Think you look deathly ill when you go out sans makeup? Choosing the right liquid foundation is possibly the most difficult beauty hurdle to jump over.
You’ve got the guy, the dress and the flowers – all perfect, of course – but don’t overlook the one detail that will make yours a picture-perfect wedding: your face.
Jealous of those 15-year-old fashion models with absolutely flawless skin? Well, it’s not impossible to fake the fresh face. Focus on a foundation that has a brightening agent to give you that perfect pick-me-up.
The makeup you wear every day is probably not the best choice for your walk down the aisle.
You spend so much money on your photography, so you want to love the way you look in your pictures. Depending on your skin type, you want more of a matte finish if you have an oilier skin and a radiant finish for a drier skin. The most important part of photography is the finish to the skin. You want the face to look flawless.
For example: If under-eye circles are not concealed properly, the eyes will get lost in the photo. So before taking your vows, take a look at our list of makeup dos and don’ts to keep you the fairest of them all on your special day.
Custom-blending is especially important when it comes to brides and their foundation.
DO slough off any dead, dry skin with a gentle daily scrub – or monthly microdermabrasion treatments – to enable foundation to go on smoothly,
DO use a primer under your foundation. Most decent makeup brands will have a primer in their makeup range. A primer will help to smooth out your skin, tone down un-even patches and redness and most importantly, it will make the foundation or makeup you put on last all day. Most primers have a silica base to them which means they soften and smooth the surface of the skin, allowing foundation and makeup to sit on top without looking like it’s settling in your pores.
DON’T apply your concealer before your foundation. Most bridal clients I know tend to do their concealer before foundation. But think about it, once you have applied the corrective product under the eye or on any problem areas, then you go over with either (hopefully) a brush or (more commonly) your hands, you wipe away all your concealing work! Do the skin first then use a small blending brush to apply the concealer where needed. You can use your finger to “tap” the product in to blend it and this way your coverage is going to last and look more professional
DO consider lighting when applying makeup. And not only good lighting but natural light – daylight for applying daytime makeup. When your foundation or powder is the wrong color, everyone notices. Except maybe you. To master a natural look, you need the right colors, consistencies, and lighting.
DO keep your skin looking dewy and fresh by using a tinted moisturizer or moisture-balanced makeup. Foundations with yellow undertones work best with flash photography.
DON’T get carried away with shimmer highlighters or light-refractive makeup. In photos your shimmer can easily turn into an unflattering and highly reflective shine.
DO use a bronzing powder to warm your skin tone. Using a natural bristle brush, lightly apply color to the areas of the face where the sun would naturally hit: forehead, cheeks and the bridge of the nose. If needed, apply a light dusting on your neck and chest for even all-over color, but do this before you put on your dress.
DON’T get too much sun before your wedding. Sunburns, peeling skin and tan lines can sabotage your special day.
DO give your foundation staying powder by using a gel foundation primer before you apply your makeup. Add a light dusting of loose powder to prevent any unwanted shine.
DON’T Over-Powder with a heavy pressed powder to set your foundation. Too much powder can leave your skin looking chalky and lifeless in your wedding photos. Powder can dull the skin and look very cakey. Stick to either translucent powders.Apply with a large fluffy brush and “press” the product on as opposed to wiping it on in big circular motions. Also only powder where it is needed – if you want a “glowy” makeup, just apply powder to the T-Zone (forehead nose and chin). The powder does set the makeup but you don’t want to take away all the nice work of the foundation! Texture in skin is normal. It’s nice to see parts of the skin with a glow and other parts matte.
If all of this seems likes it’s just too much, remember your makeup bag is very unlike a pro’s kit. Professional makeup artists know what products to use, where to use them and in what intensity to ensure you look good face to face, as well as in your pictures. We use a wide range of products from vastly different lines to achieve a flawless look. Most products are waterproof and many are suitable for HD film/TV, that means they will last throughout your entire day while still looking and feeling incredibly natural. Your wedding or portrait session is your mini celebrity moment and you should look and feel as amazing as those stars. Hiring a pro makeup artist is one way to guarantee that!
Behind every beautiful movie star or model, there is a talented and experienced makeup artist working hard to ensure they look great in every picture that is taken.
