Q&A Beauty Local experts reveal all GET THE GLOW Meet the expert: Lydia Ashton is the owner of Groove Aesthetics and Beauty based in Fetcham. She’s a registered nurse who started the clinic with an ambition to combine her years of clinical practice, customer service skills and passion for all things health and beauty. How can I get glowing skin in time for my big day? Lydia says: Achieving glowing skin on your wedding day is likely to be high up on your list of must-haves. You’ll have heard it before I’m sure (and you know it’s right!) but it all starts with good skincare that doesn’t have to cost the earth. Most brides start to think about their hair and make-up months, if not years before their big day, and your skin deserves some love too! If you get it right with your skin, your make-up is going to sit better and last much longer. Start with the basics - you have to be removing all of your make-up at the end of every day. No more cheat days - sleeping in your make-up is going to clog your pores and lead to breakouts. Introduce exfoliation into your evening regime with a good cleanser or toner containing AHAs (alpha hydroxy acids) or BHAs (beta hydroxy acids). Those containing lactic acid, glycolic acid or salicylic acid will be a good purchase. Follow this with a good hydrating serum rich in hyaluronic acid, and retinol, then finally either a deeply nourishing facial oil or night moisturiser. Retinol can make your skin a little flakey when you first start using it so introduce it slowly (I sometimes mix mine with my night cream) and build up the strength over several months. For daytime, forget the exfoliation step and never use retinol as it will make your skin more sensitive to the sun. Always wear SPF 30+ and finally, get plenty of water. Most people have better skin than they give themselves credit for. I’m forever reminding my clients how gorgeous they are. If you feel your skin is acne-prone and you’ve tried everything, it’s worth consulting your GP or a dermatologist who may be able to prescribe medical-grade skincare or a quick course of antibiotics to clear things up. The enduring appeal of smooth, glowy skin means that the most popular treatments for brides at my clinic are micro-needling, the Red Carpet Facial and skin boosters. I offer a consultation where you can bring me your products and we’ll go through them together and make a plan for what stays and what goes. I’ll offer you alternatives based on your budget and together we’ll make a keep or cull list! I usually end up making a variety of recommendations from high street pharmacies, mid-range online retailers and a few higher-end cosmeceuticals. Congratulations and enjoy your wedding journey! https://groovebeauty.co.uk www.unsplash.com ASK THE EXPERTS 79
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