Skincare Secrets for a Radiant Photoshoot Look

There’s nothing quite like stepping in front of the camera feeling confident and radiant — and it all starts with your skin. Whether you're preparing for a boudoir session, a bridal shoot, or a professional headshot, the foundation for a flawless photoshoot starts with your skin — not your makeup. Makeup can enhance your look, but truly luminous skin is built through intentional care before you even sit in the makeup chair.

Here’s how to prep like a pro:

1. Start with Hydration (Inside and Out)

Glow begins from within. -no exceptions-

In the week leading up to your photoshoot, make a conscious effort to drink plenty of water. Proper hydration plumps up your skin, making fine lines less noticeable and giving your complexion a natural bounce.

Aim to drink half your body weight in ounces daily to reduce inflammation and flush out those icky toxins.

Pro Tip: Add slices of lemon, mint, cucumber and berries to your water for extra skin-loving vitamins! I noticed if I have my extra large water bottle I almost always drink twice as much water! You can find the link for the 64oz water bottle here! On the outside, opt for a deeply hydrating moisturizer — even if you have oily skin. Look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid, glycerin, or squalene to lock in moisture without clogging pores. You will use a hydrating serum under your daily moisturizer.

This is my favorite for both dry, damaged, sensitive or oily skin!

Hyaluronic acid (attracts and holds 1,000x its weight in water) The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 (with Ceramides Glycerin (pulls moisture into the skin) This is the perfect hydrator to layer first and get the most out of your products. BYOMA Hydrating Serum - Moisturizing Facial Serum with Squalene, Glycerin & Ceremides Squalene (lightweight hydration without greasiness) Biossance is easily one of my favorite clean skincare brands! The hydration, quality, and results I’ve experienced from just one of their products rival what I’ve gotten after spending hundreds on multiple high-end brands. BIOSSANCE Squalane + Copper Peptide Rapid Plumping Serum ProTip: Don't forget to apply your moisturizer while your skin is still slightly damp to trap even more hydration. Obsessed is an understatement. The Brazilian Bum Bum Cream and Bum Bum Body Firmeza Oil by Sol de Janeiro are my go-to dream team. The cream is so rich and smells like a tropical vacation in a jar, and the oil? Silky, lightweight, and makes my skin glow like never before. If you know, you know — it's pure magic for soft, firm, happy skin.

2. Gentle Exfoliation is Your Best Friend

Dead skin cells are the enemy of radiant looking skin. It will make your complexion look dull, textured, and uneven — exactly what you don't want in high-resolution photos. 2–3 days before your shoot, treat your skin to a gentle exfoliating session. Choose a soft chemical exfoliant (like an AHA serum) or a non-abrasive scrub. Chemical exfoliants: AHA serums (like lactic acid or glycolic acid) loosen dead skin cells without scrubbing. Drunk Elephant T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum First Aid Beauty - Facial Radiance Pads with Glycolic & Lactic Acids, Daily Exfoliating pads with AHA that Help Tone & Brighten Skin Physical exfoliants: A soft, non-abrasive scrub made with microfine particles (skip the harsh walnut shells or large sugar scrubs). Avoid anything too harsh — we want that fresh, healthy glow, not redness or irritation.

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant, Face Exfoliator Scrub Powder with Salicylic Acid and Papaya Enzyme OLEHENRIKSEN 10% AHA Lemonade Smoothing Scrub Paula's Choice SKIN PERFECTING 2% BHA Liquid Salicylic Acid Exfoliant- Exfoliating Toner for Face, Blackheads, Enlarged Pores, Wrinkles & Fine Lines, Fragrance-Free

🌟 Important: Avoid exfoliating the day before or day of your shoot — it could leave your skin sensitive, red, or flaky.

3. Don't Skip the Serum

Serums are concentrated skincare magic, delivering powerful ingredients deep into your skin. About two weeks before your shoot, start using a serum packed with skin loving qualities! Here are my top choices for a radiant finish:

Vitamin C: Brightens, fades dark spots, and gives skin a radiant, even-toned look. innisfree Green Tea Enzyme Vitamin C Serum for Dark Spot Fading, Korean Face Serum for Glow and Radiance. Niacinamide: Reduces redness, minimizes pores, and strengthens the skin barrier. Paula's Choice BOOST 10% Niacinamide Booster, Vitamin B3, Vitamin C & Licorice Extract Peptides: Support collagen production, keeping your skin plump and youthful. Paula’s Choice Pro-Collagen Multi-Peptide Booster Serum for Wrinkles, Supports Collagen Production with Plumping Hyaluronic Acid & Amino Acids, Fragrance-Free & Paraben-Free

Hyaluronic Acid: A hydration hero to keep your skin juicy and camera-ready.

