How To Achieve A "Fun" Makeup Look While Still Looking Classic

Hello Brides-to-be!
I recently received a question from a summer bride asking how she can have an "updated and fun" makeup look while still maintaining a classic appearance. I have a few suggestions any bride can incorporate into their own look :)

Add a "splash" of color to your eyes

By adding a wash of a brighter color to your eyes, you automatically up the "fun" factor. The key to maintaining a sophisticated look is by making sure you literally apply a thin wash of color to your lid and crease. Then, simply pair it with some liner (a slightly darker color similar to the shadow shade and smudged out will look absolutely stunning!) mascara and complete the look with soft lips and cheeks and you will look absolutely radiant. Some beautiful soft colors that have great pigment and blend very easily are from Nixie Cosmetics (www.nixiecosmetics.com) and a few of my personal favorites are:
*Deep Coral
*Evergreen
*Majestic
*Blue Sea
*Moss

Nixie also carries multi use pigment powders that you can mix with your foundation to add a subtle shimmer, add to your body lotion and and apply to your decollete, or just add a touch to your cheekbones, the ridge of your nose and just below your bottom lip for an absolutely radiant glow. Some great colors are:
*Almond
*Firefly
*Flirty
*Affection

Let your lips be noticed

You can also allow your lips to be the center of attention by applying a rich lip color. It's a slightly unexpected twist, but when paired with soft neutral eyes accented with crisp eyeliner and perfectly groomed brows, this look will not only be updated and fun but romantic and fresh as well. Nixie also makes some great lip products, and one of my favorites is their lips stains. These colors will last all day and give a natural, flushed look. And added bonus: You can thinly apply the stains to your cheek for a coordinating look that will stay fresh and dewy. Colors to consider are:

*Cinnamon
*Pink Pout
*Raspberry Delight
*Sunset

These are two ways one can add a bit of creativity and uniqueness in their bridal makeup while still looking radiant and feminine. Keep the questions coming ladies as I am always available to answer them!

Weddings, Wedding Rings, Destination Weddings, Bridal Shower Ideas, Wedding Favors , Unique Wedding Invitations, Wedding Dresses, Wedding Favors, Wedding Photographers, Wedding Gifts, Wedding Vendors, Wedding Planning

How to Decide What "Look" To Have on Your Wedding Day

Hello Brides-to-be!
Today's blog will cover different makeup "looks" and which one you should go with for your wedding day. There are lots of different looks ranging from natural, to bronzed, to smokey. It all depends on your personality, location of your wedding, time of the year and even the color palette of your wedding. Here is how I go about helping to choose a look for a brides.

*Questions to Consider*
1) What time of the year am I getting married?
Unless you don't wear much makeup and you just want a clean, natural look, you are going to have to decide exactly what look you want to go for. If you are thinking a beautiful "Bahama Bronzed" look, but your wedding is in February (and not in some tropical locale) you may want to reconsider. 90% of Brides that get married in the winter months tend to either choose a color palette that is "wintery" (silver, white, baby blue, light pink, pearl, etc.) or if they are getting married in February they will choose a more "romantic" palette (red, wine, cream, black, white, eggplant, etc.) If you fall into this category, you may want think about choosing a makeup look that incorporates these colors. For instance, if you are going to have a wedding with red, cream and black, you could go with a dark red or wine colored lipstick, a pretty mauve cheek color and simply but defined eyes with black liner for your look. Or, if you have the more wintery color palette you could go soft on the lips and cheeks with a light lipcolor and do a more smokey eye.

2) Where am I getting married?
If it's the spring and you are getting married outside in the morning, you may have a slightly different look to consider. You will probably keep the focus on your eyes with dark liner and a soft wash of color on your eyelids matched with dewy, glowing skin. Or, if it's summer time and you are getting married in the afternoon, a bronzed "healthy" look is the one that suits you the best.

Next, how exactly do you make these different looks work for you?

