Everyone wants their skin to look amazing for their wedding day, and sometimes foundation won't cut it when it comes to covering and evening out your complexion, so what do you do?
Well, you need to tackle your skin from the inside out and the outside in. And surprisingly, you might need to start sooner than you think.
[Makeup Artist - Lu Lu Makeup / Photographer - Amber & Rose Photography]
12 Months til Your Wedding Day
Prepping your skin 12 months out from your wedding day may seem over the top, but depending on what types of skin issues you have, 12 months will give your skin time to adjust to its new routine and for the beauty benefits to be at their best - just in time for your big day as a bride.
Get Some Expert Advice
Take a good look at your beauty routine both morning and night. If you're not happy with the skin care products you are using, consider seeing a beautician who can listen to your skin concerns and tailor a skin care routine to best suit you. Doing this 12 months out from your wedding will allow your skin time to adjust to it's new beauty routine.
As a general guide you should be cleansing, and moisturisng morning and night, and exfoliating 1 to 2 times per week. Oh and you should NEVER sleep in your makeup!
Try Incorporating Facials
If you have trouble with break outs and blackheads or if you have dry skin, consider introducing a facial once a month leading up to the wedding. A facial is designed to deep clean your skin, removing any dirt and everyday pollution from the skin, whilst evening out your skin tone, removing dead skin cells and hydrating the skin.
Mind Over Matter
It's a well known fact that the mind and body are connected. If stress affects your skin, try downloading a meditation app or visit a yoga center to try to alleviate and better manage your stress. This will especially help with the wedding planning, as we all know weddings are stressful!
You Are What You Eat
There is the old saying, what you put in is what you put out. At the 12 month mark, it's a good idea to take note of what you're eating. If sugar affects you skin, try minimising your daily sugar intake and substitute bad fats for good fats, like olive oil, avocados and healthy nuts.
If you're not one to drink water, then try incorporating more water into your diet, all this will show through your skin. We are made up of 70% water so hydrating your skin absolutely helps it glow.
"Fuel your body with good nutrients and hydration, and your skin will thank you for it."
[Makeup Artist - Lu Lu Makeup / Photographer - The Evoke Company]
6 Months til Your Wedding Day
Body Brush Yourself Beautiful
Prepping your skin for your wedding day is not just about the skin on your face, you also want your skin on your body to look amazing too. If you have wobbly bits under your arms or your dress is tight fitting and you're worried about cellulite, then say hello to body brushing! It's a technique that stimulates the lymphatic system, which helps to deal with fluid retention and also helps with toning and tightening the skin. Do this morning and night if you can.
Get Physical
Exercise in another important activity to help you tone and tighten your skin. If you're wearing a strapless or sleeveless dress, consider developing an upper body work out with either a personal trainer or on your own to really get those arms toned and looking terrific on your wedding day.
Exfoliate
Exfoliation is one of the most beneficial things you can do for your skin. If you don't exfoliate then I strongly suggest you start at the 6 month mark before your wedding. This is especially the case if you are over 30 yrs.
After 30 yrs our cell production starts to slow down, so our skin gets lazy in shedding dead skin cells. That's why we need to help the process along by, you guested it, exfoliating!! Exfoliating removes the dead skin cells which helps to improve our skin tone, and brighten our complexion. It also helps to remove dry skin patches.
"Golden Rule: under 30 yrs exfoliate 1 to 2 times per week. Over 30 yrs exfoliate 2 to 3 times per week"
1 Month til Your Wedding Day
Last Facial Before the Wedding
If you're regularly getting facials, try to time your last facial closer to the 1 month mark before your wedding, that way if you do get any break outs, they have time to heal before the big day day.
It's All About the Makeup At 1 month out its a good time to start thinking about your makeup for the wedding. If you haven't already, book a bridal makeup trial with your makeup artist, and take note of the products she uses. If you don't like the way a foundation sits on your face, ask her to try a different one, or source one that you are happy with.
Scrub it Up
If you haven't started already, try to do a full body scrub once a week before the wedding, exfoliating the body will have the same benefits as the face. You can try a scrub with coffee beans in it which helps to tighten and tone the skin. I love the La Mav Coffee Bean Scrub.
On the 7th Day We Breathe
At about the 1 month mark or before, it's important to incorporate a makeup free day once or twice a week. Letting your skin breathe will mean less chance of clogged pore and less of a chance of break outs or skin congestion close to the wedding date.
[Makeup Artist - Lu Lu Makeup / Photographer - Kylie Scott Photography]
1 Week til Your Wedding Day
Protect Your Skin
If you're getting married in the Summer months, make sure you're always wearing sun cream when you venture outside, on both your face and body. The last thing you want is a sun burn before your big day. Also try to be aware of your tan lines!
Lip Care
We all want luscious looking lips, so 1 week out from your wedding day, make sure you're keeping your lips hydrated with a lip balm and exfoliate them with some sugar granules or a toothbrush three times in the week to ensure they're not dry, cracked or pealing on your big day.
[Makeup Artist - Lu Lu Makeup / Photographer - The Evoke Company]
1 Day til Your Wedding Day
Exfoliate
To make sure your skin is looking its best on your wedding day, make sure you exfoliate the night before. This will ensure there are no dry flaky patches when your makeup artist is applying your foundation. It will also mean your complexion is more even and looking brighter.
Keep Hydrated Inside and Out
Hydration is so important for lovely glowing looking skin. Make sure you are drinking lots of water 24 hours before your wedding and keep your skin hydrated by applying a nourishing body moisturiser and face moisturiser the night before.
Please feel free to email me any questions you have about prepping your skin before your wedding day. You can contact me at hello@lulumakeup.com.au or you can message me on Facebook or Instagram.
Happy skin prepping lovely brides-to-be!
Lu Lu x
