Beauty Timeline for Brides

July 29, 2013 Leave a Comment

The question has been popped (along with some champagne, hopefully)! Congratulations, now all you have left to do is plan the most spectacular party of your life! A bride has a lot to juggle for her wedding, so being organized is imperative. Your makeup look on your wedding will be photographed constantly, so you want to make sure it works for you. This timeline will help you be prepared for all your makeup needs for the big day.

Six Months To Go

This is when you should be deciding on your wedding’s theme. Depending on your theme, look into what makeup looks fall into that category and what would work for you. If you are a bride who is organizing a classic wedding, consider red lips and full lashes. For more modern weddings, you have more room to play with colors like fuchsia or orange. Also consider your wedding colors when planning what style you will be going for. You may love a peachy tones, but it may clash with your surrounding colors. Aim for a color palette that will work cohesively with your wedding color palette. It may be handy to save looks that you like or find flattering and compare them to your wedding theme. If you’re having trouble finding colors and looks that work, ask your bridesmaids to help.  You may love doing big blue eyeliner when you go to parties, but it may clash with a classic romantic style wedding.

You don’t want to end up with too many color options. It’s good to narrow it down to a core family of colors early on.

Three Months To Go

With your theme in mind, it is time to shop for makeup artists. Beauty advisers at department stores are more often than not freelance makeup artists, and they are a great resource for trying colors and products out. You can go to a counter of a brand you like and talk to someone there, or if you are a little more lost you can try a counter like Impulse at Macy’s or MAC. Impulse at Macy’s carries many different brands, and MAC has a very wide range of products geared towards creating many different looks. Find a beauty adviser that you find friendly and explain your theme to them. It is free and perfectly fine to ask what kind of look they can create for you. You should not feel pressured to buy anything or give them a definitive answer at the time. This is more for you to see what works for you and get acquainted with make up artists. Talk to a few different people and see who you click most with. From there you can take business cards and decide who you want to work with. It can be handy to take a bridesmaid with you who can take pictures of any makeup tests you do.

One Month To Go

With only one month left, it is important that you settle on a makeup artist. You should discuss and confirm the date, time, and location of your wedding with them. With only a few short weeks left, you and your artist should have a final foundation test. If you will be doing any tanning or spray tanning, let them know so they can be adequately prepared for your wedding. During your makeup test with your artist, have a friend (preferably your maid of honor) with you to take pictures. You want to make sure you know how exactly what your makeup routine will consist of.  This can also help you plan your preparation time before your wedding.  It is also good to talk to your makeup artist about your skin type, whether it is oily, dry, or combination. This helps give them an idea of what kind of primer and products they should use for you.  The more prepared your makeup artist will be, the smoother things will run on the actual day.

One Week To Go

With a week left, you want to make sure you confirm again with your makeup artist. It’s good to follow through and keep everyone on the same page. If you will be getting a manicure or pedicure, you should confirm that you have appointments secured. You should also start skipping any oily food or carbonated drinks. Use this last week as a cleansing week so that your skin will be as refreshed as possible. If you do facials, it’s best to do one within the last week so your skin won’t be red or irritated on your wedding day. If you’ve never done a facial, this is not the time to try it out. Opt for a mud masque instead- there’s far less risk of possible irritation. I like the Queen Helene line ($4-$6, drugstores) for at home masques. They are easy to apply and make my skin quite soft.

One Day To Go

The day before your wedding, keep your makeup to a minimum. Keep your skin as clean as possible and make sure to wear sunscreen. Consider it keeping your canvas clear. That eliminates any chance of build up or leftover product on your big day. The day before the wedding is your opportunity to take care of any skin cleansing you may need to do, such as pore unclogging. I like the Biore Deep Cleansing Pore Strips ($6-$7, drugstores) for clearing out pores. If you have any stray hairs, this is your last chance to pluck them. Any redness will be gone by the next day, and you won’t have to worry about it on the day of your wedding. The night before your wedding, consider putting vitamin E oil or lip conditioner on before going to sleep. Carmex ($2-$4, drugstores) is excellent at moisturizing lips and is quite easy to find. If you lather it on, your lips will be pillow soft in the morning and perfect for your first kiss as a married woman.

