makeup Archives - Bridal Hot List

Top Five Bridal Beauty Tips for Winter Weather

January 8, 2015 Leave a Comment

Brrr, it’s cold out there! It’s still chilly and will stay chilly for a few more weeks, are you prepared? If you’ve got your wedding or any wedding events on the horizon you’re going to need to be prepared to weather the weather (see what we did there?). Our top five tips will keep you looking perfect, no matter how pretty or ugly the weather can get.

Seal your Look

If you’re afraid that the rain or humidity outside will melt your makeup, do your part and seal it in. Start with a primer that stays put (we love the primers by Too Faced and Smashbox) before you do your makeup, and when you’re done use a sealing spray (like Model in a Bottle or Urban Decay). The sealers will hold all the color in place and keep your look from melting away. They’re perfect for day long events (like your rehearsal day or for the big day) or before you go out for an epic night.

Lip Butter Base

If the cold makes your skin that much more sensitive, you need to do what you can to keep your skin soft! Before you do your big bold red lips (that we are LOVING this Winter), swipe on a layer of moisturizing lip balms. We love Chapstick, EOS lip balms, and the Jack Black lip balms. Try swiping on some lip balm, doing all of your makeup and saving your lip color for last so the moisturizer absorbs into your lips. It’s also a great idea to swipe on a hearty amount of lip balm before you to go sleep. Trust us, you’ll wake up to the softest lips ever!

Liquid Liner

Liquid liner tends to have more lasting power than the pencil liners- when they dry they’re seriously stuck there until you clean your face. We love the pencil liquid liners because they’re easy to swipe on quickly and give you a lot of control when you apply. The Marc Jacobs liner is fantastic, but a splurge. If you’re on a budget, the Ulta brand liquid liner pen is a great value and stays put all day.

Liquid Concealer

If you’re hiding bags under your eyes or even some cold time breakouts, switch out our concealer for something liquid to keep your skin from drying out. If you have a blemish or a breakout, you’ll still need to keep your skin moisturized. We love the Kat von D Tattoo Concealer because it keeps your skin from drying out but also hides imperfections and breakouts like a champ.

Moisturizing Removers

Moisturizing should extend past your makeup- you should keep it in mind even while you’re taking your makeup off! We love the Neutrogena hydrating makeup wipes this time of year because it gets off every bit of makeup on your skin without drying your skin out. The cold can be so harsh that you need to sneak in those bits of moisture wherever you can!

Filed Under: General Tagged With: beauty, bridal, bride, bridesmaid, looks, makeup, wedding, winter

Top Four New Years Eve Make Up Tips

December 29, 2014 Leave a Comment

We can not believe 2015 is almost here. It is time to say goodbye to another year and hello to a new one. Before making any of those New Year’s resolutions, we want to make sure we are party ready and ring in the new year in style! Ladies, it is time to get all dressed up, put on your new and festive dress, your best heels, and get ready to party the night away.

To compliment that party look, we we have asked our friends and makeup experts at Blushington to share some makeup tips for New Year’s eve. Makeup Artist, Brittany Spyksma from Blushington took the time to share what is hot and trending for NYE. Here is what she told us:

New Years Eve makeup tips: New years is the one night that it’s safe to go a little extra glam! If there’s any makeup trend that you’ve been a little too nervous to try, this is the night for it!

1. Glitter: It’s a celebration! Why not be festive with a little sparkle on your eyes! Make sure to apply a cream base for the glitter so it stays all night. We like Girlactik pearl base. Apply a generous amount to the eyelid where you want it to sparkle. Then, using a small shadow brush, gently place the glitter on top!

2. Winged Eyeliner: This can be as simple as a little flick at the corner of the eye. Stila Stay all day liquid eyeliner in black is the perfect tool to achieve this fun, flirty look!

3. Bold lip: Ditch your nude for one night and try a little color. Red is classic and always glam. If you’re not into it though, go for a deep pink or berry color! Kevyn Aucoin lipstick in Everlasting is a gorgeous, bright berry tone that would be perfect for ringing in the new year!

