Is Your Skin Ready For A Photo Closeup?
A question I’m often asked by my brides is… “Should I use an oil-free moisturizer the day of my wedding? I normally wear a sunblock moisturizer but I read that the SPF messes up the picture.”
On your wedding day you are probably going to have more photographs taken of you then any other day of your life! Trust me… You do not want your skin to be shiny, dewy or glowy. You want to keep it as matte as possible. Shiny skin on camera doesn’t look that great.
To properly prep your skin for photos, start out by using an oil-free, mattefying moisturizer with no SPF. You also want to skip the sunblock on the day of your photo shoot. The “titanium dioxide” that’s in your sunblock tends to reflect a lot of white light.
When SPF creams are applied over moisturizer or under foundation, they will cause white casts on your face that will be visible on your photos. Also, be careful with moisturizers that have a shimmer. They do not translate well to the camera and tend to photograph like snow. They provide light reflection in order for you to shine or shimmer on your big day but, when a flash bulb hits, it’s all reflected back with the result of pores being amplified! Look for matte products with no SPF instead.
Some moisturizers that I love – La Roche Posay – Effaclar Active Matt moisturizer.
Keep in mind that the flash from the camera and the lights will also rob some tint from your makeup. This is the reason why you look paler and your makeup looks less on a photo. I remedy this common photo shoot problem by applying a bit more color.
Bridal Makeovers by Aradia
Hello Brides,
Today we have Bridal Makeovers’ Master Hairstylist Extraordinaire, Kei Pucci, sharing her professional advice with all the brides-to-be out there that truly want gorgeous hair for the Big Day.
Kei Pucci’s effortless ability to create fashion diverse looks has establish her reputation as one of the nation’s top bridal hair stylists. An award winning stylist and platform artist, Kei has proven to be a master at creating exclusive, formal hair looks. The creative innovations of this experienced stylist will capture the essence of your special day. However, you MUST do your part for optimum results…
Have you ever had a professional formal hairstyle done and ended up with with a look that is more frizzy or flat than fabulous?
Hair Mess
Flat Hair
Before you go blaming the hairstylist for your less than perfect styling experience, there are few things you can do that will guarantee top notch results – providing that you are working with a specialist in formal styling, not just the person who cuts and colors your hair. So, if you’re determined to get that dream bridal up-do, half up/half down, etc… hairstyle, then read on because we’ve got some easy tips that should help you get there. All it takes is a little hair preparation. Ladies, grab a pen and paper and take some notes…
Preparation Will Lead to Better Results
The fewer variables the hairstylist has to deal with, the better the outcome will be. If a bridal client comes in and her hair is completely unprepared for a formal hair styling, the process can be longer and there is a smaller chance that the result will be as fabulous as it would otherwise be.
Wet Hair
Unprepped Hair
It is smart to take a few extra steps to prepare for your appointment before the trial run/wedding. Your professional stylist will appreciate it and you’re much more likely to love the outcome. So basically, a client with hair “style ready” and in the proper condition… equals a happy hairstylist… equals kick-ass hair… equals a happy you!!!
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It could be argued that the Oscars are all about the fashion. Hollywood beauties strutted the red carpet with flawless skin and glossy lips during this year’s Oscars, the most glamorous event of the year and the beauty industry’s biggest source of inspiration.
Check out our Beauty Spotlight predictions based on the style highlights from this year’s most notable hair and makeup looks. From shiny waves and sleek buns to glam ponytails and undone chignons, the Oscars always inspire the hottest hair looks for brides and 2012 was no exception. While most of the stars opted for up-dos, a few went with half-up dos.
Here, the red carpet styles we love:
Celebrity Beauty Trends Inspired By The 84th Academy Awards
Just like our brides this year’s Oscars top bridal muses Milla Jovovich, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Cameron Diaz were all in white. The winning recipe: glowing skin, effortless elegant hairstyles paired with subtle smoky eyes in shimmery nude shades are the timeless choices that displayed the level of sophistication that predict the requests from this year’s brides to be.
Milla Jovovich
Milla Jovovich’s subtly styled chic bob will inspire brides to add tousled waves to create texture and volume to their bridal hairdos.
Berenice Bejo - French braided Chignon
Berenice Bejo’s lovely French braided Chignon… Braided hairstyles will make a serious impact on brides everywhere.
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Welcome brides!
I have some answers to questions that you may have, including some helpful beauty tips that will help you to prepare yourself for your wedding day. You’ll be surprised at the impact that following these tips will make, not just for your own personal image, but for your pictures as well.
Bridal Beauty & Skin Care Tips 1
Be sure to eat healthy and drink plenty of water in the days before your trial run and your wedding. Yes, it really does make a difference. Water hydrates skin, flushes toxins from your body, aids in digestion and helps keep body systems moving in the right direction. Don’t overlook this crucial step to healthy skin.
