5 weeks before my wedding and my skin is awful

[Mooey89]

I’ve been making a concerted effort to make my skin its best... but this week it has totally broken out.

I’ve got 5 weeks to go until my wedding and I really really want my skin to be as good as possible.

I’ve been double cleansing, using retinol from the ordinary twice a week, and drinking at least 2 litres of water per day.

What else can I be doing?
Give me a step by step beauty regime!

Do the Dr Perricone diet. Lots of salmon, berries, no carbs - reduces inflammation & makes your skin glow. Cut back on makeup. Gentle cleansing & use some light glycolic acid & vitamin C products. Take a multi vitamin and omega 3s.

Oil cleansing always make me break out so maybe drop that if you're doing it.

Try eating avocado regularly, I've only just started eating them (other than as guacamole!) and I've seen a difference in my skin.

Glycolic face was changed my life, def no oil based products

*facewash

Stop putting chemicals on your skin and go to a sauna.
Your skin pores will get cleaned out from inside and you will get rid of a lot of waste products from your body when you sweat.
If you can combine this with some exercise in the fresh air that will help.
Take some drinking water into the sauna too drink, and do not stay in to long to start with.
You will find your skin not only looking much better but it will feel lovely and soft.

Are you using coconut oil by any chance? That is pretty pore-blocking. My other thought is that you're using harsh products that are stripping your skin.

I got a huge stress spot on my chin a few weeks before my wedding. For the only time in my life, I know how bad they are for you, I used a sun bed at my gym. It cleared my skin up very well. I haven't used them since but I felt it was an emergency.
I use liquid gold currently and that is definitely helping my skin.

I am in the US and my teen girls and I see a dermatologist regularly. She told me she does “emergency” help for brides with issues like yours. If you can afford it can you see a dermatologist privately? They could very likely treat you with good results as you are more than a month away.

Sauna is a good call

Could you book some weekly facials between now and then?

It will clear up for the day, trust me, it will.
Not an uncommon problem pre-wedding.

Have a lovely day, come back and tell us all about it. x

I wouldn’t be doing twice a week retinol if you are breaking out. It’s very irritating.

Treat it very gently. Stop the retinol for now.

What are you cleansing with? Cetaphil is very gentle I think. Some people find oil based cleansers don’t suit their skin so if you have been using one maybe switch to something else.

What other products are you using? Moisturiser? Night cream?

Regular facials! x

No carbs no chemicals.

There are two things make me break out: carbs and "night cream".

Don't buy into this cream nonsense. If there was a cream so potent it could turn back time, don't you think the queen would look 22?

Are you using any oil based products? I have just switched from an oil based serum and moisturiser to The Ordinarys hyaluronic acid and a l'oreal day cream after beginning to break out and not only is my skin plump and radiant but the spots have started to go. I also swear by Anatomicals Zap That Chap spot stick for any spots you've got. As a previous poster said with the Avocado, make sure you're having some healthy fats in your diet too. If not avocado maybe a tablespoon of mixed seeds on your cereal.

Agree with pp you need to really stop eating sugar and wheat in the first instance. Then I would stop the retinol for the moment as thats for anti aging which isn't an emergency right now I should think, and instead use a really light gentle cleanser like Cerave from boots, then get something with sacylic acid ( i use the ordinary ) and then a very plain moisturiser. Go very light on foundation or not at all if you can get away with it and do not touch your face. Take a multi vit configured for skin as well just as an added back stop. Good luck!

So sorry, for some reason my threads I’m on was only showing two replies!

I use Nip and Fab glycol is exfoliator twice a week and nip and fab face wash, i have nip and fab dragons blood serum and the ordinary moisturiser/retinol/caffeine eye serum...

I take my make up off with miscellar water (although ive been avoiding make up!)

I also do a charcoal mask every week.

I can’t afford weekly facials but have been trying for one a month.

I drink LOADS of water, a I go to the gym most days... can add in a sauna too maybe.

Maybe I do use too many products, but It was looking so good! Maybe it’s stress/hormonal.

Will reduce sugar too!!

I've had awful skin for the last few years, serious acne. Since May I've been cleaning off my make up with the cleansing mitts from primark, just uses water, I've also cut out refined sugar and white carbs. The change has been miraculous, my skin is completely clear.

It seems a bit harsh.
I'd drop the retinol and the glycolic for now and see if that helps.
The stress won't be helping - as pp suggested exercise, especially outdoors if possible, is good for that.

Bit different but I have rosacea and swear by sulphur soap and ointment. It's an old fashioned spot acne treatment. Don't use any moisturiser as it doesn't dry skin out at all. Recommended to a friend who has acne and she has had good results too.