4. Falsies: Apply some faux lashes to finish off your glam, party look. They’ll add that extra pop to your eyes and look amazing in your photos!

Thank you Blushington for always keeping us up to date!

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Blushington, festive, Happy New Year, holidays, makeup, new years eve party, New Years Eve party look, Newport Beach, NYE, NYE looks

Top Five Trending Nail Colors for Winter Brides

December 16, 2014 Leave a Comment

Did you switch up your regular lip palette yet? The seasons have changed, it’s time to switch things up. If you’ve gotten on board with the rest of your beauty routine, it’s time to step up your mani/pedi game for the winter. It’s fair to opt out for a classic french mani for your big day (don’t worry, we won’t judge you!), but if you’re more adventurous or if you just want new fun shades for your bachelorette party we’ve got our top five picks for this season.

We Love Olive

For a more unexpected neutral, swoop up an earthy olive tone. This color is beautiful and complimentary of the woodsy nature of the holidays and winter in general. If you want to pair this with an outfit for your bachelorette party, get something bold in color but in the same color family- it’ll be the perfect pairing (just like you and your fiance!).

Sparkly Deep Tones

We love deep dark colors that balance out with glitter chunks for dimension. Paint this on over short nails for an edgy progressive look or on your toes for a fun sparkly surprise. This color really pops against a white dress and gives you a cool, chic look. The glitter is so necessary for making your mani that much more fun. If you wear this out with your bridesmaids, they’ll be totally jealous of how pretty your nails are.

Deep and Daring

If glitter chunks aren’t your thing, find a deep toned shade that you can layer to be as dark as you want it to be. Find something with a color-balancing sheen- like the color shown above. It skips the chunkier glitter in favor of a more subtle complexity in the shade. There is some glitter but it’s so small that it just creates a cool effect of changing a little bit when you change angles. This is for those girls who do a deep dark lipstick- if you’re daring enough for big bold lips, you’re daring enough for this!

Rudolph’s Red Mani

If you love those classics but want to adjust it for the holiday, a plummy red is perfect for you. Don’t go too dark or you can risk it looking a little vampy. You also want to skip the orange based reds and save those for the spring. A plummer red is complimentary for the season and still looks so perfect for all occasions. Red nails are just as perfect for weddings as a french mani, but that much sexier.

Galaxy-Inspired Nudes

If you want something subtle but fun, look for a warm nude shade that still has some glitter. Nothing says holidays like throwing glitter and sparkles all over everything! This nude is sheer enough to have your natural tones pull through but provides enough color to make your mani fun. This is more unconventional, so if you want to skip it for the wedding you can save it for the next bridesmaids’ night out.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: bride, cosmetic, holiday, makeup, nail, polish, wedding, winter

Top Five Trending Lip Colors for Winter Brides

December 11, 2014 Leave a Comment

The seasons are starting to change which means that it’s time to change up your color palette as well. If you’re getting hitched this season, or if you just have lots of wedding events on the horizon for the next few months, check out our picks for the top five colors for winter.

Bright Winter Kisses

If you’re not really a winter person, pick up a fun fuchsia color for this season. A lot of colors this season are a little more muted and darker, but if you love your brights go for it! We love this blue based fuschia to bring color to your face- and to pop against your white dress.

Mild Mauves

Tones like this warm raspberry will look beautiful and classic with anything you wear- so it’ll look great with your bridesmaids too. What’s great about this shade is that it’s not overpowering. It is beautiful and noticeable, but will still look balanced and great with full eye makeup. You can use this both for everyday or for the big day- it works no matter what you’re wearing this winter.

Cherry Bombshell

If you’re more into that classic pinup look, we like a really warm bold red look. When you image your wedding day, most people see a beautiful white dress and luscious red lips- this is our pick for winter brides! This shade is a little too deep for spring and summer, but looks so good for winter. You’ll be the belle of your own ball if you pair this with your white dress.

