Most of us will only get to experience becoming a bride once. The lavish pampering, undivided attention, and focus will occur just once during our lifetime. This is probably why brides are so obsessive regarding their wedding day. There are no do-overs or next times. This is the one day that everyone is solely concerned about you.
Getting Your Skin Perfect for Your Wedding Day
Most of us will only get to experience becoming a bride once. The lavish pampering, undivided attention, and focus will occur just once during our lifetime. This is probably why brides are so obsessive regarding their wedding day. There are no do-overs or next times. This is the one day that everyone is solely concerned about you.
Although it sounds like a dream at first, it can become overwhelming just as fast. Imagine a day when everyone is only noticing you. This means that they will have more time to pick up on your flaws as well. Your insecurities regarding your hair, weight, and skin are bound to make it to the forefront. Zola recently surveyed 500 engaged or newlywed couples across the US, questioning them about wedding planning. 96 percent of them revealed that they were “extremely” stressed regarding their big day. Most of them indicated that their high levels of tension were attributed to trying to achieve perfection. The couples declared that there was too much pressure on them to look their best.
Wedding Planning is Stressful
These statistics provide a very clear picture of what most brides and grooms prioritize before their wedding. Naturally appearing to look better than ever is one of the primary goals, as so many people are showing up just to see them. Overthinking every minute detail, contemplating married life, and trying to stay under your budget causes even more stress in the days leading up to the wedding.
One of the worst side effects of this anxiety is bad skin. When you are eating irregularly, not getting enough sleep or taking too much stress you end up with dark circles and acne. This will cause you to be even more stressed, leading to even worse skin, until you end up looking like a pallid and unsightly zombie at your own wedding. To find great tips that will help you avoid falling prey to this vicious cycle, keep reading below on how to get your skin ready for your wedding day.
Prevention is Key
Preventing bad skin is better than correcting skin problems after they occur. Once you get acne, you not only have to worry about stopping future breakouts but also about getting rid of the dark spots left behind on your skin. If you start a healthy beauty regime in the days preceding your wedding, you will not have to spend as much time on corrective measures. Healthy and glowing skin is not only essential for good wedding pictures, but it can also be very beneficial for any post-wedding events. For example, on your honeymoon, you won’t have to spend a lot of time getting ready. With clear and vibrant skin, you can spend most of your time being fresh-faced. Here are ten habits to follow in order to prevent skin problems.
Hydrate
Unless you are trying to look like a dry and rough-skinned bride, please increase your water intake. The human body is about 60% water. We’re always losing water from our bodies, mostly due to urine and sweat. Health experts usually advise us to drink about eight 8-ounce glasses every day. To keep your skin properly hydrated, you must match this amount.
Avoid Touching your Face Often
This is a habit that many of us have. Before my wedding, I tried to avoid touching my face as much as possible. Our hands are not always clean, no matter how often we wash them. They carry germs and bacteria to the sensitive skin of our face and aid in spreading skin infections. To prevent any new breakouts, it is essential that you do not touch the old ones.
If you do find yourself touching your face too often, blackheads can form from the excess oil on your hands. This oil can cause facial pores to clog, resulting in blackheads. A simple way to get rid of blackheads is using a face steamer, which has the effect of opening the pores on your face and releasing the oils naturally.
Get Enough Sleep
When we don’t get enough sleep, our skin starts to look dull and lackluster. A pallid complexion is a sure sign of bad sleeping habits. Try to go to bed early during the days before your wedding. Turn off all your devices and avoid interruptions. A good night’s sleep can do wonders for your skin.
Avoid Smoking
Sure, I occasionally have a drag of an E-cig or vape now and then, but these things are a big no-no when prepping for a special occasion. Smoking causes acne and makes your skin seem ashy. It gives you a dehydrated and unhealthy appearance. However, studies show that you only have to stop smoking for two weeks before these symptoms start to disappear.
Improve Your Diet
Your diet is one of the biggest indicators of your skin problems. If you ingest large quantities of fried and greasy foods, you are bound to end up with severe skin conditions. Instead, try to eat healthy greens and lots of fruits. These will help you look your best for the big day.
Use a Good Facial Cleanser
Using a suitable cleanser to wash your face is important. If you do not remove makeup or grime thoroughly at the end of each day, it will clog your pores overnight and cause acne by the next morning. Unremoved makeup can also cause skin infections that are difficult to treat.
Avoid Allergens
If you know that you are allergic to a certain food or makeup product, it is best to avoid it in the days leading up to your wedding. Wedding day hives are actually a very common occurrence and can happen to anyone. Beyonce’s sister, Solange, broke out in a severe allergic reaction on the day of her nuptials. However, her beauty team helped cover them up and all was right with the world.
Use Sunscreen
This is a point that is highly emphasized by most beauticians and makeup gurus worldwide. Direct sunlight can be very harmful to our skin. Use a sunscreen that contains SPF15 and avoid tanning too frequently. Tanning often can make you look old and wrinkled. That is definitely NOT a good look for your wedding!
