The Glowing Bride: Essential Pre-Wedding Skincare Tips

Congratulations on your engagement! As a newly engaged bride-to-be myself (and a Licensed Esthetician), I understand wanting to look your absolute best on your special day. 

From selecting the perfect dress to finalizing your guest list, wedding preparations can be overwhelming. However, prioritizing your skincare routine can ensure that you radiate confidence on your special day. 

Here are some expert tips to help you achieve a flawless bridal glow:

6-12 months before your wedding - Skincare Foundations:

The first step is to schedule a consultation with a trusted esthetician who can assess your skin type, address your concerns, and recommend personalized skincare and treatments. 

Find an esthetician who is results-driven and is not just trying to sell you on things you do not need. Most importantly, find someone you like! 

I may be a bit biased, but it’s always best to see a professional. It’s just like having a Day-of Coordinator for your big day— your esthetician will take all the guesswork out of your skin care routine and help guide you. Professional guidance will help you establish a skincare plan that’s tailored to your specific needs and goals.

The next step is to start a consistent home skincare routine. Your skin isn’t going to change overnight so it’s essential to find products that you can use every day to assist with your skin care goals.

A few products that I recommend including in your routine are:

1. A Quality Moisturizer- Moisturized skin is essential for a radiant complexion, so make sure to invest in a quality moisturizer and serum that are suited to your skin type. A few of my favorites are:

• Epicutis’ Lipid Serum
• Skinbetter’s Trio and/or Trio Luxe
• Glymed’s Comfort Cream

2. Exfoliation 2-3x per week- Exfoliation helps with dryness, pigmentation, scarring, fine lines and wrinkles. A few of my favorites are:

• Skinbetter’s AlphaRet Peel Pads
• Glymed’s Oxygen Deep Pore Masque + Hydrating Masque

3. Retinols- Retinol helps with a multitude of skincare concerns such as fine lines and wrinkles, pigmentation, acne, improving texture and much more! There are so many types of retinols out there, but it’s always best to look for a medical grade retinol. My favorites include any of

• Skinbetter’s AlphaRet Retinols.

4. SPF baby!- Make sure to always protect your skin from harmful UV rays by wearing a broad-spectrum sunscreen daily, even if you're indoors. Sunscreen not only prevents sun damage, but it also helps maintain your skin's youthful appearance. My favorites are: 

• Skinbetter’s Sunbetter ToneSmart SPF 75
• anything from Colorescience! (I really love Colorescience, they have everything from a glowy base to a concealer and everything in between, and the best part is, it’s all SPF!)

4-6 months before you wedding- Targeted Treatments:

During this time period you’ll want to focus on addressing any specific skincare concerns that you have such as acne, scarring, hyperpigmentation, or fine lines with targeted treatments recommended by your esthetician. 

These may include custom facials and masks or professional treatments like chemical peels, Microchanneling or Hydrafacials. 

It’s important to try out any services that you’re interested in long before your wedding. This allows you and your esthetician to see how your skin may react and adjust your skincare routine based on the results. 

This is also a good time to find a Nurse Injector if you’re considering Botox, Jeuveau, or Dysport (all of which relax facial muscles helping smooth fine lines and wrinkles). Starting this now gives you enough time to tweak your results as most neurotoxins last between 3-6 months. (You’ll also want to get a touch up 2-4 weeks before your big day)

If Injections aren’t your thing but you want similar results, that’s alright! I recommend Skinbetter’s InterFuse Intensive Treatment LINES, this product is LITERALLY Botox in a bottle! It contains neurocalming peptides that help soften the appearance of expression lines, and it has injectable-grade hyaluronic acid to plump the skin.

0-3 months before you wedding- Staying consistent + Finishing Touches:

During the final stretch before your wedding, consistency is key. In the weeks leading up to your wedding, avoid trying new skincare products or treatments that could potentially cause adverse reactions. Stick to your established routine and trust that your efforts will pay off with a radiant bridal glow.

Prioritize self-care and stress management techniques to keep stress levels in check during wedding planning. High stress can exacerbate skin issues, so indulge in activities that promote relaxation, such as yoga, meditation, or regular exercise and of course seeing your favorite esthetician!

My advice is to get a Hydrafacial + Dermaplane to give you the best base for your day of makeup! Hydrafacials deeply cleanse, hydrate, and exfoliate the skin, reducing fine lines and promoting an even skin tone. 

Dermaplaning exfoliates by removing dead skin cells and peach fuzz, leading to smoother skin,enhanced product absorption, and a brighter complexion, making it an ideal choice for makeup application. This combination of services is guaranteed to make your skin glow!

Final Thoughts:

By prioritizing your skincare regimen and seeking professional guidance from an esthetician, you can achieve a radiant bridal glow that will leave you feeling confident and beautiful on your wedding day. Remember, investing in your skin is an investment in your overall well-being and happiness as you embark on this new chapter of your life.

If you have any questions about your skincare routine, don’t hesitate to reach out and I’d be happy to help!

Emma Collins (soon-to-be Read) 

Licensed Aesthetician & CEO

Skin Journey Aesthetics, LLC

115 Wilcox St suite 296, Castle Rock, CO 80104

(720) 706-3555 | https://www.skinjourney.co