Bridal Club Magazine

Creating an Effective Skin Care Routine

On your wedding day you'll be getting up close & personal with not only your guests, but a camera lens as well. To look great all day - and for years to come - you'll want to take up an effective skin care routine. That starts with a minimum six months of stress-relief, proper nutrition & increased water intake.

Since much of your beauty condition on your wedding day is completely in your own hands, there are a few things you'll need to do before the wedding to ensure your skin is in tip-top shape.

The first and most important step towards healthy skin is a good cleansing program. You should be using a multi-step system including:

• A good cleanser appropriate for your skin-type in the morning
• Daily moisturizer
• Make-up remover and cleanser at night
• An exfoliant once or twice a week

Also try keeping your hands away from your face - dirt and oils can contribute to blemishes and other skin problems.

If you can afford it, this is a great time to consult a professional dermatologist. Tell them your wedding date & your skin-care goals. They may recommend treatments such as glycolic peels or regular facials that will help you have picture-perfect skin. Prescription medicine may also be helpful.

Also, if you take birth-control medication, talk to your doctor about which kind is best for your skin and body. Switching birth-control brands may make a dramatic difference in your skin.

Examine how much water you drink. Drinking eight to 10 glasses daily will help clear up blemishes and make your skin more luminous. An added bonus is to start your day with a glass of water that includes one or two squeezed lemon slices - this citrus fruit water works wonders for flushing toxins and quenches your thirst while also making you crave more water.

While you're increasing your water consumption, it's a great time to be decreasing your caffeine intake. Passing on that morning trip to Starbucks may seem like a daunting task, but not only will less caffeine help your skin, it will also help you feel less stressed out!

Finally - and most importantly - get some sleep. Your body requires a minimum of eight hours of rest to rebuild and repair itself. In that time, it sheds dead skin cells, flushes toxins and excess water, and regulates its natural moisture levels (among other things). Deprive yourself of sleep, and you can expect to see dull skin, dark circles and puffiness when you wake up in the morning.

Let's face it: Most of us don't have perfect complexions, and with the anxiousness surrounding a wedding, looking your best can be a challenge. But with a little extra care and some advanced planning, you can easily achieve a radiant, flawless face for your wedding day!