Down The Aisle Wedding Day Beauty Products That You Can Use Everyday

Hello lovely brides-to-be and readers!

 I may be in the minority, but I tend to have the philosophy in my makeup routine that if I'm going to take the time to put makeup on, I'm going to put makeup on. It's either bare faced or all done up.

Because of this proclivity to wear a full face most days, I was once asked if there were any products that I would recommend for use daily as well as part of one's wedding day beauty routine.

After thinking and mulling that question over, I have a list of products I would definitely recommend!

 Urban Decay Naked Skin Beauty Balm ($34 www.urbandecay.com)

Over the past year, tons of cosmetics companies have come out with their version of a BB cream. What sets this particular product aside from the rest is it's formulation, texture and benefits. While it sports a peachy hue, it literally melts into the skin and visually looks like your were airbrushed. It minimizes the appearance of pores and wrinkles and hydrates the skin beautifully. With continued use it promises firmer, smoother skin and will banish redness, freckles and wrinkles in as little as 8 weeks. I love how it makes my skin look softer and smoother and feels fresh and moisturized. I use this daily under my foundation and powder.

Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Under Eye Primer ($29 www.smashbox.com)

I suffer from dry under eyes and while I love a highly pigmented concealer, I find that they settle in the fine lines and just look blech. That is until I discovered this little wonder. It primes the under eye so that any lines are instantly filled in and at the same time it hydrates so that any concealer glides on smoothly and stays fresh looking all day.  It also decreases puffiness, wrinkles and darkness with continued use. A MUST on your wedding day!

Peter Thomas Roth Lashes to Die For The Liner ($28 www.sephora.com)

What sets this eyeliner apart from other liquid eyeliners is that it is infused with SymPeptide which enhances the appearance of natural lash length and thickness.  With continued use, it acts much like PTR Lashes to Die For Platinum which will actually grow longer and thicker lashes. I love this because I really have seen an increase in the bulk and length of my lashes AND this lasts all day so I don't have to worry about it moving around the eye area. A little swipe of this on the upper lash liner and your eyes look bigger and brighter, something we women want everyday and especially on our wedding day.

Questions? Ideas for me to blog about? Want to Be listed on my directory? Want to book me for your wedding day? Email me at rebecca@bridalmakeupartists.com or visit my website www.bridalmakeupartists.com

Winter Brides and Bridal Makeup Skin Care Prep

Hello lovely readers!
 It's officially Winter and boy is it cold outside! Many of my readers are Winter brides and with the cold winds, dry conditions and our skin being subjected to heaters it's important to follow a skin care regimen that will combat flaky, dry and chapped skin. In order to have fabulous looking bridal makeup, one needs a good foundation of soft and supple skin. Luckily, with 2013 comes a score of new beauty products that are sure to leave your skin soft, glowing and moisturized.

MAC Mineralize Volcanic Ash Exfoliator, $28 www.maccosmetics.com

 MAC cosmetics latest exfoliator has a mix of volcanic ash and fine sugar crystals that's safe for all skin types as it loosens the dead skin that lies on the surface of the skin. Once those are removed, what's revealed is brighter, softer and more moisturized skin. Recommended use is at nighttime 2-3 times a week.


Moroccanoil Dry Body Oil $38, www.morrocanoil.com

 The famed Moroccanoil brand that is best known for it's rich argan hair oil treatment has come out with a dry body oil spray that can be used no only on the body but the face too. Infused with argan oil, olive oil and avocado oil, you can say bye-bye to dry and flaky skin!


Ahava Time to Clear Eye Makeup Remover, $18, www.ahavaus.com

I don't know about you all, but when I walk in from the cold outside to the heaters on full blast in any store, restaurant or movie theater, my eyes get teary. To compensate for that I tend to use waterproof eyeliner and and mascara. It's all gravy until I get ready to take off my eye makeup and I realize I've used a heck of a lot more than I normally do. It's a vicious cycle and then my eyes look and feel dry and I just hate it. Well, luckily for me (and you all!) Ahava has come out with a new eye makeup remover that uses its famous Dead Sea minerals, aloe vera, cucumber, palm oil, and lots of other minerals and botanicals  to create a gentle yet highly effective oil-based formula that removes even the most stubborn of waterproof eyeliners. Rejoice!