 

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Five Sun Safe Must Haves for Summer Weddings

July 22, 2013 Leave a Comment

We’re knee deep in the summer season and that means we’re knee deep in the heat. Outdoor weddings are fun, but now with the weather so hot here are a few products you may want to consider picking up.

Load Up on Sunscreen

Being outside should always warrant sunscreen, but be sure you’re packing it on for weddings. It’s something that’s easy to forget in the rush of things, but is incredibly important. A wedding is a day you want to remember, and you don’t want to remember it as the day you got a horrible sunburn! Pick something non-scented and not greasy, so it doesn’t affect your outfit or perfume. If you know you’ll be dancing, pick up a sport sunscreen like this one from Coppertone ($7-$9, drugstores). It covers both UVA and UVB rays and is water and sweat resistant.

SPF Everywhere

Remember that SPF counts everywhere! Having a sunburn on your lips is a nightmare. The Maybelline Baby Lips ($4-$6, drugstores) line are all SPF 20, and offer a light tint on your lips. They stay moisturized and help block out any sun damage. I also love the Jack Black Intense Therapy Lip Balm ($7.50, beauty specialty stores). It’s an incredibly moisturizing line and makes lips feel pillowy soft. The SPF 25 doesn’t hurt, either!

Seriously, Everywhere

I like to use a leave-in conditioner in my hair to keep it from drying out, particularly when the air is more dry. Neutrogena’s Triple Moisture Leave-In Cream ($8-$10, drugstores) has a UV Shield, which helps protect your hair from sun damage. Your hair won’t get a sunburn, but it may get damaged or dry out in the heat. Dab a little in your hair and work it out to the ends before you style.

A Flawless, Sun Safe Face

Laura Mercier is known for their tinted moisturizers ($42, beauty specialty stores) year round, but the SPF 20 really helps out in the summer. The tinted moisturizers offer fantastic hydration as well as light coverage. Plus they offer a wide range of shades to accommodate all complexions.

Full Coverage and Sun Safe

If you’re looking for a foundation with more coverage, the MAC Matchmaster Foundation ($33, MAC counters) is for you. It offers SPF 15 and a wide range of shades. I find that it goes on moe matte to absorb any oiliness you may encounter. It goes on light but covers blemishes and redness very well.

In addition to wearing more products with SPF, just remember…

Ditch The Soda

Yes, soda is bad for you, but carbonation in general can throw off your fashion game plan completely. Skip any bubbly sodas the day before and the day of to avoid any unwanted bloat. If you need something sweet, stick to juice or a flavored water. Being bloated and in the heat is no fun at all. Plus, you’ll absolutely avoid any accidental burping.

Opt for Water

Going hand in hand with ditching soda, stick to water until the reception. It keeps your teeth from getting stained, it’ll keep you hydrated all day long, and if it does happen to spill, it’s not a major crisis. Yes, it’s fine to have a glass of wine (or two) but be sure to pair your glass with some water to avoid becoming sloppy. You don’t ever want to be that girl.

 

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Five Trending Eyeliner Shades for Bachelorette Parties

July 13, 2013 Leave a Comment

One of the most fun perks of being in the bridal party (aside from the wedding, of course!) is a good girl’s night. A bachelorette party or night on the town is one of the best places to try out a new look. Here’s my guide to ditching the standard black eyeliner in favor of a fun trendy shade.

Stila Eyeliner in Lionfish ($20, beauty supply stores)

Stila’s eyeliners always go on smooth and have a great color payoff. Lionfish is an unbasic brown that is warm and a little glamorous. It’s the perfect shade for those of you looking to break out of a classic routine without being overwhelming. This shade is complimentary to every skin tone and will transition well into the fall. The gold tones give skin a subtle glow, which is perfect for summer.  Keep an eye out for this new staple shade, it’ll be your new favorite liner.

Covergirl Liquiline Blast in Silver Spark ($6-$7, drugstores)

 

A silvery-grey can help break any girl out of a dark eyeliner habit. The grey is neutral like black, but isn’t nearly as dramatic.  This shade in particular is smooth and smudgable, making it perfect for beginners or advanced glamour girls. Silver Spark is very complimentary to cooler skin tones and eye colors. The formula wears for a long time, but won’t be a pain to remove at the end of the night.  This low maintenance liner also transitions well from day to night.

