Finally! A blog post about my two favorite things: weddings and skincare. But truly, it is the most exciting time of the year as wedding season is here! Whether you choose to create your own bridal makeup masterpiece or you leave it to the pros, the pre-wedding skincare routine is an aspect of the big day that is completely in your hands. No one else is going to slather those serums on your face (unless you have the coolest fiancé in the world)!
For the rest of us, let’s take a look at how to create the perfect pre-wedding skincare routine so that they’ll see your glow the second you start your walk down the aisle!
Understand Your Skin
This is such a crucial step in creating your perfect routine. Skin can be so confusing! Some days, it’s oily. Other times, it’s dry. And then we have our nasty friend called “dehydration” that can sometimes be confused with dry. So, what’s a gal or guy to do when the skin can’t make up its mind?
Instead of trying to tackle every single issue at once, take a breath and try to focus on one issue at a time. I’d say that most of us are probably dehydrated. We never drink enough water, we’re in cold climates, warm climates, there are heaters, air conditioners, you get the picture. Whatever the issue, whether it be dehydration, acne, or dullness, try and gauge what it is that your skin truly needs.
Trust What You Already Love
This is not really the time to be trying tons of new products. If you already have a skincare routine that works well for you, stick to it. If you really want to up your glow, consider adding an acid toner like Pixi Glow Tonic or Ren Ready Steady Glow. One new product is fine but adding vitamin C, vitamin A, and an acid for the first time? Not such a great idea. Stick to what you know. Stick to what you love.
Take it to the Pros
This can mean a few different things. Facials are a fantastic way to up your glow and really clean out those pores. I wouldn’t recommend getting one too close to the big day as you may have a small purge. But if the budget allows, a facial is a fantastic little pampering treat (bonus points if it includes a glass of bubbles)!
If you’re dealing with any major skin issues, this is a great time to seek professional help. If you’ve got a bit of time before your wedding, seeing a dermatologist or even a highly skilled facialist may be a great option to give you a bit of guidance.
Make Sure You’re Cleansing Properly
Cleansing is such an important step to the skincare routine (and one that is often glossed over). If you’re relying solely on makeup wipes to cleanse, let’s take a look at a few other options. You want to make sure that you’re removing ALL of your makeup so that your products can properly penetrate the skin and get you glowing! A cleansing oil is a fantastic way to do this and a few of my favorites are the DHC cleansing oil and the Fresh Seaberry cleansing oil. And don’t stress if you’re a combination/oily skinned gal like myself. Oil cleansers are actually fantastic for oily skin as they balance out your skin’s natural oil production.
For a second cleanse, you’ll want to go in with a cream or milky cleanser. I find these formulas to be the most gentle and never strip the skin like some foaming cleansers can. A few of my favorites include Kora Organics cream cleanser, Glossier Milky Jelly, Kate Somerville Goat Milk Cleanser and a great budget friendly option is the Neutrogena Ultra Gentle.
Try a Toner
I feel that there are two types of people in this world: those that love toners and those that think they are completely worthless.
I fall into the first category!
Toning is actually my favorite step of my skincare routine. Call me slightly old fashioned (I still use mousse in my hair) but I LOVE the feeling of swiping a soaked cotton pad all over my skin and knowing that my face is reaping some amazing benefits.
The most important thing to look for in a toner is the absence of alcohol. Gone are the days of rubbing “Sea Breeze” all over your face. Today’s toners are super advanced and suit many different skin needs. My favorite way to get glowing is to use an exfoliating acid toner as I mentioned before. A few of my favorites are the Pixi Glow Tonic and Tarte Knockout Treatment. Using one of these will help slough off dead skin and get your skin glowing for your big day. I always like to have two toners on hand and I usually go for an acid toner and follow up with a hydrating toner like Bobbi Brown’s Hydrating Face Tonic or the Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Toner.
Choose the Perfect Serum
A serum is a great way to target any issues that are going on in your skin. Serums have thinner consistencies than moisturizers which means they are loaded with goodness and can get deeper into the skin to deliver those results. As I said earlier, dehydration is a very common issue with any skin regardless of one’s environment. Try tackling dehydration first and you may be surprised at how quickly your skin starts behaving. For this step, you’ll want to look for a serum with hyaluronic acid, which instantly attracts water to the skin. A few of my favorites are The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid serum and Drunk Elephant B hydra . If you live in a particularly dry climate, make sure that your skin is a bit damp when you apply your hydrating serum. By doing this, the hyaluronic acid will draw water from the atmosphere and not from your skin (rude).
Moisturize To Seal It All In
Nothing excites me more than a great moisturizer that is fairly no frills and can be used day and night. You don’t need to spend a fortune on a good moisturizer. If you’re going to drop a bit of coin on your bridal skincare routine, invest that money in great serums and acids. A moisturizer doesn’t actually hydrate the skin but rather it locks in the moisture that is already there in order to prevent transepidermal water loss (fancy term for when water evaporates from your skin and leaves you dehydrated). A few of my favorites are the Josie Maran Argan Face Butter, Fresh Lotus Face Cream, Sunday Riley Tidal, if you’d like a slightly bougier moisturizer that truly packs a punch and the Neutrogena Hydro Boost Gel Cream, a fantastic budget friendly option. All of these products can be used day and night and all are fantastic options to keep you moisturized for your big day!
If you’re not a fan of creams and lotions, try an oil (my personal favorite). Nothing gets my skin glowing like oils do. They are fantastic to use at night, but I wouldn’t recommend using underneath makeup. It will cause too much slick. A few of my favorites are the Trilogy Rosehip Oil, Kora Organics Noni Glow Facial Oil, and Sunday Riley’s UFO Oil (a fantastic option for oily/acne prone brides as this one contains salicylic acid).
Use an SPF
This is a no brainer. The hero product that will prevent wrinkles, dullness, discoloration, and skin cancer is sunscreen. The true trick is to find one that you love. A few of my favorites (because trust me, I hate the feeling of SPF) are Farmacy Green Defense, Elta MD Broad Spectrum 46 and the Josie Maran Argan Tinted Protect and Perfect, if you want a bit of tint and coverage. All are super lightweight, sit beautifully under makeup, and won’t clog your pores.
I hope that this gives you a bit of insight on how to get glowing for your wedding or for any big event you may have coming up. I think the most important thing to do is just listen to your skin. Our skin is our body’s largest organ, and though she may be temperamental at times, she loves us, she’s here for us, and we need to be there for her! Don’t stress about having the “perfect” skincare routine prior to your wedding. Just use what your skin already loves, and if you haven’t gotten to that step yet, then slowly try introducing a few of my examples above.
Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions regarding how to build an effective skincare routine, and if you’ve already put a ring on it, let me know what you used to get glowing!
“All you need is love” – The Beatles
Love and light, Carrie xo
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