Layer your serum right after cleansing and before your moisturizer for maximum absorption both morning and night.

4. Prime with a Face Mask

The night before (or the morning of) your shoot, indulge in a hydrating or brightening face mask. Some of my absolute favorite sheet masks that work wonders before a shoot is Dr. Jart's sheet masks! The best choices are:

Sheet masks drenched in hydrating serums (hyaluronic acid, aloe vera, green tea). Dr.Jart+ Cryo Rubber Face Mask with Moisturizing Hyaluronic Acid | Korean Skin Care

Gel masks that soothe and calm any redness. Dr.Jart+ Cicapair™ Sensitive Skin Serum Face Mask for Redness with Centella Asiatica | Sheet Mask | Korean Skin Care

Overnight hydrating masks if your skin tends to be dry or flaky. Ceramindin Cream-Infused Face Mask by Dr. Jart

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  Don't forget to keep those lips hydrated! Dr. Jart makes a Jelly Bear lip mask drenched in hyaluronic acid, thats perfect for staying hydrated and plump.

  
  

🚫 Skip anything "purifying" or "detoxifying" — those masks can pull impurities to the surface and cause last-minute breakouts. Avoid those clay masks or pore strips at all costs the week leading up to your shoot, they will ultimately dry your skin out and cause irritation

5. Avoid New Products Right Before the Shoot

Now is definitely not the time to mad scientist with new skincare products! 😘😜 Stick to what you know your skin loves for the best outcome. New products can sometimes cause irritation, allergic reactions, or surprise breakouts — and nobody wants that on photoshoot day. I highly recommend avoiding facials, chemical peels, retinoids or acids for the 2 weeks leading up to your shoot.

6. Get Enough Sleep

We call it "beauty sleep" for a reason! You can spend hundreds on skincare, but if you’re running on empty, your skin will show it.

The night before your shoot, prioritize 7–9 hours of solid sleep. During deep sleep, your body reduce puffiness and inflamation, dark circles, dullness, repairs skin cells and balances your hydration levels. 💤 Pro Tip: Sleep with your head slightly elevated to help reduce puffiness around your eyes. Use a sound machine/ nature noises, blackout curtains to keep extra light out and if you really want a deep sleep a melatonin will do the job!

7. Bonus Tip: Use an Illuminating Primer Under Makeup

After your skincare (& sunscreen if you'll be outside), if you’re wearing makeup, use a lightweight illuminating primer to enhance your skin's natural glow without looking greasy. Look for one that's hydrating and light-diffusing — it makes a huge difference on camera. Light-reflecting pigments (gives skin that "lit-from-within" look) Glossier Futuredew Oil Serum Hydrating formulas (keeps makeup smooth, not cakey) Milk Makeup Hydro Grip + Glow Primer, Surreal - 1 fl oz - Long-Wear Illuminating Primer - Up to 12-Hour Wear - All Skin Types Blurring technology (softens the appearance of pores and fine lines) Milk Makeup Pore Eclipse Mattifying Primer - 1.3 fl oz - Face Primer - Smooths Skin, Controls Shine & Minimizes Look of Pores - Up to 8-Hour Wear - Non-Comedogenic

✨This one step creates the perfect canvas for your makeup artist — or your own glam!

8. Glow Boost: Treat Yourself to a Facial or Dermaplaning

If you really want your skin to be next-level flawless for your photoshoot, consider getting a professional facial, light peel, or dermaplaning treatment about one month before your session.

✨ This is where my amazing friend Natasha at Pearl Moon Beauty comes in! ✨

Natasha is a true skincare magician — she specializes in facials, gentle peels, and dermaplaning treatments that leave your skin silky smooth, refreshed, and glowing like never before.Not only does dermaplaning remove dead skin cells, but it also gets rid of that little peach fuzz, so your makeup goes on like a dream and your skin looks buttery-soft in photos.

Booking a treatment with Natasha about 3–4 weeks before your session gives your skin plenty of time to heal, absorb all the benefits, and look absolutely radiant on camera.

Trust me, your future photos will thank you — and so will your skin!

Book your glow-up session with Pearl Moon Beauty here! Radiant skin isn’t about perfection — It’s happy, healthy and radiant skin that looks and feels beautiful. Your glow isn’t just about products — it’s about the love and care you pour into yourself.

When you take the time to nourish your skin, your confidence naturally shines brighter than any highlighter. Smile, breathe, and remember: Your light comes from within. 📸🌟You've got this, beautiful! 📸✨