4 Products To Use Pre-Wedding

Photographer: Christina Karst (https://www.christinakarst.com/)

It seems like just yesterday - I was still wedding planning. Where did all the time go? I can’t believe we’ve been married for a month today. I am so proud of myself for getting in a little routine pre-wedding. So, I wanted to share some of the products I loved leading up to the big day. I can’t say I’ve stuck with them since then - only because life has been a little crazy. Wedding, buying a house, packing, moving...still unpacking. A lot of these items are in mystery boxes all around our house. And, sadly, I landed a cold a few days ago. So, while I sip my Theraflu, let me tell you about some products I love for wedding day prep (and beyond)!

Opalescence Go

If you know me, you know I’m an avid coffee drinker. But, I can’t say that leaves my teeth as bright and white as I’d love, so I whitened them with Opalescence Go. This is a product that should be purchased through your dental professional. Lucky for me, my mom is in the dental field. So, occasionally, she sends me these. I’ve tried using Crest Whitestrips in the past, but my teeth are just TOO sensitive to handle those.

So What Is It?
These are convenient teeth whitening trays that come in two flavors (Mint and Melon) and offered in two strengths (10% and 15%). I wear the 15% mint.

With the 15% solution, it’s recommended to wear your trays for 15–20 minutes for 5 to 10 days to get your desired results. I kind of think teeth photos are a little weird, so I will not be posting before and afters here...lol.

Why I Love This: They aren’t messy and don’t require a lot of time to get results. And, personally, I don’t experience any teeth sensitivity with this product.

Cost: They are a little pricey if you compare them to other at-home teeth whitening options. However, I trust this product and they don’t make my teeth hurt.

Opalesence Go Whitening Trays

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DR. DENNIS GROSS SKINCARE Alpha Beta® Extra Strength Daily Peel

Yo, I was a 30 year old bride. Ain’t no shame in that, but I wanted those close ups to be GLOWY! If you’re younger than me reading this (even if you’re not about to walk down the aisle), start now with skincare products. I first heard about this product from Lauryn Evarts Bosstick of The Skinny Confidential - these little peel pads are magic.

So What Is It?
Let’s go with what Sephora says: “A daily anti-aging AHA/BHA extra strength peel that combats common signs of aging to reveal radiant, smooth skin. The patented two-step formula contains seven acids, is easy and safe to use at home, and does not require any recovery time. Step one is packed with rejuvenating, powerful, yet gentle exfoliating acids. Step two controls the alpha hydroxy acid activity, delivers anti-aging actives, nourishes, and keeps skin balanced, smooth, and radiant. Skin immediately looks refreshed and perfectly prepped for a more effective skin care routine. Expect to see improved texture and diminished fine lines with continued use.”

LIFE HACK: You get two wipes per pack, one for each of the two steps in the process. Cut them into ¼’s. Place what you aren’t using pack into the foil packet, and then seal in plastic zip-top bag. I’m still seeing results following this method! :)

Why I Love This: You know how you use some products, and you just keep waiting for something to happen? Well, you’ll see this happen. I’ve watched my skin actually improve, and it’s bonkers. I love when a product really works!

Cost: There’s no other way to say it ….these are EXPENSIVE especially for something that looks identical to the little hand wipes you are handed after eating chicken wings or BBQ. A 30-day treatment (minus the hack I shared above) will set you back ~$88 on Sephora.com.

Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Extra Strength Daily
Peel Pads
$88 on Sephora.com

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THE ORDINARY "Buffet”

I’m all about skin care these days. I spent too much time in the sun as a Florida beach baby. So, while I ALWAYS wore (and still wear) sunscreen, it only does so much when you lived in the Sunshine State for 26 years. Those years of sun damage are basically irreversible - which is why I’m such an advocate for SUNSCREEN Every. Single. Day. I digress.

I’ve been using this product for a few months, and I love the results. It’s kind of hard to tell which one product is making a difference (it could be all of them). I’ve adopted a pretty good skincare routine that I can share in full another time. But, this is something I never (hardly ever) skip. I use it morning and night after washing, toning and (nightly) after the peel pads.

So What Is It?

Again, I turn to Sephora for the science and facts... “A multi-peptide serum with syn-ake, matrixyl synthe-6, matrixyl 3000, argirelox, hyaluronic acid, amino acids and bio-derivatives to target multiple signs of aging. This formula combines a comprehensive array of studied technologies to target multiple signs of aging at once. The technologies are matrixyl 3,000 peptide complex, matrixyl synthe'6 peptide complex, syn-ake peptide complex, relistase peptide complex, argirelox peptide complex, probiotic complex in a base of 11 skin-friendly amino acids, and multiple hyaluronic acid complexes. The total concentration of these technologies in the formula by weight is 25.1 percent.”

Why I Love This: It’s as simple as this - it does what it says. I’ve seen great results with this product in terms of fine lines, dullness and dryness. It has a nice consistency and soaks in quickly.

Cost: As a brand, The Ordinary is a notable for carrying affordable skincare. This will only set you back $14.80 from Sephora.

The Ordinary “Buffet” Multi-Technology Peptide Serum
$14.80 on Sephora.com

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JERGENS® Natural Glow® Wet Skin Moisturizer

Ok, even though I try to avoid the sun, I still like a nice glow! I have to be upfront and say this is NOT a clean beauty product. :( I REALLY wish it were, and I’m on the hunt for something similar with clean ingredients now that the wedding is over. But, this is what I used and I really do like it. I probably could’ve been a bit more consistent with it. Personally, I didn’t ever plan on getting a spray tan before my wedding. It’s not something I do regularly (actually, I’ve never done it!). So, if you take one piece of advice from me, don’t do anything (like tanning) that isn’t in your normal routine leading up to wedding day. I’ve actually used this product for a really long time, and I’ve repurchased it more than once.

