10 Skincare Products to Add To Your Beauty Bag Pronto for Glowing Wedding Day Skin
Yes, makeup artists can work magic–you won’t see us debating that. However, any MUA will tell you that to get the best wedding day glow, you gotta put in the work ahead of time. And by work, we mean some serious self-care with an arsenal of skincare products and a stellar routine. We know you’ve got a lot on your mind and on your credit card at the moment, so we rounded up the best of the best (if you feel like spoiling yourself) as well as some seriously affordable dupes that you can pick up at your local drugstore. So save your $$$ or spoil yourself (or pull a Michelle Obama and mix-and-match) and get ready to glow.
Photo | Sally Pinera
Did you know that you should be exfoliating your face 2-3 times per week? Regular exfoliation preps your skin to absorb and retain any of the treatments and cremes that follow. Exfoliants fall into two main categories–chemical and physical. Chemical exfoliants rely on acids and enzymes to remove dead skin while physical exfoliants literally scrub the dead skin away. Both have their own pros and cons, but most dermatologists recommend using a chemical exfoliant. They are gentler on your skin (surprisingly) than their physical counterparts and can be used more regularly.
Exfoliate
Did you know that you should be exfoliating your face 2-3 times per week? Regular exfoliation preps your skin to absorb and retain any of the treatments and cremes that follow. Exfoliants fall into two main categories–chemical and physical. Chemical exfoliants rely on acids and enzymes to remove dead skin while physical exfoliants literally scrub the dead skin away. Both have their own pros and cons, but most dermatologists recommend using a chemical exfoliant. They are gentler on your skin (surprisingly) than their physical counterparts and can be used more regularly.
Photo | Credo Beauty
Coming in at a whopping $90, this is one of the more pricey exfoliators on the market, but for good reason. It uses a variety of different acids blended with natural extracts to curb oiliness and reveal clearer more luminous skin while you sleep. Not only is it good for your face, but it’s also vegan and cruelty-free, so it’s good for the world too–just another thing to add to your glow.
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Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum
Coming in at a whopping $90, this is one of the more pricey exfoliators on the market, but for good reason. It uses a variety of different acids blended with natural extracts to curb oiliness and reveal clearer more luminous skin while you sleep. Not only is it good for your face, but it’s also vegan and cruelty-free, so it’s good for the world too–just another thing to add to your glow.
Photo | Sephora
Another acid-based exfoliator, CeraVe Salicylic Acid Cleanser gently washes away dirt, oil, and dead skin cells while protecting your skin’s natural barrier. This cleanser is great for acne-prone skin and it’s fragrance-free so it works well for people who are sensitive to scents as well.
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CeraVe Salicylic Acid Cleanser
Another acid-based exfoliator, CeraVe Salicylic Acid Cleanser gently washes away dirt, oil, and dead skin cells while protecting your skin’s natural barrier. This cleanser is great for acne-prone skin and it’s fragrance-free so it works well for people who are sensitive to scents as well.
Photo | Walgreens
We’re trying to glow, right? And even if you’ve already exfoliated there are microscopic bits of dirt, makeup, and oil that can hang on for dear life and dull your sparkle. These tiny culprits can also clog pores and prevent the rest of your skincare routine from sinking in and realizing their fullest potential. Enter toner, this water-based cleanser helps wipe away whatever’s left to reveal a blank canvas…and wouldn’t ya know it, it helps brighten skin as well, and evens skin tone!
Toner
We’re trying to glow, right? And even if you’ve already exfoliated there are microscopic bits of dirt, makeup, and oil that can hang on for dear life and dull your sparkle. These tiny culprits can also clog pores and prevent the rest of your skincare routine from sinking in and realizing their fullest potential. Enter toner, this water-based cleanser helps wipe away whatever’s left to reveal a blank canvas…and wouldn’t ya know it, it helps brighten skin as well, and evens skin tone!
Photo | Hello Glow
SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion Toner is a bit different from other toners on the market. While most take on a water-like form, this one has the texture of a lotion, so it’s an easy application and you can do it with just your hand instead of using a cloth or cotton ball. We love that this toner nourishes your skin with vitamins, organic acids, minerals, and amino acids while it cleans!
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SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion Toner
SK-II Facial Treatment Clear Lotion Toner is a bit different from other toners on the market. While most take on a water-like form, this one has the texture of a lotion, so it’s an easy application and you can do it with just your hand instead of using a cloth or cotton ball. We love that this toner nourishes your skin with vitamins, organic acids, minerals, and amino acids while it cleans!
Photo | Sephora
While Thayers has literally been around since the 1800s, their Alcohol-Free Original Witch Hazel Facial Toner has recently gone viral on all the platforms. Why? It cleanses, hydrates, evens skin tone, and helps shrink pores. Oh, and did we mention…it’s SUPER AFFORDABLE? You can score an 8.5 oz bottle at Walmart for just $7.97.
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Thayers Alcohol-Free Original Witch Hazel Facial Toner
While Thayers has literally been around since the 1800s, their Alcohol-Free Original Witch Hazel Facial Toner has recently gone viral on all the platforms. Why? It cleanses, hydrates, evens skin tone, and helps shrink pores. Oh, and did we mention…it’s SUPER AFFORDABLE? You can score an 8.5 oz bottle at Walmart for just $7.97.
Photo | Amazon
If you’re on social media, then you’ve heard of serums, but if you’ve yet to add one to your skincare routine, today’s the day! Serums are concentrated solutions packed with vitamins and acids that pack a big punch in a pretty little container. Think of them like a cold-pressed juice shot but for your skin. And believe it or not, order matters when it comes to your skincare routine, so make sure to put your serum on before your moisturizer so it gets fully absorbed.
