Your Guide To Pre-Wedding Skincare Prep
Author: Jamie Quinn
- By Jamie Quinn
Walking down the aisle with a radiant glow is every bride’s dream. It’s not just about the perfect dress or the right shoes- it’s also about feeling confident in your skin. Your wedding day is one of the most photographed days of your life, so it makes sense to take steps to look and feel confident.
Understanding Your Skin And Maintaining Skin Health
The first step in pre-wedding skincare prep is understanding your skin. Our skin is the largest organ of our bodies, meaning it needs to be taken care of for good health. Everyone’s skin is unique, with different needs and sensitivities. It’s important to know your skin type – whether you have oily, dry, combination, or sensitive skin – to choose the right skincare products and routine.
Maintaining skin health involves a few key steps. First and foremost, ensure you’re hydrated. Drinking plenty of water can help keep your glowing skin looking fresh and radiant. This is because your skin needs water to function properly and maintain elasticity and firmness.
Incorporate a balanced diet into your routine. Foods rich in antioxidants, like fruits and vegetables, can help protect your skin from damage. Antioxidants neutralise harmful free radicals that can cause premature ageing and skin damage.
Make sure you protect your skin from sun damage. The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause skin damage, including wrinkles, age spots, and skin cancer. Always use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 50 when you’re in the sun.
Get plenty of sleep. Sleep is essential for skin health. While you sleep, your body works to repair your skin and restore its natural balance.
Essential Skincare Routine
Understanding your skin is the first step towards a successful skincare routine. Your skin type will determine the products and routine that will work best for you.
The experts recommend starting a skincare routine at least six months before the big day. This timeline gives your skin plenty of time to adjust to new products or treatments, and if you have any negative reactions, your skin has enough time to recover.
Cleansing
Face washing is a non-negotiable part of any skincare routine. A good quality cleanser effectively removes dirt and impurities from your skin without depriving it of necessary, beneficial oils.
Exfoliating
Exfoliation is the next step. Doing this once or twice a week is important to keep pores clean. AHAs and BHAs are effective chemical exfoliants that can even out your skin’s texture and keep it clean.
Treating
Treating your skin is for addressing specific concerns such as dullness, dryness, and fine lines. In simple terms, serums are potent allies for your skin. Packed with concentrated active ingredients, they work to improve various skin concerns. Even if you don’t have specific issues, everyone still needs a general antioxidant serum in the morning to protect from daily pollutants.
Hyaluronic acid is beneficial for sealing in hydration and fortifying the barrier function (the top layer of your skin) to prevent moisture loss.
Vitamin C is useful for brightening dull skin and reducing dark spots with continued use.
Retinol, vitamin B3, and peptides can stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, proteins in the body that help prevent lines and skin sagging.
Niacinamide can soothe redness and irritation by reducing inflammation, and improve acne with its antimicrobial effects.
Moisturising
Moisturising is the final step in your skincare routine. The primary role of a moisturiser is to hydrate and soften the skin. Moisturisers help in preventing water loss from the skin’s outer layers. They can also enhance the skin’s naturally occurring protective oils and other structural components, like ceramides. While everyone requires hydration, the active ingredients of your moisturiser will vary based on your skin type.
Ultimately, the best skincare routine is a consistent one. Follow your routine every day to achieve a healthy-looking complexion.
Choosing the Right Skincare Products
Choosing the right skincare products is just as important as establishing a skincare routine. The products you use should be tailored to your skin type and the specific needs of your skin.
If the budget allows, seeing a dermatologist for guidance is advised. They can provide a holistic view of your skin type, conditions, and the right skincare products to use. They can also recommend treatments like facials, peels, or microdermabrasion if necessary.
Check out some of our affordable favourites!
CeraVe Foaming Cleanser
Developed with dermatologists, CeraVe Foaming Cleanser gently foams to cleanse while respecting the skin’s protective barrier deeply. This refreshing gel, with 3 essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid, effectively removes excess oil, dirt and makeup. The gentle, non-irritating formula provides all-day hydration for dry skin. CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser is fragrance-free, sulphate-free, paraben-free, oil-free & allergy-tested.
RRP: $14.99
www.chemistwarehouse.co.nz
Bondi Sands Buff’n Polish Gentle Chemical Exfoliant
This gentle chemical exfoliant contains gentle actives that work to exfoliate and resurface your skin to leave you glowing. Bondi Sands Buff’n Polish is enriched with Cherry Blossom, AHA and PHA to purify and smooth your skin for a clearer complexion.
RRP: $22.99 AUD
www.bondisands.com.au
Bondi Sands Baby Face Retinol Serum
Baby Face Retinol Serum smooths your complexion and helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles for youthful-looking skin. Enriched with 0.5% Retinol and Squalane, Baby Face will leave your complexion silky smooth.
RRP: $32.99 AUD
www.bondisands.com.au
Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Cream
A hydrating, skin-balancing, whipped gel cream, packed with polyglutamic acid, hyaluronic acid, and plum for plump, glowing skin. This lightweight whipped gel cream hydrates & balances unpredictable skin and delivers a dewy glow.
