It scares me a little to say it, but I'm now just 10 weeks away from tying the knot. Although we've been engaged for 18 months, it really feels like time has flown by, and I'm pretty sure it's speeding up now!
Over the coming few months, I'll be sharing my experiences preparing for our big day – from tried and tested beauty treatments, to dress shopping on a budget and deciding on hair and makeup looks.
I thought it best to kick off proceedings with skincare – which I think is one of the first areas to tackle if you want to look your best on your wedding day. Obviously makeup can go a long way to hiding any skin issues, but it's good to provide the best possible canvas for your makeup artist to work on!
I usually count myself pretty lucky when it comes to my skin, with normal/combination skin that only produces the occasional hormonal breakout. However, when I hit my 30's my skin decided it didn't want to behave anymore, and for about a year I suffered from adult acne, getting painful, aggravated spots on my chin and lower cheeks. Although I managed to get the acne in check I still have acne scarring on my cheeks, something I wanted to address with my skincare routine, as well as pigmentation on my forehead due to sun damage.
Amping up my Skincare Routine
Cleansing
My first priority was to supercharge my skincare routine at home. I've always been pretty good with my skin, but I decided to take the advice of skincare guru Caroline Hirons and dump my face wipes for good and start cleansing my skin properly. I started double cleansing my skin, using a micellar or oil cleanser to take off my makeup, and then going in with a balm cleanser to deep cleanse my skin. Products that I've found very effective for removing makeup are the Garnier and Bioderma Micellar Cleansers, followed by a nourishing balm cleanser like the Boots Hot Cloth Cleansing Balm, or, the slightly spendier but utterly lovely Oskia Renaissance Cleansing Gel. I also stocked up on a load of face flannels from Penneys to help properly remove my cleanser, and now much prefer them to muslin cloths. I love to press warm, damp flannels on my skin while cleansing, and find my skin feels softer and more deeply cleansed afterwards.
Toning
As per Caroline's expert guidance, I then introduced an acid toner into my routine after cleansing. As opposed to traditional toner, acid toners help refine the skin and keep it looking fresh. I've used the Clarins Gentle Exfoliating Toner in the past, which is really good, but I decided to amp it up with the Pixi Glow Tonic – which has 5% glycolic acid compared to the 2% in the Clarins product. I've found my skin has responded really well to twice daily acid toning – the blackheads on my nose are less noticeable and overall my skin looks smoother – but more sensitive skins will need to experiment with the amount of acid toning that works for them. As an aside - I'm now even more stringent about the application of SPF every, single day (yes even when it's overcast outside!) as applying acids to your skin makes it more susceptible to sun damage. The Clarins UV Plus Anti-Pollution Day Screen SPF50 is one of the nicest to wear, especially under makeup, but there are lots of good options out there from Piz Buin, to La Roche Posay and Vichy.
Serums and Oils
The next step is serums, and I've been dabbling with a few for difference concerns. For hydration I turn to the Kiehl's Hydro-Plumping Re-Texturizing Concentrate, to tackle pigmentation and sun spots I like the Lancome DreamTone and for general anti-ageing I've been enjoying the No7 Lift & Luminate Triple Action Serum. At night-time I turn to oils to add an extra splash of nourishment and hydration. My most-used oils are the Kiehl's Midnight Recovery Concentrate, Nude ProGenius Rescue Oil and the Body Shop Vitamin E Facial Oil. I finish off my routine with the Clarins Multi-Active Day and Night Creams – which are lovely and light textured.
Face Masks
I'm trying to use face masks once a week, but it tends to be more sporadic than that, depending on when I have a few minutes spare in the evenings and don't mind the hassle. When my skin is feeling congested I dig out my Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask to unclog pores, when I want hydration I use the Lancome Energie de Vie Sleeping Mask - which has the added bonus of being an overnight mask - so no messy removal! The Ren Glycolactic Radiance Renewal Mask is also ace for giving your skin a healthy glow, and the Kiehl's Tumeric & Cranberry Seed Masque has the added bonus of tiny Cranberry seeds that can be used to gently exfoliate the skin while washing the mask off. I've also been keeping a bottle of the Origins Super Spot Remover Blemish Treatment Gel at hand for any pesky breakouts and find it really good for keeping spots at bay. This is definitely one I'll be keeping to hand closer to the wedding to fend off any break-outs!
Getting the Expert's Help
About 6 months before the wedding, I decided that I wanted to compliment my daily skincare routine with a course of facials, and I immediately turned to Elaine Butler Doolin at Bespoke Beauty in Donnybrook. I had been to Elaine for facials in the past, and as she's a skin fanatic, she always goes the extra mile to ensure you get the best possible results. She took a look at my skin and decided that a course of Meso Vytal facials would give my skin a good boost. The treatment uses an oscillating device which has micro needles which deliver the serum between the epidermis and the dermis of the skin. I'm a complete scaredy cat when it comes to needles, but the treatments don't feel invasive at all, and combined with an arm and shoulder massage, they're actually quite relaxing. I'm now four treatments in, and my skin is looking plumper and in general more fresh than it has in a long time. I've scheduled my last facial for the week before the wedding, to maximise the results!
Baby steps...
My skincare routine might seem extensive to many, and it's certainly more complicated than the "cleanse, tone and moisturise" diktat we've been hearing all our lives, but it really doesn't take up too much time in my day. In fact, I've been really enjoying spending an extra few minutes, particularly at night as I'm usually rushing out the door in the mornings, to massage in products and feel like I'm pampering my skin. If you're building up to your big day and want to amp up your skincare routine my top tip would be take it in baby steps and introduce each new product gradually, particularly with acid toning. Also, even just cleansing your skin properly with warm flannel cloths can make a huge difference to your skin's quality and clearness!
Finally, drinking lots and lots of water definitely does wonders, as does steering clear of alcohol and sugary treats where possible. If only I could follow my own advice!
