Everything You Need to Know About Pre-Wedding Skincare

A calming guide from Nikki O’Dwyer, Heartwood’s Head Aesthetician

Bridal skincare can be a minefield. Between to-do lists, fittings, and final guest counts, it’s easy for skin to take a back seat. But as Nikki O’Dwyer, Heartwood’s resident aesthetician with over 12 years of experience puts it, “The wedding day glow isn’t just about surface-level beauty. It’s about skin that feels supported, calm, and deeply cared for. You want to feel like yourself - just illuminated.”

We spoke to Nikki to uncover the most-asked questions from brides-to-be, and to introduce a new package designed to help you prepare with ease: the Heartwood Pre-Wedding Peace Package.

The Heartwood Pre-Wedding Peace Package

$790 value for $600, this exclusive package was designed with real brides in mind. One of them? Our very own Susie, Heartwood’s General Manager, who’s getting married this spring and has been the face (quite literally) of this program-in-practice.

She describes the process as transformative - not just for her skin, but for her mindset.

“I’ve felt more centred after every treatment. My skin looks calm and glowing, and I feel like I’m approaching my wedding as the best version of myself - natural, but luminous.”

The Heartwood Pre-Wedding Peace Package includes:

• 1 x Heartwood Peel + Heal – a botanical resurfacing treatment to gently clarify and refresh skin.
• 4 x Heartwood Facial Massages – combining sculpting, hydration and relaxation, using Indian sandalwood to ease both muscular and emotional tension.
• 1 x Heartwood Signature Facial – the final touch before the big day: deeply hydrating, restoring, and glow-enhancing.

Treatments are designed to be spaced across 8–12 weeks, working in harmony with your skin’s natural rhythms and emotional needs. There’s no harshness, no surprise reactions - just calm, consistent progress.

Bridal Skincare FAQs with Nikki

When should I start my bridal skincare journey?

“Ideally 2-3 months out. It gives your skin time to respond to treatment, settle, and build that natural resilience and glow.”

Starting earlier means more time to gently address specific concerns like dullness, congestion, sensitivity, or dehydration - especially important if you’re dealing with seasonal changes or stress.

Are pre-wedding facials really worth it?

“Absolutely. But not just for the glow. Facials give you space to exhale. They soothe the skin, yes but they also soothe the nervous system.”

Facials improve skin tone, clarity, hydration, and elasticity but they also help regulate cortisol, lower inflammation, and restore your breath. It’s a whole-body approach, wrapped in a single treatment room.

What’s special about the Peel + Heal treatment?

“It’s Heartwood’s go-to for a glow reset. Gentle resurfacing, calming botanicals, no downtime. You’ll leave looking brighter and feeling lighter.”

Unlike harsher peels, this treatment supports the skin barrier while revealing smooth, even skin beneath. It’s recommended the first treatment in the package and a bride favourite with plenty of time to enjoy the benefits before the wedding and well-after.

Can I book this if I only have a few weeks left?

“Yes, we’ll adapt the package timeline for you. Even 25 days out, we can still build a calm, effective skincare rhythm.”

In a time crunch, Nikki suggests booking the Peel + Heal immediately, followed by at least one facial massage and a Signature Facial a week before your wedding. Hydration, rest, and supportive homecare will carry you the rest of the way.

What should I avoid close to the wedding?

“No new products or harsh treatments. This is the time to protect, not provoke your skin.”

Instead, Nikki recommends layering moisture, supporting the microbiome, and keeping things beautifully simple. Less truly is more when you’re a week out from your walk down the aisle.

Why do you recommend incorporating Indian Sandalwood?

At the heart of every Heartwood facial is sustainably sourced Indian sandalwood, a calming botanical known to reduce redness, inflammation, and stress on the skin and mind.

“Sandalwood is like a balm for the nervous system. Brides walk out of the treatment room not just glowing but grounded,” Nikki explains.

Learn more about our Indian sandalwood here.

A Note on Ritual

The Heartwood Pre-Wedding Peace Package is designed not just to care for your complexion, but to honour the threshold you’re crossing. These treatments offer a space to pause, realign, and reconnect with yourself during what can be a whirlwind time.

Whether you’re a bride-to-be, celebrating a milestone, or simply needing a moment to reset, the ritual is available to you.

“Glowing skin is the bonus. Presence is the goal.”

Purchase the package here, or to gift the package here.

For availability and consultations, speak with our team in-store or call us on (08) 9384 3084.