Like always, if you ever have questions, concerns or would like to book me for your wedding hair and makeup you can contact me at my website:

www.bridalmakeupartists.com

Pro Bridal Makeup Artist Tips on How to Turn Fall Trends Into Wearable Bridal Makeup

 I love Fall. It means so many things to me. Changes in the weather, changes in clothing and of course, changes in makeup!

 For those brides that are planning and having Fall weddings, it’s important to know what the latest Fall bridal makeup trends are and how to incorporate them in your bridal makeup look.

Wine Colored Lipstick and Lip Stains

While red lips are still in for Fall, a new lip color has come on the scene. Wine is making a big splash and adds a bit of drama to any look. How to effectively use this in your own bridal makeup look? Use a stain as opposed to an all out matte color. By dabbing a bit of a wine stain and toning down the rest of your look, you will have a romantic wedding day look.

Smoky Kohl Colored Eyeshadow and Eyeliner


Smoky charcoal eyes were seen everywhere on the catwalk. However that may not translate so well on the bridal pictures. How can this work for your bridal makeup look? Simple. Instead of using black or dark charcoal, simply use a gray shadow and you can use it on just the lids instead of all the way around the eyes. Paired with a soft pink cheek and lip, you have a defined yet ethereal look.

Bright and Colorful Eye Makeup

While the majority of the runway looks utilized bright colors, bridal makeup looks need to be suitable for the setting and time of day. I have found using more neutral versions of the brighter colors (eggplant instead of purple, navy instead of cobalt, emerald instead of kelly green). Or using a liner in the toned down version is another great option.

Whether you decide to use one (or all!) of these trends, always let your inner beauty shine. If for whatever reason you are unsure, hiring a bridal makeup artist is great way to take all the stress and pressure off and allow you to enjoy your day! If you are in the Southern California area, contact me at www.bridalmakeupartists.com

Wedding Day Makeup Savers

Hello lovlies!
I will be the first to put it out there: I have amazing brides. I love what I do. I love being a bridal makeup artist and I love working with all types of women on their wedding day. I will from time to time however work with brides who are quite emotional. And why shouldn't they be? This is one of the most beautiful and important days of their life. Fortunately, I have an arsenal of products that will ensure that none of the gorgeous wedding makeup I applied on them will run when the waterworks start.

 Since I love talking about bridal makeup products, I will let you in on my little secrets to create a smudge-free face for your special day!

Urban Decay All Nighter Long Lasting Makeup Setting Spray $29

I love this product for two reasons: 1) It's a product that actually does as the label promises. It IS a long lasting makeup setting spray and it WILL allow you to have fresh looking makeup all night long 2) You only need a little. Really. You only need to spray it three times across your face for maximum coverage. It's not one of those products that you have to use half the bottle for it to actually work.

Ben Nye Final Seal Matte Makeup Sealer $ Price varies

Now for those ladies who tend to get oily and/or sweaty throughout the day, this is a miracle product. While it can be hard to find in store, there are many place online to purchase this spray. This particular makeup sealer gives a matte finish, ideal for those who experience shine as the day wears on. Infused with spearmint, it temporarily minimizes pores so you stay looking shine free all day long. And it smells fresh and minty too!

Face Atlier Transforming Gel $26

What others way can one waterproof their bridal makeup you ask? Well I never leave home without my beloved Face Atelier transforming gel. This product will allow you to create waterproof eyeliner, eyeshadow, lipstick, blush and even mascara. Just add a drop to any powder or cream product and poof! Instantly waterproof once it dries. I use powder-to-cream eyeliner with this and brides are amazed that even through tears, their liner didn't move an inch. It's truly transforming!

Cinema Secrets Eyeliner Sealer $ Price Varies

Much like the Ben Nye Final Seal, Cinema Secrets eyeliner sealer can be hard to find in-store, but you should have no problem finding it online. This differs from the Transforming Gel in the way that instead of mixing it with a product, you simply apply a thin layer to the entire eye area if you want, or just over eyeliner to literally "seal" the product. I generally mix the transforming gel with liner, then set it with this product. You can cry all you want but it ain't gonna run!

Now that you have an idea of what it takes to make your bridal makeup last all day, you can rest assured knowing you wont have rings of black as you say "I do"!

Your one bridal makeup wish-Granted!

"My one wedding day wish is to have my makeup stay in one place all night while I kiss tons of friends and relatives and dance the night away".

