Beauty Blunders
CATEGORIES Fashion + Beauty
June 17, 2013
Words by
Photos courtesy of
Problem 1: “It Came Planet Zanar” Zit
Solution: Yesterday, you were all clear, today, you are full of fear: a prominent red pimple is sitting smack dab on the middle of your nose. Do not: pick or exfoliate with a gritty scrub – this increases irritation – also an oozing crater is harder to hide than a little red bump.
Solution: The best eye cream for dark circles is Teamine Eye Complex by Revisions. Teamine’s blend of ingredients normalizes microcirculation and strengthens capillaries which is partly responsible for the darkened appearance of the under eye skin. Patients often see and feel an improvement after two weeks of use, but four to eight weeks gives optimal results. Use a small amount around and under the eye twice a day. My wedding day coverage beauty rule is to use a concealer one shade lighter than your skin tone on under-eye circles and the inner corner of the eye.
Solution: Puffy eyes are a by-product of late nights, too many Cosmos and insomnia, all part of the wedding countdown. Quick rules to remember: salty foods make you swell, but by increasing your water intake, as well as daily doses of vitamin C and B complex (natural diuretics) you will flush the excess water right out. Emergen-C packets are sold in health store, such as GNC or Trader Joes and can be tucked in your purse for a quick energy boost. For a day of quick fix run an ice cube wrapped in a baggie around the eye to quickly reduce redness and swelling. Drink lots of green tea. Hydrate well to improve smoothness and use a one shade lighter concealer.
Solution: Stubborn lines between your brows can make you look tired or upset when you should be the picture of glowing health on your big day. Take the elevator instead of the stairs with Botox. Botox cosmetic properly injected can temporarily smooth those moderate to severe frown lines between your brows with no surgery and no recovery time. An improvement can be seen within days, lasting for up to 4 months. Depending on your physiognomy, bruising can occur, so lay off the aspirin and vitamin C a week before you go. Optimum advance time to get Botox is one month in advance to allow any minor bruising to heal completely.
Problem 5: Sun Damage/Age Spots
Solution: Intense Pulsed Light, Fotofacial and IPL are all common names for one of the most popular skin rejuvenation procedures. IPL is a non-laser, precision light generator which minimizes skin discolorations associated with accumulated sun damage, age spots and acne spots on the face, chest, hands and arms, that will be illuminated further by your white dress. Red blemishes, broken capillaries, brown spots from sun damage can be dramatically improved with IPL. This procedure takes about 30 minutes to 1 hour and can involve up to a weeks recovery time. To completely rejuvenate your skin 3- 6 treatments is optimal depending on age, sun exposure and genetics. I have seen this procedure make red and weathered complexions faces regain a completely refreshed look (up to 10 years younger!). You glow girl!
Problem 6: Facial Folds
Solution: As we age, our face changes. Over time skins youthful volume begins to deflate like a balloon, and wrinkles and folds form. Don’t take any of this lying down; there is much you can do! Dermal fillers such as Restylane and Juvederm are proven to give long-lasting correction of moderate-to-severe facial wrinkles as well as augmentation for the lips. Because Hyaluronic Acid occurs naturally in the body, it dissolves naturally with time and requires no allergy testing prior to treatment and can last up to six months. Ask for referrals, go on the message boards, the medical boards and word of mouth: we’ve all seen the good, bad and the ugly. Training and expertise are paramount, so make sure your practitioners Google well. The upside? It’s amazing how a little plumping in the cheeks and lips can give us back that yummy girly look.
Problem 7 : Face and Eyes Need a Lift
Solution: Think about having a Thermalift treatment, aka non-surgical face-lift. The main skin protein, collagen, is a building block that supports the structure and youthful appearance of the skin. Over the years, collagen becomes depleted or damaged by the sun and other environmental factors. The results are visible signs of aging, such as loose skin and wrinkles.
The ThermaLift procedure is an advanced way of tightening skin that requires only the touch of a sophisticated treatment tip to your skin. It works by delivering radio-frequency energy through the device’s tip to the deeper layer of the skin stimulating the formation of new collagen, thus improving skin tone and elasticity, and slowing the aging process. ThermaLift has been approved by the FDA and requires no incisions or recovery time. It works wonders for the baggy skin around the upper and lower eyelids. It is best done a few months before your wedding to contour and tighten your face so you looked rejuvenated.
Solution: Cellulite begone! Enter: Endermologie®, an exciting new treatment that has been approved by the FDA for its ability to reduce the appearance of cellulite. Endermologie’s patented technique uses rollers and gentle suctioning to deeply massage affected areas. Studies have shown that circulation is increased, collagen function is restored, toxins and abnormal water buildup are expelled as the connective fibers are stretched. The result is a smoother body contour. Repeated treatments are necessary and will be prescribed in a series of sessions to ensure the best results. To strap it all in, try Assets: sold at Target or Spanx sold at Nordstrom’s for comfortable cute body shapers that squeeze and smooth the areas that need a little convincing. They come in all shapes and styles from a strapless full slip to a full body shaper.
