Prepping for your own wedding can be stressful AF! From the day you locked your wedding date, you are only focused on getting everything right… after all, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime-event that you’ll cherish for life. Amidst getting your outfits and invites ready, booking your hair and makeup artist and planning your honeymoon, do you know what suffers the most? Your skin! Yes, stress, an unhealthy diet and bad lifestyle habits can take a serious toll on the health of your skin. And being the bride, you cannot afford to let that happen! That’s why you need to start looking after your skin at least six months in advance.
Skin expert Dr. Soma Sarkar talk about the perfect skincare routine for brides to-be.
- When should I start my bridal skincare regimen?
- What skincare products should I use?
- What skin treatments should I opt for?
- Are there any lifestyle changes I should make for glowing skin?
When should I start my bridal skincare regimen?
The best advice I can give any bride-to-be is to start your skincare routine at least three to six months before your wedding day.
Firstly, take some time to observe your skin carefully and identify the problems you want to target in your skincare routine. For instance, uneven skin tone or acne breakouts. Then decide on the routine you need to follow along with your dermatologist. It will vary from person to person depending on skin type and skin concerns.
What skincare products should I use?
Doesn’t matter what your skin type is, cleanser, toner, moisturiser and sunscreen remain a constant for everyone. And yes, the sunscreen is non-negotiable! Since you’re out and about shopping and running errands, you have to load up on SPF to prevent damage from the harsh UV rays of the sun.
Over-exposure to the sun can lead to skin woes such as fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots, inflammation, sunburn, tan and pigmentation. In fact, skin discolouration or pigmentation is one of the most common skin concerns of brides.
Start your de-pigmenting agents three months prior to your wedding day and follow a skincare routine that targets that concern. I also suggest using a skin lightening cream that is retinol and alpha-hydroxy-based in your night-time regimen.
What skin treatments should I opt for?
If you want your skin to look even, spotless, fresh and glowing on your wedding day, then I suggest you pay your dermatologist a monthly visit, starting six months prior to your big wedding.
While your facial skin is your main focus, you need to give the rest of your body equal care and attention. I usually ask my brides to opt for a skin-hydrating treatment, exfoliating treatment, body and face polishing treatment, and in the case of acne-prone skin, then a treatment to cure pesky acne and acne scars.
Are there any lifestyle changes I should make for glowing skin?
Diet plays a major role in your skincare. What you eat has a direct impact on your skin, so sugar and dairy products need to be cut down drastically. Also indulge in some form of physical exercise on a regular basis and hydrate your skin as much as possible. Lastly, make some changes in your lifestyle habits too; avoid smoking, late nights and limit your consumption of alcohol as much as possible.
Written by Fatema Habib on Nov 15, 2019