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The Best Pre-Wedding Facials for Glowing Skin

According to the experts.

Skin
pre-wedding facials for glowing skin
Brides want the best for their wedding day—that’s a fact, plain and simple. But there’s only so much magic a makeup artist (and a lineup of stellar cosmetics) can do to simulate that premarital glow. If you really want to achieve drop-dead-gorgeous skin, the type that will have all your wedding guests whispering “How does she do it?” then you better look at incorporating a few facials into your pre-ceremony prep.

Luckily for you, there are plenty of talented aestheticians and dermatologists who can transform your skin from tired and stressed to dewy and radiant in only a few sessions. We consulted some of New York’s most in-demand facialists on the treatments they recommend to clients, plus the timeline they suggest for getting your complexion in tip-top shape before the big day (yes, there is strategy behind that glow).

 

pre-wedding facials for glowing skin
Which of your treatments would you recommend to brides?

“My Bespoke Ultimate Facial, which is offered at my ateliers in both New York City and Los Angeles. It’s completely customized to fit the brides’ ultimate skincare concerns and goals.”

What makes this treatment ideal for achieving that bridal glow?

“The Bespoke Facial begins with [our] signature Lift + Sculpt massage, followed by a thorough exfoliation and extractions, if necessary. An antioxidant infusion of active ingredients penetrates the skin through the inclusion of sound waves, galvanic current, and LED light therapy. A high dose of hyaluronic acid and amino silk proteins help to plump, hydrate, and enrich the skin’s natural moisturizing factor. The service concludes with a customized mask and blast of oxygen to leave the skin GLO-ing all day.”

How soon before the wedding should brides come in for a treatment?

“At least six sessions prior to the wedding is ideal, broken down monthly for four months. Two weeks before, and one week before the wedding.”

What do brides typically request their skin to look like, or what issues do they want to be addressed before the ceremony?

“They request flawless-looking, glass skin. The biggest issue is breakouts—that’s the greatest fear. Breakouts can easily occur as a result of stress (which we know wedding planning can be stressful!), so with our facials, we can ultimately prevent and control the dreaded bumps, blemishes, and acne. Some brides also want to brighten their skin, which usually includes diminishing sun damage—but ultimately they all just want clear, acne-free, glowing skin!”

pre-wedding facials for glowing skin
Which of your treatments would you recommend to brides?

“Our Biolift Facial is world-renowned for its lifting and firming results.”

What makes this treatment ideal for achieving that bridal glow?

“It is an ideal pre-wedding treatment. [It’s] gentle yet result-oriented, guaranteed to leave skin glowing, lifted, and dewy. It produces immediately visible results. It’s like a lift without going to extreme measures. You’ll still look like yourself, but better! Refreshed, hydrated, plump, glowing, and gorgeous! It is a must-have on a pre-wedding list. Every celebrity makeup artist will tell you that good skin is the best canvas for a perfect application.

“[It involves] deep cleansing, expert skin analysis, exfoliation with either a manual scrub or a gentle peel depending on the skin, [and] trademark manual lifting massage with an active cream mask. It is oxygenating, de-puffing, offers lymphatic drainage, and lift, aside from relaxation, which you definitely need before the wedding! A micro-current treatment with a cocktail of hyper-customized serums [addresses] all of your concerns plus lifting, firming, smoothing, and energizing effects. Then finishing serums and moisturizers to get that glow!”

How soon before the wedding should brides come in for a treatment?

“I would recommend starting a good skin-care regimen at least six months before the big day to get your skin acclimated to treatments and active products that produce results. This is a good timeline, since you might need extractions, microdermabrasion, or a light IPL that may require a tiny bit of downtime. Your last biolift facial can be done the week of the wedding. Think of it as a workout regimen; you need to be consistent and put the work in before you start seeing the results!”

What do brides typically request their skin to look like, or what issues do they want to be addressed before the ceremony?

