11 Ways To Perfect Your Pre-Wedding Skin Care Routine
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by Rose Gallagher of Mixed Gems BeautyYour hair and make-up artists may be on call for your wedding day, but with bridal showers, hen parties and other big day duties to adhere to, you’ll need to start your wedding beauty prep long before the big day. Here are a few of the small amends you can make to your pre wedding skin care routine to leave you feeling and looking wonderful.
THE BEST FOUNDATION FOR BRIDES -
Treat your skin from within
First and most importantly, you want to feel amazing for your special day. This in mind, kick starting each morning with an energising supplement will do wonders for mind and body. The Super Elixir (£96 for 300g, spacenk.com), an alkalising supplement co-created by The Body herself Elle MacPherson, supports general health and wellbeing. Unlike most supplements, it doesn’t taste like sewer water (though, frankly, it does look a little like it). Green exterior aside, a teaspoon a day in your first glass of water will boost energy, immunity and keep everything ticking along in the best possible way. How it works: The premise is that lots of things that cause disruption within your body have acidic properties to them, and that creating a more alkaline body state enhances wellbeing. This powder contains a careful mix of pre and probiotics to support digestion. A healthy gut PH balance will reduce bloating and leave a flatter tummy. Other notable ingredients include Kelp to stimulate a sluggish thyroid, Horsetail to repair tissues and help you to remain fit and well before your wedding and Dandelion to flush harmful toxins (in English: help your hangover.
THE BEST FOUNDATION FOR BRIDES -
Be strict with your make up removal
If taking your make-up off is a half-hearted gesture straight before you hit the pillow, this small change will work wonders for you. The moment you arrive home from work, take your make-up off. Cleanse your skin twice, once to remove make-up and again for a deep clean, and allow the rest of your skincare to work throughout the evening. Think of your hair conditioner; the longer you leave it on, the richer the treatment you get out of it and the same goes for your skin. Plus, the benefit of getting straight to it is that you’ll be less tired and more likely to take time in applying your skincare well. For the first cleanse, RMK’s Moist Cleansing Balm (£30, lookfantastic.com) is gentle enough to use even on the eyes and melts everything away in mere seconds. For a second cleanser? Click on... -
Next, I like Avene’s Gentle Milk Cleanser (£12, boots.com), which will gently nourish the skin and leave it instantly comforted with a soft, creamy texture.
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Choose your toner carefully
Swapping to an exfoliating toner will leave your skin luminous for the big day. Pixi Glow Tonic (£18, cultbeauty.co.uk) is the cult go-to in this scenario. A gentle infusion of Glycolic Acid will purify the skin and accelerate cell renewal, meaning that dead skin is swept away and baby soft skin is unveiled. As a result, your skin will be cleaner and therefore any additional products will be able to fully penetrate the skin and work to their maximum potential. -
Start an at-home facial routine
There’s a lot to be said for the transformative power of a quick facial massage. When applying your skincare, take the time to massage the face and you’ll see a difference in the luminosity of your skin. Massage stimulates blood flow, and thus adds radiance to the complexion. Choose something rich like a facial oil to maintain a rich consistency throughout the massage, later sinking in to add hydration to the skin. There are none finer than those from Decleor (pictured: Aromessense Neroli Amara Hydrating Oil Serum, £46, decleor.co.uk), instantly nourishing and available in many potent blends to suit all manner of skin needs and fragrance preferences. -
Don't neglect your neck
We invest so much time in our faces, it’s important to remember the neck. If you don’t already, be sure to take every skincare step down your neck and to your décolletage. Sisley’s Black Rose Skin Infusion Cream (£128, sisley-paris.com) will plump and hydrate your skin due to its potent Black Rose extract (plus Hibiscus flower for dullness) leaving the neck and chest luminous and youth-infused for the big day. Make-up can disguise dullness or lack of lustre on the face, but the neck is harder to cheat and therefore worth investing time into. -
Choose make up with skin care benefits
Looking after your skin is vital in the build up to the wedding, but what if you still want to feel groomed and glamorous? Switching your everyday foundation to something skincare based, like a BB or CC cream is the answer. It Cosmetics CC+ SPF 50 cream (£30, selfridges.com), a luminous, full coverage base will keep you looking flawless through the day. Though because it’s formulated with a physical sunscreen, it may leave your skin looking ashy from the flash of the camera on the wedding day – so you won’t want to wear this on the day itself. -
Nails are key
On the big day everyone is going to want a glimpse of your ring so your hands are going to be in the spotlight. When you paint your nails, seal everything in with a cuticle treatment. The Cure from Deborah Lippmann (£20, selfridges.com) will strengthen your nails and keep your manicure neat and tidy. Nails split or peel when moisture manages to penetrate the layers of your nail, so a strengthening treatment will toughen the nail and prevent this from happening. In addition to keeping nails chip free, this treatment nourishes the cuticles, meaning to dry or peeling skin either. -
Treat your hair while you sleep
Everyone is guilty of having products on the shelves that go untouched. There simply isn’t enough time to use them. So how about you let them get to work while you sleep? Philip Kingsley’s Elasticizer (£26 for 150ml, qvcuk.com), originally formulated for Audrey Hepburn, is a hair miracle worker that benefits from time to sink in. Scrap the 20-minute recommendation on the jar and sleep in yours. By morning, this pre-shampoo treatment will leave you hair silky and tame. With continued use, your wedding day hair will shine as brightly as your ring. -
Invest in a body brush (and use it!)
Every wedding day is followed by a romantic wedding night, and this in mind you’ll be delighted to know that the best body-prep motion is quick and simple. By taking a few moments to brush your body before the shower and doing a few circular motions towards the heart, you’ll stimulate blood flow, help to break down cellulite and feel a million dollars even when your dress is off. I love The Body Shop's Cactus Long Handle Brush (£10, thebodyshop.com), which is a large, firm brush with long handle that's ideal for reaching crucial spots like the bum or the backs of the legs. -
Foot masks are your new best friend
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Taking care of your feet before a day in your dream heels can make the difference between having to switch to flip-flops post-meal or dancing the night away in your pumps. Instead of landing home and getting straight into your slippers, try the Masque Bar Exfoliating Foot Mask (£9.99, boots.com) one evening. This 90-minute treatment will make your skin peel for days afterwards – evidently not ideal for special occasions, so plan ahead – and eventually leave them free of hard skin altogether.
