WEDDING SKIN CARE FOR BRIDES AND GROOMS
Happiest day of my life with my gorgeous husband.
Wedding season is in full swing! So whether you are a groom or bride to be, a wedding attendee or you have a fabulous event to look your best for this summer now is the time to invest in honoring your skin. I have acne prone skin and I was terrified that I would breakout right before my wedding, so I made sure to take great care of my skin during the months leading up to my big day. Regardless of what type of skin care issues may be plaguing you- acne, brown spots, fine lines, volume loss or just lack luster skin, the good news is there is always something you can do to improve the appearance of your skin. Follow the skin care tips below for healthy beautiful skin!
6 months- Skin Care
First things first, if you are not wearing a broad spectrum sunscreen everyday, now is the time to start. Fine lines and dark spots can be prevented by using sunscreen everyday, rain or shine. Honor your skin with Protect anti-aging moisturizing sunscreen or Protect oil-free.
Eye cream is a must. Find a medical grade eye cream, like my favorite Refresh, and use it everyday and night. The skin around the eye area is uber thin and needs extra love and care. The eyes are usually one of the first places where you see signs of aging so make sure to keep this delicate area protected and moisturized at all times.
Exfoliate your skin 1 to 3 times a week, depending on your skin type. If you don’t already do this, you are going to love me! Using a gentle facial scrub, my top pick Exfoliate by Honor MD, instantly makes your skin feel smoother and look brighter. Don’t take my word for it, just do it!
Start using a medical grade retinol product or prescription tretinoin. These products are clinically proven to fade dark spots, clear acne anddiminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles! Most people will experience mild irritation such as redness and dryness initially, so try applying it every third night instead of every night until the irritation subsides. It typically takes about 30 days for the skin to adjust to these products and about 2-3 months to see a noticeable difference. Therefore give your skin as much time as possible to not only get used to these products, but to also give them time to work! I swear by Stimulate!
Masks are great way to detoxify the skin and are super fun to use. Try incorporating a mask into your skin care regimen once a week and you will start to feel and notice a difference in the way your skin looks and feels. Clarify is not only great for acne prone skin, it is a great detoxifying and moisturizing mask for all skin types.
One of my all time favorite skin care treatments is the HydraFacial. I recommend it to all of our patients, especially brides and grooms. It deeply cleanses, resurfaces, hydrates and infuses the skin with antioxidants and peptides. It instantly makes skin look and feel great and there is no down time! Another great thing about the HydraFacial is that it can be customized for your specific skin care needs and it can address everything from acne to brown spots to fine lines. A HydraFacial is great to get once a month, but treatment frequency may vary depending on what your skin care concerns are.
3 Months- Chemical peels & Injectables
Chemical Peels are fantastic and should be utilized 3-6 months prior to your big day. I LOVE the Skin Medica peels, especially theIlluminize Peel and the Vitalize Peel. The Illuminize is great for anyone, especially for patients that have never had a chemical peel. It is a very superficial peel that tightens skin, reduces the appearance of pores and fine lines and gives the skin a beautiful brightness. Although you may not see your skin peel (which I love about this peel) your skin is definitely getting exfoliated. This exfoliation is what results in tightening and brightening of the skin. The Vitalize Peel is a medium depth peel that is great for diminishing the appearance of brown spots, acne and fine lines. You will definitely peel with this one, but it will look more like a sun burn and NOT like Samantha’s chemical peel from ‘Sex and the City.’
Do you have fine lines on your forehead and/or around your eyes? Then it may be time to go to a dermatologist or plastic surgeon to see ifBotox is right for you. According to top Beverly Hills plastic surgeon and Vice President of the Los Angeles Society of Plastic Surgeons, Dr. John Diaz, 3-4 months prior to a big event is an ideal time frame for first time patients. “Botox is a great non-invasive treatment that gives patients a subtle but significant refreshed and rejuvenated look. I recommend first time patients come in 3-4 months in advance so they can see what their results will look like before their event. This still gives them plenty of time for a touch up prior to their big day.”
1 month
Get your last HydraFacial and/or Illuminize Peel. Make sure you are using a skin specific mask once a week. Regular Botox gals can get a treatment or, if you opted to try it a few months ago, now would be a good time for a touch up.
Body
Your neck, chest and back should look as equally radiant as your face. My wedding dress was backless (as you can see in the photo above) and it also showcased my décolletage area so I wanted to make sure they were both in tip top shape. Sunscreen is a must, especially if you want to avoid tan lines on your wedding day. All of you ladies that want to wear a strapless dress, make sure you are especially mindful of tan lines. The skin on your neck and chest is more sensitive than the skin on your face or back so make sure to apply an oil-free and non-comedogenic (won’t clog pores) sunscreen to avoid any body breakouts. Everyone wants to get in the best shape ever for their wedding day and sometimes extra workouts equal body breakouts on your chest and back. Not to worry! Apply Cleanse Anti-Acne onto your loofah orexfoliating towel and focus on your back and chest. Cleanse Anti-Acne gently cleanses and exfoliates your skin with salicylic acid and the loofah or exfoliating towel will add some exfoliating oomph. Using Treat medicated pads on any acne prone areas of the body after you shower will also help treat and prevent acne on those areas too.
And ta-da your skin is perfect for your wedding!
XO,
Ursula
