How to Prep Your Skin for Your Wedding Day

Not sure how to best prepare your skin as your wedding approaches? We sat down with Butter Artistry to get the tips and tricks of the trade from the best!

“What skin care regimens should I make sure to do the day before my wedding?

Keep it simple on the last day, and focus on having fun – TOMORROW IS THE BIG DAY! At this point if you have a breakout (or 2) that is ok;  your makeup artist will be able to make it “disappear”. DO NOT pick at your face or try any “quick fix” methods to clear a last minute breakout. Instead focus on the things you can control. 1. Avoid high levels of alcohol and coffee – you don’t want puffy or dull skin when you walk down the aisle  2. HYDRATE internally and externally. Water and moisturizer should be your best friends in the last 24 hours, and  3. Do not forget to wash your face and prep before you go to sleep (even if you are exhausted from the Rehearsal Party). Starting with a good clean slate that has been properly cleansed and moisturized overnight will make your makeup artist a very happy camper, which will then in turn make you a very happy Bride. 

What are some things I should incorporate into the start of my wedding skin care routine? 

We cannot stress enough how important skin preparation is for the big day and every day of marriage that follows.  We always suggest in the 3-6 months prior to the big day to consider skin resurfacing options, such as dermaplaning, chemical peels, and/or laser treatments to soften fine lines, decrease dark circles and even out skin coloration. For a quick fix in the last month, it comes down to four basic principles in our book: 1. Get plenty of sleep 2. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate! 3. Reduce your intake of dairy, and 4. Do not try anything new on your skin! Now is not the time to get fancy with new wrinkle creams and toners- it’s not worth the risk.  

What are things I should avoid?

Your skin is heavily influenced by the things you choose to put into your body and onto your body.  You want to avoid high volumes of things that will dehydrate or aggravate your skin.  This includes dairy, sugar, and alcohol.  You should also avoid trying any new cleansers, creams, or cosmetics in the last month prior to the wedding.  P.S. Please avoid leaving your eyebrows to the final week.  Waxing off that first layer of skin can cause makeup to adhere incorrectly and can even leave burns.  While we are on the topic: now is the time to switch to threading instead of waxing (you’ll get less wrinkles that way in the long run too).    

How can I keep my skin hydrated?

FLUIDS: Water is going to be your number one partner when it comes to keeping your skin hydrated. Without the intake of water, you will be fighting an uphill battle with your skin.  A good formula to follow is ½ ounce of water for every pound you weigh. For example: if you weigh 120 pounds you should shoot to drink a minimum of 60 ounces of water per day.  Just as water will help keep your skin looking dewy, high consumption of coffee and alcohol will have the opposite effect and can cause your skin to look dull and dehydrated.  If you are a coffee lover, a good rule of thumb is start your day with a full 8 ounces of water and then for every yummy latte you drink, drink two 8 ounce glasses; a basic 2 to 1 ratio. 

You will want to continue to moisturize your skin and your neck every morning and every night.  If you are already in this routine, that is great! If you aren’t, don’t fret… there is still time.  Choose clean products and start slow – don’t overwhelm your skin with an abundance of new products.  

How can I prevent acne/breaking out?

The number one friend of a breakout is stress.  Keeping your stress level to a minimum is the best thing you can do for your skin in the last few weeks leading up to the wedding.  Easier said than done, right? Knowing that a few hiccups may occur when planning your big day, do your skin a favor and make sure you are following your other “DOs” and “DO NOTs” to help ease the skin. DO: 1. Stay Hydrated 2. Clean your sheets and phone regularly (they provide the most bacteria to your beautiful face), and 3. Wash your face and moisturize daily. DO NOT: 1. Consume high levels of diary, sugar, coffee or alcohol, and 2. Try any new skin treatments or products in the last month leading up to the big day.