Countdown to D-Day: Your Skincare Prep Guide

UP Beauty Online

There are multiple considerations when ramping up to any “special event”, be it a Black Tie extravaganza, a Wedding, including yours, a Class Reunion or quiet dinner celebrating an Anniversary. The commonality here is that we want to look stunning and feel our best, from our hair style to the clothes that adorn us, from being in a festive mood to our skin’s radiance on the big day/night. We’re going to hone in on the skin care preparation aspect here as we build momentum leading into the event day.

Countdown to D-day: A Month Away

Now is the perfect time to get a deep cleansing facial. Depending on your skin type and the amount of “gunk” harboring in your pores and under the skin, doing a facial of this nature this far out will give your skin time to recover, no matter how many extractions you may need to endure.

This is also the time to get some advice from your skin care professional as to additional treatments/home skin care tweaks you may want to incorporate leading into your event. Put the skin expert on your team by letting them know your intentions and time frame, and use their ideas to create a foolproof plan.

Start using any new products suggested as it sometimes takes a while for our skin to adjust and results to take hold. If you don’t already have one, begin a solid exfoliation regimen – as dead cells are encouraged to slough off, two great things happen. One, your treatment products now penetrate much more deeply, increasing functional results; and two, your new cell regeneration and skin metabolism is ramped up, producing a fresher overall look. Also, go ahead and schedule any additional agreed upon services/treatments that will be part of your glowing skin ramp up plan.

Two Weeks and counting...

Continue your directed skin care routine, making adjustments and fine tuning based on what you are seeing. If you don’t have any additional facial treatments/facials scheduled, decide now if you need any additional help. Have your exfoliating efforts caused your skin to become too dry (it can happen)? If so, schedule a hydrating facial or do a hydrating mask 2-3 times per week until event time.

Honestly evaluate your skin now and find product/treatment solutions to any deficiencies that are perceived. In general, you should be healed from your original deep cleansing facial, and now is the time to continue to wash, exfoliate, plump, energize and nourish your skin as d-day is approaching quickly.

It’s Game Time

Based on age, you may want a stronger microdermabrasion/peeling treatment to infuse some energy into skin – if appropriate this should be done at least 5 days out for precautionary reasons. A gentler, pampering facial could be done as close as the day of, but tell your Esthetician that no extractions are to be done. Many Spas have a specific “event” facial or two in their repertoire. 

Finally, if no facial is in the equation, save time for a rejuvenating mask and bath prior to getting ready. Be sure to apply both moisturizer and eye cream five minutes prior to your final make up for a perfectly supple and plump skin base.

Look Better, Feel Better, Live Better

And finally, do what is necessary for your mind to be convinced that you are making an effort to be and look spectacular – sometimes the mental perception is as, or more important, than the actual physical result.

             “At a formal dinner party, the person nearest death

              should always be seated closest to the door...

                                                                                        George Carlin

PS: Your tips are appreciated here – feel free to hip us on your routine!