About Aradia
I am a professional makeup artist; passionate about all things “beauty”. As self-professed beauty fiend I’ve been fascinated with makeup since I was a young child. The endless colors, textures and mediums are fascinating to me.I started this blog as a way to share my work, experiences, product reviews and tips with you. It takes an artful eye to see the beauty and potential in each face. I am not only trained to apply flawless, enduring makeup, I am also skilled in the art of making you feel at ease in every aspect of the process from detailed wedding day timelines to working with you to create a stunning makeup style that will transcend time.I look forward to hearing all of your comments and suggestions, and I hope you enjoy my blog… Welcome!
Welcome to my blog. Love pink? Don’t be afraid to show off your girly, sweet side.
If you are inspired by soft blush roses and cotton candy, then this season’s bridal trend is perfect for you!
One of prettiest color palettes out there—pastel pinks! There’s just something totally alluring and sweet about these soft hues when done throughout your wedding motif.
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Would you consider having a pastel dress instead of a traditional white one?
Is pink the new white? Pastels are gaining today as one of the leading wedding trends for this year. Continue Reading…
Makeup Mattifying Products to Help Control Your Bridal Summer Shine
It may not be official but, the hot, humid South Florida Summer months are here. And that can be brutal on a bride’s skin during her big day. So how do you mattify and control shine during your lovely hot weather wedding?
There’s a fine line between glowing, dewy skin and an oily, shiny face.
Quite often excess oil and shine can be a problem because the skin is over stimulated due to weather conditions, sun exposure and humidity. Lucky for you there are several products on the market that will help control shine and excess oil production. They are broken down into four categories of products:
- serums (primers and gels)
- powders
- sprays
- blotting tissues
Each category works differently but they all work towards the same desired effect of eliminating shine.
Serums are light weight products with a gel like consistency. They are applied to the skin before the makeup is applied. They are great for the skin because they work as a primer as well as an oil absorbing product. This type of product will help the makeup glide on better and stay on longer and the oil absorbing properties will control the shine. Some important ingredients to look for when looking at gels are silicones and Acrysorb (brand of Acrylates Copolymer) - micro-particles that work to permanently trap up to 6X their own volume in oil. It is only necessary to apply this type of product once a day but can be used over makeup for a touch up in the T-zone area. Be careful to apply this product over makeup, especially foundation because it can change the appearance of the makeup. Some brands to look for when searching for a primer/gel are Smashbox anti-shine, Peter Thomas Roth anti-shine and OC Eight Professional Mattifying Gel.
The most popular solution to oil control with cosmetic products is the use of a powder. This will absolutely absorb oil and one of its main functions is to give the skin a matte or dull like finish. However, the issue most clients have when using a powder is that the desired effect does not last long enough and the more powder that is applied to the skin the more heavy or caked on the powder begins to look.
Some brands recognized the need for a colorless lightweight powder that can be applied several times a day and keeps the skin looking natural. These products include ingredients such as Kaolin clay, Amazonian clay, or oil absorbing rice powder. They come in loose or pressed formulas and leave the skin looking soft and smooth. Highly recommended brands include Urban Decay De-Slick, Tart T-Zone and Arbonne’s FC5 oil absorbing powder.
Mattifying sprays are great for touch ups before an important event or a long evening of long lasting makeup wear. These are an extreme lightweight mist that has oil absorbing properties such as rice powder and temperature control to prevent against your skin becoming over stimulated by any situation. This type of product is best used before you leave, but does not travel well. The light reflecting properties that this product has also helps the skin to appear younger and softer. The No More Shine Makeup Finish from Skindanavia ($29) controls oil and holds your makeup in place for up to 16 hours. Also the Keep Your Cool. Skindinavia Makeup Finish Spray releases cryogenic technology to lower makeup’s temperature by a chill 20 F, thus keeping everything—foundation, eye shadow— in it place. It’s a favorite for my Summer brides.
