The ultimate guide for brides-to-be: How to achieve glowing skin in time for your big day
Getting married is one of life’s big milestones, so it’s no wonder brides want to look and feel their best when the big day finally arrives.
When it comes to bridal prep, glowing skin is right up there with the perfect dress. This article is here to help future brides navigate the world of non-surgical skin rejuvenation treatments to help them GLOW on their wedding day.
At home skincare routine: The foundation of good skin
First things first, lets talk skincare. This is the mainstay of healthy, glowing skin. If you think of your in clinic treatments as your dentist appointment, you still have to brush your teeth in between, and this is how you should view your skincare routine.
Not only does a simple, yet science backed routine ensure skin is healthy, resilient and glowing, it also optimises and maintains the results of your expensive in clinic treatments.
Why choose medical grade skincare?
True medical-grade skincare (products that require a prescription) contain higher concentrations of active ingredients and are formulated to penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin to make change at a cellular level. These products not only help maintain injectable results, but they also prepare the skin by improving hydration, boosting collagen levels and increasing cell turnover making skin more receptive to treatments.
Medical-grade skincare typically includes potent formulations like retinoids, vitamin C serums, hyaluronic acid, and chemical exfoliants that target issues such as ageing, pigmentation, dull skin, acne, and dehydration. Whilst there is a plethora of skincare products on the shelves it is not all made equal and I always explain to my patients, that formulation is KEY! You can have the best skincare active, but if it cannot penetrate deep enough then you are not going to get results.
As part of any bridal prep journey, I will assess your skin and create a personalised routine that suits your skin type and targets your concerns. My advice- make sure you don’t leave this step until the last minute. Right before your wedding day is not the time to experiment with skincare as a) skincare takes time to see results and b) adding in new products can cause temporary irritation, so starting retinol 2 weeks before your big day is a big no no!
Anti-wrinkle injections: Smooth out fine lines and refresh your appearance
Anti-wrinkle treatments, often referred to under the brand name Botox®, are intramuscular injections that temporarily relax the muscles responsible for creating dynamic lines. Many brides seek out this treatment in order to soften expression lines and to create a ‘well slept’ appearance.
What are the benefits of anti-wrinkle injections?
Immediate results- Botox® only takes a few days to start working and you will see your final results after 2 weeks. This doesn’t mean have your toxin treatment 2 weeks before your wedding day however!
Lasting effects- Anti-wrinkle injections last up to 3 months. I usually advise my patients to have their wedding Tox at least 4-6 week before their big day.
Tailored- Treatment can be adjusted to meet your aesthetic goals. Whether you want soft reduction of lines, or a fully smooth forehead, doses are fully customisable to suit your needs.
Top tip: always trial anti-wrinkle treatment at least 6-8 months before your wedding day. This ensures we get the doses right and to see if you like the results for the big day.
Polynucleotides: Repair, Regenerate, Rejuvenate
Polynucleotides are having a bit of a moment right now, and for good reason. Polynucleotides are chains of nucleotides (the building blocks of DNA) and can improve cell regeneration and repair damaged tissue. So what are they? How do they work? And why should they be on your bridal prep radar? Let me explain.
What Do Polynucleotides Do?
Polynucleotides are biostimulatory molecules derived from purified salmon or trout DNA fragments. They work as little messengers that signal the skin to regenerate. It is an ideal treatment for brides looking to improve acne scars, dark circles and fine lines. They work at a cellular level to reverse the signs of ageing by encouraging fibroblast activity, which increases collagen production; improve hydration levels; soothe inflammation and strengthen the skin barrier.
I recommend completing a course of 3 treatments 3-6 months before your wedding day. This gives your skin plenty of time to regenerate, rebuild, and reveal those radiant results.
Why incorporate Polynucleotides into your wedding skin prep?
Improves Skin Quality: Polynucleotides improve the overall quality of your skin by repairing damage at a cellular level. This makes your skin more resilient, healthy, and youthful.
Natural Results: Polynucleotides are completely natural and biocompatible. As they work by stimulating the body’s natural healing processes, the results are subtle yet noticeable. Think radiant, healthy skin- not obvious tweaks. They are a great choice for brides wanting a refreshed and rejuvenated appearance, without worrying about looking ‘done’.
