Sharon's Top 5 Pre-Wedding Beauty Preps

I'm back with my Top 5 lists for the New Year! And since it's only 4 months to go to my own wedding, I'm starting to think about beauty preps for the Big Day. I'm calling today to make the hair appointments for my girls on the wedding morning, so that leads to Tip #1:

Tip #1: Make an appointment for your trial hairstyle session. Go to your beauty salon now and ask who does up-do's. Most salons have 'specialists' who do wedding hairstyles, and they often have portfolios filled with photos of the styles they've done, and styles they can do. Even months ahead of the wedding, it's a fun day at the salon to have your hair trial-styled and perhaps even colored now while it's safe enough to try something new.

Tip #2: Get those teeth whitened. You don't have to spend a fortune at the dentist getting lasered. I'm a big fan of the Aquafresh White Trays (www.aquafresh.com). They're a bit pricy, but they WORK. After just 3 days, I saw a big difference. Love these things!

Tip #3: Work on your skincare...all over. Bring out those products you own and love but haven't had the time to turn into a ritual each night. I'm using the Cindy Crawford Meaningful Beauty line (www.meaningfulbeauty.com), and the masque is incredible. Also, get a good exfoliant scrub and use it on your upper arms if you get little bumps on those.

Tip #4: Hydrate. Your skin, hair and nails will thank you, and it keeps bloating down.

Tip #5: Get good tools. See if a flat iron works wonders on your hair. At the salon, ask for tips on how to use it. Don't be afraid to ask your stylist basic questions about tools and brushes. They love it when you ask for their expertise. I have a gas-powered curling iron for ringlets and a *thin* ceramic flat iron, which I bought to replace the thicker one that wasn't doing it for my hair. Just a simple little switch, and I've found what works best for me.

And as an extra tip, get your brows professionally-shaped. A waxer can give your arches the perfect peak, and the result can make your eyes look bigger and brighter. Now's the time to upgrade your beauty preps...enjoy!