The last option that many people lean towards is the use of blotting papers. Although they are great for absorbing excess oil, they can also and often times take away makeup product when used. They are only good for T-zone or chin areas and should be of good quality. Some less expensive brands contain mineral powder or oil; this actually can clog pores and make the skin worse in the long term. Better quality brands will have linen or rice paper and should contain flax seed which absorb the oil. For a calming effect, look for the ingredient bamboo. Shiseido PURENESS Oil-Control Blotting Paper ($18): For most brides, these are the reliable standard. They have the lightest covering of translucent powder on them, which ensures a matte finish post-blot. Tatcha Original Aburatorigami Blotting Papers ($12): From a purely shallow perspective, these come in second. They’re effective in de-oiling. But the gold-flecked, black-and-tan sheets are so perfect that you could gladly share with your groom.
I love instructing as much as I love makeup, so writing this little blog and sharing tips with my brides is a great joy for me. I could go on and on but having faces as canvases for me is what keeps me so in love with what I do! And why I’m obsessed with bringing out each bride’s unique features with a light hand and not creating a mask with a heavy hand. When thinking of new entries for my blog I try to think of fun and new techniques that simplify everything and make it less scary. Or for those of you that are very comfortable with makeup, I try to create pretty looks that will inspire you and offer the products and tips on how to achieve them. And I love reading your comments and feedback! It’s truly been an amazing journey so far!
Have a beautiful and blessed day!
Sincerely,
Aradia
The Bride Wore Red…
This Memorial Day Blog honors the patriotic men and women of our armed forces who have sacrificed their lives for their country.
War brides, WWII Vintage Looks 40′s Glamour, and Red Lips
When I am inspired to create a 40s Hollywood – Veronica Lake, Lana Turner and other silver screen sirens of that era come to mind The focus is on a gorgeous, strong red lip, but a red that a bride can actually wear is essential. Bridal Makeovers is all about beautiful, sexy and feminine brides and nothing portrays a woman’s beauty like the ability to wear a truly stunning and universally flattering red on her wedding day.
BRIDAL MAKEOVERS has the deepest respect for those that have served and those that currently serve in our military, which is why we want to celebrate you and your loved ones with this Memorial Day. We hope that you can all spend it with your families and friends. To those of you who cannot, especially those of you who are serving right now, we remember your sacrifice and humbled by it. To commemorate the holiday show off your beautiful smile by wearing red lipstick. I have a fun little wedding inspiration roundup for brides who want bright and bold for their lips on the big day! Red is a very strong color. It represents the blood shed in this country to obtain freedom but, it’s also a classic vintage lip color suitable for your vintage wedding especially if if you are going after a 40′s bombshell style for your bridal makeup look.
Wear RED Lipstick and Show Your Patriotism
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1940′s Icon Rita Hayworth served her patriotic duty by wearing red.
During World War II wearing red lipstick became a militaristic strategy and tactic. Continue Reading…
Welcome all! Nostalgia seems to be the predominant fashion mode for so many of my brides. Are you considering a vintage dress but you’re worried where to start the search for the hair and makeup?
Modern Day Vintage 60′s Bridal Inspirations
Well, lucky, lucky you! Today we are talking about the early 1960′s influence on fashion! It is hard to find a more diverse era for bridal fashion makeup and hair than the Mod 1960′s. The words radical, mod and carefree come to mind when we tune in on this era but so do the words bouffant and elegance.
“Coiffure” and “Bouffant” were common fashion terms bringing big hair to the fashion forefront.
I just love when contemporary editorials channel the early 60′s. So I wanted to do a modern take on early ’60s glam bridal inspiration for my brides. Brides that are inspired by vintage looks need to take a look at these exceptionally stylish and progressive alternatives to traditional looks. Lots of times, brides come to me asking for a vintage makeup look, but they are not really sure which era they would like to borrow from.
Looking like a demure and elegant Hitchcock-heroine with a polished bouffant bob cut and Sicilian architecture as the backdrop.
This blog post was created for brides who would love to do a retro 60′s look, but want something completely original and don’t have the time, the energy, or the faintest idea where to start. Continue Reading…
Welcome to my blog! Are you ready for some drama and pure unadulterated elegance today?
