We think you’ll agree-there are few things more frustrating than waking up on your wedding day to find a pimple on your face.
Unfortunately, it happens more than you might think. Often our most important days are filled with excitement, but also with stress, anxiety, and nervousness, and those emotions show up on our skin, no matter how much we wish they didn’t.
If you’ve got a wedding coming up, or another very important day, and you want to look as beautiful as possible, keep calm-we’ve got some great tips to help you do just that.
1. Start with good internal care.
Remember that your skin is your body’s largest organ, so you’ve got to take care of it from the inside, out. The day before your big event, don’t overeat, as that can upset your digestive system, which can show up on your skin.
Choose refreshing, nourishing foods like fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, fatty fish, fiber-rich lentils, dark leafy greens, nuts, and lots of cool, refreshing water. Melons and pineapple are great options, as they help provide more moisture to the skin and also reduce inflammation and ease digestion. Make each meal and snack small, but eat more often if you like.
Do your best to avoid fast food, high-fat foods, sugary foods and beverages, and fatty beef, as these can increase inflammation and make you look puffy.
2. Try to get a good night’s sleep.
We talked about how a lack of a good night’s sleep can make you look older in this post. It can be hard to sleep well before an important day, so do everything you can to make your evening relaxing and quiet.
Take a nice warm bath with some lit candles late in the evening, make sure your room is dark and quiet, keep all gadgets out of the bedroom, and practice a calming activity before bed, like reading, yoga, deep breathing, or meditation.
If you can’t sleep, don’t toss and turn-put on a soft light and read some more, or write down the things you’re nervous about until you feel relaxed again.
3. Exercise.
Exercise helps flush out those toxins in the body, helping your skin to look and feel refreshed. Be sure to wash all makeup off before your workout so it doesn’t clog your pores, and then don’t hold back. A good hard workout the day before a big event can help you get rid of the jitters, tire your muscles (which will help you sleep), ease digestion, and help you feel your best.
4. Exfoliate and hydrate.
Though you may usually alternate these steps-exfoliate one night, hydrate the next-it’s best to do both the night before a big event. Use a gentle exfoliating mask first to slough off all that dead skin, and then follow with a rich moisturizing mask to drench your skin in hydration. (Our Calming Moisture provides long-lasting hydration with a radiant, youthful sheen.) That way you’ll be more likely to wake up to plump, younger-looking skin on the big day.
Don’t forget to exfoliate the rest of the body, as well. Dry skin brushing is great for this. Find our tips here. Shower or bathe after brushing, then follow with a rich, luxurious moisturizer immediately after patting dry. Our Body Repair Lotion will nourish the skin and leave you with a radiant glow!
5. Prep your lips.
Nothing makes you look older or more tired than chapped, flaky, dull lips. Prepare the day before with a soft sugar scrub on the lips, then moisturize with a thick balm that will help soften and plump your pout.
Our Restorative Skin Balm is a favorite among celebrity makeup artists, and will help heal and safeguard the thin moisture barrier on lips. Take it with you and reapply as needed throughout your big day.
6. Prep your eyelashes.
The best approach is to use a natural eyelash strengthener for about a month before your big day, but even if you get a late start, a couple days of a moisturizing serum on your lashes will help ensure that they look thick, rich and strong. Look for formulas with natural oils, amino acids and vitamins. Avoid those with bimatoprost, as they carry a small risk of affecting your eye color. (Read more about that in our post on eyelash growing products.)
7. Zap under eye puffiness.
Despite your best efforts, you may have had trouble sleeping the night before. If you wake up with puffy eyes, don’t panic. Spend some time with your face doused in a warm shower-the gentle pressure of the warm water will help stimulate circulation and start wearing down that swelling. When you get out, apply an under-eye mask to finish the job. If you don’t have one, cool tea bags, cucumber slices, raw potato slices, or raw beaten egg whites will do the trick.
If you have under eye dark circles as well as puffiness, start with a sparing use of concealer over the darkest areas, then use an eye cream with light diffusers. These help reflect light to make the area look brighter.
8. Hide any surprising pimples.
Sometimes, acne shows up despite your best efforts. You can still look flawless with some careful steps. First, reduce the swelling by applying an ice cube to the area for about five minutes. Next, apply a refreshing mist to help hydrate and further reduce inflammation. We suggest our award-winning Rescue + Relief Spray, as it immediately soothes irritated skin while ingredients like comfrey and valerian tame inflammation.
If you still see some swelling, try anti-redness eye drops. Just a drop or two on the affected area can help shrink the size of the pimple. Once you’ve calmed it down, use a small brush to apply a yellow-based concealer in a color close to your foundation from the center out. Blend well at the edges. Follow by applying your regular foundation lightly over the top (blend carefully with your fingers), then blot with a mineral makeup (powder) to keep it in place.
9. Don’t overdo your makeup.
The most beautiful look on a wedding day is the natural, flawless look, so don’t overdo it with your makeup. The most important part is your foundation. Take the time before your big day to check with a makeup artist and match your color perfectly. Look for a formula that gives you some moisture as well as coverage so you don’t look dull and dry later in the day. Then apply lightly at first with a soft brush and blend blend blend.
Don’t forget primer-it’s critical for hiding pores and smoothing skin texture, and can also help your makeup last longer. Apply it on your face and eyelids after your moisturizer, add concealer sparingly where needed, then top with your foundation. Apply everything in light, smooth layers and don’t cake the makeup on.
Next, use your favorite, timeless colors for your eye shadow, blush, and lip color. You’ll have lots of photos taken, and you don’t want to look dated. Neutral eye shadow with a nice dark eyeliner is best, along with rosy cheeks and fresh lips that aren’t too dark. (Dark lipstick can look too harsh in photos.) Apply eyeliner into the base of your lashes, and if you need more definition, work some into the upper waterline.
Finish with a volumizing mascara. If you expect to get emotional, waterproof is best. Try it out a few days before to make sure it doesn’t clump or flake. Look for anti-aging, moisturizing formulas.
10. Relax with your favorite scent.
Finally, the most important step is to do your best to relax, as when you’re calm and confident, you naturally look more beautiful! Let aromatherapy help you here. Choose either your favorite scent or a relaxing oil like vanilla or lavender. Put some in a diffuser, add some to your bath, or simply apply some to a cotton ball and keep it close to you.
How do you get your skin ready for the big day?