If that quotes sound vaguely like something you would say, then this blog post is especially for you! What DO pro's use to keep makeup on all day? Well, one of the main products is a sealant. Don't let the name scare you. It's not some products that will clog your pores or give you flaky skin. It's truly a lightweight clear spray that ones dries it locks your makeup in places until you wash off your makeup. Lots of brands make them but Urban Decay recently launched a trio of sealants for every skin type: Dry, Oily and Normal.

For today's post I'll focus on the one that is truly a sealant, the one for Normal Skin so aptly dubbed “All Nighter”. Once you apply your makeup just close your eyes and mist your entire face. Once it dries your makeup will last hours and hours.

A bonus? Urban Decay has an exclusive “Urban Bride” Boxed kit that comes with a travel size “All Nighter”, a travel size "Lip Junkie" gloss in a beautiful neutral shade, a travel size of their new “Supercurl” mascara which I have to say is ah-ma-zing! Without having to curl your lashes, you will have curled and defined lashes. You also get a full-size "Primer Potion" (a cult-classic must have!), full-size Marshmallow flavored edible, sparkly body powder and a razor-finish setting powder. It’s an amazing deal with incredible products for you or it makes a great bridesmaid gift. It's limited edition so go grab it now!

Luminous Skin

Anyone who knows their makeup stuff will tell you that the basis for beautiful makeup is beautiful skin. There are lots of options out there to get your skin glowing, but a must try is bareMinerals new skincare line. After a total packaging revamp, the new line is truly sleek and sophisticated but it's what inside that is so special. bareMinerals partnered up with Shiseido to bring us the best product ingredients for our money. Powered 100% by bareMinerals ActiveSoil Complex, it is clinically proven to promote faster cell turnover, pore size reduction, increased luminosity and antioxidant protection.

What's great is that they are not only offering a sort of "try before you buy" cleanser and moisturizer duo, they are now offering a cleanser and moisturizer in their get started kits so that you can see first hand how great your makeup will look with great skincare underneath. Skincare duo sets are $23 and the get started kits are $60 with the original formulation foundation and $63 for the matte formulation.



No worries, you can thank me later ;)

Spring Bridal Beauty Product Highlight

Hello Brides!
I have a week of great Spring Bridal Beauty Product reviews planned for you, so let's get started :)


AG Cosmetics Curl Trigger Curl Defining Spray $19.99




Spring is around the corner and soft, carefree, slightly messy beach-y curls are one of the hair trends of the season. AG's Curl Trigger is just the product to help control, define and enhance curly and wavy hair types.

Bonus: Can be used as a refresher spray if your hair gets a little limp throughout the day.

I personally really love the product as my hair can't decide if it's straight, wavy or curly. With Curl Trigger I get really pretty waves all over my hair and if I spray it on damp hair and then blow dry with a diffuser after, I get much more defined curls.

I compare this product to Bumble and Bumble's Surf Spray, but I have to say that I like the way Curl Trigger smells much better.


Too Faced Romantic Eye Palette $35




I received this palette awhile ago but I've been using it on a weekly basis since. The minute I saw the colors I thought how perfect this palette is for wedding looks. Then I saw the shadow names and realized "oh...Too Faced meant this to be a bridal palette too..." :) With names like "I Do", "First Dance" and "Ever After" how could it not be? These colors are soft and feminine, perfect for Spring. My favorite look by far is the Classic look that combines a pale pink, a shimmery lilac and a deep eggplant with sheen to it.

For professional use, these seem fairly easy to depot and would be a great addition to a bridal palette. For personal use, these shadows are super pretty and easy to wear and blend. I also think these would be a cute bridesmaid gift too!

Mario Badescu Herbal Hydrating Serum $30




We all know and love Mario Badescu for his Drying Lotion. It's amazing! I really don't know why I overlooked the other gems in his line, but I got to try some out and my new favorite skin care treatment of the moment is Mario Badescu's Herbal Hydrating Serum.

Most of the serums I tried in the past were nice, but they usually left my skin feeling slightly tacky after initial application (the exception being Merle Norman's Energizing Concentrate, love that stuff!) which I personally can't stand. My rule of thumb is if I don't like the way it looks/feels/smells on myself, there is no way I am putting it in my kit and subjecting my clients to them. What's so cool about the Hydrating Serum is that it's a gel that is instantly absorbed by the skin and gives a cool, fresh and perfectly moist feeling. Love it!

Bonus: If you have oily skin, this can be used as your moisturizer

Stay tuned the rest of this week as every day I'll have three new product reviews for you!

Rebeca Liceaga
President / Owner / Key Makeup Artist
www.BridalMakeupArtists.com