Mascara Maven: Ring in Spring!

When I was in college, we had this saying: “Ring by Spring” which meant like 75% of dating couples became engaged sometime before graduation in May. I think they put something in the water. Thankfully, I made it to my senior year unscathed. Whew! 

Anyhow. That really has nothing to do with this post… Today, we’re going to help ring IN spring! Bonjour, Spring! I’ll let Mascara Maven take over. Today, she has some AMAZING tips on how to brighten your look to help welcome in the fresh blooms and sunny weather! 

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Ahhh, spring. The freshest time of year-the season to shed those dark colors and break out the sunscreen and lip gloss! Peach and apricot glosses, rosy hues of pinks, and glowing dewy cheeks—It’s got such a romantic appeal that lets the whole world know you are in love!

Let me say that I really love the fresh faced, doe-eyed, flushed cheek of a gorgeous bride on the happiest day of her life. It perfectly portrays a youthful, classic beauty with an edge of playfulness that will have the groom (and everyone else) doing a double take.

 So what defines a spring look? Brighter cheeks accompanied by pink lips and a subtle eye. But don’t forget about those brows! Fill them in girls! Your brows complete the picture and balance the bright hues of the pink or peach tones on the rest of your face. 

If you don’t like using a pencil, I suggest Smashbox Brow Tech– it’s a powder and wax duo so that you can fill in your brows with a brush where needed, create that soft line, and then brush some wax across the hairs to keep them in place and give them a healthy sheen.

 To achieve that glowing, just from the spa skin, try a more sheer foundation mixed with a dab of luminizing product, focusing on the cheek bones, nose, and hairline- anywhere the sun would lightly kiss. I suggest Smashbox Artificial Light Luminizing Lotion or Nars Multiple in Copacabana.

Really play up the apples of the cheeks with pink or peach blush- stray from colors with too much orange in them. And NO glitter. Look for a blush with shimmer- a slight glow to it- but no flecks of chunky glitter floating around.

Blushes I love:

Tarte Natural Cheek Stain- Blushing Bride, Tipsy, Dollface

Nars- Orgasm

Smashbox Soft Lights- Tint

Covergirl Blush – Rose Silk

Bobbi brown- Platinum Pink Shimmer Brick

For that pouty pucker, grab a lip stain and throw some gloss over it. Not only will the stain last longer than lipstick, it’s also kiss-proof- so no lip stamps on his face!

My favorite stains are: 

Tricia Sawyer’s Clearly Pretty Lip Stain

Smashbox O-Gloss

Stila Lip and Cheek Stain.

*Tip: If the color is too bright pink for your liking, dab some chapstick on before applying the stain.

To compliment the brighter blush and lip, I like to use subtle metallic colors on the eye. When wearing pink- try a soft silver eye shadow with a bit of charcoal for contour. With peach- go for golds, bronze, and even a little copper. But don’t go overboard; this look is all about balance on the face- looking subtle and romantic, bringing out that glow from within!

Eye Shadow I love: 

Gold/Bronze Eye Shadow: Nars Duo Cream Eyeshadow in Thebes or MAC – Tempting. 

Silver Eye Shadow: Nars Duo Eyeshadow in Paris or Make Up Forever – Silver 82

If you are the kind of gal that likes a little celebrity inspiration sprinkled through her Spring Look Book, may I suggest googling the fresh faces of Gemma Ward, Drew Barrymore, Eva Mendes, and Scarlett Johansson. Here’s a few of my favs to get you started! 

Drew: Drew has a gorgeous glow and luminescent skin, with a touch of pink on the cheeks and lips. Perfect!

Molly: The bubblegum pink doesnt work on everyone- but Molly pulls it off by wearing a darker brow and light pink flush to the cheeks.

Scarlett: The blonde bombshell -gone brunette complimented her new look perfectly by wearing a rosy hued blush and lip and a hint of bronzer.

Cameron: Hello Pink! She let her fuschia lips be the star for this look- but the eyes dont take a back seat- they still pop with just a few coats of black mascara. 

Eva: Gorgeous subtle rosy apricot cheeks with soft matte lips- a beautiful look for medium toned skin. 

 

Mascara Maven: Lashes

Once again, the incredible Mascara Maven has an amazing guest post for {grey} readers today. I’m thrilled at how much I’m learning from these articles on makeup. I hope you enjoy as much as I do! 

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If the eyes are the window to the soul, then lashes are the curtains. –unknown

Lashes are, in my opinion, a vital element to framing the eye. Simply curling your natural eyelashes will instantly open up your eyes and brighten your entire face. False lashes, however, are a whole new ball game. The wrong lash for your eye shape can actually close in your eye. It’s all in how you wear it.

Almost every bride wants to have fabulous lashes, but some want more dramatic than others. Take into consideration what statement the rest of your makeup is making. If you are playing up your eyes, you can wear a heavier, thicker, more extravagant lash. Be wary of lashes that are too structured and blocked as they will look unnatural. Think Betty Boop. You don’t want your lashes showing up before you do! If your hair, dress, and makeup are more light and playful, spring for a more natural lash that will lengthen, curl and accentuate what you already have.

Individual vs. Full Strip Lashes:

: : : Individual : : :

• If you know you are going to turn on the waterworks and sobbing is a good probability, individual lashes are easier to fix and/or replace if your tears affect the glue.
• If you are a dancing machine, and you manage to wiggle a lash loose, one single lost cluster is much easier to disguise than an entire corner of your strip lash lifting.
• If you tend to not wear a lot of makeup on a regular basis, you may find the individual lashes more comfortable because they are lighter.
• Individual lashes don’t have to be natural looking, if you want a dramatic look. They come in all lengths and cluster sizes and can be layered several times onto your lash to create a very glamorous eye.
• For these reasons, I tend to prefer individual lash clusters for most brides. 

