Q&A

Q: My skin is almost always red and flushed around my cheeks and neck. Especially if I am hot, nervous, emotional. Pretty much anything by sleeping. How can I minimize this or make it go away completely without pounds of makeup?  -Kim

A: Many people, just like yourself, have to deal with unwanted redness on their face and neck due to capillaries close to the skin's surface and rosacea. Generally speaking, there is little you can do to eliminate the condition, however there are wonderful products you can use to minimize the appearance.

Overall, you want to look for a yellow or green tinted product to reduce the appearance of red in your skin.

Clinique makes a great product, Redness Solutions Instant Relief Mineral Powder to not only help reduce the redness but also to "cool" the skin. Clinique also makes other creams to help reduce redness. The great thing about this product is that you can layer it to your desired coverage.

Other products that work well (and don't add "pounds" to your makeup) are skincare products such as Dr. Dennis Gross Hydra-Pure Redness Soothing Serum and Murad Redness Therapy Recovery Treatment Gel to help soothe your skin and prevent your blood vessels from dilating too much (which is one cause of redness).

Other than that, you can use Dermablend products, which are fairly lightweight and meant to cover imperfections such as rosacea, tattoos and port wine stains. There is even a Smooth Indulgence Redness Concealer you could use as well. 

Make Up For Ever also makes a great, lightweight Full Cover Concealer if you wanted to use that as your foundation.

I would suggest going into Sephora and trying out some of the creams and serums to see how much they reduce your skin's natural flush. Then you can determine how much makeup you would need or want to cover any remaining redness.

Product Test: Mixer by Geri G. Cosmetics

One of the new products I tried from The Makeup Show was by Geri G. Cosmetics.  It's called "Mixer", and it is one makeup product to enhance all of your other makeup products.

It can be used before or mixed with your foundation, blush, eyeshadow, powder--anything and produces a dewy yet matte finish that is water-resistant with titanium dioxide sun protection.  It is hypo-allergenic and also has Vitamins A, C and E antioxidants and natural botanicals in it.  Plastic surgeons and medical doctors as well as celebrities and professional makeup artists have all endorsed this product.  There is also a secret ingredient called Nanomarine-5 that is patent pending so no other product has it.

So with all of that, I decided to give it a go.  I tried it as a makeup primer after moisturizing.  I didn't use a concealer or foundation but instead used a powder foundation and applied it with a brush.  The powder definitely "stuck" or mixed with the product and created the dewy yet matte finish described on the website.  Despite my sweating from being on the packed subway, the makeup stayed quite well throughout the day--definitely better than if I would have just used the makeup alone.

The Makeup Show NYC

We just finished out The Makeup Show NYC 2010! We have been a part of this from the beginning, so it is great to see the growth and development of the show from then to now.

Amazing pro products, seminars/workshops, and tons of industry friends to see and new ones to meet.

Makeup is such a vast wonderland with products and tools for every corner of the industry: beauty, fashion, editorial, bridal, special fx, and more.

We will be reviewing some new products we learned about in the coming days, so stay tuned for the inside scoop!

You've Got Questions...We've Got Answers

Every bride has questions...and every bride deserves an answer.  On our website you can ask your beauty questions--even if they aren't related to your wedding.  We are here to give you an unbiased answer (a.k.a. we are not trying to sell you any specific brand of makeup, skincare or haircare). 

So ask away--either via email: info@bridalbeautyartists.com
or via our website: www.bridalbeautyartists.com/AskTheExpert.html

Check back on our blog as new questions will be posted regularly!


: : How do I choose an artist? What questions should I ask before booking?

Choosing an artist/stylist can be a daunting task.  Every artist is a little different than the next, each artist has a different portfolio or website, and most have a signature style or look they specialize in.  There are lots of things to consider when choosing an artist--cost, personality, level of expertise, efficiency, etc.  So where do you start?

First, decide if you want a natural "nothing" look for your wedding day makeup or if you want dramatic "wow, is that me?" change from your no makeup face.  Deciding this will help you as you sift through websites and portfolios.  If you want a natural look and all the pictures you see for a particular artist are dramatic, then perhaps that artist is not the right one for you.  That said, the only way you are going to know if an artist is truly able to do your makeup or hair the way you want it is to have a trial run through with him/her.

When you are inquiring about hair and/or makeup services via email or phone, be sure to specify your wedding date, what time you need to be ready by, what services you are looking for, how many services you are looking for, where you will be getting ready, and any special concerns you might have.

Besides pricing, ask about availability, services offered, experience, how long it normally takes, what forms of payment the artist takes, when deposits/balances are due, if there are contracts, cancellation policies, travel fees, other additional fees, if the trial run through is one look or multiple looks, etc.

