Is it true about false?

Weddzilla.com/blog & www.relentlessbride.com

Heard about the WOW!! factor of false lashes for your wedding day but worried about the pop-off possibility, the heavy lid-distraction, the Tammy Faye image?

Let me clarify your thinking… Every bride should look the way she wants to on her special day, but also the way she wants to be remembered in those wedding photos around for posterity.  So… most brides go with a more or less feature-enhanced classic look.

Are your lashes short, thin, straight and resistant to curling? You are a prime candidate for false lashes.   Individually applied lashes, especially from mid-lid to the outer corner of the eye can be lovely ~ brightening and lifting your eye without looking or feeling heavy.  A full strip of thin, lashes carefully applied right up against the existing lash line adds beautiful volume and maximo glam to your look.  You can even  (once waterproof glue is fully dry) add a bit more black mascara to blend the real lashes with the fake and volumize.  A light hand on the mascara here will avoid the Tammy Faye mistake, especially since you can buy black lashes.

Are your lashes long, full, naturally curled?  Why, oh why would go fake when nature can be enhanced with a great volumizing and waterproof (note emphasis here) mascara.  Let the first coat dry only slightly before adding another coat.

The pop-off factor can be minimized by putting an extra dab of lash glue at either end of the strip or on individual lashes.  The glue dries clear and unnecessary excess can be pilled up and pulled away from the skin (like rubber cement) after fully dry.  When the tears flow – come on, you know it – blot under the bottom lashes and never rub or press on the whole lid.  Waterproof glue and mascara will keep the lashes from suffering run-off and you will look more demure…

Finally, if you decide to go with lashes, experiment in advance of the wedding.  After a bit you won’t even notice any extra “weight” on your lids, and, of course, if you show up one evening in jeans and false lashes ….

Skin Care Routine ~ 1/2 the Battle!

More than half the battle… of looking great in any makeup is the condition of the skin underneath!  We know this, yet keeping up a good skin care routine often goes the way of other good intentions  sacrificed to life’s busy realities.  Drinking lots of water, minimizing junk/rich foods, taking makeup off EVERY night, exfoliating, cleansing, toning, patting on moisturizer so it lightly and evenly absorbs – where’s the time for this?!

How about factoring it into your current routine by making a few easy additions?

It will take some discipline, but you can do it!…  especially between now and your wedding. (21 days will make it a habit, so you will be doing yourself a lifetime favor.)

ROUTINE:   You take a shower every morning.  Put your cleanser (not a bar soap) in the shower and use it on your face. Set one or two specific days that you use an exfoliating scrub before the cleanser. Maybe Monday and Thursday—reach for the scrub (get a good one with rounded “polishing” grains) and use circular motions for 1 minute to freshen and remove excess dead skin cells. Then use the facial cleanser. You will be amazed how rejuvenating it is!

ROUTINE:  You put on makeup.  Put a container of cotton pads and your toner right by the mirror, so you start by prepping your skin for success J with the toner.  Your moisturizer sitting right there comes next.  Now your makeup will glide on so much better, promise!

ROUTINE:   You keep a coffee mug on your desk and refill it through the day.

Get a 32 oz. nalgene bottle of water and make it your goal to drink the whole thing by the end of the day. You will notice you won’t need as much coffee and you will feel healthier and more hydrated. ( I’m not even going to mention the dehydrating effects of caffeine.)

ROUTINE:  You grab lunch and a soda.  You know what to do by now… I’m sure you’ve got the idea!

What to Expect at the Makeup Trial

Let’s be real, when you hire a makeup artist for your wedding, you not only want to look fabulous but also feel comfortable with the look.  To de-stress your wedding day prep, NEVER skip the makeup trial to save $$.  You want to know that the look you worked out in advance and loved will be the same way you look on your one special day…

Should you expect to do a “free trial”?

Time is a premium in the wedding business.  With only 4 weekends a month, the really great makeup pros cannot afford to give “free trials”.  If a no charge trial is advertised, you might expect to feel some pressure to either buy product or definitely book them.  At Bridal Artistry we include the trial in the total price package, but allow brides to opt to just pay for the trial, if they aren’t ready to book right away.  A makeup artist who doesn’t value her time may not value yours!

Should you come alone to the trial – bring a friend? Your mom?

Up to you.  Some know the look they want and come alone confident in judging the experience themselves… others value the input of their mom or a trusted friend to help in the decision.  Just consider that the more opinionated people you bring for input, the greater the possibility for a confused bride.  You know your friends and mom and how this might play out.  Consider what sort of input you need.

What should you bring to the makeup trial?

Ideally, you should wear a white top so you see how the makeup looks with white! A scoop neck or cami top is best to simulate the gown neckline, too. Bring pics of makeup looks you like from magazines as well as pics of your gown, the bridesmaids’ dresses and your floral colors.  Getting a “feel” for your wedding style should be important to the makeup artist before doing your makeup. One more suggestion:  Plan something fun that evening, so you get the most out of your trial makeup!

Glowing (or shiny) bride?

The bridal “glow” comes from within…but take care to avoid the outward “shine”… the shine that comes without keeping a matte finish to your makeup for those wedding pictures. While a more-than-dewy complexion may look fine to the wedding guest, it can translate into an unattractive shine in photos. There’s even the horrifying chance you’ll look like you just finished a workout and slipped right into the wedding gown!

I recommend using a finely milled powder matched to your skin tone exactly and touching up throughout the wedding day. Blot any oil or sweat that appears with a facial blotting sheet (drug store purchase), and then lightly touch up your look with additional powder. The powder absorbs light and keeps a more matte look that allows your features to project your “glow” – not shine! Pressing, not rubbing, blotting paper on your face absorbs the oil/sweat and pushes the powder back to the surface of your skin.

The way you look on your wedding day lasts a lifetime… no kidding. Those photos you paid possibly thousands for will be around for a long time and you won’t want any regrets on how you look on your dream day!

…adding a bit more for a makeup pro is money well spent. Consider a makeup professional’s skill for giving you a flawless skin look (even with last minute break-outs), making your eyes pop with the right tones and shadow contours, and making you feel absolutely beautiful on your special day. Now ask yourself, do I want/need that? Can I confidently do that myself? Then consider if you are completely happy with how you look in past photos. Artist-grade cosmetics photograph wonderfully and last the whole day. On the other hand, some mineral-based foundations and shadows that you may wear on a day-to-day basis may photograph poorly, even if they seem to look fine in person. A pro that knows how to achieve the look you want and will give you much-needed pampering to take the stress out of getting ready for your big entrance is worth every penny!