How to get the best skin for your wedding day.

We all want to look our best for our wedding day, and for some people that is going to start with getting their skin in the best shape possible! From a makeup artist’s point of view, it is true that the better your skin is, the better your makeup is going sit and last on your face. That being said nobodies skin is perfect, and good skin means something different for everyone - so try not to get too hung up on tiny imperfections! Skincare can be completely overwhelming, so keep reading for my simple, straight forward and realistic tips on prepping your skin for your wedding.

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When it comes to makeup, the best kind of skin to work on is skin that is clean, well balanced and hydrated. Redness, pigmentation, dark circles and blemishes can all be covered so whilst it can be nice to try and reduce them, if you have any of the above don’t stress because your makeup artist can sort those out on your wedding morning. What makeup can’t make a difference to is skin texture, dehydration or wrinkles. If you want to improve on those areas, you’re going to need to do some prep to your skin in advance to the wedding.

I’m conscious of my wrinkles, what can I do?

Let me start by saying wrinkles are 100% normal and nothing to be ashamed of, they are not something that needs to be fixed or eliminated for your wedding if you’re comfortable with them. However if they really do bother you there are a few things you can do.

Skincare wise, prevention is much better than cure so if you’re lucky enough to be young and wrinkle free, getting in the habit of a good skincare routine whilst you’re young is your best bet (we’ll talk more about skincare routines later in this post). Skin that is dry, and lacking moisture will wrinkle more quickly, whereas skin that is hydrated and well looked after will stay plumper and healthy looking for longer - the earlier you can start the better.

If wrinkles are already your reality, then there are a few things that do actually work (although the majority of things that are advertised as ‘anti-aging’ are a bit of a scam in my opinion!). Skincare wise, the only thing available without prescription that will actually reverse signs of aging are retinols/retinals, and even then it will only be a softening of lines. Unfortunately they won’t make someone in their 60s look 20 again, but they can make a difference. The Medik8 Crystal Retinals are my personal favourites.

If you’re after more drastic results, your only effective options are going to be more invasive procedures such as botox, fillers and cosmetic surgery. This isn’t going to be the right option for everyone, but if you’re thinking about going down this path make sure you do your research and find someone reputable for your treatments.

Why does makeup never last on my skin?

I get a lot of clients who tell me makeup doesn’t last very well on their skin, and tends to go patchy throughout the day. Let me introduce you to dehydration, the enemy of good makeup! Nine times out of ten, when a client says this to me, their skin is dehydrated. If you want to worry about anything to do with your skin in the run up to your wedding, it’s if its dehydrated.

So what the hell is dehydrated skin I hear you ask?! In a nutshell, it’s skin that is lacking water or hydration (which is different to dry skin which lacks oil). Dehydrated skin is very difficult to work with from a makeup perspective, because it will try and absorb ANY moisture you put on it. This is why foundation goes patchy on dehydrated skin, because the skin sucks ALL of the moisture out of the foundation. If your skin is already hydrated, the foundation just sits nicely on top. It can take time to rehydrate dehydrated skin, so it’s not something your makeup artist can magically fix with a primer or moisturiser on your wedding morning unfortunately.

So what do you do about it? Essentially, you just need a simple, consistent skincare routine. I’ll go more into skincare routines below (it’s a whole topic in itself), however my top product recommendation to help dehydrated skin is The Inkey List Hyaluronic Acid Serum.

What do I actually need to include in a skincare routine?

You’ll probably have seen influencers online with 12 step, ridiculously complicated skincare routines. It can be overwhelming knowing which products you actually need right? My honest answer to this question is often that less is more (trust me, I’ve tried the 12 step routine and damaged my skin in the process!). The main things that have actually made a difference to my skin are properly cleansing my face, keeping my skin hydrated and protecting my face with an SPF. If you have no skincare routine at all, this is where I recommend starting -

In the morning -

Cleanse, moisturise, SPF

In the evening -

Double cleanse, moisturise

Once you’ve got these steps sorted and have been doing it for a few months, you can then decide if you want to add any more targeted treatments (for example, I use a hyaluronic acid between cleansing and applying moisturiser). If you’re not sure what double cleansing is, it’s basically removing your makeup and SPF first, then washing your face again with a cleanser.

Picking your cleansers/moisturisers/SPF is going to depend on your skin type, and can take a bit of trial and error. As a rough guide, oily skin tends to prefer more lightweight, gel like formulas, dry skin works better with richer, creamier products and sensitive skin prefers simple, gentle products that have less fragrance.

What targeted treatments can I add to my skincare routine?

Let me preface this by saying that if the skincare routine above gives you good results, you do not need to add anything else to your routine - if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. However if there are still some things you would like to improve in your skin, targeted treatments might be right for you. Here are some examples and the products you can use to treat them.

If your skin is dehydrated, try adding a hyaluronic acid.

If you would like to target lines, wrinkles or pigmentation, try a retinal/retinol product.

If you suffer from oily skin, clogged pores or blackheads, a BHA or salicylic acid might be worth a try.

If your skin is dry, textured and prone to getting a bit flaky, try an AHA or chemical exfoliant.

Skincare is a very personal thing, so a bit of research on your end as to what products might suit your skin is always a good idea.

Do I need to go and get facials or professional treatments in the run up to my wedding?

Only if you want to, for most people just having a good, consistent skincare routine will be enough. However if you have the budget and want to really invest in your skin, going to a reputable skincare specialist can get you really good results AND take the guess work out of what you need in your routine. If you have a skincare condition, such as acne, rosacea, eczema etc. I do recommend speaking to a dermatologist or skincare specialist before making any changes to your skincare routine.

So there we have it, my top tips for prepping your skin for your wedding day! Hopefully this has been useful - skincare is such a big topic it’s always hard fitting enough information into one post. If you would like to learn more about skincare (with more specific product recommendations), I do have a Beginners Guide to Skincare ebook which you can download here for free! I always give my bridal clients help and advice with their skincare too, so if you’re looking for a bridal hair and makeup artist you can check out my services here.