Last week as I walked into my aesthetician's office I felt guilty. Why? I slept with my makeup on at least 4 nights the previous week, had not been drinking enough water, and my skin was freaking the efff out. So I told her the truth. As she started with my facial and ultimately extractions she said "I didn't know you loved extractions so much?" to which I responded "I don't!" to which she responded "then don't sleep with your makeup on!" (love my girl @skinbymollym for keeping it real!)

see more from our honeymoon in Belize

We read it all the time: for glowing skin drink ALL the water, make sure you wash your face, etc. and if you're like me it goes in one ear and out the other. Not because I don't want my skin to be glowing but because wine > water and sometimes I'm tired AF and the couch looks a lot more inviting than my nighttime skincare routine. Well take it from me, someone who recently got married, and DON'T let it go in one ear and out the other. I'm certain that if we all lived like we were getting married next Saturday we would be our best glowing and toned selves (okay, and probably stressed AF) but you get what I'm saying. There are FOUR easy things I implemented the months leading up to my wedding that were 100% a factor in my glowing skin on wedding day. Yes, I did go to my facialist more often (more on that prep soon) but I swear these FOUR simple things were game changers. How can I be so sure? Because I've been terrible at doing them since I returned from my honeymoon and my face hates me! Here they are:

1. Don't sleep with your makeup on: it happens to the best of us. This includes naps. Do not lay your head on a flat surface with makeup on. Just don't do it. And don't half ass it with a makeup wipe. Do your regular evening skincare routine every night!

2. Drink ALL the water: it's not a matter of how many oz, just drink more. When you're drinking the right amount of water you will see it and feel it. For myself, the easiest way to get in the habit was drinking a full bottle of water every morning when I woke up and every night before I went to bed. For every alcohol drink I had, I also had a glass of water. My skin was LOVING me.

3. Wash your makeup brushes often: I only wear makeup 3 - 4 times per week, so I started washing my brushes weekly. If you wear makeup 7 days a week, you may need to do it twice a week. There is SO much bacteria and germs on the brushes especially if they are being thrown in a makeup bag with all your other products. Before wedding I was washing my brushes quarterly. I know, so gross!

4. Wash your sheets + sleep on your back: why go through all the trouble of washing your face every night if you're going to put your dirty hair on your pillow case then sleep all night on your cheek? Wash your sheets weekly and try as hard as you can to sleep on your back. Many people say this is also really good for preventing wrinkles in the long run. My suggestion: put pillows on either side of you to keep you from rolling over. Yup, we're all babies again - hah! If you're like me and have stuffed animals you sleep with a) make sure they are being washed frequently and b) keep them below your neck. I didn't realize I was snuggle my stuffed hippo into my chin in the night and it was causing me to break out!

brush shampoo + cleaners

tropical outfit deets can be found here

Hopefully this isn't just another in one ear and out the other skin read. ;) I'm about to go take my own advice and down a bottle of water and throw my sheets in the wash! xo - Ash

there's more!