Weddingbee PRO

I had the pleasure of working with the lovely bride Linda, who is photographed beautifully by Jennifer Davis. Linda doesn’t usually wear much makeup, so we kept her eye shadow light and added my favorite lashes (Andrea #53) to her eyes. This made her look a little more glamorous, and she definitely felt like a diva when she left my studio after her trial. I love to see women discover how fun false lashes can be. False lashes have a slight weight to them, and they tend to make a women more conscious of her eyes. Hence, there are more through-the-lash glances and batting of the eyes. Linda’s makeup is enhancing her natural beauty, and I feel it suited her style to a “T”. I want to thank Linda for being so open and appreciative - she really made my job a joy.

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This is a much overdue post, especially in this economic climate. There are so many wonderful drugstore products that are nearly identical to the department store brands. The downside is that you can’t try them on in the drugstore, so my advice is to check out your drugstore’s return policy. CVS has been know to return used and opened cosmetics, but I would double check each store before buying. Also, you save big moola on drugstore skincare. The key is too look at the ingredient list for vitamins A,C,E. I have a post coming up soon with drugstore skin care recommendations.

Here are some of the products that you will find in my makeup kit: (all products except the lip liner can be found at drugstore.com)

Neutrogena Make-up Remover Cleansing Towelettes

I use these on the face and to clean my hands and brushes off quickly when working with a client. I love these, and they are mild yet take off waterproof mascara.
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I’m always so thrilled to learn that a woman is inspired by one of my bride’s looks. I contacted Carissa, the bride of the “get-the-look” mentioned below, and she was tickled pink since she was about to give birth and not feeling like a beauty inspiration!

Lo,

Hello! So I just stumbled upon this entry recently on Weddingbee PRO, and I am just beyond in love with that look! My hair is darker, and my skin a bit more olive/tan. So I was wondering if you could suggest an alternate lip color but in the same realm? Maybe just a little deeper? During the day I normally just wear Burt’s Bees, because I hate reapplying color. For going out I usually just wear sheer dark pink lip glosses. Origin’s Once Upon A Shine in sheer raspberry is what I have right now.

~ Amanda
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Dear Lo,

This question isn’t for me, but for my fiance. He gets red cheeks really easily (I don’t think I have a photo without them there). Is there anything we can do to tone them down? I think I’ve made him paranoid with all my make-up attempts for our wedding day! He’s fair skinned, blond, and blue-eyed if that helps. Thanks!

~ Jane

Jane, thanks for such a great question! I have covered pimples, sunburn and even added a little bronzer to my grooms. I even ambushed a father of the bride and trimmed his unruly eye brows (bride and mother were ecstatic!). However, it ultimately depends on how comfortable the guy is with grooming. I would tell him that every man on TV (including the big, bulky sports guys) have on makeup to look good on camera. I have applied foundation, concealer and bronzer on very masculine models. There is nothing weird about it, but if your man feels uncomfortable than let him be. I have seen many handsome grooms with pink cheeks and it’s just part of their charm. Being perfect doesn’t make for good photographs. Focus on being in the moment and connecting with your man and family. That is what makes good photos and good times.

However, if he is up for a little “smoothing out” then I suggest the following -tinted moisturizer applied from under his eyes down toward the beard line. This will even out skin tone slightly and also disappear into the skin, so there is no sign of makeup. Make sure he is freshly shaved and lightly apply with your fingers. You can then set this with a little translucent powder. Use a sponge and apply a little over his cheeks and t-zone area which will also eliminate shine. I love Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer because it comes in a variety of tones for a perfect match and contains SPF 20. There are many other great brands as well, but check out the label carefully to be certain that there the product contains no illumination or shimmer. That could be bad.

An awful lot of fair skinned people flush easily. I always tell them that the benefit is that they can save a lot of money on blush and they never look pasty! Best of luck to you and your healthy-looking groom!

xoxo,
Lo

Disclaimer: I am dead against beauty pageants and making little girls look like mini Barbies! I encourage my nieces to read, learn, explore, play sports and get dirty. However, playing with makeup, hair and clothes can be a fun part of being a girl (not the only part!).

I love to put a little shimmer and gloss on the little girls and I wanted to show you all a way to do it without spending more than $10. I know that some people may not be a fan of any makeup for young girls, and I completely respect that. I apply makeup to include the flower girl in the pampering process and to make her feel extra special. She gets to be part of the “big girl” ritual and who doesn’t like a little gloss and sparkle?

