Finally, you’ve accomplished the gazillion to-dos for that most special of days— your wedding day. Now that you can kick off your heels, it’s high time for you to nurture the one person most stressed out from all the preps—yourself! And what better way to start than by caring for your skin?
Yet, with the limited time that you have and the abundance of advice to choose from, choosing which regimen to go for can be confusing. In this post, we’d like to share this effective yet doable pre-wedding skin-care routine. This way, you can have one less thing to worry about and still be assured of looking radiantly beautiful on your big day.
Professional services: 6 to 12 months to go
Sure, you can probably just create your own skin-care and just wing it on a typical day. But your wedding day is obviously not one of those regular days. It’s that magic moment you’ve been waiting for all your life. And now that it’s about to happen, you don’t want to just treat your pre-wedding skin like you would on any other day. Now is the time for you to pamper your skin—and yourself—with the expert care of professionals.
Begin your pre-wedding regimen with a trip to your trusted aesthetician, and request a skin face mapping. Based on traditional Chinese medicines (or TCM), this popular skin analysis technique subscribes to the belief that our skin is influenced by underlying health factors. After analyzing your skin condition and ascertaining the factors that affect it, your TCM practitioner will then make lifestyle recommendations such as diet and exercise.
Such TCM services can complement your dermatologist’s medical expertise. Carefully choose your dermatologist by checking their affiliation with the American Academy of Dermatology Association. This can help assure your safety as you undergo the most advanced skin-rejuvenating procedures, such as dermal fillers, chemical peels, and intense pulse light treatments (IPL).
Of course, you’d want to optimize the benefits of these treatments by following through with quality self-care. Your doctor can recommend the best hydrating and oil cleansing products, even the most effective pimple tricks, so you can attend to your skin’s needs from your own home.
Word of caution: Since these clinical treatments will require ample time for healing and for the effects to become visible, make sure to undergo them at least six months before your wedding date.
At-home skin-care routine: 4 to 6 months to go
Depending on your clinical procedures, your recovery can last from several days to a few weeks. By the end of your post-treatment care, you can now breathe a bit easier and revert to your usual daily ritual. While a wash-and-moisturize drill may do for non-special occasions, your future-bride status requires that you indulge in a more thorough skin-care program. If you haven’t begun one yet, here’s a simple checklist to guide you through the process:
1. Sun protection
The sun can be your skin’s worst enemy, especially on the weeks leading up to your special day, when you’re supposed to be at your most radiant self. Too much sun exposure can cause your skin to age prematurely, causing fine lines and unsightly discoloration. What’s even worse is that the sun’s UV rays can damage the structure of your epidermal layer, causing it to sag and get wrinkly.
You can effectively prevent sun damage from wrecking your youthful bridal glow by consistently wearing sunscreen with an SPF of 30. Avoid staying outdoors, but if you do, remember to use protective clothing, such as long-sleeved shirts and long pants. Putting on a wide-brimmed hat can also protect the delicate skin on your neck and face. Re-apply your sunscreen every two hours. If you’re going swimming or will be engaged in some activity that will require you to stay in the sun, you may want to re-apply more often.
2. Exfoliation
Although our skin normally sheds its dead cells, the shedding process may sometimes not be as thorough as we would want it to be. Partial sloughing off can result to the accumulation of layers of dirt and oil, causing clogged pores and a rough, leathery texture. These, in turn, can cause pimples, blemishes, and other skin conditions, such as acne.
Here is where exfoliation can be highly beneficial. This step buffs away your skin to remove dead skin cells and make new cells resurface. Experts recommend that once or twice a week of exfoliation can be enough to keep your skin smooth and looking fresh, even less if you have sensitive skin. To avoid irritation, select gentle products like lactic acid. If your skin becomes irritated, consult your dermatologist for other options.
3. Cleansing
This may probably be the most familiar step in your typical skin-care routine. But often, people may not know the best way to clean their faces. According to the Mayo Clinic, it’s best to wash your face at least twice a day and after sweating. However, if you have highly-reactive skin, you may want to wash your face with a gentle cleanser in the evening and then use only water for the rest of the day.
4. Moisturizing
Regardless of type, your skin needs hydration. Just like the rest of the cells in our bodies, skin cells need to be well-hydrated to perform their functions well. Dehydrated skin can cause cracks or gaps to open up between cells. This weakens the protective epidermal barrier that keeps harmful chemicals and substances from penetrating.
Thicker moisturizers, also called emollients, prevent water from leaving the skin, making them perfect for dry skin. However, for extremely dry skin, choose an occlusive with ingredients like shea butter. On the other hand, if you have oily skin, you can use hydrators that draw moisture to the skin’s surface, such as hyaluronic acid. Don’t forget to use serums, which deliver potent ingredients that target specific skin conditions.
Rest and relaxation: a month to go
You’ve sought professional care and received it. You’ve also been consistent in sticking to your at-home skin-care regimen, and you’re seeing the visible results of your efforts. And now, with a month to spare before your wedding day, we get to the best part—rest and relaxation.
This is the time to indulge yourself in regular facials and body massages to improve blood circulation. Enhanced blood flow enables the efficient delivery of oxygen and nutrients to your cells and tissues so your skin can receive all the nourishment it needs to self-repair and regenerate.
Lastly, no skin-care routine will work if you don’t take care of your mental health. Protect yourself, as well as your skin, from the adverse effects of stress by intentionally keeping it at bay. Look out and be ready for potentially stressful situations, such as menstrual days. For instance, wearing period underwear when it’s red shark week will make you less anxious about being caught off guard. Also, try not to get all worked up by the small stuff (most likely, it’s all small stuff anyway, according to author Richard Carlson). Now, breathe in and rest easy as you eagerly await the day when you can finally spend forever with your beloved.
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