Tips to Deal with Vow Renewal Beauty Emergencies

How to turn a beauty emergency into minor blip in your day

Every woman wants to look amazing as she walks down the aisle once again to affirm her love for her husband. While it’s simply impossible to prevent every beauty emergency, being prepared for them can take them from feeling like a major emergency to feeling like a minor blip in your day. This will also go a long way to keeping you feeling and looking fabulous on the day of your vow renewal. Here’s the list of the most common beauty emergencies you could encounter and our favorite tips on how to prevent or deal with them:

Skin Issues

Problem: Blemishes and Breakouts Solution: Ice, Preparation H gel or Visine, and Benzol Peroxide Cream. At the first sign of a pimple, place an ice pack on it for 5 to 10 minutes to immediately reduce swelling, then pat the area dry. If you have some time before you need to apply your makeup, apply some Preparation H gel or Visine to further reduced swelling. Both have vasoconstrictive properties that shrink blood vessels and make a pimple less inflamed and can reduce blotchiness on your face. Alternatively, you can dab on a spot of Hydrocortisone cream to reduce the swelling and appearance of a pimple quickly.

Gently wash your face to remove any residue before applying makeup. You can then apply benzoyl peroxide cream or gel or medicated acne treatment with a clean cotton swab to the area. Next, top the area with a concealer that also contains benzoyl peroxide. For blemishes and small spots, use a sticky concealer, which typically comes in a compact or tube (apply with a small makeup brush for best results). If you have a larger blotchy area or redness around your nose, use a liquid concealer (commonly sold in tubes), or your foundation.

To achieve additional coverage of the area, warm some cake concealer on the back of your hand and use a brush to dot a tiny bit on the middle of a pimple or over the area. Using a clean finger to push it into the skin until it disappears. Be careful not to rub it as it will increase the redness. The key to creating optimal coverage of blemishes and breakouts is to build thin layers up over the area. once you achieve your desired level of concealment, set it with a large brush and translucent powder.

Hot Tip: If a pimple comes through the night before, put some toothpaste on it overnight. The toothpaste dries out a pimple and will reduce the swelling in time for the morning! On the other hand, if it appears on the big day and it large, you can also call your dermatologist for an emergency cortisone injection, which will make that breakout disappear.

Problem: Streaky Self-Tanner Solution: Lemon juice and a loofah. If you have streaky self-tanner on your body, first try soaking in a warm bath for a few minutes and then exfoliate with a loofah. If you have extra-stubborn spots that still look streaky, rub a lemon over them. If it’s your hands that are the issues, scrub them with lemon juice. Saturate a kitchen scrubbing sponge with lemon juice and rubbing it all over your hands. The acid should exfoliate away the color. For extra stubborn spots, combine the lemon juice with the green scrubbing side to double the power. Next time you fake tan, wear a pair of latex gloves! If it’s your face that’s streaky, exfoliate very gently and apply a yellow-toned foundation — the hue will help offset the orange. you can also try lemon juice-soaked cotton balls to wipe across the streaks gently and then rinse quickly with water.

Eye Issues

Problem: Puffy Eyes Solution: A cold compress and/or Preparation H. For minimally puffy eyes, lie down and place cold cotton balls or a chilled gel eye mask over closed eyes for 5-10 minutes to drain accumulated fluids and reduce swelling. You can also use chilled, wet chamomile or green tea bags as a compress. If the swelling is more pronounced, you can apply Preparation H gel to the area for a few minutes and follow up with a cold compress. Be sure to gently wash your face to remove any residue before applying your makeup.

Problem: Dark Circles Under Eyes Solution: Concealer. It’s best to use a creamy emollient concealer to ensure it goes on on smoothly and adheres well. You should apply an eye cream lightly first with your finger. Tip: Don’t use a gel formula, it doesn’t make for a good foundation for the concealer. Next, apply a thin layer of concealer over the entire under eye area, using a concealer brush to get the best coverage and create a natural-looking base. Layer on a second coat to lighten the darkness, concentrating on the darkest part and blending up into the lash line. To keep your concealer from dropping into the crevices of skin, be sure to lightly set it with matching powder.

