Ten Essentials for Flawless Skin

For your skin to look its best you need to get into some good habits in the months leading up to your wedding. So to help you achieve glowing supermodel style skin, we’ve outlined ten easy steps for you to follow:

1. If you’re planning on investing time and money on a new skincare routine then it’s worth getting some professional advice. Most of the major cosmetic and skincare companies offer free advice and trial samples so you can be sure you’ve found the right product before splashing out any cash. A good skincare specialist will take time to ask you about your skincare routine, the products that you are currently using and any preferences, such as using a cream based cleanser rather than a facial wash.

2. Look out for skincare ranges specifically aimed at your skin type such as those formulated for a dry or problem skin. Using products from the same range such as one brand of cleanser, toner and moisturiser that have been designed to be used in conjunction with one another, is likely to give you the best results and minimise the risk of an adverse reaction to a product.

3. Talking of avoiding bad reactions to a skincare product, it’s vital that you don’t fall into the trap of being tempted to try out a new treatment or product just days before your wedding. Only use products that you know your skin gets on with in the six weeks before your wedding.

4. When looking after your skin, always pay particular attention to your T-zone. This is the area around your forehead, nose and chin where the skin has more oil glands and hence it’s the area most prone to skin outbreaks. Also, if you find your T-zone greasy at all, try to use only a very small amount of moisturiser around that area and concentrate instead on drier zones like your cheeks.

5. For an instant impact on the look and feel of your skin, use a weekly face scrub or peel. Both are gentle ways of exfoliating the skin to remove any dead skin cells and give you a natural healthy glow. If, however, you have particularly sensitive skin, you may find that even the most gentle of scrubs is unsuitable.

6. Another way of keeping your complexion in peak condition is to treat yourself to a facemask. There are many different masks on the market but again it’s all about finding one that’s right for you. Think about whether you want the mask to nourish your skin or draw out impurities and choose one accordingly. Most masks only need to stay on for about ten minutes so there’s really no excuse in saying you haven’t got time. Another great tip is to apply your mask whilst relaxing in the bath; not only does this ensure that you find the time for a well deserved relaxation but the steam from the bath will help to make the mask more effective.

7. One of the ultimate skin sins that we tend to commit over and again is sleeping with our make-up on. Whilst the odd late party night when you’re just too tired to worry about your make-up is OK, if you do it on a regular basis your skin will soon start to suffer. Regular cleansing twice a day is one of the hard and fast rules for great skin – and that means removing make-up at night so that your skin is thoroughly cleansed and can ‘breathe’ for a good eight hours while you sleep. It’s also a good idea to get into the habit of using a specialist night cream before hitting the sack.

8. We’ve all read articles on the importance of applying sunscreen and the message is certainly getting through, with most of us not dreaming of sunbathing without using some kind of protection. However, rather than skin damage just happening whilst we’re on holiday in hot climes, for most of us the real damage comes from exposing our skin to the atmosphere day in and day out. It doesn’t have to be a bright sunny day to cause damage, so even if you only do one good thing for your skin, make sure you always wear a moisturiser with an SPF in it.

9. Every bride dreads a spot appearing on her wedding morning, but by following the advice in this article you can help your skin look and feel its best and therefore less prone to spots. However, if a spot does start to appear, use some spot cream on it immediately, as catching it early is the secret. Try never to squeeze your spots as you run the risk of scarring, but if you really need to, then ensure you have clean hands and squeeze either side of the spot using a tissue. Also, your bridal make-up bag should contain a concealer that’s well matched to your skin tone to help you cover up any unwanted blemishes.

10. Getting plenty of sleep in the weeks leading up to your wedding can be easier said than done, what with last minute preparations, not to mention night-before nerves. Organising as much of the preparations in advance as you can will reduce wedding stress, but if you find that you have trouble sleeping at night, then try using some relaxing aromatherapy oils like lavender, and having a warm bath.

Finishing touches ……..

Your wedding day make-up should be soft and natural, enhancing your serenity and happiness on the most important day of your life. To achieve ‘top-to-toe’ confidence, it is of the utmost importance to plan well in advance.

The secret is to begin about six weeks before the date. This will give plenty of time to become used to any changes you may be contemplating in your hairstyle or make-up.

Here is a suggested programme:

Six weeks before
Attend aerobic classes (for muscle tone and deportment
One or two sunbeds (for skin tone)
Three weeks before
Full facial
One week before
Try out headdress and hairstyle
Three days before

Half leg wax, eyebrow shape and eyelash dyeing

And on the Big Day ……..