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October Contest Win YSL Beauty Product!

Yves Saint Laurent is an innovative and amazing fashion designer, who made makeup to got along with his iconic fashion designs. I think every woman should know about Touche Eclait. Once you use it, your hooked! It is a light reflecting pigment that you use on top of foundation or on bare skin to fade dark circles, refresh the skin and brighten. All in a little pen, a magical pen!

This is the #1 beauty product in the world and since I have an addiction to all things wonderful I use it on each job to highlight sculpt, define and brighten. Sign up as a follower today to enter the contest! Touch Eclait can be yours. 42.00 value!

Bridal Palette 2009

Check out my new must have for brides. Here we have everything we need for your special day all at a 65.00 price point. High quality gorgeous color. You got your base, crease and liner. Blusher lips!! This is either a recession special or they made a mistake, either way online exclusive, get it while you can. The colors are stunning. http://www.narscosmetics.com/MultiUse-C7_family_1.aspx

Bridal Palette!

Do Your Own Makeup For Your Wedding

My Client and friend Cathy Dunne wanted a truly classic look for her special day and truly made a beautiful bride. We did hair soft hair and fresh makeup for her July wedding. I favor many different wedding makeup styles. I have done many for many women. I do think classic is great.

Today we will focus on wedding day makeup you can feel good about and do on your own.We are in the midst of a big recession in this country. But a gal has still got to get married. If you are looking for the fresh skin, bright eyes and soft lips pictures above, keep reading. I will teach you how, with a little one on one.

I think it is worth while to make the investment in a professional, simply to put your nerves at ease on your special day, not to mention the detail and sheer ability of a pro. If you feel that you can handle it, I want you to feel comfortable and secure with some of the necessary tools. This look will give you the all beautiful bridal makeup you have always wanted, by your self!

I really believe the glow that we see on the models and actress we so sought after is achieved through dedication. Water is an essential body nutrient and is mandatory in maintaining the glowing complexion, also important for a healthy immune system. If you are not a water fan it is imperative we get you drinking it up for your special day. Add lemon, few pieces of ice and drink up!

If you need to do any brow grooming now is the best time, brush brows upward and trim with small scissors. Once your done with that you are ready for skin care and makeup.

The first thing you want to do is grab a toner mist like Evian and hydrate the skin tone.

Blot off the excess water and apply an eye cream, your best bet is a gel cream for dryness and puffiness. Tap the eye cream around the eye area with the ring finger. Be sure to keep the moisturizer away from the lid- this may cause creasing of the eyeshadow and should be avoided. You should be ready to moisturize, warm a large pea size of cream in your hands and blend throughout of the face neck and shoulders. Massage your skin for a few minutes to boost circulation; your skin will thank you for it.

Once your skin has fully evaporated the moisture apply a light weight primer. Your primer will save you from having to worry if you makeup is still there. It will increases your wear-ability and fill in pores and fine lines in the skin. It is your all important base coat. Just as important as the moisturizer, so get it. My pic is Smashbox primer all of them are great. I love the old formula in the clear bottle. Movie studios have used primers for years! It is an old hollywood trick to help the makeup last for hours.....

I like to also use a pearilizer to illuminate and give sheen to the skin try something with a gold undertone for olives and a pearl for fair skin tones. For that J-Lo Glow!

Now for your eyes. Choose a high quality eyeshadow. Remember too much black, blue or drab colors will cause you to look black eyed in photos.

Opt for natural bone, taupe, plums, gold, and copper. For a classic look you will need a light medium and darker color. First add a touch of eye shadow primer to the lid, next use the light shadow: your light shadow should be a few hairs lighter than your skin tone. Sweep the color all over the eyelid and up to brow bone. A basic blender brush should do the trick. Next add taupe to the inner crease. Be certain to keep the tone at the outer crease. Too much colour in the inner crease can close the eyes. Be sure to blend well, inward and out ward.

Now line the top of the eye with a water proof eye liner pencil or pot, you can do a medium line on the top lid, so your eyes don't disappear in photos. You want smudged soft lines nothing too harsh. Colors such as black, darkest brown and dark purple work best. You may them add a small bit of a complimenting shadow on top to set the color, just blend lightly. If you end up using too much dark color in the crease use the light color to neutralize.

I generally don't like much liner on the inside of the eye unless the eye is on the larger side.

For this reason focus on light tapping on the bottom of the lash line. Curl your lashes, be sure to hold at least 20 seconds! Add a lash primer for extra volume and a few strokes of waterproof mascara. Use a comb tool to insure there are soft and with out clumps. Fill in the brow with a pencil no darker than two shades of your natural hair color.

