“She just glowed!”—what bride wouldn’t like to be remembered that way? Along with pure excitement, of course, radiant skin will help you achieve that luminous look. Michelle Northup, an esthetician at Urban Nirvana, offers expert advice on how to ensure beautiful, healthy skin on the big day.
The skinny on skin care:
Think about revitalizing your skin-care regimen six months to a year before the wedding. Cleanse, tone, and moisturize twice a day, and exfoliate one to three times a week as dead skin cells can leave your face looking grey and sallow—as well as clog pores. • A monthly facial should start three to six months before the wedding for normal skin; six to 12 months for problem skin. Never get a facial two weeks before the event—you don’t know what it’ll draw out. • Diet is paramount! Increase your intake of water to help flush toxins and cut back on caffeine, which dehydrates skin. • A bride’s back is often neglected, yet it’s at the center of the ceremony for all to see. Treat yourself to a back facial or use a loofah on your skin. • See a dermatologist one year in advance to remedy acne, rosacea, or problems that require professional treatment. • Never try anything new on your skin right before the wedding; you can’t be sure how it’ll react.
Top Tan
If you want a little color on your cheeks, arms, and back, there are several healthy ways to attain a tan.
Sunless tanning lotions have come a long way since the streaky orange days of old. Cruise the drugstore to find a formula that works best for your skin—and always test self-tanners at least three months before the wedding to ensure the color looks natural on you.
If you don’t trust yourself to get it right, many salons offer “buff and bronze” treatments; a professional will exfoliate and then apply self-tanner to your skin.
Airbrush tans look wonderfully natural and last for around a week. Find a salon that offers spray-tanning, or try one of the new goof-proof booths—all you have to do is stand there!
Tanning beds will forever be a no-no—ditto for baking outside slathered in oil.
Tools of the Trade
YonKa’s Gel Nettoyant is a cleanser and make-up remover for oily/combination skin, $30.
Exfoliating bath cloth, $2.50.
Using Phytomer’s Rosée Visage will bring the pH balance back to your face, $25.
Cetaphil’s moisturizing lotion binds moisture to your skin, $9.
Phyto Corrective Gel by Skin Ceuticals helps calm your complexion, $45.
Daily Sun Defense made by Skin Ceuticals protects without clogging pores, $28.
Exfoliate with this purifying clay mask from L’Athene, $55.
Truth time: Sometimes we get these engagement sessions and straight-up envy the charmed Instagram-worthy lives the couples seem to live. And Kaitlin and Allan’s shots could do just that. But....
We’re heading into this football weekend with a true fan fave. Molly, a University of South Carolina law school grad, and Logan, who works with the Gamecocks football team, were successfully nudged...
Do you know about Alhambra Hall in Mount Pleasant? That two-story, meeting house on Charleston Harbor that’s tucked away in the Old Village? Let’s let these shots of Abby and Patrick’s wedding...
For the love of a topknot, people! University of Pennsylvania freshman Praachi and Shiv met one night when each were out with their friends and topknot caught his eye. “I remember thinking how...
Eleven months after Stephanie and Scott met, the avid travelers ventured to Iceland for a long weekend (a surprise trip planned by him) and Scott popped the question on their balcony overlooking...
Amber and Phil met while working in the same nonprofit organization together in Washington, D.C. Three years later, during a hike in Great Falls, Virginia (the same place where they did their first...
TWR: How and when did you meet one another? Was it love at first sight?
Daisy: Brent and I met through mutual friends on Halloween night at the University of North Carolina Delta Kappa Epsilon house...
The Wedding Row: Tell us how your love story all began.
Kiernan: Pawel and I met each other while we worked together at an ad agency in New York City. Early on in our friendship, Pawel tried to plan...
Summer never looked so sweet as on this Mount Pleasant couple's wedding day, which was dressed in pale blush florals, gold accents, glittery linens, and warm lighting
We asked the Lowcountry’s top hair and makeup professionals what products they carry in their bag of tricks that can withstand the heat and humidity. For a gorgeous glow and polished locks, check out their top picks. Bonus? The majority of the products are Charleston brands with enthusiastic national followings. Stock up with these tried-and-true besties and you've got your own glam squad
<div>
Two Charleston-based luminaries—a nationally lauded artist and her golf pro sweetheart—marry on a stunning fall day brimming with color</div>
<div>
</div>
