High school reunions are a great way to get in touch with your former classmates and see what’s going on in everyone’s lives. You can get reacquainted with your old friends and maybe even make a few new ones that you never would’ve expected. If you’re nervous about what you should wear or what people will think of the older you, there’s no need to worry. There are plenty of ways to ensure that you’ll look fabulous and younger for the big event. Here are a few from Allure magazine.
Amp up your eyes
Eyes are usually the feature that people notice first, so it’s important to make sure yours are giving off the right first impression. You want bright, wide-awake eyes that look young and vibrant. The key to pulling this off is by de-puffing them and eliminating dark circles on the day of the event. Use a cold compress or even a frozen bag of peas to cool down your lids for ten minutes, then use a product like Sothys – Active-Contour Age-Defying Cream (Eyes). It will reduce the depth of wrinkles and fine lines, and if you keep it in the fridge, it’ll have extra de-puffing powers. Afterwards, use Jane Iredale – Active Light Under-eye Concealer to hide dark circles and signs of fatigue without any creasing.
Steer clear of acne
Even if your high school days are over, that doesn’t mean that your acne has completely gone away. If you’re still prone to the occasional breakout, it’s important to take preventative measures before the event. Wash your face twice daily with a cleanser meant for acne-prone skin, and consider using a product with benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid afterwards. If you already have a breakout close to the event, do some damage control by warming up your skin with a warm compress, like a damp washcloth, for several minutes. Once your pores have opened, use two clean Q-tips to press on either side of a pimple to get rid of it, then use a zit-sapping product on top before concealer.
Get a dewy glow
You don’t want to look drab and burned out or oily on the day of your reunion, so use a product like BABOR – Advanced Biogen Intensive Repair in the days leading up to the event. Your face will have a smoother texture immediately and the formula will help with any scarring, abrasions and excess oil. Make sure to use plenty of moisturizer, and a facial spritzer like GloMinerals – gloMoist Hydration Mist can give you a quick pick-me-up, even in the bathroom of the venue!
Whiten your smile
There’s nothing like yellowing teeth to make you look older, so turn up the brightness of your smile with a kit like Supersmile – Professional Whitening System (Large). You’ll have much more confidence without even having to step foot in the dentist’s office. To get rid of any stains, you may want to try using hydrogen peroxide. Just dip a washcloth in it, then use it to scrub stains from the surface of your teeth. GoSMILE – TOUCH UP Mini (pear-licious) can also help you get rid of stains from coffee or wine on the day of the reunion.
Shine up your hair
Dull, dry hair can make you look much older, so it’s important to pamper your locks before the big day so your tresses will be glowing along with your face. Use a luxurious masque like BORGHESE – Fango Active Mud for Hair and Scalp, which will give you plenty of body and moisture. When you’re styling, use a shine spray like Hamadi – Shea Spray to get soft, luscious hair that your girlfriends will be jealous of.
If you're worried about a lackluster smile, have no fear. Plenty of teeth-whitening products, like Supersmile – Professional Whitening System, can gently and safely whiten your teeth 'til they're practically blinding! Once you've gotten a brighter smile, you will likely want to keep it that way, so be careful what you eat and how you treat your teeth to avoid re-staining them.
Dental care is important to maintain a healthy, white smile. Dentists recommend brushing your teeth at least twice a day and flossing once a day to remove plaque. A whitening toothpaste will also help to remove stains and prevent yellowing. Not only will taking care of your teeth prevent stains, but you'll also keep them healthy and avoid cavities.
Brush or rinse your teeth immediately after eating or drinking foods that can potentially color your teeth permanently, like red wine, tea, berries and coffee. A straw can help your teeth avoid coming into contact with staining liquids.
Every so often, consider retouching your teeth with a whitening product. If you smoke or drink lots of stain-inducing beverages, you may need to re-whiten more often. As long as you keep up your dental hygiene, there's no reason why your pearly whites won't stay that way!
We're confident most of you wouldn't douse your teeth in Clorox to attain the perfect shade of whiteness, but it's always useful to know what to look for in specially-formulated teeth-whitening systems.
"The at-home whitening systems that use peroxide are just as effective – but not as fast – as office treatments, which combine peroxide and a light or laser," according to Allure.com. "Avoid trays that were not created with a mold of your mouth – the peroxide can leak out and irritate your gums."
Beyond this, it's always a good idea to reach only for products that have been approved by the American Dental Association (ADA). You wouldn't want to take medicines or vitamins that hadn't passed safety standards, so why take risks with your teeth?
Lastly, it's important to stick to a product you find manageable. Strips and professional whitening systems are among the most effective do-it-yourself products, but many people prefer to whiten up in other ways – check out Supersmile Whitening Floss or Supersmile Professional Whitening Gum if you're curious.
If you've been fretting over the condition of your smile for the past couple weeks but haven't gotten up the motivation to do anything about it, you've actually got the perfect time-frame between now and Valentine's Day to whiten up your grin.
Lest you get complacent, however, you'll want to start immediately in order to fix up your smile for cupid's holiday, as two weeks is generally the minimum that's required for most teeth-whitening systems to work.
If you're feeling a bit short on time, try Supersmile Professional Whitening System – some may see results in as little as 10 days, and you barely have to take a minute out of your regular beauty routine to make it work. The accelerator and toothpaste work in tandem and the products can be used as a substitute for your regular teeth-cleaning regimen.
Those of you who are really on the go will love the convenience of Supersmile's Professional Whitening Gum. It's exactly what it sounds like – sugar-free gum that not only provides lasting whitening results, but promotes fresh breath and gum health as well.
While girls who are planning their weddings can often feel overwhelmed by massive to-do lists, there is one component that ladies should not neglect – their beauty routine! Not only will the bride be the center of attention on her big day, her look will be immortalized in the hundreds of wedding pictures taken throughout the celebration.
However, brides-to-be usually have their days filled with appointments with various vendors and professionals. Luckily, according to Glamour.com, there are a few beauty treatments that can be done while you sleep.
“Overnight’s the ideal time to do teeth-whitening treatments because you produce less saliva when sleeping, which means less fluid to wash away the active ingredients,” the news source reports. “You’ll also be less aware of any stinging sensations, which some people experience.”
Additionally, women can fight dry skin as they snooze. Before bedtime, apply a rich moisturizer, such as L’Occitane Shea Butter Ultra Rich Body Cream, to your hands and feet and slip on a pair of thick socks and gloves. When you wake up, your skin will feel smooth and look flawless!