Who's Who: The Wedding Party

Tuesday Tip: Holiday Redness

During the holidays, we all reach for that extra dessert, bread, pastry, sugar cookie or our favorite drink! The extra sugar and processed foods promote bloating and that lovely red/pink blotchyness from drinking or the extra foods usually trigger extra hormones and...Ta Dah! Our skin breaks out.
Most of us don't enjoy putting on extra makeup or trying to cover up pimples & redness. A few extra steps, to make you feel less "cakey" or fake and my personal favorite, looking slimmer!

 

 

 To look slimmer - contour those cheekbones! Add a few extra swipes of bronzer underneath your cheek bones, chin and across your forehead. Finish with blush and a setting powder to hold it all day and night.

Pimples and Redness - These two go hand in hand.
 First, DO NOT pop the zit. It's so much easier to conceal when it's not popped.

Next - Use primer. I prefer a green based primer to help even out the skin tone.
Put on your favorite concealer. Try using a cosmetic q-tip, brush or beauty sponge to help covering the pimple/blemish.

Lastly - Apply a warmer or yellow based (undertone) powder to help hold on the concealer.
Remember, highlighting never hurts either ;)

Finish with your favorite lip gloss, mascara and you'll be feeling fabulous for any holiday party!

 

Sara 

 

 

Mondays with Mindy: Beautify Your Thanksgiving

As unbelievable as it seems, it's that time of year again! The holidays are here. In just 3 days, millions of people will be entertaining family and friends with a table full of delicious autumnal foods. Top items include turkey, sweet potatoes, stuffing (or is it dressing?!?), and don't forget the pumpkin pie! But as I was browsing through what seemed like hundreds of pumpkin pie recipes, I noticed something odd. More than half the recipes I found call for less than one can of pumpkin purée. So the question is, what to do with all the left over pumpkin??

Here are a few at home, DYI beauty recipes that are sure to get your skin glowing just in time for turkey day!

Why is pumpkin a great additive to many popular skin care products? Pumpkin is filled with Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Vitamin A, to name a few. Pumpkin renews the skin, removes the outer layer exposing the new skin, creating a beautiful glow.

DIY Recipe: Pumpkin Honey Mask

What You'll Need:

4 tablespoons of plain pumpkin purée
2 tablespoons of honey
2 teaspoons of aloe vera gel
2 teaspoons of mashed pineapple
1 teaspoon of green tea
½ teaspoon of sunflower oil.

Preparation:



Prepare green tea and let it rest a bit. While that is cooling down, combine pineapple, honey, pumpkin, and aloe gel. Add to that sunflower oil and then green tea. Mix well.

Apply the mix on the face and neck and leave on for 15-20 minutes. Rinse off with warm water and pad dry. This amount is enough for 4 applications. Keep it in a glass jar, tightly closed and refrigerated. It is not to be used after 2 weeks.

DIY Recipe: Pumpkin Spice Pedicure

Since pumpkin is chock full of good-for-you nutrients, it only makes sense that it would pack the same benefits for your skin. With the weather getting colder, it's a great ingredient to add to your beauty treatments since it nourishes tired and dry skin instantly, plus gives it a gorgeous healthy glow.

What You'll Need:
½ cup pumpkin puree
1 egg
Optional ingredients: splash of milk, 1 tsp honey

Preparation:
Mix ingredients together and apply the pumpkin masque to feet and calves. Wrap in plastic bags. Sit back and relax for 15-20 minutes, then rinse with warm water. Dry off and apply a few pumps of your favorite moisturizer or lotion (try a Vanilla scent) to keep feet and calves silky-smooth and hydrated. Cut and file nails as desired.

And while your at it...here's a great recipe using any leftover butternut squash you may have!

DIY Recipe: Brightening Butternut Squash Enzyme Mask
This great mask works like a scrub to exfoliate without being abrasive to your skin. Butternut squash is high in vitamins A and C and zinc, and can brighten, heal, and protect your skin from free radicals, all while gently dissolving dead skin cells.

What You'll Need:
1 raw egg and 1 cup cooked butternut squash. (Optional Ingredients include papaya, honey, apple cider or cranberry juice.)

Method and Application:
Adding an egg to the mask helps bind the ingredients together, as well as nourishing and lifting the skin. Whisk together about 1/2 cup of the squash and the egg (feel free to use pumpkin, either fresh or canned, for this recipe!). How to customize your mask: For more exfoliation: Add 2/3 cup fresh mashed papaya. The additional enzymes will dissolve dead skin on the spot, leaving you fresh and glowing. For dry skin: Add a tablespoon of honey, which acts as a humectant, drawing moisture into the skin. For oily skin: Mix in a tablespoon of apple cider or cranberry juice for a toning astringent effect. Slather the mixture on your face in a fairly thick layer. Avoid the eye area. You'll feel some light tingling as the enzymes gently exfoliate the top layer of skin. Leave the mask on for 10-20 minutes and rinse off with warm water and a washcloth.

So to all of you, have a happy, safe, and beautiful Thanksgiving!

Gobble Gobble,

Mindy

Sources:
Eric Sakas, celebrity makeup artist and founder of Vapour Cosmetics.
Skin Care Recipes and Remedies: Pumpkin Skin Care
Real Beauty: 7 DIY Thanksgiving-Inspired Spa Treatments

GIVEAWAY: Simply Bridal Veil

Product of the Week: Eyeshadow

Shopping for eye shadows can be SO much fun. There are a variety of places to shop and so many colors to choose from.

As a professional makeup artist, one question I get from our mother of the bride/groom's is should I wear shimmer on my eyes? 

First, here is a breakdown of the different options of shadow. 

Frosted eye shadow: has an opaque finish with a white or silver sparkle. Pastel hues are often frosted eye shadows and usually brighten the eyes. This is typically more suited for younger skin.

