Prep

Bridal beauty goes beyond your finding your dream dress and achieving perfectly coiffed hair and flawless glamorous makeup. Ensure you’ll be ready for the big day by planning well in advance. Presenting your most beautiful self means staying healthy, feeling confident and exuding a glow that emanates from within. From setting fitness goals and maintaining a dazzling smile to enhancing your skin tone with a spray tan, you’ll be prettily prepped for the best day of your life with a little careful planning.

While it might be tempting to bask in the sun to achieve perfectly bronzed skin, your body will thank you for skipping the UV rays by opting for a spray tan instead. Make Me Up (3426 Magazine St., 891-9688, MakeMeUpNola.com) offers organic spray tans, which last seven to 12 days. Get the most out of your “fake bake” session by preparing ahead of time.

Co-owner Celeste Louapre suggests, “Before tanning have your facial; shave your legs and underarms; wax the brows and exfoliate the body. No moisturizers or lotions the day of tanning. The tan will need between four to eight hours to fully soak into the skin and you can sleep in it with no problem.” She continues, “It is better not to have social functions the day of tanning. Loose-fitting clothes are best, and any tanning product that might get on them will wash out easily. After the tan, wait at least four hours before showering; it’s important not to get wet at all during this time.”

Extend the life of your faux glow straight through the honeymoon by using products like a tan extending moisturizer or a micro-mist self tanner. Moisturizing after each shower will also help maintain your tan and keep your skin soft. Louapre adds, “Keep in mind that foundation should be selected to match your new facial color. Try Smashbox Halo Hydrating loose powder, which will bend with the light and adjust nicely to your new look.” And, while you may be worried about resembling a carrot, the Lavish Tan system leaves a naturally tanned look. If you accidentally go too dark, just exfoliate.

Whether your goal is weight loss, perfectly toned arms for that strapless gown or upping your endurance for an all-night dance session, a pre-nuptial exercise regimen will help you feel healthy and beautiful. If you’re looking for a boot camp, the Mackie Shilstone Bridal Boot Camp at East Jefferson General Hospital (3601 Houma Blvd., Suite 401, Metairie, 457-3100) is a terrific way to get the results you seek in just 18 sessions. This comprehensive program includes supervised fitness sessions, a body composition assessment, nutritional consultation and metabolic testing. Shilstone has helped more than 3,000 professional athletes achieve their performance goals over the past 30 years.

For maximum results in the shortest amount of time, One To One Personal Training (735 Octavia St., 891-5121, Clinical-Exercise.biz) can help you achieve your goals. Owner Christine Renfro White specializes in the Super Slow method, which requires only one or two 30-minute sessions each week to achieve your fitness goals. White adds, “This method of training incorporates very slow lifting and lowering speeds which ensures that you are getting much greater muscle fiber stimulation than what’s possible with ‘traditional’ lifting speeds. This enhanced muscle recruitment translates to significantly quicker results.” She continues, “The slower speed of movement also minimizes force, which greatly reduces risk of injury. And your first session is always complimentary.”

On your wedding day and the months leading up to it there will be plenty of smiles at engagement parties, wedding showers and photo sessions. Confidence is key to looking your best, and a perfect set of pearly whites assures you’ll look beautiful throughout it all. For over 30 years, Lakeside Dental Care (2400 Veterans Blvd., Suite 210, Kenner, 833-3200; 1000 C. M. Fagan Drive, Suite A, Hammond, (985) 345-4166; LakesideDentalCare.com) has assisted individuals with maintaining smiles of which you can be proud. Both locations offer bi-annual exams, teeth whitening, veneers, implants, emergency dental care, gum care and many other services. Appointments can be made two weeks in advance, and most insurance plans are accepted. By utilizing state-of-the-art technology, Lakeside Dental Care ensures you’ll get the best service for your smile. New patients receive a full set of dental X-rays, and continuing patients get them based on clinical evidence. With two convenient locations in Kenner and Hammond, they make taking care of your teeth as easy as possible.
 

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