Follow Cosmo Bride’s simple six-month countdown to radiance and you’re guaranteed a gorgeous glow in time for your wedding day!
6 months to go…GET YOUR FIX OF SUPERFOODS Chow down on fatty fish, such as salmon and mackerel, twice a week to keep skin, hair and nails in good nick. Aim for at least five portions of fruit and veg a day and go for blueberries – with vitamin C and antioxidants; avocados – full of vitamin E to help care for your skin; and raw carrots – rich in fibre and beta-carotene.
TOP TIP Stop smoking! Smoking depletes the flow of oxygen to your skin, leaving it looking dull, grey and dried out.
3 months to go…DRINK YOUR DAILY QUOTA! Our skin is around 70% water and needs to be topped up with six to eight glasses a day to keep clear and supple. Replace your morning coffee with hot water and lemon juice to help detox your liver, leaving skin looking fresh. Remember alcohol increases blood flow to the skin’s surface, leaving it blotchy and red so cut down.
TOP TIP Have a facial now, so if your skin reacts badly it has time to calm down. Visit the best facialist you can afford, and aim for two more facials before your big day.
6 weeks to go…TAKE CARE OF YOUR SKIN Exfoliate your face and neck at least once a week to lift dead skin cells and give you a lovely healthy glow. Formulas containing rice are softer and won’t aggravate the skin, but always exfoliate skin while damp. And don’t forget to slap on the sunscreen! Whatever the weather, you should always wear an SPF 15 on your face.
4 weeks to go…ENJOY THE GREAT OUTDOORS Fumes and pollution can dry your skin, so make sure the air you breathe is good quality! Get a good pair of trainers and head for the hills – or a local park at least – and aim for 10,000 steps (about five miles) each time.
TOP TIP Go bare if you dare today… Going without make-up will give your skin a chance to breathe.
1 week to go...FOCUS ON YOU Treat yourself to a relaxing massage, and have that last facial. If your budget is stretched to its limit, try a DIY facial at home. Mix two teaspoons of fine oatmeal with enough natural yoghurt (for oily skin) or almond oil (for dry skin) to make a paste. Leave it on for 20 minutes, then wash off.
1 day to go…TAKE IT EASY Rest! Nothing will do your complexion more good today than taking things easy. If you’ve got endless plans to see friends and relatives, take a few minutes out of the day to clear your head. Wind down properly before bedtime with a lavender-scented bath or chamomile tea.
TOP TIP For a guaranteed glow, don’t forget to follow these three simple steps: relax, stand tall and smile. As make-up guru Bobbi Brown says, “The best cosmetic for beauty is happiness.” So make sure you enjoy yourself and you’ll knock ‘em dead!
On the day...FAKING IT! It’s time to cheat! Start with a radiance-boosting mask like REN’s Jiaogulan Cell Energising Facial Mask, £19.50 (020 7724 2900), which re-energises skin, giving it a healthy look. Then apply Clarins’ Beauty Flash Balm, £22.50 (0800 036 3558) to give your skin a glow. Set make-up with a dusting of light-reflecting powder for extra radiance!
For more advice on getting a radiant complexion from Olay, click here
