Among the many things on a bride’s “to do” list, skin care and preparation can easily get left to the last minute, or forgotten completely. But if you spend a little time planning your treatments in advance, you can arrive on your big day looking radiant and glowing with health – even if you were up until 2am the night before finalising the seating plan! Here are some of my top tips for gorgeous nuptial skin:
Less is more
You don’t want to arrive on you wedding day barely recognizable, unable to smile naturally or wink at your groom! Your other half loves you as you are now, and the best plan is to enhance that. You want to walk up the aisle looking happy, healthy and well rested – not like you’ve just stepped out of a wind-tunnel.
Plan well in advance
At least six months ahead is ideal. Planning your treatments and skincare routine well in advance will help to achieve the look you want. But don’t panic if you don’t have that much time: there is still lots that can be done to revive and refresh your skin.
Consider a combination of treatments
Depending on your desired outcome, planning a combination of treatments is likely to be the most effective approach. Each treatment works in different ways and over different time scales to improve the appearance of your skin.
These are the treatments I commonly recommend for bridal skin care – and a rough timetable of when it’s best to consider them. Follow the links below to find out more about each treatment…
Six months or more before the big day:
Botox
Botox is a great way to treat wrinkles, such as frown lines, droopy eyebrows and crows’ feet. However, I would not recommend having your first treatment any less that six months before your big day. The effects are long-lasting, usually between two and six months, but bear in mind that some more deeply ingrained wrinkles will need more than one treatment to achieve the full improvement. For more immediate results, fillers might be a good option. In my thorough consultation we would talk through all the options, and the best approach to achieve the results you desire. Please note: botox is not recommended for those who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Four months to go:
Obagi NuDerm treatments
I work with lots of different products in the Obagi range, and NuDerm is the ‘gold standard’. This prescription-only range targets signs of ageing including fine lines and wrinkles (caused by both age and sun-damage) and hyperpigmentation (for example age spots). These are not ‘overnight’ treatments, but can achieve really great results over the medium term.
iS Clinical treatments
As with the Obagi NuDerm treatments, these products do not achieve results overnight. However, if planned in advance they are a great way to tackle acne, rosacea, hyperpigmentation and signs of ageing.
Two months to go:
Fillers
Fillers can be used in many different areas, including frown lines, the jaw line, smile lines and so on. The effects are long-lasting, between four and nine months, so at our thorough consultation I would talk through all the options. Please note: fillers are not recommended for those who are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Genuine Dermaroller
Genuine Dermaroller is a micro-needling technique, which stimulates the skin to regenerate and repair itself naturally. It is particularly effective on sun-damaged skin, wrinkles, acne scarring and stretch marks. The skin regeneration takes around six weeks following treatment and continues over the next four weeks, as new collagen is formed and skin cells generated.
One month to go:
Obagi Blue Peel Radiance skin peel.
Skin peels are an excellent way to revive and refresh your skin. I work with a product called Blue Peel Radiance, from the Obagi medical range. This is a chemical peel, containing a unique blend of acids, that works on the skin to reveal tighter, smoother and brighter-looking skin after just one treatment. There is little to no downtime following treatment, and it is a great starting skin peel for most skin types
iS Clinical Serum
Great for keeping on top of sensitive skin and acne outbreaks, this serum is ideal for brides-to-be. Fast acting but with long term results, this botanical serum works brilliantly.
With a little planning, and a combination of treatments tailored specifically to your needs and the look you want to achieve, it is possible to have gorgeous, healthy skin in time for your wedding. Don’t hesitate to get in touch for a full consultation with me to discuss all the options.
