Your Bridal Glow-Up Checklist: 7 Essentials for Radiant Skin Before the Big Day

When planning your wedding, it’s normal to worry about everything from the venue and cake to your hair and makeup. Many brides fear that they won’t look their best on their wedding day, but the truth is that a bride is positively radiant on her wedding day! Your inner joy and excitement give you a glow of happiness that goes beyond mere physical beauty, so you really have nothing to fear. Having said that, there are several things that you can do to improve the health of your skin so that you have a natural glow. This is especially important if you are a boho bride who has swapped out the traditional dramatic bridal makeup for a minimal makeup look that focuses on enhancing your features for a more natural yet ethereal vibe.

7 Essentials for Radiant Skin Before Your Big Day

photo by Desert Born Studios.– full wedding here

Mastering bridal skincare isn’t just about what to do, it’s about what NOT to do! There are plenty of skincare vital fads floating around – everything from DIY chemical peels and sunscreen to DIY micro needling and more. While many of these are touted as “safe” and “natural” alternatives, the reality is that they are very dangerous and can cause severe and permanent scarring. One of the latest skincare fads is swapping your moisturizer for beef tallow! While this does not pose the same level of danger as the other viral skincare trends, it is important to consider what dermatologists have to say about this practice. This will allow you to weigh the pros and cons of the beef tallow trend, and if you are convinced that you still want to try it, you can follow their advice on how to minimize your risks. Here are a few tips to ensure that you have radiant skin on your big day:

1. Start Your Bridal Skincare Months in Advance

Plan your bridal skincare well in advance and make sure that it takes into account everything that you want to do before your big day. For instance, if you have deep scars and want to get laser resurfacing or medical-grade chemical peels, you should get these done about a year in advance. On the other hand, if you are interested in a light to medium peel, you can do that about 6 months in advance.

photo by Jenna Lee Pictures – full wedding here 

2. Create a Customized Skincare Routine

Each of us is unique, so it’s important to find skincare products that suit your skin. If you already have products that work well for you, you don’t need to switch to new products, though you can introduce new products like targeted serums to address specific issues. However, keep in mind that the bedrock of any good skincare routine is the essentials like cleanser, sunscreen, and moisturizer.

3. Avoid Over-Exfoliating

Exfoliating products are a great way to get smoother and brighter skin, but the flipside is that you can have too much of a good thing! Over-exfoliating will give your skin a tight and waxy appearance that looks unnatural and almost like plastic. As a rule of thumb, you should exfoliate just once or twice a week so that you don’t damage your skin. Chemical exfoliants like AHAs and BHAs are ideal for medium to sensitive skin as they are gentle and less likely to irritate your skin compared to physical scrubs.

photo by jonathanyonkers photography & video – full wedding here 

4. Follow a Skin-Healthy Diet

“Eat the rainbow” is an old concept, but it is not outdated. In fact, findings from recent studies only confirm that eating a wide variety of colorful fruits and vegetables helps to improve overall health, including skin health. This is because the different colors are associated with a range of phytonutrients that improve skin texture. For instance, the beta-carotene in carrots promotes cell turnover to give you smoother skin, while anthocyanins in berries support collagen synthesis, which gives your skin a firm and more youthful appearance.

5. Hydrate – Inside and Out

Moisturizers are great at keeping your skin hydrated, which gives your skin a soft and healthy glow. However, if you do not drink enough water, your skin will look dry and aged, even though you apply serums and moisturizers. Studies have also found that hydration levels play a crucial role in wound healing, so it is even more important to stay hydrated if you have acne or even skin irritation.

photo by  Tarren Bailey Photography, LLC – full wedding here 

6. Manage Your Stress

Stress has a huge impact on our skin health, which is why people who are going through very stressful times appear to age overnight. As a bride, you cannot avoid stress completely, but you can take steps to manage it. For instance, studies show that meditation, guided imagery, and similar practices have a positive impact on skin health.

7. Get Your Beauty Sleep

Adequate sleep is essential for healthy skin, so no matter what you’ve got on your plate, make sure that you go to sleep on time every single day. Delegate wedding tasks to trusted friends and family so that you are not rushed right before your big day.