So you're getting married! Now what?! You've got a lot of decisions to make, let me help make your skincare and beauty routine a little bit easier!
Why is skincare so important leading up to your big day? Stress... stress... oh, did I mention stress? Stress not only can impact your mood and your waistline, but it can also wreak havoc on your skin! What else can impact your bridal glow? Tanning! I'm not even going to try to convince my die-hard tanning brides to think about a spray tan, but you'll need a few tricks to keep your skin looking supple under that golden tan. Sleep deprivation! Do you find yourself staying up late, googling until your fingers cramp? Cakes, linens, dresses, venues, photographers... oh my! While getting 6 to 8 hours of sleep a night is the best fix, there are some skincare tips that can help overcome those late night clicking sessions.
Ideally, you want to start your skincare bootcamp pretty soon after you get engaged and start the planning process. This will help your skin look great for all those in between special moments, like your engagement photo session and your bridal showers and bachelorette parties! But if you forget, don't worry! Amazing things can be done in 30 days, or even a week!
Facials/Microdermabrasion/Peels: ALWAYS do a "trial" well before your wedding. Even if you don't have a history of troubled skin, you never know when you'll have an adverse reaction to a skincare treatment. This goes for anything new you are introducing into your skincare routine. The last thing you want to do is introduce a new product and have a terrible breakout or rash the week of your wedding. Avoid getting an intensive treatment the day before the wedding--a simple facial is fine, but most other treatments you will want to schedule 2 days to a week before your big day depending on how your skin reacts to these types of treatments.
Hydration: RULE NUMBER ONE!! If you do absolutely nothing else to your skincare bootcamp, adding a great moisturizer twice a day will make one of the biggest differences! For my dry skin ladies, like myself, moisturizer is the single most important thing you can put on your face. The last thing you want to battle is dry spots and skin flaking the day of your wedding. Invest in a super hydrating moisturizer and even a serum to get your skin in tip top shape. Not only will it improve the moisture level of your skin, it will reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and give your skin more bounce and glow! For my normal and oily skinned ladies, the same rule applies! Most likely you won't need quite as thick of a moisturizer as your dry skinned counterparts, but even the oiliest of skin will benefit from proper moisturizer. Look for something lightweight, oil free and non comedogenic. Serums are also great to incorporate, look for products based more on what you need--firmness, brightening, hydrating. You may have to try a few products before you find the right one, but it will be worth it. Shop at places like Ulta that have great return policies, but always make sure you hang on to your receipt. And ALWAYS, always moisturize your neck and decolletage--these are some of the most neglected areas on a woman's body but show signs of aging earlier than almost anywhere else on the body. Just tap on a little extra moisturizer and rub it all over your neck and chest to keep your skin looking great!
Cleansers/Exfoliators: These are key components to bridal bootcamp. Unless you can power your car from the oil on your skin, similar rules apply across the board. Cleanse twice a day. Yes, twice a day. Every day. That buildup of makeup can cause breakouts, dull skin, folliculitis around the eyelashes and a myriad of other issues. Exfoliation is so important to beautiful, bright and tight skin. Using a Clarisonic is a great investment if you are willing to spend the money. Most people can tolerate using their Clarisonic 3-7 days a week. Always make sure you are getting the right brush head for your skin type. For dry skin, do NOT exfoliate more than 3 times a week, with a brush or scrub. It will overdry your skin. If you don't have the funds to invest in a Clarisonic or similar brush, a facial scrub wash is a great option but always look for a delicate or sensitive skin option regardless of your skin type. Many on the market can actually cause tiny little microscopic tears of the skin which is no bueno! Also make sure you're exfoliating your arms and decolletage a few times a week as well!
Tan Lines: No ma'am! Not allowed! If you're a beach or pool bum and have a nice tan and tan lines practically year round, start remedying this NOW!! Why is this so important? Your white/ivory wedding dress next to tan lines brings out the whiteness of the lines and makes them look about 1000000% more prominent. Yes, you can put makeup on them but you don't want to run the risk of rubbing your chest makeup off on everyone! Invest in a strapless bikini top, or one that is super duper close to the neckline of your dress so that the tan lines will be hidden under any straps or sleeves. The earlier you can remedy this the better, because some tan lines can take up to a year to fully fade.
Tanning: Along those lines, if you're planning on tanning for your wedding also plan on amping up your body moisturizers. While tanning makes your skin look beautiful and glowing, even the use of tanning bed lotions and after sun lotions will not do enough to stave off the dehydration that occurs under UV lamps. Invest in a heavy duty moisturizer for your neck and decolletage, as these are the areas that tend to dry out the fastest. Apply immediately after tanning sessions, plus AM and PM. Consider oils before bedtime--no, they will not make you break out! Coconut oil, maracuja oil, and rosehip oils are great options. You should still hydrate your face, but you may not need to use something quite as heavy duty as you're using in the other areas.
Stay tuned for part 2 with some great product recommendations!
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