2010-05-10 07:00:00 by SMARTBRIDE
Pro Makeup Artist Tips: Glowing It Alone With An At-Home Facial
Should I get a facial before my wedding? The answer to this question varies from bride to bride. If facials are part of your normal beauty routine, then you should definitely continue them (every 4 – 6 weeks) up until one week before your wedding day. If you haven’t been undergoing regular facials in the months prior to your wedding, the week before is not the time to give it a first go.
Cafe Almond Sugar Scrub Image Courtesy of from Nature with Love.
If you’re going to be starting a facial regime, begin at least three to four months before your wedding, this way you and your facialist will have time to determine if the treatment you’re using is the right one for you. There will also be sufficient time to see results.
If you do want to start incorporating regular facials into your skin care routine, but are finding the cost prohibitive, the at-home facial is a great alternative. It’s a gentle cleanse and exfoliation routine that you can use every week to two weeks. It will give you healthy glowing skin and the chance to relax and get away from the hectic planning for half an hour of me time.
The purpose of a facial is to rid your skin of dulling dead skin cells and promote circulation in your skin, while providing a boost of targeted skin care to solve issues (i.e. dryness, excess oil etc.). When treating your face, don’t forget to include your neck area as that can show signs of age and damage just as much as your face.
I like to do mini-facials before I go to bed, as that allows time for your skin to recover from the attention and reap the benefits of the products. It also means you won’t be covering your fresh and healthy skin with makeup while exposing it to the elements.
5 Steps To Your Mini-Facial:
- Cleanse! Choose a cleanser (one you love) that is suitable for your skin type. For normal to oily skin use a gel-based foaming cleanser to dissolve oil. For dry skin or sensitive types, an oil-based cleanser can work wonders. Use a cleanser that’s going to remove all of the surface dirt from your skin without stripping it. Skip the toner step after cleansing as you want your pores to be open for the rest of the treatment.
- Exfoliate! This is my favourite step because it makes your skin glow and glowing skin is your best wedding day accessory!
Gently exfoliate so you don’t damage your face in the quest for the glow. I tend to work with natural exfoliation agents like sugar, seeds or minerals. Avoid any product that has large particles as those can damage your skin’s surface. When you scrub down, concentrate on the areas of your face that tend to be oily because dead skin cells build up in these areas. Be sure to rinse thoroughly after this step to avoid over-drying your skin. - Open Up Those Pores! This step is important to prep your skin for Step 4. If your pores are closed any mask you use will be less effective. Fill your sink with warm (not hot or steaming) water and soak a CLEAN facecloth in it. Apply the facecloth to your skin and let it rest there for 15 seconds or until it cools. Repeat three times or until you see your pores enlarge.
- Mask It! Now it’s time to zero-in on the issues you want to address with your facial. Choose a mask that is formulated specifically for your skin type. Is dryness your problem? Then look for hydrating and cream masks. Avoid clay bases because they will dry your skin. Conversely, for oil control, clay is your best friend. If you have issues with sensitivity or redness, look for masks that contain chamomile, lavender or liquorish extracts.
Ayu Seaweed Super Nutritious Mask
Read the directions first! Apply your chosen mask to your entire face (avoid the eye area) and leave on for 10-15 minutes before removing or rinsing it off. - Calm and Sooth! Apply eye cream and a basic moisturizer liberally to your entire face and neck area. Don’t use a moisturizer with a lot of active retinol or acids as these are way too intense for your newly exposed skin and may cause redness or mild burning.
Now you can bask in the glow of your beautiful face! Check back next Monday for my post on 2010 Bridal Makeup Trends.
Julia
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Julia Church is a professional makeup artist with over six years of industry experience. She has worked in television and video in the UK and Canada and has represented both Bobbi Brown and MAC. Julia prides herself on developing a strong rapport with each of the brides she works with, as she believes that knowing a woman is the best way to bring out her true beauty. To contact Julia send her an email: juliaflow@yahoo.ca.
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