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I’m very picky about make up and extremely particular about the foundation. You never want to look like you’re wearing too much make up and of course, on your wedding day you want to have flawless radiant skin. So out of all my sampling research, I bring to you my recommended go-to list for your perfect wedding day make-up.

1. First, start with the most important thing – face cream. If your skin isn’t properly hydrated and moisturized, then you might as well forget that radiant glow you wanted. No matter what you put on your face it will not have the right effect. I have personally been a fan of the Creme de La Mer for years. At first, I gawked at the extremely high price tag, but then I received a sample of it and discovered the amazing effects of it. Trust me, it really is worth it. And here is a great buying tip – schedule to purchase your creme during bonus buys times so you can get a gift with purchase. Or, here in New York City, Bergdorf Goodman offers $25 coupons every so often. When I get mine, that’s where I’m using it. Also, no matter what time of year you’re purchasing La Mer, always request for some complimentary small travel sample jars. Take them on your honeymoon, it’s perfect size. 

2. Foundation – Lancome Rénergie Lift Makeup SPF 20 Lifting-Radiance () Perfect mix of coverage and moisture. Plus I love that it has sun screen (key bonus element for me).

3. Concealer – Clé de Peau Beaute Concealer. It’s a concealer stick that covers spots, freckles and dark circles to create a beautiful, even-toned complexion. It comes with a hefty price tag ($68) but I personally think it’s proven itself to be worth every penny. I even now use it every day, I loved it so much! I swear by it.

4. Eyeshadows – My favorites were NARS Himalayas for all over highlight on your entire lid. It’s a lovely white iridescent soft pink that gives you just enough color and highlight. Then try Lancome Vue Shimmer for contour then finish with Lancome Mochaccino for the darker crease definition. Together they create a beautiful look that is gorgeous but not too heavy.

5. Eyeliner – Lancome Le Stylo Waterproof Long Lasting EyeLiner – this eyeliner is here to stay – formulated to withstand everything from tears to inclement weather, this waterproof eyeliner has a unique twist tip that never needs sharpening. Won’t skip, smudge or streak. I chose to use the Café color. It’s a deep dark brown giving your eyes a dramatic definition but not as harsh as black.

6. Mascara is my most coveted item in my beauty bag.  I am obsessed with eyelashes and what mascara does to them. If you’re brave enough to go the false eyelash route, do it; but since I wear contacts and have sensitive eyes, I was too worried that my eyes would get irritated and then, so would I. So, I went with the best mascara I could find to give me the most volume I could get. Lancome Hypnôse Custom Volume Mascara that claims to give you up to 6 times the volume, didn’t disappoint. It also comes in waterproof – perfect for the wedding day tears that sneak up on you. (mine did!)

7. Powder + Blush. Finish your look with La Bella Donna Vision Mineral Lights. I was given this by a friend and I’m hooked! It has an amazing effect to give you that all over sun-kissed glow. Tip – use it very lightly. It’s pretty strong. When it gets too heavy, it’s way too much and you look overdone and completely fake. It reflects the light and hides all your imperfections. Sometimes, I only use this instead of blush. Especially in the summer months.

For more of the blushing bride look, I used Lancome Blush Subtil in Aplum. It’s very light and fresh. I like it just on the apples of your cheeks then blend up your cheeks lightly.

8. Lips – Lips were the toughest for me because I really wanted my lips to stand out but not be too much. I also was so worried about lipstick all over my new husband’s face in all the pictures! I tested many different shades of red – since my bridesmaids were wearing red I didn’t want to appear washed out compared to them. My favorite was NARS Lipstick. I went with Trans Siberian which is a ruby rose shade. Not too red and not too berry but contrast enough to give me the perfect accent. They have a lot of really great colors to choose from.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 8 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: beauty, Ceci New York, Lisa Hoffman
Post categories: The Blog

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Hi SMP readers! I’m back from my wedding and honeymoon and I can honestly tell you getting married is the best thing ever! I cannot deny it, I am truly and entirely blissfully happy. As dorky as it sounds, it’s all completely true. All the hard work, frustrations, arguments, emotions and stresses that you have to deal with all the wedding planning, all pay off in a fantastic way on your wedding day. You will see. It is the one day that is planned entirely for you and your husband-to-be so try and remember to hang in there and enjoy it. It’s worth it!