“Usually it is uneven skin tone, breakouts, blotchiness, enlarged pores, and lackluster skin. The ultimate request is glowy, even-toned, poreless skin that looks great without makeup and no filter.”

Christine Chin, Founder of Christine Chin Spa


Which of your treatments would you recommend to brides?

“I always recommend a facial with extractions and microdermabrasion. I always suggest microdermabrasion as part of the facial treatment because it cleans off the first layer of skin and removes plaque and skin residue, ensuring that we are getting a deep (and complete) clean overall.”

What makes this treatment ideal for achieving that bridal glow?

“[It] improves [your] skin’s radiance and gives glowing results. [It involves] steam, microdermabrasion for removing dead skin, extracting blackheads, open and extract inflammation and clear pores, soothing masks, and [a] green tea mask for redness.”

How soon before the wedding should they come in for a treatment?

“Three to six months before, and once every month. Also seven to 10 days [before the ceremony].”

What do most brides request their skin to look like or issues they want addressed before the ceremony?

“[To look] dewy and glowy.”

pre-wedding facials for glowing skin
Which of your treatments would you recommend to brides?

“We specialize in prepping movie stars for award [shows] and rock stars for concerts, and have noticed that our trademarked Red Carpet Facial is perfect for our bride clients because it may be one of the biggest ‘Oscar-like’ moments in their life. Just like our glam clients, the goal is exactly the same: instant lift and glow, and immaculate skin.”

What makes this treatment ideal for achieving that bridal glow?

“The Red Carpet Facial includes microdermabrasion with our gentle but effective diamond tip wand, [which is] suitable even for sensitive skin. Our mild proprietary Beyond Microcurrent [uses] gentle electrical current [from] our own Resculptor machine to lift, firm, contour, brighten, and de-puff the jawline, cheekbones, and eye area. It is perfect for erasing the signs of a multitude of lifestyle sins and environmental attacks on your skin. Amber LED light improves the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and helps brighten the skin. We may include here other customized colored LED lights if you need them, such as green for hyperpigmentation, or blue for break-outs. Finally, a cooling and soothing oxygen-peptide mist will hydrate and rejuvenate, giving you that signature TM Glow.”

How soon before the wedding should they come in for a treatment?

“Anywhere between a week before up until the day before would have the most powerful impact. You are welcome to amp up the lift and glow with cumulative results from consecutive Red Carpet Facials before your big moment.”

What do most brides request their skin to look like, or what issues do they want to be addressed before the ceremony?

“This is very diverse (as some brides may still tackle break-outs or discoloration), but the common denominator is glowing, tight, gorgeous skin and the post-vacay look.”

Cecilia Wong, Founder of Cecilia Wong Skincare


Which of your treatments would you recommend to brides?

“I highly recommend my customized Lymphatic Drainage Facial. It’s great for anyone who’s going to a red-carpet event, and [for] brides. It’s a non-invasive facial and completely natural, meaning there’s no downtime. It essentially does it all, providing both immediate and cumulative results.”

What makes this treatment ideal for achieving that bridal glow?

“The facial starts with a manual lymphatic drainage massage with activated meridian acupressure points to drain puffiness, toxins, and excess water. It’s followed by radio frequency, which tightens and tones the skin, promoting circulation. Microcurrent follows to lift and tone the face muscles, lift the eyebrows, and contour the jawline and cheekbones. The facial ends with LED Light Therapy, which is great for sun spots, killing bacteria, and rejuvenating skin cells, and an oxygen blast that’s infused with vitamins and hyaluronic acid to plump the skin. I like to call this the ultimate workout for the face, and it’s always a favorite for brides.”

How soon before the wedding should a bride come in for a treatment?

“We offer a customized plan for brides that starts six months before their big day. As this treatment is non-invasive, natural, and doesn’t require any downtime, brides can safely get this facial two to three days before their wedding.”

