5 Makeup Essentials For Brides

There are certain items that every bride needs to make sure she keeps close-by on her wedding day. Give them to your Mom, your Maid of Honor, or anyone who might be carrying a clutch you can stow them in. If you have your makeup professionally done, your makeup should last the entire day. There are still some items you will need so you can touch up before pictures, after eating, or after all the lip-locking. Remember, a calm bride is a happy bride. Be prepared with these tools just in case you happen to need them. It’s your wedding day which means it should be a joyful, stress-free day! Enjoy it & pack these essentials:

1. Concealer:

If you well up and shed a tear or two, you should be fine. If the tears are going to flow like a waterfall it’s another story. You want to bring a concealer just in case you have an emotional moment and need to high-tail it off to the bathroom for a quick touch-up. Even if you think you aren’t the type to get emotional it’s still best to be prepared. I’m not usually overly emotional but all it takes is for me is to hear “Dance With My Father” by Luther Vandross. I’ll probably be crying like a tween who just found out Justin Beiber isn’t single. That song gets me every time.

L’oreal True Match Concealer, $9 at lorealparisusa.com

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2. Lipstick or gloss

You want to bring a lipstick, lipgloss or both to reapply before pictures. Remember that photos can sometimes wash you out a bit, so you just want to keep your lip color looking fresh. Just dab a little on before photos and maybe again after your done eating. You shouldn’t need it more than that. If you prefer, you can ask your makeup artist to buy the color she will be using on you. You can find one of my favorite lipstick shades by clicking here.

MAC lipstick in Honeylove, $17.50 and MAC Plushglass in Ample Pink, $22.50 at MACCosmetics.com

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3. Oil blotting sheets

A makeup artist preps and primes your skin and uses products that are formulated for your skin type, so you will not have to worry about your makeup coming off. If you have a problem with excessive oiliness, or you’re getting married in the summer on a hot and humid day, I suggest picking up a few oil blotting sheets. These will allow you to remove the excess shine on your face without ruining your makeup.

Clean & Clear Oil Absorbing Sheets, $5 at drugstores

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4. Makeup remover cloths:

These are great if you happen to get really emotional & need to dab under your eyes to remove excess makeup that might have fallen. I would say this item is definitely optional, but you can never come too prepared.

Neutrogena Make-up Remover Cleansing Towelettes, $6 at drugstores

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5. Compact Mirror

You’re going to be the star of the show and in high demand at your reception. You may not have time to sneak off to the bathroom to reapply your lipstick, so a compact mirror is perfect for quick touch ups.

Sephora Collection Compact Mirror, $15 at Sephora

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Remember that weeks before your wedding you want to make sure you take care of your skin like it’s your second job. If your skin is in optimum condition, your makeup will be too. You can find my 3 steps I recommend for flawless makeup in my past post here. Most of all, enjoy your day & relax. Everything will go smoothly. Remember to keep in mind, a calm bride is a happy bride!

What essentials will you be sure to have?

Summer Makeup Essentials Part 2

I have so many favorite summer makeup products that one post just wouldn’t cut it. Here are the rest of my essentials for long-lasting and flawless summer makeup:

1. Tinted Moisturizer:

A tinted moisturizer can completely replace your foundation if you’re comfortable with a sheer coverage. I, on the other hand, still use a light coverage foundation on top of my tinted moisturizer because I have minor skin imperfections. If you are blessed with great skin, a tinted moisturizer is all you will need in the summertime. Tinted moisturizers do exactly what they sound like they do. They tint the skin, covering discolorations slightly, and moisturize. If you decide to strictly use a tinted moisturizer, make sure it has a high SPF of 30+.  A  great money-saving trick I love is to use your daily foundation and your daily moisturizer and mix equal parts together to make your own version of a tinted moisturizer. It works just as well. I have finally found the ultimate tinted moisturizer I’ve been searching for:

NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30, $42 at Nordstrom

This moisturizer gives great coverage, while still letting your natural skin show through. I absolutely love the texture and feel of it. It leaves my skin feeling very hydrated and not tacky, like some tinted moisturizers tend to. It has a long list of luxurious ingredients that actually help to improve your pigmentation after 4 weeks of use. I’ve tried a lot of tinted moisturizers and this one exceeded all of my expectations, so it will stand alone on my list of favorites. In fact, this product is so good that it’s what Gwyneth Paltrow wore at the Golden Globes this year.

