Dolce Sposa » Health & Beauty

10 Make-Up Essentials in your Bridal Beauty Kit

Dolce Sposa — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:22:38 +0000

Check out our top ten bridal make-up essentials for your special day – little things that you want to be sure are close at hand..

Waterpoor mascara – make sure you use a waterproof mascara and to keep this in your bag for touch-ups. This will prevent mascara smudges when you dry those tears away.
Lip Gloss – it will be great if you can bring all three lip esentials – your lip liner, lipstick and lip gloss. But if space is an issue, then just have a neutral colour lip gloss for that gorgeous pouty look.
Blusher – keep the rosy glow on your face all day by applying this whenever you feel the need to.
Concealer – brighten up those eyes with a concealer pen whenever you retouch and don’t forget to dab it with some loose powder for a more natural look.
Blotting paper – you may not always have the chance to go to the ladies to retouch with your loose powder so a blotting paper will come in handy to keep you looking fresh
Perfume – smell good all day and bring with you a small perfume.
Make-up remover swab – it is the most emotional day of your life so it is understandable to have an overflow of tears and even waterproof mascara might not work. And if that happens this will come in pretty handy.
Mini toothbrush– do not ruin all your wedding photos with stained teeth from the red wine so bring a mini toothbrush with you to keep that bridal smile all day and night. Bring two for you and hubby.

Here are some products many brides have sworn by, loved and can’t go without even after their big day! Some are award winners and some are just great products to have! We particularly love the Laura Mercier lip glace as it comes in small sizes so it is really ideal for your wedding make-up essential kit!

1^st row – Laura Mercier Mineral Translucent Finishing £25.00, Bobbi Brown long-wear gel eyeliner £15.00 , Christian Dior Show £18.00

2^nd row -Laura Mercier Mini Lip Glacé Set £30.00, Nars Orgasm Blusher £18.50, YSL Touche Eclat £20.00, L’occitane matifying papers £6.50

3^rd row – L’Occitane perfume balm £6.50, Jane Iredale make-up swab £18.00, Muji travel toothbrush £2.95 each

Jan Marini Mascara

Dolce Sposa — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 07:31:46 +0000

I am sure many brides-to-be will love this new revolutionary technology pioneered by Jan Marini called Marini Lash. It is a miracle product that promises all you ladies out there beautiful and longer eye lashes in just three months. Celebrities like Penelope Cruz is said to be a big fan of this product and I am seriously curiouos to try it myself. I thought I’d share this product to all our readers and maybe this is one product you can put on your to-buy list so you get to try it out and see what the results are. Guess it won’t hurt to try something new and if the results are good, then you can have gorgeous and longer eyelashes on your wedding day without having to use fake eyelashes.

Marini Lash is sold in the market at £99.00. It is a bit pricey but if the results are great, then i guess it is worth the money compared to your monthly eyelashes extension renewal.

Where to find Jan Marini in London:-

JMSR Europe

Email: info (a)jmseurope.com
Tel +44 208 868 4411

Bridal skin countdown…

Bridal skin countdown…

Dolce Sposa — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 06:59:14 +0000

Look gorgeous and feel great on your wedding day inside and out!! Like anything in life, preparation is important if you want to achieve something good. And for your wedding day, make sure to prepare your skin for that radiant and youthful glow. Do not overlook this vital part as it is also as important as finding your wedding dress.

One Year and counting….

Start a beauty regimen as early as possible. This will also allow you to try different beauty products, and find what works well for your skin.

Six months and counting…..

Go for skin facials with your husband-to-be or girl friends. A beauty therapist can access your skin and recommend good skin treatments that will ensure you look your best even without make-up.

Three months and counting….

Are you drinking enough water? You can buy all the beauty product cults available in the market, spend money on facials, and the like but all these won’t be as effective if you do not re-examine your water consumption. Get in to the habit of drinking 8 glasses of water a day. This will help remove all the toxins in your system, and guarantee you a skin more luminous and clearer as ever.

One month and counting….

Invest in a good skin exfoliator and skin mask for the extra skin boost one month before your big day. Gently exfoliate your skin leaving it clearer, softer and more refined. Pair it with a mask to stimulate, uplift you skin especially during this busy time of wedding planning, you will see great results.

Two-weeks and counting….

Improve the blood circulation on your face to help brighten your eyes, soften your skin make it firmer and more radiant by going for a facial acupuncture.

Morning of your wedding….

Have a warm bath with drops of lavender, and rose essential oil to help calm your mind, body, and soul. This simple yet natural care will invigorate, refresh and leave you feeling your best. When you are calm from the inside, it will beautifully glow on the outside. This is sure to work wonder on your special day.

You deserve all these beauty treats for all the hard work you are doing with all the wedding planning. So enjoy, relax and indulge yourself as much as you can, these are just some of the perks of being engaged and soon to be married!