RRP: $38.00-$71.00
www.mecca.com
Walking down the aisle with a radiant glow is every bride’s dream. It’s not just about the perfect dress or the right shoes- it’s also about feeling confident in your skin. Your wedding day is one of the most photographed days of your life, so it makes sense to take steps to look and feel confident.
Understanding Your Skin And Maintaining Skin Health
The first step in pre-wedding skincare prep is understanding your skin. Our skin is the largest organ of our bodies, meaning it needs to be taken care of for good health. Everyone’s skin is unique, with different needs and sensitivities. It’s important to know your skin type – whether you have oily, dry, combination, or sensitive skin – to choose the right skincare products and routine.
Maintaining skin health involves a few key steps. First and foremost, ensure you’re hydrated. Drinking plenty of water can help keep your glowing skin looking fresh and radiant. This is because your skin needs water to function properly and maintain elasticity and firmness.
Incorporate a balanced diet into your routine. Foods rich in antioxidants, like fruits and vegetables, can help protect your skin from damage. Antioxidants neutralise harmful free radicals that can cause premature ageing and skin damage.
Make sure you protect your skin from sun damage. The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause skin damage, including wrinkles, age spots, and skin cancer. Always use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of at least 50 when you’re in the sun.
Get plenty of sleep. Sleep is essential for skin health. While you sleep, your body works to repair your skin and restore its natural balance.
Essential Skincare Routine
Understanding your skin is the first step towards a successful skincare routine. Your skin type will determine the products and routine that will work best for you.
The experts recommend starting a skincare routine at least six months before the big day. This timeline gives your skin plenty of time to adjust to new products or treatments, and if you have any negative reactions, your skin has enough time to recover.
Cleansing
Face washing is a non-negotiable part of any skincare routine. A good quality cleanser effectively removes dirt and impurities from your skin without depriving it of necessary, beneficial oils.
Exfoliating
Exfoliation is the next step. Doing this once or twice a week is important to keep pores clean. AHAs and BHAs are effective chemical exfoliants that can even out your skin’s texture and keep it clean.
Treating
Treating your skin is for addressing specific concerns such as dullness, dryness, and fine lines. In simple terms, serums are potent allies for your skin. Packed with concentrated active ingredients, they work to improve various skin concerns. Even if you don’t have specific issues, everyone still needs a general antioxidant serum in the morning to protect from daily pollutants.
Hyaluronic acid is beneficial for sealing in hydration and fortifying the barrier function (the top layer of your skin) to prevent moisture loss.
Vitamin C is useful for brightening dull skin and reducing dark spots with continued use.
Retinol, vitamin B3, and peptides can stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, proteins in the body that help prevent lines and skin sagging.
Niacinamide can soothe redness and irritation by reducing inflammation, and improve acne with its antimicrobial effects.
Moisturising
Moisturising is the final step in your skincare routine. The primary role of a moisturiser is to hydrate and soften the skin. Moisturisers help in preventing water loss from the skin’s outer layers. They can also enhance the skin’s naturally occurring protective oils and other structural components, like ceramides. While everyone requires hydration, the active ingredients of your moisturiser will vary based on your skin type.
Ultimately, the best skincare routine is a consistent one. Follow your routine every day to achieve a healthy-looking complexion.
Choosing the Right Skincare Products
Choosing the right skincare products is just as important as establishing a skincare routine. The products you use should be tailored to your skin type and the specific needs of your skin.
If the budget allows, seeing a dermatologist for guidance is advised. They can provide a holistic view of your skin type, conditions, and the right skincare products to use. They can also recommend treatments like facials, peels, or microdermabrasion if necessary.
Check out some of our affordable favourites!
CeraVe Foaming Cleanser
Developed with dermatologists, CeraVe Foaming Cleanser gently foams to cleanse while respecting the skin’s protective barrier deeply. This refreshing gel, with 3 essential ceramides and hyaluronic acid, effectively removes excess oil, dirt and makeup. The gentle, non-irritating formula provides all-day hydration for dry skin. CeraVe Foaming Facial Cleanser is fragrance-free, sulphate-free, paraben-free, oil-free & allergy-tested.
RRP: $14.99
www.chemistwarehouse.co.nz
Bondi Sands Buff’n Polish Gentle Chemical Exfoliant
This gentle chemical exfoliant contains gentle actives that work to exfoliate and resurface your skin to leave you glowing. Bondi Sands Buff’n Polish is enriched with Cherry Blossom, AHA and PHA to purify and smooth your skin for a clearer complexion.
RRP: $22.99 AUD
www.bondisands.com.au
Bondi Sands Baby Face Retinol Serum
Baby Face Retinol Serum smooths your complexion and helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles for youthful-looking skin. Enriched with 0.5% Retinol and Squalane, Baby Face will leave your complexion silky smooth.
RRP: $32.99 AUD
www.bondisands.com.au
Glow Recipe Plum Plump Hyaluronic Cream
A hydrating, skin-balancing, whipped gel cream, packed with polyglutamic acid, hyaluronic acid, and plum for plump, glowing skin. This lightweight whipped gel cream hydrates & balances unpredictable skin and delivers a dewy glow.
RRP: $38.00-$71.00
www.mecca.com
