A Beautiful Day

Many brides focus on venues and invitations months out while leaving beauty treatments until right before their wedding day. When it comes to hair or nails this is fine, but by waiting until the last minute, you may be missing out on some great new treatments that could help you look and feel your very best on your big day. We talked to local salon and spa experts about a few of their favorites for brides-to-be. Just remember, these new treatments require a little advance planning, so mark your calendars, get set, and go!

Slim Chances
Many brides-to-be step up their exercise routine in the months leading up to their wedding, but no matter how many Pilates or yoga classes we take, many of us still have one or two stubborn areas that won't go away. "Many women have saddle bags, lower tummy fat, or love handles they can't get rid of by working out," says Dr. Khalid Mahmud of Innovative Directions in Health in Edina. "Lipodissolve, which was recently developed in Europe, was designed to remove fat from those stubborn areas."

Lipodissolve uses two components that already exist in our bodies, phoshatidyl choline and bile salt, to break down fat cells then digest them. "We make micro injections into these stubborn areas that kill the fat cells," Mahmud says. "The inflammatory cells that are removing the dead fat cells also lay down new collagen, which results in very smooth skin."

Mahmud recommends two to three treatments for most conditions, with eight weeks between treatments. "After the last treatment, you'll need another six to eight weeks to see the full effect for each area, so you should start the process at least four months before your wedding," Mahmud adds.

Toni Hasselfeldt of Belladerm MedSpa in Maple Grove, which also offers lipodissolve, emphasizes that the treatment is for isolated areas only, about the size of two hands. "It's important to note that lipodissolve is great for spot toning if you are already in fairly good shape, but someone who is quite overweight is not a good candidate," Hasselfeldt says.

Going Smoothly
Getting married provides an opportunity to indulge in treatments that we might see as extravagant at any other time in our life. Most of us are used to shaving or plucking unwanted hair on our body, but investing in a longer-term solution like laser hair removal could lessen grooming time in those busy months leading up to the wedding and keep you looking your best through the honeymoon and beyond.

"Removal of facial hair and chin hair for wedding photos is very popular," Hasselfeldt says. Many brides also have laser treatments done in the underarm area, legs, and forearms, according to Christina Rauch of Sunbear Salon Spa & Medispa in White Bear Lake. Treatments in these areas are especially popular for brides going on a tropical honeymoon, but you'll enjoy the results well beyond that, according to Rauch.

"It may be that a hair or two sneaks through, so many women come back in a year to do a touch up, but for the most part, the results are long-term," she says. Because most areas typically require six treatments with several weeks between visits, Hasselfeldt recommends calling about seven to nine months out to set up a schedule.

A Wrinkle-Free Event
For brides looking to take a few years off their age, Botox injections can be used to diminish crow's feet or lines near the eye furrow area by relaxing the muscles that caused the squinting in the first place. "Depending on the area, Botox lasts about three to six months, and it takes up to two weeks for full effect, so we recommend that the last treatment is at least one month prior to your wedding day," says Pat Scherven of Skin Therapease in Wayzata.

According to Scherven, Restylane, which fills out the lips, is also becoming more popular among brides-to-be. Rauch likes to combine the two treatments. "Botox and Restylane work well side by side," Rauch says. "You can use Botox to decrease lines in the forehead, between the eyebrows, or crow's feet, then use Restylane to fill out any remaining lines or plump lips."

While Restylane gives a more defined look to the lips, a new filler called Juvederm has a more subtle effect. " Juvederm just makes the lips look a little fuller naturally, it's a softer look that can be used to contour and add volume to wrinkles and folds," says Kara Welle, medical aesthetician at Revessence Skin Enhancement Center in Eden Prairie.

