Getting married? Here's how to prepare your skin for the most beautiful glow of your life
Are you getting married, then the chances are high that your mind is now filled with table arrangements, dress stress, flower arrangements, Pinterest boards, and the question of whether Aunt Truus can really sit next to Uncle Henk without a diplomatic crisis. In short: planning is underway. Everything down to the last detail.
But amidst the venue, the rings, and the perfect heel height, one thing is often forgotten: your skin. And no, we don't mean pulling out a mask from the drawer the night before your wedding and hoping for a miracle. If you want to prepare your skin for your wedding, it's wise not to start just a week in advance.
Whether you want to reduce acne, make pigmentation spots less visible, tackle fine lines, or just achieve that fresh, glowy skin that even your photographer will love: with a good skin plan, you can go a long way. On to the most beautiful skin for you on the big day.
12 months before the wedding: start with laser treatments
A year in advance may sound overly early, but believe us: your skin loves preparation. Therefore, schedule your first appointment with the skin therapist well in advance. Think carefully about what a radiant skin means for YOU, as it is different for everyone. Some want to reduce redness, others want to tackle pigmentation spots, and someone else dreams of smooth, fresh skin with a natural glow.
During the intake, clearly indicate that you are working towards your wedding day. This way, a treatment plan can be created that fits your skin, your wishes, and your schedule. Think of laser hair removal, laser treatments for acne scars or treatments that help reduce fine lines.
At Skin clinic the Youlaser MT is used. This combines two lasers in one treatment, making the skin surface smoother and more even. And yes, it applies here too: one treatment is nice, but multiple treatments often yield better results. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, multiple treatments provide significantly better results than a single treatment. So start on time, so your skin doesn't have to sprint in the last weeks.
9 months before the wedding: chemical peels for a fresh glow
Dead skin cells are a bit like the party crashers of your glow. They can make your skin look dull, feel less fresh, and miss that little sparkle. The solution? Regular peeling.
Chemical peels can help improve skin texture, soften fine lines, and brighten the complexion. The results are usually subtle but build up after multiple treatments. A bit like saving for your dream dress, but for your skin instead.
A chemical peel uses acids. The most well-known types are AHA’s, alpha hydroxy acids, and BHA’s, beta hydroxy acids. They work in a similar way but each has its own talent. BHA’s are often good for skin that quickly suffers from pimples or acne. AHA’s work a bit more superficially but can, like BHA’s, provide a nice fresh glow.
After one treatment, you can often already see a difference, but after multiple treatments spread over a few months, your skin can really look visibly better. And that is exactly the kind of wedding preparation that makes us happy.
4 months before the wedding: tackling pigmentation spots and sun damage
Four months to go? No panic, you are not too late yet. At this stage, you can still start with laser treatments to reduce hyperpigmentation or sun damage in the form of spots.
A little skin lesson in understandable language: pigmentation spots contain an excess of melanin, the natural pigment that gives color to your skin. A laser emits a specific wavelength of light that is absorbed by that pigment. This process is called selective photothermolysis. Sounds like something out of a physics book, but it simply means that the laser targets the pigment very precisely.
The alexandrite laser is an example of this. This laser is tuned so that mainly the pigment in the spots absorbs the light, while the surrounding skin is left as undisturbed as possible. After the treatment, your body naturally clears away the damaged melanin. This can take a few days to about two weeks, depending on the size and depth of the pigmentation spot.
For optimal results, often two and sometimes three treatments are needed. With each treatment, the spot can become lighter and less visible. In other words: slowly but surely heading towards that even bridal glow.
2 months before the wedding: fine-tuning your skin plan
Only two months to go. Exciting? Yes. Slightly hysterical? Maybe a little bit. If all goes well, the treatments should now be doing their job and you should already see a difference in your skin.
This is the moment to evaluate your skin plan together with your skin therapist. What has worked well? What does your skin still need? And especially: what is wise to still do or not do as the wedding approaches?
At this stage, it's not about big experiments, but about fine-tuning. A little tweaking, adjusting, and ensuring that your skin goes calmly, healthily, and radiantly towards the big day.
1 month before the wedding: no more trying new skincare
Just one month left. This is NOT the time to suddenly try that viral TikTok serum, an intense mask, or a completely new skincare routine. No matter how tempting. Your skin does not like surprises right before a wedding.
Take it easy, stick to what works, and especially introduce nothing new. Hydrate, protect, sleep well where possible, and maybe take a deep breath between all the last to-dos. Your skin has already worked hard enough in the past months.
And then? Then it's time to enjoy. Your dress, your day, your love, and hopefully also a skin in which you feel beautiful.
Annelijn van Ierland is a skin therapist, scientific researcher (MSc), and founder of Skin clinic. She has nearly twenty years of experience in the field of skin and the cosmetic and medical applications of laser on the skin.
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