Use High-Quality Makeup Products
While you may save some money by buying inexpensive drugstore makeup, it is likely that you will end up paying a lot more to a skin doctor if the products are not high-quality. Of course, this doesn’t mean that you should only use makeup from Huda Beauty or Marc Jacobs. Try to find reliable brands that have been in business for a long time and don’t use a lot of harsh chemicals. This is especially true if you decide to apply artificial acrylic or gel nails – high quality brushes, powders, and other materials are a must!
Take Vitamins
Sometimes even when you are active and healthy, your diet may lack certain vitamins, or you may have a deficiency. This can cause your skin not to get enough of the nutrients it requires. Vitamin E tablets are very beneficial for your skin and can be found at most drug stores. You can also eat more fruits and vegetables to ensure that your body is getting the vitamins it needs.
Moisturize
Moisturizing your skin is important because it allows for proper prevention and treatment of dry skin. It also helps to guard sensitive skin, improve skin tone and texture, and hide imperfections. Because moisturizers retain water in the topmost layer of skin, they can also act as a temporary barrier for your skin.
Remove Dark Spots
Sometimes no matter how hard you try, you can’t avoid breaking out. This is perfectly normal and can be fixed using the methods listed above. However, the dark spots and stains left behind on your skin may seem unsightly and hard to remove. Before your wedding, you should make an effort to follow skin remedies that can help you get rid of any blemishes on your skin. There are multiple tips and tricks that you can use.
Exfoliate Regularly
Using a skin scrub frequently will help to remove any built-up dirt and grime from underneath your skin. It will also help to lessen the appearance of dark spots. Exfoliation gets rid of dead skin that can make you look dull. Scrubs come in many different forms and can contain either crystals or vegetable seeds.
Aloe Vera Gel
Most people incorrectly assume that aloe vera gel can only be used for burns or cuts. In reality, aloe vera gel works wonders for all types of blemishes and dark spots. If you can’t find 100% aloe vera gel, it is better to extract it yourself. Apply the gel daily and let it sit on your face for at least 15 minutes. Following this procedure regularly will result in youthful and glowing skin.
Rose Water
Rose water can be incredibly beneficial for soon to be brides. It not only refreshes your skin but due to its light astringent properties, it also serves as an excellent skin toner. Soak a cloth or large cotton pad in rose water and let it sit on your skin for 15 minutes. The rose water will penetrate your skin and absorb all the toxins that can cause dark spots.
Tomatoes
Tomatoes include natural bleaching agents that can help to reduce blemishes on your skin. To use this method effectively, you should puree the plant into a paste and apply it to the affected area. Another way to use tomatoes to counteract discoloration is drinking tomato juice. This might take longer, but it will provide you with healthy and luminous skin.
Lemon Juice
Lemons contain Vitamin C that can help to lighten dark spots on your face. To use this method squeeze some fresh lemon juice onto a cotton ball and rub it directly onto your skin. Let it sit for 5 minutes and then wash it off. Using this dark spot removal remedy regularly will lead to spotless and glowing skin. If you have sensitive skin, you can weaken the lemon juice with water or honey. Don’t use the lemon juice on any open sores or wounds. Also, avoid going out in the sun after applying the lemon juice as it can cause your skin to be photosensitive.
Raw Potato Juice
Dark discoloration of the skin can make you look tired, unhealthy, and older. Potatoes act as a natural bleaching agent and help to lighten your skin if used regularly. They contain vitamins A & C, starch, and other enzymes that nourish and moisturize the affected areas and reduce dark or black discoloration. Potato juice aids in reducing the swelling and inflammation of vessels under your skin to minimize a dull or tired appearance. They also contain many essential nutrients and antioxidants that keep the skin firm, smooth and bright.
Vitamin E Oil
Acne scars are formed when your body tries to heal inflamed skin following breakouts. Scarring may also worsen if the pimples or cysts are popped. While the body attempts to heal itself, it gathers a lot of collagen at the spots of the lesions. These create the appearance of noticeable scars. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble vitamin that has potent antioxidant properties, which help to reduce dark spots. You can either ingest Vitamin E capsules or use Vitamin E oil on the affected areas to see maximum results.
Honey
This popular organic ingredient is a life saver for most of us who suffer from hard to remove acne scars. Raw honey is excellent for all skin types due to its antibacterial properties and massive serving of skin-rejuvenating antioxidants. The nonchemical acid in honey promotes shedding of dead skin cells similar to scrubs, but without any mechanical rubbing. With age, dead cells stick to the surface of your skin, giving it a dull and uneven look because their shedding is delayed. Using honey regularly as a cleanser or face mask will provide you with healthy and glowing skin.
