My Weekend in Instagrams

Thank you to my dear friend, Kendra for this wonderful idea. Here was my weekend in photos:

I had a busy wedding weekend. I did makeup in Fishers on Friday & then traveled to Martinsville on Saturday.

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I made Skinny Chicken Cacciatore from one of my favorite websites, Skinnytaste.

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We went to the Dave Matthews Band Concert. My favorite concert of the Summer.

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<3

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One of my brides from this weekend. She was such a pleasure & delightful to work with. She looked gorgeous too!

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There is nothing like some good ‘ol fashioned country cookin’ from Cracker Barrel.

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How was your weekend?

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?

Favorite Friday: NARS Roman Holiday Lipstick

Instead of using my time wisely this week, when I had a moment of free time, I made a pit stop two hour trip to Sephora. The good news is that I found my new favorite lip color. It’s my favorite thing this Friday. Here it is:

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.NARS Sheer Lipstick in Roman Holiday, $24 at narscosmetics.com

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I’m pretty finicky when it comes to lipstick. The best way to describe what I’m looking for is, “natural, light pink with blue undertones, not too pink, but kinda pink, hint of color, somewhat sheer but not too sheer, visible in photos but not overly visible, non-metallic, moisturizing, must feel good on the lips, lipstick.” What, is that too much to ask? Tell that to the cosmetic salesperson and you will forever be labeled as the “crazy lipstick lady” and everyone will run for cover when they see you coming. True story. I worked at a cosmetic counter for years, I know how it goes down.  I usually just keep my crazy demands to myself and quietly roam around the store for two hours searching, wandering aimlessly and hoping it falls into my lap. That pretty much never happens, but this time it actually did! I love this color because it meets my seemingly unattainable list & I don’t even know how that’s possible. It feels great on my lips and it’s infused with lip conditioning ingredients and antioxidants that keep my lips feeling nourished.  It gives me that little hint of color I was searching for. It also goes with everything. It looks pretty pink in the above photo but it has a buildable coverage, so you can obtain a very sheer coverage to a very pigmented baby pink lip if you keep reapplying. I usually just apply one coat for a more sheer application. Here is what my lips look like after two coats:

.I hope everyone enjoys this color as much as I did. Have a great weekend!

What are you loving this Friday?

Favorite Friday: Benefit Hervana Blush

It’s Friday (woot!)  and there’s not a better time to dedicate this post to my favorite product of the week. Here is my fav for this Friday…

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.Benefit Cosmetics Blush in Hervana

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I was recently given this product to try from one of my best friends who happens to work for Benefit Cosmetics. I don’t get to visit her often, but when I do she usually has a few goodies for me! She told me I would love this product & it would look great with my skin tone. I knew she was right from the moment I saw the colors. I have a naturally pink undertone to my skin, so using a pink blush isn’t flattering on me. This happens to be a cool-toned blush and it has all the right colors to complement my fair to medium skin tone. It consists of four separate shades–Lucky Shell, Heavenly Rose, Divine Peach and Berry Delight. The best way to describe it would be a rose-berry swirl with subtle, light shimmer.  This blush works great when I’m at my fairest and even when I have a bit more color than usual.  I love that Benefit has included a brush inside the packaging as well. Typically I don’t use the brushes that already come with a product (I tend to prefer my own brushes), but this brush actually works so well that I don’t even have to use my own blush brush. If you’re looking for a subtle blush with a wonderful flush of color, I think you would really enjoy Hervana.  You can check it out here. Hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!

What’s your favorite thing this Friday?

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.

What’s the secret to great makeup? Great skin.

Your skin is the foundation you build upon when you’re applying your makeup, therefore you need to do your best to take great care of it. Without a smooth foundation you won’t achieve optimal results from your makeup. There are 3 key steps you need to take in your skincare routine every single day:

1. Cleanse:

Cleansing your face is of the utmost importance. It’s essential to wash away all of the oil and impurities your skin has accumulated during the day, allowing your skin to breathe. Make sure you do not use a cleanser that is too harsh or drying and always use a cleanser that is chemically balanced for the face. Currently I’m using this cleanser & I love it! It completely removes all of my makeup, eyes included! Not only does it remove my makeup but with four weeks of continued use you will notice your skin looking much more radiant and feeling smoother.

Burts Bees Facial Cleanser $10 at Target

2. Exfoliate:

Exfoliation rids the skin of dead skin cells allowing your moisturizer to penetrate deeper into your skin. Make sure you do not over exfoliate. Some skin types only need it once or twice a week, while others can benefit from a gentle exfoliation daily. You can use an exfolating scrub such as Clinique 7 Day Scrub Cream or this handy-dandy tool that I could never live without.

Clarisonic Mia 2 $149 at Nordstrom

3. Moisturize:

I cannot stress this enough, moisturize! Moisturizing is absolutely a must. In my time as a makeup artist I have seen the effects of a lifetime of not moisturizing. Trust me, you do not want to go there. I always say that no one is too young to start moisturizing or using eye cream. Not only does moisturizing help quench thirsty skin, it also prevents lines and wrinkles and retains your skins natural moisture balance. I’m currently using coconut oil as my moisturizer. Not only do I use it to moisturize, I also use it to cook with. The health benefits and uses for coconut oil are endless. I only use this as my nighttime moisturizer but you could also use it during the day. This also comes without the hefty price tag of most moisturizers you will find at the department store. You can pick this up at Whole Foods or my favorite local store, Natures Pharm.

Dr. Bronner’s Magic “All One!” White Kernel Unrefined Coconut Oil $11 at Natures Pharm

Cleanse, Exfoliate, Moisturize. Goodnight!

A Trial Run Is Peace of Mind.

A trial run is the time where you can pick out colors and describe to your makeup artist the look you envision for your wedding day. It’s a great time to bring pictures of bridal looks you love. It also allows you to see yourself in natural and artificial lighting so you can get a feel of how your makeup will look on the big day. As a makeup artist, I suggest brides do a trial run so that everything can be planned out, therefore going smoothly that day. You won’t be hit with any surprises. The consultation is simply peace of mind. When you book your wedding, a trial run is included. Here are a few pictures of some gorgeous brides during recent trial runs:

Spring Brides

I’ve had the pleasure of working with some gorgeous brides this Spring, one of which is a dear friend of mine. The wedding was a beach wedding in Playa Del Carmen, Mexico. It was a such a beautiful wedding spent with amazing friends, in such a gorgeous setting. It was an honor to get to do her makeup for her special day. Here is a peek of  her wedding & what else I’ve been up to this Spring.

Such a stunning bride.

True love.

So beautiful! She was such a pleasure to work with!

Brides, Bridesmaids & Proms

I’ve had a busy, booked Summer, and now taking appointment for Fall & Winter weddings!  Here is the latest:

Pretty pretty prom girl

And we’re off…

May is almost here which means we’re in full swing of the (oh, so exciting) WEDDING SEASON! We’ve started off with some beautiful brides and many more to come. This weekend, I’ll be doing a wedding downtown Indianapolis at the Historical Society. What a beautiful, classic venue! I’m already rearing to get pictures back so I can post them. In the meantime, here are a few photos of some of my past brides.