For girls 10 and below, it is completely age appropriate to dust a little shimmer shadow on their eye lids and cheeks in a sheer pink or champagne. Top their lips with a pink sheer gloss and they are all “princessed” up! For older girls, you may want to apply a little mascara and a blush with a little more pigment. Painting their nails can also be a fun part of the process. Here are some great products from e.l.f. that are super duper affordable:

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Carol from North Carolina emailed me with the following question:

Dear Lo,

As a mother of a bride, I viewed your web site for my daughter who is getting married, but I have a question for 52-year old me. I quit wearing eye shadow because it accentuates the crinkles in my upper lids. How can I get cover these crinkles so I can wear shadow? I have med/fair skin color and my hair is medium brown. The skin on my eye lids is normal/oily.

-Carol

Carol,

I believe you have a common problem that can be easily resolved. Mature makeup is something that I love, because it is more about finesse than sparkle! 52 is quite young in the “mature makeup” category, as I deal with women from 40 -90 with the same problem.

We all know that light colors emphasize and dark colors minimize. If you thought your thighs were large you probably would not wear white, tight pants. Therefore, avoid light shadows on your lids if they are accentuating crinkles. And, avoid any shimmer in eye shadows – matte is your best friend. The best thing that you can do to emphasize your eyes is to use a dark brown or dark gray liner on your top lashes, and then blend this into a medium brown or gray shadow. This will pull the focus up to the top of your eye and will provide a nice background for your eye color.
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After finishing my previous post Under Eye Dilemma, Linda asked me to recommend a blush color for her. Well, it is pretty impossible for me to give a short answer (especially after too much caffeine), so I decided to do another post on the wonders of Trish McEvoy products!

TM is a little pricier, but is perfect for the minimalist who loves everything in one place, and is a must have if you travel a lot. I love her eye shadows, blush, powder, and her No. 9. Blackberry & Vanilla fragrance and creams.

I recommended the following products for Linda:
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I love to help out my viewers navigate the cosmetic world. There are so many products with false claims, and I want to share with you products and techniques that really work. Linda contacted me about dark and dry under eye skin. This is a common issue, but very treatable.

Dear Lo,

I have dark under eye circles so would love how to minimize that. But, I have green eyes, so would like to play them up. Also, what would you recommend for under eye and eyelid dryness? It’s only been going on with one of my eyes for about 6 weeks, but eye cream doesn’t seem to be helping even though I put it on day and night.

I have seasonal allergies like hay fever, and I’m allergic to a variety of other things. Right now I use foundation from Bare Minerals, and I’ve stopped using any under eye concealer because of the dryness under my eyes. It just looks like a mess if I put anything on it. Thanks so much for your help!
~ Linda

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I met celebrity stylist Allison Berlin (she works for TLC’s What Not to Wear!) this past week at the Wedding Salon Bridal Show.  Allison is a friend of our very own Laura Nadeau, and has guest blogged for us before sharing some of her styling tricks.  Today she shares her tips for what to wear for engagement pictures.

~~~

Ahh, to be a bride.  A sudden celebrity, party planner and accountant all rolled into one.  And throughout all of this, you need to look your best at a series of events and photo ops.  Headshots are surprisingly tricky, especially with 2 people, so here are some notes from a stylist to help get you through.  Think more Jennifer Aniston, less Jennifer Lopez… 
 
1. Colors - This is important if you’re taking color pictures.  Jewel tones (the a-line skirts of the color wheel) are universally flattering for most skin types. Jewel tones include sapphire, emerald, fuchsia, amethyst and ruby red.  Don’t worry about whether you’re an autumn or a spring; just choose a rich color that brightens your face.  No pastels, no black*! 
 
2. Black* -  I know, I know, you can’t live without it.  Frankly, neither can I but I’ve had a headshot done while wearing black and it can look draining.  Here are some other suggestions: navy, chocolate, pink, teal, cream (only for warm skin tones) even a subtle print will work.   
 
3. Keep it Simple - Wear a dress or top that is uncomplicated and chic.  This is not the time to try out a new trend. Skip embellished necklines, textured fabrics (like eyelet) that add bulk, shiny satin, ruffles and big prints. A solid color dress or fitted top with a little bit of neckline interest is the best way to go. Since that eliminates about 80% of Bloomingdale’s, take this list if you go shopping and stay focused.  
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