The wedding day is a time in a girl’s life when she dreams of
shining like a star and dazzling everyone with her breathtaking
beauty. Tireless efforts spanning months together go into at-
taining that‘oh-so-perfect’ look for the D-day. But, while the
bride-to-be is busy scrubbing her face with that mudpack for a
rosy glow, her hands and feet are often crying for attention.
Hands and feet seldom receive the same care and treatment as the rest of the body. The bride should therefore, go for a beauty
care regime that looks beyond those once-a-month manicures and
pedicures.


Manicure Magic
Irregular shape of nails with cracking skin on the hands presents a shoddy image of the bride. Imagine flinching in embarrassment when asked by the priest to bring forward your hands during the wedding ceremony because they don’t shine as much as your face. Dr Apratim Goel, official dermatologist for L’Oreal Paris, recommends skin polishing once in two weeks. Apart from this, regular application of hand cream and sunscreen with moisturizer during the day is a must.
A SPA manicure with some therapy at the Christian Georgio SPA, Grand Hyatt, Mumbai, can also help rejuvenate and revitalise the skin and remove tan. It includes ‘reflexology’, done with special hot and cold stones on pressure points to improve blood circulation, and has a relaxing, detoxifying and de-stressing result.


Best food forward
No matter how regular she is with her pedicure appointments, the
feet are bound to develop cracks and coarseness over time. after
all it’s your wedding and you are spending maximum time shopping,
out in the sun and dust. AT night, before retiring, soak you feet
in hot water mixed with coarse salt, almond oil and shampoo for
about 20 minutes. This helps to soften the dead skin on the heels.
Rub the heels gently with a pumice stone or a heel scrubber, in
order to remove the dead cells. Avoid metal scrubbers. After
washing the feet, massage with a good cream, rubbing it into the
skin. Apply the cream generously on the heels. Bandage the heels
with a clean cloth, or cotton wool and surgical gauze and wear
cotton socks to bed. This way, the cream will remain on the heels
and not get smeared on to the bedclothes.
Apart from this DR. Goel from L’Oreal also recommend! different
pedicures like dry, wet, French, paraffin, ho oil, AHA etc.



Tale of the Nail
Marion clocheau, SPA manager at jean claude Biguine advocates the Biguine SPA manicure, “I would strongly suggest the Biguine Bio SPA manicure. This season indulge your nails and go for dark glamorous colours, metallic sheens and high glossy finishes that perfectly complimen jewel tones, moody greys, browns and lush blue-reds that are in fashion right now”.
A common problem that women often tend to face is that of nails turning yellow. To get rid of the yellowish tint on nails, Shahnaz Husain suggests that you scrape the surface of the nail with the finest-grain side of an emery board, so that the nail is not damaged and then use a UV-resistant or clear polish for protection. It will also add shine to dull nails. The nails can also be “buffed” to remove the yellow tinge and add shine. This is usually done with a piece of chamois leather by rubbing it gently. You can add backing soda to water and soak your fingers in the concoction daily for 15 minutes. Pieces of lemon can be rubbed on the nails, or dilute lemon juice with water and soak your hands in it for 10 minutes everyday.


The Bling and the Ring
The D-day is here! It is the day of the ring exchange ceremony and you have been so engrossed in shopping and visiting the boutique that it never occurred to you that your hands require singular attention for this special day. Shahnaz Husain suggests The Diamond Skin Polish, as it includes all treatments that make skin soft and radiant. The paraffin wax treatment, she adds, also brings softness and shine, as do the diamond products, which contain actual diamond dust, along with other herbal extracts and oils that can bring that special glow to your hands.
Or, just in case you do have time before D-day and are wondering which treatment will ensure those stunning looking hands then we have the answer. A little extra care of your hands will pay in the long run.
Shobha Sehgal, head of business, Day spa and beauty zone, VLCC advises “starting six weeks prior to the big day, massage the hands once a week with olive oil and a little table salt added to it. You can even go in for nail extension, subtle nail art or a paraffin or aroma manicure.”


Crack Attack
The winters can be particularly rough on your skin leaving it with a dry and lusterless feel. Special skin care is therefore, needed for all you winter brides. According to Shobha from VLCC, well-moisturised hands and feet with good quality hand cream helps keep dryness at bay. Washing them with lukewarm and applying glycerin, rose water and lemon juice before going to bed can also treat chapped hands.
Priya Kumar, beauty expert, Bella Madonna, recommends a rather appetising treatment for the winter chill-a chocolate manicure and pedicure. “A chocolate manicure and pedicure is a must for winters. Apply moisturiser twice daily. Try and keep your feet out of hard water”, she says.

Before and After
“One of the most important aspects of pre-wedding beauty care is to ensure that your hands and feet are receiving the same amount of attention as the rest of your body”, says from Biguring adding, “soaking your hands in warm oil is a luxurious and moisturising exercise. The skin on your hands will benefit from being gently exfoliated once a week. You could use your normal face scrub or a product specific one for this purpose”. The best treatment for hands and feet care according to Christian Georgio, Grand Hyatt Mumbai would be a professional SPA manicure and pedicure with stone therapy, complimented by some specific home care routines. Three months of three to six treatments of the royal, paraffin or SPA manicure/pedicure is sufficient time thoroughly improve the growth and texture of the nails.
The stunning image that the bride acquires during the time of her wedding should not be discarded later. Since the new roles adopted by the newlywed bride will keep her even busier, the least she can do is continue with her daily cleansing, moisturising and toning routine, suggests Priya from Bella Madonna.
A beautiful you are not just about a pretty face and smart dressing. It is also about actively caring for the most active parts of your body, your hands and feet. Well-groomed hands and feet go a long way in boosting a bride’s confidence and adding to that ultimate chic look.


Do It Yourself
 It is suggested that every bride-to-be should go in for a basic pedicure every two weeks. Feet dipped in warm water with a little shampoo and vegetable oil added to it, provides a good starting point. After soaking the feet for 10-15 minutes, rub them (especially soles) with a pumice stone. This is the time to clean the nails and remove all old nail polishes.
 As you prepare for the wedding day, be careful about biting or
chipping your nails, and don’t wear any polish. This prevents the
nails from yellowing.
 Quick pedicure tip: add a few (four to five) drops of vinegar to four or five table spoons (40-50 grams) of curd and mix well in a dish. Rub this mixture well on the feet, ankles, heels and the soles of the feet especially between the toes. Let it stay on for 10 minutes and then wash off with warm water.
 If you suffer from the tendency to develop cracks on your heels then your feet require regular care. Try this natural remedy every three days before going to bed. Immerse feet in warm water to which 10ML of lemon juice and 20ML of coconut oil have been added. Scrub the heel area after 20 minutes with a pumice stone. Dry thoroughly and apply a foot cream.
 You can even prepare a homemade moisturiser for the skin, especially the feet. Mix rose water and glycerin in equal proportions and store. Use it whenever required, especially after any kind of feet care treatment. Replace this mixture every month.