Plummy Nudes

If you’re not big on bright colors, aim for a plummy nude tone. Cold-toned nudes run the risk of washing your face out while it’s cold, so you want something that will bring color into your face. A subtle, nude plum warms your face up without overpowering your look. If you don’t usually wear makeup, this is perfect for your big day since it’s still true to your style.

Deep Wine Lips

If you’re a little more dramatic with your usual look, go for a bold deep red. If you want that Hollywood starlet look, these tones are perfect for you. You want the deepest, sultriest red you can find and be sure to line it with lots of liner to keep it from sliding around. Pair it with simple eyes- keep it to black eyeliner and big lashes and you’ve got an instant classic Hollywood bride.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: beauty, bridal, bride, cosmetics, makeup, trending, winter

Top Five Bridal Beauty Tips for Cold Weather

December 2, 2014 Leave a Comment

It’s finally December and the weather is seriously cooling down. Time to upgrade the Fall sweaters to winter coats (it’s okay- still totally cute). If you’re getting married soon, or have wedding activities on the horizon, you’re going to need to look your best even if you’re shivering and shaking. Whether you have photos, a shower, a party, or even the main event scheduled soon, we’ve got five awesome tips for this holiday season to keep you looking your best through the new year.

Lip Holidays

Loose lips may sink ships, but chapped lips ruin pictures. Since it’s been getting colder outside, your lips are going to be in much need of extra moisture. Every other day, go ahead and skip the lipstick in favor of a thick lip hydrating lip balm. We love the Jack Black lip balms- they have SPF and leave our lips so smooth. Wearing a lip color can be drying (although it looks SO good), so take breaks for yourself in between. If you have to wear lip color every day, at the very least go to sleep with a layer of lip balm on. Your lips will absorb while you’re sleeping and you’ll wake up with soft beautiful lips that are perfect for your first marital kiss.

Prime Time

If you’re going out and wearing those beautiful sparkly shades on your eyelids you’re going to need some serious primer. Holiday going into New Year’s Eve is the best time of the year to wear some chunky fun glitter. We love the MAC glitter to pile on for special occasions. The one downfall of fun glitter? It can get everywhere. Use a heavy duty primer before you pack it on. We love the Urban Decay Primer Potions and the Too Faced Glitter Glue (it’s specifically made for glitter! LOVE.). Keep that glitter where it needs to be- off of your ironic holiday sweaters and on your beautiful face for all the bachelorette parties you’ll get invited to this year.

Oil Up

You can’t miss out on moisturizing at all this year- seriously, everywhere. Now may be the time to pick up some cuticle oil for your nails in between manicures. Your manicurist will seriously thank you by the time you get your nails done for the big day. You can also mix some cuticle oil in your regular lotion to boost the moisture getting locked into your skin. If you want something on the go (i.e., not messy), Sally Hansen makes a cuticle oil pen for easy application right onto your nails.

Wear a Mask

Face masks are such a must for nights in, but are you also taking care of your hair? Hair masks are perfect for this time of year- especially if your hair reacts to the cold weather. If you get extra frizzy when it’s cold or rainy out (guilty!), a hair mask can do some serious damage to the factors doing damage to your hair. There are a TON of DIY hair masks you can find on pinterest that uses items from your fridge, or you can get to a salon or beauty store for a tub of hair mask. If you want to spend money, we love the It’s a 10! hair masks. They make your hair smooth, silky, and even smell that much better. Frizzy hair can make a beautiful bride look like an electrocution victim. Keep it smooth and you’ll look back on your glorious hair with fond memories.

