Your Pre-Wedding Skin Care Timeline

There’s no denying that every bride aims to look her best on her wedding day, especially since the photos will be looked at for years to come. And if you want to have a glowy and youthful-looking complexion, you’ll need to prep your skin beforehand. We’re not talking about prepping just a week before—we’re talking about a whole year before. The earlier you begin addressing your skin care concerns, the more confident and relaxed you’ll feel in the days leading up to the big day. Healthy, glowing skin is achievable but it will take time, patience, and commitment to a skin care regimen. To help you with your pre-wedding skin care prep, we’ve put together a 12-month timeline, complete with tips and product recommendations you can use to stay on track. So grab your phone and get ready to set some reminders, it’s time to get your skin wedding ready!

12 Months: Work On A Skin Care Plan 

Many brides-to-be begin thinking about their dream dresses, wedding venues, and wedding glam (hair and makeup) after getting engaged. But what about skin care? As soon you begin wedding planning, you should also start thinking about your skin care goals and envisioning how you want your skin to look on your wedding day. If you’re dealing with skin care concerns such as acne, hyperpigmentation, or wrinkles, you should look into a long-term plan to help reduce these issues. Certain skin care treatments, like micro-needling or retinol, will also require time to work and you’ll need to give your skin time to adjust to new products and ingredients. We recommend consulting with a licensed esthetician or board certified dermatologist who can help you create a skin care regimen based on your specific needs and goals. 

Working on your skin a year before also gives you enough time to figure out an improved regimen you can use at home. Be sure to incorporate a facial cleanser, serum, and moisturizer as the basic necessities. For an easy-to-do routine, start by cleansing your skin twice a day using the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Nourishing Cream Cleanser, formulated to cleanse the skin without over-drying it. Follow up with a serum, like the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Cell Renewal Midnight Serum, a day-to-night serum designed to protect and correct the skin. Its ingredients include an exclusive L’Oréal patented antioxidant recovery complex, which works to reinforce the skin’s moisture barrier. 

Finish up with moisturizer like the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Rosy Tone Broad Spectrum SPF 30 Sunscreen during the day and the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Rosy Tone Cooling Moisturizer at night. Both products are formulated with imperial peony extract and LHA to instantly revive the skin’s rosy tone. 

Editor’s Tip: Don’t forget to consider the type of dress you’ll be wearing and how your neck, back, and shoulders will look. Always use a broad-spectrum SPF of 30 or more to protect those areas as well when they’re exposed to the sun.

6 Months: Work On Your Diet 

As the saying goes, beauty starts from within and what you consume will play a significant role in how your skin looks and feels. When it comes to food, make sure you are maintaining a healthy and nutritious diet. Doing so will not only help your skin look good but it will also help you feel better overall. According to the Mayo Clinic, a diet high in processed or refined sugars or other carbohydrates and unhealthy fats promotes skin aging. So avoid processed foods and reach for antioxidant-rich foods like carrots, apricots, and green leafy vegetables, which build a protective effect on the skin. 

Planning a wedding can also be stressful, leading to blemishes and breakouts, so be sure to give yourself some relaxation time and take a yoga class or do something daily that will help keep you at peace.

Editor’s Tip: You may know this already, but it’s a must-do we can’t leave out—drink more water. The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health states that many people report positive skin results after increasing their water intake and generally see a more radiant glow in their complexion. The same was also noted for those dealing with acne. You’ll need to increase your water intake a few weeks before the wedding to visibly see results. 

3 Months: Check Out Other Beneficial Skin Care Treatments 

Follow up with your skin care provider to make sure you are on track with your regimen, and be sure to stick with it daily. Consistency will be vital to getting the flawless complexion you’ve been dreaming about. Now is also a good time to begin working on laser hair removal treatments, facial chemical peels, and other professional treatments if needed. These will require time and multiple sessions to get the best results, so why not get a head start? It will also give your skin enough time to heal if any complications arise. 

In addition, you can use the L'Oréal Paris Revitalift Bright Reveal Brightening Daily Peel Pads as a daily facial exfoliation treatment. It’s formulated with glycolic acid to resurface dull, uneven tone and rough texture to reveal fresh-looking skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles over time. Each jar contains 30 facial pads to help you get brighter, smoother skin. 

1 Month: Focus on Hydrating The Skin 

Time flies when prepping for a wedding and with one month left it’s time to start scaling back on intense skin care treatments like chemical peels and exfoliating. You should begin to see some results from your treatments and now you can focus on keeping your skin clean, hydrated, and glowing. Start scheduling brightening facials with extractions for a nourished and healthy glow. We recommend going to an esthetician so you can get a specific facial targeted for your skin’s needs. 

To help keep your skin brighter on your own, reach for the L'Oréal Paris Derm Intensives 10% Pure Vitamin C Serum, which works to restore healthy radiance and reduce wrinkles. Apply a dime-size amount of the serum to your fingertips and gently massage it on your face and neck twice a day. To amp up the brightening results, follow up with the L'Oréal Paris Revitalift Triple Power Anti-Aging Moisturizer Fragrance Free, formulated with hyaluronic acid, vitamin C, and pro-retinol to hydrate and reduce wrinkles for visibly younger-looking skin. 

1 Week: Reduce Your Skin Care Steps 

Only seven days left until the big day! Now is not the time to experiment with any new skin care products or cosmetic procedures. Sticking with your regular skin care routine and keeping your skin protected with SPF will be just what you need to get through the week. And while we know the days leading up to your nuptials can be nerve-racking, it’s essential to get at least seven to eight hours of sleep every night. According to the Mayo Clinic , sleep deprivation can negatively impact the body, disrupting your hormones, which can then lead to breakouts. Also, try to limit your intake of alcohol, dairy, and sugar, which contain inflammatory ingredients that may make your skin look puffy and cause blemishes, as per the NCBI and Harvard Health. 

Editor’s Tip: Treat your skin to a gentle moisturizing facial mask two to three times during the week to keep it hydrated and soft. Reach for the L'Oréal Paris Pure-Clay Detox & Brighten Face Mask, formulated with three pure clays and charcoal to clean out pores and capture deep impurities like dirt and oil. Its non-drying formula will leave your skin feeling smooth and looking brighter. You can also use a gua sha tool to gently massage your face and promote microcirculation, which helps provide nutrients and oxygen to all your facial skin cells. 

The Night Before 

The best thing to do at this point is just to relax and get some beauty sleep. And don’t forget to drink plenty of water and eat antioxidant-rich foods like blueberries and leafy greens, which will keep you energized and feeling great for the big day!

Photo Credit: Chaunte Vaughn