Generally via email or phone, you are able to gain a good sense of if you like the personality, professionalism and demeanor of the artist.  This is important to note because this person will be a part of your pre-wedding experience and can make or break the energy and mood of you and the others before you walk down the aisle.


: : I don't normally wear makeup, do I really need to for my wedding day?

There are no laws or rules that will prevent you from being married without makeup, however, if you want to look your best in person and in pictures, a little makeup will only enhance your beauty.  There are plenty of products out on the market that are extremely lightweight, tinted moisturizers instead of foundations, cheek or lip stains that are virtually weightless and stay on all night, cream eyeshadows and non-clumping waterproof mascaras--all that feel quite close to nothing on your skin.

Makeup will help correct blemishes or complexion imperfections and make your skin look smooth and flawless.  It will also help you look more "alive" or "awake" -- both to your guests and in your pictures.

In the end, the most beautiful bride is one who is happy, so if wearing makeup will prevent you from truly enjoying your wedding day, don't do it.  But if you can handle it, you'll probably be happy you did.


: : What should I expect at the trial run through?

This is different for every artist/stylist.  Be sure to ask your artist/stylist what to expect.  Ask if you can try more than one look, how many you can try, how long it takes, where it is held (do you go there or he/she come to you), if the artist comes to you--what space/lighting requirements are needed, how to prepare your skin/hair, if you need your hairpiece/veil, etc.  Regardless, it is important to have an idea of what you want.  Gather pictures of examples for hair/makeup that you like and don't like.  If you have pictures of when you had your makeup/hair done previously and you loved/hated it--bring those also.  The more examples you have the more concrete references you can give about what you want and don't want to look like on your wedding day.


: : Can I do my own makeup for my wedding day?

That all depends on you.  Even the most highly-skilled makeup artists will often call on the talent of others to take care of them for their own wedding day because it is a highly emotional day.  Things that would normally be fine on a regular day are on a different level when it is your wedding day.  At that point, drawing a straight line on your eyelids or lips becomes a frustrating and impossible task.  If you are the type of person who is always calm, cool and collected, perhaps you would be fine doing it yourself.  Just remember that if you want to do your own makeup to save money, it is not always less expensive to "DIY" versus hiring a professional artist as you will often end up purchasing a ton of makeup to "DIY" which can cost the same or more than if you would have hired a professional to do it.


: : Is it okay to make all my bridal party members have the same hairstyle?

It's your wedding and you can do what you want to!  If you truly want the bridesmaids to all have the same hairstyle, go right ahead.  There is no law that says you have to or don't have to do anything at your wedding.  That said, there are some hairstyles that are not as flattering as others on certain face shapes.  Some bridesmaids may not have hair long enough to do what you want.  To consider those things, you can also choose a general style (i.e. half-up or all up) and then let each choose their own variation of it.  But in the end, it is your call--you are the bride.


: : When should I schedule my trial run through?

For some brides, scheduling and completing their trial run through sooner than later is another item checked off their list and provides them a better sense of calm.  For other brides, the trial run through shouldn't be scheduled until their hair is long enough to do the style they want, or their skin is finished with a particular skin treatment.  If you need to see the way it will look on the wedding day, you will want to schedule the trial run through closer to your wedding day.  Just be sure that this does not interfere with reserving an artist for your day as most all artists can be booked up for your date if you wait too long.  Talk with your artist about his/her policies for booking the wedding day versus having the trial run through.  You also want to be sure you have enough time to find other options if you end up not booking that artist after the trial run through.


: : How soon should I book an artist?

This is a popular question.  Our sister company, MG Hair and Makeup, accepts bookings up to 25 months in advance of the wedding date.  And there are brides who book that far in advance when they know what they want.  It is the same as any other vendor you choose for your wedding.  If you know who you want to work with, you want to be sure they are available for your date.  If you don't have a particular artist in mind, the general rule is sooner than later.  Most brides book their artist between 12 months to 6 months prior to their wedding date.  There are a few that squeeze in their booking during the the 6 months to 3 months prior.  Waiting longer than that is usually when a bride starts to get stressed.  Planning your wedding should be as fun as it can possibly be, and cramming last minute bookings into the final weeks or months limits the choices for artists, schedules, and ultimately your happiness with your choice.


: : How should I prepare my skin for the wedding day?

You want to be sure your skin is ready to look its best.  Exfoliate--get rid of the dry flakes on your skin.  Use a scrub or a washcloth and get your skin to a fresh layer so the makeup will set nicely on it.  When your skin is too dry or you have flakes, the makeup sets differently on the dry layers of skin versus the fresh layers and you end up with a blotchy, sandpaper-like effect.  Be sure to do the same for your lips as well!

After exfoliating, moisturize according to your skin type.  The best overall moisturizers are from the Olay brand--the Regenerist and ProX lines are excellent for almost every skin type and available at your local drugstore or supermarket.


