Tis the season to be social, with back-to-back events, late nights, and champagne at our fingertips, but you know what? If you do not prep, your skin will feel it first.

All those glowing, smooth, makeup-ready, red-carpet-ready faces we are used to seeing all over our feeds?

Well, let me tell you, as a dermal clinician, they do not just magically happen. They are planned and prepared for, and that preparation can make all the difference when a special event rolls around.

So whether you are a few months, a few weeks, or, gasp, only hours out from your big occasion, it is worth thinking about a few simple product and treatment tweaks that can help your skin look and feel its best.

The polished results we admire are rarely accidental, and a little forethought goes a long way when your calendar is full and the celebrations are coming thick and fast.

If you have a major event, you need to allow time to prep your skin for it. One skin cell cycle is around 28 days, so when we’re treating skin concerns like acne or pigmentation in clinic it’s going to take time. Meaning, to avoid disappointment, start with a skin consultation early. This will help plan for treatments like lasers, needling and peels that will work beneath the surface to refine texture, even tone and boost collagen - but they need downtime. It will also help map out the right skincare for your skin. 

Pro tip: In the lead up to big events I also love including mini at home exfoliants to keep your skin cell turnover happy Cosmedix Prep and Reset Lactic Exfoliating Peel Pads are like mini at-home skin pick-me ups and helpful when you’re getting your skin used to acids.

This is the time to go into maintenance mode, you don’t want to be trying anything new or be experimenting on yourself. A few things to avoid:

Stick with the routine and treatments that are already working. Your goal here is calm, predictable, stable skin, because the last thing you need is a breakout or impaired barrier close to an event. 

With your barrier strong and your skincare working on autopilot, this is the perfect window to focus on hydration and glow. In clinic, I personally love using gentle enzyme or lactic acid-based treatments, paired with LED light therapy to keep the skin calm, bright and functioning well. At home, you could also be adding in gentle enzyme masks and hydrating sheet masks (alongside your routine) throughout the week. These aren’t dramatic products, but they provide an instant glow without throwing your barrier off (and consistency always wins!)

Two pre-event products I love are the Aspect Fruit Enzyme Mask, which is a really nice gentle exfoliating treatments suitable for most skin types.

The Societe Peptide Sheet Masks, (which yes, are a little bougie) post treatment or in the lead up to an event can help maintain that healthy, juicy, event-ready skin. 

One week before your event, your goals need to be even more consistent. This is not the time for aggressive exfoliation, or trying anything new at all. Gentle exfoliation early in the week is enough to keep texture smooth without risking irritation.

Around mid-week, an overnight hydration mask is perfect for topping up your moisture levels.

For the rest of your routine you can stick with hydrating, gentle cleansers. I love Cosmedix Benefit Clean Gentle Cleanser.

Barrier-supporting creams like Alpha-H Firming Collagen Repair Cream so your skin stays even, plump and soothed.

Think of this week as maintenance, because you’ve literally spent months building. 

On the day of your event, your focus is smooth texture, deep hydration and a base that lets your makeup sit really well.

Start your morning with a gentle cleanse, then follow with a super mild enzyme exfoliant to prep skin for makeup.

You can then follow with a sheet mask, and layer a light mist and your serums underneath a moisturiser for the perfect skin prep without the heaviness under your makeup and voila!

Great skin isn’t just about what you put on your face,  it’s deeply influenced by what you do every day.

Prioritising protein and omega-3s is also one of the simplest ways to support collagen, reduce inflammation and keep your skin looking plump and healthy from within.

At the same time, reducing alcohol and sugar intake will help minimise dehydration, redness and any annoying pre-event breakouts; as will, staying hydrated, keeping stress in check (as much as you can), and moving your body regularly. 

And yes, I know none of this is ground breaking, but I promise the combination will genuinely help with your skin’s health during party season!