12-month bridal beauty countdown

Every bride (and groom) wants to look their best on their wedding day. It is their day to shine …when they are going to be photographed an average of 3,000 times! Our guide to twelve months of bridal beauty will count down the months, sharing tips and hints to make sure you face the big day with as much confidence as possible.

1 year before the wedding:

Makeover your smile

If you would like a smile makeover before your wedding, then planning ahead is essential. Having straight teeth before a wedding is one of the primary reasons people seek out Invisalign treatment. Invisalign can close gaps, tackle overcrowding or sticking out teeth but a full treatment can take an average 12 months, so it’s important to book an appointment with a dental professional a year before the wedding. However great results can be achieved in as little as three months if time is tighter and the alignment needed is more moderate.

Invisalign is a discreet way to straighten your teeth, with removable, transparent ‘aligners’ which are worn over the teeth and provide a wire free alternative to traditional braces. The aligners are removed to eat and drink which means that treatment does not impede on an active social life (or love life)!

Smoothing scars

If you have any scars you would like to treat, now is the time to do it. As world renowned dermatologist Dr Lowe explains: ‘We have been using different dermal fillers, including HA fillers and Ellansé, in our clinic to lift and restore lost volume for atrophic (acne) scars for many years. Ellansé, in particular, is used for aesthetic volume loss and improves skin quality by prompting new collagen growth, and helps reduce volume loss of the face, hands, as well as deep atrophic scars.”

The collagen stimulating filler treatment can also be carried out in conjunction with the use of lasers, Fractional Radiofrequency Insulated Microneedle (FRIM RF) therapy, Platelet Rich Plasma harvesting and Botulinum Toxin, so it is important to consult a dermatologist to create a treatment plan over the twelve months before the wedding.

6 months before the wedding:

Trial some tweaks

If you are planning to have any aesthetic ‘tweakments’ before the big day, such as a liquid nose job, lip fillers or a brow lift, it’s a good idea to meet with your doctor with plenty of time before the wedding. Planning six months ahead allows you to trial any treatments to see if you like the outcome, without the pressure. Your doctor can tweak the results after a few weeks to help you look like the best version of you.

Once you are happy with the way you look, ask for products with longevity to ensure any results are lasting ahead of the wedding.

4 months before the wedding

Transform your skin

It’s time to think about your skin. Collagen is essential for keeping our skin healthy, hydrated and elastic, making it look plump and youthful. However, the body produces less collagen from our early 20s. As a result, the structural integrity of the skin declines, wrinkles form, jowls droop and the mid face slides, as the skin’s elasticity diminishes. To combat this, you could consider a collagen stimulating treatment ahead of the wedding.

Ellansé increases collagen production, working with the body to produce healthy new collagen, creating a very natural result. While you will see an instant result, improvement in skin quality continues over the next few months, so is ideal to opt for at least three to four months before a big occasion.

You can follow up an Ellansé treatment with fraxel lasers and radiofrequency to give greater skin tightening if it’s needed – a combination treatment considered ideal by many facial aesthetic experts.

3 months before the wedding

Get picky with ingredients

With three months to go, take a closer look at your skincare regime. Start with a simple cleanser, exfoliator, moisturiser and SPF. For really glowing skin however, it’s time to look at the ingredients list.

Start now to give you plenty of time to work out what ingredients are best for your skin, and tweak accordingly.

Retinol, a derivative of vitamin A, is known as an important skincare ingredient because it helps the skin in so many ways. Skincare products which include retinols increase the cell turnover of the skin, helping the production of key proteins such as collagen and elastin, amongst other benefits. As a result, retinol improves so many skin complaints, including fine lines, wrinkles, pigmentation and acne.

Skin peeling, flaking, tightness and mild redness during retinol use is often seen in the first 6-8 weeks of use. While this is a sign that the retinol is working, it’s a good idea to start using retinol at least three months before the wedding to avoid peeling on the big day. You should start to see results after a couple of months, but it can take up to 12 weeks to see noticeable changes.

Vitamin-C offers antioxidant protection, brightening the skin and evening out the skin tone. It also helps prevent oxidative damage from the environment and protects against photo-damage from the sun. While eating Vitamin C does have general benefits, topically applied Vitamin C is around 20 times more effective.

When trying any new ingredients in your skincare, use a good hydrating cream to combat any sensitivity, and maintain a healthy skin barrier.

Indulge with facials

Allow for a minimum of three months of regular facials. If you really want your skin to glow in your wedding pictures, try a HydraFacial. HydraFacial is a medical-grade hydradermabrasion device which cleanses, exfoliates, and then infuses skin with intensive serums. It moisturises, brightens and plumps, before protecting your skin. It’s a good option post an indulgent hen-do, but monthly treatments will give you the best results, as the skin cycle is 28 days. Have your last facial a week before the wedding, to really be gentle on the skin.

1 month before the wedding:

Dazzle with your smile

Tooth whitening is like the icing on the (wedding) cake, it makes a smile look more dazzling. Have a Philips Zoom chairside tooth whitening treatment a month before the big event, followed by two weeks of home tooth whitening to elevate the colour of your teeth by up to seven shades.

However, if you haven’t been to the dentist in a while, your treatment may take longer as they will need to make sure there is no underlying gum health problems before whitening, so plan accordingly.

1 week before the wedding

Polish and clean

Have a professional dental (hygiene) clean and polish to ensure your mouth is fresh and kissable on your wedding day.

1 day before the wedding

And relax

Tomorrow is the big day! Relax with a DIY pamper session with a sheet mask you have tried before, so you know how your skin will react.