Baking Soda
I regularly use baking soda to clean my house. Most household tips call for this ingredient because of its potent cleaning properties. If appropriately diluted and used, baking soda can remove dark spots from your skin as well. Not only is it a good exfoliating agent that assists in the removal of dead cells, but it also balances the pH level of your skin. This is very important to maintain an even and bright complexion. Baking soda can bleach your skin to lighten up dark spots, acne scars, and freckles.
Rosehip Seed Oil
Rosehip seed oil is notably useful as a skin restorative. It provides essential nutrients for the overall health and appearance of your skin. Using rosehip oil regularly not only clears up acne scars and dark spots, but also causes your skin to become firmer and younger looking. This oil is an excellent source of vitamins A, E, and C. It also contains linoleic acid which is very effective in healing pimples and acne scars. Rosehip seed oil is a great alternative for those looking to use only organic and natural ingredients on their skin.
Body Goals
Don’t forget that it is not only your face that will be the center of attention at your wedding. Most brides remark that their guests took an avid interest in everything from their head to their toes. If that isn’t enough motivation for you, then consider this, your new husband is sure to care. Also, most wedding dresses reveal a lot of skin. You don’t want your guests to ooh and aah when they see you, only for them to shriek when you turn around due to bacne. In order to look your best, you should ensure that you spend a significant amount of time taking care of the skin on the rest of your body as well.
Bacne Prevention:
Back acne, or as its more commonly known bacne, can be as problematic as facial acne. It may leave behind unsightly scars and can be even harder to remove. Plenty of brides have had to forego their dream backless wedding gown because of this problem. To ensure that this doesn’t happen to you, take a look at some the ways that top dermatologists recommend you deal with breakouts on your back.
Don’t Wear Sweaty Clothes
One of the most common causes of back acne is sweaty clothes. Therefore, you should try to change out of your workout outfit as soon as you can. This is because hair follicles in your back can trap sweat and bacteria and cause breakouts. You should also wash your clothes often and avoid wearing the same top for more than one day.
Use a Facial Cleanser on Your Back
Wash your back with a face wash that contains either salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide (like Clean & Clear Continuous Control Acne Cleanser). Because these products are specially formulated to control acne and prevent breakouts, they will help to reduce back acne as well.
Take More Showers
The skin on your back is thicker than the skin on your face. This means that there are increased chances of clogged pores on our backs. To prevent bacne, shower as often as you can and limit sweat build up.
Avoid Carbs
Back acne is similar to facial acne and can occur because of your diet. Avoiding carbs and eating more greens will help to reduce skin problems everywhere on your body.
Hair Removal Bumps and Ingrown Hair
Most brides will opt for a full body wax session before their wedding. Others will spend longer shaving, and some will run off to their nearest laser hair removal clinic. All of these methods will help to make you as smooth and fuzzless as a newborn puppy. However, they will not prevent hair removal bumps and ingrown hair. Anyone who has ever experienced an infected ingrown hair can tell you how unsightly and painful it can be. That is not the look you should be going for at your wedding.
It is best to avoid removing hair too soon and before it has fully grown back. This will only lead to irritated skin and blotchy red marks. You should also not wax or shave an area that has had a recent breakout. Anyone can get ingrown hairs. But it is usually more common for people who have curly or coarse hair (and may need a hair diffuser). Curly hair is more likely to curve back and re-enter the skin, especially after it’s been shaved. To prevent bumps and ingrown hairs you can use an exfoliating scrub up to 12 hours after hair removal. You should also use a soothing lotion immediately after waxing as this will help to calm your skin and prevent irritation. For women who shave, there are five ways to avoid razor bumps.
- Shave with a sharp, single-blade razor.
- Wet your skin and apply lubricating gel before shaving.
- Shave in the same direction your hair growth.
- Clean your blade after every stroke.
- Don’t shave too close to your skin.
Most ingrown hairs will go away on their own. However, if your fear that an ingrown hair has become infected, you can use several over the counter medications to treat this problem.
Manicures and Pedicures
A lot of men have revealed that a woman entirely enamored them until, after seeing her unkempt toes or hands, they were completely turned off. On your wedding day, you should try to appear as feminine and well-kept as possible. Manicures and pedicures provide significant benefits for your overall health and also aid in keeping your hands and feet looking young. With regular mani-pedis in the months leading up to your wedding, you can ensure that you will have smoother and more beautiful skin and nails (some tips on saving money while at the nail salon). Massages also stimulate blood flow, which is why regular gentle rubbing and kneading will keep you looking younger and more radiant.
Being a Beautiful Bride
Following the tips and tricks listed above, you can ensure that you will have beautiful and radiant skin at the time of your wedding. These anecdotes will help to relieve any skin problems that you may be facing and also provide you with more self-confidence on your big day. However, the most important tip is not to be stressed. A minor skin condition or zit will not ruin one of the most beautiful days of your life. Most people will hardly even notice it, and you can always cover it up with makeup. Your new husband will be too excited about the prospect of spending his life with you, to be distracted by something so trivial. Try to avoid being too worried and enjoy your wedding. After all, it is likely to be the only one you’ll ever have.
