Most people that have worked with me or clients I've done makeup on will know that my brush belt is stocked with brushes! I like to utilize both my hands and brushes when applying makeup but depending on the area of the face brushes are a must!

I am obsessed with my M.A.C. #187 brush! It's one of the few brushes that I do not have a duplicate of (guess I'll have to change that). This duo fibre brush is made with a blend of soft goat and synthetic fibres. I love using this brush for buffing on powders, liquid or cream foundations, and cream blushes.

This brush is my secret weapon for giving that airbrushed finish. Whether I'm applying a powder or foundation, I use a circular buffing motion. Working the brush like this will make your foundation and powder appear like it's apart of your skin rather than creating a mask over your skin. I also love using this brush to finish the look. I swirl it in a bit of powder then set the whole look buffing my brush - it blends any harsh lines and smooths out the overall look. The result is a flawless complexion!

1. I always tell brides to make sure they get enough sleep before the wedding. You'll need your energy with all the emotions you'll be feeling, the many people that you'll be greeting, the over smiling you'll be doing picture after picture, and of course all the partying and dancing at the reception (don't forget about after the guests leave wink, wink).
2. Water! Water! Water! Drinks plenty of water to keep you and your skin hydrated and looking beautiful.
3. Never get a new hair style a few days before your wedding. If you're dying for a new colour or cut do it at least 2 weeks in advance so that you can recolour your hair if you need to or if you need your hair to grow out a bit.
4. A week from a wedding book a facial. This way if you break out a bit after, your skin will have some time to recover. Booking a waxing around this time is also good too. If your hair grows fast do it 3 days before the wedding. Never do it the same day or you'll be left with a red inflamed face!
5. Get a mani/pedi 2 or 3 days before so that the polish colour is still fresh and chip free.
6. A nice little treat the day of the wedding or before is to indulge in a relaxing massage. Any glitches or problems that will arise won't phase you because you'll be too relaxed.

Picture a ballerina bride getting married in a castle - sounds like a dream right? Well, this is a reality for one lucky bride-to-be! The stunning bride, Lauren, co-owner of LIFT Beauty Boutique in Toronto, is getting the wedding of her dreams! I am so excited to be doing the makeup for my former boss' upcoming June wedding! The photo above is from her bridal trial. The glowing, blushing bride look was inspired by supermodel, Heidi Klum, circa Victoria's Secret. The look is radiant, glowing skin with lots of highlights and lashes! All products used were from the salon's own line of cosmetics, LIFT Cosmetics (fake lashes by Sephora).

Base

To ensure the makeup would stay put and blend smoothly onto the skin, I used a silicone-based primer from LIFT (not for sale as of yet). For optimal coverage with a luminous finish, I used a cream foundation then layered a dual finish powder foundation on top on the areas that needed more coverage. Because I knew we'd be doing a subtle smokey eye, I left the under eyes undone until the eyes were complete. I like to apply concealer with a small brush then blend the edges with my ring finger. I find this technique really helps the concealer to blend into the skin more.

Not sure if the foundation you're using is for you? Swatch the foundation near your jaw line. If it does not blend in with your natural skin tone, it is not the right shade for you.

Want to know my secret to a flawless airbrush-like complexion? Lots of blending! I like to buff M.A.C.'s #187 brush into the skin to smooth out any lines so the skin appears flawless. I don't airbrush but I can still get the same results.

Brows

While the primer is setting in, I like to work on the brows but you can do this after your foundation is done. Having a well-shaped brow is important in completing the overall look. If your brows have a fairly good shape and are naturally full just use a clear brow gel to set the hairs in place. For Lauren, her brows are pretty perfect. I only filled in the areas that were a bit sparse which was at both ends. I mixed a taupe and brown-red shadow together to match her natural colour. I used a small angled brush to fill in her brows and then set it with a clear brow gel.

Eyes

To really brighten the eyes, I used a white shadow with a satin finish as the base. I concentrated a lot of the white shadow underneath the brow bone and in the inner corner of the eyes. For the lids, I used one of my favourite products from the LIFT line, Moon Dust Loose Pigment. On the actual wedding day, I will use a cream base shadow in a similar shade to really make the powder pop. Moon Dust is gorgeous soft gold powder with pink shimmer. I also added Moon Dust to the inner corners and on the bottom lash line.

