SOS: Wedding is Coming

[LexBT]

That’s right, I’ve officially started the countdown! I am a few months away from my wedding date. And while I continue to stress on every detail, I’m also looking to tweak my beauty routine ever so slightly for the best possible photos. They will live FOR-E-VER! With two months to go, I’m far enough out where I can still try something new and also give skincare products some time to actually work. BIC, PLEASE! Help me out. I'm looking for...

• Makeup tips for photos. I’m getting married in the winter where it may be snowing, so cold weather peeps: help me out!
• Skincare ideas to help me tame my rosacea, prevent breakouts, refine pores on my nose, and get rid of those little oily bumps. I need to be ready for my close up 🙂
• This girl needs to sleep. I’d love to hear all of your natural remedies and tips.
• Fun bridesmaid gift ideas - must work for guys and girls, please.

I am also planning to do my first perk facial in the next few weeks – will report back on that.

BIC, I need you now more than evah ❤️

[EveMangle]

How was your wedding? Would you like to share some pics with us?

[tastelikewater]

@LexBT Congratulations, what an exciting time for you! As someone with mild subtype 1 rosacea, I would recommend exactly what you mentioned in making only small changes to your routine. 

For blackheads and stubborn oily bumps, I prefer BHAs. I use a surface peel from a dermatologist's line, so I don't have any other specific product recommendations on that front. I also like azelaic acid to help with both breakouts and rosacea bumps; I apply The Ordinary's formula at night before my moisturizer. I'm always in search of a good mask, and I've found the following to work well with my sensitive skin: the entire Leaders 7 Wonders and Daily Wonders sheet mask lines (I get them at Ulta), Karuna Hydrating Sheet Mask, Trader Joe's Rich Hydrating Sheet Mask, and the Avene Antirougeurs CALM Redness Relief Mask (on the expensive end, but so good). 

If you have an esthetician you like, you could ask him/her for advice on pre-wedding facials. When my esthetician thought I was getting married (nope, just *in* a wedding), she recommended a full facial with extractions about 6-8 weeks before the wedding, then a gentle soothing one about 10-14 days before. 

[ZakiyaBT]

Congratulations!! @LexBT

For my sister's wedding I came up with a name for her bachelorette weekend and purchased mini champagne flutes and had everyone's names printed on them and made labels and put them on mini champagne bottles. I'm not sure if you have a small or large wedding party, but everyone was excited to get those. 

-Zakiya

[LexBT]

@ZakiyaBT gotta love your bubbles! I have 13 'maids and men unfortunately so the personalized items may be tough. 

[sprocketta]

Congratulations on your wedding @LexBT  My suggestion is for sleep/relaxation.  These aren't at Sephora, but you can get them on Amazon.  Try the MegRhythm gentle steam eye masks.  It's an eye mask you put on that warms up and stays warm for about 10 minutes (there's no actual steam).  I bought some for someone else and decided to try them for myself.  These are really great to relax you and help you wind down to get to sleep.  There are different scents available.  I tried the unscented but now have a box of lavender scented on the way.

[fatimamummy]

Congratulations on your wedding 

You have already received so many great suggestions. I like winter weddings as there are slim to none chances of makeup melting away. 

To prep your skin for wedding, Getting a professional facial is great starting point. I would also recommend you to incorporate Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta® Universal Daily Peel Pads 30 Treatments + 5 Bonusin your routine. There are different varieties so you can choose what is suitable for you, Depending on how used to your skin is of chemical peels at this point or how sensitive it is. I am using extra strength version every other morning and I was never happier about how my skin feels.

Next thing is hydration. Make sure your skin is well hydrated by drinking lots of fluids and using Hydrating skincare products . 

I think stashing some Hydrating sheet/gel masks and trying to use them at leas5 twice a week will be great. S9 e of my favourite are  TOO COOL FOR SCHOOL - Egg Cream Mask Hydration DR. JART+ - Sheet Masks((I love them all) Farmacy Coconut Gel Sheet Mask - Hydrating 0.78 oz/ 23 mLand also the brightening.

I am going to be following this thread for the tips for good sleep. 

Good luck and keep us posted about how the preparation are going. I’m sure you are going to make a beautiful bride .

[LexBT]

@fatimamummy thank you - you are so sweet! Loving the ideas for sheet masks - any idea if they are OK for us oily/greasy donut girls? I'm always concerned I might break out, like when I overdo it on serums 🙂

@KatieBT also recommended the peel pads - I picked them up during rouge weekend! Haven't tried them yet, but I will incorporate tonight. I'm actually in the midst of a bad breakout as we speak. Ugh.

I am going to make it my mission to tackle this sleep issue! It's so important because it really impacts every aspect of your life. I'm going to start a thread on this soon.

[fatimamummy]

Sorry for delayed response @LexBT Life and kids are keeping me busy 😃

I have oily skin and use all these masks I suggested without any issue but luckily I am not acne pron and rarely have breakouts.

All of these masks are very light other than TCFS egg cream masks. Since that one is dipped in a thick milk kind of serum so it can be a bit hapeavier for someone with acne prone skin so maybe steer clear of that but others will be fine.

