Bridal Beauty 101: The Wedding Skin Prep Routine That Made a Difference
I'm the eCommerce Merchandiser and SEO Coordinator for all things Hair at Adore Beauty. Although my background is not in beauty, I'm a self-confessed beauty junkie and love being adventurous with new product (standard Sagittarius behaviour)
Becoming a bride-to-be is one of the most memorable times of your life, and with it comes a lot of pressure!
From perfecting every detail to organising your dream team of vendors, the lead-up can become overwhelming for most.
And then, there’s skin. When I started thinking about how I wanted my skin to look and feel, I will admit it quickly became overwhelming.
With so many treatments, products and devices out there, knowing where to start with wedding skin prep is tricky.
Clear, radiant skin not only boosts that confidence level but also makes wedding makeup application so much easier.
With my skin’s tendency for breakouts, dehydration, and congestion, I knew early prep was a must.
When to start a wedding skincare routine you ask?
About six months before my wedding, I made a visit to James Vivian's skin clinic in Melbourne and we got stuck into planning a consistent routine and a schedule of skin treatments in the lead-up to my wedding.
So let’s chat through every detail of my skincare prep thus far (strap in, it’s a journey!).
Skin-Prep Timeline.
6 Months Out.
I’ll admit, we started my bridal skincare routine and skin prep well ahead of the day!
To the point where the lovely team might have thought I was a little crazy.
We actually started looking at my skin two years ahead of the big day.
Before seeing the team at James Vivian, I’ll admit I was not a skin aficionado. And it seems I was doing everything BUT improving it. I’m also a pedantic picker, which doesn’t help the situation.
Between 2 years to 6 months out from the day, we learnt a lot about my tricky skin.
We initially started by introducing light-medium strength peels alongside extractions to get rid of any stubborn congestion.
After signature treatments, we always added LED.
This reduces redness, fine lines, and breakouts while healing scars and targeting bacteria.
After getting my skin to a good place, and my routine in excellent shape, we went in to refine texture, reduce redness and encourage cell turnover.
Then we introduced Laser Genesis.
Due to my aforementioned picking, we wanted to tackle pigmentation and scarring from breakouts. Laser Genesis is ideal for reducing both of these.
Likewise to LED, it’s also great for redness and keeping skin fresh. The best thing about this treatment is it requires no downtime and there’s next to no pain - yipee! I’d also recommend this treatment to anyone a month or so out from their wedding as it’s low-risk with great results.
Now, let’s talk about another treatment - Clear & Brilliant. Not for the faint-hearted, this treatment stops ageing in its tracks, keeping skin plump, youthful, and glowing.
Introduced 8-10 months out, it takes at least three sessions to see results.
The twenty minute treatment feels hot and scratchy, like a bad sunburn afterwards, with mild sandpaper-like skin for a week.
But trust me - it’s worth it for that radiant glow!
3 Months Out.
Three months out from the wedding day, we tackled pigmentation, sun damage, and scarring with IPL.
This treatment also targets redness and surface bacteria. After just one session, my redness subsided, breakouts were minimal, and sun damage darkened before shedding within two weeks.
While IPL isn’t cheap or pain-free, the results are incredible - perfect for brides-to-be seeking serious skin transformation!
Alongside IPL, we continued with regular signature treatments. In this time, we also added another session of Clear & Brilliant to refine the texture and get the skin looking nice and plump!
1 Month Out.
One month out, we targeted breakout-prone areas with another IPL session after the first was so successful.
To tackle redness and stubborn bumps, we used IPL to minimise these concerns in the lead-up. We kept products minimal, sticking to trusted actives to avoid any nasty surprises!
1 Week Out (eek!).
With only 1 week to the day, the lovely Hayley from James Vivian who had been tackling my insanely tricky skin for the past two years kept things safe and simple.
No extractions, no crazy peels, just hydration and soothing!
We did a super hydrating signature treatment along with LED to reduce any redness.
We then dermaplaned to remove the stubborn fuzz. The week of my wedding I popped in for an extra session of LED to speed up a stubborn breakout.