To create some drama, I did a subtle smokey look. I first lined her top lash line with a creamy black eye pencil. I dipped a pencil smudging brush in a matte black shadow and diffused the liner with it. The powder over top of a pencil will help set it. After smuding the liner, I used the same black shadow in the outer crease and brought it a little above the crease bone. I then used a fluffy blending brush to make sure there were no harsh lines. I took a thin angled brush and lightly defined her bottom lash line with the black shadow. I added more Moon Dust to the bottom inner corner of the eyes to make them really shine. I then topped off the lashes with a couple of coats of black mascara.

Lauren wanted extra drama by adding really fluffy but naturally looking lashes. By fluke and because a certain store didn't have any Ardell's in stock, I ran over to Sephora and picked up small kit of their fake lashes. The kit included two small demis which I assumed were for the bottom lashes (but were perfect length for my short lashes), small tube of glue, and one long strip of lashes that could be customized to the length of your choice. I cut 2 demis to use on the outer part of her lashes. Lauren ended up loving how fluffy her lashes were and said they stayed on really well. Her lashes looked full and lush without looking unnatural!

Cheeks

For a blushing glow, I generally like to layer a powder blush on top of a cream blush. Instead, I used a soft rosy pink blush with a subtle sheen. For a girly flush, I like to use a blush brush with a smaller head like M.A.C.'s #160 brush. I am able to deposit the blush right onto the apples of the cheek. For an extra luminous finish, I added a few layers of the Moon Dust Loose Pigment over top, on the cheekbones, and around the temple with an angled fluffy contouring brush.

Lips

To finish off the glowing look, I wanted to give the lips a kiss of colour that was still noticeable. I used a flesh toned lip liner to fill in and define the lips. I used a sheer lipstick with a gloss texture in a pinky-nude shade. I finished the lips with a lovely pinky-gold gloss.

If you're looking for something light and fresh for spring and summer, this is one look that is both stunning and timeless. It will turn heads for sure! I'll have to post pictures from the actual wedding day - I believe the hair may change to a beautiful ballerina bun!

What woman doesn't love multi-use products especially when they come in pretty colours and cute packaging? Stila Convertible Color, In Style's Best Beauty Buys 2008 and a favourite of among makeup artists, is a girl-on-the-go's best friend. And a bride is always on-the-go! A lipstick and cream blush in one will get you looking fresh and pretty in minutes!

Convertible Color in Peony is a beautiful neutral pink with beige undertones. It is a perfect everyday shade that compliments many different looks. The texture is sheer but can be layered for a brighter flush. I love the natural dewy glow it gives the skin. The creamy, non-sticky blush is easy to blend. The pigment lasts all day especially with a light dusting of translucent powder. For a stronger colour, I love to layer underneath a powder blush. This is important for photographs where natural light or flash can wash out the face. The effect is beautiful!

You'll love it on the lips too. The creamy texture glides on nicely without drying the lips. Peony is a shade you can swipe on anytime. Wear it like a lipstick or swipe on a shiny gloss over top. This sleek convenient compact is perfect for touch-ups throughout the day. Touch up your blush and lips and smile for the camera!

http://www.stilacosmetics.com/

Colour Swatch:

 

Benefit Erase Paste has been my latest obsession. I bought this on recommendation from another makeup artist who absolutely loves this stuff. I'm obsessed with any product that covers and brightens the under eye area at the same time. Lately, my dark circles have been drier than usual and my YSL Touche Eclat was leaving a flaky, dry mess. Erase Paste is a concentrated, creamy concealer that brightens and camouflages those dark circles and blemishes. A little goes a long way so build until you are satisfied with the coverage. The good thing is that it never looks cakey or heavy. This comes in 3 shades: Fair, Medium and Deep. For darker skin tones, apply Erase Paste first on your dark circles then apply your normal foundation over top.

I had the pleasure of doing makeup for the beautiful bride Christine and I was soo excited when she decided to go for the 1940's glam look. She was such an inspiration because she truly reflected the glam woman of the 1940's from hair, to makeup, to dress (which was absolutely stunning on her), to shoes, to accessories. Alright, let's get started and get you glammed up!

Base

I started with a primer to create a smooth base for her foundation. I let it set for 5 minutes before applying her foundation. I used a silicone-based foundation and evened out her skin tone where needed with a foundation brush. I didn't want the foundation to look too heavy because I wanted her to appear fresh and radiant. I applied a creamy concealer around the nose and under the eyes with a concealer brush. I set the foundation with a dusting of blotting powder, making sure that her lids were well-powdered.

Brows

I like to fill the brows in first because it frames the eye and helps me determine the look I want to achieve that will compliment the eye shape. I used a matte eyeshadow with a brow brush to fill in her brows and chose a reddish-brown colour to match her beautiful auburn hair. I blended the colour with a mascara brush to make it more natural and used a clear brow gel to set it.

