18 Pre-Bridal Skincare Tips For Glowing Skin

Not sure how to get that bridal glow on your main day? Simple home remedies, an Ayurvedic diet and lifestyle are the key elements to making your skin look its radiant best for your wedding.

You probably have a skincare routine in place, but when you want to prepare for your wedding day, a regular routine isn’t enough. For a flawless, dewy, radiant look, you need to start early and do it right.

Read on for simple bridal skincare tips to make your skin look young, bright and healthy.

Our Ayurvedic Doctor Speaks

“Ayurvedic skin care begins with detoxification, both internal and external. Follow this with Dosha balance treatments, depending on your skin dosha type.

Dr. Zeel Gandhi (Bachelor Of Ayurveda, Medicine & Surgery), Chief Ayurvedic Doctor, Vedix

Highlights:

• What Is Bridal Skin Care?
• Bridal Skincare Tips For Glowing Wedding Skin
• Bridal Skin Care Routine At Home

What Is Bridal Skin Care?

Bridal skincare refers to a holistic approach taken to make your skin attain its healthiest state for your wedding date. While make-up can do wonders, when applied on dry, damaged skin, there's a scary chance that it might look patchy. So, for that smooth, even and naturally glowing bridal look, it is important to boost your skin’s health internally and externally.

Hence, when preparing a bridal skincare routine, you need to address every minor condition that your skin is troubled with. This will help you to select the right skincare products, diet and lifestyle that you must follow for a couple of months before your big day.

As per Dr. Zeel Gandhi, Chief Ayurvedic Doctor at Vedix, “Ayurvedic skin care begins with detoxification, both internal and external. Follow this with Dosha balance treatments, depending on your skin dosha type. End the skin care with rejuvenating herbs that leave the skin glowing inside out.”

Bridal Skincare Tips For Glowing Wedding Skin

1. Start Following The Right Skincare Regimen

It will be ideal to begin with a visit to your Ayurvedic doctor. This will help you understand your skin type. Once you have better knowledge of your Prakriti or body constitution, you can start planning the right skincare regime according to your dosha levels and current skin conditions.

According to a study in 2016, daily skincare routines have long-term effects on one’s skin health and complexion. In case of dry skin, focus more on including herbs, oils and foods that boost skin hydration. For oily skin and acne-prone skin, follow a kapha-balancing skincare regime and diet.

2. Manage Excess Facial Oil

According to Ayurveda, a kapha dosha imbalance is usually responsible for excess facial oil. Certain hormonal changes in the body can stimulate sebaceous gland hyperactivity leading to over-secretion of sebum. Too much oil on the face can clog your pores and trigger an acne condition.

A simple way to manage excess oil on the face is to switch to an oil-balancing skin routine. Cleanse with a gentle herbal cleanser and follow it up with a toner. Next, use a gel or water-based moisturizer. Keep blotting papers handy to manage oil during the day. Include herbs like hibiscus, amla, turmeric, sandalwood, rosemary, rose and calendula in your face packs.

3. Schedule Professional Facials

Professional facials are a vital inclusion in the bridal skincare regimen. These help unclog your pores, detoxify your skin, improve blood circulation and provide essential nourishment to the skin. Opt for facials which include steaming, blackhead and whitehead removal, de-tanning and herbal or fruit-based face mask.

4. Cleanse

Cleansing twice a day is an absolute must for all skin types. Cleansing gets rid of impurities, bad oil and bacteria on the skin. It is recommended that you cleanse in the morning with a gentle cleanser and double cleanse at night. The oil-based cleanser used during double cleansing helps dissolve make-up and excess oil. Following it up with a water-based cleanser helps remove dirt and dead skin cells.

5. Exfoliate

Exfoliation is the next important step that follows cleansing in your skincare routine. Experts advise exfoliating 2-3 times a day to remove dead skin cells and prevent comedonal acne (whiteheads and blackheads).

While physical exfoliators are less expensive and easily available, the Korean skincare routine promotes the use of chemical exfoliators as a better alternative. These contain mild AHAs and BHAs that gently remove dead cells without causing microtears on your skin.

6. Hydrate

One cannot emphasize enough the significance of moisturizing your skin. Our skin being the first line of defense is constantly subjected to wear and tear and environmental damages. This gradually impairs your skin barrier leading to collagen depletion and moisture loss. Moisturizers help rebuild the epidermal barrier, reduce transepidermal water loss and prevent various skin conditions such as xerosis, dermatitis [2] etc.