I usually stick to the rule of thumb that if you are playing up your eyes, you will probably want to keep the cheeks and lips more neutral. Reason being, if you have gorgeous smokey eyes with false lashes that just make your eyes "pop", you don't want your cheeks and lips competing by wearing a dark blush and dark lips. It also looks too overdone unless you are on stage. So I have compiled a small guideline when trying to create the "picture perfect" look for your Big Day.

Smokey Eyes
*This generally consists of 3-4 eyeshadow colors that are blended and "smoked" out to give the illusion of more depth of the eye and it gives the air of dramatisicm. False eyelashes and black/dark brown eyeliner are usually attributed to this look. Softly colored cheeks (light pink/light bronze) and soft, nude lips are what compliment this look perfectly. This look can work anytime of the year and can be adjusted to ones feautures and complexion.

"Bronzed Baby"
*Think J-Lo. Bronzed, glowing skin and alluring eyes are what make this look work. A cream or liquid bronzer is generally mixed into the foundation to make the skin look soft and glowy. Bronze is then applied to the face where the sun would naturally hit it, giving a "just tanned" lift to the face. Light lips in the gold, apricot and bronze family are used sparingly and brown and bronze shadows are mixed to give an exotic and refreshed look. False eyelashes may or may not be used in conjunction with brown or bronze eyeliner. June to August is the best time of year to try this look.

Autumn Sun
*Rich, warm and jewel colored tones are used in this look. Eyes come alive with shades of sapphire, emerald, onyx or aubergine incorporated with soft neutrals to make a bold statement. Lips and cheeks are given a "flushed" look, and false eyelashes are almost always used to perfect the look. August through November is the most popular time of year for this particular look.

Snow White
*This is where more intense lips and cheeks are the focus by using reds, wines, burgendies or merlot colors, the eyes soft and neutral, and defined only by the use of black / dark brown eyeliner and "natural"looking false lashes for added thickness. This look is used most often by Brides getting married in the Winter months.

Spring Pixie
*This is where the skin looks healthy and refreshed, complimented with dewy peach colored blush, peachy-pink glossed lips and beautiful pastel colors used as a "wash" on the eyelids to give a subtle hint of color. Liner is used very thinly and is not smoked out, while lashes are lenghted and curled to give a "wide eyed" look of innocense. Very popular with spring-time Brides who are having an outdoor wedding.


Next time we will discuss the importance of matching makeup colors to your hair , jewelry selections and wedding color theme.

Until Then!

Rebecca

Visit Rebecca's On-location Bridal Beauty Service at www.bridalmakeupartists.com Currently serving Southern California

Wedding Day Makeup Tips and Advice-Colors

Hello Again!
Last week I wrote about foundations and powders that were appropriate for photography, and tips to make sure you look flawless on your wedding day. Today, I would like to focus on makeup colors and complimenting jewelry types. I will also include a little advice on how to determine your "color category". Believe it or not, the category that you fall in should determine what your wedding colors should be, the color makeup you wear and the type of jewelry you should use.
Many people don't realize that hair coloring, eye coloring, skin coloring and undertones determine what category we fall into. The three categories are as follows: Warm, Cool and Neutral. Those who fall under the "warm" category generally have golden blonde, strawberry blonde, red, orange-red, auburn,golden brown, chestnut brown, chocolate brown and espresso colored hair. To go along with those hair colors, they will also have brown eyes with specks of gold, hazel, green or blue eyes with gold and/or brown specks. People with warm coloring also have green veins and a golden undertone. "Cool" colored people have platinum blonde, ash blonde, "dirty"blonde, ash brown, light brown, medium brown, and dark brown hair colors that do not reflect any golden or reddish colors in the sun. Those who are cool will also have "black" brown eyes that have little to no silvery flicks, dark brown eyes that have silver flecks, green eyes that have silver flecks and blue eyes that have silver flecks. Those who have these combinations of hair and eye colors will generally have blue colored veins and rosy/pink undertones. "Neutral" color types will have "mousy" brown hair, plain dark brown hair, and black hair. They will also have "black" brown eyes and dark brown eyes that are free of silver or gold flecks. The coloring of the veins are a little hazy, sometimes seeming blue, sometimes seeming green, and an olive type of undertone that "shouts" neither cool or warm. Now that i've classified the different types of color categories, I can elaborate on what colors and looks to consider for your wedding.

