The ultimate skincare plan for brides-to-be

Glowing skin is often the number one beauty goal on every bride’s checklist. But the months and weeks leading up to your wedding day can be extremely stressful, and stress negatively impacts skin health and physical appearance. Which is why it’s so important to have a plan.

Once the date is set, the venue decided, and the guestlist confirmed, it’s time to get into the nitty-gritty of looking your absolute best on your wedding day. 

Your pre-wedding beauty regime is the perfect opportunity to revamp your skincare routine, make some intentional lifestyle choices, and indulge in a little bit of self-care. With your wedding just around the corner, you’ll have the motivation to create good habits and see them through. 

Here’s how to get your best bridal skin ever.

Sleep

Decent sleep habits and good sleep hygiene are the cornerstone of healthy living. Everything repairs itself during sleep – skin, mind, internal organs – everything. Sleep is a powerful stress reducer that calms and restores the body, improves concentration, regulates mood, and sharpens judgement and decision-making.

Aim to get 7-8 hours sleep per night, practice good sleep hygiene to improve the quality of your sleep, and keep your sleep  routine consistent.

Tip! Anxiety disrupts sleep and leads to a tired, washed-out complexion. Do whatever you need to do to calm your mind, whether that means getting fresh air, using guided meditation apps like Calm or Headspace, or practising yoga or pilates.

Hydrate

Hydrated skin is key to achieving a smooth and glowing complexion on your wedding day, and no amount of makeup will cover skin that’s dehydrated, rough-looking, or uneven.

Whilst your basic skincare routine plays a large supporting part in hydration, nothing will work if you’re not actually drinking enough water. Drinking water flushes toxins from your body, increases your energy levels, helps with weight control, and leads to naturally radiant skin.

A Note on Stress! There’s no end to the physical effects of stress on your body and face, with inflammatory reactions to stress causing acne, break-outs, redness, rough skin, eczema, and kerastosis pilaris. Managing stress with good daily habits like sleep, diet, hydration, and exercise is key to looking and feeling great on your wedding day.

Uplevel your basic skincare routine

Your basic skincare routine is your best friend in the run up to your wedding. At least 12-months before, do a review and make sure that your daily products are up to the task. Once you’re happy with your basic cleansing and moisturising habits, slot in products that are going to give your skin the boost it needs to look extra radiant with a fresh and bright glow.

Exfoliate and use a Brightening Serum

Dead skin cells interfere with light reflection, which makes skin look drab and dull. The solution is to exfoliate regularly and include a brightening serum in your routine.

Our skincare education expert Marie-Therese Byrne recommends incorporating an exfoliating acid toner into your routine once a week to start, and building up from there. “Once your skin is used to a glycolic or lactic acid exfoliation, layer in a brightening serum. Vitamin C is my top recommendation if glowing skin is your goal.”

Introduce Retinol into your Routine

The holy grail of anti-ageing ingredients, retinol increases cell turnover, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, calms acne, and helps to diminish dark spots and hyperpigmentation.

At least 12 months before your wedding, start with a non-prescription retinoid in your night time routine. Retinol can cause redness and peeling when you first start using it so choose a gentle formulation and allow your skin to adapt to it slowly.

Don’t forget the skin on your body

If you want the skin on your body to glow on your wedding day, you must treat it with the same level of care you  give your face – starting in the shower.

“Most women don’t pay enough attention to the products they use in the shower and after showering. There’s no quick-fix for the skin on your body – you’ve got to give it the same care as your face if you want to see radiant results,” explains Marie-Therese. “I recommend really nourishing products that are free from sulfates and powered with an active ingredient that specifically addresses key body skin concerns like dryness, rough patches and flaky skin.”

She recommends using a gentle shower cleanser, patting skin dry, and applying body lotion immediately to lock in moisture before it evaporates.