Your wedding is one of the most important days of your life, and just as one would plan every detail from the venue, menu and the flowers, your skincare routine deserves just as much attention.
Ensuring your skin looks radiant involves careful preparation and the right guidance, so here are some tips from makeup artists, beauty brand owners and representatives on how to prepare your skin for your big day.
Planning ahead
Lumi Beauty founder Chryseis Tan recommends starting your skincare routine at least six months before the big day.
“Healthy, calm and glowing skin is always ideal for the wedding day, and one key method to achieve that is through establishing a skincare routine that works for your skin type and addresses your skin concerns,” she explains.
“Six months before the wedding, consider double cleansing in the evening, first with an oil-based cleanser to remove makeup and sunscreen, followed by a water-based cleanser to cleanse skin,” she says.
Essential steps include using serums with gentle exfoliating benefits and a suitable moisturiser with hyaluronic acid.
“During this time, steer clear of frequently introducing new products or active ingredients into your routine to avoid overwhelming the skin and potentially causing breakout or sensitivity,” says Chryseis.
Another tip suggested by Chryseis is to treat your skin to masks that give more intense hydration, once a week.
Makeup artist Michelle Tan Boon Eng, who has been dolling brides up for their weddings for many years, advises focusing on deep moisturising two months before the wedding.
“Don’t do intensive skincare in the week before your wedding,” Michelle cautions. “Because you will be nervous this week, and some people may even suffer from insomnia and anxiety. So it’s best to keep your skincare regimen light in the week before.”
Instead, she advises switching to lighter products to prevent overwhelming your skin. Applying a moisturising mask before bed can keep your skin hydrated for the big day.
“You can switch from highly nourishing masks, ampoules or cream-based skincare products to light ones during this period to make them easier for the skin to absorb,” she adds.
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Makeup artist Jasmin Ragoo emphasises hydration with hyaluronic acid serums and soothing gel sleeping masks.
“Exfoliate skin twice a month, drink plenty of water, and eat one orange per day for glowing skin,” she recommends, adding that a soothing gel sleeping mask every night before bed can work wonders for your skin.
Re:Erth Malaysia brand manager Dahlia Mohd suggests a holistic approach, combining a consistent skincare routine with a balanced diet, hydration, quality rest, regular exercise and stress management.
“It’s not about the quantity of products. Focus on the quality and what each product delivers for your desired goals,” she says. She recommends using a pH-balanced, gentle cleanser and an oil-free hydrator to create a glowing canvas.
Skincare brand Noosh Naturals founder Dr Anusha Nair underscores the importance of a basic routine that includes cleansing, hydration, moisture and protection.
“Choosing overly high concentrations of any active ingredient can sometimes cause more irritation and dryness, so going for lower concentrations is safer to avoid complications,” Anusha says.
She also emphasises the need for adequate sun protection: “Choose an SPF with a minimum of 30. This would provide adequate protection from photoaging and hyperpigmentation.”
Avoid irritants
Months before your wedding, it’s best to stay away from alcohol-based products, as they can be very drying and may irritate your skin.
Chryseis advises against using harsh exfoliants, particularly physical scrubs with large, coarse particles.
“Also, avoid over-exfoliating even with chemical exfoliants,” she says.
Michelle highlights common irritants, such as alcohol, bronopol, sorbic acid, parabens and fragrance as no-nos before your big day.
“Alcohol will reduce moisture in the skin during evaporation, making the skin drier and increasing risk of allergies,” she explains. “Preservatives and fragrances are highly irritating and may directly cause skin allergies.”
Avoid bleaching or waxing near the wedding date and stay away from retinol or peeling products to prevent irritation, warns Jasmin, while Dahlia recommends steering clear of heavy oils, which can clog pores and lead to breakouts.
She suggests avoiding high-concentration AHAs/BHAs and physical scrubs that can cause micro-tears in the skin.
“Look for products with the non-comedogenic label to help identify suitable products,” she adds.
Anusha cautions against using harsh home remedies like lemons or baking soda.
“Any harsh acids or alkalis should be strictly avoided,” she says.
She also advises against using comedogenic oils like coconut oil and recommends sticking to gentle clay scrubs and non-comedogenic oils.
“Using salt and sugar scrubs on the face is also another practice that should be avoided at all cost,” she adds.
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Timeline for treatments
“Avoid getting any facial with extractions at least two to four weeks before the wedding in the event of irritation or sensitivity as different individuals will have different downtime and post-facial sensitivity tolerance,” explains Chryseis.
Jasmin recommends scheduling peels two months before the wedding, deep facial cleansing two weeks before and warns against hot waxing to prevent burns.
“Waxing and threading should be carried out at least one week before the wedding,” she says.
Anusha suggests performing major procedures like chemical peels or lasers no later than three months in advance to avoid post-procedure redness or irritation.
“For those with major skin concerns such as severe acne scarring or hyperpigmentation, your skin may need longer, up to a year, to achieve visible results so don’t leave things till the last minute,” she advises.
Preparing your skin for your wedding day requires a strategic approach and the right products tailored to your skin type and needs.
By starting early and following expert advice, you can achieve that radiant bridal glow through a consistent skincare routine, combined with a healthy lifestyle and professional treatments.
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