For today’s post I want to share with you my real bride tips and advice all about beauty.

photography by Mel Barlow

I admit, when it comes to make up and hair, I had it a little harder than most since I chose to do a destination wedding and didn’t have the luxury of a personal traveling make up artist or stylist. Finding someone you trust in a foreign place, can be pretty daunting. So when it came to who was going to do my hair and make up, it didn’t sit well with me having someone who I didn’t know style me on the biggest day of my life. I couldn’t take that risk. So I decided to go out in search of the perfect do-it-yourself regimen. One that I could expertly pull off by myself, nerves and all.

Step 1. Find the right products. All you have to do is go visit various make up counters and tell them you’re getting married and they will instantly take extra special care of you! Make overs are typically complimentary so you don’t have to break the bank trying to find your perfect beauty products. I sampled as many as I could until I found the right ones that suited me. Once you find them, buy them instantly and try them out at home before the wedding to make sure it wasn’t just the lighting in the store that made you fall in love with the product. Also a good idea is to carry with you pictures of your dress and wedding inspiration details. That way you can easily communicate to the stylist what you’re looking for.

Step 2. Learn how to use them. Have the make up artist write down for you the instructions so you can remember the proper application technique. Have them label everything so you can remember later. Get their card in case you have questions, they’re always happy to help you learn.

Step 3. Practice. This is especially important for those who don’t normally where make-up. Make sure you test out your skills and your confidence level. A good idea is to try it before your dress fittings. That way you could see how the make up will look with your actual dress. If you’re on the fence about which lipstick shade, bring all three and try them on in the fitting to see which one you prefer most. The sales consultant will be more than happy to give you honest advice too. Definitely helps to get an outside opinion.

Up next…we get to see exactly what’s in Lisa’s Beauty Bag!

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2009. | Permalink | 3 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: beauty, Ceci New York, Lisa Hoffman
Post categories: The Blog

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I am the owner of brideface, based in Cincinnati. With over 12 years experience spanning runway, print, film, (and my favorite!); bridal, I have been honored to be part of over 350 weddings. Here are some of my best tips for looking gorgeous on your wedding day…

Top Left by Wagner Photographics, Top Right by Bluebird Photography, Bottom Left by TM Photography, Bottom Right by Wagner Photographics

1. Be as individual with your beauty look as you intend to be with the look of the rest of your wedding. Let your gown and the style of your event be your guide-a formal ball gown dictates a different makeup look than a cotton eyelet sundress. Cull inspiration from fashion magazines and don’t be afraid to try something quite different from your normal look; after all you don’t normally wear a wedding dress and updo, right?
 
2. Probably one of your biggest concerns is longevity; will your makeup stay on through tears and humidity?  Be sure to choose good quality, high pigmented products; professional products are designed to be durable for hours under hot lights and they require much less product to get amazing coverage. I also use a makeup sealant, Model in a Bottle that I can’t recommend highly enough! You will only need to carry your lip color (try a stain for more holding power) and some blotting papers to touch up; resist the urge to pile powder on throughout the day.

Tips for teary moments: A cotton handkerchief is not only charming, it is kinder to your makeup than a tissue; it won’t leave lint in your lashes. Dab, don’t rub! (this bears repeating for those of you who don’t wear makeup in real life)
 
3. Try not to think of wedding makeup as “heavier” or “darker” than everyday makeup. There is that fine line in bridal makeup, because you want to look incredible on film but also soft and pretty in real life, not like you stepped off a broadway stage. Photography has a way of flattening out features and I combat this by using extra definition on the eyes-individual false lashes bring out the shape of the eye and give it a lively wide open look. They also do wonders to boost your confidence; I have seen the most jittery brides begin breathing normally again once they have those babies on! I also use subtle contouring and highlighting to bring out the shape of the face-to pop cheekbones, or to slightly slim a face. I personally like to use as little coverage on the skin as possible-if a client has absolutely gorgeous skin, I have been known to just use a hint of tinted moisturizer for a glow. Heavy foundation wears poorly and does not capture the light like a more bare complexion-better to spot conceal problem areas than to mask the whole face.It is also more modern than a matte, flat finish.

© Style Me Pretty : The Ultimate Wedding Blog, 2008. | Permalink | 5 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: beauty, Bluebird Photography, brideface, make-up, Model in a Bottle, TM Photography, Wagner Photographics
Post categories: Wedding Fashion