It is usually advised to start planning your wedding day skin-prep six months before the big day – and for good reason.
Wedding season can be a joyous but stressful time in our lives (and especially hard on our skin) with family demands, financial pressures and planning woes that cause binge eating or grazing, sleep deprivation, and feelings of stress.
As a result, brides can experience “out of nowhere” skin problems that literally flare up from the inside. These can range from intermittent cystic breakouts, skin rashes and rosacea flare-ups, dark, more pronounced under eye circles and duller-looking skin.
Luckily, with the help of a professional, what could dampen your wedding bliss can be easily prevented and managed with an effective plan of action put in place ahead of time.
Below, 5 NYC brides share details about the skin problems they experienced leading up to the big day and outline how they addressed them just in time to say “I DO” (so you can too!).
For more on our wellness program for brides click here.
Jennifer, holistic nutritionist at RDC and New England wifey.
- Problem: pre-wedding stress, brittle hair and weak nails
- Solution: a nutrient dense diet and stress management
“Pre-wedding stress was causing my skin hair and nails to look tired which made sense – at times of stress vital nutrients are stolen from our non-vital body parts to help us cope – (it didn’t help that I was in the process of moving to the US! – read more on managing stress here). So what I did was ensure I was eating nutrient-dense (bang for your buck) foods at every meal. I had 8 servings of brightly colored vegetables a day for glow-giving antioxidants, tissue-healing and anti-aging foods such as collagen and bone broth, and skin-plumping fats such as avocado and wild caught salmon. I saw a BIG difference just by modifying my everyday eating habits. This process helped me co-create the wellness program at RDC to help clients (and other brides!) for the same reason. We can do these same modifications for them using our know-how in holistic wellness and nutrition because our insides really do impact how we look and feel on the outside.”
Madison, spa manager and Amalfi Coast bride-to-be.
- Problem: dry, dull skin
- Solution: more water, hot yoga and Clear & Brilliant
“If you live in NYC like me, you suffer from dry, dull skin! I’m guilty of always being on the go which doesn’t help either. I had to remember (during wedding planning) to stop and take a second for myself which is when I discovered hot yoga. I have been going every Thursday night since getting engaged and truly look forward to an hour of sweating, detoxing and just breathing. I found out it also helps with my complexion and leaves my skin glowing. You just feel so good afterward and it shows! Also, Hydrafacials at Russak + Aesthetic Center once a month have helped revive my dull skin. I like that it’s equally as exfoliating as it is hydrating. Now for another go-to game changer for brides: Clear & Brilliant. I’ve alternated between these treatments and Hydrafacials and I feel like it’s been the best, most effective combination for my skin. Clear & Brilliant tightens your pores and brightens your overall complexion.”
Maria, food blogger and new mama (who recently got her skin check with us!).
- Problem: acne
- Solution: less makeup, dermaplaning and clean eating
“I think every bride has at least one nightmare about waking up with a pimple on their wedding day. I am actually acne-prone, so my skin was definitely a concern of mine. But leading up to my wedding, my acne was actually very much under control. One tip: I minimized the amount of time I wore makeup during the days leading up to the big day, drank lots of water and ate very clean which always helps! To help with my makeup application on the big day, I decided to get a dermaplaning facial at Russak + Aesthetic Center and it was amazing! Just what I needed for my makeup to lay flawlessly on my face.”
Elena, skincare aficionado and Chicago bride.
- Problem: hormonal acne and signs of premature aging
- Solution: Spironolactone, consistent skincare, microneedling
“I experience hormonal acne around my period and I was introduced to a prescription solution called Spironolactone. Given that weddings can be stressful, I wanted to manage stubborn acne starting early. In terms of skincare, I really try and stay committed to a regimen that works for me: in the morning, I wash my face with a gentle cleanser (CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser), use an antioxidant serum (SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF), address frown lines with SkinCeuticals H.A. Intensifier, and then use EltaMD’s UV Clear on my face and neck. In the evening, I wash my face with CeraVe’s Hydrating Cleanser and use SkinBetter Science AlphaRet. By sticking to this routine, I felt more “in control” of my glow, so to speak, leading up to the big day. For cosmetic treatments, I chose Kybella to tighten my jawline and microneedling to smooth out the fine lines on my face.”
Chris, medical assistant, and Tulum honeymooner .
- Problem: acne
- Solution: Accutane, hydrafacials and chemical peels
“I’ve struggled with acne my whole life but never considered Accutane. Once engaged, I wanted to make sure I prepared my skin to feel and look the best it could for my big day. I finally decided to start Accutane after a comprehensive consultation with Iris at Russak Dermatology. She made me feel at ease and I felt like it was the best solution for me. After just a month, I started noticing clearer, blemish-free skin which gave me confidence gearing up for my wedding day. For a wedding glow, I had heard about Hydrafacials but wasn’t consistent with it until wedding prep – every month for 6 months I committed to doing one treatment to maintain healthy-looking skin. The day before my wedding, I chose to do a dermaplaning facial to remove any peach fuzz and had a lactic acid chemical peel to brighten my complexion. Doing all of this helped me feel really beautiful on my wedding day!”
Recently engaged? We offer an exclusive treatment plan for brides.
