Indian Brides

Every little girl dreams of shinning like a star, dazzling everyone with her breathtaking beauty on her wedding day and anticipates being the most beautiful bride.

Healthy internal radiance is regarded by Ayurveda as the true definition of beauty. The skin is seen as the mirror of inner health. The external body is simply the manifestation of everything that happens inside, including our emotions. Physical Beauty is the perfection of what is visually perceived.

Apart from keeping a check on your weight via a healthy diet, yoga and proper exercise, exfoliate your entire body regularly by using exfoliating shower gels. This gets rid of dry skin and helps rejuvenate the skin and stimulates blood circulation leaving your entire body glowing.

SKIN CARE: CLEAR, RADIANT, HEALTHY AND YOUTHFUL LOOKING SKIN
Beauty begins with the proper caring of the skin. To achieve clearer, healthy skin you should drink at least 1 – 1.5 litres of water daily. Water hydrates and cleanses the skin from within.
In general, choose foods that are fat free. Eat lighter meals, space out your meals so that one meal is digested before you introduce another into your system, and choose whole fresh fruits and vegetables. Start your day with a mug of hot water mixed with lemon juice. Lemon is anti-bacterial, promotes regular elimination and helps flush toxins from your system. If your skin tends to be oily, a second drink of lemon water in the afternoon can be helpful. Supplement your diet with good multivitamin pills.

Mix equal portions of sandalwood powder and turmeric powder. Add three drops of lemon juice. Form a paste by adding milk. Apply to entire face and leave until the paste has dried. Once dried wash with cold water. A paste of nutmeg and water is also beneficial.
Apply a paste made from one teaspoon of cumin seeds and water. Rinse with cold water after one hour.

A paste of fresh fenugreek leaves, applied and washed off with warm water before going to bed help prevent pimples.

Daily use of turmeric powder and milk paste clears all marks from the skin giving internal glow to skin and helps in blood purifying..
Holy basil leaves juice helps to remove white patches and acnes.
A paste of Multani mitti (fullers earth) and milk works effectively for oily skin problems. Its paste is a natural face pack giving soothing effects to skin and clears skin from acne.

Pigmentation: Excessive exposure to the sun, irregular eating and sleeping habits aggravates the skin, causing pigmentation.

Grind five almonds and mix with 1 teaspoon of fresh cream and a few drops of lemon juice. Apply this paste to the face and neck. Leave on for about fifteen minutes. Then wash with cold water.
Grind equal amounts of sesame seeds and turmeric in a small quantity of water. Apply to the face or discolored skin. Leave on for about one hour, thereafter wash with cold water.

Make a paste from basil (tulsi) leaves and water to use on the affected skin

Aloe Vera juice is also helpful for many skin problems and gives the skin younger looks.

Premature aging: Aging causes dryness and wrinkling of the skin. Factors like excessive, stress, tension, over work, strain, irregular sleeping and bad eating habits enhance aging. Foods containing artificial flavors, colors, preservatives and chemicals also promotes the aging process.

Remedies

Massage the face with ghee, almond oil or coconut oil before going to bed.

Use grated cucumber in a face pack. Leave on for 30 minutes and wash with cold water

.Apply fresh aloe vera gel to the skin.

Regular application of pomegranate leaves paste is useful for healthy and wrinkle-free skin. It tightens and stretches the skin leaving it more youthful looking.

Lemon juice mixed with honey is very useful working effectively on wrinkles.

HERBAL HOMEMADE FACIAL MASKS
Rose Oil and Honey Facial Mask - rejuvenates and replenishes skin. Sweet almond oil, which is light and easily absorbed, softens and nourishes skin. Honey moisturizes, leaving even tired skin incredibly smooth and revitalized.

2 Tps Honey
2 Tps Sweet Almond oil
5 drops essential oil of Rose
1 drop Vitamin E oil
Mix honey, sweet almond oil and essential oil of rose. Massage onto clean face and neck with fingertips. Relax for 15 minutes, then rinse off with lukewarm water. Gently pat dry to reveal a fresh, soft complexion.

Yogurt-Honey Mask
1 Tb spoon Yogurt
1 Tb spoon Honey
Add the two ingredients together and apply to a clean, moist face.
Pat this mask onto the skin for a moisturizing, penetrating, hydrating, soothing application that will also help to clear up skin problems.

Milk and Honey Cleanser:
1 tsp warm honey
1 tbp milk or cream
Mix 1 tsp warm honey with 1 tablespoon milk or cream. This recipe should be prepared fresh each time. Massage into skin and rinse with luke warm water.

Honey Cleansing Scrub : Mix 1 tablespoon honey with 2 tablespoons finely ground almonds and ½ teaspoon lemon juice. Rub gently onto face. Rinse off with warm water.

