As a woman in the entertainment industry, nothing brings back the anxiety of school picture day like having new headshots taken, am I right? Luckily the crimped hair and weird neon backdrop aren’t a part of the equation any more (did I just date myself?) – but there is still the desire, nay now it feels like a need, to look your absolute best. Those shots are your calling card after all.
Yes, make up and Photoshop go a long way these days, but you know you’d look and feel more confident if that giant pimple hadn’t popped up the night before the shutters are set to flash. Well ladies, I’m here to arm you with a little info so you can pick a day to say cheese* when you’ll be most likely to have a radiant face.
(*Don’t actually say cheese when getting your headshots taken. You’ll look silly. Trust me.)
Biologically, there are certain days every month that you’re likely to look your best. Good nutrition, adequate sleep and exercise aside, even the healthiest among us will look better on some days and not as glowing on others. Here’s the low down on how to plan on taking advantage of those ‘you look great’ days, and how to help with those ‘you look tired’ moments. It’s all tied to where you are in your monthly cycle.
Day 1 – 6: This is the time of your period. Your hormones have dropped and less blood is circulating to the surface of your skin. You’re likely to look paler and skin may appear blotchy. Oil production drops and skin may become dry.
Be particularly kind to your skin on these days. Skin isn’t retaining as much moisture so be sure to use products made for hydration. And don’t pile on the makeup in order to hide skin either. It’s particularly sensitive during these days and can be ‘over stimulated’, causing irritation and breakouts.
Day 7 – 12: You’re getting over the “everyone just leave me alone” feelings of the dropped hormones, but your skin is still not as effective at flushing out toxins as it can be. Always drink plenty of water, but particularly during this phase. The good news is that your skin is starting to retain more of that water, and so it will begin to appear a bit more youthful.
Day 13- 15: If just before sunset is called the golden hour for lighting, these should be called your golden days for lookin good. This is about the time most women are ovulating. Circulation is at its peak, hormones are at optimal levels, pores appear their smallest and oil production is juuuust right. Skin is likely to be its clearest and most glowing during this time. Basically, this is the time to strut your stuff – on and off camera. Schedule those headshots. And a date.
Day 16 – 21: Hormones begin dropping during these days and your body is spending more energy trying to regulate body temperature. In particular the nerves in your skin start becoming more sensitive and you may find your skin tone changing quickly in relation to warm and cold. You’re retaining more water now – but at least that helps keep your pores looking smaller!
Use gentle ingredients on these days and a mild exfoliant to help keep the golden time glow going as long as possible.
Day 22 – 28: The week before your period starts is when you’re likely to look your not so greatest. Oil production spikes due to a drop in estrogen. That combined with the testosterone is likely to cause that pre period break out
This is the time to use a salicylic face wash to keep pores from clogging and treatment masks to help balance and heal skin. This is also the best time to schedule a facial or dermatologist visit. After all, if we professionals see your skin at its best, we can’t help you as much.
Now you have all the info you need to work with and around your best and not so best looking days. The above is based on the average 28 day cycle, but of course we don’t all fall in that range. Some women’s cycles are shorter, some longer and some women ovulate earlier in their cycle, some later. Take this guideline and apply it to what you know about your own body – or use this as a reason to get in tune with your cycle. (I won’t tell anyone if you do it for vanity’s sake.) Then take that info and schedule those glowing headshots!