Jun 122011
One of the first words you hear used to describe brides is glowing. And to get glowing skin, you need to start with a good base. You want skin that’s hydrated and healthy. Once you’ve got a great base then you can use makeup to enhance and create the perfect look. Some of you may have naturally flawless skin but the rest of us are going to need a few products to help us get there.
Before we get into skin care products, though, did you know that one of the best ways to have healthy skin is for the rest of you to be healthy, too? Getting plenty of sleep and exercise, eating right, not getting too much sun, limiting stress – all of these directly impact your skin as part of your overall well-being.
 |
| SparkPeople.com |
With the rest of the wedding details that are constantly running through your head it can be hard to remember all the details of a new health regimen if you choose to start one. To keep it all straight you may want to consider a journal or online tracking tool. For those of you who prefer an online approach I’m a fan of SparkPeople.com. I like that you can keep track of everything from what you ate and your exercise minutes right down to the amount of water you drank each day. You earn points for daily tracking which is good for those of us who like incentives. The points really aren’t good for much but some of us just like to see them add up.
If you like something a little more concrete then I would suggest a journal – like the Light Fit & Healthy journals that Yoplait is providing to three lucky winners! Journals are great because you can throw it in your bag if you’re heading to the gym or out of town and want to keep track on the run. It’s also nice because sometimes you just want that satisfaction of writing something down in black and white.
Either way you choose to go I strongly suggest using some tracking method. Not only for the organizational aspect but also because research has proven that when you keep a food and exercise journal you get better results than if you don’t. I guess seeing all those M&Ms written down on a page guilts you into not eating them again.
If you want to jump start your health plan consider checking out Yoplait’s Two Week Tune-Up plan. It’s always nice to see some quick results and this plan is super-easy. Then just keep following the healthy habits until the big day (and beyond!).
Now that you have the glow from the inside we can work on the glow from the outside. First skin needs to be hydrated so you’ll want something like Skin MD Natural’s Shielding Lotion. Prior to hearing about Skin MD Natural I didn’t know what a shielding lotion was and how it’s different from a moisturizer or other type of lotion. Most moisturizers do not seal in the body’s own moisture, they just artificially lubricate the outer layers of skin. Once it wears off you’re back where you started. This shielding lotion, however, uses natural ingredients to restore the outer layer of skin to help replace the barrier that’s stripped away by the daily use of most soaps and cleansers.
 |
| Arbonne’s RE9 Advanced systems |
Next you can look to make additional repairs like with Arbonne’s RE9 Advanced system. It has not just one but 9 major age-defying elements and botanicals that are clinically proven to start working within 24 hours. 83% of testers said they had increased skin firmness in just 24 hours and 92% said they saw a reduction in fine lines within 1 week. While almost any product works best and produces the best results when used over time this is a system that if you get down to the last couple of weeks before the ceremony and notice that all that summer sun has you looking a little older than you are you could still see a change. After all the late nights with Baby C I was looking a little older, myself; I tried the Instant Lift Gel and definitely thought I looked a little more refreshed after.
No matter what you choose just make sure you choose something that works for you. These are lifestyle changes and good skin care habits you want to form and you’ll only make changes and stick to them if they easily fit into your day.
Skin MD Natural, Yoplait and Sarah from Arbonne have all generously donated prizes for this week’s giveaway. I received samples from Skin MD Natural and Sarah from Arbonne in order to facilitate my review. No compensation was received and all opinions are 100% mine.
About Liza
Liza is a mom (5-year-old daughter, 20-year-old stepson, and 24-year-old stepdaughter) and wife living in Louisville. She loves spending time with her family, visiting the local zoo and parks, as well as planning travel adventures. Cooking and baking, DIY projects and crafts, and coffee - lots and lots of coffee - round out some of her other hobbies.