Skincare Routines Leading Up to Your Big Event: A Guide for Brides and Event-Goers
As a makeup artist, one of the most common questions I receive from clients is, “How should I prep my skin for the big day?” Whether it’s for a wedding, a special event, or a photoshoot, preparing your skin properly in the weeks leading up to your appointment will ensure a flawless, long-lasting makeup application. The key to perfect makeup starts with healthy, hydrated skin and the right skincare routine—here’s your ultimate guide to prepping your skin in the best way possible.
Skincare Timeline Leading Up to Your Event
The right skincare routine isn’t something you can leave to the last minute. It’s all about planning ahead so that your skin has enough time to look its best by the time your big day arrives. Consistency is key for glowing skin. Here’s a detailed timeline to help you get your skin event-ready:
1 Month Before Your Event:
Start Establishing Your Routine
- Hydration is Key: Drink plenty of water to help hydrate your skin from the inside. Keep your skin nourished with a gentle cleanser, toner, and moisturizer.
- Exfoliate Regularly: Gentle exfoliation removes dead skin cells, leaving your skin smoother and ready for makeup. You can use a mild exfoliator a few times per week.
- Target Any Skin Concerns: If you’ve been struggling with blemishes or uneven skin tone, now is the time to incorporate targeted treatments like spot treatments or serums.
- Consider Professional Skincare Services: Visiting an esthetician for a facial or skincare consultation can be incredibly beneficial. Estheticians are trained to assess your skin’s specific needs and can recommend the right treatments and products to help address concerns like dryness, dehydration, boosting your skin barrier, acne, and dullness. Regular facials leading up to your event can leave your skin looking refreshed, smooth, and radiant, giving your makeup artist the best canvas to work with.
2-3 Weeks Before Your Event:
Focus on Skin Treatments & Professional Care
- Facial Treatments: If you’re planning on getting any professional facials or treatments (like microdermabrasion or chemical peels), this is the ideal time. These treatments help to exfoliate the skin, remove impurities, and rejuvenate your complexion.
- Dermaplaning: Dermaplaning is a great option about 1-2 weeks before your event. It gently exfoliates the skin, removing dead skin cells and fine vellus hair, leaving your face smoother and allowing makeup to go on flawlessly. It’s absolutely safe one week before your event, as it doesn’t cause irritation and leaves the skin glowing and makeup-ready.
- Waxing: Waxing should be done at least 1 week before your event—not the day of or a few days prior. This allows your skin to settle and prevents any irritation or redness from showing up at the last minute.
- Avoid New Products: Now isn’t the time to experiment with new skincare products. Stick to your tried-and-true products to avoid any potential irritation.
- Seek Professional Help: If you’ve never had a facial or dermaplaning before, now is a good time to get one. A professional esthetician can help you with deeper exfoliation, extractions, and treatments like hydrating masks, ensuring that your skin is in its best condition for makeup.
1 Week Before Your Event:
Focus on Skin Maintenance & Hydration
- Gentle Exfoliation: At this point, gentle exfoliation can help smooth and refresh your skin, but make sure to avoid anything too abrasive or new. Stick with products you’ve used before to avoid irritation. Gentle exfoliants, such as a mild scrub or a chemical exfoliant with AHAs or BHAs, are ideal.
- Facial Services: If you haven’t already, you can book a final facial to boost hydration and ensure your skin is glowing.
- Hand & Foot Hydration: Pamper your skin with a relaxing hand and foot hydration treatment that helps keep your skin soft and smooth. This is also a great time for a sheet mask to give your skin extra hydration before the big day.
- Avoid New Products: Continue to avoid any new skincare products, as the week before the event is not the time to try something new.
3-4 Days Before Your Event:
Soothing & Hydrating for Glow
- Hydration & Moisturization: Keep your skincare simple—hydration is key! Use a gentle, hydrating cleanser for your skin type, toner to balance your skin pH levels and apply a nourishing moisturizer to lock in moisture.
- Avoid Waxing or Other Skin Services: At this point, you should have any waxing or skin treatments already completed. Avoid any new services to prevent irritation, redness, or breakouts right before the event.
The Day Before Your Event:
Keep It Light—No Skincare Overload
- No New Products: Avoid applying any new treatments, or strong exfoliants on the day before your event. Overloading your skin with new products can lead to irritation, breakouts, or redness.
- Cleanse, tone and Moisturize: Cleanse your skin thoroughly with a gentle cleanser, tone to balance your skin pH level and apply your usual moisturizer (but not too much!).
- Avoid Makeup: Keep your face free from makeup or any heavy skincare products, as your makeup artist will need a clean, prepped canvas to work with.
The Morning of Your Event:
Simple, Bare Skin for Makeup Success
- No Skincare Overload: On the morning of your event, keep things simple. A gentle cleanse, followed by a toner, and moisturizer (if needed), is enough. Don’t apply heavy moisturizers, serums, or oils, as they can affect the way your makeup adheres to your skin.
- Arrive Fresh-Faced: When you arrive at your appointment, your makeup artist will take care of prepping your skin properly. They will apply any products necessary to ensure that your makeup lasts all day.
What to Avoid Before Your Makeup Appointment
- Skip Your Skincare Routine the Morning Of: While skincare is essential, applying too many products right before your makeup appointment can prevent the makeup from adhering well. Heavy moisturizers, serums, oils, and sunscreens can make it difficult for makeup to stay in place.
- Avoid Aggressive Exfoliating on the Day of the Appointment: Over-exfoliated skin can become sensitive, dry, or patchy. If exfoliation is part of your routine, do it at least 2-3 days before your appointment.
- Don’t Apply SPF (Unless Outdoors All Day): Many SPFs can cause a white cast in flash photography, which isn’t ideal for events or photoshoots.
- Skip DIY Masks or Treatments: Avoid applying sheet masks, clay masks, or other treatments within 24 hours of your appointment. These can disrupt your skin’s natural texture and balance.
Professional Makeup Services & Skincare Advice
If You’re Getting Professional Makeup Done:
- Avoid Using Skincare Products Right Before Your Appointment: If you’re planning to have your makeup done professionally, it’s best to keep your skincare routine light on the day of the event. Your makeup artist will use professional-grade products to prep your skin, and using additional products might interfere with their application.
If You’re Doing Your Own Makeup:
- Skin Prep is Key: If you’re applying your own makeup, prepping your skin with your favorite products is essential for a smooth, long-lasting makeup application. Use a good cleanser, toner, exfoliator (a few days before), and moisturizer to create a hydrated and smooth canvas.
Why Professional Skincare Services Are Worth It
Getting professional skincare services from an esthetician is incredibly beneficial in the weeks leading up to your big day. Estheticians are trained to assess your skin’s unique needs and can recommend treatments that will give you radiant, smooth, and well-prepped skin. Whether it’s a facial, dermaplaning, or specialized treatments like hydrating masks or peels, professional services help to refresh and rejuvenate your skin, making your makeup application smoother and more lasting.
A professional facial will also help with things like improving skin texture, reducing redness, and getting rid of impurities—allowing you to shine on your event day. Plus, if you’re unsure about what your skin needs, an esthetician can help guide you toward the right products and services.
Makeup Prep Recap
Proper skincare leading up to your event is just as important as the makeup itself. If you follow this timeline and arrive at your appointment with hydrated, fresh skin, your makeup artist will be able to create a stunning, long-lasting look that enhances your natural beauty. By letting your skin breathe and stay free from too many products, you’re setting yourself up for success and ensuring you look your best on your big day.
Trust your makeup artist’s expertise and enjoy the experience of having your skin and makeup taken care of by the professionals. Let your radiance shine through, inside and out!
