How to prepare your skin for your wedding day

You may or may not know that, as well as being a wedding designer, I (India) am also a writer. I happen to specialize in writing about skincare and minimally invasive treatments, so it makes sense for me to chat to some of the best skincare experts in the business about their advice for brides (and grooms!) who want to get their skin looks as gorgeous as possible for their big day.

Nina Sedighi - Physician’s assistant
Skin Spirit Beverly Hills

What are your go-to treatments for brides-to-be?

My must-have for brides to be is a series of safe-for-all-skin-types microneedling treatment paired with PRP. I typically recommend three treatments 4-6 weeks apart (although if you have any sort of scarring you’d like to address, I typically recommend closer to six treatments) for best results. Most brides will see benefits after 2-3 months of treatments, and it will leave them glowing!

For body, my pick is to enhance muscle definition with Emsculpt treatments - which are great for toning the arms (smart if you have a strapless or sleeveless dress!), abs and tush. I recommend 4-6 treatments for optimal results - and finish your series before your dress fitting to account for the lost inches! (And if your dress is backless, consider a back facial, too!).

What are some of the common mistakes you see most often?

I’ve had brides schedule an appointment with me two weeks before their wedding for a procedure that 1) they’ve never had before, or a 2) that takes 2-4 weeks to fully show results (and might need touch ups!). You do not want to risk not having enough time for your skin to completely heal, and it’s best to try a procedure for the first time long before your big day!

Samantha Pang -Aesthetic Nurse Practitioner
Skin Spirit Beverly Hills

How far in advance do you recommend starting your wedding skincare prep?

In a perfect world, if we need to work on acne scars, pigmentation, and wrinkles that lay deeper in the skin, I recommend starting six months before your wedding to allow time for multiple sessions of treatments such as IPL/BBL, chemical peels, Fraxel, microneedling, Clear & Brilliant or Morpheus8 - we can determine the best fit depending on how much time you have. We can also start Botox to figure out what the right "recipe" is perfect for the bride (or groom!).

Be sure to also start with topical retinoids, growth factors, and glycolic/salicylic acids at home a couple of months prior to the wedding!

What if I only have 1-2 months?

Start getting facials, and plan for a Botox session about 3-4 weeks before the wedding day. This will ensure a smooth, flawless forehead and brow, and leave you time to make any necessary touch-ups.

Wanda Chandler - Master Aesthetician
New York City

Help! It's two weeks before my wedding and I haven't booked anything. What should I do?

If you've run out of time and really need a light peel or microneedling, you can book these treatments at a minimum of two weeks before the wedding to avoid any extended peeling or inflammation.

I also recommend a Dermaplanning facial, as it will remove all facial hair, leaving the skin with a beautiful glow - and can be done the week before the wedding. A DiamondGlow facial for both bride and groom within a week of the big day will also provide extra exfoliation and skin nutrition - it's an absolute go-to, and it could be fun to book your treatments on the same day!

For the groom, if he has a beard, I love giving "beard facials". Not only will his skin be cleansed, but his beard will be shiny and soft!