Preparing your wedding can be a busy time and it can be tricky to know just how far in advance you need to get things done. Here, Margo Marrone from natural skincare and cosmetics brand The Organic Pharmacy, shares her top tips to help you schedule all your beauty needs ready for your big day.
There's a lot going on in the lead up to your wedding. You've got everything to think about, from getting the invitations out on time to making sure each element is running smoothly in the run up to the day. So, it's understandable that with so much on your mind you might have forgotten about your beauty regime.
You'll no doubt want to have your skincare routine, hair, and make-up all taken care of so you can look your very best. To help make the process stress-free, I've put together a bridal beauty schedule for you to follow, so you can look after your skin and hair and look fresh and beautiful on your big day.
At least six months before: Look after your health
While you're going through a potentially stressful time like planning your wedding, it's all the more important to focus on your health. Getting regular exercise will give you some time to check in with your body and keep it feeling strong and healthy ready for your big day. So, make sure you put aside some time in your busy schedule to get active. Anything from a walk around your neighbourhood to a relaxing yoga session at home can help keep your body healthy and relaxed.
Don't forget to drink plenty of water, too. The NHS recommends you drink six–eight glasses of water to keep your body hydrated. This will help flush out any toxins from your body and keep your skin looking fresh and bright. So, while you're doing the rest of your wedding planning, remember to keep a bottle of water at your side so you can easily stay hydrated.
Six months before: Plan any major hair changes
If you've got any major hair changes in mind, such as a completely new cut or colour, then you should consult your stylist about them at least six months before the wedding. Your colour might need to be done gradually, so this will give you plenty of time to dye your hair and keep it healthy. You'll also have enough time to discuss any tweaks you'd like to be made to make sure your bridal look will be as perfect as you imagine.
Four months before: Start your skincare regime
Although you'll usually be taking care of your skin each day, now is your time to work on any areas of concern, such as dry patches or discolouration. Your cosmetics will take some time to show results, so the earlier you start, the better. We'd usually advise starting at least four months in advance so you can get the full benefit from your skincare regime. This will also give you enough time to work out what is and isn’t working for your skin.
You should be cleansing, toning, and moisturising your skin twice a day, once in the morning and once at night. If you have very sensitive or dry skin, you might want to reduce this to once a day to avoid over-drying.
If you'd like a more concentrated skincare regime to tackle any redness, fine lines, or pigmentation, then a serum underneath your moisturiser will help. Look for a product that is specially designed for your skin problems for the best results.
Three months before: Have a test run of your hair and make-up
You'll want to do a test run of your hair and makeup at least three months in advance. This will give you plenty of time to decide which look you want. Plus, you'll know just how long each look will take on the day so you can prepare. Remember to take plenty of photographs so you can refer back to them on your wedding day.
For your bridal hair, try to keep the style in for at least six hours so you can make sure it'll hold for the whole day.
Two days before: Get a spa treatment
The last few days before your wedding is a time to relax and pamper yourself with a spa treatment or two. We'd usually recommend gentle treatments such as massages and face masks that will soothe and brighten your skin before your big day. If you'd like to treat yourself to something a little more invasive, such as a microdermabrasion treatment, do so at least three weeks in advance to give your skin time to settle.
This is also a good time to get any last-minute beauty tweaks done, such as eyebrow shaping. It's also a great idea to get a manicure and pedicure at this point, as it's close enough to the day that your nails will still be looking fresh and neat for your final bridal look.
On the day: Prep your skin
The morning of your big day will be a busy one, so make sure you prep your skin first thing so you're all prepared for the arrival of your make-up artist. An exfoliating mask or cleanser will buff away any dirt and impurities, leaving a lovely smooth canvas for your make-up to sit on. You might also want to apply a vitamin C serum to give you a healthy glow for your big day.
The run-up to your wedding can be incredibly busy. Hopefully these tips will help you keep on top of your beauty regime, so you can get the most out of your bridal look.
We hope this advice from The Organic Pharmacy has been helpful. If you're still hunting for a make-up artist, hair stylist, or any other wedding service, just take a look at our list of wedding suppliers.
MORE GREAT WEDDING PLANNING TIPS!
