I absolutely LOVE working in the bridal industry. There are so many great things (and fulfillment) about being part of what will be the most special day of someone’s life. What I love most about it is the energy in the room. There always seems to be a happy, positive and celebratory vibe that’s contagious and makes you ganado to work. Of course there are stressful situations that arise –
a guest canceling at the last minute and you’re left with a plate worth 2,000pesos
a mix up with one of your wedding suppliers
it starts to rain hard and you don’t have tents to cover your garden set up
your bridal car gets bangga by a reckless taxi driver
one of your bridesmaids is late for your photoshoot
your mom wants to move your guests to accommodate hers
or..
Ok I’ll stop, you get the picture.
Those are all inevitable things that can happen on your wedding day (there is only so much you can prepare for), so it is best to just release control and let the wedding planner deal with all that stress.
The good thing though is that there are some things you CAN control and prepare for. One of them is your skin!
Who doesn’t want to look absolutely radiant and glowing on their wedding day? The condition of your skin is such an important part of the make up application and can determine the longevity of your foundation throughout the day.
So to help my #preciousbrides I came up with a list of suggestions on how to be proactive about your skin before your big day.
- Drink Water
We’ve all heard this a ton of times, and it’s been proven how beneficial drinking the appropriate amount of water can do for your skin. A dehydrated body shows itself in the skin, creating dryness and flakiness, which is not the look you’re going for on your wedding day. Not to mention, drinking lots of water helps with weight loss too! In general, you should try to drink between half an ounce and an ounce of water for each pound you weight, every day. For example, if you weigh 120 pounds, that would be 60 to 120 ounces of water a day.
- See a Dermatologist
It never hurts to see a dermatologist regularly, especially if you are unhappy about the condition of your skin (acne, scaring, dark spots). Talking to a professional 3-6 months prior to your wedding day is a proactive step you can take to ensure you are getting the absolute best advice possible on how to improve your skin. The earlier you prepare your skin, the better results you’ll get!
The 2 dermatologists I consult with are:
A. Julieta P. Arambulo, MD (The Medical City; 02.633.3881)
B. Sylvia S. Jacinto, MD (The Skin Clinic, 1311 Batangas Street, Makati City; 02.894.3952)
- Exfoliate
There are many benefits to exfoliating your skin. It improves texture, tone, clarity and it also helps you avoid breakouts. But there is such thing as over exfoliating, so please, don’t go crazy. Once a week is good enough but if you want to increase frequency, consult with a dermatologist first.
- Moisturize
After all that exfoliating you’re going to want to moisturize your skin. Since your wedding day is approaching, give yourself permission to invest in a great moisturizer and eye cream (tell your fiance I said it was ok!). It’s time to soak up this special time in your life and pamper yourself. Your skin and your make-up artist will thank you.
My favorite moisturizers are La Mer, Clinique and Kiehl’s.
- Silk Pillow Case
Replace your current sheets with silk sheets. There have been many studies that prove sleeping on a silk pillowcase can improve the hydration of your skin. The tightly woven smooth fibers of silk helps keep your skin moisturized as opposed to cotton, which is more breathable. Hydrated skin tends to help with wrinkles, so if that’s not enough of a reason, I don’t know what is! Another benefit with sleeping on silk pillowcases is you don’t wake up with a single crease on your face. When you sleep, your face presses down on your pillow and that gives you multiple creases on your face, which is like ironing wrinkles into the skin.
6. Clean Cell Phone
Your cellphone is constantly touching your face. You’re on your phone, answering and making calls, at least 10 times a day. So if your cellphone is not clean, expect a break out anytime soon. In a day, you park your cellphone in at least 5 dirty spots: Car Seat, Table at a Restaurant, Back pock of your jeans, Handbag filled with other dirty things and Bathroom.
Make sure you wipe down your phone with alcohol as often as you can. Make an effort to keep your phone clean and bacteria free because dealing with a break out is far worse than cleaning your phone often.
- Do not self medicate
This is a big one for those brides who happen to get a pimple the night before their wedding day. Don’t start popping, adding potions or looking up crazy ways to make a pimple disappear. There is a high chance you will make it worse because some products are so harsh they burn your skin instead of healing it. Best thing to do? Don’t touch it! Leave it alone! Your pimple can be covered by a skilled make up artist on your big day.
- Sunscreen
Don’t forget to wear sunscreen everyday, especially those days leading up to your wedding. The last thing you want is a painful sunburn or a completely red face on one of the most important days of your life! Don’t forget to apply sunscreen evenly, including your neck. You want the shade of your face to be the same as your neck and chest.
My favorite sunscreens are VMV, Clarins and Shiseido.
Hopefully this has been a helpful list for all my brides out there. And most importantly, don’t stress! Make sure to take breaks from all the planning, and allow yourself to enjoy this special time in your life.
And always remember this –
If all else fails, there’s nothing a little concealer can’t fix! 🙂
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