“When we think of Valentine’s Day, we think about luscious lips. What babydoll doesn’t want kissable lips for Valentine’s Day? There’s nothing more seductive and glamorous than sexy red lips! That is, of course, if we take the right approach. No blue tints, no orange hints – using a TRUE RED lip color is the key! But a good, true red lipstick can be hard to find so we hit the MAC counter to find the perfect shade. We know, our job is sooooo hard!
MAC’s Ruby Woo lipstick is one of the best “Reds” you could ever find. Matte, velvety and long lasting, it is a must-have in any makeup artist’s kit. Wonderful for Runway, and Bridal Makeup as well.
To stir things up, dress it up with MAC Lustreglass in LustreWhite. This will make your lips sparkle like crystal cherries! Or, for irresistible gloss and shine, glaze it up with MAC VivaGlamLipglass in Rihanna. Your lips will glisten into the night!
I don’t wear a lot of makeup normally and I am afraid that I am going to look overly made up on my wedding day. How can I avoid this? – Jessica
How To Look Natural
Now days, a lot of girls are going for a natural look rather than a heavily made up finish. This is because, while we want to look gorgeous, we still want to look like ourselves. The last thing we want is to look back at the photos in a few years time and think “what the hell was I thinking!” when it all seemed like a good idea at the time. Looking natural doesn’t mean you need to look washed out! A good makeup artist should be able to identify your features and enhance them without looking too over the top. She should be able to give you a beautified version of you, instead of looking like someone else. Here are some tips to help you on your way.
Eyes You can never go wrong with neutral colors. Try to avoid from electric blues, apple greens and hot pinks. Even though they might be in fashion at the moment, save it for the Club. It’s not the kind of look you want for your wedding day.
Cheeks Don’t overdo the bronzer. Some brides like to go heavy on this product, but try not go crazy with it! You want to look as effortless as possible. You should be aiming to have a sunkissed look. I would suggest adding a touch of pink or peach to give you that healthy glow and avoid looking too orange and overdone.
Lips Vintage is back, so bright red is in, baby. Try and have only 1 strong feature to stand out, meaning if you have smokey eyes, go for natural lips. Natural eyes with eyeliner are perfect with a classic red lipstick. We love Mac’s Diva-Red.
I’ve heard that contouring is essential to creating the perfect look. I’m overwhelmed and don’t know how to start contouring. Can you help? – Sam C.
How To Start Contouring:
Dear Sam, Contouring seems overwhelming if you’ve never done it but it’s easier than you may think. The simplest way to understand contouring is to imagine a light over your head. The areas of the face that the light will illuminate are the highlights and the areas cast in shadows are the contours. It is easy to find the right products and you may already have some in your makeup collection. Use a foundation or concealer one shade darker than you skintone (the one you purchased after that last trip to the beach), or use a bronzer. Apply the darker shade to the areas that are “cast in shadow” which create your contours, add your foundation, blend-blend-blend to avoid harsh lines.
Be sure to wipe off the brush between highlight, contour and blending applications!
Ulta.com has a great step-by-step guide that explains highlighting and contouring. We’ve included the image below. Locate your face shape and see how easy it is to create the contouring that’s best for your face!
June is bridal show month in Phoenix and we always see an increase in calls from brides asking when they should book hair and makeup services for their wedding day. A licensed, experienced makeup artist is worth his/her weight in gold because he/she will be able to help you identify styles/looks that will compliment your dress while still allowing you to look like you. This being said, highly sought after artists book quickly. With that in mind, you should book your hair/makeup artist no less than six months before your wedding as noted in the WeddingWire vendor wedding checklist below.
Finding the Right Hair and Makeup Artist
Referrals are gold. Ask your family, friends, wedding planner, venue or anyone else who’s opinion you value. Wedding blogs, bridal magazines and social media outlets can also provide insight into who you may want to call.
Things to Consider
A good hair and makeup artist should be able to identify your skin tone, suggest the most appropriate colors for your complexion, and recommend hairstyles based on the shape of your face, the style of your dress, your accessories and your personality. You need to be prepared to show photos of the hair and makeup looks you like to provide a foundation with which to start.
