By Erin Frank
It’s a vicious cycle that occurs right before your wedding: The stress makes your skin break out, and the breakouts make you stressed. It’s a common problem, and one that can’t be solved with a spritz of Windex, as infamously suggested in the popular flick, My Big Fat Greek Wedding.
To solve this classic complexion conflict, Bay Area Bride Guide turned to Soothe, a top spa in San Francisco that offers skincare, waxing, and massage. Dana Craft, Lead Esthetician at Soothe, offered up a pretty primer on looking your best on your wedding day.
Dana’s Wedding-Ready Skin Tips:
2. Avoid changing products or trying something new at least a month before the date. Skin sometimes takes time to acclimate to new products and often a new cream or cleanser can cause a mild breakout.
3. Try, try, try to avoid stress. Stress causes the body to secrete male hormones that stimulate the sebaceous glands, causing the skin produce more oil than normal which often leads to breakouts.
4. Drinking water and getting a full 8 hours of sleep are two of the most important things you can do to make your skin more radiant and clear.
5. Exfoliate those lips! Even lips need care, and mildly brushing your lips with your toothbrush will remove any dead skin and allow your lip moisturizer or balm to really penetrate and soften your lips.
If you do get a lone pimple just before your big day here is the best and only way you should ever squeeze it—
Only squeeze if the pimple has visible whiteness (or pus). Put a warm washcloth on the area to bring any pus up to the surface of the skin. Wrap your two pointer fingers in tissue to prevent skin breakage by providing a cushion between your nails and skin. Gently push with both fingers up under the pimple. Once it is extracted put a dab of spot treatment on, followed by a cold compress to help with any swelling that might incur. Only extract if you have a few days for the skin to calm down.
Many thanks to Dana and Soothe for the skin-saving advice. Brides-to-be: make your appointments with an esthetician now, and stay well rested and hydrated. No squeezing the day of! Repeat after me—a scabby bride is a crabby bride. Now get out there and be gorgeous!
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