Get plenty of rest and consider a vitamin supplement. Rest and nutrition are keys to keeping your body at it’s best, and in turn, your hair, nails and skin as well. You not only want to look good, but FEEL good too. Vitamins will help make you feel more energized and make up for things your body may be lacking during such stressful times and sleep is essential to keeping the body rested and reducing stress breakouts.
Limit caffeine, alcohol and stress as MUCH as much as possible. Find your zen. Nothing is ever perfect , but following basic rules of skincare and common sense will surely make it close enough.
Q – How do I prepare my skin for the makeup application?
Bridal Beauty & Skin Care Tips 2
Before application of the makeup you must have a clean and exfoliated face. Never underestimate the importance of skin care preparation to ensure a clean, fresh, natural looking makeup canvas. Thorough skin prepping will ensure your foundation (the makeup base) glides on smoothly for what should result in a flawless coverage…Beautiful, glowing skin represents this radiant light of happiness like nothing else.Try using a gentle cleanser along with a soft, battery-operated facial brush from the drugstore to exfoliate, followed by a mask to hydrate on these days before the wedding. In the morning of your wedding rinse face well with warm water and follow up with a very cold washcloth to tighten large pores and wake up your face. Follow up with your regular moisturizer. Avoid one with a high SPF as SPF products tend to have an adverse effect of flash photography. Remember to use only good quality products with less irritating chemicals and no strong perfumes or very heavy consistency. Treat your skin and body kindly and you will be the most beautiful and the happiest bride in the world. And the most radiant!
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First of all, I want to wish a HAPPY NEW YEAR to all past, present & future brides!
2011 has been a very exciting year in bridal beauty and fashion. In anticipation of 2012, I am happy to share some of the beauty and makeup trends that I am loving right now.
The Long Awaited Return of Colored Mascara and Eyeshadow.
Add extra “OOMPH” to your glimpse with these funky and fresh shades.
Colored lashes and lids may remind you of those fierce punk songstresses of the 80′s, but smart makeup mavens know that, when color is used correctly, it subtly boosts your natural eye color. Do you want to get noticed? Want a fun twist to your makeup look?
These trendy, intense hues can be incorporated into your makeup routine in subtle ways for some pop by using an aqua blue, teal or purple shadow.
Siouxsie Sioux wearing bold and amazing makeup
The popularity of the smokey eye continues and it is a must-have makeup look this season because now its more colorful than ever. These wild party eye makeup ideas scream for an ‘all eyes on me’ attitude.
The high-drama version of the 80’s eye
I have always been incredibly inspired by the extravagant, artistic and bold makeup looks sashaying down the catwalks, and though I love experimenting with striking looks I wanted you to feel comfortable in creating something that would be completely wearable, even if you’re not a super model.
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Hello Brides,
I am so excited to share this wedding for many reasons!
Emma & Mark enjoying the sweeping staircases, uplifting arches of the 1926 landmark Biltmore Hotel
I love this wedding! The colors, the decor, the rich traditions of the combined Hindu/Catholic ceremony, and the grandeur of Biltmore Hotel’s iconic architecture. The spectacular location in the exclusive neighborhood of Coral Gables, Florida, was the perfect backdrop for Emma and Mark’s multi-cultural wedding. Inspired by the venue’s old world charm and beauty I created a a “no makeup look” for the bride. Graced with natural elegance and sophistication, Emma loved how her skin glowed and did not appear to be wearing any makeup at all.
One of the greatest opportunities afforded to me is my being able to sit with a bride and help her to create the look that she has imagined for her wedding day. Whether she is going for timeless classic, modern sophisticate, retro-chic, romantic or easy elegance, I love being able to help make her wedding day everything she has dreamed it to be. The bride and groom from this wedding came from different cultural backgrounds. I wanted to incorporate their individual traditions into the wedding day look. Fusing traditions of old with modern adaptations enhanced and enriched an already beautiful bride.
The Makeup
The main function of “nude look” or natural makeup is to emphasize a bride’s natural beauty creating the look of a flawless bride, who is pure and irresistibly beautiful. But it is not so easy to get the “nude look” that would create the effect of a clean washed face; radiating health and beauty, especially if complexion leaves much to be desired. Thus it is very important to take excellent care of your skin months before your wedding.
For this look, I wanted to keep everything very soft….
Women of Indian descent have some of the most beautiful features. The almond shaped eyes are gorgeous and they should be the main focus when applying makeup. I started with a shimmery golden brown eye shadow and pumped up her lashes with a few false individual ones and plenty of mascara. I also defined her brows to further enhance her eyes. Indian women, like women of every ethnicity, vary in complexion tones; from golden complexions to darker, richer tones. By choosing the right makeup color for your specific skin tone, I can create an absolutely flawless look.
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Of course you want your wedding day to be perfect. Who doesn’t? But how realistic are your expectations, and what will happen if everything doesn’t go perfectly? Will you consider the day to be ruined, after all of that planning and thought?
I decided to blog about this topic based on experiences from the hundreds of brides I have had the pleasure of doing their wedding makeup for. It never fails, every time a bride gets too stressed out it seems like everything goes wrong. Besides having a bad day, they sometimes have total meltdowns!