Backstage Beauty at the Grand Palais in Paris for the Chanel Spring/Summer 2013 Haute Couture collection shows
Weddings are supposed to be about celebrating your love and having a good time but all too often they become bogged down in ceremony and social etiquette. Are your plans for your wedding look not quite traditional? Having an unconventional wedding? If you don’t conform to the traditional brides aesthetic and don’t find inspiration in ‘pretty’, you may just feel more comfortable disregarding convention when comes to style and beauty. It’s your wedding, who says you can’t rock that ultra heavy black liner on those smoky eyes piled on extra with feathered eyelashes? Why not? You are the bride and you rule baby. Read on
New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art’s annual Costume Institute Gala
“PUNK: Chaos to Couture”
Even the annual fête, which formally kicks off the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s yearly Costume Institute exhibit injected pure drama and wonderment on May 9th, 2013 as it celebrated with a punk theme. So, how does this unconventional theme justice and inspire bridal looks? Well… I am a big advocate for brides doing what makes them happy and showcasing their vibrancy and personalities through the makeup and hair. For the past three decades my approach to makeup styles has been heavily inspired by a combination of haute couture and street fashion creations. However, most of my brides are inspired celebrities red carpet looks. So take a look at how this year’s gala punk theme inspired celebrities to leave their usual glowing red carpet beauty looks behind and instead opt for something a tad more experimental. I predict that this is going to take bridal styling to a whole new level…
The Met Gala truly brought out a bevy of style stars, from models to designers to Hollywood’s A-list with their punk-inspired beauty looks.
Continue Reading…
Hi All…What an amazing year it has been so far; full of fashion shoots, gorgeous dresses, stunning models, exotic locations and bridal trials, not to mention, weddings. Lots and lots of happy brides have had their makeup and hair done by our incredibly talented team and myself this season. So, if you are wondering why I haven’t posted a blog lately, it’s simply because of this whirlwind adventure of makeup artistry, color and style I have been on, wooh! But, I am happy to say that I am back and fully focused on writing about some of my favorite subjects – Bridal Fashion, Style and Beauty.
Makeup Lessons On Skype
Alongside my bridal, editorial, fashion and beauty work, I also offer personalized makeup lessons on a one-to-one basis. This week I am preparing for makeup lessons via SKYPE. You can now have an Art of Beauty signature makeup lesson by Aradia no matter where you live. I can teach you all tricks of the trade and create your complete beauty routine that’s right for you. The lessons will be catered to meet the client’s individual requirements. The lessons can be focused on one area you feel you would like to learn more about or on several areas you feel you would like to improve on. Join me on Skype for a private makeup lesson in the privacy of your home or office. I am limiting this special offer to 3 makeup lessons per week so contact me soon to book your lesson. One and two hour slots are available. Call me 305-851-2515 or send me a message for more details.
Knowing which brushes to use for each application, you will be amazed at just how different your make up will look when the right tools are used.
Brides, if you are avoiding that frosted/metallic/iridescent look and want to add depth, dimension and a flattering cast to your eyes, you’ll need a collection of shadows that are truly matte. I love a neutral palette with shades ranging from light to dark. For a photo-ready look, every bride needs an essential palette of a selection of subtle and smoky shades browns.
Start by blending an ivory shade on the brow bone. Follow with a light taupe or caramel; remember to blend it well on the lid. A muted golden brown is a typical crease color for neutral looks. A deeper brown in the crease to make it look more defined and dramatic. A chocolate brown color is a must, the trick to this shadow is layering the amount you put on your lid. A light layer can give you a subtle daytime look. If you pack on the color, you will get a sultry smoky eye . You can come up with lots of great natural or dramatic combos with these colors! A dark brown-blackish matte eyeshadow is great for smudging along the lash-line to make your lashes look thicker. It turns any daytime look into a night look, and if you blend it in with a matte jet black it adds dimension to eyes. A sultry chocolate palette of dramatic shades, perfect for creating any smoky eye look. Look for shades with velvety/suede finish with amazing color pay-off.
A very pigmented matte dark brown eyeshadow and a creamy bisque shade should be a staple in everyone’s collection (in my opinion).
Random Musings & Bridal Beauty Tips from Professional Makeup Artist – Aradia
“I absolutely love what I do and translate this into my work each and every day. I feel honored to be selected by so many amazing brides to be a part of the most special day in their lives. I created this blog as a journal of my experiences as a bridal makeup artist. I feel this is a great way for my brides to get a better feel as to what I can do, as well as the type of artist I am.”
