The Big Day Skincare Prep

​Over the 16 years I have been working with brides I have found that one of the most important things for them in terms of their big day makeup look is the foundation and even though there are lots of amazing bases out there they aren’t a fix all product.
 
At the bridal trial I often spend some time discussing the bride-to-be’s skin care routine to see if there are any potential changes to be made to improve the condition of their skin rather than relying on foundation.
 
I find that if a bride has oily and congested skin they will often over treat the problem by using strong cleansers, face washes and scrubs.
Our skin needs a certain amount of oil (sebum) to keep it supple and protect it from dehydration and bacteria and will naturally replace the oil that has been removed and sometimes more than necessary.
Using harsh cleansers can also irritate the skin causing mild inflammation making the problem worse.
The skin has a pH of 5.5 making it slightly acidic, this helps limit the growth of bacteria. Finding a pH balanced cleanser is essential and using soap which is usually alkaline is an absolute no-no as it will know the pH of the skin off balance.
 
Having a short facial course of some sort, maybe 2 or 3 treatments, is a great idea in the months leading up to the wedding.
There are several options including steaming, manual lymphatic drainage and dermabrasion treatments.
 
Steaming within a facial helps ‘open’ the pores and aids the removal of blackheads (comedones) and increases the circulation to the skin bringing nutrients and oxygen both of which will help a congested skin type.
 
MLD or Manual Lymphatic Drainage is a massage technique which doesn’t stimulate the skin but improves the lymph node activity and white blood cell production gradually improving the health of the skin.
 
There are two types of dermabrasion:
The Crystal Clear method sprays small crystals onto the skin and then gently sucks the crystals and debris away.
Vacuum suction method uses a gentle sucking motion with a diamond-encrusted tip to loosen dead skin cells and unblock pores.
Combined with using ultra sound treatment this method is very effective at clearing congestion, reducing inflammation and healing blemishes.
 
For minor blemishes and emerging spots (and even burns) I often use good old fashioned Lavender essential oil and its always in my kit! Its fantastic, its calming, mildly antiseptic and gentle and a great option to the more harsh tea tree oil.
 
For more extreme cases of congestion or acne niacinamide, zinc and salicylic acid are powerful remedies.
https://www.cultbeauty.co.uk/skin-care/the-ordinary-niacinamide-10-zinc-1.html
https://www.cultbeauty.co.uk/skin-care/the-ordinary-salicylic-acid-2-solution.html
 
 
Another really common problem is skin surface dehydration which is often not visible until foundation is applied.  It can affect the nose, forehead and around the eye area, it is easily treated on the forehead and nose area using a gentle facial peel and some hydrating mask treatments twice a week for a short time and a good moisturiser. Around the eye area you should be very gentle as its’ less supported by the skull and facial muscles. The skin around the eye is delicate and only specific eye products should be applied.
 
 
Having dry and sensitive skin myself I am cautious and tend to prefer a gentle, natural and gradual approach to skincare.
One of my favourite face peels is Doux Peeling by Clarins, it is a very gentle effective way to remove dead skin cells from the skin.
http://www.allbeauty.com/gb/en/83053-clarins-exfoliating-care-gentle-peeling-smooth-away-cream
 
And one of my favourite mask treatments is the vitality mask by S5 Skincare which gives a beauty flash of hydration using a lightweight formulation.
https://www.s5skincare.com/collections/treatments/products/vitality-mask
 
Cleansing is the first area I ask brides to consider because it’s really fundamental to good skin health.
Using a gentle cleanser which you can wash away with warm water is important because unless the product is rinsed away there will be a residue left behind on the skin.
This is is my top cleanser because its gently, light weight, effectively removes make up without leaving the skin feeling dry.
http://www.boots.com/avene/all-avene-products/avene-gentle-milk-cleanser-200ml-10083616
 
Using a muslin face cloth soaked in warm water is great because this will regularly desquamate the skin surface reducing the need for harsh (and polluting) scrubs.
My absolute faves are these bamboo muslins by Aurelia- they’re beautifully soft, wash really well and are made from a sustainable product.
https://www.aureliaskincare.com/products/monday-to-sunday-bamboo-muslins
 
Implementing small changes and treating the skin carefully can result in improvements in the skins texture and condition reducing the need for heavy bases to cover up imperfections.
 
I hope these tips have helped, visit my website at www.sarahbirkett.com for more info about bridal and event make-up.