So What Is It?

This product is probably something you’re semi-familiar with even if you’ve never used it because the original version has been on the market for years. Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer is a lotion that gives you a gradual tan over a period of a few days. This product is only different in it’s application. You put it on right before you exit the shower, and then towel off. No need to rinse or let it dry.

Why I Love It: It’s easy. Slap it on after the shower, and you’ll see a glow in a few days time. It’s not going to give you super dark color like a traditional sunless tanner. But, it’s a glow — ya know?

Cost: Not pricey. $8.49 on Target.com

Jergens Natural Glow Wet Skin Moisturizer
$8.49 on Target.com

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Let me know if you try any of these products!

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All products were purchased by me (with exception of the whitening trays, gifted by my mom), and all opinions are my own. I am not compensated for my opinions here, or if you purchase from the links I’ve included in this post.

Yes To The Dress

You know how they say a little girls dream of their wedding day. Yeah, well, then there’s me. I literally had zero expectations or ideas when I started planning this whole thing, and when it comes to my dress - it was no different.

Don’t get it twisted. I’m excited, but also riddled with anxiety (thanks DNA!) with all the details. And, ironically, I love details. I’m a creative project manager for crying out loud. I swim in details all day long. However, that Type 1 Ennegram comes out to play when I feel the need that everything should feel perfect on my Big Day.

So, when it came to choosing the dress, sure I pinned a few on Pinterest. But, I went in with a REALLY open mind about what I wanted. All my friends gave amazing advice - try on all the silhouettes because there will be some surprises. That couldn’t have been more true. To get to THE DRESS, I first have to drag you through the mess. So, grab your popcorn! 

So, my first dress shopping experience was in Austin at David’s. I knew I was going back to Florida the following week to look with my mom and future mother-in-law in tow. So, I wanted to have some of the initial ideas in mind. My friend, Betsy, was so sweet and met up with me to look for options. None of my bridesmaids live in Texas, and Betsy is one of my closest friends here. Honestly, the first dress I tried on felt right! I loved it. I still kinda do. I think she can attest - it was a great dress! It even had sleeves. 

But, never-the-less, I still wanted to give my mom and mother-in-law the experience of shopping with me! So, in Jacksonville, we made an appointment at The White Magnolia. I kept getting drawn to ball gown styles - which honestly wasn’t really on my radar. But, wow they make your waist look so tiny even if it’s just an illusion! However, these moms were picking up on every little thing I did. And, they noticed that a dress on a mannequin had caught my eye early on.

They asked the stylist to pull it. And, wow it was gorgeous. (*this would sort of be the dress I ended up buying...more on that later*)

My mom was throwing all caution to the wind. She kept pulling stuff out of the budget. LOL, lady was LIV-ingggg! Anyway, I decided to at least sleep on it. One hesitation was that the color of the sample dress was almost gray, so it was hard to picture in the color I really wanted. 

Not to mention, I was still dreaming of that first dress (can this get more cliche?). So, I marched right back to David’s as soon as I got back from Florida. It was the one. I texted all my friends... only to find out minutes later that the dress wouldn’t arrive until a week before my wedding - * CUE THE DRAMATICS *! I left the store crying. I was SO bummed out. The stylist told me initially that as long as I ordered by end of March that the dress would be here by Mid-July. Y’all SHOUT-OUT fiance of the year...he called them and demanded answers. But, basically they just said “Sorry…”. Womp womp. 

I knew I needed to order a dress ASAP. These things can take months to come in. So, I quickly started calling shops around Austin for the earliest appointment possible. Listen! I am not kidding when I say I think God looked down on me parted the heavens and lead me straight to Naomi at Blue Bridal Boutique. 

To start, I immediately explained the whole fiasco, and I just felt a sense of peace and knew that Naomi was my person! She was going to help me find this dress, and I knew I could trust her from the moment I met her. I run my life on good vibes. If I’m not feeling it, I can’t fake it or force it. I knew instantly that she had good energy, and was going to make this a positive experience. 

We tried on all sorts of options. Honestly, it made me want 8 dresses. Wedding dresses are fun. Like, when do you really get to wear something so extravagant? Personally, I kind of loved not taking a huge group of people to try-on dresses. The process already felt like tons of pressure to me, so for me, it helped not to have a ton of other opinions to sift through.

Finally, Naomi said “Do you want to try on the dress again?” - hinting at the dress from Florida. And, of course I did! She actually had it in the color I was hoping for and it was just magic! We experimented with belts and veils. And, she so graciously took ALLLLL the photos for my mom and friends.

Blue Bridal Boutique has so many collections and options and the showroom is honestly stunning. You feel like a bride there. Now, I know they can’t pull too many strings, and I got really lucky. But, my dress came in a whole MONTH early - which was amazing because I was able to go into alterations basically immediately. While they do not offer in-house alterations, they do have an extensive list of the best in Austin.

If you’re searching for a seamstress in Austin, please reach out to me directly and I’m happy to provide contact information for the woman that helped me. (I’ll share her information publicly once we are married.) She was wonderful to work with and from the time of my first fitting, my dress was back in my hands two short weeks later. I can’t guarantee that for you (totally depends on what you need done), but it was a great experience.

So, that’s that! The next step is hauling this baby to Florida for the wedding. Our next trip to Florida is in September, and the plan is to take the dress then so I don’t have to stress about it in wedding month.

FOR FUN, TELL ME IN THE COMMENTS HOW MANY DRESSES YOU TRIED ON!