2. Bronzer:

It wouldn’t be summer without bronzer. Summer is the only time of the year you can get by with looking like a bronzed goddess without being questioned if you just came back from an exotic vacay. With that being said, bronze away! While the sun is one of my favorite things, I prefer not to lay out in it because of its harmful effects, so I definitely put my bronzers and self-tanning creams to good use in the summertime. One of my least favorite things in a bronzer is one with an underlying orange tint. If you’re trying to be cast as the latest Jersey Shore housemate these bronzers are NOT for you:

NARS Bronzer in Laguna, $34 at Department Stores

Too Faced Chocolate Soleil Matte Bronzing Powder with Real Cocoa, $29 at Sephora 

Bare Escentuals Warmth, $19 at BareEscentuals.com 

3. Bright Pink Lips:

Bright pink and fuchsia lips happen to look amazing with muted down makeup and luminous summer skin. In the summer, keep it easy and choose one focus point or just keep everything simply neutral. My lovely cousin Arantha, author of the blog Gourmet Beauty, recently did a post on fuchsia lips. You can view her favorite colors here. One of the colors she has recently recommended on her blog has become one of my new daily favorites!  These colors are very stylish and fun this season, so give them a try!

Nicki Minaj for MAC Viva Glam, $14.50 at MAC stores

Revlon Colorburst Lipstick in Candy Pink, $8.99 at drugstores

4. Finishing Mists

I am in love with finishing mists. One of my favorite things about them is they feel refreshing, like you’re giving thirsty skin a drink of water.  They  set your makeup and give it staying power. It’s Indy 500 week here in Indianapolis and for those of you that don’t know, that means a long, 90 something degree day in the direct sunlight. My makeup has to withstand the heat and also last for hours. These products will help it to do just that:

Urban Decay All Nighter, $29 at Sephora

MAC Fix+, $20 at MACCosmetics.com

Are there any essentials you must have for summertime? Everyone have a safe & happy Memorial Day!

Summer Makeup Essentials Part 1

In the summertime I’m all about quick and easy makeup that will last all day without making me look too “made up”. Summer is a time when you want your skin to look fresh and luminous. What I love about summer makeup is my routine is cut almost in half! This leaves me a lot of other time to get stuff done, such as laundry web surfing. In Indiana, we have a lot of humidity and high temps in the summer. I need my makeup to last (and look good) from the time I put it on to when I wash it off at night. This can be hard to achieve but with the right products and routine seen below, you will be on your way to long-lasting, fresh-faced, summer beauty.

1. Primer

Primers are specifically made for either the face or eyes. A primer helps the longevity of your makeup. It creates a smooth surface for applying your foundation or eye makeup.

A facial primer not only helps to reduce the appearance of your pores, it also helps to control oil and smooth the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. When you’re using a face primer, a little goes a long way. You usually only need one pump, if that.

An eye primer keeps your shadow adhered all day long and also keeps it from creasing. It also works to the benefit of the eyeshadow by bringing out the true pigment in the shadow. I would consider an eye primer a staple in anyone’s makeup collection, but if you’re someone with oily eyelids then a primer is an absolute necessity. When wearing foundation or eye makeup in the summer, I definitely recommend trying one of the following:

Bare Escentuals Prime Time Foundation Primer, $23 at BareEscentuals.com

MAKE UP FOR EVER HD Microperfecting Primer, $34 at Sephora

2. Neutral Eyes

Think beachy and bronzed…and J. Lo. Summertime is when you can get away with minimal eye makeup, so use it to your advantage. The great thing is you don’t have to be makeup savvy to create a look. I usually keep it simple with one light, shimmery color all over the lid. For evening, pop another color into your crease and you’re good to go. Here are some of my favorites.

Urban Decay Naked2 Palette, $50 at Sephora

MAC eyeshadow in Naked Lunch, $15 at Nordstrom

Bare Escentuals Eyeshadow in Vanilla Sugar, $14 at Nordstrom

3. Peachy Cheeks

When I think of light, fresh makeup I think of peachy-pink cheeks. You want a shade that gives you a natural-looking flush of color. The focus point shouldn’t be on your cheeks. You just want a pop of blush that gives you that little pick-me-up, making your finished look polished.

NARS Orgasm Blush, $28

MAC Buff Blush, $24

Kirsten Dunst at Cannes Film Festival 2012. Summer makeup perfection.

What are your summer makeup essentials? Stay tuned for Summer Makeup Essentials Part 2.