Wedding Day Skin Care Basics

Every bride wants to look radiant on her wedding day. The best way to get that perfect wedding glow is to start with the basics of good skin care. A good regimen of skin care is the underlying answer to acquiring that healthy glow.

As a licensed esthetician, I have tried and tested numerous skin care lines. I have two favorites that are affordable and effective. BeautiControl and Control Corrective have impressed me the most. To find out more about them, you can contact me at Teambeauti@yahoo.com or by phone at (561) 358-2623.

Your basic skin care regimen consists of four easy steps:

• Cleaning Your Face
• Applying Skin Toner
• Exfoliation
• Moisturizing

For those who think four steps is a lot, once you start the regimen and start seeing results you will find that it is as important as brushing your teeth.

Your skin is the largest organ in your body and requires attention. If your skin is not getting enough hydration. it looks dry and dull. If your skin is damaged by the sun, it can look spotty and wrinkled. You only have one face….take care of it or you’ll regret it! And here are the four simple steps to take.

Step 1 – Cleaning Your Face

Use a good quality cleansing product that will remove all traces of dirt and makeup from the day/night before. Make sure that the cleanser is one designed for your skin type, as using the wrong type can cause as many problems as it solves. If you wear a fair amount of makeup, cleansing twice might be necessary.

The Right Makeup Remover

For the most stubborn eye and lip makeup, I recommend a makeup remover by BeautiControl called Lash and Lid Makeup Remover. To remove that makeup, start by dampening a cotton swab and placing it over the eye lid. Hold for 10 seconds and then gently wipe away the makeup. Rubbing the eyes too aggressively can damage the fragile skin around the eye. The skin on your eyelid is the thinnest skin on your body, so treat it as such.

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Step 2 – Applying Toner/Tonic to Your Face

Most toners will help to remove any traces of makeup that a cleanser has left behind. Toners will also help to restore the natural PH balance to your skin. Consider toner part of your rinse cycle. A good toner should not have alcohol or witch hazel as an ingredient; these are extremely drying to the skin. The majority of toners today are made with botanical extracts that treat the skin as needed with a more gentle approach.

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Step 3 – Exfoliate Your Skin

Exfoliation is a process that removes dead skin cells from the top layer of skin. Once a layer or two of skin cells is exfoliated from the face, the body produces new cells to replace them. This process allows new rejuvenated skin to surface and may help improve the appearance of fine lines and mild acne. Exfoliating is not recommended on a daily basis. Two to three days a week is plenty. How do you remember when to exfoliate? The two days you take the garbage out to the street, take the garbage off your face!

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Step 4 – Moisturize Your Skin

Moisturizing is the final step of your daily routine, and using the right moisturizer is critical.

Moisturizing forms a barrier between the skin and the environment, protecting your skin from free radicals and the sun. It also helps to form a fine, protective layer that enables the skin to retain the moisture it requires. Many moisturizers today have anti-aging ingredients in them such as peptides and acids, all of which help minimize signs of aging.

Moisturizing is essential for all skin types, including oily skin. There is a big misconception that if you have oily skin, you shouldn’t moisturize. The truth is just the opposite. The body is a machine and here’s how it works:

If you don’t hydrate your skin from the outside, your body will do it from the inside. This in turn creates the sebaceous glands that produce oil.

If you trick your skin by hydrating it with creams, it will not produce oil to hydrate itself.

For those with oily skin, purchase a moisturizer that is oil free. Keep in mind when purchasing a daily moisturizer: an SPF of 15 or higher is your best defense in the fight against aging.

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Points to Remember

Each of us has different and unique skin, so what is right for one person may not be right for another. If you don’t have an esthetician to help you with your skin, I suggest you get one. Estheticians are trained professionals and can properly guide you in the right direction of total skin care. The part-timer at your favorite department stores do not have the training needed to advice you properly.

So remember, stick to the basics of good skin care. There are a lot of fancy treatments on the market today. Chemical peels, microderm abrasion, laser and lightening creams just to name a few. They’re all great and do work; however, without the proper daily maintenance you are putting the cart before the horse. Start with a skin care regimen best suited for your skin and you will see that consistency pays. You will start to notice younger, healthier, and more radiant skin within a few weeks.

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