: : : Strip : : :

• Now, strip lashes are gorgeous too! But as I said before, the key is to keep it believable. 
• Some of my favorite strip lashes are MAC #2, #4, and #31 lashes, and Ardell lashes #110.

If you want to stay away from false lashes but still want some va va voom for your lids, consider lash extending mascaras. They can get pricy, and I highly suggest testing them at least 2 weeks before your big day, but with regular use, they can extend the length of your natural lash using a fiber technology.

Another option that is gaining popularity is professional eyelash extensions. A single synthetic lash is attached to your natural lash with a semi-permanent glue. Call your local salons and spas and shop around for prices– I have found the cost varies by location. On average, you can look at spending $250-$700 for a full set of extensions. They will last 1-2 months (re: look fabulous on your honeymoon, even when you’ve just woken up) and touch-ups are available for $75-$150. In this case, you get what you pay for so do your research before you book an appointment!

Lastly, don’t hesitate to try out several different shapes, sizes and lengths of lashes until you feel comfortable. Remember, you will be wearing them for at least 10 hours, if not months if you go the professional route. 

Here are some great celebrity examples: 

Beyonce: an example of a more glamorous lash strip that is longer, but varied at the tips to give it a soft edge.

Leighton Meester: Here is a soft, full lash strip with a more graduated edge to give a doe-eyed look.

The Jessicas: Great examples of individual lashes- achieve this look by using two different lengths of lash clusters. Don’t be afraid to layer them too!

New Monthly Feature: Mascara Maven

I am so thrilled to announce our first guest blogger, Cathi Singh. She is a makeup artist who has worked in the industry for several years and has sent me so many great ideas, I’m bubbling over right now. I asked her to start off with a little about herself so you can get the full scoop. Without further ado, here’s Cathi:

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Hello grey readers!

I am so honored and excited to share one of my passions with you- makeup! I have been in the industry for several years- after college, I started out as a wardrobe stylist but was fascinated with what the makeup artists were doing and fell in love with makeup. I am a freelance artist with Smashbox Cosmetics and work all over Southern California doing print, bridal and, most recently, film. I was trained by celebrity makeup artist Tricia Sawyer, who does Sharon Stone, Jessica Alba, Lindsay Lohan, etc… From the girly girl and retro diva, to the minimalist who just loves chapstick, I hope to give you insight and helpful ideas to achieve your unique bridal look.

I thought I’d start off with basics, so today, I’ve got some tips for finding your look. First, there are a few key elements to determine the appropriate look for your big day:

: : Location : : Is it going to be indoor/outdoor- on a farm, or in a cathedral? You want to be dressed and made up to match your venue. If it’s on the beach, a bronzed glow with a peachy coral cheek and lip would be ideal.

: : Time : : Is the wedding in the afternoon or at sunset, going late into the evening? If it’s earlier in the day, you will want to keep to the lighter colors- peach, pink, lilac, honey and gold, so you show up in pictures, not just your makeup. If it’s an evening wedding, you can definitely use some darker colors, but focus on one part of your face to emphasize- eyes or lips.

: : Season : : The time of year and where you live will likely determine the location, given the weather. If you’ve always dreamt of a winter white wonderland wedding, you can get away with darker colors. But don’t ask for a bronzed, golden glow- you will clash with everything! Think burgundy, eggplant colors for lips, accented by a hint of warm honey tones and earthy browns for the eyes. Or you can play up your eyes with a subtle smokey eye using cooler hues like grey and pearl, complimented by a soft, light pink lip.

: : Style&Theme : : This goes hand in hand with location and the style of your wedding decor. If you are doin’ it up with a retro vintage flare, go ahead and spring for that cat eye with black eyeliner- but remember, you still want to look like you- not a movie character or your favorite pin-up.

: : Grandchildren : : I know, I’m jumping ahead a few steps, but thinking about your future 40 years from now is vital. Do you want to open up your wedding album and explain why blue eyeshadow and hot pink frosted lipstick were “so “in” back in our day”? You want something that is timeless and will always look classic and beautiful.

In honor of the Oscars, here are some beautiful looks from this year’s red carpet that are totally wedding worthy:

: : Ann Hathaway : : Classic, timeless old Hollywood feel. Very matte- no shimmer needed.

: : Jessica Biel : : Natural, playful look with light rose pink lip, light bronze eyes

: : Sarah Jessica Parker : : Evening, formal look. Heavy, dramatic eye, light pink lip.

: : Freida Pinto : : Very subtle smokey eye, nautral palette- warm, earthy tones

: :Jennifer Aniston : : Perfect example of glowing, beachy outdoor afternoon look

As the big day approaches, here are a few more tips to take you from
finding the right look, to accomplishing the right look.

• Once you have narrowed it down and are starting to envision your look, find a makeup artist that you can trust. Always schedule a consultation to meet with your artist, discuss likes and dislikes, and try out one or two looks until you are happy. Makeup artists love to see pictures of what you want- so don’t be afraid to go through your magazines and blogs!

• It’s always great to have family and/or your maid of honor there for input, but too many cooks spoil the broth- don’t make it a party. It will be too distracting for you and your artist.

• Many brides book their hair consultation on the same day so they can see the looks put together. Get your hair done first. Make sure to take pictures at this time as well- not only will you have a reference point on the big day, it also helps if you are still picking out jewelry.

• While your wedding makeup will most likely be more than you wear on a daily basis, it doesn’t mean you have to paint on a new face! Just enhance your natural beauty – that’s what he fell in love with

For more questions about makeup, or to reach Cathi, email {grey} at greylikesweddings [at] gmail [dot] com.