The Ultimate Bridal Skincare Routine for Your Upcoming Wedding

Tips and Trends | September 8, 2021

Makeup Artist Doing Bride's Wedding Skincare Routine

The months and weeks leading up to your wedding day can be extremely stressful. And while it may be tempting to overlook these feelings of anxiety, it’s important they be addressed as they arise. If they aren’t, these stressors may not only negatively affect your mental health, but your physical health as well. Everything from acne breakouts and hair loss to weakened nail beds can all be attributed to changes that occur because of high stress levels. On your wedding day of all days, you want to avoid these issues at all costs. And luckily, with the help of our wedding skincare routine, you’ll be able to easily avoid these concerns for your big day.

Here is our ultimate bridal skincare routine for the bride-to-be:

1. Personalize Your Wedding Skincare Routine

Real Bride Wearing Laidback Hair and Makeup and Maggie Sottero Wedding Dress for Beach Minimony

PC: Amazonas Photography

This may seem obvious, but with so many products on the market and endless skincare trends, it can be difficult to figure out what your skin truly needs to stay healthy. Even if you are struggling with a common skincare condition like acne, there are still an overwhelming number of treatment products to choose from. And spoiler alert: not all will be universally suitable for your skin type! Some may be too drying, while others might not be strong enough to target the condition.

If your regimen isn’t working for you any longer and/or you’re experiencing stress-induced issues like acne, consider taking a different approach to skincare. Talk to a licensed dermatologist or other skincare professional about the right ways to personalize your skincare regimen so that they can match it to your particular skin type and concerns.

Be sure to let your doctor know if you’ve noticed any changes in your skin on account of stress. This will make it easier for them to figure out exactly what you need to do to alter your routine. Whether that’s giving you your own acne treatment prescription, or suggesting different cleansing techniques, their advice can save you from much of the trial and error that often comes when personalizing your wedding skincare routine.

2. Exfoliate 1-2 Times A Week

Bride Showing Off Glowing Skin at Wedding

PC: Jaimee Morse Photography

No matter how sensitive or dry your skin may be, exfoliating is an essential step to incorporate in your pre-wedding beauty and health plan. Believe it or not, exfoliating isn’t only beneficial for removing dead skin cells or preventing clogged pores and acne; it can also brighten your complexion and improve the effectiveness of other topical skincare products that you use. Consistent long-term use can even serve to support the production of collagen overtime—a protein produced by your body that’s responsible for keeping your skin youthful-looking and naturally slows down as you get older.

Try to exfoliate your skin one to two times per week. Although exfoliating is an important part of any adequate bridal skincare routine, it—much like all steps in skincare—should be performed in a way that’s compatible with your skin and its unique needs. To figure out which exfoliator product is best for you, you must first understand the two main types of exfoliant methods: chemical and physical.

3. Know the Difference Between Chemical and Physical Exfoliants

Real Curvy Bride Holding Colorful Bouquet and Wearing Illusion Lace Ball Gown Wedding Dress Called Mallory Dawn by Maggie Sottero

PC: Rachel Laxton Photography

Chemical and physical exfoliants share the same goal but do so in a way that’s distinct from one and other. Chemical exfoliants are divided into two main acid types—alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHA). These work to dissolve dead skin cells by breaking down the “glue” that binds them together. Chemical exfoliants are typically recommended for those who identify with a sensitive, dry, acne-prone, and combination skin type.

Physical exfoliants, on the other hand, are products that are formulated with small particles designed to buff away the skin cells when you actively rub them into your skin. This exfoliation method can sometimes be too harsh and abrasive on people’s skin because some products have larger particles than others. If you have oily skin and you use this exfoliation route as part of your wedding skincare routine, look for a facial wash that contains smaller particles such as jojoba beads.

4. Hydrate Your Skin Morning and Night

Real Bride Holding Rose Bouquet and Wearing Modest Winter Cap-Sleeve Lace Wedding Dress Called Tuscany Leigh by Maggie Sottero

PC: Jessa E Photographs

Hydrated skin is key to achieving a smooth, supple complexion on your special day. Dehydrated skin can lead to uneven skin tone and texture, and unfortunately, not even makeup can cover that up. In fact, wearing makeup can actually make the issue appear worse and all the more apparent to other people! Beauty products such as foundation and concealer are not able to evenly apply to dehydrated skin. This can cause makeup to look cakey, no matter how natural it may be.

Needless to say, hydration plays a huge role in your skincare routine before wedding, so make sure to prioritize it while you can. Keep in mind that there is a difference between dry and dehydrated skin, meaning the products you choose to treat it should be different as well. In other words, don’t just rely on exfoliant and a daily moisturizer to hydrate your skin as these skincare steps are only beneficial for treating dryness.

To prevent dehydration and give your skin an extra boost, you’ll want to add a hydrating serum to your everyday pre-wedding beauty regimen. A serum like hyaluronic acid, for example, is great for replenishing the skin as this ingredient is something your body already produces on its own as a way to combat dehydration. So, when supplemented through a skincare routine, mitigating dehydration becomes seemingly effortless.

5. Unwind With a Face Mask

Bride Getting Makeup Done for Real Wedding

PC: Everlasting Photography

Wedding skincare routines and face masks go hand-in-hand, and that’s because they are the best of both worlds! They make you look good and feel good by allowing certain skincare ingredients to penetrate your skin in a shorter amount of time. Plus, they can treat multiple conditions and concerns. Hydrating, detoxifying, exfoliating, moisturizing— you name it, there’s a face mask for it all.

You don’t need to use anything extravagant either. There are many affordable sheet masks on the market that are equally as effective as they are inexpensive. If you’re already struggling to stick to your wedding budget, don’t worry! You can even use the fresh ingredients located in your kitchen. Common household items like coconut oil, honey, aloe, turmeric, olive oil, egg yolk, and more are all thought to be tried-and-true ingredients in the world of skincare and face masks.

Face masks are not something that you need to worry about doing every day, although you may be tempted to once you begin to embrace the relaxation benefits that come from this skincare step! Instead, you should use face masks only a few times throughout the week to help preserve the state of your skin.

6. Massage Your Skin Weekly to Complete Your Skincare Regimen

Bride Wearing Makeup and Showing off Wedding Skincare Regimen with Glowing Skin

PC: Brittany Martorella Photography

Regardless of whether you use your bare hands or a facial massaging tool, try every day to gently massage your skin in the months before your wedding, even if only for a few minutes. Following a relaxing skincare technique like this serves to support a healthy bridal glow.

Between its ability to boost blood flow circulation, reduce puffiness, and relax and refine facial muscles, this bridal skincare step really covers it all! For optimal results, be sure to massage your skin a minimum of two to three times per week, or for five to ten minutes each day.

There are many types of facial massages that you can do yourself, so it’s important to know how each of them differ from one another. A lymphatic drainage massage, for instance, is a massage you’ll want to do if you’re looking to deep clean and rejuvenate your skin, whereas a finger-pressure facial massage is a technique you’ll want to try if you’re looking to tone muscles or eliminate signs of aging.

No matter which type of gentle massage you decide to perform, there are a couple of universal steps you’ll want to follow. Start by cleaning your hands and getting your hair up and out of your face. Then, using lukewarm water, wash your face and pat dry using a towel. After this, apply a generous amount of moisturizer to your skin and let sit for a minute. Finally, finish prepping your skin with a restorative facial oil. Once you’ve finished doing that, you can then begin your DIY facial by massaging your hands in a circular motion or using another skincare massaging device.