The warmer months of January, February, and March are probably the most popular months for weddings, so most couples will be starting to prepare for their big day now. Very often the skin is not given a thought until much closer to the date when you’re trialling makeup artists. And then, it’s all about coverage.
There is nothing more beautiful than glowing healthy, hydrated and smooth skin for the big day, or any day! Achieving this is about getting the stratum corneum (the outer most layer of the skin) in good health. If this is healthy, cellular function underneath the skin will perform at its optimum preventing dryness, redness, acne, sensitivity or inflammation. Here are three simple starting points.
1. Get some Essential Fatty Acids
Essential Fatty Acids (EFA’s), in particular omega 3, are the building blocks of ALL cell membranes, skin cells included. Healthy, permeable cell membranes increase absorption of vitamins and minerals, hold in water and nutrients. The fatty acids in skin cell membranes also play a huge role in forming the skin’s natural protective barrier.
2. Avoid cleansers containing surfactants Common surfactants used in facial cleansers are sulphated detergents such as sodium lauryl sulfate, ammonium laureth sulfate, disodium lauryl sulfosuccinate. These have foaming properties which strip the skin’s natural oil leaving it feeling tight and gives a perception of a deep cleanse.
3. Avoid moisturisers and foundation containing emulsifiers Emulsifiers are chemical agents that bind oil and water to make an emulsion giving creams a nice consistency. In some ways, they are worse than surfactants in cleansers because in moisturisers and foundation, they sit on the skin’s surface all the time and continuously strip and damage the skin’s protective barrier. Common emulsifiers are polysorbate, stearate, steareth, cetearyl and ceteareth.
If you are consulting a photographer for the perfect photos, a dressmaker for the perfect gown, a hairdresser for the perfect cut and colour etc, please consider consulting a skin professional to help get your perfect skin for your wedding day.
