[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/beauty-treatments-worth-the-splurge-and-which-ones-to-avoid\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/beauty-treatments-worth-the-splurge-and-which-ones-to-avoid\/","headline":"Beauty Treatments Worth the Splurge (and Which Ones to Avoid!)","name":"Beauty Treatments Worth the Splurge (and Which Ones to Avoid!)","description":"Beauty Treatments Worth the Splurge (and Which Ones to Avoid!) We reveal which beauty treatments are worth the splurge before the big day, as well...","datePublished":"2012-05-01","dateModified":"2021-07-08","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/author\/admin\/#Person","name":"Equally Wed","url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/author\/admin\/","identifier":787,"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ca62cf123aaaf135c80b055249bacbda79de9226e11cdfcde6529bedf89683de?s=96&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/ca62cf123aaaf135c80b055249bacbda79de9226e11cdfcde6529bedf89683de?s=96&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Equally Wed","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"http:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/equally-wed-lgbtq-weddings-logo.jpg","url":"http:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/equally-wed-lgbtq-weddings-logo.jpg","width":218,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/lauren-lazaro-wedding-makeup-artist.jpg","url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/lauren-lazaro-wedding-makeup-artist.jpg","height":253,"width":200},"url":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/beauty-treatments-worth-the-splurge-and-which-ones-to-avoid\/","about":["Beauty & Grooming"],"wordCount":1697,"articleBody":"Beauty Treatments Worth the Splurge (and Which Ones to Avoid!) We reveal which beauty treatments are worth the splurge before the big day, as well as money-saving alternatives. With an abundance of beauty treatments promising to zap cellulite, make your face look 10 years younger and whiten teeth to gleaming perfection, it\u2019s tempting to set aside a beauty budget that likens that of your catering column. Lauren Lazaro, a celebrity makeup artist who is regularly featured on My Fair Wedding with David Tutera and Platinum Weddings, has given us the scoop on beauty treatments that are worth the splurge and which ones you should avoid.  Airbrush Makeup: Splurge or Save?Price: $180-$300 per personLazaro let us in on a little secret\u2014airbrushing is a fad! \u201cA lot of girls think they need it but they really don\u2019t \u2026 it\u2019s just a trend,\u201d she says. Though Lazaro owns an airbrush gun and can certainly mimic the Photoshop-perfected effect, she usually only does so when a bride has a tattoo, scar or type of defect that needs to be covered. \u201cOverall, I personally prefer a detailed hand application, with high definition foundation and concealers,\u201d she says. She reveals that many artists double the charge for airbrushing, when, in fact, it should be the same price if not cheaper. \u201cThere\u2019s no difference [in the makeup] and if anything, a detailed application is harder because it takes longer.\u201dEyebrow Shaping: Splurge or Save?Price: $65 and upEyebrows shape your entire face, so both women and men should, at the very least, conservatively clean out the center so there\u2019s no connection between the brows. And while your bathroom mirrors and tweezers are great for day-to-day beauty, it\u2019s worth the price to groom your brows professionally for the big day. Lazaro recommends having this treatment done a few days before your wedding so redness has time to go down.Eyelash Extensions: Splurge or Save?Price: $250-$500Unless you think you\u2019re going to be crying hysterically during the ceremony, or want to have long lashes into the honeymoon, false lashes are a better, budget-friendly bet. Have your makeup artist apply day of (or practice to put them on yourself). Lazaro suggests using Duo\u2019s black eyelash glue ($8 at Sephora) for application. \u201cIt\u2019s my personal favorite and the only one I use,\u201d she says. \u201cYou want to make sure you get black because when you put the glue on the eyelash, it actually dries completely black and looks like liner.\u201dFor those who expect above-average waterworks, she suggests splurging, though recommends trying and testing the extensions out at least three months before the wedding to ensure there is no allergic reaction to the surgical-grade glue. She also warns of risks involved, \u201cI think they\u2019re great when they\u2019re done properly. Unfortunately, they\u2019re oftentimes not. If you don\u2019t go to a reputable salon, you can really mess up your eyes.\u201dFor a less invasive option, Lazaro recommends Latisse ($120), which is a prescription eyelash glue that she swears by, having used it for her own wedding and seeing results within two weeks. She does warn of its disclaimer for those with light eyes, as there\u2019s a chance they could be discolored, though notes, \u201cI\u2019ve worked with a dermatologist on this and he said he\u2019s never seen this happen\u2014it\u2019s typically very uncommon.\u201dTeeth Whitening: Splurge or Save?Price: $225-$1500You\u2019ll be smiling for the camera all day so you want to ensure your pearly whites are gleaming. Today, teeth whitening kits are as effective as your dentist\u2019s in-office bleaching procedures, so Lazaro recommends using Crest 3D White Strips ($57 at  nationwide), a product that she used for her very own wedding.Professional Shave: Splurge or Save?Price: $35 and upFor grooms, getting a professional shave is not just about the aesthetics. It\u2019s about relaxation, and an attempt to calm those nerves before walking down the aisle. Morning of, treat your groomsmen to a shave at a high-end salon or pamper you and your fianc\u00e9 into bliss before the wedding chaos begins. \u201cI think it\u2019s a fun thing for the groom to do with his best men for a nice relaxing morning. Get a clean shave, maybe a little bit of back rub \u2026 it makes them feel just a little bit pampered,\u201d says Lazaro.Injectables: Splurge or Save?Price: $300-$500\u201cA makeup artist is supposed to bring out your natural beauty, enhancing and highlighting your best features,\u201d Lazaro explains. \u201cThere are a lot of makeup techniques that will fake an eyelift, contour and make you look 10 years younger.