It’s only natural to want your skin to be glowing on the big day! So, we went straight to the experts to get all the tips and tricks. We chatted with Gry Tømte, celebrity Skin Clinician, and founder of the multi-award-winning HÜD Skin + Body to get all the information you need!
When should you start your wedding skincare routine?
“The more complex the skin issues are, the more time out we prefer to start the journey,” Gry tells us. “For acne clients, for instance, clearing underlying problems that may have been there for years means bringing things up to the surface so we can treat it. Which means – temporary breakouts! So you definitely don’t want to start too close to the big day.” For acne, start 12-14 months before so everything can be cleared out and potential scarring can be looked after. If you’re just looking for a brighten up or increased hydration, texture, and tone, then 3-6 months should do just fine. Of course, there’s plenty of options for last-minute brides too – things like LED and a gentle peel will make the skin look radiant and glowy for the big day without causing any issues.
What are the standard products every bride should have in their skincare regime?
“This does vary quite a bit depending on the skin, but antioxidants like Vitamin C and E during the day and Vitamin A for cell regulation during the night are my top picks.” Gry shared. “Everyone always disses cleanser because it doesn’t stay on the skin very long – but a cleanser is very important as it can leave the skin too alkaline which disrupts the acid mantle (the skin’s natural protective layer). Opt for a gentle, non-stripping, slightly acidic cleanser. Also, don’t forget the internal! As the wedding gets closer I can guarantee the stress levels rise..and that’s when breakouts and inflammation happens! So we ALWAYS recommend natural internal stress reduction supplements such as Relax from Regul8 to keep the cortisol levels in check. We also need EFA supplements to ensure all the cells stay nice and plump and give the skin that bounce.”
What is one piece of advice for brides wanting to change their at-home skincare routine to achieve glowing, wedding-ready skin?
Gry wants to remind all brides to start early! Don’t introduce anything new at least a month before the wedding. Allergies can always appear – and it doesn’t discriminate between “natural/ organic” and non-organic skincare – contrary to belief. The advice doesn’t stop there! “Most importantly, get proper advice. At HÜD, we always start any skin journey off with thorough consultations so we can ensure the products we recommend are correct for you. The reason our skincare isn’t available online is that it’s highly active – if it’s sold online there’s a good chance it either won’t be active enough – or it might go wrong due to a self-diagnosis.”
How can they determine which treatment is right for you?
It’s always best to leave it to the experts! “We actually don’t have clients choosing their own skin treatments – everything we do is prescriptive. Our skin clinicians have years of education and experience and are best qualified to determine the best treatment. The amount of times we’ve seen clients come in with huge skin issues that weren’t there before from having the wrong treatments is incredible. Lots of clients come in asking for things like microdermabrasion, dermaplaning, etc, but it’s actually not what their skin needs. It’s why we’re so passionate about educating clients about what actually happens.”
For the bride-to-be who has never experienced a facial/skin treatment, what can they expect?
“Breakouts! Which sounds terrible – but ANY treatment can (and hopefully will!) dislodge old stagnant blockages and push them to the surface so they can be dealt with once and for all. At HÜD, we educate our clients to celebrate these because it means things are changing! It’s also common to expect some surface dryness as the old dead cells are detaching from the surface. This can be alleviated by gently exfoliating at home 3 days post-treatment with either DMK’s micro peel or Home Enzyme Kit.”
Are there any treatments or products brides should avoid using prior to their wedding?
“Basically, anything you’ve never tried before! I vividly remember my own wedding day. I had a facial 2 days before -a long indulgent (beautiful) facial with all these gorgeous smelling natural oils… Two days later, on my wedding day, I woke up with the biggest pimple right on the tip of my nose. I was devastated! My skin had been clear for a while by then so I thought the indulgent new facial would be fine. The old saying ‘better the devil you know’ totally applies here!”
While there are no particular skincare or treatments you should avoid, Gry does recommend staying away from a big cheese platter before your big day! “We recommend all our brides to stay away from dairy and sugar as much as possible in the lead up as they’re highly inflammatory and can trigger acne breakouts, rosacea flare-ups, and eczema/ dermatitis.”
What type of products would you include in a simple skincare routine for the morning of the wedding?
“A mask! Our faves in the clinic are the Acu Mask, a sulfur clay mask – or if you’ve had it before, the Home Enzyme Mask. Also, drink plenty of water and use a primer suitable for your skin. No heavy moisturisers – substitute with hydrating serums instead. My absolute pre-event fave of all times is the DMK Firmatrix! It acts like a liquid filler and creates the most divine plump and smooth canvas for your makeup artist to work with. So upset that wasn’t in my skincare routine when I got married!”
What are the benefits of continuing with your pre-wedding skincare routine, even after the celebrations are over?
“This is such a great question! The number of times we see clients super happy with their beautiful glowing skin on their wedding day – only to come back months after with new breakouts and pigmentation because they let things go, breaks our hearts! Keeping on top of your results is much easier than starting again. Healthy skin is a commitment – just like a marriage. It’s only forever if you nurture it and look after it.”
Want your skin treated by the experts? Check out HÜD Skin + Body for yourself!