Eyes

To make the shadows blend nicely and last longer, I used a base to prime the lids. I highlighted the brow bone, lower lash line and inner corner of the eyes with a shimmery champagne shadow with a dense blending shadow brush. I shaded the lid with a matte vanilla shadow with a flat brush and defined the crease with a matte stone and dark brown shadow mixed together blending back and forth until there were no harsh lines. To make the eyes pop a bit, I applied the shimmery champagne shadow to the center of the lids. I used a water-resistant liquid liner in black lining the inner to outer lash line with a flat synthetic liner brush. Winging it out is optional so just follow your natural eye shape. I curled the lashes and applied a coat of water-proof mascara. To make those lashes flutter I added a pair of false lashes.

Cheeks

I contoured her cheeks with a matte bronzer and a neutral blush using a contour blush brush. Always make sure the contouring is heaviest near the hairline and blend inwards to underneath the cheekbone. I gave her cheeks a beautiful glow using a soft pink blush and added a highlighter to the cheekbones.

Lips

Red lips perfectly applied can be a bit tricky. I applied lip balm so that the lip pencil would glide on easily. Blot your lips with a tissue so lips aren't too moist. To prevent the colour from bleeding or feathering I lined and filled in the lips with a creamy lip pencil. I applied a semi-matte lipstick in a true blue red and added a opalescent gloss to the center of the lips. To fix mistakes, I dipped my concealer brush in concealer and cleaned up the edges. Also, when applying gloss to red lips only apply to the center of the bottom lip staying away from the outer part to prevent bleeding.

This look can work on everyone and can be done many ways using different products. This is just my take on the '40's glam look. There is a fabulous red lipstick for every woman so keep searching until you find the right one.

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Poppy King knows what women want out of a lipstick. What you see is exactly what you get - no fuss, no muss true colour. Lipstick Queen Saint Pink is the sheer version of Pink Sinner. It gives a kiss of ballet pink on the lips, a perfect pink for any bride. This creamy sheer version is just so pretty on and has become my go-to pink lippie when I want something fuller and not as shiny as a gloss. Just swipe on and you're pretty in pink in a flash!

Colour Swatch:

http://lipstickqueen.com

Makeup Artist

1. Referrals are always the best way to find a makeup artist because you know that he/she has been referred for a reason. No one will refer a bad makeup artist.
2. Also, find and book an artist 2-4 months prior to your wedding. A really well-known artist gets booked up pretty quickly.
3. The internet is also a good source because many artists will provide their portfolio and rates online.
4. Another good source are spas and hair salons. Inquire about whether they have a bridal party package which most do.
5. Visit your local makeup counter as well. For example, MAC offers makeup consultations/applications but you must commit to buying product. The only thing that could sway you from deciding to do your wedding makeup at a counter is that you have to go to them rather than coming to you. And most times, big wedding parties can't fit in the store.
6. A good makeup artist will not only provide a sample of their work but will offer a consultation (which is a must) along with a digital picture so you can see what the makeup will look like.
7. Find an artist that is willing to travel to you.
8. If you have a specific look in mind, bring it to the consultation. This is a good guideline for the artist to see if it'll work for you. A good artist will be able to use the right products and colours for your skin tone and type.

Makeup Rates

1. Rates vary from artist to artist. Most, if not all makeup artists charge for a makeup consultation and will ask for a deposit the same day as the consultation. This is to ensure the booking as well as the number of people getting their makeup done.
2. Most makeup artists will provide a receipt of some sort with the deposit amount and total owed on the day of the wedding. You will both sign it and you should both have a copy.
3. Shop around for makeup artist rates until you find someone that fits within your budget. Most makeup artists will not do the makeup if there are less than two people getting their makeup done. Keep in mind that the less people there are, the higher the rates will be (again rates vary and this is not always the case).
4. If an artist has to travel a long distance to do the makeup her rate will most likely include a small traveling fee.
5. If you're unsure how much you're willing to pay to get your makeup done, I always ask potential clients how much they will be spending on hair. Makeup should be about the same cost. People sometimes forget that makeup done well of course is just as important as the hair! Anyone can do makeup, but not everybody knows what techniques to use for different lighting or the right products to use to achieve a flawless face.

