Bridal Skincare Routine

Gone are the days of a 2-step skincare regimen consisting of apricot scented face scrub and a drugstore pimple cream. After all, part of #adulting is realizing that shiny, clear, vibrant skin requires quiiiiite a bit of TLC. If your bathroom is anything like mine, it’s probably stacked full of any/every product ever recommended….and these days, between influencers and Sephora samples, that could be a lot. 

But, with your wedding day on the horizon, there’s absolutely no time for trying out 50 new eye serums, face masks, and night creams in an effort to find the perfect combo. And then there’s the matter of facials. Entering a spa can be a bit like walking into an auto shop….unless you’re a pro, it’s hard to know which services and add-ons are really necessary. 

With all of these questions in mind (and in need of some major skin TLC myself), I went to beauty and skincare guru Julie Metzger. Julie is a freelance makeup artist who works a lot with LookLove Beauty and is also an esthetician with an adorable space in Cornelius, NC (check out her website here). I went in for a custom facial and also used that time to pick her brain on all things “bridal skincare.” Here’s what she had to say:

Where To Start?

Any good esthetician will start with a consult to identify where your skin is at, and to make specific recommendations both short and long-term. During this consult, Julie looks at the bride’s timeline, understands how often the bride wants to/is able to come in, and what her budget looks like.

In terms of procedures, her top three suggestions are: a custom facial, HydraFacial, or a chemical peel (depending on skin type and the time of year). 

 
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When To Start?

Begin these visits once a month leading up to your wedding for the best results, and make sure not to schedule any facials within a week of the big day so your skin has time to absorb the products fully and look its best.



Which At-Home Products are Best?

Julie believes in using different products from different skincare lines, ranging from plant-based/organic skincare to medical-grade skincare. Customizing these products to the clients’ needs is crucial, since everyone has different skin types and preferences. With that in mind, a custom facial is just that — it truly looks different for every client. For instance, If you prefer to only use “clean” products, she’ll be sure to only use those during the facial, as well as recommend clean products for at-home. 


What I had Done and Why:

My skin type is dry, and lately I’ve been having some breakouts. To combat this, we did:

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  • Pre-Cleanse

  • Cleanse

  • Dermaplaning *read more about this below!

  • Charcoal Mask

  • Extractions 

  • Toner

  • Custom Blend HydroJelly Mask

  • LED Light Therapy (FDA approved)

    • Red light for fine lines and wrinkles

    • Blue light to kill any bacteria and help with breakouts

  • Scalp Massage (aka heaven)

  • Facial Massage 

  • Face oil

  • Gua Sha tool and a rose quartz roller to help with lymphatic drainage



Facial Massage: This is usually overlooked in a facial but is so important! It helps with lymphatic drainage and lifting contours of your face. Lymphatic fluid is the clear fluid which supports your immune system function by flowing through the body and sequestering foreign material like viruses. By performing facial massage, it helps stimulate the lymph fluid circulation throughout the body. It also helps remove toxins and waste materials as well as helps with swelling

Dermaplaning: AKA face shaving, is something I recently learned about (via influencers, of course). It uses short strokes with a razor to exfoliate your skin and remove the small, fine baby hairs (vellus hairs) so your face glows and is smoother. 

When I first read about this, I had my doubts. Was my hair going to come back as stubble? Did I even have any facial hair to begin with? Figuring we were in the midst of a quarantine and, worst case scenario, I wouldn’t be seeing anyone for a while anyway, I decided to order the Tinkle Razors and give it a shot. I can attest first-hand that your face feels SO SMOOTH after using them, and your skin products get absorbed so much better. Plus, makeup looks flawless…it seriously looks like you have a filter on your face to smooth out your skin. 

While the Tinkle Razors are my absolute go-to for at-home derma planing, it’s important to understand that a professional esthetician is going to be much more thorough, since they use a sterile, medical scalpel and obviously know what they’re doing! I honestly warned Julie before my facial that I had dermaplaned at home a few days prior, so she probably wouldn’t get much hair off….and I was SHOCKED (and mildly disgusted) at how wrong I was! 

 
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The Takeaway?

Get yourself in with a good esthetician early on in the wedding planning process so you can get a consultation and come up with a game plan that makes sense with your goals, timeline, and budget. Invest in products that are going to continue the effects of the facial long after it’s over, and that you can continue to use in your everyday routine. If you’re based in NC, I highly recommend Julie — you can also mention my name and get 20% off any service!

Feel free to DM me or write any questions below!

Lexi MasurComment