Fashion Makeup & Hair Inspiration From New York Fashion Week Fall 2013
Looking for some enchanting new season hair and makeup looks for your bridal inspiration? To help you enhance, define and slightly alter your features according to the latest trends, we’ve put together a selection of the makeup trends for fall 2013 from New York Fashion Week. Amidst a sea of wonderful, exciting new designs at New York Fashion Week, hair and makeup have been an essential ingredient for creating show stopping looks on the runways. We’ve spotted trends that have emerged and will be sure to lead the bridal looks this season.
Bardot-esque cat-eye look was all the fall rage at Anna Sui 2013 runway.
At Bridal Makeovers we’ve been busy checking out the hottest makeup designs and hairstyles for fall 2013 at New York Fashion Week and we have yet to be disappointed. We’re smitten with some of these ethereal and romantic looks and blown away by the opulent details …Here’s a glimpse at the candid images of the runways and our predictions of what’s to come for weddings! We just love how these trends bring a fresh dimension to bridal beauty to inspire your own personal runway look. Don’t you?
Fuller, defined brows are popular this fall and are a classic look for bridal.
Thick eyebrows are making a big bold come-back this season and were seen across a wide variety of runways. Eyebrows really frame and define the face and pull the whole look together. Following the natural shape of your brow is generally the rule of thumb. Designer Faces – NARS: Marc Jacobs Spring 2013
Statement-making eye brows by Revlon Global Artistic Director Gucci Westmanseen at the Rag & Bone Pre-Fall 2013 Collection.
Continue Reading…
Another Awards show has come and gone, and The Grammy’s did not disappoint! Though music’s biggest night usually brings out celebrities’ most wild styles, the 2013 Grammys produced more traditional fashion moments. I found myself loving so many hair and makeup red carpet looks. Here are the favorites of the night that are perfect for bridal. . . Whether or not they walked home with a statue, they’re winners in our book for highlighting their best features and inspiring our brides with these gorgeous makeup looks and hairstyles.
Beyoncé – Grammy Awards 2013: Red Carpet Makeup & Hair
Beyoncé rocked one of this spring’s most chic and simple hair trends: showing off a picture-perfect ponytail on stage at the Grammys. Minimal make-up of bright red lipstick, flirty liner let her natural beauty shine through… All very sleek, sophisticated and influential to brides seeking a more polished feel for their wedding day look.
Katy Perry – Grammy Awards 2013: Red Carpet Makeup & Hair
Katy Perry offered one of the best beauty looks of the night! She was truly a showstopper with her voluminous, bouffant blown-out hair, strong eyebrows, look-at-me lashes and nude lips. Very inspiring for brides searching for a vintage, bridal bombshell look!
Taylor Swift – Grammy Awards 2013: Red Carpet Makeup & Hair
Taylor Swift showed just how thrilled she was to take home another Gramophone trophy on Sunday as she graced the stage in her ethereal braided bun. Love the soft wisps framing her face, so feminine and romantic. Add the high-shine bronzed cheeks and a perfect pink pout, and brides too can look ethereal and goddess-like with this braided style. Continue Reading…
It’s time for another dose of beauty, and today it comes in the form of beautiful bridal couture collections. I am blessed to be surrounded by many sources of inspiration but, I have an innate love for the detail and poetic nuances that are found in the flamboyance of Spanish design.
Monica Cruz featured in the Aire Barcelona 2011 Collection campaign
If you have been following my blog you probably realized by now that I’m in love with fashion history and re-invention of the past, with it’s beautifully crafted gowns and unmistakable twist on theatrics. In an era where creativity is paramount in staying ahead of the fashion curve, Spanish bridal designers have combined the best of fast forward with the beauty of tradition. I find that Spanish couturiers may very well be leading the way in over-the-top chic concepts, they evoke a shared inspiration.
Bridal Hair and Makeup for Pronovias
Here I offer you a showcase of my passion for the makeup, hair, stunning fashion coming from this land. I love the boldness, the glamor and sophistication of these collections. Nothing compares to the Old World’s charm, which makes brides feel like true princesses. Here are some stunning highlights of the 2010-2013 collections. I created this fusion from past seasons of breathtaking creations in order to merge bridal couture and beauty in way that will hopefully inspire you for your look as well. Enjoy!
España – Where Art Meets Beauty & Fashion
Lashes and Lace
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