COMPLETE BEAUTY FROM HEAD TO TOE
Your hands and feet will be a prominent feature as the photographer will zoom in to photograph the exchange of rings, mehendhi, etc. Ensure that they are fit for all to see by daily caring for them. Your feet need to look gorgeous too as you walk down the aisle in your Cinderella sandels…… at your mehendhi ceremony when your feet is adorned with beautiful mehendhi designs or when you are taking the significant seven steps (saat phere) with your groom.
Pamper yourself with regular pedicures and manicures, preferably every week from now until your big day.

Hand Care:
For soft and radiant hands, experts suggest the Diamond skin polish which contain actual diamond dust, along with other herbal extracts and oils that brings that special glow to your hands. The paraffin wax treatment also brings softness and shine. You should start at least 6 weeks prior to the wedding to pampering your hands with these home remedies.

Massage the hands once a week with olive oil and a little table salt added to it.
To effectively moisturise your hands Soak them in warm almond oil.
Exfoliate your hands by using and exfoliation scrub at least once a week..
The best treatment for hands and feet according would be a professional spa manicure and pedicure with stone therapy, complimented by some specific home care routines.
Three months of three to six treatments of the royal, paraffin or spa manicure/pedicure is sufficient time to thoroughly improve the growth and texture of nails.

THE INTENSIVE ONE WEEK PROGRAMME: Soak your feet in hot water mixed with rough salt, almond oil and shampoo for about 20mins every night before retiring to bed. This helps soften dead skin on the heels. Rub the heels gently with a pumice stone or heel scrubber, in order to remove the dead cells. Avoid metal scrubbers. After washing the feet, massage with a good cream, or pure honey.

Clean the nails by removing all old nail polishes and avoid wearing any nail polish from now until your wedding day to avoid the nails from discolouring.
Soak your feet in warm water mixed with a little shampoo and vegetable oil for 10-15 minutes, rub them (especially soles) with a pumice stone.
Massage a mixture of 4-5 drops of vinegar and 4-5 tablespoons (40, 50 grams) of curd mixture well on the feet especially between the toes. Leave on for 10 minutes and then wash off with warm water.
For cracked heels, soak feet in warm water mixed with 10ml of lemon juice and 20ml of coconut oil. Scrub the heel area after 20 minutes with a pumice stone. Dry thoroughly and apply a foot cream.
You can even prepare a homemade moisturiser for the skin, especially the feet. Mix rose water and glycerine in equal proportions and store. Use it whenever required, especially after any kind of feet care treatment. Replace the mixture every month.
Every evening massage pure honey on feet. This is the perfect moisturiser.

Tip: Take care that your heels are well moisturized and feet are well pedicured. Elbows and knees are often forgotten. Rubbing a little heel balm into them softens and moisturizes it.

Whether you are getting your wedding makeup done professionally or doing it all yourself, take the time to prepare your skin to look its best. Clear, healthy skin is
the perfect canvas for makeup. Have your trial makeup done one week before your big day. Remember Makeup should be used to draw attention to your best
features and away from your less flattering ones.

Base/Foundation: to prepare your canvas for a make-up masterpiece….
It is important that you find a foundation that matches your natural skin tone. It must provide good coverage and be neutral enough to allow your eye, cheek and lip makeup to highlight your natural beauty. The greatest challenge facing any makeup artist or makeup wearer is finding the right foundation. Foundations allow makeup to last longer and ensures a shine free- clear face all day.

TIP: Test foundation along your jawline - not on your hand and definitely not on the inside of your wrist. View it under different light settings. It must match the natural color of your neck.

CONCEALER
Concealers are of a denser composition than regular foundations and are generally available in sticks, tubes, pots, and creams. Concealers can be used to cover blemishes, dark spots, ruddy areas, marks, veins, freckles or under eye circles. Your concealer should be one shade lighter than your foundation (and only in extreme cases should you use a concealer two shades lighter). Using a concealer that is too light or too pink will give the appearance of ‘owl eyes’. In other words, it will emphasize the dark area instead of concealing it. Apply the concealer with a small fine tipped brush for an accurate application. As with any other application, blending is the key. Always set your concealer with a sheer, translucent powder to prevent creasing.

TIP: Be sure to cover the inside of the nose bridge and the outer corner of your eye where we tend to get dark areas.
TIP: You can remove years from your face by applying concealer to the little
downward turning lines at the corner of your mouth.

FACE POWDERS
Face powders are an essential step in your makeup routine. They are available in either compact or loose form. It is important to set your foundation with a loose powder. This helps to keep your foundation in place. Compact powders should be used for touch ups. Translucent Powders are light in texture providing a sheer, natural finish. They are lightly tinted and work best with foundations. The basic idea is to use a translucent powder over your foundation or concealer to set your makeup without adding too much extra color.

TIP: For warmer climates or in the summer, take special care to set your foundation with a loose powder. This is especially so in the case of cream foundation as they tend to have a higher oil content.

EYES: to invite your groom into the windows of your soul….
While there are rigid rules when it comes to foundations, it is with your eye color that you can allow your creative side to take flight. Your eyes are the focal point of your face. Be sure that your eye makeup techniques and choice of colors are most flattering to your eye shape and color. With eye color you can create the illusion of new shapes and sizes.