Be sure to brush the color in evenly.

Use a tissues and q-tip to remove all the dirt and residual. Now you are ready to conceal the inner corner of the eye. Blend out and conceal other imperfections, such as pimples.

But don't try to hard to hide freckles or other natural features, you will only look pancaked on.

Instead add a few pumps of foundation, warm the foundation on your hand- hope fully you are using a nice hydrating liquid and not a mineral powder- which does not photograph quite well. Apply your foundation with a brush and start in the inner part of the face where you want to cover a little more and sweep out. A good foundation brush is a synthetic, they glide better.

Set your foundation with a nice sheer Translucent powder. Blend throughout, use a powder puff to pat into the skin Focus on setting into the T-zone. Add bronzer for warmth and to sculpt all over the face. Blush the apples of the cheeks. Remember soft pink is like a virgin! Next add a bit of powder highlighter to the upper cheek bone, brow bone and jaw. Use a medium size brush to insure the placement. Finish with a larger blush to blend with other tones. Set with toner lightly from 6 inches.

Now for lip balm, a neutral liner. Start with a heart shape bow in the center of the lip and blend outward. Fill lip with along wear color and a touch of gloss in the center. I hope you feel proud of your self you did it!!! You did your wedding makeup.

Here are a few extra tips;

I gave you some basic guidelines for you in this blog but you should still go to your local beauty shop to test feel and play with color. Ask one of the certified reps to help you find you correct undertones.

Keep a few magazine tears on hand and take them with you so you can show the look you want, just in case you can not explain the color, also the pics will help you mimic the look.

Carry a purse with touch up gear i.e; oil blotting paper, mirror, lip product and a few q-tips. Check my past post for wedding day makeup bag tips.

Dress As Muse

I love to make a connection to the elements when styling hair and makeup for a wedding. I like to view the floral arrangement, and a picture of the dress is a must. I then design a look that suits the client and the dress. For me dress is muse. So when I met Cassandra Bromfield wedding dress designer, I was truly impressed. The brooklynites gowns are both classic and eclectic. There is a feeling you get when you are wearing one of her pieces, sort of like a rare creature. Each and every beaded detail are hand stitched to perfection. When you meet this woman, you understand that all things beautiful are her life. Her soul goes into each and every design. She also does gorgeous accessories available on www.Etsy.com

The style boasts both ethnicity and originality. I think it is important to find the perfect dress,options are important after all it is the most important day ever. View Cassandra's work www.cassandrabromfield.com

Fine hair? Flowing locks

A few weeks ago I had a trial with a young lady who had baby like strands. We decided on an updo because we knew that extensions would not work for the look. I added a hand full of mousse to damp hair next I diffused the hair with an attachment as she held her head in a down ward position. By doing this I instantly added volume.

Using a medium barrell one inch iron.I then curled the hair and did pin curls throughout. Pin curls are great because the hair sets as it cools. For this reason it is important to pin curl right after curling the hair, piece by piece. I removed all the pins and pulled out the curls using my fingers. The results? Ultra full GLAM hair!

Bridal Makeup Bag

So after all the planning and primping, the most special day ever is finally here. I want you to be as prepared as possible. So I am going to help you organize your wedding makeup bag.

If you hire a makeup artist, chances are they will have alot of the products that you need but you may need a touch up or two. So you must be armed with a few tools to insure that you look and feel comfortable for your most special day. Here is a list that will help keep you looking your very best.

First you want to purchase a makeup bag a small 5X7 is ideal. You will need to fit it into your clutch. Anything too big will bulge and crowd your purse. The reason for makeup bag is to keep your makeup together, with out having to dig around and ruin your nails. The second thing you will need is a small mirror. You want to be able to any last minute checks. You will need to be prepared for anything so tissues are important. Lastly, to insure you have a oil free day and night, go for blotting paper. I like the Shisedo papers because they feel fresh on the skin and come dipped in a sheer oil absorbing powder. I prefer blotting paper over pressed powder because layering powder over oil for many hours can cause a cake like effect and clog pores. I also find any heavy powders tend to steal the glow from the skin.

The next tool is your favorite lip color, whether it be gloss or lipstick. I prefer long wear lipstick for weddings, but you never know. Sometimes a nice gloss can alleviate the lips from drying out.

Believe me, this is all you will ever need with a professional makeup application. If you are on a budget and doing your makeup your self, invest in good skin care, foundation and primer. Remember that the trick to being a good makeup artist are the two b's balance and blending.

If you decide you want to hire a pro, look for an artist with good client testimonials and great pictures.