Matte eye shadow:  can be used for creating natural looks and they are great for shaping and defining as it is higher in pigment. This type of shadow can be used on all skin types. 

Satin eye shadow: (one of my fav's!) this is an eyeshadow that has more sparkle than a matte, but less sparkle then shimmer. This is great for all skin types as well as mature skin.

Shimmer eye shadow:  this is used usually as a highlighter, due to the sheer coverage and a hint of sparkle. If applied correctly this is great for all skin types. 

For women with wrinkles or crow's feet you want to avoid the areas around the eye with frosted eye shadows. This will accentuate those areas and draw attention to unwanted areas. It is best to use a satin or shimmer eyeshadow to help open your eyes up but be sure to keep away from trouble areas.  We prefer to use it on the inner crease or brow bone.

Nocturnelle

Some of my favorite shadows that work well on most skin tones:
 
M.A.C Shroom (Satin)

M.A.C Haux (Satin)

M.A.C Soft Brown (Matte)

M.A.C  Carbon (Matte)

M.A.C Naked Lunch (Frost)

M.A.C Cranberry (Frost)

M.A.C Nocturnelle (Frost)

Cranberry

  xoxo,

Lindsay

Tuesday Tip: Mascara Smudges

Mascara Smudge....
We've all done it. We are in a rush & all the sudden, we swipe that mascara past our lashes & mascara is everywhere. Our first impulse? Grab that toilet paper or cotton swab & wipe quickly....but then it just smudges more. Even more frustration!!! It's so aggravating & time consuming to fix your eye makeup & then re-do the mascara & liner!


Next time you decide to have a mad dash morning, you'll be prepared! Just wait until that mascara dries, grab a Q-tip (I prefer the cosmetic kind with a point on the end) & simply wipe away! Works every time, on regular OR waterproof mascara. It usually flakes off the skin, not even really taking off your foundation, concealer or powder. If you see that it has taken some off, dab a cosmetic sponge with foundation or powder over the area if you rubbed to hard.

Hope this helps you in your next morning rush!
 Sara

Mondays With Mindy: 10 Registry Tips

Register Early
Registering early gives friends and family the chance to buy gifts in advance. If someone is throwing you an engagement party, guests will really appreciate choosing items from registry to bring to the party. Start with a few items and build to the registry throughout the engagement.
Update and Manage Registry
Make sure as the wedding approaches, there are always enough items available for purchase. Be sure there are plenty of gifts in various price ranges. One of the biggest complaints about registries is that they are empty or have too few items available.
Create Multiple Registries
Having more options for your guests makes buying a gift much more convenient. Choose at least one retailer which is accessible to many guests. Register for traditional and trendier options with varying price ranges. But be sure not to register for the same items at different stores.
Inventory
It’s important to take an “inventory” of the things you already have and are keeping, things you have but need an upgrade, things you both need, and things that you want.  This will make it much easier when actually going to the store to register.
Consider Short and Long Term Needs
Know yourselves; if you hate to cook and entertain, a crystal serving dish may not be top on your list. However, think about the future and being invited to parties. How lovely would it be to bring an appetizer in that crystal dish to a party in the future? China is on many registries. If you aren't an entertainer and are leaning towards skipping china, think about some colorful stoneware. It’s a great casual alternative to china at a more affordable price. Either way, it’s a good idea to register for 13 place settings because you know someone is going to break a piece throughout the years.  Luggage is another popular registry item. Be sure to choose lightweight and durable pieces and collections with a good warranty.  High thread count linens are nice to add to the list as well.
Wedding Website
Because it is never appropriate for a bride and groom to ask for gifts, a wedding website is a nice way to discreetly list stores where you've registered. It also gives your guests a place to refer to throughout the engagement. This means no last minute or day of phone calls and/or emails from guests inquiring about wedding details!

Go Together
Not only are two people being married, but it’s a marriage of your belongings. It’s important to decide on items together so you both can use the gifts in your new life together. Decide on an overall style, theme, and formality of your lifestyle. And don’t bring mom along! In this case, she might not know best.
Modern Approach
Honeymoon Registries are a trendy way to get what you really want…an awesome honeymoon! Websites like HoneyLuna.com and HoneyFund.com are examples of online tools which list details of the honeymoon. These items can include anything from couples spa treatments, to airfare vouchers, to dog care while you’re out of town!  Lifestyle registries are also a newer trend. This is a way to receive gifts the two of you really love and are passionate about. For example, if you two love to camp, wouldn't it be nice to register for a high quality tent or new lanterns? Say you’re buying a new house with a deck. Lifestyle registries allow the couple to choose items such as a grill or a handsome chaise lounge for that new deck.  Charity is another option for some couples who would rather have guests donate to their favorite charity than receive gifts. Any of these registries are great options for couples who really know what they want and want a modern approach to receiving it. Keep in mind, this is why it is important to have multiple registries because some guests (i.e. Great Aunt Sally) may not feel comfortable buying the non-conventional gifts.
Perks
Look for retailers who offer discounts and perks. One example is something called a completion program. This allows the couple to purchase items still on their registry after the wedding at a discounted rate (10-15% off) for up to a year after the wedding.
Thank Yous
When gifts are received before the wedding, it is suitable to send thank yous within two weeks of the present’s arrival. For gifts which are received on or after the wedding, thank you notes should be mailed within one month of your return from the honeymoon. Although it’s never appropriate to ask for money, if cash is what you really want, tell your parents or a close family member. Word of mouth will come in handy when it comes to money. If a guest wants to give the couple what they really want and need, they will most likely ask the people most close to the couple. When writing thank you notes to guests who have given a cash gift, make sure to mention how you’re planning to use the money. People love to know where their money went!

XO Mindy