If you have upcoming nuptials, there is no doubt that you are thinking about the photos that will be taken. If you are ready to level up your skin regimen to get the perfect wedding-worthy glow, then read on. We rounded up the top four non-invasive skin treatments that will have your skin looking more than camera ready to memorialize your special day from here to eternity.
1. VI Chemical Peel
A VI Peel is the perfect pre-wedding treatment to get dewy skin. It’s a medium peel with several versions for various skin types that combines some of the best peeling ingredients (Phenol and TCA) with anti-aging ones (retinol A, vitamin C), minus any irritating hydroxy acids to remove the outermost layers of the skin to reveal a game-changing glow. “The VI peel helps to improve the tone, texture, and clarity of the skin while reducing age spots, sun damage, and hyperpigmentation,” explains Melissa Doft, M.D., a board-certified plastic surgeon, the owner of Doft Plastic Surgery in New York, and a clinical assistant professor of surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College. “It also softens fine lines and acne scars while stimulating collagen production for firmer, more youthful skin.”
While one treatment yields immediate results, Doft suggests getting a series of three treatments one month apart with the last one being done 30 days before the nuptials. “I often have patients return to the office seven to 10 days later for a medical facial that includes an enzymatic peel and dermaplaning,” she adds. “This removes any excess skin and is an hour and a half of pure indulgence for a very busy bride-to-be!” The VI peel is suitable for all skin types and requires little downtime, but each person responds differently. A potential side effect for brides with darker skin tones is the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
These brides may want to talk to their dermatologist prior to booking this peel to discuss any concerns. Other side effects include redness that typically lasts only a few days. However, some people experience redness and chapped skin for months, which is why it is important to schedule the first peel a few months prior to walking down the aisle.
While one treatment yields immediate results, Doft suggests getting a series of three treatments one month apart with the last one being done 30 days before the nuptials. “I often have patients return to the office seven to 10 days later for a medical facial that includes an enzymatic peel and dermaplaning,” she adds. “This removes any excess skin and is an hour and a half of pure indulgence for a very busy bride-to-be!” The VI peel is suitable for all skin types and requires little downtime, but each person responds differently. A potential side effect for brides with darker skin tones is the risk of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation.
These brides may want to talk to their dermatologist prior to booking this peel to discuss any concerns. Other side effects include redness that typically lasts only a few days. However, some people experience redness and chapped skin for months, which is why it is important to schedule the first peel a few months prior to walking down the aisle.
2. Clear + Brilliant Laser
If you are a bride who suffers from melasma, a heat and hormone-induced condition that causes uneven pigment (typically in women in their 20s and 30s), then you may want to be wary of Fraxel and instead consider Clear + Brilliant, which is a gentler version of Fraxel. “Clear + Brilliant doesn’t give off as much heat,” says Los Angeles dermatologist Jeanette Black, MD. “It’s very popular to use before events. You can do it closer to the wedding date, and there isn’t really any downtime because it’s less inflammatory. It gives you a nice exfoliation.
You’ll look pink right after the treatment, as though you have a little sunburn, and then the skin will take on a grainy texture. When the grains slough off, you’ll have this incredible, glowing complexion with a more even skin tone and smaller pores. You can do three or four a month apart leading right up to the wedding-your last can even be about two weeks beforehand. It’s a beautiful laser that works well on everyone.”
You’ll look pink right after the treatment, as though you have a little sunburn, and then the skin will take on a grainy texture. When the grains slough off, you’ll have this incredible, glowing complexion with a more even skin tone and smaller pores. You can do three or four a month apart leading right up to the wedding-your last can even be about two weeks beforehand. It’s a beautiful laser that works well on everyone.”
3. KTP & V-Beam
If you are a bride who suffers from redness like dilated facial veins or rosacea, then you should consider a KTP laser treatment. “It traces out the redness and gives you a nice photo-ready finish,” Black says. “It’s almost like a magic eraser. You usually need only one or two treatments, and there isn’t much downtime.” Another laser that is effective at treating deeper veins on the face is the V-Beam laser, which is a pulsed-dye laser that targets blood vessels and collapses them while not harming the surrounding skin, which is why this laser requires very little downtime and is ideal for brides to be.
4. Dermaplaning
Another non-invasive treatment type ideal for brides-to-be is dermaplaning, which removes dead skin, hair, and impurities from the skin. “Dermaplaning before the wedding will help your makeup go on smoother and exfoliate the skin to make it brighter,” explains Flash Lab’s CIDESCO medical aesthetician Gabrielle Hope Bradley. While this is a treatment that can be done in the comfort of the home, it requires the blade to be held at a 45-degree angle, making it a bit more challenging for at-home beauty device users. So, it might be best to let the professionals perform this treatment so you don’t hurt yourself or your skin before your wedding day.
Takeaway
There is no doubt any bride preparing for their upcoming nuptials will have a lot on their plate. But, if you want to make improvements to your skin with non-invasive treatments that may take a few treatment sessions to achieve your skin goals, the best bet is to plan ahead a few months prior to your wedding day so that your skin glows for your big day.
