Health, Beauty...All Beauty...

Health, Beauty & Fitness

Spa - tacular

Looking good

We’ve searched Chicagoland high and low to find our fa-vorite spots to help you destress and get gorgeous.

We’ve showcased one “treat” from each shop but many of these businesses offer several of the services listed below.

LAVA SHELL MASSAGE A heated massage that uses lava tiger shells to melt away stress, detoxify your body and leave your muscles feeling replenished and toned. The specialty shells work like heated rocks, but retain their heat much longer (up to 2 hours). Zazú Salon and Day Spa offers this luxurious massage in 50 minute, 80 minute and 110 minute intervals.

LASER BODY SCULPTING Need a full-body makeover for the new honeymoon swimsuit you just purchased? Radiance Spa in Wheaton offers laser-assisted liposuction. It “melts” away and removes unwanted fat from your body. No anesthesia, there is minimal bruising and you will see fast, dramatic results. Radiance also offers LATISSE®, a prescription treatment to make eyelashes longer, thicker and darker.

AIRBRUSH TANNING This specialty service is for the bride who wants a slight sun touched glow without the orange side effects. Airbrush tans are a customized bronzer applied by a person, rather than a machine, creating a completely flawless tan. Lasting 10-12 weeks, you should exfoliate ahead of time and allow ten hours for the tan to “set.” Available at Total Image Bridal.

COSMETIC DENTISTRY Looking for the perfect smile to say “I do” with? From tooth whitening to veneers, crowns, recontouring, braces, cleanings, oral surgery and more, Advanced Family Dental in Crest Hill and Wheaton Cosmetic Dentistry can prescribe a perfect smile just for you. Schedule procedures early in your planning process as some may take weeks or months to achieve the desired results.Downtown salons offer specialized treatments:

RUBY ROOM The Ruby Room offers Chakrassages, massages designed for your chakras. Chakras are special life and energy forces within your body. The goal is to remove excess energy and negative life experiences to help the chakras radiate positive energy throughout your body.

SPA SPACE Spa Space Salon offers a Green Tea & Ginger Detoxifying Seaweed Body Wrap to stimulate a sluggish metabolism and reduce the appearance of cellulite. The treatment starts with a full-body scrub to prepare the skin to receive the rich nutrients. The body is wrapped in seaweed to intensify the detox process and finally, a “moisture surge” lotion is applied or massaged. This relaxing session lasts 60 or 90 minutes.

CHOCOLATE SPA This elegant salon offers a unique facial dubbed the Chocolate Decadence. Rich organic chocolates and luscious pomegranates give your skin a sweet anti-oxidant treat while a collagen eye mask helps repair connective tissue. Powerfully hydrating and firming, this super-charged, ant-aging facial can be customized for all skin types.

MODERN BEAUTY FIXES

Many brides find their upcoming wedding is the perfect occasion to consider a non=invasive cosmetic procedure without having to go through the rigors of a surgical procedure.

Non-invasive laser treatments, like resurfacing and hair removal, can make all the difference as to how you feel about yourself. Laser resurfacing can remove unwanted facial lines and help with wrinkle skin due to aging or sun-damages. Laser hair removal can rid you of unwanted hair rapidly and gently.

Today's advances in cosmetic and plastic surgery have made procedures like Botox injections, chemical peels, collagen peels, and microdermabrasion extremely common alternatives for correcting skin flaws.

Many of these procedures are effective for some people more than others. Educate yourself on the type of procedures available and the possible advantages and disadvantages of each.

Caring for your rings

As the bride to be, you’ve put a lot of hard work and energy into finding the perfect wedding ring. Now you should put some more effort into keeping your wedding and engagement rings in tip-top shape

A CLEAN GLEAM: Many jewelers offer complimentary cleaning services, but you can also clean it yourself. Use a gentle detergent like ammonia diluted with 3X water and scrub with a tooth-brush for a little extra gleam.

GIVE IT A BREAK: You should, on occasion, take your ring off. This is most important when playing sports, cleaning, gardening and cooking in order to ensure your ring doesn’t get nicked, scratched, lost or chemically damaged. Use a jewelry pouch or box for safekeeping.

KEEP THE RESIDUE AT BAY: House-cleaning chemicals can leave a film on your ring. Cookie dough, piecrusts and any hand mixed product can leave film as well. It is important to keep your ring away from these scum producers in order to keep its vibrant luster.

CHECK UPS: Just like your annual doctor visits; your ring needs the same attention. Keep a regular standing appointment with your jeweler to get your setting checked. Most jew-elers suggest having your setting checked every 6 months to ensure your stone is still in place.

