Photo credit: Rudney Novaes Photography

On your wedding day, there’s no doubt that all eyes will be on you.  From the moment you walk down the aisle until the very last dance, you – and your sweetheart – will be the center of attention!  For that reason, you’re going to want to look and feel your best.  We chatted with Gabby and Martha, our favorite hair and makeup experts, to get their advice and guidance on how to get the “bridal glow” that every girl dreams about.

This is what Gabby and Martha recommended.

Stay hydrated

Drink enough water on a daily basis.  We know this is easier said than done, but your skin will thank you!  Your skin, in general (not only your face), will feel softer and will have an overall healthier appearance.  Gabby suggests squeezing half a lemon into a glass of warm water and to drink this before eating breakfast as a way of eliminating toxins.  By doing this, you’ll also be getting an infusion of vitamin C, which gives you antioxidants and promotes collagen production.  Win-win!

Have a morning and night beauty routine

If you don’t have a typical beauty routine, this is the time to get into it!  The first thing you need to determine is what type of skin you have: normal, dry, oily, or mixed.  Regardless of your skin type, you will need a cleanser, a toner, and a moisturizer with SPF for the morning routine.  At night, you will need the same, plus serum for your face.  The use of serums will improve your skin tone, reduce the early signs of wrinkles, and add firmness to your skin.  You’re likely to see great improvement in 3 to 6 months’ time, so this is exactly what you need heading into your big day!  My personal favorite is the Control Corrective Serum.

If you have acne problems, visit a dermatologist to make sure you get the right treatment.

Photo credit: : Marirosa Photography

Shape your eyebrows

Martha cannot overstate the importance of shaping your eyebrows.  The eyebrows frame your face, so having a nice shape makes a huge difference!  Giving your brows the necessary time and attention they deserve will make your eyes look defined and will enhance your overall eye appearance.  I suggest you go to a salon to get a nice initial design.  Afterward, you can maintain their shape by using an eyebrow pencil and gel and by eliminating the out of place hair around the eyebrow. Martha highly recommends the Anastasia Pencil brow.

Photo credit: Darling Photographers

Sleep!

While you may have gotten away with pulling the occasional all-nighter back-in-the-day without too much fallout to your skin and overall health, your skin will begin to resent you if keep this up!  The general rule of thumb for your skin (and body) is to get at least 8 hours of sleep each night.  Sleeping a minimum of 8 hours helps you to manage your appetite, boosts your immune system, and helps you to stay focused.  After all, if you’re focused, this will translate into less stress.  And if you lessen your stress levels, chances are you will feel and look radiant on your wedding day!

Martha Sandoval and her beautiful client. Photo credit: Adam Mason Photography

About Gabby and Martha:

Gabby Medina and Martha Sandoval are a sister-duet extraordinaire dedicated to enhancing the beauty of brides in the Washington D.C. and Northern Virginia area.  With combined experience in the beauty industry of more than 25 years, Gabby and Martha are true experts who love what they do!  This blog post contains affiliate links of products that we personally use and highly recommend; we may receive a commission. All pictures on this blog post are from Gabby and Martha’s past clients.

Gabby Medina and a happy bride.  Photo credit: Raiza Vega Photography

Photo credit: Bronwyn Duffield