After a frenzied year of wedding-related meetings, fittings and tastings, maintaining a clear, glowing complexion on your big day seems as likely as an ice sculpture surviving a beach wedding. But like anything else for your wedding, all it takes is a bit of planning to make sure you look the part of the blushing bride.
'The hectic lead-up to the wedding is a recipe for disaster,' says Murad therapist Justine Grier.
She says that while the 'genetically blessed' can get away with relying on a basic skincare routine at home, most women should schedule in a treatment or two before their big day.
Grier recommends starting a skincare programme three to six months before the wedding, scheduling facials every three weeks, with the last facial booked a week before your wedding and any hair removal treatments done at least a week in advance.
'All home operations - that is to say, any picking or squeezing, should definitely be left to the professionals,' she says. 'A combination of treatments and products will ensure that your skin is at its optimal level when you walk down the aisle, not to mention the stress-reducing benefits of a facial for pre-wedding relaxation.'
Depending on the skin type, a machine treatment may be necessary to boost collagen or tighten facial muscles, but she cautions against trying anything new within four weeks of the wedding day.