For dry skin, select a herbal moisturizer that contains vata balancing herbs. A non-comedogenic, light moisturizer is better suited for oily skin. Avoid products that have parabens, artificial fragrances and colors. Also keep a face mist handy for all those times that your skin feels dry during the day.

Don’t just hydrate externally, drinking plenty of fluids is recommended as part of your pre-bridal skincare routine. Nourishing ingredients such as lemons, aloe vera pulp, ginger, mint, fruit extracts, basil, cucumber and honey can be added to your water to improve the overall quality of your skin.

7. Get Rid Of Dark Circles And Puffy Eyes

The skin around your eyes is thin and vulnerable. A little extra stress, a few late nights and you're dealing with dark circles and puffy eyes. Thus, including an eye cream in your bridal skincare routine is essential. Eye creams fight hyperpigmentation, prevent dryness and reduce the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.

Eye creams that contain caffeine can help reduce puffiness under the eyes. This is because caffeine functions as a vaso-constrictor and an anti-inflammatory agent. Other ingredients to look for in eye creams are hyaluronic acid, antioxidants, herbal extracts, peptides and niacinamide.

8. Oil Massage

According to Ayurveda, ‘Abhyanga’ or massages with herbal oils improve blood circulation, balance your doshas, remove harmful toxins from the skin and improve your skin glow. The right herb-infused oils nourish your skin and can even smoothen out your wrinkles and fine lines. Massage using upward strokes at least once a day as part of your pre-bridal skincare routine for healthy, glowing skin.

9. Use Herbal Face Packs

Herbal face packs for a pre-bridal skincare routine must focus on skin brightening, anti-aging, hydration, repair and rejuvenation. Hence, include herbs such as gotu kola, turmeric, triphala, manjistha, chandanam, kumkuma, kumari, neem, bakuchi, ushira, twak and ela.

Fruit and vegetable extracts such as papaya, pomegranate, cucumber, berries, citrus fruits, avocado, banana, potato, onion and tomatoes are beneficial too. They infuse your skin with essential vitamins, antioxidants, minerals and other phytochemicals. Make the base of your face pack with honey, milk, ghee, coconut oil, sesame oil, carrot seed oil, safflower oil, jojoba oil or coconut cream for enhanced skin nourishment.

10. Add Essence And Serum To The Routine

Essences and serums, first introduced by Korean skincare, have taken the Indian market by storm for their revolutionary skin-enhancing abilities. If you’re aiming to achieve the ‘Korean glass skin’ before your big day, these products are a must in the pre-bridal skincare routine. The primary function of an essence is to boost skin hydration. It also preps your skin to receive the goodness of skincare products that are to follow.

A serum is generally applied after the essence and works to resolve specific skin issues such as anti-aging, dryness or hyperpigmentation. While both these products are on the expensive side, you require only a small amount to work miracles for your skin.

11. Pamper With A Sheet Mask

Another essential part of the Korean glass skin routine, sheet masks are soaked in serums and give your skin that extra dewy look that you need for your wedding day. Know your skin type and accordingly choose your sheet mask. Indulge in it at least twice a week as part of your bridal skincare routine at home.

13. Solve Your Acne Issues

Acne is a common skin problem that needs to be sorted out way before your big day. The first step to acne treatment is to understand what is causing it. Consult your Ayurvedic doctor for a holistic solution. Below mentioned are some effective acne treatments that you can include in your bridal skincare routine:

• Turmeric, neem, yashtimadhu, triphala, manjistha face packs
• Tea tree oil
• Acne patches
• Ampoules that contain retinol
• Regulating your sugar and oil consumption
• Cosmetic procedures such as chemical peels

14. Protect Your Skin From The Sun

Your skin needs to be protected from the harsh rays of the sun while you are preparing for your bridal look. While suntans may fade in a few weeks, excess exposure to UV rays of the sun can cause free radical skin damage and accelerate skin aging. Thus, apply sunscreen as the last step of your morning bridal skincare routine for an even skin tone.

15. Sleep Well

While a good bridal skincare routine plays a significant role in improving your skin health, a sufficient amount of sleep completes the healing process. Skin that is deprived of sleep ages faster [3] and appears dull and damaged.

While you sleep, your skin carries out various important functions such as cell renewal, tissue repair, recovery from elemental damages, repairment of the skin barrier and nutrition absorption.

Hence, skin that receives adequate sleep looks younger, experiences less transepidermal water loss, and recovers faster from stress and sun-induced erythema.