Makeup Issues

Problem: A Shiny Face Solution: Blotting tissues. Carefully press blotting tissues against your skin to remove any extra oil and then finish with a very light dusting of translucent powder. Hot tip: If you’re missing blotting tissues, grab a fresh seat cover from the dispenser in the ladies’ room and tear it into strips and use them to blot your face with.

Problem: Invisible Lipstick Solution: Long wearing lipstick. Pick out your favorite shade in one of the 8-24 hour lipstick formulas. You can also make your more typical lipstick last longer by layering the shade by filling in lips with a lip pencil before applying traditional lipstick, blotting, then reapplying lipstick.

Problem: Overplucked Eyebrows Solution: Eyebrow pencil. Simply fill in with an eyebrow pencil in a shade slightly lighter than your hair so that it looks natural. After filling in with the pencil, fill in the gaps with a brow powder in a matching shade to soften the line and make it look more natural.

Problem: Streaky Mascara Solution: Waterproof mascara. Be sure to start off with waterproof (not water-resistant) mascara; should you forget, carefully blot your tears and repair the area with a touch of foundation. Be careful not to wipe the area as it will only make it smear and create a bigger mess!

Problem: Clumpy Mascara Solution: A toothpick. If your mascara gets clumpy, very carefully separate the clumps with the edge of a toothpick. Be very careful doing this, so you don’t accidentally stab yourself in the eye, creating a real emergency.

Hair Issues

Problem: Flat Hair Solution: Dry shampoo or hairspray. If your hair is loose, bend over, tousle it with your fingertips, spray some dry shampoo through hair to add texture fast. If all you have is hair spray, focus it at the roots while bent over and let dry fully before flipping your head back and spray some more over the top. You can also add volume by quickly teasing it close the roots with a comb and smoothing over the top layer with a comb or brush lightly.

Problem: Frizzy Hair Solution: Hand Lotion. You can quickly calm a case of frizzy hair with a little bit of hand lotion. Simply rub it on your hands and run your fingers through your hair to distribute.

Problem: Oily Hair Solution: Dry Shampoo or Anti-bacterial Hand Gel. No time for a shower and shampoo? Simply spray dry shampoo throughout hair and style as usual. You can also use an alcohol-based product such as regular anti-bacterial hand gel (the clear kind) or even individually wrapped hand wipes available in many restaurants. Focus on the root area for best results.

Nail Issues

Problem: Chipped Nail Polish Solution: Nail polish remover and matching polish. Simply dip a cotton swab in the nail polish remover and gently smudge the edges of the chip. Fill in the area lightly with fresh polish. Finish off with a fresh coat over the full nail.

Problem: Cracked or Torn Nail or Loose Artificial Nail Solution: Super glue and nail polish. For a cracked or torn nail, remove any nail polish and use a dab of super glue and a tiny piece of tissue paper to bond the nail together. Once it’s dry, use a fine grade nail file to smooth the edges and repaint with polish. For a loose artificial nail, use a toothpick to deliver a bit of super glue to the back of the artificial nail. Touch up with polish if needed.

Smelly Issues

Problem: Deodorant Stain Solution: Pantyhose. Simply rub pantyhose against the white mark until it flakes off. The fine texture of the hose usually gets even the toughest stains on dark color out quickly.

Problem: Perfume Overdose Solution: Unscented baby wipes or a hair dryer. If you’ve overdone your perfume on your skin, simply rub the area with an unscented baby wipe to remove some of the scent. If it’s your dress that’s been over sprayed, use your hairdryer to blast fabric for a couple of minutes to cause the fragrance to dissipate more quickly.

Make Your Emergency Kit

Toss all the items in this list in your vow renewal ready bag so you’re prepared for almost any beauty emergency that can come your way. [one_half]

• Blotting tissues
• Waterproof mascara
• Foundation
• Concealer
• Translucent powder
• Small makeup brush
• Eyebrow pencil
• Brow powder
• Concealer
• Long wearing lipstick
• Preparation H gel
• Visine
• Benzol Peroxide Cream
• Hand lotion

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• Hairspray
• Unscented baby wipes
• Dry shampoo
• Hand sanitizer
• Super glue
• Nail polish
• Nail polish remover
• Tooth picks
• Pantyhose
• Bottle of lemon juice
• Cotton balls
• Kitchen sponge
• Loofah

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