Red-Balancers

One rough part of the cold- it makes your skin that much more sensitive. One big thing that happens to your skin in the cold is that it can get red really quickly. If your skin is a little too red, you can look sick or your blush can get really overwhelming. One of the best ways to combat this is to switch to a red-balance primer. Clinique makes a great one that is sensitive enough to never break you out, but powerful enough to keep you looking fantastic til you honeymoon in the Spring.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: beauty, bridal, bride, cold, cosmetics, health, makeup, winter

Top Five Bad Beauty Habits Brides Need to Stop

October 23, 2014 Leave a Comment

Wedding planning isn’t all about the guests list and the decor- it’s about YOU too. As the bride, you’re the centerpiece for the whole event so you need to be sure to take some time for yourself. You can’t focus on the first dance too much- you want to be sure that you’re at your best. We’ve got the top five beauty sins to avoid to keep you looking your best on the biggest day of your life!
STOP Sleeping in Your Makeup

So you fell asleep with a BB cream on, so what? The ‘what’ is that your skin can’t breathe properly with a coat of goop over it. You need your skin to be able to reset and breath and not get clogged or irritated. If you sleep in your makeup, whether it be a tinted moisturizer or red lips and falsies, it’s not good for your skin. Yes, it’s worse to fall asleep in false lashes than lipstick, but that’s not the point. The point is to be in the good habit of taking off all (yes, ALL) your makeup before you hit the hay. You’ll wake up with a fresh face and look fantastic while you stroll down the aisle.

STOP Skipping Lip Softeners

You may be a little more glamorous than the typical chapstick crowd, but that shouldn’t keep you from this staple. Lip softeners from EOS, Chapstick, and Jack Black are fantastic and can keep your lips from chapping and keep them looking good for your first kiss. Before you put on your lips for the day, do a swipe of a lip softener. If you can find something not tinted and moisturizing based, you can put it on before you go to sleep (it’s not makeup- it’s healthy!) so your lips soften overnight. Your lips are guarenteed to get some action on your wedding day- make sure they’re ready.

STOP Biting Your Nails

You know if you do this it’s bad! There are so many ways to keep your nails clean and ready for the big day. Since a big part of the day revolves around rings, you’re going to want your fingers to look good. There are nail polishes available that can make your nails taste bad if you try to chew them. You can try chewing gum instead of reaching for your nails. Get a gel mani to keep your polish looking good so you arn’t tempted to chew. Whatever you do- keep your fingers away from your teeth!

STOP Skipping Beauty Sleep

This one may feel selfish, but it’s totally serious. You need your sleep! Start slow- go to bed ten minutes earlier than usual. Then fifteen, then twenty, and see if you can get up to an hour. You’ll avoid getting baggy or puffy eyes, you’ll be more energized, and you’ll be ready to conquer a full day of fun planning! Your skin, your face, your brain, your fiance will thank you.

STOP Forgetting Your Teeth

Swing by the dentist- yes, do it. The dentist can be scary, but it’s totally worth it. Brush at least twice a day- three if you’re able to duck out for a minute after lunch. Floss at least once a day and keep some on you if you get anything stuck between your teeth. Gargle at least once a day with a fluoride based wash. And yes, finally, go to the dentist and make sure you’re cavity free. If you’re not, get it taken care of before the big day. You don’t want to bite down into your wedding cake and be met with a sharp pain. Get your teeth cleaned (lots of dental plans include cleanings so it may be free to you!) and keep them clean. You may feel too busy to floss, but when you see pictures of your pearly whites that match your dress you’ll be happy you saw the dentist.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: beauty, bride, bridesmaid, makeup, sins, trending

Top Five Coachella-Inspired Beauty Trends for Brides

April 22, 2014 Leave a Comment

Coachella is over, but that doesn’t mean the party’s over! Whether or not you were jamming out in the desert this year, these five beauty trends will have you screaming for an encore.

Deep Say Something Lips

Lorde really kicked off this trend, and we’ve been seeing it on tons of Coachella fashion blogs. Deep berry lips for summer create a sultry vibe and were adored in the desert. Don’t be afraid of the color- own it! A deep toned lip can work for bachelorette parties and is great for night looks. Just keep your eyes more on the natural side to keep from looking too painted.