For more on wedding and bridal skin prep advice, listen to this episode of Beauty IQ Expert:
Wedding Skincare Staples.
Throughout my skincare journey and wedding skincare routine, there are a few tried and true products that I simply could not live without, and paired well with my wedding skin treatments at JV.
All are recommended by the insanely talented team, alongside a few existing products that I love.
Osmosis Skincare Rescue Epidermal Repair Serum.
Firstly, enter Osmosis Skincare Rescue Epidermal Repair Serum 30ml, a true skin saviour.
Yes, it’s an investment, but the results speak for themselves.
Recommended to me from the concerns I have spoken about, within a few applications, my redness vanished, and my barrier felt a lot more repaired.
This serum preps your skin for active ingredients and treatments, setting it up for glowing success. It’s also a must-have if your skin is going through it.
Avène Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream.
On the subject of barrier repair, another product I refuse to ever move away from is the Avene Cicalfate+ Restorative Protective Cream 100ml. I use this as my moisturiser when my barrier requires some TLC; saying I’m obsessed is an understatement.
The consistency of this is fairly thick, so a great option for the winter months or when you’re feeling particularly dry.
What I love most about this cream is how quickly it soothes redness, sensitivity and irritation.
If you’re prone to conditions like eczema or dermatitis, this cream feels beautiful on the skin.
CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser.
I’m no stranger to a cleanser.
Gel, foaming, milky - I’ve tried them all. There’s an incredible balancing act to be played when it comes to cleansing my skin after months (years even?) of trial and error.
Another product I love to flap on about is the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser 236ml. This cleanser says it's suited to normal to dry skin, but I think it works for anyone.
It’s excellent for the mornings as it doesn’t dry you out, and it’s a go-to for any kind of barrier impairment, especially if you’re going hard on the actives.
Winter in Melbourne proves to be harsh on the skin and summer can cause some skins irritation and dehydration so keeping moisture in is ideal.
Aspect Purastat 5 Cleanser.
For my evening cleanse, I opt for something more robust to remove the day's grime, lightly exfoliate, and prep my skin for serums.
Enter Aspect Purastat 5 Cleanser 100ml. With a gel texture, it’s a refreshing change from creamier cleansers like CeraVe. It foams gently without leaving skin tight - just fresh and clean.
MediK8 Crystal Retinal 6.
When it comes to actives, nothing beats the Medik8 Crystal Retinal 6 - the GOAT of retinals.
With varying strengths, you can start low and build tolerance (don't start with 6 unless you're an experienced retinal user!).
This creamy, lightweight formula delivers a glow that’ll earn you endless compliments.
Perfect for those ready to level up their routine!
Aspect Exfol L.
My skin is super reactive, so I stick to a gentle exfoliating serum in the evenings - Aspect Exfol L is my go-to.
Just a little works wonders, refining texture, preventing breakouts, and keeping my complexion bright.
I alternate it with my Medik8 Retinal 6, but a heads-up: it’s potent!
For sensitive skin like mine, 1-2 uses a week is plenty.
The Final Verdict.
Over two years of preparation, my skin had its fair share of ups and downs.
As someone who’s dealt with acne, dermatitis, and everything in between, I’ve learned that perfect skin looks different for everyone.
For me, it was all about managing breakouts and redness. And if a stubborn bump popped up the week of, well - that’s what makeup is for!
While products can work wonders, it’s important to remember that skin is influenced by so much more - stress, environment, weather, you name it. And if you’re a serial picker (guilty!), that habit only makes things worse.
Do your best to keep your hands off your face and don’t go overboard with actives.
Stick to what you know works, and if you’re unsure, seek advice from a dermatologist or dermal therapist - they’re the real MVPs when it comes to tailored skin solutions.
Above all, the stress over my skin melted away on my wedding day, as I felt the happiest I’ve ever been.
With a team of professionals by your side, trust in them - you’ll radiate confidence!
And a huge thank you to James Vivian, especially Hayley, for going above and beyond to transform my skin over the past two years.
Is your big day coming up? Check out more wedding content here:
