Three Skin Care Ingredients Every Bride-To-Be Should Know About

Your wedding is obviously a day when you strive to look your best, hence the popularity of bridal fitness bootcamps. But while countless brides concentrate on exercise during the sometimes busy and stressful wedding planning process, proper skin care can often take a back seat. However, considering the number of professional portraits (and selfies) that will be snapped on your big day (probably more than you'll have taken on any other day of your life), getting your skin in top shape for the big day is equally (if not more) important than achieving that elusive Victoria Secret runway show bod.

So how soon after getting engaged should you get serious about kick-starting your wedding skin care plan? The answer is: immediately, according to Chloe Smith, national education and scientific communications lead for SkinCeuticals. "The earlier you start investing in your skin, the better the results will be come your wedding day. Women should take this time as an opportunity to develop healthy skin habits for life," she explains.

When it comes to getting your visage wedding-ready, there are a few key skin care ingredients that are guaranteed to give every bride-to-be great results, regardless of skin type. Here's what they are, where to find them, and how to use them:

Ingredient #1: L-ascorbic acid "This is the biologically available form of Vitamin C," Smith explains. "It increases the skin's antioxidant reservoir to combat oxidative stress caused by environmental factors like UV, pollution, and infrared radiation. Vitamin C also codes collagen gene transcription to both prevent and protect against fine lines."

Find it in: SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic. This best-selling serum is designed to give skin its required daily dose of Vitamin C.

How to use it: Apply L-ascorbic acid as a first step after cleansing and toning in the morning.

Ingredient #2: Retinol (Vitamin A) "This ingredient interacts with cell DNA to optimize cellular functions such as regulating pigment production, increasing epidermal thickness, and regenerating collagen," says Smith.

Find it in: SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.5 or 1.0

How to use it: Retinol should only be applied at night since it degrades in sunlight. Cleanse your face then apply retinol and wait at least five minutes before applying another product (this is to guarantee a full metabolization into the skin. A product applied immediately after dilutes retinol’s efficacy). "We recommend everyone start with Retinol 0.5 once a week," Smith explains. "SkinCeuticals retinols can have up to a three-day time delay for side effects like peeling, redness, or sensitivity in first time users. As the skin adjusts to retinol, usage can be increased to every other night."

Ingredient #3: Proxylane "This ingredient stimulates the production of dermal hyaluronic acid," says Smith. "Hyaluronic acid is a key component of the dermal extracellular matrix, and it provides structural support to the skin. However, the HA molecule is too large to penetrate the skin so we need ingredients like proxylane that stimulate HA production internally. The result is restored volume, a reduction in fine lines, and smooth skin texture.

Find it in: SkinCeuticals H.A. Intensifier

How to use it: H.A. Intensifier can be applied twice daily. In the morning, cleanse skin, apply CE Ferulic, then H.A. Intensifier. In the evening, cleanse skin, apply retinol, and then apply H.A. Intensifier.