I am back with part-2 of the wedding series and today we will talk all about bridal skincare, aka what products you should use, what skincare treatments are the best, and what you should avoid like a plague before you walk down the aisle. So here we go.
1. Slather On The Sunscreen – Whether you are getting married or not, using a sunscreen daily is an absolute must, especially in India. My fave sunscreen is the Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunblock. You can also use a day cream that at least has an SPF 30.
2. Drink Up And Eat Healthy – Another advice that applies to everyone in general is that you should drink plenty of water daily and should increase your intake of fruits and veggies. Home-made juices are also a good option, but please don’t drink anything that comes in a tetra pack, it is just not the same. Water will help to flush out all the toxins and the vitamins in the fruits and veggies will give you a healthy glow.
3. Remove All Makeup At Night – Not only in the days leading up to the wedding, but also during your wedding functions, when you are all dolled up, make sure to remove all traces of makeup from your face at night and then follow it up with cleansing, toning, and moisturising. Follow this rule diligently, whether you come home at 7 p.m or 3 a.m, you can thank me later. My holy grail makeup remover is Bioderma, nothing really compares to it.
4. Mask Away – Using a face mask once a week or so can make a massive difference to your skin. My current fave is the Mama Earth C3 Face Mask which is suitable for normal to oily skin and is excellent at reducing blemishes and pigmentation and providing an instant glow. Start using this at least 2-3 months prior to the big day for the best results.
5. Sleep and Eye Care – Sleeping for at least 8 hours each night is one of the best ways to have your spirits high during the hectic lead up to the wedding, and it will also keep the dark circles and puffy bags at bay. If, however, you are unable to hit the bed on time, make up for it by soothing your under eye region with slices of chilled cucumber, a metal teaspoon put in the freezer for half an hour, or some tea bags. Use a nourishing eye cream twice a day, I recommend the Kiehl’s Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado and the Mama Earth Eye Cream – both are equally good.
6. Chemical Peels? – Many brides-to-be message me on Instagram to inquire about the efficacy of chemical peels and other intense treatments offered by salons these days. To them I say that such harsh chemicals do have a chance of damaging your skin, so better consult a dermat first. Also, I don’t think that these treatments are necessary unless you suffer from some severe acne issues. You can try acid exfoliation at home instead to lighten any scars or blemishes on the face. I recommend using the Tvakh Vitamin C Exfoliating Water and the Dr. Sheths Basic Brightening Extra Gentle Daily Peel. If your skin is used to AHA exfoliation then the AHA+BHA Peel from The Ordinary is a more potent product that you could try.
7. Pre-Bridal Facials – A pre-bridal facial can give you a beautiful glow for the wedding day but I do not think that going for multiple facials over a span of 6 months, prior to the wedding, is worth the money. I would say that follow a good skincare regimen as mentioned above and go for one facial a month before the wedding day, so that you can make sure that your skin is not sensitive to the products being used. Then go for the same facial a day or two before the wedding. I would suggest not trying anything new on your face during the week before the wedding. So get a trial facial and your makeup trial done at least a month in advance.
8. To Bleach Or Not To Bleach – Most makeup artists and salon professionals insist that bleaching the face is quite important to get a smoother finish with your wedding makeup. Personally, I am not an advocate for bleaching but I did get my face bleached for my wedding day. If you are not comfortable with the idea then put your foot down at the salon and go for a deep exfoliation instead. If you are ok with bleaching your face then make sure you have tested that particular bleach well in advance. The salon I opted for used Oxy Bleach and it didn’t irritate my skin at all.
9. Hair Removal – Get your threading and waxing done at least a day or two before your Mehendi ceremony, and please don’t try a hair removal technique that you have never tried on your body before. Just don’t baffle your skin with anything new in general.
So these are my skincare tips for the brides to be. Some other skincare products that I recommend are the Greenberry Organics Charcoal Face Wash (for acne prone, oily skin), the Glamisha Face Wash (for dry skin), Greenberry Organics Rose Water Toner, Dr. Sheths Vitamin Glotion as a night cream, Plum Grape Seed & Sea Buckthorn Light Stay Day Cream for normal to dry skin and the Plum Green Tea Mattifying Moisturizer for oily and acne-prone skin. If you have any other queries then hit me up in the comments below. Signing off for now and hoping that you have a beautiful wedding!!
Featured Image Credit – Freddie Jazz Photography