Get the Wedding Glow
Pre-wedding glam tips for the big day
You want to feel your absolute best on your wedding day, and you want to look your best too. After all, your wedding will be memorialized in photos and videos, and you want to look back on your day and recognize just how wonderful you look.
We’ve got the pre-wedding glow tips that you need to know about to ease you into wedded bliss.
Game Face
Six Months Before
If you’re worried about breakouts happening ahead of your big day, six months before the wedding is a perfect time to jumpstart some extra skincare. Talk with your dermatologist about a retinoid treatment—either prescribed or over the counter—which will increase skin cell turnover and allow for fresh, healthy skin cells to reach the surface. Retinoid is a vitamin-A derivative that can treat both acne and hyperpigmentation.
However, retinol treatment is a marathon, not a sprint, which is why it’s recommended to start a retinol protocol six months in advance. As your skin becomes used to the treatment, you can expect to see some flaky or dry skin as those new skin cells make their way to the surface of your face. Your dermatologist may adjust the dosage of your retinoid as needed or, if you’re opting for an at-home, over-the-counter method, patience will be your friend here.
Six months before your wedding is also a great time to find an aesthetician that you trust. Sure, a one-time facial will get you wedding day ready, but six months of consistent skin care can do wonders.
Four Months Before
Four months before your wedding day is a great time to experiment with hydroxy acids. Alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) and beta hydroxy acids (BHA) are both exfoliants that work to decrease inflammation, decrease the appearance of large pores, even out your skin tone, and improve overall skin texture.
It’s always recommended to partner with a dermatologist to find the perfect skincare routine for your unique skin type. However, if you’re using over-the-counter products and experimenting at home, start with a low-strength product and only increase in strength if necessary. Over-the-counter AHAs and BHAs range from one to
20 percent strength, so start with one to 10 percent in AHAs and .5 to 1 percent in BHAs.
If you experience any kind of redness, irritation, or flakiness, it’s likely that your product is too strong for your skin, and you should stop using it and opt for a lesser strength product.
One Month Before
Roughly one month before your wedding day, stop all new treatments or products on your skin to avoid any irritation or unforeseen acne flare-ups. Of course, if you already have a skincare regimen in place that’s tried and true, keep it up.
One Week Before
Facials will exfoliate your skin prior to the big day, so your skin tone will look more balanced and glowing. Facials can boost collagen production and work wonders at reducing fine lines and blemishes. If you’re planning to wear make-up on your wedding day, this will help create a smooth, airbrushed finish.
Plan to schedule your facial one week prior to the wedding and ask your aesthetician to focus on hydration and to avoid any types of extractions or peels that could leave your skin irritated or red.
Get a facial together! Schedule a spa day and let the professionals pamper you ahead of your wedding.
Picture-Perfect Smile
One Year to Six Months Before
Make an appointment with your dentist for a routine cleaning if you don’t already have one on the schedule. At the appointment, you can talk with your dentist about any teeth whitening protocols you may want to implement ahead of the big day, and either book those appointments if they are professional teeth whitening treatments or get their opinion on the at-home teeth whitening system you plan to use.
A routine cleaning ahead of your wedding is likened to cleaning your car before you wax it—you wouldn’t wax a dirty car so why try to whiten teeth that may have tartar or stains that a professional can remove?
One Month Before
If you are using an at-home teeth whitening system, begin using it one month in advance. Teeth whitening doesn’t happen overnight, so you want to give yourself plenty of time to see your desired results—and to space out treatments to avoid any teeth sensitivity.
While you’re whitening, follow a few simple eating and drinking rules that help keep your pearly whites, white. For example, sip your coffee, tea, or sodas from a straw to avoid the liquids—which can cause stains—hitting your teeth. Also snack on crunchy fruits and vegetables like carrots, celery, or apples which are natural abrasives that can help clean teeth.
A Sun-Kissed Glow
Three Months Before
If you’re opting for a spray tan or a self-tan, consider trialing the look you’re going for at least three months in advance. If you don’t already have a tanning salon that you use and are comfortable with, be sure to look for an even application and pay particular attention to in between your fingers, your elbows, and underneath your arms.
Two Months Before
If you’re visiting a tanning bed, it’s best to start tanning two months prior to your big day. This will allow you to gradually work toward the sun-kissed glow that you’re looking for rather than a binge of tanning a week or two before your wedding.
Then, stop tanning roughly five days before your wedding, which will give your color time to settle into its natural glow.
Be sure to hydrate and stay moisturized. Tanning beds can be rather drying for certain skin types, and you’ll want to look particularly dewy on your big day.
Two to Three Days Before
A spray or self-tan looks its best three showers before your wedding day. Your tanning professionals will educate you on the right pre- and post-tan care for the brand that they use, but as a general rule of thumb, it’s best to shave or wax 24 hours before your appointment and avoid moisturizing 24 hours before the appointment.
Wait another 24 hours before showering again and pat yourself dry rather than scrub to keep the tan in its best shape.
