With wedding season gearing up fast and furiously in
addition to being surrounded by engaged people (including BOTH of my sisters), I have
been asked quite a few times recently for skincare advice for bride-to-be’s! Even
if you’re not engaged, it’s beneficial to have a timeline in mind when
considering switching up your skincare routine or preparing for another event.
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| photo courtesy of my sister, Emily! |
Pre-Wedding Beauty
Timeline
8 months before
This
is the time to address any skin concerns you may have, such as acne,
hyperpigmentation, fine lines & wrinkles, large pores, etc. There are SO
many resources online to help you identify your skin type and suggest a
skincare routine! If necessary, visit a dermatologist to get more insight as to
which products could benefit you.
A great start is:
Cleansing your skin twice a day, using a serum or treatment targeted toward
your area of concern once a day, and using at least one kind of moisturizer
(morning and night).
*hint: retinol is
GREAT at improving both acne and fine lines, and you can find it in many
drugstore products! Just look for retinol on the label. An added perk is it
makes your skin glow, however, you have to be extra careful in the sun and
liberal with your usage of SPF if you decide to use retinol because it increases
your skin’s sensitivity to the sun.
6 months before
If
you would like to improve your exercise and eating habits, start now!
Exercise helps your skin glow and reduces stress, which helps with acne and
fine lines. Eating good “skin” foods (usually high in good fats as well as lots
of veggies and cutting back on sugar) will make your skin look radiant.
5 months before
Nail
down the hair and makeup look you’re going for on your big day and hire someone
to do your hair and/or makeup if you haven’t already. Pinterest away for
inspiration!
3 months before
You
should have started to see results from your new skincare and exercise/eating
routine! This is a good time to start targeted treatments such as once weekly
masks, wrinkle treatments, peels, and acne treatments. One of my go-to’s is
anything with glycolic acid; I love a good peel. Now there are plenty of gentle,
affordable products containing glycolic/alpha hydroxy acid available! One of my
favorites is First Aid Beauty Facial Radiance Pads.
1-2 months before
Do
a hair and makeup trial run so you know exactly what you’ll look like on your
wedding day! This is also a good time to test different self-tanners, nail
polishes, etc.
2 weeks before
Refresh
your hair cut and color! If you don’t do color, a clear glaze will make your
hair shine without altering your current color. Start exfoliating a few times a
week to maximize the “glow” you have been working on.
Try to avoid limit alcohol,
sugar, and salt-rich foods at this point to avoid the negative consequences
they reap on your skin (I know it’s hard!).
3 days before
Get a
manicure and pedicure, a spray tan, wax, stay out of the sun, shape your brows,
and get lots of beauty sleep.
If
you don’t feel a need to change your current skincare routine, or don’t have
much time before your wedding, hop in the timeline wherever you want! These are
just my personal suggestions starting from ground zero.
Happy
wedding season!
