LASHING OUT

Whether you’re wiping a tear, gazing lovingly at your groom, or giving your best doe eyes to the camera lens, your eyes take center stage on your wedding day. So when you want to enhance your natural lashes to create your prettiest peepers, what’s the best way to go? With such eye-opening advancements in the world of lash extensions, we asked makeup artist Adriana Fontes to weigh in on whether it’s worth it to spring for the sometimes-pricey service or rely on old-fashioned false lashes.

Eyelash Extentions

These single, tapered strands of hair make your existing lashes look thicker and longer. They’re applied to each individual lash by a professional. They aren’t removable—rather, they fall out with your natural hair growth. After the initial full-set application, you return for refills approximately every three weeks.

Pros:

• Wake up with gorgeous lashes; no mascara needed
• Waterproof
• Provide a very natural appearance
• Last indefinitely with frequent refills
• You can create custom looks

Cons:

• Cost and time commitment
• Requires professional application
• Glues can be harsh; allergic reactions can occur
• Can only be applied to existing lashes (won’t mask bald/uneven areas)

Strip Lashes

Strip lashes enhance and define the lash line, create thickness and length, and give dimension. Strip lashes are applied to the skin along the lash line with temporary glue and do not require a professional to apply. They come in a variety of styles and lengths, which allows you to choose your look accordingly.

Pros:

• Easy and inexpensive
• Can be applied and removed by anyone; no professional necessary
• Variety of styles, lengths, and shapes available
• Conceals bald uneven areas

Cons:

• Self-application can be challenging
• One-time wear; should not be worn for more than 24 hours
• Appearance can look staged and obvious if not applied properly
• Glue is messy if not used appropriately

FAIR-WEATHER FAN

Airbrush makeup is all the rage in wedding-day beauty. But is it a must? Anita Brown, owner and senior artist at Elan Makeup Studio, says it depends largely on the weather.

“I always suggest doing airbrush makeup for any warm-weather destination wedding,” she says. “It’s waterproof and sweat-proof, which is less worry for the bride.” (And she should know: “I got married on the beach in Mexico in September,” she says. “I’m very oily and only had to reapply once after dancing and once after kissing.”)

For colder-weather weddings and destinations, Anita says you can go either way, as sweat is less of a factor. And another bonus for winter brides: The cooler temperatures also give you more options in terms of your hairstyle. “Colder weather will help curls last longer than a humid climate, so you can wear your hair up or down,” she says.

ABOUT FACE

If anyone knows how to get your skin in high-def condition, it’s aesthetician to the stars Joanna Czech. She’s helped celebrities from Cate Blanchett to Charlize Theron put their best faces forward, and with her new namesake spa in Victory Park, her services are now available for Dallas-area brides too. Because a beautiful complexion isn’t created overnight, we asked Czech to lay out a six-month beauty timeline that will have your skin looking its best by the day your veil is lifted.

Six months before: Create a plan with your aesthetician and experiment with anything you’ve been thinking about. For instance, if you are planning on waxing, try it now to see how your skin reacts. You should also get a deep, pore-cleansing facial as well as LED therapy every three weeks for about six sessions. Try out brow shaping to determine the best shape for your face.

Three months before: Continue with the regimen you created six months out. Don’t experiment with anything new at this point.

One month before: Get one more deep, pore-cleansing facial. Get hydrating, plumping, and brightening treatments on a weekly basis. Don’t do any chemical peels, as your skin could react badly.

One week before: Complete any brow-shaping and waxing treatments, as well as a gentle, hydrating-massage facial. Exfoliate your skin and do body-smoothing treatments.

The day of your wedding: Create a mini spa for yourself. Take a bath in Epsom salts and half a bottle of La Mer Cleansing Oil. This softens the skin and calms the body. Chamomile tea compresses are great for reducing eye puffiness. Use a hydrating sheet mask in the tub. I recommend the Collagen Mask by Biologique Recherche, The Hydrating Facial by La Mer, or Tatcha’s Luminous Deep Hydration Lifting Mask.

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