WEDDING MAKEUP | How to prep your skin for your big day

It’s almost here! The day you’ve been planning for months (sometimes years)

We think everyone deserves to feel gorgeous and confident on their big day, and for your skin to be in it’s best shape! If you can wake up on the morning of your love party and be happy with how your skin looks, the day will be off to a great start, so, of course, we want to help you make that happen!

Yes, great makeup can be a good fix, but I always preach that great makeup starts with a great canvas- there’s only so much that makeup can do and it won’t completely cover up neglected, stressed or damaged skin.

Getting there will take extra effort and care. and a good, pre-wedding skincare regime can certainly help with that.

I've put together this guide to help you with your skin prep for your big day. There's a lot to think about and it can get overwhelming without some guidance and a plan!

Through my own personal experience of getting married, as well as working with, talking to and supporting MANY brides over the years, I've got a good idea of how to get you feeling and looking your best on your big day!

Start planning as early as possible

Bridal skin care requires you to go beyond your regular skincare routine.

If you’ve got 12 months until your big day, you are in a perfect position to make some healthy habits for your big day. Your goals might be getting your energy levels up and your skin hydrated and glowing.

Write out your goals and think about what actions and resources you'll need to achieve them. It might be reducing your stress, eating more greens, drinking more water and getting a few more zzzz's in. If you have complex health issues or skin niggles we always think it's a good idea to see a facialist, dermatologist, naturopath/ functional GP in order to get your health issues sorted by a pro so that you're feeling your absolute best on your big day! You've got time, so put your health first and make a plan!

Implementing your plan

Find a routine that's affordable, achievable and works for your skin and your lifestyle. You need to be able to be consistent and maintain it for best results.

Find a good facialist and explain your skin goals. Whether it's to even out skin tone, reduce blackheads, or brighten up dull skin, now is the time to make a plan. If there are any specific skin issues that you want them to address, speak to them prior to the facial so that they can recommend the right products for you. Aim to start getting monthly facials (budget permitting0 at least 6 months out.

It's always a good idea to start wearing SPF every day, so commit doing that even if the sun isn’t out.

Nutrition counts

Healthy skin starts from the inside, so we recommend upping the greens and slowly eliminating sugar and carbs from your diet. Avoid eating processed foods as they are the first to cause bloating and skin breakouts.

Focus on eating a balanced diet consisting of fruits, green vegetables, and protein, and focussing on getting as many different nutrients in as possible. Eating protein-rich foods provide the nutrients your body needs to make collagen, which helps the skin preserve its firmness and elasticity.

Fresh fruit and vegetables are a great source of Vitamin C, which contributes to normal collagen formation for the normal function of skin.

Your goal should be to boost your nutrition and feeling great from the inside out- not losing weight!

Start upping your hydration daily by sipping on hydrating liquids like coconut water and filtered water. Also, consider including green tea in your diet for a healthy dose of anti-oxidants.

Maintaining consistency

For the next few months, continue with your skincare regime and add in extra hydrating treatments if necessary (depending on what your facialist or derm recommends). An LED treatment is great as well as nourishing and hydrating facials.

Make sure to focus on moisture and hydration and start cutting down on any actives so you're not triggering any breakouts or drying out your skin. Speak to your skincare specialist if unsure, but we usually recommend being very sparing with retinoids and anything that's drying on your skin.

Keep up the sun protection and commit to drinking lots of water to get any toxins moving out of your body and to combat fluid retention.

Easy things to do from home

Have an easy to follow but effective routine for at home to keep your results up from your facials.

Daily cleansing is essential especially if you wear makeup. With all the dirt and pollution your skin has to endure all day, make sure you take your skin cleansing seriously.

Double cleanse at night using an oil-based makeup remover to dissove and break down makeup and dirt, followed by a gentle and effective cleanser to remove any residue and keep your skin and pores clean. Be careful not to use aything too harsh, or drying on your skin- you want to be nourishing it gentle, hydrating products.

Try a soothing, hydrating face mask at home once or twice a week if your skin needs a bit of a pick-me-up.Collagen and hyaluronic sheet masks are great. Not only are face masks great for your skin, but they also give you an opportunity to take out some time for yourself and unwind.

You can also pop on some nourishing under-eye patches while you are catching up on emails or other tasks.

Focus on quality sleep!

Trust us when we say that sleep is everything! Try to get into the habit of sleeping at least 8 hours a night.

The regeneration and creation of cells and body tissues happens when we’re sound asleep, as well as the calming of the central nervous system to reduce stress. So focus on getting some more quality zzz’s whenever you can.

Manage your stress levels & get some downtime

Stress can cause skin breakouts or sometimes dryness, and make your skin look dull. And there’s no doubt, planning a wedding is one of the most stressful things you can do!

It's important to be deliberate about your downtime - otherwise, it may never happen! Take steps to manage your stress on a daily basis, whether that’s through daily meditation, a calming walk in the fresh air, a full body massage or scrub, or supplementating with herbs and vitamins to support your adrenals. Try yoga, dancing, reading - whatever makes you switch off and unwind.

Choose healthy ways to manage your stress. Try not to binge eat or start relying on sugar, procesed food, caffeine or alcohol as they’ll undo all your hard work.

Conclusion

To boost your pre-ceremony glow, start early on your planning and seeing a facialist or dermatologist to get your skin into tip top shape.

Compound the effects by drinking loads of water, getting adequate sleep, exercising, and maintaining a well-balanced diet.

Commit to wearing sun protection every day, keeping stress in check, and maintaining your skincare regime at home to keep your skin hydrated. You’ll be glowing and ready to rock your wedding day makeup in no time!

Have a question? Feel free to get in touch with me

I LOVE awesome parties and alternative weddings and know a lot of great wedding vendors that do too!

Making you look and feel amazing on your big day is the core of what I do, and I'd be over the moon to help you out with ideas, beauty prep advice and ways to stay zen on your big day.

At Killer Queen, we're here for you every step of the way and want to make your day as memorable and epic as possible- it's what it's all about.

Featured

Hey, I'm Danee!

I’m a makeup & hair artist and all-round creative with a serious cheese fetish and a hankering for tequila. A badass beauty disruptor and educator with nearly a decade of clocked miles in the beauty industry. I’m a playlist ADDICT who also stans for writing, drawing, inhaling 70s design and 90s pop culture; and have a mad love affair for thrift shopping, sleeping, and going on roadtrips!