JUST IN CASE: Insurance is a common practice nowadays. Insuring your ring ensures you are covered in case anything ever hap-pens to it. Many companies can include your jewelry in your homeowner’s insurance. Read the fineprint and understand your responsibilities for keeping your ring in good condition.Caring for your rings

Banding it up

Beautiful rings

PPRECIOUS METALS: Platinum wedding bands have become the choice metal in recent times. Platinum is durable, but it does scratch easily and is the heaviest on your hand. Gold, a medium weight metal, is a classic choice, giving an air of sophistication with vintage appeal. A gold band is a little less expensive than platinum. While beautiful, gold does tend to scratch easily. The greater the carat number, the softer the gold. Titanium and Tungsten are incredibly durable and the strongest and lightest weight of the metals. They are considered industrial materials and are least likely to scratch. Palladium is another option like platinum in terms of appearance and durability. Keep in mind skin sensitivities to these metals.

A STYLE THAT STICKS: Women can make a statement by thinking outside the box in terms of stylized wedding bands. Why go with the standard finish when you can choose a specialized finish such as: Florentine, hammered, matte, satin or high polish. Braided styles offer a unique twist on the old standard. Wider bands are a great way to show off detail work. Engraved embellishments, filigree, scrollwork and beaded borders give a sculptural feel to the ring. Adding cultural elements such as Celtic knots and Russian interlocking bands add special significance to the overall look. If you like vintage, antique wedding rings are incredibly popular.

THE COMFY FIT: Comfort is key when choosing a wedding band, especially for the groom. A factor a groom should consider is whether or not you can wear the ring while you work. The groom should keep in mind any special requirements with machinery that a ring could catch on. Titanium is an advanced technology metal that is incredibly light-weight and easy to wear. The shape of the ring and width of the ring should also be considered when deciding on a comfortable ring. Consider the size and length of your fingers and get a proper measurement at the jeweler to ensure a correct fit. A ring design with soft round edges and an inside curve will make the ring more comfortable on the finger.

WHAT A GEM: A simple band can definitely be upgraded with the addition of gemstones to create a statement making a one-of-a-kind look. Amethysts, emeralds, rubies, topaz and sapphires are among the most popular options, but your ideas are only limited by your imagination. Many couples opt to use their birthstones for a personalized effect. Gemstones, in the past, have usually only been worn by the bride, but modern men are incorporating the stones into their bands for a touch of class. The addition of gemstones creates an ethereal and romantic setting for symbolism within your wedding band.

THE 4 Cs oF THE PERFECT DIAMOND:

COLOR The natural color visible in a diamond is determined by nature. The closer to colorless a diamond is, the more valuable.

CARAT A diamond’s size is measured in carat weight—each carat equals 100 points, but size doesn’t constitute a great piece. If it is poorly cut, it may not be as beautiful as a smaller diamond with a brilliant cut.

CUT can be considered the shape, but it is also the craftsmanship the jeweler puts into cutting the facets of the stone.The better cut a diamond is, the more sparkle, scintillation and brilliance it has.

CLARITY Purity of a diamond is rated in terms of clarity. Natural elements called inclusions can become stuck within the stone. The less inclusions, the higher clarity a diamond has.This can be viewed with a special magnifier called a loupe.

Finishing Touches

Looking perfect

Feeling Fit. Get the energy boost, toned body, and stress relief you’ve always wanted with a personal fitness regimen.

A personal trainer can help you improve your physical fitness, lose weight, or firm up “trouble” spots. Many also offer nutritional counseling to make sure you’re eating the right foods for your energy and fitness goals. Health clubs usually offer consultations and personal training services. You may want to schedule several sessions to establish a regular exercise program—some great time to also look forward to de-stress from your hectic pre-wedding pace.

Primping Before Your Wedding

model9 Longer hair, smoother skin, a buffed body. Nearly everyone has a longing to improve on nature.

This is the time to discover your potential. Schedule a consultation six months before your ceremony with a consultant who specializes in refining a woman’s assets. A total beauty consultation covers you from head to toe. Expect expert advice on caring for your skin, getting your nails in shape, silkening your body and growing healthy hair.

This overall evaluation will help you look your absolute best.

Modern Beauty Fixes

model8 Many brides find their upcoming wedding is just the special occasion to consider a non-invasive cosmetic procedure—addressing a beauty issue they may have had for quite some time—without having to go through the rigors of a surgical procedure.