Bridal Skincare Timeline

If you’re a bride-to-be, you want to glow on your wedding day. And with a little help, you can. Here are some bridal skincare treatments to help you look your best — and when to schedule them.

One Year Before the Wedding

Make an appointment with a board-certified dermatologist to discuss your bridal skincare routine. They can come up with a plan that suits your individual skin type — that is, is your skin oily, dry, or acne-prone?

Taking good care of your skin in advance will help you look your best on the big day. Twelve months before the wedding, you should:

Develop a bridal skincare routine at home

If you’ve been slacking off on healthy skincare habits, now is the time to get serious. Here are the things you should do every day:

  • Wash your face twice a day with a gentle cleanser.
  • Remove all makeup before bed.
  • Apply moisturizer to skin when damp to lock in moisture.
  • Use skincare products labeled “non-comedogenic” or “won’t clog pores.”
  • Use sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher when you go outside.
  • Drink plenty of water throughout the day to keep skin hydrated.

Schedule monthly facials

A facial can increase circulation, decrease puffiness, and give your face a deep cleansing. It also feels great and decreases stress. If possible, book a facial every month leading up to the wedding.

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Six to Nine Months Before the Wedding

This is the time to start any aggressive treatments like deep chemical peels or laser skin resurfacing. You may need to repeat these procedures, as well as allow for recovery time between each one. So give yourself plenty of time before the wedding to see how your skin reacts to each.

You may want to consider:

Chemical peels

A chemical peel can treat wrinkles, scars, and discolored patches of skin. A dermatologist applies a chemical solution to remove the top layers of skin. There are light, medium, and deep chemical peels that remove different layers of skin.

Allow at least a week of recovery for a light peel and up to three weeks of recovery for a deep peel. You need to stay out of the sun and not use makeup while recovering. Possible side effects include redness and a temporary darkening of the skin.

BOTOX®

BOTOX® is an injection that targets muscles on the face and neck, reducing signs of aging like fine lines and wrinkles. It may take a week or more to see the full effects of a treatment. The effects of a typical BOTOX® treatment last three to four months.

You should always get BOTOX® injections in a medical setting. Possible side effects include bruising, swelling, and redness.

Laser treatments

Laser skin resurfacing can reduce wrinkles and acne scars, tighten your skin, and balance your skin tone. A plastic surgeon or dermatologist uses a laser to send pulsating beams of light to the skin. A treatment takes 30 minutes to two hours and can be painful, so you may need a local anesthetic.

You may need multiple laser treatments to achieve the best results. You may experience redness, swelling, itching, or stinging after the procedure. Healing from each session can take up to three weeks.

Two to Five Months Before the Wedding

You may have ongoing chemical peels, laser treatments, or BOTOX® during this time. Other potential treatments a few months before the wedding include:

Dermal fillers

A dermal filler is an injectable treatment to restore fullness to your face and lips. Most filler treatments take between 15 and 30 minutes and require one office visit. Two popular treatments are collagen fillers and hyaluronic acid gel fillers.

Collagen fillers last two to three months while hyaluronic acid gel fillers last four to 12 months. You may have redness and swelling from a filler treatment. You should avoid touching the treated area for three days.

Acne extractions

A skincare professional can use sterile instruments to safely extract blackheads and whiteheads. They will exfoliate your skin, then clean out your pores with sterilized equipment. You may have extractions done as part of a facial.

Your skin may break out after an extraction as other pimples come to the surface. You may need several extractions to clear your skin.

One Month Before the Wedding

Don’t make any drastic changes to your skincare routine in the weeks leading up to your wedding. At most, schedule a gentle facial and continue your cleansing and moisturizing routine. If you have an unexpected breakout, see your dermatologist right away.

American Academy of Dermatology, Chemical Peels Overview, Link

American Academy of Dermatology, Botulinum Toxin Therapy, Link

American Academy of Dermatology, Fillers: Overview, Link

American Academy of Dermatology, Pimple Popping: Why Only a Dermatologist Should Do It, Link

American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, Laser Skin Resurfacing: Top 8 Things You Need to Know, Link

American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Laser Skin Resurfacing, Link

About Dermatology

The UPMC Department of Dermatology diagnoses, treats, and manages numerous hair, skin, and nail conditions and diseases. We care for common and uncommon conditions, and our treatments include both surgical and nonsurgical options. We operate several specialty centers for various conditions. The UPMC Cosmetic Surgery and Skin Health Center is a comprehensive dermatologic laser facility, offering a full range of cosmetic services and procedures. With UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, we offer a Skin Cancer Program that provides complete care from screenings, diagnosis, treatment, and beyond. Find a dermatology provider near you.