All stressed-out brides, say I (do)! We know the lead-up to your wedding can be a little stressful – and that’s putting it lightly. With copious amounts of intricate planning, from venues to centrepieces, it can be easy to neglect the person who matters most on your big day – that’s you!
As you’re preparing to tie the knot, it’s important to remember your skin has its own set of needs. The last thing you want for your walk down the aisle is a surprise breakout or sudden flush of irritation, brought on by an unknown aggressor in your routine. So how should you prep your skin for your wedding day? We called on the experts to find all the answers you need…
Top skincare tips for brides-to-be:
1) Keep consistent
Skincare lotions and potions can be very tempting. If, like us, you love to try anything and everything, it might be best to hold off until your big day has passed, to avoid confusing your skin and triggering any breakouts.
111SKIN’s Global Education Director, Erica Siciliano, agrees: “The most important thing to focus on for your skin before your wedding is consistency. Including facials as part of your consistent routine 1-3 months before your wedding is recommended. The week of your wedding, stick to your skincare routine only.”
If you prefer to do your skincare at-home, there are many products to suit your wants, needs and concerns. Caudalie’s Vinoclean Almond Milk Cleanser is a great gentle face wash to purify your skin without stripping away its natural moisture.
Alternatively, 111SKIN Vitamin C Brightening Cleanser delivers a revitalising cleanse, helping to sweep away dirt and impurities for a fresh, radiant complexion. You can also give your skin an at-home facelift by using a gua sha – we recommend ESPA’s Rose Quartz toning tool.
Abi Williams, Education Manager at Caudalie, confirms, “Don’t do anything too drastic, especially if your skin doesn’t need it. Aesthetic treatments – such as chemical peels, skin needling and lasers – are great for specific skin types and concerns but they are not for everyone and unfortunately can come with some side effects, so don’t overdo it when it comes to treatments.”
2) Don’t try ‘something new’In the lead-up to your wedding, ensure you don’t take any risks with your skincare. You don’t want to chance using a product your complexion isn’t compatible with, so it’s best to play it safe with your bridal skin routine.
However, if you are keen to incorporate new products into your regime, Erica Siciliano recommends starting at least 28 days in advance – “this is how long it takes for skin cell turnover, but the further in advance you try new products before your wedding, the better.”
Stick to the glow you know with the 111SKIN Rose Gold Radiance Booster, enriched with a brightening blend of rose flower water and 24K gold to revive and illuminate stressed-out skin.
Although most of us expect to see dramatic, instant results from our skincare, this isn’t realistic. Be patient with your routine – it’s not a one-size-fits-all process and it may take some time to find the right products for your skin type or concerns. Starting a new routine 6 weeks before your wedding will enable you to weed out the products that don’t work and discover the ones that do, leaving you enough time to form a consistent regime with the new products your skin loves!
Abi also warns not to be over-zealous with your skincare. “Over exfoliation, facial wipes and harsh ingredients can lead to a damaged barrier, and leave your skin dry, tight, sensitive, and prone to breakouts.”
Take your time and listen to what your skin is telling you. Begin with gentle, hydrating products and see how you fare – like Caudalie’s Beauty Elixir! The botanical-rich formula can be used on bare skin or as a setting spray over makeup, helping to reignite your glow while delivering a dewy surge of hydration.
But remember – “healthy skin starts from within!” That means taking a closer look at your diet or hormonal changes if you think you’re using all the right products but seeing little to no results.
4) Avoid those acids!It’s highly likely you’ve bought into the exfoliating acid trend – we’d be lying if we said we hadn’t too! But harsh chemical exfoliants may disturb your skin in the lead-up to your big day. Erica confirms, “Before your wedding, don’t use any kind of glycolics, retinols or peels.”
Instead, Abi suggests swapping your more abrasive products out for ultra-hydrating formulas. “In my experience, most brides look for hydrating ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, for that plump youthfulness to the skin, and of course radiance-enhancing serums for that beautiful, healthy glow.”
The Vinoperfect Radiance Serum is great for creating an even, glowing complexion – it’s a blushing bride’s dream! Or if you want something gentle and rejuvenating, Fresh’s Rose Face Mask offers your skin a soothing hiatus, enriched with rosewater and calming aloe vera to leave complexions feeling bright and comfortable. Then for that quenching surge of moisture, we like The INKEY List's Hyaluronic Acid Serum.
Sadly, skin mishaps do happen – and often at the most inconvenient time! If your skin is behaving badly when you wake on your wedding day, try not to let it faze you. Makeup can hide a multitude of sins, but above all that, you’re more than your skin and your partner knows that too! Summon your confident side and walk down the aisle feeling your most secure self. You’ll look beautiful either way!
If you do end up with a pesky spot as the big day approaches, try a blemish treatment. Erica says, “The 3-Phase Anti-Blemish Booster can not only be applied all over the face, it can also be used on a blemish as a targeted treatment. It will help to reduce inflammation and target the bacteria that causes blemishes to occur.”
The Sarah Chapman Skinesis SOS Spot Stickers are also useful to have to hand in case of a bad blemish. The clever patches help to soothe and minimise the look of imperfections, thanks to time-release salicylic acid, p-Refinyl® and retinol-like Sytenol®A.
Abi leaves us with some excellent advice, “Remember your skin is a living organ and can reflect how you’re feeling. A wedding can be stressful, but I always remind clients that stress and lack of sleep can imbalance your hormones, leading to skin changes. Try to take time out to relax and meditate, or some gentle exercise can really help. Skin health is a 360 approach, so mind and body care really are essential.”
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