Hair Stylist and Rates

1. When finding a good hair stylist use the same resources as finding a makeup artist.
2. If you have a regular stylist you go to then finding someone to do hair on your wedding day is done. Most salons have bridal packages that will be able to accommodate your entire bridal party and usually the makeup application is included in the price.
3. If you use a freelance hair stylist, rates again vary. The plus side with a freelance stylist is that they will come to wherever you are with all their equipment.
4. Always do a consultation first and make sure they have a sample of their work on hand. Consultation fees will vary as well. If you're handicap when it comes to hair like me, having a hair stylist will benefit you big time (although for my wedding I got my friend who is good at styling hair to do mine for free!).
5. Bringing examples of looks is always a good guideline and a good hair stylist will tell you if it will work with your hair/face. Don't be afraid to speak up if there's something you don't like about the style - same goes for the makeup. We'd rather you speak up than be miserable all day.

You'll know when you've found the right makeup or hair artist because everything will just click. Most importantly, you are the client. Our job is not only to make you look beautiful on your wedding day but to make you feel happy about your look too!

"Classically Pretty" is one of my favourite looks on a bride. Denise, the stunning bride, chose a classic look that will be timeless for years to come. She is a natural beauty so all I had to do was add touches here and there to enhance what she already has. Eyes are beautifully emphasized, cheeks are radiantly flushed, and lips have a kiss of colour. This is one look that works for every bride and for all skin tones.

Base

To prevent shine throughout the day, I applied a mattifying primer. Let it set for about 5 minutes. Denise has a close to perfect complexion, so I evened out her skin tone only where needed with a silicone-based foundation. To disguise dark circles and brighten up the eyes, I applied a creamy concealer that both camouflages and brightens. I then dusted a transluscent oil-free powder to set the foundation. I gave an extra dusting over the eye lids.

Brows

Denise has a good brow shape but the hairs are sparse. To fill in her brows, I dipped an angled brow brush in dark brown brow powder. I used a spooly brush to blend in the colour with her natural hair. To keep the hairs and colour in place, I applied a clear brow gel over top. To accentuate her brow shape, I used a creamy matte highlighter pencil on her brow bone and blended with my finger. If you have virtually no brows, I recommend using brow stencils. They come in various shapes.

Eyes

The last thing you want is for your shadow to fade. I applied a eye primer all over her lids. I swiped a matte vanilla shadow from lash line to brow bone. To define her crease, I swiped a medium brown shadow from outer to inner crease. I used a dark brown shadow across the top and bottom lash line. I also applied it in the outer corner up to the crease. I find using a small dense shadow brush for definition works really well and applies the colour much darker. To give her look the classic touch, I added a water-proof creamy liner in black across the top lash line and winged it out at the corner. To add some girly glamour, I applied some faux lashes. Adding fake lashes to the look is a perfect way to emphasize the eyes without adding a lot of eye makeup. For a pop of luminosity, I added a pearly highlighter to the inner corner of the eyes.

Cheeks

To add some dimension to the face, I contoured her cheeks with a matte bronzing powder. Start at the hairline and blend inwards to the hollows of the cheek. Using a proper contouring brush also helps for accurate contouring. I wanted to give Denise a "blushing bride" effect. I applied a pinky-peach blush to the apples of her cheeks. I applied slightly more than usual to make sure the cheeks would not be washed out in photos.

Lips

I applied some lip balm to her lips and had her blot. This way the lip liner will apply smoothly. I used a warm pink lip pencil and filled in her entire lips. To balance the overall look, I chose a medium pink lipstick that would not overpower her eyes but would also show up in photos. I had her blot again with a kleenex. By doing this, you're creating a stain effect for the first layer of lipstick. This will help keep the colour on longer. I swiped a beautiful soft shimmery pink gloss over top.

"Classically Pretty" is a dash of girly glamour! This is perfect for anyone especially women that don't wear a lot of makeup but want to take it up a notch on their wedding day.

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Black, smeared mascara is not a good look on a bride or on anyone for that matter! I was fully committed to L'Oreal's Voluminous Waterproof mascara but I have moved on to CoverGirl Lash Blast Water-proof Mascara in Very Black. I LOVE the results the lashes get - voluminous, super-long, lush non-smearing lashes! Be sure to remove with a water-proof eye makeup remover.

www.covergirl.ca

If brow powders and angled brushes seem too complicated, Anastasia's Perfect Brow Pencil is wonderful for achieving a natural brow shape. The pencil has the perfect texture - not too soft, not too hard. Overly soft pencils can make your brows appear too strong and hard pencils take longer to fill in because the colour is barely noticeable. Just apply in short hair-like strokes in the same direction your hair grows. Use the spooley side to blend the colour in with your brows for a natural finish. Filled in brows is essential in completing a polished look. You'll definitely notice the difference in photos!

