Prepare your skin for your wedding day!
One of the most important steps in making sure you look completely flawless on your big day is how well your skin is nourished (and I don’t mean just slapping on moisturizer) before hand. Daily moisturizer is a no brainer, everyone needs it but no matter how seasoned your makeup artist is, you have to do the necessary rituals to achieve flawless results.
Sure, as a professional and well seasoned makeup artist I have tricks and products up my sleeve to make you look your very best. That’s why you hire a professional, amiright? ;) BUT, when your skin is at it’s optimal so will your makeup be. It will look better, sit better, photograph better and LAST longer! So let’s get into that…
Flawless Application.
Your skin is like a canvas, if you’ve never prepped a canvas before it’s prepped to be smooth, even toned and ready for paint to glide on effortlessly. Which is why we need to exfoliate to slew away any dead skin. Your skin naturally sheds dead skin cells to make room for new cells every 30 days or so. Sometimes, dead cells don’t shed completely which can result in dry, flaky patches and clogged pores. Exfoliating eliminates toxins and impurities and clears out the dirt that builds up in your pores day after day. You will notice your skin will begin to look more radiant.
Makeup will last longer.
Will my makeup last? This is the number one question and concern I get when speaking with my brides and it’s and important one! Yes, my kit has a wide range of long wearing, water-resistant, water-proof made to last products but having the right prepped canvas allows these products to work at it’s optimal best! If you’re not cleansing properly, dirt and texture buildup on the skin allows for makeup product to not stick to your skin the best way it can. Covering redness is simple, covering texture is not possible! A big misconception are for my oily babes, just because you are oily does not mean you should skip moisturizer! When oily skin does not get hydration, your skin starts to produce even more oil therefore causing your skin to feel even more oily and not giving your skin a base to adhere to. Think about it, oil and water do not mix…your skin can still be oily and dehydrated. Read more here.
What else can I do to improve my skin health before my wedding day?
I love getting facials when I can, as you can imagine being a makeup artist I am an avid makeup wearer. I asked my personal esthetician Lauren Loscri of The Bare. Collective what she recommends for optimal skin health before the big day. If facials are in your budget, I would recommend adding them to your wedding day plan. Here’s what Lauren recommends…
“I recommend finding a reputable esthetician you trust 6-12 months before the wedding date to come up with a daily skincare routine that’s best to achieve your skin goals and target skin concerns by the big day. Some concerns take time to improve, and you want to have a game plan.”
”In addition to your home routine, I recommend regular monthly facials a few months prior to maintain healthy, skin - with the last treatment, in my opinion, a week prior to the official day. Also, it’s important to make sure that treatment doesn’t include any intense procedures to avoid the chance of a post-facial flare or reaction. Opt for more brightening and hydrating so you’re looking glowy in your photos!”
Other tips:
“Don’t skip out on your décolleté!”
“Don’t skip out on your décolleté! your skin on your chest and neck, is just as important as the face, especially in that gown. Having a wedding in the dry, cold weather months? Sleep with a humidifier to keep your skin from drying out, and for a little extra home treatment, consider dry brushing on your arms”
**If getting a regular facial isn’t realistic for you or have no idea where to start with a skincare regime Lauren offers virtual skincare advice. This is a great option for those new to skincare, don’t live in the area, or those of you who just need professional advice to up your skincare game! You can also follow her HERE for more tips if either of those options still aren’t for you.
You can still get great skin on a budget.
Use Sheet Masks.
I also love the use of sheet masks. This is a great way to add in hydration and brightening for a glowy complexation if getting regular facials isn’t in your budget. They allow the skin to rest while it’s being saturated and will give you that extra boost in just 10-15 minutes. I recommend exfoliating your face first before applying your sheet mask as your skin will better absorb the product. You can use sheet masks daily! Scroll to the end to see which brands I love.
DIY Treatments.
I love me a good DIY project. For example, If your skin is oily and you’re suffering from breakouts, want to balance your skin and calm redness you can create your own face toner with just a few simple steps.
1/2 c raw apple cider vinegar (unfiltered)
1 teaspoon tea tree oil (tea tree oil has antimicrobial compounds that help battle acne)
1/2 c warm water
Pour all your ingredients into a small bottle and shake well to combine. It can either be a spray bottle which you spray directly onto your skin or a regular bottle where you apply the product onto a cotton round to apply. Shake well before each application, it should be applied morning and night after washing your face and moisturize when finished.
Clarifying Facial Toner Recipe
Don’t see what you need for your skin? You can find many more DIY skincare recipes from my favorite site, The Herbal Academy to fit your skincare needs here. I’ve used many recipes from here myself and I’m also a student of the academy!
What to do to your skin the night before your wedding day.
Wash your skin using your favorite cleanser
Exfoliate
Use a toner
Use any skincare you love/need. Moisturizer/ eye creams
Use a hydrating or brightening sheet mask (use one you’ve used before, don’t try something new)
RELAX!
Help me by helping you with a top notch skincare routine! I guarantee you, if you’re new to skincare after seeing how amazing your results can be you’ll be hooked and feeling more confident than ever.
Don’t you want to feel confident on your wedding day?
Peace + Love
Kara
Sheet Masks I love HYDRATING & BRIGHTENING