Warm Colors

Once you have assesed yourself as being "warm", you can begin to think about what colors you want to use on yourself for your wedding. Now, I know that from the day you start planning your wedding you will probably have a certain color scheme set in your heart. However, if you are a classified as a warm, I don't suggest using powder blue and baby pink, or silver and mint green. Colors that would be beautiful are chocolate brown, salmon pink, dusty rose, black, teal, lime green, sage green that's on the more yellow side, sapphire blue, garnet, burgundy, wine, emerald green, amethyst purple, ruby red, gold, cream, turquoise, and white.

Colors for your makeup can range from light and pretty to bronzy with bright color accents. For example, if your wedding colors and chocoalte brown and dusty rose, then your makeup can reflect that. You can wear a dusty rose colored lipstick, blush, and contour your eyes with the blush or a similar eyeshadow color, then use a chocolate brown on the outer corners of your eyes to accent, and follow up with a dark brown eyeliner and black mascara. If you are a little more daring and your wedding colors are cream and teal, you could use a tan lipstick with caramel colored lipgloss, lightly bronzed cheeks, a skin colored eyeshadow as your base, contoured with a tan colored eyeshadow and a dash of teal eyeshadow on the outer corners with matching eyeliner and black mascara. These are merely suggestions, a trained makeup artist can work on finding a look that is perfect for you.

As far as jewelry goes, make sure you use yellow gold jewelry. Silver, white gold and platinum jewelry should be reserved for cool or neutral color types. Gold jewelry with pearls will also look beautiful.


Cool Colors

Great cool colors for wedding colors are powder blue, baby pink, mint green, silver, white, easter yellow, teal with more blue than green, lilac, kelley green, aquamarine, black, lavendar, royal blue, sage green that's on the more minty side, and a blood red or blue based red.

Makeup colors will follow a similar trend as with warm: If your wedding colors are silver and sage green, then you could wear a soft pink or a baby pink, cool pink blush and light pink base eyeshadow color on your lid, a slightly darker pink in your crease and a sagey green color on the outer corners...or for the more daring, you could put a sage green on your lid and a darker green or smokier black on the outer corners with black eyeline and black mascara.

Silver, white gold and platinum are the best metals for cool colored people.

Neutral Colors

Well, if you were one of the people that fell into the neutral catergory...LUCKY YOU!!! People who are neutral can wear either warm OR cool colors and can pretty much have thier wedding colors be anything they want! They also don't have to worry about what type of metal thier jewelry is set in. So the advice that I can give to you neutrals is to chose whether you like cool colors or warm colors, and then use the advice from those sections to plan from there.

Next time, I will post about makeup looks, such as natural, bronzed, brightly colored or smokey looks.

If you live in the Southern California area and you are interested in getting your makeup done by a professional makeup artist, You can contact me for a trial bridal makeover at www.bridalmakeupartists.com

Until Then! :D

Rebecca

Makeup Tips For Your Wedding Day

Hello Brides-to-be!
I'm sure many of you out there are wondering about Makeup Tips for your big day. As a professional Bridal Makeup Artist, I know a thing or two about applying the right type of makeup for the occasion. As you probably know, makeup for weddings tends to be a little heavier than one might wear on a day-to-day basis. But this doesn't mean that it has to look dramatic. Bridal makeup can be made to look natural and enhance your bone structure with the right colors and finishes. Today's blog will focus on the right foundations and foundation types for the perfect look in your wedding pictues. Here are some aspects of Bridal Makeup to consider:

• Because most weddings either take place outside or the wedding pictures are taken outside, the bride must remember to wear a foundation that is medium-full to full coverage so that the sun doesn't drain the color from her.

