Sophie on Skin, Sensitivity and the Run-Up to the Big Day

With her wedding just around the corner, model Sophie has been navigating the particular pressures of bridal prep - long shoots, intense planning, and a skin type that doesn't respond well to being pushed. We asked her everything.

First of all, huge congratulations! We are so excited for you ahead of your big day. Whatare you most looking forward to, and can you tell us a little about the wedding itself?

Thank you, all! We are so excited, we have so many little flourishes and touches baked into the day. It's going to be a beautiful mix of classical Jane Austen vibes meets Lebanese delicacies and music, so a real dance fest in the middle of the English countryside! I'm honestly so excited about the cake. It's being designed by The Indulgent Sugar Plum, two tiers of two flavours, created with an "enchanted nature" sort of theme.

Tell us a little about yourself and your skin journey. When did you first notice that you hadsensitive skin?

Genetically, my sisters and I have always erred on the side of dry and sensitive skin. I was taken in a lot by crafty marketing, encouraging me to slap on retinols or acids which promised to eradicate the nasties on my skin — but instead they just stripped my barrier dry, and compromised my skin health. It was then that I started doing some digging into creating a simple yet effective, individualised skin plan for myself, and realised I had sensitive skin, and these "typical" products you get from your local beautician were actually making my concerns worse!

As a model, your skin is constantly under pressure, from long hours in make-up to studiolighting and travel. How has that shaped the way you think about skincare?

It's made me appreciate the stripped-back approach so much more! It's also shone so much light on viewing my skincare as part of my lifestyle and wellness habits, not just an afterthought. I know with the harsh lighting and thick make-up coverage, I almost have to treat my skin with such respect and care for it to stay happy and healthy alongside shoots. So, my approach to skincare has become a lot more holistic and all-encompassing: health-affirming habits like exercise, and gut health as examples — in addition to nourishing products.

Which Votary products have become non-negotiables in your routine, and what difference have you noticed since using them?

Absolutely the Super Sensitive Cleansing Cream! My go-to cleanser AM and PM alongside the classic Cleansing Oil, and my skin feels fresh without any unpleasant tightness. The Super Renewal Serum and Radiance Mask have been a godsend to fight against prep stress and keep my skin refreshed without bothering my skin barrier. It's a real life saver to know I can still achieve my skin goals for the day — glowy, refreshed, rejuvenated — without risking my skin health, or spending loads of money on well-marketed actives!

Have you incorporated any particular treatments into your prep?

I've been opting for the skin booster path! Lots of LED Mask therapy (great for a wind-down in the evening, too), lactic acid peels, a couple bouts of microneedling and PRP; I want to look my best for the day, but also myself! These coupled with my Votary products have meant I've achieved a lovely, healthy glow, despite the stressors associated with wedding prep…

Any other changes to lifestyle or routine that have had a real impact?

I think some of my most important habits of all are balanced, wholesome nutrition and a regular exercise regime! I have to juggle wedding prep with modelling, and a highly technical field (statistics/machine learning), so having moments in the day to slow down and be present helps my overall wellbeing and skin health. This has helped enormously with stress management, and naturally we all get occasional breakouts when we have something this big that we're planning. But keeping these key habits as a bedrock and anchor has really helped mitigate the collateral damage of wedding planning!

Do you have a morning and evening ritual that feels like a true act of self-care right now?

There have definitely been moments when it's been in and out, just stay consistent! When I get a chance to have a bit more downtime, the Votary Cleansing Oil and mini self-massage is an absolute must. I couple that with a warm flannel, some LED light therapy, and I'm ready to go with a book and bedtime!

With sensitive skin, there's always that temptation to try something new before a big event, and then the fear of doing exactly that. How have you navigated that in the run-up to your wedding?

Reminding myself that if it isn't broken, don't try to fix it! If I had found a magical potion or elixir to give myself a glow, I would've well before the wedding. Keeping consistent habits and my trusted Votary products in loop, over a long period of time, has been the go-to for this big event.

Is there anything you want every bride with sensitive skin to know, a piece of advice youwish someone had given you?

Please don't strip your barrier dry in an effort to get that perfect skin — that doesn't exist! What does exist is the best version of you, with beautiful products that nourish and care for your skin. And, funnily enough, that's the thing that's going to give you results without the extra worry.

Discover Sophie's Votary favourites at votary.co.uk

Follow Sophie on instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sofitee/