Tips for Preparing your Skin for your Wedding Day
Photo Credit: at Merrydale Manor, Cheshire
Photo Credit: at Wrenbury Hall, Cheshire Photo
Preparing your skin for your wedding day has got to be THE best part of wedding prep. As an experienced qualified skin specialist I have a number tips and tricks on how to achieve that all-natural glow in the months leading up to the wedding, as well as what to do if you get a dreaded breakout on the wedding day.
12 - 14 MONTHS BEFORE
Start with a consultation and set out your budget, how often you are going to be able to make it into the clinic and what are your skin goals and aims for the next 12 months. Make sure you ask lots of questions! The therapist should then be able to give you a rough breakdown of what she can do to reach your skin goals, how often you will need to come in and also a cost. It's also really important to make sure your therapist is setting clear and realistic expectations.
8 - 12 MONTHS BEFORE
This will be the time when you are visiting the salon quite a lot!
Establishing a customised and regular at-home routine is the first thing that should be done. Selecting the right cleanser that is going to clean your skin, but without over drying it is crucial – this is often where people go wrong. It is also key to be exfoliating frequently, as well as including anti-oxidants, peptides, retinols and specific skin correction serums into your routine – as well as of course an SPF! This will also support all of the in-clinic treatments as well, helping to achieve maximum results.
Core Product Recommendations: , Alumier Ever-Active C&E with Peptides, Alumier Retinol Resurfacing Serum, Alumier Physical SPF.
Any intensive treatments, such as laser (be it hair removal or skin laser) should be started now. If you have any pigmentation you would like removed or reducing, you want to leave plenty of time. It can often look worse before it gets better and you want to stop doing these treatments at least 2 months before the wedding day. Hair laser takes a minimum of 6 monthly treatments, so if you need more sessions you will have time to do so.
Microneedling is another fantastic treatment to start several months before your wedding. microneedling (also called collagen induction therapy if you're fancy) involves a mechanized device that repeatedly punctures the skin with tiny, sterile needles. The treatment creates microscopic "damage" in the skin, which activates your body's wound healing processes and revs up collagen production. Without getting too technical, an increase in healthy skin cells and collagen can reduce fine lines, scars and hyperpigmentation. Basically, the treatment is similar to using a dermaroller on steroids—with even more noticable benefits. Start microneedling treatments 4 to 6 months before the wedding Schedule sessions a few weeks before the wedding to allow for redness and irritation to subside
Establish regular, monthly facials and peels. It takes time to build up to the stronger more effective peels, your therapist should be starting with the milder peels and working up to the stronger peels as your skin becomes more tolerant. Allowing ample time for this is important. I would recommend a course of 6 peels with 4 weeks in-between each treatment.
3 - 6 MONTHS BEFORE
Any light therapy courses should be started now. They help build up collagen and elastin, iron out fine lines and wrinkles and rejuvenate the skin. Keep up with the regular facials and peels and spot treat any leftover stubborn pigmentation or visible capillaries with laser.
2 MONTHS BEFORE
Stop with the more intensive treatments to avoid your skin getting stressed and sensitive. All of the hard work you done for the last 10 months should have more than paid off! Have your last peel at the strongest level you have got to at the 2-months-before the big day mark. From now on it’s about hydrating, moisturising and getting that wedding day glow.
2 WEEKS BEFORE
Have your final in-clinic facial with peel and incorporate a light therapy treatment, as the results really come through after 2 weeks – just in time for the big day! Stress can cause breakouts to occur so try to avoid touching your face. Don’t pick or squeeze any spots, as it can push the bacteria deeper into the skin delaying the healing process and even leading to more breakouts. Have a spot treatment to hand such as to help treat the acne, allow the skin to heal and prevent any new spots forming.
NIGHT BEFORE
Give yourself a gentle, nourishing and hydrating at-home facial. Focus on cleansing, gentle exfoliation, masks and a massage with lovely oils to stimulate the blood flow, remove tension in the muscles and remove any puffiness. Now is NOT the time to try any new products – it's not worth the risk of a reaction!