Want to put your best face forward on your wedding day? Plan ahead.
Contrary to what we’d like to believe, wow-worthy wedding-day skin doesn’t just happen overnight. And while ample sleep, proper hydration, and reduced stress can go a long way toward a bright and healthy visage, the busyness of wedding planning can sometimes make it difficult to ace all three areas. Thankfully, with a little planning and the help of a good skin-care provider, you can still look and feel your best on your big day. Acacia McDonell, PA-C, a physician assistant at Skin Pharm’s new Plano location, shares a pre-wedding skin-care timeline to maximize results—and minimize surprises.
12 months out:
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Once you have your wedding date on the calendar, book a consult with a skin-care professional to develop a customized game plan. “You don’t necessarily have to start treatments at this time, but depending on what we’re trying to address with your skin, your timeline may start now,” says Acacia.
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Get serious about a skin-care regimen. Acacia says a solid routine “will typically involve a vitamin C, a moisturizer, daily sunscreen, a gentle physical exfoliant, and a retinol.” If you have more specific concerns—such as hyperpigmentation, acne, or rosacea—your provider can recommend specialized products.
6–9 months out:
This is a prime window for undergoing skin treatments that may be too harsh to try in the weeks leading up to your wedding but will score you some serious benefits in both the short and long term. Just be aware of the downtime associated with each so you can plan the timing of any pre-wedding festivities accordingly. Acacia recommends a few of her favorites:
- Microneedling with PRP
Microneedling resurfacing treatments boost collagen production to address everything from wrinkles, pore size, and texture to hyperpigmentation and acne scarring. “Nearly everyone can benefit from it,” enthuses Acacia. Adding PRP—short for platelet-rich plasma, which is applied to post-treatment skin and absorbed in the resulting microchannels—organically boosts collagen production. Downtime: “You’ll have one to two days of true downtime when you’ll notice your skin looking red and dry,” Acacia says. “But after 24 hours, you’re able to wear makeup and sunscreen, and most people can’t even tell you’ve had a treatment done.” - Kybella
“If you’re self-conscious about your profile and want your jawline to look as sharp as possible on your wedding day, a few treatments of Kybella can help,” says Acacia of this injectable that breaks down fat cells. Depending on severity, you may need two to four treatments spaced four to six weeks apart. Downtime: Acacia warns that you will experience swelling for up to two weeks post treatment. “This can be unnerving,” she admits. “Trust the process!” - Chemical Peels
Chemical peels are another resurfacing option that can dramatically improve dullness, acne scarring, hyperpigmentation, and textural concerns. Downtime: “If you’re able to embrace the peeling phase for three to five days, you’ll be rewarded with bright, clear, glowy skin,” says Acacia, who notes the importance of skin protection in the days following. (So don’t book one right before your beachy bachelorette party!) - BBL
Treatments using BBL, short for BroadBand Light, tackle acne scars, hyperpigmentation, and more. Depending on your needs, they can be performed on targeted areas or on the entire body. Downtime: Following a full BBL photofacial, your skin may look “peppery” for five to seven days, Acacia says. BBL Blue Light Acne Therapy, meanwhile, involves zero downtime and, she adds, “can easily be stacked on with other treatments.”
6 months out:
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If you’re looking to soften expression lines, now’s a good time to map out your neuromodulator routine. “There are few things worse than trying out a new injection site or amount and not loving the results,” says Acacia. “I’ve had to say no to brides wanting something like a lip flip right before the wedding if they’ve never had one before.” Starting Botox or Dysport six months before your big day will allow you and your provider to perfect placement, guaranteeing wedding-day results you’ll be happy with.
Tip: Acacia recommends scheduling your first round of injections four weeks prior to bridal or engagement portraits to see how your dosage will look on camera.
8–12 weeks out:
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If you plan to do fillers, don’t wait too late, as swelling (sometimes for up to three to four weeks!)and bruising are common side effects. “In a perfect world, I’d love for my future brides to be done with filler three months ahead of the day they say ‘I do,’ ” says Acacia.
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Cease adding any new products to your already well-established skin-care routine. “It’s not worth the potential reaction or breakout,” Acacia warns.
4 weeks out:
- Acacia says this is the perfect time to get another dose of neuromodulators. “Your lines will be softened in a subtle, natural way, and this time frame gives us room to tweak your dosage if needed,” she says. Also consider a final microneedling treatment, BBL photofacial, or chemical peel, if desired.
Week of:
- For one last plumping, pore-minimizing boost (with zero downtime), Acacia recommends a week-of Gold Infusion, which uses a gentle stamping technique to enrich the skin with antioxidants and hydrators. Acacia says the treatment ensures you’ll look “effortlessly glowy”
and allows your makeup to go on flawlessly, adding, “It’s the icing
on the cake after all the hard work you’ve put in the past year!”
The post Here’s Your Skincare Timeline for the Best Wedding-Day Skin, According to Skin Pharm appeared first on D Weddings.