Brightens Complexion: Polynucleotides help reduce pigmentation, dark circles and even out skin tone. One area where I particularly love using polynucleotides is around the eyes. That delicate under-eye skin is often hard to treat, but these clever molecules help to thicken and strengthen the tissue, reduce dark circles, and soften fine lines. making them perfect for refreshing and rejuvenating under eye circles.
I always recommend Polynucleotides as part of a multi-step treatment plan to ensure optimal results. My favourite treatment combinations are Polynucleotides paired with medical grade skincare, anti-wrinkle injections and microneedling.
Profhilo®: The Injectable Moisturiser
One of THE most popular skin bio-remodelling treatments is Profhilo®. For brides wanting a hydrated, firm, and youthful-looking appearance, without the use of dermal filler.
What is Profhilo®?
Profhilo® is an injectable treatment containing a high concentration of hyaluronic acid (HA). HA is a naturally occurring substance and is found throughout the body. It is responsible for maintaining moisture and elasticity in the skin. As we age our levels of HA decrease leading to a dull/ dehydrated complexion, crepey skin and fine lines and wrinkles.
Unlike HA based dermal fillers Profhilo® doesn’t restore volume or contour. It works by delivering high concentrations of Hyaluronic Acid into the deeper layer of the skin to improve hydration, simulate collagen production and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The results? natural, glowing, dewy skin.
A course of 2 sessions, spaced 4 weeks apart is recommended. If there are severe texture irregularities or if skin is very dehydrated then a course of 3 sessions will give more impactful results.
Why incorporate Profhilo® into your bridal prep?
Dewy Hydration: Profhilo® works from the inside out to deeply hydrate, leaving you with a glowing complexion. The perfect base for your bridal makeup!
Speedy Results: You should start to notice improvements in your skin’s hydration and texture after a couple of weeks. I recommend completing your course of treatment at least 4 weeks before the big day!
Non-Invasive: Profhilo® requires little to no downtime, meaning you can return to your daily routine immediately after the treatment. There may be ‘blebs’ of product visible under the skin for up to 24 hours, please do not try to massage these, it is completely normal.
Microneedling: The ultimate collagen booster
Microneedling is a popular treatment at the moment, and not without good reason either. It has been clinically proven to boost collagen levels by up to 400% after just 3 sessions! Collagen is the most abundant protein found in the body and 70% of it is found in the skin. It is responsible for keeping our skin plump, firm and youthful but we start to lose collagen as early as 25 years old, and by the time we are 40 we are losing 1% every year.
What is microneedling?
Microneedling is a minimally invasive treatment that involves creating hundreds of sterile micro-channels in the skin in order to produce more collagen. There’s a theme here right? It can be done as a standalone treatment or additional serums, such as NCTF and Exosomes can be used to achieve even better skin health results.
By intentionally injuring the skin we are triggering the body’s natural wound healing cascade, which involves (you guessed it) the production of new collagen and elastin fibres. Microneedling can help improve the appearance of large pores, acne scarring, pigmentation, fine lines and wrinkles and skin tone and texture. A course of 3 sessions is recommended, 4 weeks apart and I advise patients to complete their course at least 6 weeks before their wedding day. For severe acne scarring or texture irregularities then a course of 6 sessions may be recommended for optimal results.
Why incorporate microneedling into your bridal skin prep?
Long lasting results: Whilst you will see instant results from the production of collagen type 1, collagen type 3 takes longer to synthesise and the results of treatment can still be seen 6-12 months after your course of treatment.
Tighter; brighter and more firm skin: Collagen synthesis results in thicker, plumper, firmer and smoother skin. It is THE PERFECT treatment for patient’s who have suffered with acne and have scarring as a result.
Future proofing: Investing in microneedling is investing in your skin’s future wayyy beyond the big day. It is an important tool in the quest for better ageing, as one session restores our collagen levels by more than what we would lose in a year. Think of it as a way to bank some extra collagen reserves.
Achieving the perfect skin for your wedding day will take time, patience and consistency. A combination of treatments will always deliver the best results, if your budget will allow. Starting your journey early will ensure your treatment and any side effects have had time to settle, and you are seeing the results in time for the big day. By following a personalised plan that has been carefully created just for you, under the care and supervision of a medical professional you will be ready to walk down the aisle glowing with confidence with the smooth, even, dewy complexion of your dreams.
