The 5 Most Common Skin Mistakes Made by Brides

My other go-to babe for all things skin care is Kylene from Buttercup Beauty in Waunakee.  She compiled a list of the top 5 mistakes that brides make when prepping their skin for their wedding.  Read on to see what she has to say!

5.  Tanning

Other than the obvious fact that it causes cancer, malignant melanoma can be deadly by the way, it can leave you with dark spots on your face that are extremely difficult to get rid of.  Some think it’s helpful to clear acne [which it can temporarily, but later you'll have a thick layer of dead skin, which will cause even more acne than you started with]. Unprotected sun exposure causes premature aging, wrinkles, redness [broken capillaries], and blackheads.  If your wedding dress is strapless, you don't want tan lines, so invest in a good sunscreen.  Supergoop is our go-to brand!

4.  Poor Self-Care

Picture this: You're busy planning a wedding, trying to please your future in-laws, and having your last hurrahs with girlfriends...  Sometimes these stressful days can lead to can all lead to late nights and caffeinated mornings. Be sure to take time to eat nutritious, skin-loving foods like salmon, fresh leafy greens, and vitamin packed fresh fruits.  Make sleep a priority, practice mediation or yoga, and stay adequately hydrated - it can go a long way in helping skin look it’s best on your big day. 

3.  Failing to See a Dermatologist to Treat Acne and Other Skin Disorder

In most cases, acne is hormonal and no how many times you wash your face or how much money you spend on creams, breakouts will simply not stop.  Sometimes the solution is switching, or stopping, your birth control [well in advance] or taking an oral medication called Spironlactone that blocks androgens from stimulating your sebaceous glands in your skin.

2.  Doing Too Much Too Late

Exposing your skin to all kinds of new things [new makeup, new creams, intense skin treatments] can throw your skin into a tizzy.  Stress can present itself on your skin.  I had to inject epinephrine in my stressed out, covered-in-hives girlfriend.  I always refer to the character Woogie in the movie There's Something About Mary, who became so stressed he developed pimples on his eyelids.  The stress and excitement about your upcoming wedding, combined with lack of sleep, increase in alcohol, add in a few seasonal allergies... Your poor skin won’t be able to take it and will probably retaliate with puffy eyelids and crazy rashes!  If you’re getting a late start in skin prep, take it easy and don’t over do it!!! [Word to the wise, now is not the time to try a head-to-toe body wax]

1. Expecting Makeup Artists to Perform Miracles

As a former bridal makeup artist myself, I’ve seen it all too many times.  A bride arrives for makeup and has given absolute zero thought is put in to taking care of her skin.  She shows up dehydrated, skin with visible flakiness, eyebrows and upper lip unattended, with makeup on her eyes from the night before.  Before heading out to your appointment, cleanse your face but don't moisturize, your makeup artist will moisturize as part of skin prep.

Let us know your thoughts on these mistakes in the comments - we'd love to hear what you have to say!

Skin Prep for your Big Day!

Photo credit: Hans Vivek - Instagram: @oneshotespresso

Over the course of the past decade, I have had the opportunity to get to know Dána Torres from Robertson Cosmetic Center.  When we first met, she specialized in body waxing and esthetics in her own practice.  Recently, she became a Clinical Esthetician and began working with the wonderful staff at Robertson's!  

SKIN PREP FOR YOUR WEDDING DAY & WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

One of the many things to cross off on your wedding to-do list is to figure out your wedding day look. This might include hairstyle, makeup, accessories, mani and pedi, and maybe even a wax or sugar scrub to feel prepared for your big day. While all of these things are great to do for a polished wedding look, there’s one very important item you don’t want to forget to include on your list that will make you glow from the inside out: a facial or skincare service. 

Realistically, a bride should consider beginning skincare treatments 6 months to a year before her wedding. I’ve often thought, at a minimum, facials and clinical skincare products should be included in your budget when planning for your special day due to the nature of skin rejuvenation and the time it may take to improve overall skin quality. When reserving your venue/church a year or more prior to your wedding; scheduling a comprehensive consultation and treatment regimen should be coordinated simultaneously.  

Do you suggest just one treatment or for better results with a few sessions?

One treatment is better than none at all but does little to address any real skin concerns. In as much time as it took to acquire unwanted idiosyncrasies within the skin, it will take a conscious effort by you and your skincare professional to address your specific and individual skincare concerns. I like to use the analogy of preparing for a marathon. You drink lots of water, eat wholesome food, get plenty of rest, train and condition your muscles and cardiovascular health to withstand the demands placed on your body to perform at peak level. The commitment to improving and preparing your skin to be at its best draws similar parallels. Your clinical skin care products prepare your skin to receive the ideal treatment outcomes.  

What can a patient expect during a consultation at Robertson's Cosmetic Center?

Any patient of Robertson's Cosmetic Center, new or seasoned, can count on a detailed skincare consultation with an open discussion detailing the steps of any procedure and options within the treatment prior to any treatment. Procedure indications, contraindications and realistic endpoints with expected downtime will be discussed and agreed upon. Written and verbal recommendations for clinical home care products along with alternating treatment modalities (i.e.  Dermaplaning, Chemical Peels, Hydrafacial, Botox, Filler and/or Laser Rejuvenation) are typically given to see an ideal skincare outline. It’s a big picture approach that can be scaled down and tailored-to-fit a client's lifestyle and personality. 

What is the expected downtime after procedures & treatments?

Photo credit: Noah Buscher - Instagram: @noah.buscher

Depending on the agreements made between patient and their skincare professional during the initial consultation, downtime (flaking skin, redness, extraction sites or erythema) ranges from as little at 24-48 hours to 4-5 days contingent on depth of applied treatments, skin integrity and general health of a client. Any imbalances (hydration, surface buildup) within the skin will need to be improved and your overall skin quality enhanced before any in-depth corrective treatments can be safely administered. 

WOW!  Dána shared so much good information!  What other questions do you have?  Do you currently work with a skin care professional?  If so, what differences have you seen?  Looking forward to seeing questions from y'all in the comments!