Your Best Face Forward
For those who prefer an effective anti-aging treatment that doesn't involve injections, Revessence offers an intensive one-day treatment that incorporates laser technology. "Our anti-aging ÔLaser 360' involves three treatments in the same day, incorporating photorejuventation followed by skin tightening followed by pixel laser treatment," Welle says. Photorejuvenation, in which light from a laser "photo-bleaches" capillaries and brown spots, works to eliminate rosacea and sun damage. Skin tightening is a light therapy that focuses on stimulating proteins and collagen to tighten skin. Pixel, which is a laser peel, targets reduction of fine lines and wrinkles, softens scarring, evens out skin tone and texture, and permanently reduces pore size. "Depending on your needs, you could do all three or just one," Welle says. "We recommend doing the treatments three times within sixty days, with the last treatment one month before your wedding day."

The Blushing Bride
Even if you don't have any skin problems, a facial is still a must for brides who want to have glowing skin on their wedding day. For those who haven't been getting regular facials, Catherine Krull of Juut Salon Spa recommends one per month for six months prior to your wedding, with your last facial taking place at least one week prior to the big day.

"Increased circulation can cause temporary redness, and the extractions in facials can cause breakouts and uneven skin," Krull says. "If you're closer to your wedding day, you can get a less intensive facial that focus on hydration and exfoliation." Not to mention relaxation, which is key for brides at this stage.

Scherven recommends a basic overall rejuvenation facial several weeks before the wedding. "We cleanse and prep the skin, use exfoliation and extractions, and massage with appropriate ingredients and products to the client then apply a nourishing or purifying mask," she says.

Allison Surma of Allison's Esthetics & Makeup Design in Maple Grove treats skin problems like acne and hyperpigmentation with customized facial treatments. Surma also recommends beginning facials several months in advance of your wedding, with the last taking place two weeks before the event. "If you're closer to the wedding, I can do a gentle exfoliation without extractions to get that glow right before the ceremony."

Kiss and Makeup
Though your final wedding make-up will be applied just hours before your event, you should start thinking about the look you want well in advance. "We recommend an initial consultation a couple of months before the wedding day, with a practice session at least a couple weeks before so any needs or requests can be addressed well before the final application," says Krull. "We offer a more natural look, so you look like the best version of you."

For a more dramatic effect, Surma offers onsite airbrushing as well as traditional makeup. "I use a special foundation that you spray through an airbrush, which creates a flawless look that feels natural," says Surma. Airbrushing is ideal for weddings because it lasts for eighteen hours and is water and rub resistant. "There's no blending or makeup lines, and it looks flawless in photographs," says Surma.

For those planning destination weddings, it can be difficult to find a salon from afar and fit in a practice makeup session if you're arriving close to your wedding day. Mary Kay Cosmetics offers the perfect solution: a consultation and training in how to do your own makeup. "You can come with your whole bridal party, including your mom and mother-in-law," says Lori Hawthorne, a senior sales director for Mary Kay Cosmetics. "First I will ask if there are any issues you want to deal with, like oily skin or dark circles, then we'll talk about skincare."

The next step involves finding the perfect color foundation, then looking through the Mary Kay book to pick the look you want—natural, classic, or dramatic. "We have little cards that demonstrate how to apply each look, and we show you how to apply your own makeup," Hawthorne says. "It's great for destination weddings and for other occasions like showers or engagement photos where your pictures are taken." Hawthorne adds that the brides who are happiest come for a consultation seven or eight months in advance. "The closer you are to the wedding, the more it feels like a job than just fun," she says.

Smile Pretty
Your wedding and all the events surrounding it—engagement parties, showers, rehearsal dinners, the big day itself—will likely be the most photographed period in your life. A fabulous smile is therefore a priority, and it's never been easier to get your pearly whites (or not-so-whites) in perfect shape. Dr. Wendy Bach, a cosmetic dentist in downtown Minneapolis, says that having a healthy mouth is the first step. She recommends getting a professional cleaning and general check-up several months prior to your wedding.

Then it's time to consider your options. Bach says that whitening (via over-the-counter strips, customized bleaching trays, or an in-office "power bleaching" session) is popular with not only brides, but also grooms and parents.

Additionally, many brides and grooms "might want some bonding to close up gaps, or want yellow fillings turned into white fillings," Bach says. "Most procedures can be done very quickly, simply, and relatively inexpensively to make your wedding photos just perfect."