: : Is it wrong to make my bridesmaids get their hair/makeup professionally done?

These are your pictures you will look at for the rest of your life, so no one can blame you if you want them to look good!  However, it is important to be sensitive to your bridal party members' budget--weddings are expensive.  One of the best ways to remedy this is to give the hair and/or makeup as a gift to your bridal party.  Let's be honest, few if any will actually wear the matching necklace and earrings again.  The gift of hair and/or makeup is a great way to show your bridal party that you want them to enjoy themselves (and look their best!) on your wedding day, too.


: : I am doing my own makeup, how should I choose what foundation to use?

There are so many options out there to accommodate every skin tone, skin type, desired coverage and budget.  If going to a makeup counter, be sure to try the foundation and wear it outside of the store in natural light before purchasing--those department store lights are not natural and cast a tone on your face which can be deceiving until you walk outside.

And there are great options for different levels of coverage that still can feel lightweight on the skin.  To explore the most options with the least amount of pressure, go to your local Sephora store and test out different types of foundation.


: : Do I need to use false lashes for my wedding day?

Of course not!  There are plenty of women who have natural lashes that would beat out any false lashes I've ever seen.  The best thing to do is to curl your lashes and apply a volumizing and/or lengthening mascara.  This is plenty for most brides, however if you have sparse or extremely short lashes, false lashes can add the extra drama you may be looking for.  Just be sure to try them out before the wedding day and see if they are something you like.  Also be aware that though they are light, on your eyelid, they may seem heavy given that your eyelid is not used to lifting the extra weight every time it opens and closes.  Many women get used to this easily while others are bothered by it.  Try it out to see if you can get used to it or if it will distract and bother you on your wedding day.


: : Should my eyeshadow and lip color match my flowers or wedding colors?

You need to match your eyeshadow and lip color to you, your preferences and your skin tone.  When you look beautiful, it doesn't matter if you match outside colors, such as your flowers or bridesmaids' dresses.  If the colors you prefer for your makeup happen to coordinate with your flowers or wedding colors, that's great, but you should not feel like you need to wear teal eyeshadow because your bridesmaids are dressed in it.

The Today Show's No Makeup Day

So it is the hottest thing right now for celebs to bare all (on their face that is).  Every major magazine is showing off the makeup-less mugs of Heidi Klum, Jessica Simpson, and the list goes on.  The KLG and Hoda also did a special episode all without makeup.

It was great--definitely worth seeing to remember that they don't wake up looking like that--no one does.  So it is best to stop loathing yourself without makeup and "love the skin you're in".

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/37130121/ns/today-today_fashion_and_beauty/

Up, Down or Something In-Between?

We understand that it can be overwhelming and a bit frustrating making a choice for your hairstyle when many different ones look so great.

You want to start by looking through your huge stack of bridal magazines and also online for pictures of hairstyles you like. Look for things you like and also things you do not like. Gather examples of pictures where you like the front or the side and maybe nothing else about the style. While in your gathering stage, more is better than fewer as you can always weed out similar pictures later. Looking online for images at places like theKnot.com and celebrity gossip websites are generally the best places to find examples of hair and also makeup looks for your wedding day. And don't forget to grab magazines or look through photo galleries of the stars on the red carpet after major events such as the Oscars and other movie and music awards shows.

Once you have your stack of photos, go through and weed out similar ones. This will also hopefully force you to narrow down what type of chignon or romantic half-up style you want. Think about whether you like the height or volume of one style over another, whether you like the tightness or the looseness of a curl or wave over another. Also think about your own hair type and the amount of hair you have to work with to create your desired style. Understand that though in pictures, these styles may look natural and gorgeous, there may be a ton of extensions used along with multiple other products, and while the picture may look like the hair is touchable, in person it was actually quite sprayed down with product. However, if you are interested in having that particular style, be sure to be open to having extensions and a decent amount of product in your hair. It is important to have realistic expectations walking into your trial run through.

As you have your hair trial run through and try multiple styles, you may find that you like your hair in a couple different styles that you never thought of before--such as all down or half-up. Generally after we set a bride's hair to curl and then take the rollers out, the bride will be amazed at how she looks and start to consider having her hair all down or half-up.

Our advice in choosing a style amidst the many styles that look beautiful on you is that you want to be practical. Unless you want your stylist to stay and change your hairstyle after the pictures or ceremony and have two different hairstyles--which some brides do as it is a big day--you will have to choose one hairstyle. If you do choose to have one hairstyle, think of the point in the evening when you will be dancing (and probably sweaty) on the dance floor. Are you the type of person that throws her hair up in a ponytail or can you have your hair down all day long? If you generally wear your hair up on a long day at work, you will most likely want to do it up in some way. Many brides who do not decide to do this end up throwing their hair back in a ponytail on the dance floor. Also, if you sweat on your neck/back when you get warm, if your hair is down and your back is exposed/open, your hair has nowhere to go but there--and unfortunately, no amount of product/spray will hold a curl when it is being drenched in sweat/water.

