Singaporebrides | Beauty
January 2014
Simple Skincare Tips for Your Wedding
It is every bride’s wish to look her best on a day as important as her wedding day but sometimes, a flawless complexion is just out of her grasp, especially when wedding planning stress and anxiety worsens existing problems or triggers new ones. But it is not completely impossible to walk down the aisle with Liv Tyler’s well-known alabaster clear complexion if you put your heart to it. Ponnie Hsu, professional hair and makeup artist from PonnieHsu Makeup Studio, helped SingaporeBrides put together a simple guide on wedding skincare tips you should follow for a radiant clear complexion on your wedding day.
The Basics
For brides who wish to look naturally beautiful even with makeup on, having a clear and smooth complexion is vital. Why? “Because makeup applies easier and better on clear and smooth complexions,” Ponnie reveals. “Having a flawless complexion also means a lighter layer of makeup can be applied, resulting in a more natural look.” The key to a flawless complexion is having a daily skincare routine that includes the 3 basic steps of cleansing, toning and moisturising. This 3-step routine removes dirt and dust that settles on your skin throughout the day, tightens pores and moisturises the skin, and should be practiced twice a day without fail. Even if you are tempted to skip this at the end of a busy and tiring day, don’t. The dust and dirt accumulated during the day needs to be properly removed to prevent it from clogging your pores and causing pimples to form.
“That being said, you should refrain from cleansing your face more than twice a day, especially for brides with dry skin condition,” Ponnie warns. “Over cleansing strips the skin of its essential oils, and may cause more harm than good.”
Beauty Add-ons
Daily cleansing is just the basic step to achieving a flawless complexion. To combat specific problems such as dark spots or fine lines, invest in reputable facial serums that target these problems and incorporate them into your daily skincare routine for better results. Exfoliate your skin at least twice a week to get rid of dead skin cells, dirt, grime and blackheads completely. If you have the time and budget, book yourself for a professional facial treatment once or twice a month to keep your skin in a hydrated and supple state. Alternatively, you can open your pores by taking a warm shower and get rid of blackheads by squeezing them out with a piece of tissue and clean hands. Splash your face with cold tap water to close pores and soothe skin by applying a moisturising facial mask afterwards. For brides who do not have the habit of going for regular facial treatments, you should go for your first one at least two months before your big day and only seek out more established or well recommended beauticians to prevent anything untoward from happening.
“Brides with dry skin should consider exfoliating once a week only to prevent overdrying the skin out,” Ponnie advises. “It is also advisable for extraction to be done at least a week before the wedding day to allow skin time to recover from any redness and your pores time to close up for a smoother application of makeup.”
Two Steps You Should Never Skip
If you haven’t already done so, it’s time to make sunscreen and makeup remover your new BFF. Regardless of whether you have makeup on or not, or whether it is a sunny or cloudy day, you should always wear sunscreen if you’re planning to head out. “The sun’s rays are extremely harmful and overexposure will result in the formation of brown spots,” Ponnie cautions. “It may also result in the tanning and premature aging of the skin, causing one to look older than they really are.” At the end of the day, sunscreen should be properly removed with a makeup remover before cleansing your face. In fact, even if you aren’t wearing anything on your face, it is recommended to clean your face with makeup remover to completely remove all traces of dust and dirt before proceeding with your facial routine.
Eat and Drink Your Way to A Better Complexion
A flawless complexion is the result of a good skincare routine and diet. Stay away from oily and fried food to prevent your skin from producing too much oil, which may trigger the formation of pimples. Instead, try to include more vegetables and fruits such as carrots and berries into your diet. Carrots contain Vitamin A and C, which are essential for glowing skin, the production of collagen and keeping wrinkles at bay while berries such as blueberries and strawberries are a great source of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. These keep out skin healthy by blocking out cell-damaging free radicals from UV exposure and pollution, boosting hydration and collagen levels, and reducing skin inflammation. If berries aren’t your cup of tea, look to kiwis and green tea for your daily dose of antioxidants.
Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water every day to keep your skin hydrated and avoid drinking beverages that may stain your teeth like coffee and tea. “Although keeping yourself hydrated is important, drinking too much water may cause water retention,” Ponnie reminds. “Try to avoid drinking too much water or consuming fruits high in water content such as watermelon the day before your wedding to prevent bloating.”
Last Minute Miracles
Image cc licensed ( BY NC ND ) flickr photo by Albert PalmerSometimes, even the best precaution measures cannot prevent mishaps from happening such as facial puffiness and stress-induced pimples. “Brides who show signs of water retention or puffiness on the morning of their wedding day should apply an ice pack on their face for 10 to 15 minutes,” Ponnie suggests. “To treat last minute pimple breakouts, brides can seek out over-the-counter pimple cream or try to extract the pimple as best as they can and apply an anti-inflammatory cream after the extraction to prevent an infection and bring down swelling.”
Flawless complexions aren’t an overnight achievement so start prepping your skin at least 6 months or more before the actual day, as your skin will need time to get used to any changes made in your skincare routine and diet before any result is visible.
Credits:
Feature Image: Image cc licensed by ( BY NC ND ) flickr photo by Albert Palmer / cropped from original
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