As a makeup artist in the Melbourne bridal industry for 27 years, I cannot overemphasise the importance of great skin prep for your wedding day.

Not only does it make our job easier on the day, so that we can focus on finessing your makeup look and having time for those little details, well prepared skin will hold makeup for longer ensuring the look we create lasts beautifully into the night.

The secret to a natural yet long-lasting makeup application is smooth, well-hydrated skin and I’m here to share all of my tips to help you achieve just that.

Bridal Skin Prep Timeline

6-12 Months Pre-Wedding Prep

• If you are having skin treatments with a skin aesthetician then begin these now and follow their guidelines and advice. The general advice is that more aggressive treatments such as peels and laser should be ideally done during this time period.

• Curate your skincare routine and maintain consistency with the products that are giving results. You can try new products and investigate ingredients that will target your skin requirements such as retinols, AHA’s and PDRN. This gives your skin time to adjust to them and allows for results to become visible.

• Ensure that you are bringing all of your skincare products down your neck and onto your chest if this skin will be visible when wearing your wedding dress.

  3 Months Pre-Wedding Prep

• Lock in your skincare routine and maintain consistency. Trial spray tans if you are planning on having one before your wedding.

• Add facial massage to your daily routine to help reduce puffiness, lymphatic drainage and increase blood flow to the skin. You can see a professional for this or do it at home either using a gua sha or your hands (there are lots of tutorials online).

• Book in professional treatments. Think gentle, results driven facials focusing on barrier repair, hydration and light exfoliation. Avoid aggressive treatments.

• Focus on hydration - inside and out. Drink plenty of water (add a pinch of celtic sea salt for extra absorption) and begin using hydrating serums and masks regularly to increase skins bounce and luminosity.

• Start working towards your ideal brow shape now, see a professional and schedule your appointments leading up to the wedding.

• Book your makeup and hair previews with your vendors. Your preview can be arranged any time in the lead up to the wedding but some dates that are popular are Hens Days and dress fittings.

  1 Month Pre-Wedding Prep

• Finalise your skincare routine - no more experimenting with new products. Maintain consistency, regular masks and facial massage.

• Final skin treatments should be completed and your skin should be looking and feeling incredible. Maintain these results with your at-home skincare routine.

• Makeup previews and hair previews should be done. Allow extra time for these appointments and ensure you submit any feedback to your artist/stylist so that they can make the appropriate adjustments on the day.

• If you are not having lashes applied by your makeup artist, consider having a lash lift. Avoid doing this procedure if your makeup artist will be applying lashes on the wedding day (let your wedding party know this too).

  1 Week Pre-Wedding Prep

• Final brow appointment and body waxing. Any facial waxing including brows should be done at least 5 days prior to the wedding day as this can affect makeup adherence.

• Spray tans are best applied the day prior to the wedding or your welcome dinner. Ensure you hydrate your body daily post spray tan as they can cause skin dryness.

• Final nail appointment. Classic, manicured, gels or tips - have your nails and a pedicure appointment during the final week.

  Night Before Wedding Skin and Hair Prep

• Double shampoo your hair and use conditioner only on the ends (unless advised to wash at another time by your stylist)

• Exfoliate your body and lather on a rich body cream before bed (make sure you include your feet)

• Cleanse, mist and then apply a gel or sheet mask and let it absorb. Cloth sheet masks can leave a lot of residue and slip on the skin so these are always best applied the night before. Collagen gel masks can be done the night before, overnight or on the morning of the wedding if time permits.

• Last exfoliation - ensure you are using a gentle AHA/BHA product and then apply your usual toners, serums and moisturiser or oil before bed. Add a lip mask to ensure lips are not dry or flakey the following day.

• Ensure your bridal party have followed a similar skin prep routine the evening before the wedding and are hydrating as much as possible.

• Drink water and get as much rest as possible the night before

  Wedding Morning Skin Prep

• Focus on drinking lots of water and get some gentle movement in (a walk or some stretching) to get your lymphatic system moving and help reduce any bloating.

• Allocate time to give your face a really long, relaxing massage using a rich moisturiser or facial oil. Facial massage can tighten the jawline, eliminate dullness, and reduce under-eye darkness and puffiness. Massage your lips to increase blood flow, enhance fullness, reduce any dry skin and then follow with a lip mask or balm.

• A quick wash-off hydrating mask , or a collagen gel mask can be applied during the morning but avoid very wet cloth masks on the wedding day.

• Apply your hydrating mists/toners, serum and moisturiser. Your makeup artist may cleanse your skin and use their preferred skin prep products as part of your makeup application.

• Ensure your bridal party have all exfoliated, hydrated and prepped their lips during the morning.