tips!
1. Unblemished, glowing skin
Sometimes no matter how well you prepare, that zit may just pop out anytime including your wedding day! We recommend using tea tree oil, lemon juice or honey for a quick remedy. Lemons and raw honey are antibacterial and can help make your blackheads disappear. Apply them on the affected areas and rinse off after 10-15 minutes. They are also great natural moisturisers, so mixing honey or lemon with fruits or coconut oil make good facial masks. Apple cider vinegar can be used as skin toner for greater cleansing effect.
2. Whitened knees and elbows
Our elbows and knees are two of the most neglected parts of our body. We sometimes barely feel our elbows, much less detail a beauty formula for it. To get rid of the dried, dark skin on your elbows and knees, halve a lemon and rub it against your skin to correct dark discoloration. You will be surprised at how quickly it works! If you have scars especially on your knees, honey is said to have a bleaching effect which can help old or new scars fade.
3. Depuffed eyes and lightened circles
Lack of sleep can lead to dark eye circles or puffy eyes. Use cucumber circles which have ascorbic acid to remove water retention and puffy eyes, while antioxidants and silica help to lighten dark eye circles. Apply 2 cucumber slices or 2 cotton pads soaked in cucumber juice on both eyes for 20 minutes for visible improvement. Plenty of beauty sleep, especially closer to your wedding day, is the most important beauty hack you need for beautiful eyes.
4. Gleaming pearly whites
Mash up strawberries with baking soda for a natural whitening toothpaste, and when drinking dark liquids such as coffee, tea or wine, use a straw so stains on your white teeth are kept to a minimal. Tooth whitening strips and kits are also available if you are unable to make a trip to the dentist or need a cost-saving solution.
5. Rosy cheeks and lips
For instant fuller cheeks and lips, suck on an ice cube, which tightens the cells in your cheeks and lips due to the chill. This increases circulation so you can achieve rosy cheeks and lip volume. If you get chapped lips, applying honey or Vaseline can supplement as lip balms, while Vaseline also has the added effect of preventing lipstick stains on your teeth.
6. Hydrated hands and heels
A day at the nail salon will help get rid of dead or dried skin on your hands and feet and hydrate your sexy pins. At home, however, you can use Vaseline for a strong moisturising effect on your heels and use honey as a nail conditioner. A tablespoon of honey and apple cider vinegar each, or coconut oil, applied on your hands for 10 minutes greatly hydrates your nails and cuticles.
7. A well-detoxed body
Acne outbreaks usually reflect what is going on inside of your body, so eliminating toxins lowers the chances of a zit popping up on your wedding day. Try drinking warm lemon water daily, and in the week leading up to the wedding, avoid sugar, salt, caffeine, processed foods and alcohol. Instead, replace these with a healthy diet including nutrient-rich juices. Use fruits and vegetables like bananas, kale, broccoli, carrots, ginger and beetroot.
