Your wedding is meant to be the most beautiful day of your life – but for many of us, the prep can be stressful.

Worrying about how we look in photos, sleepless nights thinking about the details, and trying to manage the arrangements can make having the best skin of your life much tougher, on the biggest day of your life.

There isn’t a makeup range in the world invented that can compensate for skin that is less than happy. We spend vast amounts of time looking at dresses and centrepieces and with the hairdresser, but we often leave our skin to the last minute and hope foundation can do the work of self-care.

With that in mind, we’ve got you covered with an easy-to-follow, month-by-month guide to bridal beauty, using certified organic skincare and suitable even for those with sensitive skins.

Wedding Skincare 6 - 12 Months Out

It might seem early, but it takes up to three months for the skin to show results from intensive treatments and six to see the full benefits.

We recommend you speak to a skincare expert, and share your goals for your day. Would you like to have smoother skin? Are you hoping to get breakouts under control? Do you want a ‘dewy’ look?

This is the time to start a regime that looks at challenges like:

• Hyperpigmentation (patches of discolouration)
• Acne scarring
• Skin roughness
• Rosacea

Even if you go to the stage of having professional treatments, for issues that sit deeper in the skin layer, like scarring, you need to give time for the treatment to take hold.

At home, you can start this process with a few simple additions.

1. Use a skin oil daily

Regardless of what type of skin you have, a facial oil at least at night will offer the biggest gains to your overall texture and tone.

We recommend one rich in vitamin c, essential fatty acids and antioxidants, which helps with resurfacing, brightening and glow. Try our hero Superfruit Concentrate.

The oil will work to keep your skin hydrated, and protect from environmental aggressors. If you look for one with rosehip oils, you can also see pro-age refining benefits.

2. Use a jade roller

Massage in your oil with a jade roller. Working up and out from the centre of the face, for about three-five minutes will help increase blood flow to the skin's surface, bringing much needed nutrients and toning. Zero-waste brand Acala sells them here.

3. Start a weekly mask regime

Once a week start to use a targeted mask based on your skin needs. You may want increased hydration or a traditional clay mask – or a mix of both. Odylique 3-in-1 Maca Mask offers versatility in that you can make it suitable for any type, depending on what you mix it with (water through to yoghurt). 

Wedding Skincare 3 months out

It takes four weeks for skin to settle following the adoption of a new routine, so you need this time to introduce targeted daily treatments that make a difference:

Assess your cleanse, tone and moisturise regime. Is it right for your skin? Are you getting the results you need? It's remarkable but something as simple as a new cleanser can make a big difference.

If you use a foaming face wash for example, but your skin is dry or red, switch to a hydrating cleansing balm, like our Silk-Touch Cleanser. If you are a fan of exfoliants, stop using harsh bead-based options and move to a pH-balanced calming cleanser with a less frequent exfoliating mask.

Now is also a good time to look at your toner. Many of us are in the habit of massively overusing ingredients like AHAs so if you’ve any redness, move to a soothing formula, like our rose water based tonic which refines and calms.

If your skin is oily, a tonic with citrus will help balance your skin and close pores, without harming the protective acid mantle.

Finally, see if your moisturiser is still the right one for you. And don’t assume if you struggle from blemishes that you don’t need moisturiser. If you’re dry, it’s time to look for richness. And don’t skip it. Little and often rather than a lot once a day gets the best results.

One month out:

There’s not long left now and you’re no doubt feeling the strain, so this is about self care as much as anything else. Rest,

Get a good facial with a skin specialist. If you’re in London, Blomma Beauty near Kings Cross offers facials using Odylique products.

Start upping your hydration – you need several glasses of non-caffeinated liquid (ideally water) every day. No skincare product can do the work of H20.

Make sure you use a good sunscreen from here on in, every day. Sunburn and sun damage are not going to help at any time in your life and there’s little time to recover from it this close to the day. If you want some colour on the day, use a good self-tan or bronzer instead.

Consider using your moisturiser to tap into the eye socket and use lip balm daily to soften your pout for that all important first kiss.

One week out:

Don’t. Change. Anything.

By now you should have a routine that’s working, and your skin should be looking great, but we all know that mother nature likes to trip us up.

If you’ve got any last-minute blemishes, don’t be tempted to squeeze or pick at them. Instead use a rescue serum or targeted spot serum with ingredients like tea tree to reduce the redness and swelling.

Avoid the temptation to use any harsh ‘miracle’ treatments or masks – there’s every chance you’ll upset your skin.

On the day:

Prep in the way you have done for months, and give yourself a little extra time for products like your oil to sink in.

Keep a calming, hydrating spritz in your bag for freshen ups on the go, especially before photos and add a lip balm.

For more advice about bridal skincare, contact our organic skincare experts here