Urban Decay 24/7 Liner in LSD ($19, beauty supply stores)

It’s almost impossible to talk about trendy eyeliners without mentioning Urban Decay’s line of liners. They recently rebooted their entire brand and rolled out a bunch of new shades in their famous 24/7 eyeliners. One of the breakout shades is LSD, a blue-toned shimmery liner. Don’t be intimidated by the blue though, this shade is fun, trendy, and surprisingly complimentary to many skin tones. LSD was initially introduced as a limited edition shade, but is now a part of the permanent line.  Thin application along the lash line gives a subtle sparkle, but packed on it creates a wide-eyed sultry look.

M.A.C. Pearlglide Eyeliner in Black Line ($16, M.A.C. counters)

Earthy tones are on the rise this summer, and this liner is one of the best ways to wear it! The Pearlglide formula is one of my personal favorites because of how smooth and soft it is. If you are more comfortable with black liner, this dark earthy shade may be your new go-to. The khaki green tone in this liner is very complimentary to warm skin tones and have the ability to bring a sparkle to green and brown eyes. Going lightly and tight on your eyes warms your face for a romantic look.

Covergirl Ink It! in Golden Ink ($5-$7, drugstores)

There’s no harm in going a little glam for girl’s night! Open up your eyes with a touch of gold, like this one from Covergirl. You can pair this with any of the other liners listed, and keep the gold on your inner corners. Small pops of color have been popping up everywhere, with gold leading the pack. This formula is incredibly well pigmented, so a little bit goes a long way. If you’re going super glam, use this liner as a shadow pencil for a golden glowy look.

Which of these shades are your favorite? Leave a comment down below saying which shade you’ll be keeping an eye out for!

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Five Trending Lip Shades for Summer

June 23, 2013 Leave a Comment


Summer is here and so are summer lip trends! With weddings, bridal showers, and bachelorette parties filling out your summer schedule, take a moment to update your lip look with these five trending shades!

06 by Kate Moss for Rimmel ($4-$5, drugstores)

The shade simply called “06” is easily in my top five summer trending shades. Fashion icon Kate Moss paired up with Rimmel London for a limited run of lipsticks, and this cheeky coral is perfect for the season. This orange toned pink is perfect for transitioning from feminine pastels into free spirited, beachy summer tones.

Perky by Covergirl Blast Flipstick ($7-$10, drugstores)

Covergirl launched the flipstick line fairly recently, and they have been a clear winner season to season. Each product comes with two lip shades, one on each end. Perky’s pink is a clear cut winner this summer. This shade is playful while remaining appropriate for both day and night events. The formula wears all day with little wear and feels light going on. As a plus, the other end of Perky is a shimmery light pink, perfect for layering to create a more dramatic look.

Vegas Volt by MAC ($15, MAC Counters)

The bolder beauty mavens this summer have been diving into creamy orange tones, and that’s where Vegas Volt comes in. Vegas Volt is a creamy orangesicle shade that is just as fun as a weekend in its’ namesake- without breaking the bank! The creamy soft texture balances out the adventurous orange shade, making it the perfect balance of sweet and strong.  Bonus, the amplified formula used keeps the color staying creamy through dinner and drinks.

Apricot by Almay ($4-$5, drugstores)

Almay just released a line of liquid lip colors that are sheer with little fade out. The new line of liquid lip color offers lightweight color that goes on smooth and never feels sticky. The formula keeps lips from getting dried out, and the packaging is small enough to fit in any clutch you’ll be toting around this summer to your bridal events.  Apricot is a hot shade for summer that is always appropriate, quite demure, and universally flattering.

 

Fairytale by Covergirl ($6, drugstores)

Fairytale is the perfect name for this dreamy pink shade. Fairytale goes on creamy and soft, while working its’ magic in the color. This yellow-based pink has been trending recently, and Fairytale is one of the best examples of this to date. The formula lasts a long time and keeps lips from drying out- even in the summer heat. The light pink blends into most summer wardrobes seamlessly and is going to be a forerunner for your new favorite daily lip color.

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