Thin Arched Brows

The full eyebrows are taking a backseat to arched brows. Lots of festival goers were rocking a thinner brow than we’ve been seeing, and the arch creates an elegantly framed face. Use a waxy brow pencil to keep your brows together as much as possible so they don’t look too full or bushy. Keep your color as natural as possible and follow your natural arch so it doesn’t look too drawn on.

Dewy Sun-Kissed Skin

A beautiful trend we loved from Coachella was dewy golden skin. Use a moisturizing foundation or tinted moisturizer all over to really get that festival glow. This will look fantastic for outdoor weddings. Instant goddess glow!

Metallic Eyeshadow

Pedal to the metal! Silvery metallic shadows were huge at Coachella- we’re guessing Urban Decay’s Naked 2 palette got a serious work out all over the desert. The cool tones look polished while still being fun and funky. Cool metallics can be dressed up for a wedding ceremony, or dressed down for a casual bridesmaid brunch. Start silvery on the insides and smoke out the creases for a dynamic eye look.

Neutral Eyeliner

Pack up the teal and periwinkle eyeliners for later- brown is back! Keep your eyes looking young and wide with a neutral toned eyeliner. If brown isn’t your scene, go for the gold. Lighter liners that open your eyes up make you sparkle just a little more. This is perfect for brides and bridesmaids- it’s an instant eye twinkle!

Filed Under: General Tagged With: 2014, beauty, bridal, bride, coachella, makeup, spring, summer, trends

The BHL Guide to Prefect Spring Skin

April 13, 2014 Leave a Comment

Spring is in the air, is your skin ready for the season? We’ve got the six best steps for getting your skin in shape for wedding season.

Get Off to a Good Start

Wash your face in the shower using a daily cleanser. It can be tempting to use a more deep cleaning facial cleaner everyday, but that runs the risk of stripping your skin of its’ important oils. Instead, opt for a daily cleaner that is meant for daily use. Wash everything else you need to in the shower before your start your face- your hair, skin, do any shaving you need to, then work on your face. The longer you put off your face, the more the steam will open up your pores. It’s a great habit to get into year round that will keep your skin staying spotless.

Get Ready for Prime Time

Now that the seasons have changed, it’s important to keep your skin clear from the start. Opt for a primer that is oil-free, and organic if you can. Pick a primer that’s really catered to your skin type, like a matte primer for oily skin or a moisturizing primer for dry skin. Keeping everything oil-free lets your skin breathe, which you’ll need.

Build a Foundation

You may want to consider switching up your foundation with the seasons. As the seasons change, so does your skin. It’s good to start using a foundation that has SPF now that you may have more time in the sun. As a rule, with the warmer seasons, it’s a also a good idea to have a more light to medium coverage foundation. Let your skin breathe and you can avoid any surprise outbreaks or irritations (which you cannot afford during wedding season!).

Set it and Forget it

To keep your foundation from smearing, wearing out, or generally just not staying put, use a setting spray. We are HUGE fans of setting sprays here at BHL. They keep us looking good from the ceremony to the dancefloor at the reception.

Take it Off

The one makeup sin that we’ve all been guilty off at some point? Not taking off makeup at the end of the night! Come on, we’ve all done it. You know how important it is, and it’s a bad habit to sleep in your makeup. Every night, use a gentle makeup remover so that the chemicals don’t damage your skin. I like using makeup remover wipes at the end of the night. It’s an easy way to ensure all your makeup is truly off at the end of the night, plus it feels refreshing once your skin can breathe.

Have Good Habits

All these tips are great for everyday, but if you can help it try to take a few days to not wear makeup. Only wear makeup on days that you need to, and let your skin breathe on days that you don’t. Once a week do an at home mask or deep clean to clear out any build up and keep your skin clear and smooth. Be good about keeping your skin in check every day, and you’ll be absolutely glowing by the time the big day comes around.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: beauty, blog, bride, makeup, skin, skincare, spring

Five Beauty Tips for Bridesmaids

March 29, 2014 Leave a Comment

Your friend asked you to be one of the girls at her side for the most important day of her life- congratulations! This is her big day, but you want to be sure that you look good too. We’ve got five beauty tips that’ll keep you looking good on the big day.

