Attention to Details

Everyone wants glowing skin for the walk down the aisle, but how do you achieve this? We have the inside scoop from the experts, who tell us when to schedule facials and treatments before the big day, as well as beauty basics like how to tame the uncalled for blemishes, fast. No matter what your wedding style is, traditional or modern, glamorous or simple – the one thing that all brides want on their big day is to look their best, and that means having flawless, radiant skin. With only a few months left to go until you’re the center of attention, now is the perfect time to get started.

According to Dr. Kiran Sethi Lohia, Founder and Director, Isya Aesthetics; the pre-bridal routine should start around 1 to 6 months prior to ones wedding. If you have good skin already, then 1 month is enough. But for those dealing with skin issues, or who want laser hair removal, then 6 months is the right time to start all procedures. "Don’t buy a million skincare products and try them all at once. Buy one product at a time and try one product a week. As a bride your need to make sure your makeup isn’t comedogenic, meaning that it won’t cause pimples. Avoid too many home remedies – they can go bad quickly. I had a patient who burned herself literally a day before her wedding with a home remedy right on her left cheek. That was a tough one to fix. Do visit a dermatologist to get a proper routine and plan," says Dr. Kiran.

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If you really want to get your skin in top form, it's recommended that you start a smart skincare routine about a year in advance. It's okay if you don't have that long before the wedding day—just adopt good skincare habits on a daily basis morning and night as soon as possible.

"Few simple daily gestures will support youthful skin and will give a bride that gorgeous bridal glow. The morning routine should follow – Face cleanser, Toner, Serum, Eye Contour Cream, Sunblock, Moisturiser and a Lip balm. At night – Makeup remover, Face Cleanser, Toner, Serum, Eye Contour Cream, Moisturiser and a Lip Balm. Cleansing, sounds simple enough but you would be surprised how many of us don’t do this step correctly. Cleansing the skin with the correct products primes it to be able absorb all the nutrients from other skincare items such as toners, serums and creams," says Pooja Malhotra, Customer Experience Trainer, Kiko Milano.

She further goes on to say that, "many people don’t understand the benefits of double cleansing but taking the extra effort will really ensure your skin is free from any nasty blemishes and spots during the wedding. Depending on your skin concerns there is a toner for everything from acne to dull skin to rosacea. It’s just about finding one that addresses you own specific issues."

Nothing makes people run the other way faster than seeing someone in real life who went overboard with treatments and looks like a statue with zero facial expression and overly puffy features. We ask the experts their thoughts on cosmetic enhancements.

India's leading cosmetic physician, Dr. Jamuna Pai, shares her opinion over the same, "Definitely with changing times, the trends have changed. There’s a lot of demand among women today to get particular kind of lips or enhance certain features of their face. Some feel that they need to lift their skin a bit and have well-rounded cheeks while others like to have a shapely chin or sensual lips. There is a sharp increase in the number of women wanting Botox treatment to smoothen out their wrinkles on the forehead and around the eye."

Dr. Jamuna further goes on to say, "All of this is possible with the new-age hyaluronic acid fillers. These are really fast to administer and their results last for a whole year. Since there is a small downtime, such filler treatments are usually seen as a last minute procedure and can be taken just 2-3 weeks before the special day. But it should all be done aesthetically, in a balanced way- should never be over done. I’ve found that the best way forward is to aim to look the most glorious version of you. Where no one can exactly put a finger as to why you look so much younger and radiant but also know that this is you at your most beautiful and not a plastic, unnatural shadow of your former self. The most reassuring part is that results from fillers can be reversed almost instantly. So in case you decide you don’t like it, then it won't be a problem.

Once the wedding functions are over and the bride takes a sigh of relief, the secret to achieving glowing skin even while she is on her honeymoon becomes a task in itself. " In today’s hectic lifestyle, where we have to deal with stress, pollution and misbalanced lifestyle, one should eat healthy, drink plenty of water and take care of our skin to keep it hydrated and nourished. If a newlywed bride is travelling she can carry some travel skincare essentials with her including sheet masks, sunscreen, night cream and under eye cream. All this will keep her skin problems at bay. Sheet Mask is a result of new invention in the field of skincare as it gives instantly glowing skin in minutes. Night cream helps in rejuvenating the skin cells at night and using an under eye night cream will help in reducing fine lines and puffiness around the eye," shares Kalpana Sharma, MUA, The Body Shop India.