Planning a wedding can be so much fun yet sooo stressful at the same time! So many details are involved and I’ve realized, as brides, we sweat the small stuff! Take note of these tips:
During the wedding planning process and the day itself, remember the big picture and take a deep breath. After all, no one will remember the lopsided cake or miss the parting gift that the reception staff forgot to put out. No one will know if you fudged your vows or forgot your earrings. They’ll be too busy remembering what a great time they had sharing the start of your marriage with you!But let’s face it, wedding planning is stressful! With all of the coordination, timing and numerous things to prepare for (not to mention family politics!), it’s no wonder that nice, normal ladies turn into bridezillas. However, you don’t have to become a stressed-out stereotype on your big day. In fact, it is possible to plan a wedding and keep your healthy cool—no matter the situation.
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Bridal Makeover Trial Run by Aradia
As a professional makeup artist that specializes in brides, I highly recommend a trial run before the wedding. This is the time to choose the exact look you want, so that on your wedding day, it can be mastered and applied efficiently. A trial run also gives you the chance to photograph yourself in the makeup look and see how you feel! When I do a bridal trial, I suggest the bride look at herself in both natural and artificial lighting and take photos of herself, both with and without flash.
Here are some answers to questions that you may have:
What should I expect during my consultation?
We will look at your inspiration pictures, and to discuss colors and style. We’ll map out one or more specific “looks” on face-charts, based on your plans for engagement/bridal photos in addition to the wedding. Please share with me what details are most important to you, or any concerns you may have. My goal for this meeting is to let you get to know me and my work, & to begin to earn your trust, so you can make the decision if I am the right artist for Your Big Day!
This is a one-hour to two hour appointment. During our time together, we’ll discuss all the details and I’ll also apply your photo-ready wedding day look makeup, so you can see a sampling of my work and feel what it’s like to sit in my makeup chair.
Can you duplicate a makeup look from pictures in a magazine?
Absolutely! In fact, I prefer to see two kinds of pictures — of makeup that you love, as well as makeup that you don’t! This helps cut through differences in our vocabulary and lets me see plainly what it is you’ve got your heart set on.
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Greetings brides everywhere! Ladies, I am happy to report that this Summer is really sexy!
If you are on the cutting edge of makeup and bridal fashion, this is so up your alley or down your aisle, whichever you prefer.
The hottest trends from the runway in the Spring/Summer 2011 fashion shows are all about the details. This season there is a special emphasis on unique fabrications and couture details. Organza ruffles, sensuous silks, and creamy satins dominate, whether artfully draped, elaborately beaded, or delicately trimmed with Swarovski crystals. I just love the artful bridal makeup and hair that encapsulates the essence of these collections.
Here are my favorite Summer makeup collections. The looks created by these fashionable houses are inspired by the runway, yet very wearable for a bride.
Summer 2011 Hottest Bridal Beauty Trends
These ready-to-wear collections combine warm and vibrant catwalk-led hues with sensual tones of blush to more intense corals; all designed to create elegant bridal looks.
Spotted on all the runways were “defined brows” paired with gel-lined eyes, a soft creamy complexion and that sought after bridal glow.
Summer 2011 Hottest Bridal Beauty Trends II
Soft shimmer on the eyes, and a bold lip seem to be the common trends. Don’t let the bright color scare you. This season, pouts are sweet and tropical! Be bold this Summer by rocking hues with an unexpected elegance. Dab on a creamy coral, fuchsia pink, tomato red lipstick with fingers for a soft look or apply with a lip brush for precision application. To prevent color from bleeding, outline lips with a matching lip-liner. For super staying power, apply a long-lasting lip stain and then liven it up with an accompanying clear gloss.
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Hello Beautiful Brides 2 B,
Today I would like to offer all you some tips on choosing the right makeup artist for your special day. I understand how finding a makeup artist for you’re wedding can definitely be one of the most strenuous tasks there is in planning for your wedding! What a stressful process since their work will determine how you look in your wedding photos.
- It’s important to hire a makeup artist that specializes in bridal makeup, and that has been trained in how to create a long-lasting application that will look not only amazing in person, but on film. Since your wedding day makeup is critical for being camera ready for your photographs. It’s easy to overlook or assume that your “everyday makeup” applied a little heavier will do the trick.
- Review several makeup artist websites. Look at their portfolio of work and decide if their style of makeup is similar to your own. When looking over the images, check for things such as skin tone matching, attention to detail and if they include any current bridal makeup trend pictures in their portfolio of work
- Contact the makeup artists from your list and choose the one you like best. A top makeup artist should demonstrate an open and friendly manner on the phone. Be sure you have a calm and confident feeling when you’re speaking with them. If they exude a calm and natural manner over the phone they will likely be this way in person and will keep you calm on your wedding day. Its important to make sure you really get along with the makeup artist and that the artist is listening to your needs, as this is going to be your very special day, but also be open to suggestions from your artist.
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