Booking a Trial
Schedule your makeup trial 30-60 days before your wedding date. Trials are typically held in the artist’s studio or salon and offers you and the stylist the opportunity to create your hair and makeup look and make changes, before your wedding day. Unlike dress shopping, which typically involves your bride tribe, your trial is not a spectator sport so it is best to minimize the number of bridesmaids that want to join you. Salon space tends to be limited and too many bodies (and opinions) may prove distracting for the stylist.
This is your time to bond with your stylist, to provide feedback, to ask questions or seek advice and to be comfortable with the finished look. Your stylist will take notes (and hopefully photos) to document the finished product to eliminate any confusion on the big day!
The Wedding Day
Ideally you will want stylists/artists that will travel to you. Some may charge a travel fee depending on your location but this shouldn’t deter you from booking an established experienced artist. The hustle and bustle of a hair salon may not allow you to feel as pampered as you need to feel on your wedding day. Be sure to ask, before booking, if your styling team will travel to you.
Dolls, I’m going to let you in on a little secret…. whether you’re a makeup pro or novice, applying liquid eyeliner can be tricky, if not a total nightmare. And trying to perfect the winged liner look can be the most frustrating beauty trick you’ve tried. Believe it or not, you can actually achieve this look without a steady hand. The secret to a perfect look is actually a common household object – scotch tape.
This idea honestly isn’t new but we have so many gals ask us how to get this perfect look that this is a perfect post to share!
All you need is:
– Eyeliner of choice (if you’re a liquid eyeliner virgin, opt for a liner pen or marker)
–Scotch Tape (but any tape will do)
–Cotton balls & makeup remover
– A black eye pencil
– Mascara
Here’s How:
1. Apply an inch-long piece of Scotch Tape under your bottom lash line at the corner of your eye, at an angle towards your temple. How you apply your tape will determine the shape of your feline flick/cat eye.
2. Next take your eyeliner and apply it as close to the root of your upper lash line as possible and into the inner corner of your eye. I personally find resting my little finger on my face helps to steady my hand.
3 & 4. Using the Scotch Tape as a guide, continue applying liner along the tape (mess isn’t an issue!). Then bring the eyeliner back towards your lash line in a triangle shape and fill it in. Remember liquid liner starts thin towards the inner tear duct and gradually widens and comes to a sharp point at the end of the flick.
5. Now gently remove the tape (but make sure the eyeliner is dry first) to reveal a smooth and straight feline flick.
6. Go over the eyeliner if required and clean up your under eye area with a cotton bud and a little makeup remover.
7. Next tightline your upper water line (without jabbing yourself in the eye). This will define your lash line and fill in the visible space.
8. Polish the look by applying a few coats of mascara. But remember it’s all about the liner not the lashes!
9. And voilà! You’ve mastered the sticky trick for perfect winged eyeliner!
Summer is all about lightening your beauty routine— such as ditching your foundation and blush in favor of a swipe of bronzer and letting your hair succumb to their natural waves. The flip side to warm weather’s unbuttoned ease is its ability to make your whole look melt. If you are looking for a simplified summer beauty routine considering trying some of the following tips:
Tinted Moisturizer
Using a product that multitasks, like a tinted moisturizer with SPF, turns three steps into one. Choose one that is a little bit darker than your skin tone. It adds a warmer glow to your skin immediately while protecting you from the suns harsh rays. Plus, you can apply it with your fingers the way you would your moisturizer — much easier than foundation.
Cheeks and Eyes
Use the same product on multiple areas instead of individual blushes and eyeshadows. Choose something that has a bronzy tone to it but stay away from anything peachy. Our pick is Nars the Multiple Bronzer, $39. Finish the look with a waterproof (aka sweat proof) mascara that will add volume to your luscious lashes. Try MAC’s Haute & Naughty Waterproof Lash, $23.
Kissable Lips
A tinted gloss is a girl’s best friend during the summer. Loaded with mango and shea butters, our favorite tint is not-sheer but not-opaque which means it delivers the right amount of soft, subtle color to your pout. Clinique Chubby Stick, $17.
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