I Did My Pre-Wedding Skincare All Wrong

Going to a Dermalogica bridal skincare clinical a week before the big day made me realize I was taking a lot of risks.

Kat

Jun 9, 2015

 

 

I got married last month. I was kind of a bad bride, though. I was excited to get married, but I didn’t find wedding planning very interesting, and as a result, did as little planning as possible. If it hadn't been for a couple of firm-handed bridesmaids, the wedding would have been held in an empty room, and the guests would’ve shared a single bag of chips.

But when a Facebook friend posted about a free “Bridal Skincare Clinic” at our local Dermalogica training centre, I jumped on it (and signed my sister up too). She pointed out that my wedding was less than two weeks away, but I knew my priorities. There was no way I’d turn down free skincare products.

The clinic offered free “facial mapping,” free “microfacials” and a presentation on the ideal Bridal Skincare Regime (BSR), where I learned that I’d already done my BSR all wrong.

Rule 1: Start your BSR two months before your wedding.

When the Dermalogica rep asked us how long we had before the wedding, most of the brides said “eight months” or “two years.” When he looked at me, my sister started to laugh. “Ten days!” she cackled.

“Well it’s too late for you,” he said, without batting an eye.

Essentially, the BSR is like a gym regimen or a diet, but it’s based on your skin. Two months before your wedding, you come to a Dermalogica skin therapist for a consultation and “face mapping.” Based on this analysis, you choose a couple things that you want to improve. You buy the products that will help with this specific area/issue. Then, you go back for a couple microfacials to “perfect your canvas” before the wedding.

Dermalogica’s face-mapping equipment.

Rule 2: Don’t try a bunch of different products.

We were also told not to use new products in the two months before the wedding, just in case you have a bad reaction.

Ugh. I was completely breaking this rule. I don’t have a routine so much as I have eight different routines and 75 different products that I use in a loose rotation, based on how my skin feels. (When I pack a suitcase, half of it is filled with clothes and half of it is filled products I take “just in case” and usually never touch). That said, my skin is looking so bright and clear that I’ve been mistaken for a teenager twice this spring. (Also, maybe I need to start dressing like a grown up).

I tried to limit my product use in the week before the wedding, but I failed. I couldn’t help it! You can’t give me a bag of new products and then tell me not to use them. I used the Dermalogica Daily Resurfacer wipes, the Exfoliating Body Scrub and the Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque. Nothing bad happened. I looked great.

Rule 3: Don’t get a facial right before the wedding.

I sort of broke this rule, just by being at the event and getting a microfacial (which was amazing and I regret nothing). In my defense, I figured 10 days was enough time to deal with any minor irritation (and I wouldn’t have consented to anything invasive, like extractions).

If you’re tempted to get a facial, get a massage instead. In the days before my wedding, I would have paid $100 just to lie on a table in a darkened room and not be asked questions by anyone. The massage will be a bonus.

After the presentation, I won the draw for a gift basket! Was the universe telling me that I was doing actually everything right?

Rule 4: Don’t put benzoil peroxide on a pimple before the wedding.

It will make the pimple flaky and impossible to cover up. I woke up with a big, deep pimple the day before my wedding. I threw some Mario Badescu Buffering Lotion on it and it retreated back into my face without incident.

Rule 5: Dermalogica makes great products.

Since it was a Dermalogica event, the presenters spent a lot of time promoting the brand and the “microfacial” system. I like the concept of the “microfacial.” Basically, it’s a stripped-down facial that focuses on one specific issue that you’ve identified during your “facial mapping.” Why pay for a whole facial when you probably just want one specific part of it?

I was surprised to find that the products genuinely lived up to the hype. They’re really expensive (maybe moreso in Canada?) but also really effective. My skin looked amazing after my facial—so amazing that a coworker even commented on it the next day. I would recommend talking to a brand representative before buying, though. Dermalogica makes a lot of products, and it’s not always clear what each one does. I really liked everything I tried, and I’m not looking forward to the day I run out.

• Married or engaged folks: What was/is your pre-wedding skincare routine?
• What’s been your experience with Dermalogica products?
• What skincare rules are you breaking?