Wedding Blog
As we get closer and closer to the wedding I seem to have more skin issues. Like Miss Cupcake, I too managed to burn myself on a kitchen appliance. While her accident involved a toaster oven, I burned my upper arm making tea. While reaching for something else, I managed to get my arm in the direct line of the steam coming from the tea kettle. This resulted in a quarter size burn that blistered, peeled and is still healing.
In addition to random kitchen accidents, lately I have been prone to acne breakouts - especially on my forehead. Occasionally I will get a pimple here or there, but I haven’t had an actual acne breakout since junior high. I’ve got pretty normal skin - not too oily and not too dry. I’m not prone to acne breakouts and my skin isn’t especially sensitive. My current skin care routine is pretty basic and includes Cetaphil Daily Face Wash with Neutrogena Moisture Oil Free Formula (SPF 15) in the morning and another wash before bed with the Cetaphil.
Are you experiencing skin changes as your wedding approaches? I’ve been doing some research and I think I need to add an exfoliator to the lineup. So my question for the hive, what is your skin care routine? Can you recommend a good (and cheap) exfoliator?
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Share this post: A New Skin Routine
I also get occasional break outs, use Cetaphil, and Neutrogena (skin twins? lol) Anyway, I’ve always loved St. Ives Apricot Scrub. It does the job without overdrying or scratching too much, and it’s cheap!
I burned myself ironing a blue ribbon to the hem of my slip, you know…my something blue, about 2 weeks before the wedding. It was my right forearm and I thought it would have healed before the wedding. It SO did not heal before the wedding…it actually looked worse on my wedding day than it had before!
So, I am all brideified for the wedding and the pictures look great and all…after we photoshopped out the burn on my arm! I still have the scar and I was married in May!
A PSA to all brides-to-be…as your wedding gets closer and you get more stressed out (read: maybe a little less careful/aware of your surroundings) AVOID hot things. It seems things like curling irons, steam, and tanning beds like to attack just before the wedding.
St Ives apricot scrub is the BEST, and an easy find in any drug store skincare aisle. BTW- pickle juice is perfect for healing new burns. I have no idea why, but it works.
Have you ever tried Windex? Just kidding. Cetaphil really is good stuff!
i use burt’s bees citrus facial scrub - it’s natural and great for skin with all its uber ingredients. a little goes a long way.. hope this helps!
I use either the st. Ives apricot scrub (cheap and easy) or proactiv’s face wash (cleaner? feeling but more pricey) for an exfoliant.
I second all the recommendations for St. Ives. I use the apricot scrub as well as the Collagen & Elastin moisturizer, and they are both wonderful!!
i’ve been using st ives forever. but i do like my dermalogica skin prep scrub better. 
I TOTALLY second the St Ives Apricot Scrub. I’ve used it forever and it’s the BEST. It’s cheap and oh-so-effective!
I hear a gentle daily chemical exfoliant is actually better than mechanical exfoliant (ie, scrubs) and from my experience, I would agree. I used to use St. Ives Apricot Scrub, and definitely I like what it accomplished, but you’re only supposed to use that a few times a week, and the baby smooth skin only stays that way for about the day you use it, before feeling more middling the next day and then you scrub again a day or two later. Instead, something like Clinique Clarifying Lotion, (or another product with alpha or beta hydroxy acids,) twice daily, keeps up the baby smooth consistently.
I use St. Ives but Olive scrub. I like it, although I am not a huge scrb person. What really helps is drinking lots of water. I also take vit. B and skin/nail/hair vitamins that have biotin in. I am usually wuite bad with vitamins but when I got horrible sun poisoning on my leg (courtesy of weekend in Miami) I ate skin vitamins like crazy. not only did my leg heal quicker my facial skin looked nicer.
I use Proactiv, but i have really bad acne prone skin. I have tried the St. Ives before and it didn’t work for me, but we have different skin types. So, if I were you I would give it a go!
I got one of those Neutrogena vibrating thingies–I think it’s called the Wave? You stick one of the cleaning sponges on it and turn it on, and it leave my skin super-soft. I’ve also used the St Ives forever, but anyone I’ve ever gotten a facial from says to be careful not to scrub too hard because it’s really abrasive.
I saw my primary care physician a couple of months ago and he recommended I come in 2 weeks before the wedding for a cortisone injection for acne. I don’t have bad acne, mainly just little ones near my forehead but I do flare up every few weeks so I took him up on his offer.
I was watching the style network one day and they were talking about celebs red carpet tricks/secrets. One mentioned was that some add baking soda to their cleansers for gentle exfoliations. and would you believe it works! put a bit into a travel container that I now shake into my cetaphil in the morning. great results.
i use a cheap exfoliator from CVS, i think it’s Dove with little beads in it. it’s great. but if you don’t already use one i’d say use it once every couple of days.
i also have a prescription cream that’s a MIRACLE cure. if you wanna shell out a little dough as a life preserver (just in case) i highly recommend getting Duac. it’s A MAZ ING
Stress really makes me break out, so I bought the clean n clear line (kind of like a pro-active type thing) and started using that 2 months before the wedding. It really helped, but when my 6 month old nephew went into the hospital the week of the wedding, I was of course stressed out & it showed on my skin. My makeup artist did a great cover up job, and most importantly my nephew recovered and is a healthy 1 year old now.