Before applying eyeshadow apply your concealer over the entire area from lash line to brow. This shade will be your base color and is to your eye, what your foundation is to your face. It will hold your color and prevent creasing. After applying your base color, apply a medium shade on the lower lid. This is the part of the eye that most women apply eyeshadow. Blend into your base shade. A third color can then be added. Use a deep, dark shade to create depth. Apply this shade along the lash line, and at the outer corner of the eye, emphasizing the crease of the eye and brow bone. Blend well. This is your accent shade and when used can create a more defined eye. How you apply this contour shade can help eyes look bigger, smaller, wider set or closer together. The key is to blend so well that attention is still drawn to your eye, not your eye makeup.

Mascara- Next to lipstick, mascara is your most effective makeup tool. It is a great eye opener that emphasizes the lashes. Using a proper application technique when applying mascara is extremely important to achieve a finished look. You must ensure that the mascara covers the lashes from the root to the tip of the lash. For your upper lashes, wiggle the mascara wand back and forth at the base of the lashes to deposit color before rolling the brush through your lashes. Coat lashes from the very base to the tips with full strokes. This method creates a thicker looking lash with the ends separated and the base well defined.
Hold the wand vertically when applying mascara to lower lashes, running this from side to side. Be extremely careful as to avoid smudging the under eye area.
When applying more than one coat, combing through lashes between coats will help prevent clumping.

TIP: If your mascara is new and the deposit on the wand is plentiful, tissue off the
wand before applying to prevent smudging.
TIP: To get more product on the mascara brush try twirling the brush. Pumping it will cause the product to dry out sooner.

EYELINER- The tissue of the eye area is extremely delicate, therefore when choosing an eyeliner pencil be sure to select one that is hypoallergenic, and soft enough to glide easily. This is one aspect of makeup application that not only takes practice but an extremely steady hand. Pencil eyeliners tend to be quite popular because they are easier to control and also can give the look that you want to achieve. Liquid eyeliners on the other hand require more practice. They create precise lines once applied with enough control. Cake eyeliners, traditionally used by professionals are now becoming very popular. A new trend is to use eyeshadows as eyeliners. The advantage of this that you have so many more colors with which to line. For wide set eyes, emphasize the inner corners of the eyes. For close set eyes, emphasize the outer corners, keeping the inner corners highlighted. For drooping eyes, turn the outer end of the liner in an upward direction.

TIP: When using an eye pencil, open your mouth slightly to relax the eye muscles. It will make lining a lot easier without having to pull or tug at your lid. TIP: Apply eyeliner as close as possible and even into the lashes to avoid the white line you sometimes get when liner and lashes don’t connect.

BLUSH: The Blushing Bride…..
Blush adds warmth or color to the face. The look most women want to achieve is that of a warm, natural glow. Blushers are available in powder, cream or liquid and in a wide variety of tones. Liquid and cream blush should be applied before powder. Generally most women prefer to use a powder blush as it is much easier to apply. For easy application, sweep blush downward from the ear to mid-cheek, beginning in line with the top of the ear and ending at the end of the apple of your cheek. It is best to choose colors that are close to your skin tone.

TIP: Always remember less is best.
TIP: Be sure to do the blush test. Once you are done with your entire makeup stand back, look in the mirror. Check to see if your face is ‘balanced’. You should have on just enough blush to make you look as though you are blushing. If you have on any more than that you need to tone it down.

TIP: To soften blush apply some powder over your blush. In the evening you have a little more liberty and so you could go a bit heavier according to the look you wish to achieve.

LIPSTICK: You can find lipsticks in traditional tubes, pots, pencils, and even wands with innovative designs emerging daily. When it comes to choosing lipstick colour, the trick is the shade should match your natural skin tones, not your dress or your flowers, or draping…
To create that perfect pair of lips you should start by lining with a neutral colored pencil following your natural lip line. Using a lip brush fill in with lip color of your choice. Use your lip brush to blend the two so that there are no harsh edges.

The secret of creating the picture-perfect lips lies in the choice of color
and correct application.

TIP: If you are not fortunate to have full lips, wear the lightest, frostiest lipsticks you can find. They will cause your lips to look fuller. Follow with lipgloss.

TIP: You should use Vitamin E Lip Protector before application of any type of lipstick. It moisturizes and nourishes the lips preventing dryness and cracking.

TIP: To create your own smudge-resistant lipstick blot your lips with one sheet of twoply tissue. Reapply lipstick and blot again. This will absorb the oils in the product and leave the pigment and matte waxes.

TIP: If you are over 40 we advise that you should avoid wearing matte lipsticks. You will look best with a little shine on your lips. Always use a lip liner since it builds a dam that keeps the lipstick from ‘bleeding’.

Taking the time to follow these tips and pamper your body in the months before your wedding will guarantee that the love of your life will be completely captivated
when you walk down that aisle….