• Since most photographers use a flash when taking wedding pictures, the brides foundation must be free of any SPF because camera flashes are a form of light, and SPF's are meant to block any damaging light rays from our skin. What happens when a foundation with SPF and a camera flash mix is that dreaded "white faced" picture where we have a ghastly white face and a normal colored body attached. I will list some great foundations at the recommended products section of blog.

• While our personal idea of beauty differs from person to person, I suggest the following if you are thinking of enhancing your color:
-If you are a normally fair skinned person and want to achieve that "bahama bronze" glow for your wedding, I suggest using gradual self-tanning lotions or bronzers roughly four weeks before the big day. Whatever you use on your body, make sure it is safe to use on your face as well, or the manufacturer has a version for the face because if you use two different tanning agents, who knows if the colors will turn out the same. If you want immediate gratification however, I suggest using mystic tan a few days before the wedding. This will last for about a week, and your entire face and body will be the same color.

-Once you are tanned, make sure you let your makeup artist (If you are having your makeup professionally done) know that you need a foundation check when you get it done. If you are doing your makeup yourself, I suggest heading to the makeup counters and asking for help choosing a foundation to match your new complexion.

• If you are a naturally tan person and want to achieve a "snow white" complexion, I suggest staying out of the sun for a few months before the wedding and using SPF religiously whenever going outside. While you may not become incredibly fair skinned, this is as light as you will get. I DO NOT suggest using a foundation a few shades lighter to try and "fake" it because it will just look gray and unflattering and unprofessional anyways. Remember, wedding makeup is meant to enhance your NATURAL beauty. Trying to work against it will always backfire.

• It is also a good idea to consider what consistency you want your foundation to be. If you are a normally oily-skinned person and your wedding is going to take place during the summer, make sure you invest in a mattifying foundation or a water-based foundation so that you don't suddenly get greasy mid-ceremony. Likewise, if you are normally dry-skinned bride and you are dreaming of a winter wedding, be sure to look for a liquid or cream-based foundation that is rich in emollients to ensure your skin stays moist through the reception.

• When applying your foundation (Or having it applied) make sure you blend all over your face, underneath your chin, and slightly onto your neck. Since your foundation should match your coloring perfectly, it won't be noticeable, but your want to make sure the consistency of your face and your upper neck blend. If your ears will be showing, you might also want to put foundation on your ears as well. (Mine tend to get red easily, so I always make sure they have a nice coating of foundation when I know they will be showing.)

• The last step to finishing off wedding perfect foundation is the powder. Since powders come in different finishes and sometimes effects, it is important to find the right one for you.

-I suggest only using translucent powder if you have light to medium light complexions. On more olive or darker skin tones, it tends to look ashy.

-When finding a powder that actually matches your foundation color, try and stick with the same brand because they will generally have a complementary color to thier foundation.

-Mineral powders are fabulous because they are not talc based and they will blend in seamlessly with foundation colors in the same color family.

Suggested Products:

Dry Skin Foundations / Dry Skin Powders

• Merle Norman HC-12 Foundation / Merle Norman Flawless FX powder
• Merle Norman Total Finish Foundation / Dermablend Setting Powder
• Dermablend Creme Foundation / Vincent Longo Perfect Canvas Loose Powder
• Prescriptives Custom Blend Foundation / Chanel Double Perfection Powder Compact
• Lorac Liquid Foundation / Studio Finish Powder/Pressed
• MAC Studio Tech Foundation / Dior Skin Pressed Powder

Oily Skin Foundations / Oily Skin Powders

• Merle Norman Aqua Base Foundation / Merle Norman Ultra Powder Foundation
• Nars Balanced Foundation / Dermablend Setting Powder
• Lorac Oil Free Foundation / Lorac Oil Free Wet/Dry Powder
• Smashbox Seamless Liquid Foundation / Dior Skin Ultra-Mat Powder

Stay Tuned for my next blog where I will will discuss different types of makeup looks for your wedding day!

If your wedding is coming up and you are thinking of having your makeup professionally done and you live in the Southern California area, feel free to visit my website bridalmakeupartists.com to schedule a preview makeover with me and my team :D

Until next time,

Rebecca