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Prepping for the Glow: Skin care for the big day

 

As your wedding day approaches, you want to look and feel your best. This means having beautiful, glowing skin from head to toe. To help achieve this goal, you need to start taking care of your skin as soon as possible. This may seem like a daunting task, but with the help of a dermatologist and by following some simple tips, you can get your skin ready for your big day.

 

Facial Care:

 

First, you need to create a facial skincare routine and stick to it. Unfortunately, skin care routines are not “one size fits all”. Your skin is one of the most unique things about you and should be handled as so. If you don’t know where to start, a dermatologist can help you identify your specific skin care needs. I highly recommend starting your skin care journey with your dermatologist at very least 6 months prior to your wedding events. Great skin takes time, so give that delicious wedding day glow time to marinate. A new skin care regimen can often take 2-3 months before seeing 60-80% improvement. Therefore, if you struggle with acne, you want to provide enough time to see if your initial regimen works well for you. In addition, you want to ensure that you have enough time to make regimen changes if any products/medicines don’t work well with your skin initially.

 

Regarding a good regimen, most people will have similar steps (not similar products). These steps include cleansing your face morning and night with a gentle cleanser, moisturizing and sun protection. First, let’s discuss cleansing. Avoid cleansers with rough textures, such as scrubs or that use the term exfoliating. These can cause unwanted irritation that can leave behind redness and discoloration. They can also prompt your skin to produce more unwanted oil (the enemy of clear skin). Proper makeup removal should be done prior to cleansing. I recommend using makeup removing wipes and a cleansing balm followed by your cleanser. Toner can be used after cleansing if your skin tends to be oiler. However, for some people, a toner may be too drying or irritating. The universal requirement is to make sure your face is free from all dirt, oil, and makeup, while not causing irritation to your skin.

 

Now, on to moisturization!  I highly recommend avoiding the use of oils on your face, as oil is the top cause of acne. Many people mistakenly think that oil helps to moisturize. But let’s think about this for a second.  Moisture comes from water, and oil and water don’t mix, right? Therefore, oil does not offer any moisture to your skin but instead sits on top and can you’re your precious pores. An oil-free moisturizer is important for keeping every skin type plump and glowy, and most importantly, will NOT clog your pores. Your skin will be especially thankful to you for using an oil-free moisturizer daily.

 

Lastly, our most important step for every skin type and skin color is sun protection. I prefer an oil-free moisturizer with spf built in, as it allows for convenience. However, if you have a favorite moisturizer that does not include spf, following it with a sheer facial sunscreen will also do the trick. Let’s talk about why this is the most important step. An SPF of 30 or higher on your face every single day (even if you’re inside) will make the absolute most difference in your skin. If you struggle with discoloration, no product meant to improve dark spots will be able to work without daily sun protection. Using an SPF 30 or higher or your face daily will not only help improve discoloration, but it will also keep your skin even, prevent wrinkles, and allow for a more youthful appearance. We are so lucky at this day and age to have so many facial moisturizers with SPF and facial sunscreens that go on clear and do not leave a white, ashy cast. Chemical sunscreens were made to go on clear on all skin types whereas mineral sunscreens will always leave a slight cast, since the titanium and zinc physically block and reflect UV rays. Mineral sunscreens are great for people that are allergic to chemical sunscreens; however, it is important to remember that this allergy is very rare. Therefore, most of us can enjoy undetectable, clear sun protection. No matter which one you choose, make sure it is meant for your face, as most sunscreens meant for the body may have pore clogging ingredients.

 

Now, what about serums? Serums are great ways to target specific issues but make sure it is not filled with oil that can clog your pores. Vitamin C serums can be very helpful to enhance your glow and can be used morning or night. Retinol is a great ingredient to help prevent wrinkles and minimize pores but should only be used in a small amount since too much can cause irritation. Retinol/retinoid containing products should also only be used at night since it is deactivated by sunlight.

 

Last Minute Acne? No sweat.

 

If the stress of planning your wedding is starting to show up on your face, your dermatologist can be extra helpful. Ask your dermatologist about a very low dose steroid injection into the pimples that can allow then to go away within 24-48 hours!

