Here are some expert tips on how to put your best foot forward on the big day!

Remember- you will be the cynosure of all eyes on this day. Putting it all together will take some planning and effort. Make your guests, the groom and your photographer look at you at your best

The following beauty tips will help make sure you`ll be ready for this most photographed, most gazed upon day of your life.

You need perfect skin, the glowing complexion, manicured hands, picture perfect nails, flawless make-up and gorgeous hair to get through the day without any glitches. Don’t wait till the last minute! Start early and get all the help you can to make this day the most memorable one for yourself!

Remember that you will need to start working on your skin early on to have you looking your flawless best with beautiful, silky sheen on the day of your wedding.

To begin, ask a dermatologist or aesthetician for an assessment of your skin. Both are armed with powerful treatments to control the signs of aging and improve skins clarity. Most important, you want to avoid any additional damage to your delicate dermis.

Next, schedule a facial. Today’s non-irritating facials - packed with oxygen, vitamin C, seaweed and essential oils - are great for stimulating the vital functions of the skin. And don`t forget the rest of you! Body treatments, like a seaweed body wrap, work wonders on rough spots on the back, chest, elbows and knees.

At home, use products that mimic prescription and spa remedies. Wash twice a day with a gentle cleanser. Use an a.m. moisturizer with SPF 15 and alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids to reduce the appearance of fine lines. At night, treat skin to a more intensive moisturizer.

Though it will be difficult in the busy days of wedding planning, try to stay calm. Stress triggers the hormones that affect acne. If you feel a tingly sensation that`s a sure sign of an imminent breakout, mix a teaspoon of table salt in a cup of clean warm water. Soak a piece of gauze in the liquid and use it as a compress on the troubled spot. That should help prevent a small breakout from becoming a large one.

If you do break out the week of the wedding, don`t panic. Ask a dermatologist to administer a mild cortisone injection, which will soothe the inflammation.

The number-one thing brides need to know about wedding-day makeup: There shouldn`t be any surprises. You want to look like yourself - but with more oomph! This generally means that less is more, and you should stay close to your natural look.

If you plan to use a professional makeup artist, it is a good idea to book her about four months before the wedding, and to experiment with colors and techniques well before the date.

To find your makeup style, collect magazine photos of makeup looks you love. It`s also helpful to bring a good picture of yourself so the artist can see how you normally photograph, to help determine which features to play up. Also bring a picture of your wedding gown, and your hairstyle if that has been determined already.


Do color rehearsals. Try different palettes taking into consideration your wedding attire’s formality and style and the wedding`s time of day and take photos to pick the winning look. Also note the products and shades used so you can duplicate those choices on the big day.

For a solid base start with a long-lasting foundation. Apply a sample and then step outdoors for a natural-light check. Apply the foundation with a dry sponge, and then set with a powder puff.

For eyes, think smudge-proof and waterproof - tears of joy shouldn`t trigger smears of worry. Even if you don`t usually wear eye shadow, try adding just a hint of color for the big day. To make it last, begin with a base coat on lids of your regular foundation (blended will and blotted to remove any excess) or an eye primer made for the job.

Use a lip liner only one shade darker than your lipstick and blend the liner into your lipstick to prevent the harsh look of an outlined mouth. For stay-put color, apply lipstick with a lip brush.

Who won`t look at your hands on your wedding day? Start early to get them in great shape to show off that ring.

For salon results at home, rub moisturizer into cuticles every night to soothe those ragged edges. Give your nails a buff and shine every couple of days. With the coarse side of an emery board, shape the nail, then use the smoother side to fine tune. Next, use a buffing block to soften ridges on the nail.

Once a week, add polish: Start with a base coat to fill ridges. For color, choose longwearing, chip-resistant enamel. Seal with a quick-drying topcoat. To strengthen tips, apply the topcoat underneath the nail as well.

If you`re going for acrylic nails, test them two weeks prior to the wedding to prevent allergic reactions.

If your hair isn`t in great condition, no style will work.


First stop: a consultation. Depending on your lifestyle and hair type, you may need to detoxify the scalp, condition the ends or add moisture. Your stylist can advise you on specific products for your needs.

Determine the basic shape you`re going for at least six months in advance and get a trim early on to begin establishing that shape.

If you color your hair and are happy with the shade, stay with it. But if you think you`d like to change your shade or try coloring for the first time, go ahead - just leave yourself at least a few months to live with a new hue.

Finally, get your last cut about two weeks before the wedding because that`s when the cut`s true shape emerges.

Get your manicure the day before the wedding. Your hands will look great and you`ll have one less time-consuming task on the big day, and you`ll know for sure your polish is set before you touch your gown.

Whether you`re doing your makeup yourself or going to a professional, do a complete practice run in advance. Take photographs to record the look you choose, and be sure to write down exactly what products and shades were used.


The best way to choose your hairstyle is the old-fashioned way: Rip pictures you like out of magazines and start experimenting. Consider comfort and durability as well as appearance - you don`t want a look that requires enough hairspray to turn you into a fire hazard!