BEAUTY CORNER

• Keep it simple! Get your rest, drink plenty of H2O, and remember sun protection.
• Stick to a good daily skin care regiment (Cleanse, tone, exfoliate, mask - remember to use any acne fighting medication to prevent breakouts!)
• If you have problematic skin - consult a few spas, salons, and dermatologists to see what is best suited for your needs. This should be done 8 weeks prior to the wedding!
• It takes several facials to get your skin to look its best - of course, giving that you have a healthy lifestyle and skincare regiment.
• Some of our brides’ favorite treatments are: derma-brasions, enzyme peels and oxygen facials to reveal younger and healthier skin. Consult your skin specialist to see what treatments are suitable for your skin type.
• Space your facials about 2 weeks apart with the last facial no later than 1 week prior to the wedding
• Avoid trying too many new skincare products; you never know what your skin may be sensitive to.
• For those of you, who are considering tanning for that special day don’t do it! Catching a few rays can feel nice but the irreversible UVA/UVB damages are not worth it! Great alternatives are spray tanners and progressive self tanners but need to be tested at least 6 weeks in advance!

• Go through magazines to pick out your favorite hairstyles and makeup.
• A beauty advisor (or that friend of yours who has a great sense of style) should be consulted to see which hairstyle and makeup would best compliment your dress to achieve your "overall" vision
• If you don’t have a hair stylist that you are fond of, now is a good time to find one. Research salons in your area that specialize in brides.
• The difference between a regular salon and one that specializes in brides is that they are experienced in conducting a trial and capable of giving you a little extra TLC on your special day
• A trial run will test out some of the hair style and makeup options you are interested in, keep in mind that the hair style you love may not be the best suited for the look you are trying to obtain. This is a good time to be open-minded and let the stylist spread a little of their artistic guidance.
• Find a makeup artist and set up a trial run; be aware that most stylists are not professional makeup artists and may not be able to achieve the look that you want.
• Professional artists that specialize in bride or photography makeup have a better understanding of product, lighting, indoor and outdoor conditions. These factors make a huge difference in the kind of makeup they use and what techniques are applied.
• Do research on "light diffusing" makeup, especially in foundation. Mineral makeup has "light diffusing" qualities but some are too shiny and should be avoided.

If you want to take on the task of DIY makeup, these tips may come in handy:

1. Moisturize, blot with tissue for excess and conceal any blemishes. Using concealer is easier when you have the perfect shade. Don't go 1-2 shades lighter than your skin, as this actually makes the darkness appear more gray and muddy. Mix your concealer shade with a drop of your foundation and then apply. You want your skin tone to appear one even shade.

2. Apply base, keep foundation and concealer on all day, take a Kleenex or your favorite oil-absorbing tissue and lightly press into the foundation before applying a setting (translucent) powder (Emani 404 Translucent Minerals). You'll find that foundation stays on hours longer.

3. Lightly brush on the Translucent powder with a powder brush (V1 brush) to set. This is not the time to apply a press powder. (It can actually make your skin get shinier quicker)

4. Frame your eyes, brush your brow with a dry mascara wand or brow brush, brow powders will give you a more natural and softer look than a brow pencil. For longer lasting wear, prime the brow hair lightly with Emani Magic Sealer, then apply the brow powder while your hair is still damp. This process allows the powder to grab and set.

5. Apply eye shadow, use a soft shimmering cream or vanilla color (Emani Duo 703 Mercedez Cream) on the brow bone, and the inner corners of the eyes, both above and below the lashes. This makes the eyes look refreshed while creating depth and highlighting. Apply a darker taupe in the crease of the eyes; blending is very important between both colors giving it a gradient look where the colors fades in an out.

6. Eye liner: drama takes place at the lash line and will photograph really well. Take a black or brown eye liner powder that is less likely of smudging like pencils (Emani Duo Eye Liner and Brow Filler 719) and line the lashes on the outer 1/2 or 1/4 of the eye, upper and lower lash depends on your preference and shape of your eyes.

7. Curl your lashes before applying mascara. Make sure it’s not dry and clumpy and for shorter lashes choose a mascara that has a smaller brush with a tapered head so you can reach into the corners of your lashes. If you choose to use a water-proof mascara, please use proper makeup remover and be very gentle.

Opt for false lashes? Practice, practice, practice - get the process down to where you will not stress out when applying. Single eyelashes are the most natural looking; apply one coat of mascara and let it dry. Apply a dot of glue onto a sheet (let it become tacky) then pick up the individual lash and dip to slightly. Look down, and place 2-3 single lashes on the outer 1/4 of the eye for a natural look. For a more dramatic look, apply more lashes along the lash line, feel free to trim the false lashes down (prior to applying on the eyes) to match the natural curve of your lashes. Let the glue dry, and then another coat of mascara to seal the lashes together.

8. Apply your blush next. Find a blush brush that is the size of the apple of your cheek for a perfect application, Emani V2 was designed specifically for this purpose. Pick up your color and tap onto the apples of the cheeks, slowly blending back towards the temple. When you have enough on, take a clean makeup sponge and blend. This one step makes your blush like it infused into your skin, rather than just sitting on the surface of your skin.

9. Perfect pout, apply a light layer of powder foundation onto lips, then apply and line a nude color lip pencil filling in the entire lip. Then, apply your lipstick shade, blot, powder, and apply again. By blotting and applying powder you are actually removing the excess wax in the lipstick that causes it to bleed. Once finished, dab a light coat of clear or soft shimmer lip gloss in the middle of the bottom lip.

10. Final touches, when you're done with your look, step back and forth from the mirror to see the overall result. Make sure everything is blended well and there are no harsh lines. If you feel like you have a lot of makeup on, use a makeup blotter tissue or take a clean sponge and blend. If you want your skin to glow, lightly brush on a soft shimmering loose powder, to avoid over doing it, just dust across the tops of the cheekbones and collar bones. (This process is not recommended for oily-prone skin)