“What’s the one best thing I can do for my skin before my Denver boudoir shoot?”
This is one of my most frequently asked questions as a boudoir photographer, so I want to share what I’ve learned works the best to achieve that glowy, ethereal, sunkissed skin before your shoot: microneedling!
I’ve done a lot of skin treatments in my day, from facials to chemical peels and everything in between. I’m not a skincare expert, but what I’ve found through trial and error is that microneedling gives me the best results with the least amount of downtime and doesn’t aggravate my sensitive skin (perioral dermatitis, anyone?).
So, what is microneedling? In short, it’s a minimally invasive treatment that uses tiny needles to boost collagen production and blood flow, improving skin texture, tone, and glow. As you see in my video, the needles themselves are quite nondescript, so you can do this even if you have an aversion to them.
If you haven’t tried this service before, I bet you’re probably thinking: that shit hurts, right? Nope! The right provider will always numb your skin before the treatment begins.
I’ll take a day or two off from the gym and avoid being out in direct sun to give my face time to recuperate immediately following the treatment. But after that? Glowy af, baby!
What I notice following the treatment: reduced pore size, more even skin tone, improved skin texture and softness thanks to the exfoliating properties of the treatment. Denver is a damn desert so this is a perfect option to slough off dry skin.
That last point is exactly why I like to recommend this service to my clients. If you’re treating yourself to hair + makeup with my glam team Kim J. Beauty, you’ll need to prep your skin ahead of time. Dry, flaky skin doesn’t do as well with makeup like exfoliated, glowing skin does.
When should you book a microneedling session? The sweet spot is 10-14 days before your shoot if you’re familiar with the service. If you’ve never done microneedling before, I recommend trying it out well in advance of your shoot to see how you like the results.
If you need a banger provider reference, Karilyn May is your gal! She’s my go-to, as she’s done wonderful microneedling sessions for me and also did my permanent makeup (nano brows are the real deal y’all). Hit her up for more info, or peep her Instagram to get a feel for all the services she does.
