From The Straits Times    |

Photo: Her World Brides Dec 2016

 

Getting perfect glowing skin right before your wedding is a lot more than just splurging on facial treatments, investing in expensive serums or trips to the spa (we’re not saying you shouldn’t!). What is more essential is how you take care of your skin and wellness apart from that.

Here are a few healthy habits you should adopt to get that flawless skin you’ve been lusting for!

See also: Korean actress Son Ye Jin’s secrets to a radiant bridal glow

 

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1. Cleansing comes first

Make sure cleansing is at the top of your priority list. A flawless face really needs to be clean. Thoroughly removing your makeup before you go to bed is a must, but also having a cleansing routine you stick to. Be scrupulous about washing your face with a mild cleanser, both in the morning and at night.

Tip: Use a creamy or a milk cleanser for normal skin to achieve the best results as it cleans your face without drying it up. If you have oily skin, avoid using harsh cleansers as they rob you of essential fatty substances on your skin. Instead use a gentle cleanser and massage it longer to remove excess oil.

 

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2. DIY your own face peel

Yes, you got that right! Homemade masks are pretty common, but how about a homemade face peel? All you need is a few household staples like water, baking soda and a squeeze of lemon. Mix two teaspoons of baking soda with one teaspoon of water and squeeze some lemon over it. Apply the mixture to your face evenly and let it dry for five minutes and then peel it off. Rinse with water and say hello to radiant skin!

If you want a  brighter and even skin tone, baking soda and lemon is the perfect combination as it balances the pH level of the skin. This is best for skin whitening and maintaing a clear and even skin tone.

See also: 5 tips to get flawless bridal makeup!

 

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3. Give yourself a facial massage

The most relaxing part of a professional facial is the massage, but it does serve a greater purpose! It helps boosts circulation, tightens the skin, and most importantly, helps tone facial muscles. There are plenty of useful tutorials on Youtube if you aren’t quite sure how to do it yourself. Use a gentle moisturiser that you own for the massage to get a dewy glow after!

 

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4. Get more sleep

Don’t compromise on your beauty sleep, ladies! A few hours of extra sleep doesn’t hurt. In fact, it works wonders for your face. We know it’s tough to get extra Zs with the endless wedding chores, but missing out on quality sleep can cause dreaded dark circles, breakouts and affects your skin’s moisture levels.

See also: The night before your wedding: 7 beauty tips for a flawless face

 

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5. Cool showers

Avoid taking hot showers. We know that the idea of a cold shower might leave you shivering, but hot water whisks away the water-retentive fatty substances from your skin, leaving it dry. If it’s really that difficult, try using lukewarm water instead.

 

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6. Skip the junk food

Stress eating generally leaves you in the company of junk foods. But take our word and sidestep on sugar and sweets for a better complexion! Sugar and highly-refined carbohydrates like white bread, pastries, white rice, and sodas speed up zit-formation and lead to faster aging (scary right?). Glycation, a chemical process that’s a result of the sugar breaking down in your body and its attachment to protein molecules, destroys the elasticity of collagen in your skin.

Tip: When you’re leaning towards stress eating, keep nuts like walnuts handy. If you’re really craving something sweet, go for berries which are packed with tons of nutrients and antioxidants!

See also: Want glowing skin and hair on your wedding day? Include these 8 foods into your diet