The Traditional Bride
Beauty Notes: Kevyn Aucoin lipstick, Liquid Airbrush Foundation, and blush in Miracle, and Stila eyeshadows in Starlight, Moonlight, Barefoot Contessa from Do’s & Lipstick in Solana Beach

Accessories: Aria pearl and diamond necklace and earrings from Tiffany & Co. in Fashion Valley and Headpieces by Toni fingertip-length veil with silver-stitched edge, freshwater pearls, and crystals from M Bride in La Jolla

Bridal 411
The number one, most important rule for a bride to be: do not get experimental right before your wedding. If you are interested in trying something new (depending on what it is) start six months in advance.

For example, new skin care products or procedures may react badly with your skin. Starting six months out leaves time to heal if there’s a problem. Don’t try Botox or Restylane for the first time a month prior to your big day. If you don’t like it, you’re stuck.

Do start taking excellent care of your hair at least six months prior. Go to the salon and get professional treatments or buy high-quality products, such as hair masques from Kerastase, and use them religiously.

Same thing for your skin and your teeth. See a professional for regular facials or use great masks, exfoliators, and moisturizers consistently at home. Don’t forget sunscreen; your skin should have a healthy, vibrant glow to it.

Have your teeth whitened by a dentist or use in-home teeth whiteners like Go Smile. They’re the most target-specific, the most sanitary, with the best payoff of all the whiteners. You don’t want yellow teeth with a white dress.

If your eyebrows have been over-waxed or over-tweezed let them grow out and see a professional makeup artist to get them going and growing in the right direction. Whatever you do, don’t wax. Your eye area is far too delicate and waxing is an imprecise procedure that blindly removes rows of hair in one fell swoop. Tweezing is the only way to properly shape a brow.

Make sure you do a test run with your hair and makeup about two months before your wedding. This way if you’re not happy with the job someone did, you have time to find someone else. Also, if you plan on doing it yourself, take a makeup lesson from a pro. This allows you time to hone your skills and come back and ask any questions.

Regarding makeup, a typical rule of thumb is that you really want to look like yourself, only enhanced. If you’re a natural girl, an easy sun-kissed glow will be pretty. If you’re a renaissance type, a bolder lip and lovely pale, matte skin will do. And if you’re the traditional bride, a moderate smoky eye with rosy lips will be beautiful. Remember, your groom should be able to recognize you while unknowingly thinking you look lovelier now than ever before.

You do want to take into consideration the time of your nuptials — daytime or nighttime. This will also dictate certain aspects of your makeup. Talk with your photographer about the lighting and let your makeup artist know the details too. Another important photo detail — will they be taken be taken or outside? Your makeup will be influenced by these things. Consider taking some photos before the wedding while your hair and makeup are fresh.

When you go to get your hair and makeup done on your wedding day, be sure to wear a button-down or zippered shirt or jacket. This way you won’t have to pull something over your head. Bring a straw as well so you can have a drink without smearing your lipstick. And be sure to purchase the lip color your makeup artist uses for touch ups. — Mona Van Cleve, photography by Rene Velasco, makeup by Mona Van Cleve for Stila, hair by Crystal Birkhead for Kerastase, model: Melanie Gudim

Quick Makeup Tips:

If you can’t go without bronzer then go easy. Otherwise it looks unnatural.

Use powder blushes instead of creams; they last longer.

Don’t use lip plumpers (unless your hubby-to-be doesn’t mind a tingly feeling when he kisses you).

Use waterproof mascara in case you get emotional.

Stay true to who you are when it comes to your look. You want your photos to be timeless, not trendy.

Try not to celebrate on the nights right before your wedding; you want to look fresh, not puffy and dehydrated.

Have fun, this is your day to shine.

Pucker Up
Kiehl’s has introduced "simply mahvelous" lip gloss formulated to keep your lips loving life. The company has released eight different shades, including Kiehl’s potted gloss classics, Goldenberry, and Black Raspberry. Made with beta-carotene, vitamin E, and various fruit extracts, these new glosses provide deep hydration and antioxidant protection, helping your lips stay supple and healthy. The sheer, non-sticky formula is newly packaged in a convenient, hygienic tube for easy application. The additional shades include Clearly Kiehl’s, Pear Tree, Earth Day, Pink Rider, Icy Everest, and Berry 1851. Each lip gloss costs $13.50. They are available at Kiehl’s stores and specialty retailers, as well as on the Kiehl’s Web site and through mail order. (800/KIEHLS-1, www.keihls.com) — Rina Van Orden

Fuel For The Brain
Firing up the brain’s synapses takes on added meaning when a child is brain injured. Old paradigms suggest that such conditions are unalterable. Not so, says David "Beba" Witkowski, director of Cognition Ignition, an institution that works one-on-one with both healthy and challenged clients to improve cognitive ability.

"The brain is modifiable," he says. "The belief is that traumatic brain injured people cannot gain memory back, yet it’s all possible by creating a structure to redirect brain functions."

The theories and principles are based on the work of clinical psychologist Reuven Feuerstein, PhD. Feuerstein wasn’t convinced that traditional IQ tests accurately measured the ability of children orphaned in the Holocaust. He reassessed the children based on their capacity to learn, not solely on their level of performance. These studies led to his theories on structural cognitive modifiability and mediated learning experiences.

When asked how long the results of Cognition Ignition’s exercises last, Witkowski doesn’t hesitate. "Forever," he says. "There is no going backwards. The only way to lose your rewards is to sustain further traumatic injury." Chuck Hansen, a brain injury survivor and adult student in the program, says, "The instrumentation involved really rebuilds short term memory. I used to say that I can tell you the names of all the great therapists from 40 years ago, but I didn’t have a clue what I had for breakfast that morning. Now, my short-term memory is coming back." (760/436-2408, www.cognitionignition.com)
— Kathe Gogolewski