 

Body Care:

 

Every bride should glow from head to toe. If you struggle with skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, excessively dry skin or other conditions, see your dermatologist at least 3-6 months prior to your events so that you can feel your most confident on your special day. If you have breakouts that happen on your chest, back, or bottom, a benzoyl peroxide cleanser can be used in the shower to help stop body breakouts. Just keep in mind that it should not be used if you are allergic to this ingredient, and it will indeed bleach any towels used to cleanse and dry off your body (not your skin). If you struggle with dry skin, shower with warm water instead of hot water as it strips your skin of moisture. Also, make sure you moisturize your body with a thick lotion or body cream within 3 minutes of exiting the shower or bath. And although we love a good fragranced soap or shower gel, it can cause very bothersome rashes and itching on sensitive skin. Exfoliating your body sparingly can also be helpful with providing the glow you desire. I recommend exfoliating your body no more than once or twice a week. Exfoliating more often can cause more damage and discoloration to your skin. If you’re considering any spa treatments or facials, I strongly recommend not doing them within 1 month of your wedding. That way, you can avoid any unsightly burns or discoloration close to your wedding day.

 

Now what about hair removal? There are many different temporary, permanent, and semi-permanent ways to remove hair. Regardless of your hair removal option, after care is very important. Investing in a good aftercare product for you bikini line can help soothe irritation, prevent ingrown hairs, and some can even help with discoloration also. Waxing is better than shaving when the goal is to prevent ingrown hairs in the bikini area. Whether your wax is professional or at home, be sure that your skin will not become irritated. If in doubt, a professional waxer may be your best bet. If you’re considering laser hair removal or electrolysis, make sure the technician is comfortable with safely treating your skin tone. The safest laser for hair removal on brown skin is an ND: YAG laser. I highly recommend asking about the laser and possibly getting a small test spot done before starting your full treatment. Laser hair removal can often take 8-10 treatments, spaced 4-6 weeks apart before hair reduction is to most people’s liking.

 

Hair Care: Your Day, Your Crown

 

Your head is your crown, be it donned with short, long, or no locks at all. Whatever vision you have for your hair on your wedding day can be achieved with appropriate preparation. When considering your wedding day style, consider the location, weather, style versatility for the big day. No matter the hair type, a hair trial is highly recommended. You want to feel confident on your big day, so if that means multiple trials, have at it! That goes for DIY brides also. Try your hairstyle in a similar climate as your wedding, if possible, to assess for any unwanted changes that may happen.

 

If you want to show off your natural curls, coils, or kinks on your wedding day, make sure your hair is properly moisturized with a deep conditioning or steam treatment. I recommend deep conditioning natural or processed hair weekly. If this is started a few months prior to your wedding, you will notice a happy change in the health of your hair. Studies show that the most optimal result from a deep condition is achieved when applied for 15-30 minutes and under heat (with hair in a plastic/conditioning cap). If you plan on having healthy curls for the day of the wedding, minimizing heat styling is extremely helpful. If you’re natural but want a straight style on the day of your wedding, make sure a heat protectant is used prior to heat styling and a great anti-humidity product is applied to your hair.

 

Locs, twists and braids are a beautiful option for many brides that are also very convenient in any climate. However, you do want to make sure that there is not too much tension on the scalp. The stress of planning a wedding can cause temporary hair shedding but the last thing you want is to induce permanent hair loss from tension. If you have redness, bumps, pain, or headaches after braids or re-twists, see your hair stylist as soon as possible to reduce the tension.

 

When it comes to tension, the same applies for extensions and wigs. Make sure your wig or closure is applied in a way to protect your hairline. Removing these improperly can cause permanent hair loss along the hair line. For sew-ins with leave out, consult with your hairstylist on how to hair for your leave out properly to reduce frizzing. In addition, make sure your braids are comfortable and not overly tight. For more style versatility with extensions, consider micro-link extensions or tape-in extensions. These type of extension applications allow for access to your scalp and more styling options including high ponytails and pulled-up styles with a more natural, undetectable look. Consult with your stylist about which type of extension process is best for your hair type and wedding day goals.

 

Lastly, what do we do about hair loss? Stress when planning a wedding is inevitable for many. That stress can show up in several ways in our bodies, and I bet you can already guess that your hair can also be affected. The good news is that most hair loss caused by stressed is temporary. It is normal for every human being to shed about 100 strands a day, which equates to about 15% of a normal scalp. However, when there is a stress on the body (emotional or physical), that 15% can increase to about 25%. This excess shedding is very normal and called telogen effluvium. The increase in shedding happens typically 3-4 months after the stressor and typically returns to normal in 3-6 months. If you would like to slow down the shedding a tad bit sooner, minoxidil (can be found in stores or as a prescription) can be helpful if used on scalp twice daily. Also, dandruff can worsen with stress. See your dermatologist for treatment options to keep your scalp smooth and clear for your big day. Overall, great skin and hair takes preparation. So, prepare to be the best beautiful version of yourself!