Bridal Beauty Countdown - The Checklist
From Maria Chang of Professional Makeup Artistry

One Year
Treat acne early
Visit your dermatologist and work on a one year plan to clear your skin. Blue light and laser treatments are a great solution. Alternatively, your doctor might prescribe birth control pills or oral antibiotics, along with vitamin A-based creams.
Prepare your hair
Go from short to shoulder length (based on average half-inch growth per month). Do not cut your hair in layers! Layers are the enemy of up do's! Get trims every four months to eliminate split ends, take multi-vitamins to spur growth, and go easy on blow dryers, curling irons, and flat irons, which may damage and break hair.
Begin an exercise regimen
To stay healthy and on track, eat a wide variety of foods; portions of protein and carbs should fit in the palm of your hand (eat all the fruits & vegetables you want). Kick start your metabolism and build muscle--both burn calories--by incorporating a three-times-a-week workout:
• cardiovascular exercise (20 minutes)
• strength training (30 minutes)
• fitness routine like Yoga or Pilates (30 to 45 minutes)
Six Months
Get luminous skin
Microdermabrasion helps you achieve a healthy glow by spraying silicon-like crystal on the skin to deeply exfoliate; you'll need as many as six treatments, with two to four weeks' downtime in between. Light Salicylic-acid peels--try four to six treatments, with three-week breaks in between--can help you achieve the same radiant results.
Repair overly processed hair
Gradually restore some of your natural color in the form of lowlights adding depth and richness, and dimension to over highlighted hair. Start doing deep conditioning treatments once a month. Have accent highlights done two or three weeks prior to the wedding.
Tone muscles
Whether is firming your arms or your tummy, devote 30 to 45 minutes per week of resistance training to each area (add stretching to lengthen muscles). After three months, increase weights, exercise intensity, or repetitions.
Four Weeks
Prepare for last minute breakouts
As you get closer to the wedding the stress level goes up and so the breakouts. Your dermatologist can prescribe last minute oral antibiotics. An injection of cortisone or the application of cortisone cream by a local nurse or doctor could reduce the swelling and redness of a blemish, an allergic skin reaction or an insect bite in a matter of hours. Have your Dermatologist office number on speed dial!
Start using a hand lotion
Your hands will be photographed countless of times the day of the wedding. Invest on a good hand treatment such a paraffin wax. Use a daily hand lotion and don't forget to reapply every time you wash your hands.
Hydrate
The best thing you can do for your body and skin is to drink lots of water! Drink at least 1 gallon a day. Stop or reduce your caffeine intake, coffee dehydrates the skin and can raise stress levels as you get closer