The key is to start early, you won’t regret it!
You’ve made it through the fun, easy part of your engagement, a flawless manicure and those perfectly staged Instagram snaps of ‘The Ring’. But, now it’s time to get into the nitty gritty of looking fantastic on your big day, and there is nothing like a wedding date to keep you motivated. If you want a flawless complexion, shiny locks, a bright white smile, and envy-inducing arms, you need to put the work in. Here, we give you a year’s countdown in the world of health and beauty, to ensure you are photo ready on the big day, once you have put on your dress and look radiant you’ll forget about the pain and dedication it took you to get there.
One year before
Manage Stress
On the skin complexion front, many inflammatory conditions, including eczema, psoriasis, and acne, may be at least partially caused by stress, as stress weakens the immune system. Excess anxiety can also disrupt your sleep, which is prime time for your body and cells to rest and rebuild. So, so what you can to control anxiety, and try out some mindfulness apps, such as Headspace.
Skincare
Book an appointment with a dermatologist, as flawless skin should probably be one of the top priorities for your wedding day. By getting in there early your complexion’s current state can be assessed well in advance, and appropriate action can be planned. Especially because some treatments take up to several months to achieve results.
Dry Brushing
Add dry-brushing to your daily routine, as it yields major skin benefits, including exfoliation and increased blood circulation for a healthy glow. From an overall wellness standpoint, it also speeds up the flow of lymph, the all-important fluid that removes toxins from our systems, helping to rid the body of waste.
Longer Luscious Locks
Star working on strengthening and growing your hair by boosting your protein intake, and massaging your scalp. To a major extent, strong, glossy hair is an inside job, so by avoiding any vitamin and mineral deficiencies through eating lean proteins and taking a multi-mineral supplement laced with iodine and zinc, you will stimulate growth, creating more shine.
9 months before
Start Using Retinol
Derived from vitamin A, retinol is known for increasing cell turnover, unclogging pores, boosting collagen, and fading hyperpigmentation. However, it can generate redness and peeling at the outset, before all those benefits kick in, so best to start this far in advance.
Scrub Up
After chiselling your upper body to perfection, the last thing you want to do is ruin the effect with red bumps on the backs of your arms. The condition, called keratosis pilaris is caused by excess keratin, which blocks the hair follicle. While there’s no cure, you can treat the symptoms by exfoliating.
6 months before
Hair Colour
The general rule of thumb for big-day colour shifts, whether you’re going lighter or darker, is to stay within two shades of your own natural hue. So, for first-timers this is the time to consult with a handful of prospective colourists, to test the waters with a semi-permanent dye that easily washes out.
Brows
Unlike a haircut or colour, you can’t just snap your way into a new brow shape in the space of an hour. The eyebrow arch can take up to a half-year of regular appointments to change. So, start early to work towards your desired shape.
Work Out
Get serious about your back and upper body, as this will give you good posture. We look down at our phones all day and hunch over laptops, which tightens the chest muscles, so loosen them with stretches, and work your triceps with dips, cable pull-downs and pushups.
3 months before
LED treatments
Gently blasting your face with light emitting diodes, is one of the most effective ways to treat the ‘bad’ kind of rosy cheeks, something you should consider if you are prone to stress-induced redness.
Condition
Colour or no colour, this is the time to lavish extra TLC on your locks. You can head to the salon for a deep conditioning treatment, or mega hydrate at home with an intensive masque. An extra trick is to add a few drops of vitamin E oil to your conditioner, and then wrap your hair in a towel that’s piping-hot from the dryer.
Avoid Sugar
Removing sugar from your diet will both help you lose weight, and keep skin clear, plump and fresh-looking, two things you’re looking for when prepping for your big day. Limiting sugar intake can also help control stress levels and keep you more clear-minded.
1 month before
Suncare
Be wary of the sunshine, even on cloudy days, and wear an SPF on your face daily to protect your skin. Also, keep your shoulders covered in the sun if you’re wearing a strapless wedding dress, because strap marks are difficult to hide.
Brighten Your Smile
Ensure that your smile is camera-ready, and for a subtle upgrade, book in to your dentist for a professional cleaning to remove surface stains and plaque. To maintain the brightness, use over-the-counter whitening strips up until a day before the wedding.
Self-Tanning
Since you are avoiding the sun, try fake tan instead to achieve a golden complexion. Start experimenting with the right shade a few months before your wedding to adjust to seeing yourself with colour, working with the same product or professional spray tanner continuously, to avoid any surprises.
2 weeks before
Final Facial
Time your last facial so your skin has a chance to calm down. It will clear away any toxins, yet still leave enough time for your skin to settle. By this stage, your facialist will understand your skin, so any last-minute skin problems can be avoided.
Fine-Tune Your Colour
This is the time to perfect your colour, whether it’s a root touch-up or subtle highlights. This is a good stage to have it done, as it gives the dye a chance to settle while still looking fresh, but doesn’t leave enough time for your roots to start growing in.
1 week before
Practice Restraint
Try to avoid salty foods, excessive carbohydrates, and do not overdo your exercise in the week before your wedding, as all of these things cause your body to retain water and can result in a puffy face and eyes.
Three days before
Hair Removal
Time your waxing carefully to ensure your skin is smooth, but not irritated, and get waxed no later than 72 hours before the wedding day. Then, to reduce redness or swelling immediately following hair removal, smooth on a calming cream containing.
Tan
It is time to have your final fake tan, to allow enough time for it to bronze, yet still give you time to wash it thoroughly, so none transfers onto your dress. Exfoliate before each session, and then again every day afterwards afterward to avoid streaks and unevenness.
The Day before
Prep Your Hands and Feet
Your nails need to be looking picture perfect, so get these painted the day before, to avoid any chipping in the run up. It is also advisable to buy the exact shade of polish from your manicurist for touch ups, in case of any disasters on the morning of the wedding.
The Day of the Wedding
Glowing Skin
Prime Your Skin For a last-minute boost on the morning of your wedding, and apply a gentle exfoliating mask in the shower. Then, right before makeup, smooth a hydrating serum onto your face, neck and décolleté to enhance your glow before heading into hair and makeup.
Hair
Start on your hair three to four hours before the ceremony, and don’t forget to wear a robe or button-down shirt. Ask your stylist to prep and set your hair, and then work on the bridesmaids, as once your hair is setting, you’re halfway there, and you can relax.
Make-up
Once your hair has been prepped, get your make-up done. This should be smooth sailing since your skin is well prepared, and you have had previous practices with the artist. Once this is completed, your hair can be finished.
Get Dressed
The key is to not leave this until the last minute, it’s important that you start getting dressed an hour before leaving. If you are wearing a corset, it needs some time to warm up and mould to your body, and if not it is always good to have time to feel comfortable in your gown. Then you have an hour for touch ups, and to enjoy preparing for what you have spent up to a year planning.
By Eliza Scarborough