La Prairie Caviar Collection Vanity Case

Dolce Sposa — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 14:17:48 +0000

This is dedicated to all our readers who loves La Prairie and all their beauty products. They have recently created a luxurious home for their Caviar Collection skincare range which is exclusively available at Harrods. It is a beautiful butter-soft leather case that can store all your potent La Prairie skincare essentials, your make-up brushes, silver mirror, travel jewellery bag and it is also have a jewellery compartment. This all-in-one luxurious vanity case is selling at £1,800 and it also includes the seven La Priarie caviar collection. It is pricey but if you are a big fan, then maybe this price is acceptable to you. I must admit, it looks nice though but it is too extravagant a purchase for moi.

Harrods
87-135 Brompton Road
Knightsbridge
London
SW1X 7XL

Tel +44 20 7790 1234

Groom’s Hairstyle

Dolce Sposa — Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:31:24 +0000

Dolce Sposa recommends all the grooms-to-be to go for a haircut minimum two weeks before the big day. You need to give your hair time to settle down and two weeks is an ideal time. Please do not make that mistake of cutting your hair a day or few days before the wedding to avoid all the nasty surprises.

I am sure you will still look gorgeous and your beautiful bride can look passed that hairstyle should anything go wrong but why take the risk when you can ensure that you will look best on your wedding day and in all your wedding photographs?

Bridesmaids’ Hairstyles

Paul Stephen Lubicz

Dolce Sposa — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 14:06:27 +0000

I have heard a lot of things about Paul Stephen Lubicz and I thought I’d write an article about him today. This will be an interesting discovery for brides-to-be who are looking fo a personal trainer and nutritionist to help them look good inside and out on their special day. Paul Stephen Lubicz, the famous trainer to celebrities like Brad Pitt and Myleene Klass started a completely new breed of health, fitness and lifestyle services that combines the expertise of a personal trainer and PA. They offer this at the Wellbeing Manager in London and they can do bespoke fitness management services to cater your individual needs and I love the fact that they are mobile and can meet you at any time and any place that suits you.

Everything they offer here sounds too good and promising. Everything can be personlized depending on your health requirement and they can also spoil you with specially prepared food delivered at your doorsteps. I also like the fact that they have a variety of activities like capoeira, yoga, chi gong, ballet, boxing and pilates that will surely engage both the body and mind. Not everyone is a big fan of going to the gym but I think the activities they offer will surely be interesting and that Paul’s team will ensure that everyone is having fun as they excercise.

Seriously, I think this a great idea and hard to resist. As for our b2b and h2b, I think the only requirement is for you to have the drive, determination and motivation so together with Paul adn his team, you can achieve the maximum results you need in preparation to your big day!

The Wellbeing Manager
Telephone 0800 980 1129

Bridal Boot Camp UK

Teeth Whitening for a Whiter Bridal Smile

Dolce Sposa — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 17:15:33 +0000

I had afternoon tea at Claridge’s today with a good girl friend of mine and I noticed a really nice glow on her face. At first, I thought it was purely the bridal glow that everyone gets closer to the big day. But later on, she excitedly told me that she actually listened to my advice about seeing a dentist to have her teeth whitening done before the big day. I seriously thought she looked even more beautiful with that bridal smile she’s now got!

Our meeting today certainly inspired me to write this article so that I can tell more brides-to-be to do the same thing. Going for teeth whitening before your big day is a big must and this should be on top of your priorities. Nothing can be more beautiful than having a brighter white teeth on your big day. You will certainly look younger and fresher in real life and in all your wedding photographs.

I would suggest a minimum of one month and definitely not too close to the wedding day. This is of course not always the case but based on my experience, I thought it is beter to be safe than sorry. My partner had his teeth whitened last year and he came out of the clinic with a shocking flourescet white teeth just like Ross in Friends and this is something you would certainly not want on your wedding day. You should plan ahead and schedule enough time so that you can have your teeth whitening done and allow some time for the colour to settle and be perfect in time for your big day. You will be photographed all day and these photos will be with you forever so make sure you think about this carefully and plan ahead.

Teeth whitening is offered all over the country now and prices vary. So just start doing the research in terms of prices and the different types of teeth whitening procedure available. I also recommend booking in advance so you get the date that best suits you and your husband-to-be. Oh yes, this is for the two of you and not just the bride-to-be!

Happy planning and goodluck with the research ladies!

Bridal Boot Camp UK

Dolce Sposa — Tue, 04 Dec 2007 14:05:58 +0000

I have read a lot of articles about brides-to-be going on a bridal bootcamp and I have heard a lot of good feedback about it. I personally like the whole idea behind it! It is a fun way to excercise and get fit for the big day plus you get surrounded by like-minded people who all want to achieve the same goal. In the bootcamp, I can imagine many happy brides-to-be sharing with each other tips on everything wedding related which can be truly inspirational – health and beauty tips, wedding planning, weddding themes and many more. Lasting friendships can develop the whole time you are in the bridal bootcamp which is a wonderful bonus.