Serum
If you’re on social media, then you’ve heard of serums, but if you’ve yet to add one to your skincare routine, today’s the day! Serums are concentrated solutions packed with vitamins and acids that pack a big punch in a pretty little container. Think of them like a cold-pressed juice shot but for your skin. And believe it or not, order matters when it comes to your skincare routine, so make sure to put your serum on before your moisturizer so it gets fully absorbed.
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Caudalie’s Vinoperfect Radiance Serum
There are a lot of great serums out there, like a lot, but we specifically went on the hunt for the best serum for glowing skin and Caudalie’s Vinoperfect Radiance Serum takes the [wedding] cake. Not only does it soothe and strengthen skin, but it’s proven to help reduce dark spots, acne scars, and other forms of discoloration leaving you with a smooth canvas on your big day.
Photo | Sephora
If you’ve been serum shopping, then you know how pricey these things can get, but this one is only $8! It uses a combo of hyaluronic acid and Beta arbutin to hydrate, plump, and brighten skin, giving you that youthful glow.
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Good Molecules Daily Brightening Serum
If you’ve been serum shopping, then you know how pricey these things can get, but this one is only $8! It uses a combo of hyaluronic acid and Beta arbutin to hydrate, plump, and brighten skin, giving you that youthful glow.
Photo | Good Molecules
You know what they say, “Sun’s out, guns out” and when it comes to skincare, the big guns = a day cream with some serious SPF. How serious? At least 30 SPF, but if it’s higher, you won’t hear us complaining. While a solid day cream will add moisture and hydration to your face in the moment, the SPF protection will be the gift that keeps on giving and contributes to your perfect wedding day glow.
Day Cream
You know what they say, “Sun’s out, guns out” and when it comes to skincare, the big guns = a day cream with some serious SPF. How serious? At least 30 SPF, but if it’s higher, you won’t hear us complaining. While a solid day cream will add moisture and hydration to your face in the moment, the SPF protection will be the gift that keeps on giving and contributes to your perfect wedding day glow.
Photo | Kiehls
Some day creams can run you into the hundreds, so even though this one is our “splurge”, it’s not out of this world pricey at $67. This tried and true classic has been around forever and it’s really hard to beat. It stays put for 24 hours, protecting and hydrating skin and the lightweight formula is non-greasy and leaves you with soft healthy-looking skin. Plus, we stan that it’s in a pot so you can get the most out of every last drop!
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Kiehls Ultra Facial Cream SPF 30
Some day creams can run you into the hundreds, so even though this one is our “splurge”, it’s not out of this world pricey at $67. This tried and true classic has been around forever and it’s really hard to beat. It stays put for 24 hours, protecting and hydrating skin and the lightweight formula is non-greasy and leaves you with soft healthy-looking skin. Plus, we stan that it’s in a pot so you can get the most out of every last drop!
Photo | Kiehls
Cetaphil brings it when it comes to drug-store skincare and they truly have a designer skincare dupe for every part of your routine. For us, their daily SPF moisturizer is where it’s at. It’s almost identical to its Kiehls counterpart in every way, except for the fact that it boasts 5 SPF more…just sayin.
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Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer - SPF 35
Cetaphil brings it when it comes to drug-store skincare and they truly have a designer skincare dupe for every part of your routine. For us, their daily SPF moisturizer is where it’s at. It’s almost identical to its Kiehls counterpart in every way, except for the fact that it boasts 5 SPF more…just sayin.
Photo | Target
Leading up to your big day, you’ll want to pack in all the beauty rest you can, and why not invest in some skincare that works while you sleep? Look for a cream with restorative properties like Retinol and Hyaluronic Acid that increase the production of new skin cells and help reduce fine lines and wrinkles leaving you with baby-soft hydrated skin.
Night Cream
Leading up to your big day, you’ll want to pack in all the beauty rest you can, and why not invest in some skincare that works while you sleep? Look for a cream with restorative properties like Retinol and Hyaluronic Acid that increase the production of new skin cells and help reduce fine lines and wrinkles leaving you with baby-soft hydrated skin.
Photo | Nordstrom
What we love about this splurge is that it’s really a 2 in 1 formula, you’re getting a serum and a night cream in one perfect little package. So if you’re a big traveler or just have limited counter space, this one’s a good splurge for you. The formula is specifically designed to calm irritation and strengthen your skin’s natural barrier that will compound over time, leaving you with beautiful glowy skin.
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Tatcha Indigo Overnight Repair Serum in Cream Treatment
What we love about this splurge is that it’s really a 2 in 1 formula, you’re getting a serum and a night cream in one perfect little package. So if you’re a big traveler or just have limited counter space, this one’s a good splurge for you. The formula is specifically designed to calm irritation and strengthen your skin’s natural barrier that will compound over time, leaving you with beautiful glowy skin.
Photo | Sephora
Another drugstore fave, CeraVe has a ton of great products. They don’t mess around with cute packaging and gimmicks, they get right down to business, and the results say it all. This dermatologist-developed formula releases slowly over the course of the night so that you wake up as dewy as you felt when you first put it on.
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CeraVe Skin Renewing Night Cream
Another drugstore fave, CeraVe has a ton of great products. They don’t mess around with cute packaging and gimmicks, they get right down to business, and the results say it all. This dermatologist-developed formula releases slowly over the course of the night so that you wake up as dewy as you felt when you first put it on.
Photo | Walmart
