"Healthy Skin & Makeup: Happily Ever After"

Before I get into this post, I want to take a moment to extend my deepest condolences to the NY/NJ DKBeauties affected by Hurricane Sandy and Nor’easter Athena. I feel very blessed that my home was not impacted, but being someone who spent much of her youth in Staten Island, the Jersey Shore, and Hoboken, the devastation I’ve seen over the past 2 weeks has broken my heart. In the coming months, I will be pitching in to help rebuild and would love to hear from any of you who might be interested in creating a “Re-beautify NJ” team. Together, we can makeover the places these storms destroyed! Stay tuned for more info, and again, my thoughts are with you all.

So, being in the midst of wedding season, I’ve been asking my brides what they’d like to know regarding bridal makeup. Many of them said, “How do I prep my face for my wedding day?” and I thought, “This would be a perfect blog entry!”

Most of you likely already know the simple steps to take before having your hair done in a formal updo, right? Do any color a week beforehand and then don’t wash your hair on the big day since slightly “dirty” hair holds better. Easy peasy! But what about your skin? How can you make it the best canvas possible for makeup on your wedding day? Here are some simple tips to help you prep that gorgeous face:

1) 1-2 weeks prior to W-Day: Get a facial

If you have really sensitive skin (like me!), do it 2 weeks beforehand so that any blemishes that might rise to the surface have a chance to clear up. And after the facial, try to keep up with a good skin regimen every day to make the radiant results last (so, no sleeping in your makeup, ladies!). :)

On a tight budget? Not a problem! You can do a simple mask on your face 3-5 days prior to your wedding. Ones I like are the Murad Pomegranate Mask and the G.M. Collin Oxygen PurActive Mask.

2) The day/night before W-Day: Exfoliate

This is a crucial step to ensure your skin is smooth and ready for makeup! I recommend St. Ives Apricot Scrub—but be careful not to rub too hard. Gentle, small, circular motions all around your face should do the trick. Remember to get into the crevices by your nose and to exfoliate your lips as well.

3) The morning of W-Day: Moisturize

Well-moisturized skin loves makeup. After cleansing your face, while it’s still slightly damp and your pores are open, apply a generous amount of a lightweight, oil-free moisturizer all over your face. I swear by Clinique Moisture Surge, and for drier skin types or patches, Clinique Moisture Surge Intense. Also, hydrate! Drink lots of water to help moisturize your skin from the inside out. You’ll have a fresh, dewy glow even before makeup touches your skin!

Just like you and your future hubby, healthy skin and makeup are a match made in heaven! :) And fear not, lovelies—should you, despite your best prepping efforts, wake up on your wedding day with (to quote one of my favorite movies) “a mosquito bite” on your face, your professional makeup artist will have an arsenal of products to make it invisible (no Windex needed).

My Big Fat Greek Wedding
Image from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v64DIuxX86A

‘Til next time,
DKB
xoxo