Trying To Look Good

For today's post, I have very nobly offered up this ridiculous picture of myself for my readers' enjoyment. Aren't I a good sport?

Ignoring the fact that I look pretty comical, the snap is pretty good for illustrating my current focus - trying to look good. Generally.

Now I admit, it may be too early to be thinking about it, but I don't want to leave sorting myself out until a few days before our wedding, and then realise that the regimes that would have worked a treat for my skin, hair etc. should have been initiated several weeks previously...

That's why I'm currently working on improving certain features, trying out different products, and getting advice from various sources {girlfriends}. It may all seem a little vain, but don't we all want to look good from time to time?

For starters, teeth. I'm quite lucky with my gnashers in that they are straight {Thanks Orthoworld! Although thirteen year old me was not impressed with having to wear a brace at the start of puberty} and they are actually fairly white. However, I would like them to be a little more sparkly if possible. I have definitely looked back at photos of me in the past and thought Oooh my teeth could do with a bit of whitening up and I really don't want to get that feeling when looking at our wedding photos! Having mentioned this idea to my mum, Mr MM and a few friends, it seems I'm not the only one who has thought about working on my teeth before an important occasion - it's just knowing how to go about it? You & Your Wedding wrote a nice short post last month about some of the options available - I'll let you know if I give any of them go...

Next up, skin. I have struggled with bad skin since I was 12 years old, with the emphasis definitely being on the word struggle. Unfortunately I still suffer badly now with adult acne, and I may well write more about my experiences on the blog another day {let me know in the comments section if this is something you'd find interesting to read!} At the moment I am really trying to find the medications, topical treatments, skincare products and masks that work best for me. It's proving quite difficult, and I do get upset at times that I'll be looking scarred and spotty in my wedding dress. I've got an ongoing fear that the make up artist will turn up on the morning of the wedding, see my acne-ridden face and look slightly aghast at the project that lies before her... Anyway. POSITIVE THINKING. I've still got 8 months to sort my skin out. You wait, by October I'll have the glowing cheeks of Karlie Kloss.

Last up {and ending on a more optimistic note!}, hair. A couple of years ago I hated my hair - I think most people go through phases of wanting what everyone else has - and I used to despair over how to make it look healthy and lustrous, whilst also growing it long. I've managed to make a lot of progress with this in the last 12 months or so, and I'm hoping to keep up the good work in time for the wedding!

 
I've been experimenting with quite a few different shampoos and conditioners, and one I really love using at the moment is the Miracle Densifier Shampoo from Avon. It's cheap as chips, but certainly makes my hair feel thicker and fuller without being weighed down. So many of the volumising products seem to make my hair look greasy and flat, but this one hasn't done after a month of everyday use. I can thoroughly recommend!

I've also been religiously using a hair mask once a week; there are plenty to choose from the high street at the moment, and I don't think you need to be too fussy about which one you go for. It's just giving your hair a little bit more intensive moisture and nourishment - especially important in the winter months.

Finally, my hair stylist recently suggested trying out one of the Kérastase hair treatments in the salon, and it was excellent. The concentrates are selected based on your personal needs, whether you need nourishment, colour protection, or volume, and they blend your chosen shots together to create a targeted treatment which lasts up to 6 weeks. If you can find a salon near you which offers these {and they only cost about £12 a go!} then it's worth trying one out.

So there we have it, the trials and tribulations of getting my hair, skin and teeth right and trying to look good {!} Let me know your top tips on Twitter, or drop me a word of advice below...