www.sephora.com

If you really want to transform and give your face more dimension, sculpting by highlighting and shading parts of the face will do just that. You'll really notice this is in your photos when your best features are highlighted and your not-so-favourite ones are hidden. To slim the face I like to contour the hollows of the cheeks, temples, jawline and under the chin. If you're a novice, I recommend Make Up For Ever's Compact Modellers which is a duo sculpting set in a matte medium tan and matte neutral beige.

www.makeupforever.com

I try to avoid using correctors if I can but sometimes it's the only way to solve a skin issue. I have both Lise Watier Professional Correctors for fair and dark skin and I highly recommend both if you have discolouration especially under the eyes, acne, scarring, or tattoos. It comes with a guideline on the back so you know exactly what each colour is for. Both palettes suit every skin tone because you can mix and blend together. I'm especially impressed with the dark palette because it works on even the deepest of skin tones. Just keep remember, if you're correcting a discoloured area to apply first then apply your natural foundation on top to blend in with the rest of your skin. www.lisewatier.com

Brides should look luminous but not shiny or sweaty. Sometimes in the most humid weather looking like an oil slick is unavoidable. One powder that I always go back to is M.A.C.'s Blot Powder/Loose. The blot powders do not add texture or colour to the skin so your skin will never look cakey or feel heavy. The pressed version is great but I find the loose powder is a lot finer and has a more natural finish. If you pat and press into the skin with a sponge, the powder will absorb oil and shine and keep your skin looking matte yet velvety. I also like to do a last dusting of powder with a big brush after all the makeup has been applied especially on the eyes to ensure the makeup stays flawless and in tact all day.

www.maccosmetics.com

I love a smoky eye more than anyone else, but for a day wedding I find it a little too harsh. If it's hard to part with your smoky eyes, subtle smoky eyes are the perfect alternative which is what I suggested to lovely bride, Tamari. Dark sultry eyes is perfectly okay for an evening wedding. If your wedding is around noon when the sun shines the brightest, your eyes will look like black holes in your photos. Tamari's look is a subtle wash of smoky purples, rosy pink cheeks, and neutral pink lips.

Base

Overall, Tamari has pretty good skin, but there were some areas that were more sensitive and dry. I used a silicone-based primer that is a bit more moisturizing than a mattifying primer. Let it set for about 5 minutes. Her skin tone was a little uneven due to the sun. I used a darker foundation on the more tan parts of her face and one that matched her natural skin tone. I applied a translucent oil-free powder only where needed avoiding the drier parts. I applied an extra dusting of powder on her eyes lids.

Brows

Tamari has full brows with a good shape. I filled in just the sparse areas at the beginning of her brows with a dark brown brow powder and angled brow brush. I used a spooly brush to blend the colour into her natural hair. To set the brows, I used a clear brow gel. I emphasized her brow bone with a beige-gold highlighter.

Eyes

Tamari's eyes are a beautiful almond shape. She really wanted to play up her eyes in smoky colours. Instead of doing a harsh or heavy eye, I went more subtle using different tones of purple rather than black. I applied a base primer for smoother blendability and to make it last all day. I swiped a neutral beige shadow as her base. I applied a soft shimmery purple with pink undertones to the inner eyelid and corner. The middle of her lid to the outer corner and crease, I used a blackberry purple. The purple shades really made her brown eyes pop. For a subtle smolder, I smudged black liner into the top and bottom lash line. I then brushed a black powder shadow over top and added some to the outer crease to emphasize the eyes even more. Tamari is blessed with lush, full lashes with a natural curl! Yes, I am jealous! All I had to do was swipe on a coat of very black water-proof mascara.

Cheeks

Beautifully sculpted cheeks look gorgeous in photos and in person. Tamari has beautiful cheek bones. To perfectly sculpt the cheeks, I used a matte bronzer mixed with a deep brown-red blush to the hair line and worked inwards to the hollows of the cheeks. To give her cheeks a healthy dose of colour, I chose a rosy pink blush. I usually wouldn't pair bright cheeks with smoky eyes, but against Tamari's deeper skin tone a pop of colour was the perfect choice.

Lips

For smooth application of the lip liner, I applied lip balm and blotted off the excess. I chose a rose pink lip liner to define and fill in her lips. I used a sheer neutral pink-beige lipstick and had her blot on a tissue. This will help keep your colour on longer. I applied a second coat of lipstick then finished off her look with a soft shimmery pink lip gloss.

Smoky eye lovers can let out a sigh of relief. You can still do a smoky eye but in subtle, softer tones!

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