(ARA) – “It was the best of times. It was the worst of times.” Ask
any recent bride, or bride-to-be to reflect on the planning of her
wedding and she’s sure to agree that Charles Dickens’ famous assessment
of human affairs is timeless.
The months prior to her wedding can be the most magical -- and
stressful times -- in a woman’s life. There are so many issues to worry
about: fulfilling your dream on your budget; satisfying the expectations
of two different families; deciding and coordinating the numerous
details. With all this on your mind, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed.
But if you let the stress take over, your body may soon show the
signs in the form of weight gain, under-eye circles and acne. Every
bride wants to look her best on her wedding day, so it’s important to
understand early-on how to minimize the stress you’re under and prevent
its unpleasant effects.
Here’s some advice on how to control your stress and its impact on
your appearance. Keep these in mind and you won’t have to worry about
turning into the dreaded “Bridezilla”.
Tips to reduce wedding-related stress
* Delegate responsibility
Don’t take on the entire job of planning alone. Friends and family
are sincere when they offer their assistance, so don’t make the mistake
of turning down their help. Let them know how you’d like your wedding to
look and feel and then hand over tasks based on people’s strengths. Ask
your parents to visit local reception halls and tell you about the best
two; your sister to think up a few options for decorations within your
budget; and your best friend to help you pick out yours and the
bridesmaids’ dresses. They’ll be honored to play such an important role
in your wedding, and you’ll get a much needed break.
* Establish a regular exercise routine
Make sure to get your heart pumping for at least 30 minutes a few
times a week. Exercising releases endorphins into your body, which will
give you energy and regulate your mood. Exercising is not only a good
way to lose a few pounds and gain sexy muscle tone, but it also provides
an outlet to release the stress that is built up inside of you.
* Get plenty of sleep
Sleep is likely to be last on your priority list when you’re planning
a wedding, but it should be at the top. Repeatedly going without enough
sleep will leave you drained and unequipped to deal with stress. Small
issues that wouldn’t give you anxiety under normal circumstances can
feel like major catastrophes when you are sleep-deprived.
Even with this advice, you can’t be entirely shielded from stress.
You’re getting married and a certain amount of nervousness comes with
the territory. The good news is that you don’t have to let it show.
Tips to combat the effects of stress
* Potential weight gain
When people get nervous, they tend to eat more, and if brides-to-be
aren’t careful, they can pack on the pounds quickly. Try to be mindful
when you eat: Is what you’re eating healthy? Are you actually hungry or
are you eating as a way to use nervous energy? It may also be smart to
invest in a body shaping garment to wear under your dress so that areas
of concern aren’t given a second thought.
* Dark circles under the eyes
Dark circles under or around the eyes can be caused by many different
things, including heredity, medications, a poor diet and lack of sleep.
There’s not much you can do about the first two causes, but if all the
stress you’re under has you eating and sleeping irregularly, you need to
regain control; and don’t wait until the last minute to do it! Also,
make sure you’re armed with a great concealer!
* Acne Breakouts
Everyone has heard that stress and acne go hand in hand. A study
published in the July 2003 issue of the Archives of Dermatology offers
scientific proof that stress or worry can precipitate or worsen acne
breakouts.
All eyes are going to be on you, and the last thing you want to be
dealing with are blemishes, so you need to start caring for your skin
now. Prevent pimples from ruining your big day by establishing a daily
skin regimen involving products that have specific ingredients to treat
and prevent acne, say the skin care experts at Nature’s Cure.
Erika Mason-Chow, a recent bride from San Francisco, took that advice
to heart. “I’ve always had problems with pimples, especially when I’m
under stress,” she says. “I’ve tried a lot of expensive skin care
products over the years with little success. Nature’s Cure Anti-Acne
Papaya Skin Care System is the only system that gave me results.”
The Anti-Acne Papaya Skin Care System contains three skin care
essentials that utilize the power of papaya and salicylic acid, a proven
acne-fighter, to treat and prevent acne without disrupting the skin’s
delicate balance. Mason-Chow says that not long after using the system’s
cleanser, toner and moisturizer at least once a day, her skin cleared up
completely. “I can’t say enough great things about it,” she says. “I
love the smell, how my skin reacts to it, how gentle it is. It’s like
treating myself to a mini-facial every day.”
Brides-to-be who have more chronic problems with acne may want to
supplement the Papaya Skin Care System with Nature’s Cure’s Two-Part
Acne Treatment for Females, which includes all-natural homeopathic acne
tablets to balance the body, along with the use of a Vanishing Cream
made with Benzoyl Peroxide, an anti-bacterial agent, to spot-treat
existing pimples.
“The best advice I can give is to start your skin care regimen early.
Then, as your wedding date approaches, your complexion will be one thing
you don’t have to worry about,” says Mason-Chow.
You can find both the Papaya Skin Care System and Two-Part Acne
Treatment in grocery, drug and discount stores including Rite Aid,
Eckerd, Kroger, ShopKo, Fred Meyer and select Wal-Mart stores. For more
information about Nature’s Cure, visit www.naturescure.com.
Courtesy of ARA Content