Becky
I use the Boots microdermasion exfoliator, from Target, 2-3 times per week. In the past few months, I’ve been mixing 3 aspirin tablets in the Boots, and using that…it’s been great at keeping my skin clear!
I burnt myself turning off the grill three weeks ago (on my right wrist) and the scar is awesome. Luckily its on the right side. I’m a huge fan of proactiv and have my dermo on call for the cortizone shots leading up to the wedding!
Miss PN, I too use Cetaphil! I have very very very sensitive skin, and after many prescriptions and $$ lost, this is the only thing that worked. I use very hot water, a washcloth and the Cetaphil bar soap. Their moisturizer didnt work for me, but I am about to break down and buy Creme de la Mer. And then i’ll be poor.
I’ve had a bottle of the St Ives Apricot stuff in my shower for years, but agree it’s too abrasive for daily use. I really like the Neostrata Advanced Skin Renewal system (though it is a bit pricier).
I use Modern Friction by Origins. It’s a little pricier than drugstore brands but it is the best thing I have ever used (really) and lasts forever!
Can I suggest you try Arbonne’s RE9 line? It is a bit expensive (comparable to department store brands like Lancome or Cllnque) but the effects are A-M-A-Z-I-N-G. I use it personally and when I run out of a product without a spare, I have a mini melt down. I use their facial scrub, facial mask, body lotion & serum, foot cream (THIS stuff is unbelievable!) AND their sea salt exfoliate… which is like… HEAVEN in the bath! Try it — you won’t be disappointed! Plus, their products are all natural and free of any chemicals.
I don’t have a big problem with acne but i do get little breakouts here and there. I went to see a dermatologist a couple of months ago and I’m on Retin-A. My skin has never looked better. I also use a cleanser and moisturizer that she recommended. It’s really not that expensive and it’s lasting forever. Plus, my skin looks so great right now. So good that I’m making my FH use it as well. 
I’m getting married in two weeks and yesterday I got a small but very noticible oil burn that splated in my face from deep frying. And boy did it hurt.. Now I’m stuck with this burnt mark right underneath my right eye.
St Ives Apricot Scrub!!!
A few months before my wedding, I changed up the ol’ facial routine that I had used since high school. (Well, everything except for the apricot scrub!) I fell in love with Cetaphil (I use the bar) and Aveno’s calming moisturizer with SPF 15. Seriously, my skin feels so soft! And it was clear for the wedding. I should have made the change years ago.
oooh don’t use a particle exfoliant it makes micro-cuts in your skin and can cause redness. Definitely go for a chemical exfoliant… I swear by anything Kiehls! Also, a lavender based facial mask, or a cooling mask might help to relax you and make you less prone to break outs. Good luck, honey!
Cheap options…i’m with ya.
I’ve been using Walmart’s generic brand of Clean and Clear’s blackhead scrub. There are little blue beads in it…not sure what they are, but they are fairly gentle and i use it every nite. seems to be doing the job. but i’ve always exfoliated. the St. Ives is probably good to get to get you started and then maintain those results with something like the generic scrub.
i rarely get blemishes at all but have noticed that my skin has been reacting to stress a bit lately. as ppl said above cortisone is great. but i can’t afford to go to a derm to get shots….sooooo, i’ve found that using the hydrocortisone cream as spot treatment is quite effective. i use Clean and Clear’s Persagel first and once thats absorbed i dot on a little cortisone.
not sure if this works for sensitive skinned folx, but i don’t have sensitve skin and have no problem with it. since u dont have it either, this may be a viable option for you too.
http://www.paulaschoice.com has a great selection of chemical exfoliants that are supposed to work much better for acne then gritty ones…. she also explains the ingredients in each product and why it works, and will also do reviews on other products not her own. I highly recommend her website, even if you don’t buy her products!
Lush Angels on Bare Skin. It’s gentle enough to use every day and leaves skin soft and pretty. Although before I used this I used brown sugar - mix some into your face wash (I was also using Cetaphil) and it works perfectly. Just be sure to wash it all off or you’ll be sticky.
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Mrs. Pinot Noir, New York/Napa Valley
Age and Occupation: 24, Health Educator
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 31, Market Researcher
Engagement Date: November 10, 2007
Wedding Date: October, 2008
Blogging Since: June 25, 2008
Venue: Auberge du Soleil
About Me: I am a Minnesota raised, NYC transplant planning a destination wedding in Napa. I'm balancing my love for the environment and my hubby-to-be's love for tradition to create our "green wedding in disguise." Our wedding will include local food and wine, antique touches and lots of love and laughter. When wedding planning isn't taking up my free time (and money) I love to read, cook, workout, watch baseball and travel! Follow along in my adventure as I attempt to plan an eco-friendly and socially responsible wedding (with eco-oblivious Mr. Pinot Noir).
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