Every bride dreams of her wedding day, but chances are, the vision in your head is centered around walking down the aisle with beautifully glowing skin. Unfortunately, there are a lot of factors that can cause blemishes to appear on your face in the months, weeks, days, and even hours leading up to your ceremony. Many women have shared that the time before the wedding is fraught with stress and sleepless nights as you finalize the preparations which can wreak havoc on your skin.
To help you avoid breakouts leading up to your big day as a bride, we recommend starting your bridal beauty routine at least six months in advance of your wedding. This allows enough time for the products and treatments you implement to take effect. Often, brides choose to seek out the help of professional dermatologists or estheticians who can devise a premium skincare plan specifically catered to the unique needs. Working with a skincare professional can seem overwhelming, and if you are wondering, “which facial is good for bridal beauty?” you are not alone. Below we are breaking down some of our favorite facials for brides and when to use them in your bridal beauty routine.
Best Facials for Bridal Beauty
Developing a daily skincare routine is one of the best ways to help improve your skin and address any concerns you may have. Receiving facials on a regular basis can also make an impact on your skin – and faster than at-home products. These results occur because the products used during a facial tend to have higher concentrations of active ingredients and incorporate elements that will enhance the effects of one another.
At our Kate Somerville Skin Health Experts Clinic, we offer a variety of facial treatments and work with brides to help them achieve healthy, beautiful, glowing skin. Here are some of our favorite treatments:
The Classic
If your wedding date is six months to one year away, a classic facial may be the way to go. Though the specifics of what is offered varies depending on the spa you select, a classic signature facial usually involves cleansing, exfoliating, extractions, a mask, and a face moisturizer. Extractions, specifically, work to deep clean clogged pores which can help reduce the appearance of large pores while preventing acne from developing. Whether you’re trying to revitalize your dull skin or even out your skin tone, this facial will become your new best friend. One of the primary benefits of a classic facial is the customization your esthetician can provide. Generally, she will begin by assessing your skin type and condition to select the most appropriate ingredients or products that will deliver effective results. Given the level of customization available, classic facials can be a great choice for any skin type. Talk to your esthetician about the best frequency for your skin goals, but we recommend going at least once per month and adding more sessions within the final two to three months before your big day.
Laser Resurfacing
In the past, resurfacing was a more intensive/invasive procedure. Whether harsh dermabrasion, deep chemical peels, or even outdated laser technology, these techniques would often remove many layers of surface skin, leaving patients with exposed, sensitive skin that could appear shiny, white, thin, and discolored. Thankfully, modern lasers are more rejuvenating than their predecessors. Using advanced technology, today’s laser facials are able to penetrate the skin, as opposed to remove layers and stimulate the natural growth mechanisms below the surface. This process helps to diminish the appearance of abnormal discoloration and leave your complexion with a natural glow.
As a facial treatment, lasers are a great way to address minor flaws on the surface of your skin. Specifically, they can help minimize the appearance of wrinkles, dark spots, uneven skin tone, sun damage, and scars. However, it comes with some risks including redness, swelling, itching, and infection. As a result, it is best used a least a three to four weeks before you walk down the aisle to give your skin plenty of time to heal.
Microdermabrasion
A gentler version of traditional dermabrasion procedures, microdermabrasion uses a specialized handheld instrument to spray small crystals on the surface of the skin that work to loosen dead skin cells while simultaneously vacuuming up the exfoliated skin. Physically buffing away the surface layers of facial skin can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, acne scars, stretch marks, dark spots, blackheads, enlarged pores, and hyperpigmentation.
The exfoliation process may also help to stimulate biological processes that firm the skin, making it appear more youthful and refreshed, giving you a natural glow. However, as the procedure is abrasive, it may leave your skin red and irritated. This is often provided as an add-on treatment to another facial, but can be done as a standalone procedure as well. We recommend using this treatment at least two weeks before your wedding.
Dermaplaning
The process of gently removing the small, fine hairs on your face, dermaplaning is one of the trendiest facials of today. During the procedure, your esthetician will use a 10-inch surgical scalpel to gently scrape the surface of your skin in light, feathering strokes, which remove any hair. This is done on the clean, dry skin of your forehead, cheeks, chin, nose, and neck. In addition to acting as a gentle physical exfoliation, dermaplaning can help prevent breakouts, improve skin texture and tone, and reduce the appearance of fine lines, hyperpigmentation, and acne scars. Plus, it will leave your skin smooth to the touch and allow your makeup to glide across your face evenly.
Though the treatment is virtually painless and most women do not experience any adverse side effects, dermaplaning can result in some minimal redness or irritation which typically fades quickly. This, combined with the nearly instant results it provides, makes dermaplaning a tremendous facial to have within one week of your wedding or even the day before! Our only suggestion is to test your skin’s reaction to the treatment before so you can be sure your skin will not have an adverse reaction.
Microcurrent Facial
Another trending skincare technique that offers nearly instant results is microcurrent facials. The process uses a small metal roller to pulse low levels of electrical current through the skin to stimulate your skin cells. This can help naturally contour your face by tightening the underlying muscles in addition to smoothing wrinkles and draining swollen lymph nodes. The final result is skin that appears firmer and more lifted with a beautiful glow. Since the procedure is completely non-invasive, there are virtually no adverse side effects and could be done the day before your wedding to give you fresh, radiant skin.
Selecting the Right Facial
While the above descriptions should give you a better idea of what to expect when you book each type of facial, it can still be overwhelming to look at a menu of services. Plus, many spas will offer several add-on services for each facial giving you even more to choose from. Still not sure what the best option is for your skin goals? Here are some of our best tips for making sure you make the right choice.
Find the Right Professional
Depending on the techniques used, some facials may be considered as medical procedures and should only be performed by a licensed dermatologist. Others, such as the microcurrent facial, use specialized tools and may require specific knowledge or even a certification. As you select a spa or clinic, make sure you understand any applicable regulations and select an appropriate professional to work with. You will also want to ensure that you feel comfortable with your facialist and have a rapport where you can ask questions. If you ever feel weary or put off by your facialist, walk away and find someone else that is a better fit.
Focus on Specific Concerns
Every facial offers its own set of unique benefits for your skin, but no single treatment will address every concern that you have. As a result, it is best practice to select the most pressing one or two skin concerns you have and work with your esthetician to develop a care plan that will deliver the results you are looking for. If you aren’t sure where to start, look to your facialist for guidance. As a trained professional, they will be able to assess the condition of your skin and determine the best first steps to take.
Look for the Right Ingredients
Similarly, understanding the ingredients that will make the most impact on your skin can also help you in selecting the right facial. For example, vitamin C is known for brightening the skin and giving you a radiant glow. Alternatively, glycolic acid can help minimize acne and reduce the visual size of your pores. If specific ingredients are not listed on the services menu, don’t hesitate to ask your facialist.
Supplementing Facials at Home
In addition to professional treatments and facials, your bridal beauty routine should include a daily skincare regimen at home. At Kate Somerville, we have developed a robust line of products to help you bring our clinic right into your bathroom to achieve the skin of your dreams. Each product is formulated with powerful ingredients that will transform the appearance of your skin. Want an extra boost of beauty for your big day? Try our +Retinol Vitamin C Moisturizer which is specifically designed to smooth and brighten your skin, giving you a radiant glow.
Your wedding is a day you will spend months planning for, so make sure that your skincare doesn’t fall by the wayside. Check out some of our best tips for wedding skin and incorporate them into your routine now to achieve a healthy glow! You’ll be glad you did when you don’t have to worry about your skin on the big day.
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