It’s good to figure out a plan for your skin to look its best for your big day. Image by Adobe Stock.
The lead up to your wedding day entails lots of meticulous planning and organising. From the guest list to the venue, the food and seating arrangements, the table settings, the music, THE DRESS, the list seems to go on and on and can send any blushing bride round the bend. Planning a wedding is stressful, but getting beautiful, glowing, wedding-day-ready skin doesn’t have to be. Your wedding day will be all eyes on you and the pictures from this special day will be looked at and cherished for a lifetime, so it’s only natural that you’ll want to look your best.
We had a chat to skincare expert, Lucy Kuper from Biologi about how to transform your skin for the big day and what steps you need to be making to ensure there are no nasty surprises popping up on your face right before the big day.
From six months out to a week before, here are some expert tips to help you get the best skin of your life, just in time for the best day of your life.
What can we do to transform our skin for the big day?
The best way to transform your skin for the big day is to approach it from the inside out. Think about what you’re doing nutritionally, take a good look at the products you use and your lifestyle factors. To have great skin you do need to consider all the factors as no skincare product alone will be a miracle cure. Things like diet, smoking, pollution, drinking, and the products you use can all have an impact on your skin so it’s important to take a holistic approach.
What are the best products to use?
The best products to use are natural ones that have a high concentration of activity. The active ingredient in a product is the thing that makes it work, so make sure what you’re using has a high amount. We recommend personalising your skincare based on your skin because everyone’s skin is different. Ideally, you’ll want to choose a gentle cleanser that you use day and night, then an enzymatic exfoliant once a week, then a natural serum (we recommend Biologi’s new Bqk Radiance Serum which has a day and night solution), followed by a sunscreen worn daily. If you typically have dry skin or live in a drier climate, consider adding a face oil to your routine at night. We love Biologi’s new Br Organic Rosehip Oil which is an unrefined 100% natural oil guaranteed to get you glowing.
What non-invasive treatments would you recommend leading up to the big day?
Microdermabrasion is great because it is an effective treatment that is gentle on your skin and has minimal downtime. Of course, other treatments might be more beneficial dependant on the things you want to treat, but if you are looking at different options, be sure to allow enough time in between. Do not, I repeat, do not book into a new treatment in the two weeks leading up to your wedding. If you are getting a treatment that you have had before and you know what to expect then that’s ok, but do not try a new treatment because you don’t know how your skin will react.
How soon before the big day do we need to start making changes to our skincare routine to see good results?
Start at least two months before the big day, if not earlier. Skin cell cycles are typically around four weeks, so it takes a minimum of one month to regenerate your cells. Then if you consider that you might be introducing new products that can cause things like a skin purge, you do need to allow additional time. Also if you’re implementing a new diet you need to allow time for it to work its magic from the inside too!
Should we be changing any other external habits?
Yes! Great skin is a result of what’s happening on the inside and out. Get into the habit of drinking plenty of water, eating foods rich in anti-oxidants and avoid anything that could be triggering bad skin (like drinking, smoking and processed foods). Also, be mindful of external things like air conditioning or flying which can negatively affect your skin.
What should we be doing Six months before, three months before, one week before, the week of?
Six months before your wedding should be the time that you visit a skin specialist to implement a treatment plan that will work for you. If you have any skin concerns, now is the time to talk to your specialist about the best options. I’m getting married next month and for me having some time to map out my skincare plan was very important. Everyone’s skin is different however my routine has consisted of four treatments of Derma Pen/Skin Needling on my face neck and décolletage (it’s super important to treat the neck and décolletage and not just the face). I have also had three Microdermabrasions scattered in there as well as the LED Healite after each Derma pen and Micro. Whether you are looking to see enhanced results after a facial, peel, microdermabrasion, IPL, a surgical procedure, Healite essentially takes your skincare program to the next level. It enhances the results of other professional skin treatments and is great for skin rejuvenation.
Six months out is also a great time to overhaul your skin routine by researching the products you use and the ingredients in them. Many people don’t realise that it’s often their skincare products that can be causing a reaction on their skin. Try to switch to natural products that have a high amount of activity in them. Switching products can often cause a skin purge so now is a time to do that to allow the detoxification process to happen and give you plenty of time in between.
Three months before a wedding is a good time to get the most out of your treatments and potentially look at other options if you aren’t seeing the results you’d like. It’s also a good time to consider how your skincare routine might be working for you, especially if you changed it 3 months prior. If you’re finding your skin isn’t reacting to the products the way you like, you’ve still got time to change it up. Three months out from your wedding is also a great time to get focussed on your diet and other habits that might be affecting your skin. I’ve been very conscious of looking after myself internally, for example not eating dairy, and I do think it has had a positive impact on my skin.
One week before your wedding is time to focus on diet and water consumption, whilst cutting out things like alcohol. Also, consider how foods can be affecting your skin and body – for example, excessive salt can make you appear puffy and acidic foods can make you appear bloated. With one week to go, there is no time to make any drastic changes to your skincare routine (I’d advise not to change anything up at all!). The only thing you could consider doing is having a gentle, non-invasive facial where you take in your own skincare products for them to use.
The week of your wedding is simply a time to maintain what you did the week before, still avoiding anything that could aggravate your skin. Focus on drinking at least two litres of water a day and ensure that you are cleansing your skin thoroughly each day and night. Avoid touching your skin too much or picking your skin! Eat nutritious foods and maintain a consistent routine – best not to overcomplicate anything at this point!
Any other additional advice?
Don’t freak out about your skin leading up to your wedding, just be diligent with your routine. Remember that stress can cause bad skin so try to remain calm about the process. If your skin does feel like it’s having a freak out leading up to your big day, just breathe and remember that you’ll have a professional make up artist on hand and a professional photographer – both can work wonders if all else fails!