vendor love | Jessica’s Skin and Body Apothecary

A couple of years ago, when I was prepping to get gorgeous for *own* wedding, I was lucky enough to meet Jessica through one of my brides (thanks Kristen!)  Anyhow, I started seeing her for facials and have been a loyal client ever since!  I wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone looking to pamper themselves a bit – facials, peels, mineral makeup, waxing (best brazilian in town! sorry if that’s TMI) 😉 She does it all.  I have less-than-perfect skin and she has truly been a godsend.  We were chatting the other day about a special brides-to-be collection she’s offering and I mentioned I would post something about it.  Well, she did me one better and wrote up a whole guest blog about how to prep your skin for your big day.

First – a pic I took of her for her new website.  isn’t she stunning?!

and now, her guest post:

“Yes!”

Saying “yes” to your new fiancé is one of the most exciting moments of your life, which is then followed by some of the busiest moments of your life until your wedding day.  One important detail that often goes unnoticed is taking care of your skin. It is one of the most important things you can do to prepare for your big day, and that one hour facial can be a relaxing getaway from all of the excitement that surrounds your wedding. Aside from relaxation, taking care of your skin is the foundation for that dewy glow that is coveted by every bride. The skin care experts (licensed Estheticians) at Jessica’s Skin & Body Apothecary, based in Ann Arbor, MI, can assist you with creating a radiant look for not only your wedding photographs and keepsake album, but for a lifetime.

Exfoliation & Hydration

One of the most common problems that we see in the skin is dehydration. This condition can be caused by using a harsh cleansing routine: over counter cleansers, cleansing pads, and bar soaps; because these cleansers strip the skin of moisture while attempting to remove dirt, oil, and makeup. This leaves skin rough and often overly sensitize and red, dull and grey, or with superficial fine lines.

•Sensitive and red: A rough texture of the skin –from dehydration– creates the overly sensitive and reddish appearance. The solution is to use a creamy cleanser (that does not foam) twice daily. This type of cleanser will leave a lipid (oil) barrier on your skin that will protect and prevent moisture loss. Do not just splash your face with water; water is dehydrating to the skin too! Exfoliation for sensitive and dehydrated skin should be minimal. Jessica’s skincare experts recommend Pevonia’s Gentle Exfoliating Cleanser with perfectly round (not rough) jojoba beads in a cream base. For irritated skin, nourishment is the key.

•Dull and grey: When dehydration causes skin to look dull and grey, exfoliation is in order. The dead skin that sits on the surface makes your face look dull, ashy, and grey. To illuminate your skin, Jessica’s skin care experts will exfoliate it with lactic acid (the most hydrating of the exfoliating acids), and pomegranate and pumpkin enzymes. Following this, the Glymed Plus Hydrating Enzyme Mask can be applied to infuse your skin with hyaluronic and alpha lipoic acids, to brighten and plump the skin.

•Fine lines: Superficial fine lines are either created by aging or improper care of the skin. While we cannot easily get rid of the lines due to aging, we can easily correct those from improper care by eliminating the harsh cleansing routine and replacing it with creamy cleansers and cleansers with natural foaming agents. Using Glycolic Acid to exfoliate, in the form of a mask or night cream, is an effective way to soften fine lines. Jessica’s skin care experts recommend Glymed Plus Anti Aging Exfoliant Mask and Eminence Organic Naseberry Treatment Cream.

Ready for Your Close-Up

You will not be the only one appreciating your newly soft and glowing skin. Your wedding day makeup artist will as well and will appreciate it! This is because makeup will go on smoother and look more natural when applied on hydrated skin, hence that dewy look.

Jessica’s Skin Care Expert Tip:For focus on the eyes, consider using a Peptide cream (Glymed Plus Peptide Complex) to soften the tissues around the eyes. An eye cream rich in iron (Eminence Wild Plum Eye Cream) will reduce dark circles, while an eye gel with anti-inflammatory properties (Glymed Eye Calm) will focus on puffiness.

The Perfect Gift

Have you ever thought about asking for facial treatments as a wedding gift? What about giving it as a gift to your wedding party? Every time the bride looks at her photographs from her wedding she will fondly remember who to thank for her radiant skin. Added benefits to this gift is receiving lasting results for healthy skin as well as knowledge on how to keep up the effects of your facial from Jessica’s Skin and Body Apothecary that will be pictured in your keepsake album for a lifetime.

For more information and to book your appointment at Jessica’s Skin and Body Apothecary, go to www.jessicasapothecary.com

Thanks, Jess!  See ya at my next appointment 😉