I’m sure you will see remarkable results with DDG peel pads! Good luck girl 💗

[MissPuff]

Congratulations @LexBT !!! How exciting 🙂 

Not sure where you fall along the spectrum of facials, but might I suggest at least one between now and wedding day? Kinda like a deep clean to really prep your skin for all your other skincare to follow. My products always seem to sink in deeper/work better after a professional facial, and with the changing weather, it sort of helps reset my routine. I had the perk facial done this past sunday and while it's not as intense as a regular facial, I actually do notice a difference in my skin, I am still glowing 4 days later! Nice and gentle, great for removing dead skin.

Other than that, HYDRATION, HYDRATION, HYDRATION, and regular exfoliation. Sheet masks are super during the drier months for really plumping up the skin and so relaxing in general 🙂 

As far as favors...I was just in a wedding two months ago and the bride gifted us quite a few things including beautiful silk scarves, custom silver jewelry (her family are jewelers), matching sunglasses, and my favorite, matching petite rock nest rings from Judith Bright - a unique stone for each bridesmaid. Really beautiful and we all wore them the day of. The men received engraved wooden watches (easily, the coolest thing I've ever seen) plus their unique ties and pocket squares.

For the wedding itself, custom printed koozies and campfire/enamel mugs 🙂 Very new england!

[LexBT]

@MissPuff this photo!! Wow your friend really went all out. uUnfortunately I have 13 bridesmaids/men so I'm hoping to get a number of items at a lower pricepoint vs a few bigger ticket items. It'll be their first GRATIS moment ❤️

I am also going to pass the wooden watch idea on to my beau - thank you!

[LexBT]

@MissPuff sorry one more q - ideas for sheet masks that are good for plumping, but not overly hydrating where I might break out?

[MissPuff]

@LexBT My favorite masks are the 7 Wonders Coconut Gel ones from Leaders. They come in a few varieties but the best one (IMO) is the Tundra Cranberry Anti-Aging. It's hydrating and plumping and my skin always looks and feels amazing after this particular one. They also have a Recovery Coconut Gel line and the Moisturizing one is no joke. A quick tip after I saw my friend try to use these gel masks, there are TWO protective layers around the central jelly layer, don't forget to remove 🙂  The one benefit of coconut gel masks is that they actually dry a little if you leave them on TOO long, kind of like a built in timer so hopefully you'll be less prone to breaking out! I've never had an issue, but my skin is also not particularly sensitive.

[Mcakes]

Congratulations on your upcoming wedding @LexBT ! You are going to make a gorgeous bride  

Are you doing your own makeup? Make sure to bring some blotting sheets and an Evian facial spray! Since you said it's going to be cold you might need some help from the spray to get that glow back, but if you're going to be inside and it gets hot you'll need those blotting sheets to stay matte. Aahh. Can't be too prepared for either situation 😄

I'm not sure what to recommend for skincare since we have different skin types, but definitely change your pillowcase as much as you can leading up to the wedding. If you're tossing and turning it will just be peace of mind that you're sleeping on a clean pillowcase with no oils on it that could possibly clog up your pores. 

@JeffreyBD actually posted a recipe for a nightly floral tea that might help! I'll PM you when I find it!

Ooh fun bridesmaid gift ideas ok....

-Personalized robes, everyone loves a fluffy robe 😄

-Crystals

-Idk if you have any local distilleries, but some of them customize bottles. That would be loads of fun!

Can't wait to hear all about it Congrats again!!

[LexBT]

@Mcakes Yay thank you for this! Ok Evian - check! Which blotting papers? I am oily although it should be better in be cold dry weather. I am going to maybe switch to a silk pillowcase for all the reasons too. And crystals!! Brilliant. Looking for smaller, throw in a box ideas, and this is perfect.

[Mcakes]

I'm still working on a box of the BOSCIA - The Future is Female Peppermint Blotting Linens(Holiday Peppermint) from a couple of years ago lol. My skin is usually dry so I haven't used them too much, but it's leaning more normal now so I'm starting to!

Btw, here's the recipe for the tea :

[LexBT]

@Mcakes I am 100% getting these blotting papers! Adorable. And this tea sounds TDF - I think I've created something similar by mixing 2 tea bags at home. It's a cute gift idea for 'maids too!

[JeffreyBD]

OMG!! I'm so glad you like it! It has really helped me zen out when I'm super stressed and tossing! Blessing to you! Congrats!

[Ispend2much6]

@LexBT  This is so exciting!  Congratulations!  

My latest two miracle workers are Lancer The Method: Polish exfoliator (it leaves my skin clear and smooth for about four days straight) and Drunk Elephant's Protini moisturizer.  

Hopefully there are samples around the office for you to try because they're expensive. 🙂

Taking a magnesium supplement at night with some milk was sure-fire way to get myself sleepy.  Now I've had to resort to quitting caffeine. 😞

[LexBT]

@Ispend2much6 thank you for this! I am on the protoni hype already so CHECK! I also think I tried lancer on weekly wow a month or so ago - great idea. I guess if I use it before I’m up in the cold dry weather, I would be ok. I’ll go pick this up this weekend. Thanks again ❤️

[Ispend2much6]

@LexBT  I hope it all works out for you!  

As far as mauve lipsticks go, I just tried Bobbi Brown's Luxe Liquid Lip Velvet Matte in Double Bare (this is the shade being given out as samples on different sites as a gwp, in case it's not mentioned,) and it applied well and was comfortable, lasted a longer time than regular lipsticks. The online swatches aren't anything like the real life shades. 

Pat McGrath has two mauvey shades.  These swatches are from Temptalia's site. Her swatches usually seem a little brighter than real life to me.

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