Calling all brides! And bridesmaids, mothers of the bride, mothers-in-law…even the grooms! We’ve got some simple, yet impactful tips to help you prepare your skin for the big day.
I recall the time leading up to our wedding as being stressful. From vendor bookings to writing vows and allll of the last-minute details. I also remember praying so hard, “God, please let my skin be ok that day.” That wasn’t at the top of my prayers, of course, but you can bet it was on the list.
The last thing you need while preparing for your big day is more stress. In fact, stressing about your skin is always self-defeating. Here’s some fairly simple, realistic suggestions to help you prepare your skin for the big day:
You simply must drink your ounces. This is the most impactful thing you can do to improve your skin. Shoot for half your body weight in ounces; drink more if you can. Scars, marks, lines, wrinkles, and pores are far more noticeable when skin is dehydrated. And when your skin is parched, it panics and overproduces the oil that causes blemishes, stretches pores, and leaves you with a greasy shine.
Add a low calorie, naturally sweetened flavoring to your water if that’s what it takes, but go easy on the caffeine and alcohol. My personal strategy is to down at least 20 ounces first thing in the morning (my reward is my cherished cup of coffee) and then I add a decaf green tea bag to my next glass. If you normally run with your tank mostly empty, you’ll need 2-3 weeks of consistent water intake to rebalance your skin and see results.Please hear me on this: Sleep is when your skin repairs, restores, rebuilds and regenerates. Without enough shut-eye, your skin will struggle to protect itself against stress, sun, wind, bacteria, and more. How much sleep, you ask? Most say 7 to 9 hours per night is best. But don’t stress over it. Some is better than none, and an extra hour here and there will almost certainly be helpful. Adding sleep hours to your night can make a noticeable difference in the health of your skin, just in time for your most important photo opp!
If ever there was a time to push the processed foods to the side, this is it. Transition to eating clean foods – think “closer to nature” – simple proteins, fruits, veggies and whole grains. Mayo Clinic says these are some of the best skin-friendly foods: carrots, apricots, and other yellow and orange fruits and vegetables, spinach and other green leafy vegetables, tomatoes, berries, beans, peas, and fish. Here at Story, we are really big fans of foods that contain lycopene, a red-colored carotenoid that’s also an antioxidant. You can find this skin super-ingredient in tomatoes, watermelons, grapefruits, and papayas.
Boy, do I love a good hydrafacial. If you’re into facial spa treatments, you’ll want to strategically plan the timing of them leading up to your big day. Schedule the harsher treatments (think abrasion, scrubs, extractions, peels) further out, so your skin has time to heal and regenerate – and recover, should you experience a breakout or reaction. Closer to your big day, you should be safe to do gentler treatments (think relaxation, hydration and oxygenation). This is the time to spend the money to see an experienced professional, not a jack-of-all-trades.
Yes, I know this is an oxymoron. There is no safe tan. But let’s be real… a little color makes everything better. Thankfully, self-tanners have come a long way in recent years. Start applying lightly a few weeks out from your event, to avoid streaks and the orange cast (remember The One with Ross's Tan?!). I like to mix my self-tanner with a body lotion or face moisturizer to keep the color natural-looking. Apply daily to build up to your desired color and then maintain by reapplying less often. Don’t apply a self-tanner the day-of because it might ruin your dress. And – those same red / pink / orange fruits and veggies we talked about above can actually help maintain a healthy skin color and rosy glow from within.
Determined to get some sun? Always wear sunscreen (we like a physical sunblock with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide) and keep your time in the sun limited.When you’re preparing for an important event, it’s best to keep things simple and normal. Don’t change up skin care products, or add new products, if you can avoid it. Skin generally doesn’t like change and often takes time to adjust. About 4 weeks prior to your big day, lock in your routine and leave it that way until after the honeymoon, to avoid unpleasant surprises.
In addition to sweating out stress, a workout is great for your skin. Getting your heart pumping improves circulation and helps deliver critical oxygen and nutrients to your skin, improving collagen production, clarity and cell repair.
A facial massage, also known as a “workout for your face,” encourages a rush of blood and oxygen to your skin, reduces puffiness, and releases tension that can make lines and wrinkles more obvious. Focus on those under-eye bags and always massage from your nose outward. Facial massage and a full-body workout are a great way to start off your big day.
BONUS TIP: Don’t forget about your lips. Apply a clean lip mask morning and night to get those babies ready for their big moment.
Incorporate some or all of these ideas into your daily life leading up to your big event. But please – don’t let any of this stress you or overwhelm you. This is a truly special time in your life… enjoy every moment – the prep, the last-minute details, and of course, the day.
Wishing you much love always,
Carmen Kubista
Author
founder of story skin care, wife & mom