Get Your Wedding Glow On

If there was ever a time to take up a good skincare routine, it’s in the lead-up to your wedding. Here’s a guide to getting the best bridal skin of your life for the big day…

Stress Less

First thing’s first: planning a wedding is stressful (understatement, much?). But keeping a lid on any pre-wedding woes is going to be key to a healthy complexion because a calmer mind most definitely leads to calmer skin. I know, I know it’s easier said than done, but try not to stress – you don’t want those cortisone levels to rise, resulting in the dreaded spots.

Inflammatory conditions such as eczema can flare up with high-stress levels, while sleepless nights will mean dull, lackluster skin. Sleep enables the body to reverse everyday free radical damage by replenishing energy, building new cells, and repairing connective tissue. Because sleep is an ideal time for cellular renewal and overall repair for the skin and other organs, poor sleep shows in the face.

A good skincare routine includes a healthy sleep routine, as well as anything that helps you to destress – be it exercise, meditation, or delving into a good book in between the wedding planning.

Ask The Professionals

If you have no idea where to start, now’s the time to seek help from the pros. They’ll be able to talk you through a bespoke routine that will promise results. That could mean consulting a dermatologist if you’re worried about a skin condition such as acne, eczema, or rosacea, or perhaps starting to go for targeted treatments.

Holistic Therapist & Skincare Specialist, Fiona Dalziel, based in Alloa, loves to work with brides to help them have beautiful and radiant skin in time for their wedding day.

“Everyone wants to be able to look back on their wedding photographs with loving memories, and not regret their skin being in the very best condition it could be”.

With your wedding day coming up, it’s important that you take good care of your skin to prevent breakouts and to ensure your make-up applies flawlessly.

Fiona explains “In the months leading up to your wedding, you’ll want to start a good skincare routine to treat any dry or oily skin and prevent breakouts. The last thing you want on the day of your wedding is to get a spot because you didn’t take good care of your skin.

I recommend to the brides I work with that they have a monthly facial in the months leading up to their wedding, with the last one being scheduled for a week to 10 days before their big day.

The benefit of this course of treatments is to maintain a healthy complexion, have lovely clear skin, and be able to relax knowing your skin is in tip-top condition.”

Before starting the course of facial treatments, Fiona will examine your skin using Eastern and Western philosophies to determine any skin issues, and your skin type, eg dry, oily, combination, sensitive. This process would also identify any other skin conditions like acne and sun damage to determine the best facial treatment for your skin in the months leading up to your wedding day.

Sounds good, doesn’t it? Professional facials are also a great way to get some ‘me time’ which will help with the first point above too!

Treat Your Skin From Within

You are what you eat. Eating well will need to go hand in hand with any products you’re relying on for a radiant glow.

The most effective way to look after your skin is through lifestyle and diet choices. The skin is our largest organ and it gives us a picture of what is going on inside the body. Each individual is different, but most experts suggest making sure you have a well-balanced diet with plenty of vegetables and probiotic, fermented foods.

Moderation is key, but you might want to save the alcohol indulgence until the day of the wedding. And make sure there’s time for your skin (and head) to recover after a boozy hen do!

Reducing sugary foods and drinks, high glycemic index food (such as white bread, potatoes, white rice, or pasta), and possibly also milk may reduce breakouts in some acne sufferers. Have a think about whether any of these foods tend to cause problems for you and what happens if you reduce consumption of them for a few days, weeks, or even a month.

You may also want to think about vitamins and supplements to boost your skin.“Collagen is one of the most important structural proteins in our body”, says Mhairi Coleman owner of Your Wellness in Mind, “but unfortunately it starts to decline from as young as 25. After the age of 40, we lose up to 1% of collagen every year and as a result, our skin relaxes, our hair becomes thinner, nails are more brittle, and cartilage deteriorates”. To put this right you can add collagen supplements to your diet and get your glow on!

Mhairi says that introducing Collagen into your diet will help you, “enjoy the appearance of luminous, youthful and smooth skin…Experience glossy hair, beautiful nails, regained tone, and an incredible glow”.

Water Yourself

Drink lots of water! Hydrate your skin from the inside and flush out nasty toxins. The recommended daily intake is between two and two and a half litres.

Exfoliate

To achieve clear and glowing skin, exfoliating is a must. Give your pores a chance to breathe by removing dead cells and surface impurities. This goes for your whole body.

Moisturise and Protect

Generously apply a good body moisturiser. Nourish your skin twice daily and you’ll see elasticity improve. Pay special attention to tricky spots that are prone to dryness such as elbows, feet, and hands. Or anywhere that is going to be on show on your wedding day.

No skincare routine will give you a glowing and healthy complexion unless it comes with a dose of sun protection – especially if you’re applying products containing vitamin C, or using retinols at night. Use a broad spectrum SPF50 UVA/UVB sunscreen in the morning.

Focus on Your Face

As well as getting professional help your home skincare routine should give your face extra special attention. The three essential basics are a cleanser, toner, and facial moisturiser. Opt for one that contains collagen to give added definition and that all-important bridal glow. See above for the benefits of collagen.

Spot Check

Let’s say you’ve taken all this advice and your skin is glowing. But wait! Right before the wedding, a spot appears! What do you do?

Don’t pick it, however tempting it might be. Picking could lead to an infection. You might end up with a great big boil to conceal on your big day. Your makeup artist will be able to work their magic on any small spots that appear.

You’ve got this Gorgeous!

JB Moments Photography has sought the advice of like minded business women for this blog. She is not paid by these businesses to promote their products/services and receives no kickback.