HOW TO CLEAR UP YOUR ACNE BEFORE YOUR WEDDING

Just want to start off by saying, if you have any allergies, sensitivities, or health concerns to consult your doctor before starting a new skincare regimen. If you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant, many ingredients and facial treatments are not permitted. Here is my own personal skincare story as a licensed esthetician and certified makeup artist.

It’s Not Just What You Put On Your Face…

We’ve heard the saying, “you are what you eat”, but the truth is…it’s TRUE! And if you’re anything like me, you love food- if someone asks me what my hobbies are, I swear I tell them eating. I love going to restaurants, trying new foods, eating dessert, and more dessert. But healthy food doesn’t have to taste like cardboard.

Six months before my wedding I cut out:

• Caffeine

• Candy, unhealthy sweets, and anything that was a processed snack in a bag

• Dairy

and limited:

• gluten

It wasn’t that hard to give it up!

I really wanted great skin for my wedding and I knew if I changed my diet I would feel better and my skin would be glowing! I have EXTREMELY sensitive pale skin, with bright red cheeks at times, cystic acne that loves to randomly appear on my chin (more about that in another upcoming post!) , and I’m prone to breakouts on my chin and neck, and did I mention I’m also dry and flakey! In the winter my back loves to breakout as well, and it can take well into the summer months to clear up if I’m not taking the right steps. My elopement was set for April with a reception in November. So I needed my skin to basically look it’s best in the spring and winter.

You’ll Spend A Lot Of Time In The Bathroom…

No, you don’t need to do some crazy cleanse. But you will need to drink A LOT! I started my day with hot water with lemon, switching to kombucha (which helps with your pH), and drank water all day. I did have hot tea from time to time.

Drinking plenty of fluids is probably the most important step in having clear skin. It literally flushes out impurities and is extremely beneficial. I follow fashion model @emilydidonato who regularly talks about drinking water constantly. Her skin is #goals for me.

You’ll also spend a few extra minutes in the bathroom doing your skincare routine TWICE a day.

I know that figuring out what products to use can be confusing and overwhelming. You already are planning your big day- let me help by offering a virtual shopping consultation where we can figure out the best products FOR YOU together!

Photo Credit: Allie Dearie

Stick To A Skincare Routine

I bought all my “wedding skincare” from Soko Glam because i wanted to do a 10-step Korean skincare regimen. Was it necessary to do THAT many steps? Debatable. I did have super clear skin the entire year though.

What was most important was the double cleanse. Often, we take off our makeup at the sink or during our shower, and we end up not removing all the makeup. How many times do you come out of the shower looking like a raccoon with mascara everywhere? I know I do! It’s because the cleanser I use doesn’t take away all my makeup, and you need an oil based and a water based to get the job done.

Toner also changed my life. I have a few favorites (I’ll be sharing those down below), but the one I stuck with leading up to my wedding was by Klairs. I also like the apple cider vinegary toner from Bambu Earth.

Also, not going to bed with makeup is so important. Sticking to the skin care routine TWICE a day was incredibly important, whether you do 5 steps or 10.

I constantly rave about a $20 eye cream that I swear has completely changed my skin. I use it twice a day in a rice grain amount around the ocular bone.

It’s also important to know what order to do your skincare routine, and how often (more on this in a bit!). I used to exfoliate (cough) every day. HORRIBLE for sensitive skin (or any skin condition). But I didn’t know better wayyyy back in the day. My family used bar soap and a wash cloth.

The life changing moisturizer I use on my brides is Water Balm. Click the link to find out more about this product! What I LOVE about this product is that it’s a 5 in 1 product. For those that need that hydration boost, this is such a great gel cream! “Water Balm is your moisturizer, toner/serum, day cream, night cream, and makeup primer all in one,” Sonia explains. You only need a nickel-sized amount of product and let it dry for a few minutes before applying foundation.

I made some words a clickable link, so you can see what products I recommend and use all the time on either myself or my brides.

What Order To Apply:

1. Double Cleanse

2. Tone

   • Indie Lee COQ-10 Toner is refreshing for both myself and my daughter who have very sensitive skin. I chose this for her because of the ingredients and how gentle it was on her very reactive skin.

   • Bambu Earth Rosemary Toner- the apple cider vinegar balances pH and oil production. I don’t often leave reviews, and I ended up leaving a 5-star review on this product because it’s great for sensitive skin and clearing up my redness. I love suggesting US made, organic and sustainable companies that really do their research on selecting only the most natural ingredients for their products.

3. Serums
   * Bambu Earth Intense Hydration Cactus Concentrate is best for oily or dehydrated skin conditions- and I want to encourage those with oily skin to try an oil based serum. It will be life changing!

4. Ampoules (optional)

5. Eye Cream

6. Moisturizer : ALL ABOUT SONIA’s WATER BALM!!

Let’s chat more about your skincare goals!! I would love to hear from you.