As a professional makeup artist, clients - specifically brides - continually ask me what products are the best for covering imperfections such as blemishes, wrinkles, hyper pigmentation, etc.

While there are many wonderful brands and products out there that can do wonders at concealing these pesky skin issues, no makeup will ever be able to conceal everything. That's why I always suggest a pre-wedding skincare routine.

Over the last few years, my answer to this question has changed from telling my clients what makeup products will help conceal their skin issues to what skincare products will help treat these issues! 

Why Is A Pre-Wedding Skincare Routine So Important?

If you think about it, our skin is like a blank canvas and we are the artists who use products to “paint” on that will enhance our beauty! We don’t want to ever use makeup to hide ourselves or to create a brand new person. We want to accent, highlight and bring forth our best qualities. This all begins with great skin.

If you’re skin isn’t healthy, no makeup will be ever be able to convince anyone otherwise. Great looking makeup starts at the source, which is our skin! If you’re prepping your face for bridal makeup, this is especially important.

Remember, good skin can’t be achieved overnight; it takes time!

Here are some common skincare tips that I often recommend to clients on how to achieve their best skin:

Here are some common skincare tips that I often recommend to clients on how to achieve their best skin:

1. ALWAYS remove your makeup!

This is the #1 rule in skincare! Never go to sleep at night with your makeup on. It doesn’t matter how little of makeup you put on that day or how natural or organic the products were that you used.

While we sleep, this is our skin’s time to repair itself from the day by releasing toxins and encouraging cell turnover. If you have a mask of products still on, your skin instead becomes clogged and bogged down which is when those skin imperfections begin to appear.

Use an oil free makeup removing cleanser or towelette to swipe away the day from your face. You will feel fresh and clean, plus you won’t be transferring any nasty bacteria to your pillow at night.

2. Use a moisturizer - preferably with SPF!

I like to think of hydration as the fountain of youth. Young skin is associated with fresh, hydrated, glowing skin, am I right? Incorporating a great moisturizer and eye cream in your skincare routine ensures that your skin will stay plump and soft.

Have oily skin? Don’t skip out on the moisturizer. Your skin needs it just as much to balance out the oils that your skin is overproducing.

I recommend a moisturizer that contains some SPF as well. No matter the climate in which you live in, we need to protect our skin from the harmful rays. While Vitamin D is essential for our health, leaving yourself unprotected from the sun is not the way to get it!

Think of moisturizing like priming your face as you would prime your living room wall to paint!

3. Exfoliate!

Ever feel like you’re skin is looking a bit dull, dry, or flakey? Looking like you have alligator skin? You’re likely in need of a good exfoliation to remove that dead top layer of skin.

I recommend finding a good physical or chemical exfoliator that is still gentle enough to use on a weekly basis. Physical exfoliators are often the most common type found in stores or sold online. These often have those tiny micro-beads that slough off all the dead skin.

Recently, chemical exfoliants have also rose in popularity and are found in products that include ingredients such as glycolic acid, AHAs, and BHA, and enzymes such as pumpkin, papaya, and pineapple.

4. Embrace your makeup free days!

While it’s fun to put a little makeup on each day, it’s important to allow your skin at least one day a week to breath and be completely free of makeup.

Sundays are usually my makeup free days. It’s also my day where I really focus on my skincare needs.

Examine your skin in a mirror under good lighting and take note of how your skin looks. Is it exceptionally dry from the week? Couple blackheads popping up? Take this time to see what your skin is telling you and give it the proper time and care that it deserves (i.e Use a thicker moisturizer, a purifying face mask, or bust out the acne cream!). 

5. Invest in a skincare routine that is based on your specific needs.

There are a few skincare must-haves that everyone needs in their routine no matter what. Makeup remover, cleanser, toner and moisturizer are keys to healthy skin. However, it’s essential that you find specific versions of these products that will work with your specific skin type.

I also find it beneficial to throw in some add ons such as masks and eye creams to treat more specific areas and issues of the skin. This will only ensure that you are getting the most out of your skincare.

It’s also never a bad idea to consult a specialist if you suffer from deeper skin issues such as acne or rosacea.

6. Be patient. Be consistent. Don't give up!

I know it can be frustrating and even feel hopeless sometimes if your skincare routine doesn’t provide dramatic results right away. We all want perfect skin & we want it now. Trust me, I get it! However, it can take up to a month or more of continuous use of a product to notice any benefits.

Stay on track and be consistent with your skincare use. If it helps, take a photo of your skin before you start your new routine as well as at the end of every week to track your progress. This gives you concrete evidence on whether or not a product is working for you and can give you that extra motivation to keep going!

7. Learn and move on!

When it comes to your wedding skincare routine, you are more than likely going to make mistakes or find that certain products just don’t work for you.

You may start off with the wrong ingredients for your skin, apply too much, or not enough. There is a lot of trial and error involved when you begin using treatments that you’ve never tried before.

Know that it’s part of the journey and the best thing that you can do is learn from them and move on. Don’t beat yourself up. Eventually you will find your “skincare stride” and you will achieve the skin you’ve always wanted. 

Healthy Wedding Skincare Is Not About Hiding, It's About Healing

Whether you are a bride preparing for photo-ready wedding day skin, or you’re in the midst of trying to revamp your routine, these wedding skincare tips will help you achieve your beauty goals! 

Instead of being so focused on finding makeup products to cover-up and hide any imperfections you may have, focus on finding skincare products that will treat, heal, and reverse those issues instead. Your skin's health is the ultimate determining factor when it comes to how your makeup products will apply and look so treat the source and not the symptom!

Author: Liz Zimmerman, The Finishing Touch 

Liz is a professional makeup artist located in the Twin Cities area and has created hundreds of unique bridal and special occasion looks for clients across Minnesota. Follow Liz on Instagram to see her latest wedding makeup creations and more!