How to Get the Perfect Tan for Your Wedding Day

If “The Big Day” has made its way onto your calendar, you have a lot of planning and preparation to take care of. Sure, you’re going to meet with caterers and taste cake samples, visit venues and meet with a few wedding planners. But, if you’re like many brides, you’re also going to spend a lot of time thinking about what you want to look like when you walk down the aisle. You’re probably going to spend a lot of time talking to your hairdresser about the look you want to don, and you’re likely to visit your favorite manicurist to make sure your toes are on point – trust us, you’re going to cover it all.

Of course, when discussing your appearance from head to toe, in the middle is the area where you’ll want to showcase the most dewy complexion possible. We know you want everybody to ooh and ahh at your dress, but the radiant skin beneath your bodice can be equally as attention-getting if you use a luminous skincare product that’s designed to put your best face (and arms, legs, and shoulders) forward.

Do Start Testing Products Months in Advance of Your Big Day

The day before you say, “I do” is no time to start experimenting with products. Hopefully, you’re being good to your skin and avoiding UV rays (either from the sun or tanning beds) because they can prematurely age you and leave your skin less than stunning. Ideally, you’ll use a self-tanning mousse that’s formulated with ingredients and keeps your skin supple and soft while delivering a gorgeous tan.

With that said, if you pick the wrong ingredient, your visions of being a bronze beauty could be overshadowed by an unflattering burnt orange hue. You don’t want to find out the hard way that a product doesn’t mesh well with your skin. So start experimenting with products months in advance so you can get used to self-tanning products and know how they react with your skin chemistry.

Don’t Tan the Day Before Your Wedding

Even if you’ve followed the rule above and mastered the art of using a vegan self-tanner optimally, just let your skin be the day before your wedding day. You want to opt for a tanning treatment that doesn’t just sit on the surface of your skin, which is what happens if you use a spray gun. Instead, look for a cruelty-free self-tanner that gets absorbed into the skin. That will reduce the risk of transfer and ensure you have the most stunning, glowing skin possible.

Do Prep Your Skin Like a Pro

If there’s one word you should become acquainted with, it’s exfoliate. This magical process gets rid of dead skin and things that can make your complexion look lifeless and dull. Exfoliate regularly in the weeks leading up to your wedding so you have a nice, well-prepped canvas upon which to apply your vegan self-tanner. As “The Big Day” arrives, make sure you remove any unwanted hair 24 hours before you apply your self-tanner and exfoliate 12 to 24 hours before getting your glow on.

Don’t Get Just Any Self-Tanner Without Doing Your Due Diligence

You want to pick a product that’s good for your body, so do a little homework before picking the self-tanning mousse you’ll use on your wedding day. Be sure to browse companies’ blogs and gain insight into their brand, the ingredients they use, and the proper application of each product.

Once you’ve committed to a wedding date, the planning begins. You’ll have a lot on your plate, but don’t forget to take care of your own body and skin while you’re planning your errand runs. By prepping your skin and keeping it healthy, you’ll be able to showcase a dewy glow that’ll look just gorgeous in your wedding photos. But remember, it all starts with the right tanning mousse!