The bridal bootcamp idea was pioneered in 2001 by a New York based personal trainer and nutritionist to the stars Cynthia Conde. She has created total fitness regimen workouts specially geared to brides and it has hit the headlines globally because it works fasts. The idea is that they put you in a ten week personalized program that is fun, engaging and very intensive so that you achieve your bridal goal quick and in a healthy way.

At a Glance:

Activities – stretching, yoga, cardiovascular, abs workout and strength training
Nutritionist – you get one-on-one advice about your diet
Spa and skin specialist - pamper treatments available after a hard workout session
Women only – the workouts are specially tailiored for brides-to-be
Location – chosen location are usually in a quieter area that is more relaxing and ideal for many outdoor activities
One-on-One programmes are available

I do not imagine this to be easy so this is not for the weak and I would suggest that you prepare youself mentally to the intense training you will get when you join the programme. I am sure it will be fun though especially when you see all the results on a weekly basis. There are a few bridal bootcamps in the country now so you can check the different locations most suitable for you.

The Bridal Bootcamp in Berkshire offers this ten week programme for £1,300 and they also offer one-to-one packages.

Bridal Boot Camp:

Finchampstea

Wokingham RG40 4NX

Tel +44 (0) 845 402 1759

Mobile +44 (0) 771 503 8222

Top 3 Luxury Facial Treatments in London

Dolce Sposa — Fri, 30 Nov 2007 16:02:43 +0000

I got a voucher for my birthday in June that I still have not used and I am deciding which facial to go for. The facial treatments availalbe in London all look so good and I wouldn’t mind trying them all if only the prices were a little bit more affordable. I got slightly distracted whilst in the process of checking out the different treatments available at the spa where I got the voucher from and I started looking out for the most indulgent treatments available. It was fun doing this “research” and I am now ready to share it with you. Without further ado, I now present you the top three luxury facial treatments in London.

Facial 1: La Prairie’s Five-Star Treatment – The ultimate relaxation treatment from La Prairie using Caviar for facial, exfoliation, mask and massage in the state-of-the art spa at The Claridges Hotel. £265 for 3hours

Claridges Hotel Spa: Brook Street, Mayfair, London, W1K 4HR Tel +44 (0) 20 7409 6565

Facial 2: Perrier Facial – Bathing in mineral water, facial cleansing, facial, three types face masks and massages all containing the perrier sparkling water. Hands and feet are also treated in style by being soaked in sparkling water with bubbles to stimulate all the pressure points. £150 for 1hour

The Face and Body Clinic: 57 Harley Street, London W1G 8QS Tel. +44 (0) 20 7436 3936

Facial 3: Red Carpet Facial – This facial is a combination of three treatments – La Grande Classique (cleansing, facial, exfoliation, extraction, mask and massage), Diamond Tone (using diamonds for resurfacing to remove top layer of the skin) and the Oxygen Therapy (a treatment that atomizes straight to the skin with special concentration and oxygen). Celebrities like Naomi Campbell, Gillian Anderson and Danni Minoque are big fans of this facial as it brigthens, hydrates, nourishes their skin leaving their skin always radiantly stunning. £170 for a 2hour session

Rani Mirza: 41 Beauchamp Place, London, SW3 1NX Tel. +44 (0) 20 7589 9080

The Dorchester Spa

Dolce Sposa — Thu, 22 Nov 2007 13:48:30 +0000

When I was first started writing this article, I thought I wouldn’t be able to share anything useful or inspirational for brides-to-be to read. But whilst daydreaming, I actually thought that I can share to our readers where I want to be right this very moment. Okay, just to make it clear, I do not indulge on this whenever I please, but since I am feeling poorly and down with a flu, I think I can excuse myself for seriously wishing I can be at the Dorchester Spa to have my personal favourite the Dorchester Rose Ritual. It is the the ultimate relaxation and pampering treatment I feel my body needs.

I love this treatment and I highly recommend it to all our readers. They use fresh rose petals, rose scented candles and towels, rose cream and rose water for the whole spa ritual which lasts 2.5 hours. This includes a gentle exfoliation, body massage, body wrap, rose facial complemented by a hydrating rose mask and a to-die-for scalp massage. They also give you a specially made rose cake and a glass of rose champagne to enjoy at the end of the session.

Now this is what you would call an exhilarating relaxation and pampering experience. You always read bridal countdown tips on magazines and blog sites like Dolce Sposa on how to prepare your skin for the big day and this is one of those treatments absolutely suited to help you achieve the fresh, radiant and youthful glow on your wedding day. I am sure this is something you will love and enjoy. Trust me, it is addictive but worth the money especially for a once in a lifetime wedding preparation.

The Dorchester

Park Lane
London, W1K 1QA
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7629 8888