Preparing Your Skin For Your Wedding Day

In the months, weeks and days leading up to your wedding prepare your skin by using a good skincare regime which will ensure your skin glows on the big day. Having healthy, clear and radiant skin is the best base for makeup and means you can do away with a full coverage foundation and concealer for the most natural look.

The type of skincare you use will depend on your skin type and concerns. On counter beauty advisers can help you find the right skincare. Here is the kind of skincare regime they'll advise you to follow from six months prior to the wedding:

6 MONTHS BEFORE

Many women use a daily 3 step skincare regime – cleanser, toner and moisturiser. Depending on your skin type, a daily routine conditions your skin, maintains healthy hydration levels and reduces excess oil production. All these factors can reduce the occurrence of spots and open pores as well as flaky, dry and dull skin. Moisturising daily will also protect your skin from the environmental elements which cause premature ageing (pollution, smoke, UV rays, air conditioning and stress). If you are not yet using a daily skincare regime, 6 months prior to your wedding day is the best time to start as it will take a couple of months for your skin to adjust to the routine and reap the rewards.

If you already have a daily skincare regime, you may wish to have it reviewed if you still have some problem areas. If you have been doing the same skincare regime for the last two years or more, it is worth having a change because your skin gets used to the products and their benefits which won't be able to do any more for the appearance of your skin than they are already doing. Seasonality is also a key factor in choosing a skincare regime particularly for combination skin types which may need more hydration in the colder, winter months. If you are getting married abroad in a particularly hot or cold country, your skin will need to adapt quickly to the change in temperature and the skincare you use can help protect it from the changes.

1 MONTH BEFORE

Start using a hydrating, radiance or deep pore cleansing facial mask (depending on your skin type) once a week prior to your wedding day to target its most urgent needs and give your skin a boost.

2 WEEKS BEFORE

Visit your local salon for a gentle facial peel, or do an at home kit. A facial peel will help remove a layer of skin to reveal brighter, more radiant and more youthful skin. (If this is your first ever facial peel it is advised to do it one month before your wedding day in case of any adverse effects).

1 WEEK BEFORE

For a groomed look, visit your local salon to have your eyebrows shaped. Shaped eyebrows have a slight arch which opens up your eyes and creates a better base fo eye makeup on your brow bone.

THE WEDDING MORNING OR THE NIGHT BEFORE

In addition to your daily skincare regime exfoliate your skin using a gentle exfoliator and use a stress relief face mask to add radiance to your skin. This will help your skin look flawless and photogenic all day.