What do most brides request their skin to look like or issues they want addressed before the ceremony?

“Brides typically ask for four things: 1) for the skin to be more lifted, toned, and tightened; 2) for clear skin with no breakouts, redness, puffiness, or inflammation; 3) for a bright, healthy complexion; 4) for glowing skin.”

Joanna Vargas, Celebrity Facialist and Founder of Joanna Vargas Salons & Skin Care

pre-wedding facials for glowing skin
Which of your treatments would you recommend to brides?

“My go-to treatment is LED light therapy. [It] uses red and infrared light to reduce inflammation, build collagen, and speed the healing of the body by 300 percent. In my salon, we do several different treatments that involve LED light, but by far the most popular is my patented RevitaLight Bed, which gives a client a full-body LED treatment in just 20 minutes. The bed covers the entire body with red and infrared light, reducing cellulite, lines, wrinkles, sun damage, acne scars, and stretch marks to give a smoother and more even skin tone.

“I also recommend a microcurrent facial. The Triple Crown Facial is my favorite facial to give to anyone before a big day like a wedding.”

What makes this treatment ideal for achieving that bridal glow?

“First, I provide microdermabrasion with a diamond-tipped wand to remove impurities and dead skin. Then I use microcurrent to drain puffiness, tone muscle, and tighten skin so you look perfect in pictures. This portion of the facial lasts over 50 minutes. Last, I deliver a vitamin-spiked pure oxygen treatment to boost radiance and supplement the skin with nutrients.”

How soon before the wedding should they come in for a treatment?

“I would recommend LED light treatment once a week, four weeks before the wedding, so the pores start to shrink and you can get the skin even-toned and perfect for the big day. I recommend getting my Triple Crown Facial a few days before the wedding. As much as you should avoid it, many brides end up trying to manage stress with wine this last week, which leads to puffiness. Microcurrent will make you look de-puffed and will make your cheekbones high and your jaw and neck really perfect for pictures. We use two hand-held prongs that deliver precise dosages of energy to the skin and work simultaneously to repair and produce collagen in the dermis (the deepest layer of the skin), while gently decreasing signs of aging in the epidermis (the top layer of skin).”

What do most brides request their skin to look like, or what issues do they want to be addressed before the ceremony?

“They want clear skin for the wedding! I think the majority of brides want to not have to wear much makeup on their big day, so they want clear, bright, glowing skin. We also do a lot of body treatments to reduce cellulite, exfoliate, and tighten skin.”

pre-wedding facials for glowing skin
Which of your treatments would you recommend to brides?

“Each of my treatments is completely customized based on my clients’ skin condition, lifestyle, and climate they are in the day they come to see me. No two treatments are ever exactly the same. My treatments vary from bride to bride.”

What makes this treatment ideal for achieving that bridal glow?

“For brides, I concentrate on purifying, hydrating, brightening, and rejuvenating treatments during wedding prep. I use a combination of technologies that address these conditions including microcurrents, ultrasound, LED, radio frequency, cryotherapy, and, of course, facial massages. I also treat the upper body, arms, and hands, as these are key parts of the body that are important on the wedding day and that women tend to neglect. I use the same treatments that I do on the face on these parts.”

How soon before the wedding should they come in for a treatment?

“For someone who does not have regular facials, nine months before, and every four to six weeks until the last three months, [during] which I recommend coming in every two to three weeks. For someone who has regular treatments, you can step up three months before and come every two to three weeks. It is important to get to know your professional and to have them know you.

“I also recommend that you don’t try something new in the four to six weeks prior [to the wedding], and you don’t have any chemical peels or injectables within a week prior. If you have any adverse reaction, you still have time to fix things if you stay within these parameters.”

What do most brides request their skin to look like, or what issues do they want to be addressed before the ceremony?

“They want hydrated, glowing, bright skin with sculpted jawline and high cheekbones.”



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Part of the series:

Wedding Week

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