\u201dLazaro has consultations with each of her clients, and is open to injectables if the bride or groom is older and she truly feels they can benefit from it. \u201cAs long as the doctor comes highly recommended and they\u2019re conservative in the way they administer the injectables,\u201d she adds. She prefers Juv\u00e9derm over Botox, as the latter is irreversible, but an additional injection can dissolve any excess caused by Juv\u00e9derm. If you decide to go the injectables route, it\u2019s important to do so two to three months before the wedding so, if an allergic reaction does arise, there is time to heal.Chemical Peels: Splurge or Save?Price: $200\u201cAbsolutely not,\u201d says Lazaro. \u201cIt\u2019s like putting makeup on someone with a really bad sunburn because the skin just peels right off \u2026 it\u2019s awful.\u201d However, she is a fan of gentle exfoliation in the months leading up to your wedding day. Her personal favorite is her own recipe (one teaspoon of raw oat meal, one teaspoon raw sugar and two pumps of Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser, available for $11.50 at  nationwide), and recommends gently scrubbing your face, neck and chest in the shower. \u201cNot only will you smell sweet like a cookie but your skin will be left feeling baby soft and invigorated!\u201dAn electric facial brush, such as the Clarisonic brush ($195 at Sephora) is a splurge-worthy investment that gives similar results, without the harsh chemicals. The daily tool is a favorite of dermatologists, facialists and beauty editors, and gently exfoliates skin while it cleanses, leaving you with a natural glow. Spray Tanning: Splurge or Save?Price: $50With horror stories of orange grooms and brown-streaked wedding dresses, Lazaro has seen too many tanning terrors to support at-home faux glow lotions, wipes or sprays. For a sun-kissed shine on your wedding day, go to a professional airbrush artist. \u201cOne who is willing to get very intimate with you\u2014rubbing you down to make sure every crevice and crease is covered.\u201d Because everyone\u2019s body chemistry is different, Lazaro recommends going at least a week and a half before the big day to make sure the tanning spray has had enough time to soak in. \u201cSomeone may sweat more than the average person and when you sweat, you\u2019re sweating out the tan and onto a white dress,\u201d she explains. \u201cSo even if you\u2019ve never sweated a day in your life, your nerves are going to be in overdrive the day of your wedding. If you start sweating and your dress comes up high under the arm, the likelihood of you staining your dress is very high.\u201dLaser Hair Removal: Splurge or Save?Price: $75-$2500According to Lazaro, if you allow yourself one beauty splurge, laser hair removal should be it. \u201cEach one of my clients and family who have gotten laser hair removal has spent several thousand dollars but they said they would do it all over again because it changed their life.\u201d Laser hair removal allows you to say buh-bye to razor bumps, ingrown hairs and irritation, but for a pretty penny. Prices begin at $75 for smaller areas (chin) and up to $500 for (legs and bikini). However, for complete hair-free bliss, multiple treatments are needed, adding up to a bill as high as $2500. Hair Extensions: Splurge or Save?Price: $400-$1200For a glamorous updo, hair extensions may be required for those with shorter tresses. However, there\u2019s no reason to fork out cash for the expensive extended-wear extensions when clip-ons work just as well. Lazaro recommends getting 100 percent human hair so it can be dyed to match your hair color. \u201cA good stylist would be able to hide them perfectly and you will never be able to tell.\u201dAnother, even cheaper option, is a DIY clip-on. \u201cYou can walk into a beauty supply store and ask for human hair to make your own hair extensions. They sell them on twine that\u2019s netted together,\u201d explains Lazaro. \u201cPut them on your own clip and bring it to your hair stylist to have them play with it and color it to match your natural hair color. Extensions are expensive but there\u2019s lots of inexpensive ways to go about it.\u201dGlaze: Splurge or Save?Price: $35-$65A great glaze will add a reflective shine, vitality and luster to your locks, recharging the color and adding silky vibrancy. \u201cI recommend having a clear glaze put into the hair,\u201d says Lazaro. \u201cIt’s not too expensive and will definitely give your hair natural body and shine!\u201dShellac Manicure: Splurge or Save?Price: $40With so many close-ups on your new wedding bands, you want to ensure your manicure lasts the entire evening. To prevent chips and smudges, Lazaro recommends splurging for a Shellac mani, which is a new brand of polish that will keep your nails in tip-top shape for up to two weeks, leaving them in a beautiful mirror finish. \u201cThe cost is a little more expensive than a regular manicure but it’s worth it if you consider you won’t have to worry about a chip on your wedding day\u2014it will even will last through the honeymoon!\u201d Check with your local nail salon to see if they carry Shellac before making your appointment.*Prices based on New York City salon averagesPhoto: LaurenLazaro.com; Real Weddings Annie and Sylvia, photography by Rachel McCauley Photography; Real Weddings Sebastian and Fritz, photography by Rob Greer; Real Weddings Jenna and Christina photography by Alan Abrams Photography "},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Beauty Treatments Worth the Splurge (and Which Ones to Avoid!)","item":"https:\/\/equallywed.com\/beauty-treatments-worth-the-splurge-and-which-ones-to-avoid\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]