Beauty and the Bash
'Tis the season to be jolly, with parties and more parties lining up! Your calendar begins to fill with holiday celebrations, and some of you may even be adding a 'Bachelorette' party to the mix. What fun! At the risk of being called a 'party pooper', let me add just a few notes of caution before you go out for that pre-wedding, girls-only 'final fling'...
Every bride wants to look her dewy, beautiful best as she glides down the aisle. No matter how stunning your gown, or how beautiful the flowers, you and your bridesmaids will not make the intended impression if you're hung over, puffy-faced, red-eyed, bruised and bleary. Pre-wedding stress can drain a girl, and a wild 'girls' night out' on the prior evening may give you that "Nightmare Before Christmas" look the next day, which, I'm assuming, is not your goal. Just remember -- alcohol affects women differently than it does men.
If you doubt that stress can create a drawn, haggard appearance, check out this article on About.com. Months of fretting over wedding plans can give you dull-looking skin, cause hair loss and leave unattractive dark circles under your eyes.
For healthy looking skin, drinking plenty of water every day, eating lots of fresh fruits and veggies, and getting as much sleep as possible will serve you well in the long run. Being a total-control freak and obsessing over every last detail will earn you a worn-out, burned-out appearance on your big day, so let go and delegate, girl!
And then there's the pre-wedding partying; rehearsal dinners, wedding showers and of course your 'Bachelorette' bash. Alcohol to excess will dehydrate you, can give you blotchy skin and bloodshot eyes, and a not-so-alluring 'eau de booze' may ooze from your pores on the morning after.
One of ethanol's (the form of alcohol we drink) effects on the body is to disrupt kidney function, causing you to lose too much body fluid. The result next day is dried-out skin and mucus membranes -- hardly a recipe for radiance! Too much partying can also lead to broken capillaries, creating an 'interesting' spider web design on the surface of your skin. And what if you happen to take a tumble due to impaired balance? No one wants to see a bruised bride limping to the altar!
Please don't think I'm suggesting you cloister yourself, or become a big bore this year. There's no need to sacrifice fun while everyone else is celebrating the season. Have a great time and enjoy the holiday festivities to the max, but do use good common sense and let your vanity be a positive influence. You'll want to be stunning, not stumbling, on your big day.
If you have any questions, please write in and ask! I'll do my best to give you the help you need, or direct you to a good source for more information.
Nancy Miller, RN, BA Psych, CHyT
Nancy Miller got her RN degree in 1975 and went on to earn a BA in Humanistic Psychology from Goucher College in 2002. She's also a certified hypnotherapist and an ordained minister. Nancy is the mother of one child, her 24 year old son Eric, of whom she is extremely proud.
Looking for more Nurse Nancy? Read her feature column on "Introducing New Babies to Pets"!