Plan for Pictures

You may love the dewy look, but it doesn’t photograph well. Ever. Plan for a matte skin texture to keep you from looking greasy or sweaty. If you’re new to mattes, try out a matte setting powder or spray and use it over your whole face once you’re done up.

Get Blessings From The Bride

If you want to do something big or out of the ordinary, mention it to the bride. She may have a look she wants all her bridesmaids to have (like red lips all around or no smokey eyes). It’s her party, her night, and you should be respectful of whatever she wants. Trust us, it’ll come back around on your big day.

Stick to Long Lasting

It’s going to be a long day- plan for it. You’ll need your face to last through a ceremony, a reception, and a whole lot of love. That’s a lot. Go all out with primer, long lasting foundation and concealer, waterproof eye products and long lasting lip products. We suggest sealing your whole look with a finishing spray and keeping your lip color on hand. We also suggest committing to false lashes for the night to ensure you look doe eyed and adorable all night.

Gel Ahead

Unless you’re planning a mani pedi day with the rest of the bridal party, get your nails done a few days before the wedding. The best way to keep your nails looking good is to opt for a gel mani. Gel manicures can be good for up to two weeks and are smudge-proof. It’s going to be a slightly smaller splurge than a regular manicure, but it’s totally worth it (author’s note: I’m hooked!). As it gets closer and closer to the big day, your schedule is going to be more and more hectic. Take care of your nails while you can ahead of time so you don’t have to worry about them later.

Start Light

The week leading up to the wedding, let your skin breathe! Be sure to go a little lighter (swear off the falsies for a few days- it’ll be ok!) so you don’t risk breaking out or building up product. Stick to moisturizers with SPF if you can. When you do wear makeup, be sure to get all your makeup off and a daily wash. Keep your skin as fresh as possible, and your skin will look as fresh as possible.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: beauty, bride, bridesmaids, makeup, tips

Five Spring Beauty Trends for Brides

March 9, 2014 Leave a Comment

Hey ladies, getting hitched in the spring? Own it and have some fun with some spring beauty trends!

Cute in Coral

Coral and peachy tones are a springtime staple, and you can make it all yours at your wedding. go light and dab a shimmery peachy tone right on the apples of your cheeks for a kiss of color. Keep it light and fresh and you’ll have the perfect spring glow! Benefit’s ‘Coralista’ and Nars’ ‘Orgasm’ are some of our favorite coral blushes.

Free-flowing Frocks

Earthy, free-flowing cuts are so girly and romantic for spring. Opt for a free-flowing hi-low dress for your bridesmaids or loose long dresses. These flowy cuts give off an immediate flower-child vibe, and is flattering for all body types! Not only will your lovely ladies look fresh and flirty for fall, they’ll all feel great in their getups.

Barely-There Braids

Tiny braids in an updo gives a classic grown-up hairdo and sweet hearted touch. If you have your hair up, or even half-up, have your stylist put thin braids throughout here and there. As long as you keep your braid count fairly low, you’ll look like a free-spirited flower child.

Pieces of Petals

Speaking of flower child, subtle floral touches will give you that added touch of spring. While flowers are typically a staple of most wedding ceremonies, you can incorporate some fresh spring seedlings in with your traditional bouquets. Add floral touches like a tiny flower in your pedicure or in floral-themed jewelry for your bridesmaids. The added girl touch makes everything that much sweeter.

Smell like Spring

The final touch for a spring ceremony? Smelling the part, of course! Wear a light floral scent all day to keep the party going. Clinique’s Happy is a great classic floral and fresh scent that stands up to its’ namesake. Spritz on your wrist and maybe even your neck as well so you really feel the spring spirit all day.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: beauty, BHL, Bridal Hot List, cosmetics, fragrance, makeup, spring, spring 2014