According to research, people who suffer from chronic sleep deprivation are more prone to severe acne conditions. Apart from acne, insufficient sleep leads to dark circles and under-eye bags which affect your overall appearance. The National Sleep Foundation advises adults an undisturbed 7 to 9 hours of sleep [4] for improved skin health.

16. Reduce Stress

Increased stress can rob your skin of its glow. Chronic stress causes a rise in cortisol hormones, [5] which can lead to an inflammatory condition in the body.

Stress is often a primary trigger factor in eczema and acne. Apart from this, stress is known to impair the immune system, making your skin more vulnerable to infections.

Various activities such as dance, physical exercises, regular walks or starting a new hobby are good ways to reduce stress.

17. Eat A Wholesome Diet

A pre-bridal skincare routine isn’t complete without a healthy diet plan. Consult your dietician for a well-balanced diet chart that includes various types of superfoods that improve immunity, fight oxidative stress, reduce inflammation, supply essential nutrients and promote collagen synthesis in the body.

Avoid consumption of alcohol and tobacco. Also cutting down on processed foods, carbonated drinks and foods which have a high glycemic index has shown great improvement on skin health.

18. Herbal Shots

Herbal shots are elixirs in tiny bottles and contain juice extracts or pulps of various herbs and superfoods that aid in skin healing. Pairing these health shots with your pre-bridal skincare routine is a great way to amplify your skin glow. Look for the following ingredients while choosing your herbal shot:

• Aloe vera
• Moringa
• Manjistha
• Guduchi
• Gotu Kola
• Turmeric
• Wheatgrass
• Tulsi
• Amla
• Green Tea
• Honey

19. Practise Yoga

According to Ayurveda, certain yoga asanas are known to rejuvenate your skin. These increase oxygen supply to the skin, improve metabolism and enhance blood circulation for the removal of toxins. The following asanas can be practiced along with your pre-bridal skincare routine to strengthen your skin immunity.

• Bhujangasana
• Uttanasana
• Paschimottanasana
• Sarvangasana
• Dhanurasana

Bridal Skin Care Routine At Home

Vedix Tip:

Consume ½ to 1 teaspoon of manjistha and triphala with 2 teaspoons of ghee for youthful, glowing skin.

Pre-Bridal Skincare Home Remedies

1. Face Scrubs

For oily skin, prepare a face scrub by mixing a tablespoon each of coffee and brown sugar. To this add a teaspoon of honey and 2 tablespoons of water. Mix well and apply the scrub on your face and gently exfoliate for a minute. Focus more on your oily zones. Wash off with lukewarm water.

For dry skin, mix 2 tablespoons of colloidal oatmeal with 2 ½ tablespoons of milk and a few drops of honey to make a thick paste. Apply on your face and scrub gently for 30 seconds and wash off.

For normal skin, grind almonds that have been soaked for a few hours into a coarse paste. Take a tablespoon of this paste. Add half a tablespoon of orange peel powder to this and 1 ½ tablespoon of milk. Mix and apply on your face and massage for a minute in a circular motion. Wash off with lukewarm water.

2. Face Packs

Soak half a teaspoon of saffron in 2 tablespoons of milk and keep it aside for half an hour. Mix ½ tablespoon each of sandalwood, manjistha and yashtimadhu powders. Add the saffron-soaked milk to this. Mix well and apply on your skin. Leave it on for 30 minutes and wash off. Use this face pack 2-3 times a week as part of your pre-bridal skincare routine for bright, even-toned skin.

To make an anti-aging pack, mix 1 tablespoon of gotu kola powder with ½ tablespoon each of guduchi and ashwagandha powders. To this add 2-3 drops of rosehip essential oil and 1 ½ tablespoon of jojoba oil to make a paste. Apply on your skin and leave it on for 30 to 40 minutes before washing off.

Mix 1 tablespoon of avocado pulp, ½ tablespoon of coconut cream, a few drops of honey and ½ tablespoon of ripe papaya pulp. Apply on your face and leave it on for 30 minutes before washing off. Adding this intensely hydrating face pack to your bridal skincare routine can easily repair dry and damaged skin.

The Last Word

Skincare requires time and effort, especially if you are prepping for your wedding day. Thus, to look your very best you must leave no stone unturned while planning your pre-bridal skincare routine. Follow the steps mentioned in this article and stick to herbal products that are devoid of side effects.

Consume a healthy diet and despite your busy pre-wedding schedule get at least 7-9 hours of sleep. This will keep your skin stress free, young and glowing, making you look absolutely stunning on the big day.