Another difficult decision brides often face when deciding on their hairstyle (and this applies to deciding on your makeup look as well) is choosing between how they see themselves every day when they do their own hair and makeup or choosing to do something totally different. Most brides are past the "prom" stage of their life where the standard slicked-back-helmet-of-curls look is not an option, however, many brides get to their wedding day and also have no other event that they really had their hair professionally styled for and therefore have no other reference point as to seeing themselves "done up".

Many brides end of having this thought that their hair has to be a certain way because their wedding is a "formal" event, when in fact, you can wear your hair down to a formal event and still be just as formal. Remember that you will be the one wearing the white gown carrying the flowers in a gorgeous venue. Unless you decide on blue jeans, you will be looking quite formal--whether your hair is up or down.

The most important thing to remember is that you choose something that you love the way it looks. It may be that this look is just a little more polished than what you do for yourself on a regular day--and that is just fine. The same applies to your hair as to your makeup--a bride who feels beautiful is always going to be the most beautiful. The genuine smile and glow you will have feeling gorgeous is going to stand out much more than how you wear your hair.

Photo credits: Dietrich Gesk, Solvara, George Delgado

Brighten Your Face with Color

Makeup and color seem to go together like hand and glove. Most makeup seems rather boring until you see that sleek, shiny packaging of a gorgeous eyeshadow palette with a rainbow of different colors. It changes makeup as a product into makeup as an art. But then, after you purchase the beautifully packaged makeup, take it home and put it in your makeup bag to be used in the morning, it ends up sitting there waiting to be used. You might open it up and look at it, but it is nowhere near as appealing as it once was under the store's spotlights.

And every time you open it and think about trying out a color, you decide against it, put it away and use the same colors you already had in your makeup bag. Or when you do try it, you decide to be adventurous and try the teal shade (because you read in a magazine somewhere that it was the new "it" color of the season), look at yourself in the mirror, and then wash it off as quickly as you put it on because you ended up looking like a child playing in her mother's makeup.

We've all been there. We've all wasted money (and product), and yet, we continue to do it again and again. So if you are just so drawn to the array of colors in the pretty packaging but have no idea how to make it work on your face, here are some tips for how to use a pop of color without letting it be all you see when you look at your face.

Eyeshadow

- Try using a lighter shade of the color (such as teal) and sweep it on the lid from the lashline to the crease. Then take a mauve or taupe colored shadow and use this in the crease. Finish with a black or dark brown eyeliner and mascara.

- If you want to use a bright and pigmented color, make sure you have already lined your eyes with a fairly thick line of black eyeliner. The black will contrast the brightness of the shadow and give you an effect similar to like when you see the shadow in the shiny black case it comes in.

 

- Don't pair a bright eyeshadow color, a bright blush and a bright lip color if you are trying to go for a more natural look. If you do, you will end up looking like a clown.

- Try using a shimmer (not glitter) shadow in a brighter color than you would normally use. This is a great way to incorporate color without making it obvious. The shimmer will offset the color and make it more subdued.

- Use a dark shade of a color (purple, blue, green, etc.) and do a smokey eye with it. Blend it into your eyeliner near your lashline up to your crease to give it more dimension.

 

 

Blush

- If you decide to try a bright blush, place it on the underside of the apples of your cheeks and extend up towards your temples. Use this sparingly as too much will make you look like a doll--not in a good way.

- Blend in a bronzer to the cheek area, both in the hollows of your cheek under the cheekbone and also onto the apples of your cheek. This will help to offset the stark contrast of the blush color and your skin. It will also help correct any stripe-like blush application.

- After lightly dusting your cheeks with the blush color, take the brush and gently pass it over your brow bone/eye area. This will give you more of a sunkissed look and tie in the blush color making it seem more natural on your cheeks.

 

 

Lips

- Using a bright lip color is probably the safest and easiest way to integrate color into your makeup routine. A bright pink or red lip--even a subdued shade--with a natural, almost nothing makeup look works for everyone.

- Be sure to either take care in lining your lips and apply the color precisely or else dab it onto your lips and blend with your finger. If you want a more matte look, dab the color and blend it with a dry finger. For a dewier look, use a little Aquaphor or petroleum jelly when blending it.

 

- If you try a color on your lips and it seems too bright, blot your lips with a tissue. You can then either leave it like that or apply your normal lip color over it.

- And if you really want to use a bright color but are really uncomfortable with the way it looks on your face, use a sheer lip gloss. It will give your lips a little boost and no one will be able to detect exactly why your face looks a little brighter.