Newsflash: planning a wedding is hard work. And while you’ve been busy booking the perfect venue, buying your dream gown and reworking your seating chart (divorced couples on opposite sides of the room? check!), you may have missed one important component…
How to achieve that perfect bridal glow.
With all the hustle and bustle leading up to the big day, skincare is easy to overlook—but it shouldn’t be. Who wants to wake up the morning of their wedding day with a big zit on their chin? Not us! Also, let’s face it, all that beauty, health and fitness prep is a lot of fun (yeah, we said it).
But before you jump into wedding prep overdrive, here are a few skincare tips to consider:
While it may be tempting to add extra skincare products to your routine, avoid making any big changes at least 8 weeks before your big day. We know you want your skin to be at its best, but you may be doing more harm than good.
Here’s Why: Most skincare products with active ingredients (think: serums, masks, eye creams) need at least 8 weeks to show any significant results. For example, some ingredients like alpha hydroxy acids actually cause breakouts. That’s because your pores are being purged of excess dirt and oil before you start seeing any skin-clearing benefits.
More importantly, the main reason you should avoid changing up your routine is to prevent any allergic reactions. And we’re not just talkin’ topical products like face masks—this goes for professional facials, too. Hate to break it to ya, but severe reactions can sometimes take months to resolve. Our advice? Don’t take that gamble.
The Solution: If you suffer from acne, rosacea or any other skin issue, your best bet is to start working with a dermatologist to help treat them 3-6 months prior to the day of your wedding.
Contrary to popular belief, your skin doesn’t take much to be healthy and glowing (lookin’ at you, 21-step routines). We get it—trying out different skincare products is a lot of fun, but just make sure you’re not overdoing it, especially right before the big day. In other words, let your skin breathe!
Here’s Why: Overapplying products and active ingredients can lead to irritation and decreased effectiveness. Trust us, planning a wedding is stressful enough—don’t stress your skin out even more with multiple steps, products and ingredient-overload. This also goes for makeup on your big day.
The Solution: Try incorporating just a few active ingredients like Vitamin C, Niacinamide and Hyaluronic Acid into your daily routine—your skin will benefit from these active superstars without being oversaturated with too many ingredients! As far as makeup is concerned, if you don’t wear a lot of it every day, go for a more natural look on your wedding day, as well. While it may be tempting to load up on makeup for such a big day, you definitely don’t want to wind up hating your wedding photos years later because you didn’t look like yourself. Be authentic. You’ll never regret it!
As the weather starts to improve, don’t skimp on sunscreen prior to your big day—especially on your face.
Here’s Why: If you plan to follow our advice we mentioned above, then you know to start using new products with active ingredients more than 8 weeks before your wedding day. However, active ingredients such as retinol, alpha hydroxy acids and even Vitamin C can increase sun exposure. So, if you plan to use products with these ingredients, make sure you wear sunscreen every day. A red, flaky complexion is difficult to cover up!
The Solution: If you’re looking for a little bronze and worried about sunburn, try a self-tanner. But just make sure you’re using it correctly. Start experimenting with self-tanners or go to a professional months before your wedding day to make sure you achieve your desired tan. Remember, just like your makeup, less is more. The goal is to look like yourself for your big day.
Not into the self-tan look? Try adding a touch of face oil as you would a highlighter. Apply to the tops of your cheekbones, brow bones, over your cupid's bow, down the center and on the tip of your nose. Then, top it off with a little around your temples. This will give you an amazing, dewy glow with very little effort.
Beyond the perfect dress, amazing hair and flawless complexion, the best thing you can do on your big day is simply smile. People will be taking photos of you the entire day, so make sure you laugh, smile and just have fun. Nothing will make you look and feel more beautiful than having a great time. Now, go have the time of your life!
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