Infusing the Industrial Trend into Bridal Beauty (As Featured on BRIDES)

The Industrial Trend is everywhere....exposed concrete and brick, Edison bulbs, warehouse venues, themes based around pared down simplicity with a bit of an edge. A welcome change from Boho/rustic vibe that has dominated the wedding scene for so many years! Recently, BRIDES asked me to share my thoughts on how to infuse the industrial vibe into bridal beauty choices...I love the look, so I was excited to share my thoughts! (Side note: In case you didn't know, when I'm not makeup-ing, I write about beauty and weddings for several magazines....sometimes full articles, sometimes just a sentence or two. I'm BEYOND pumped to be featured with BRIDES, but even more over the moon that they added an image of my actual work to go along with my content....that's rare!)  They included a few of my suggestions here, and keep reading below for the full article on ways to (realistically!) capture the industrial vibe without being too trendy or over the top......

Industrial Makeup

The Tarnos

Think dark, moody and romantic.  It can still be pretty, but anything too light, bright or delicate won't look right! Subtle choices make all the difference....

My favorite palette for an industrial theme is a softly blended smoky eye in shades of gunmetal, shimmery taupe or burgundy browns (all options work on any eye color or skin tone), paired with flawless, pale skin (barely flushed cheeks) and a deep lip in oxblood or mulberry shades.

Jeff Brummett Visuals

Shadows should be dark, but impeccably blended.....no harsh edges. Skip traditional liner....especially a graphic wing, it has the wrong feel. Instead use charcoal, coffee, or black waterproof gel liner to tightline upper and lower lashlines, and then buff in some charcoal or smoky black shadow to soften it.  A smoky eye can overpower a traditional bridal look, but here....it's perfection! Fluttery lashes look fabulous, but be sure to choose demi-wispy styles, or tons of indviduals....an ultra-long Kardashian-esque lash with a uniform look isn't organic enough.  Go for a lush, full look with natural variations.....like your own lashes, but with a lot more impact!   You can alter this look by trying flawless skin, flushed cheeks, and a dark lip....but this time, do a barely there eye....just a tiny bit of shadow for definition, but still plenty of lashes. 

Elements to skip:

Winged liner, harsh edges, tan skin/bronzer, bright spring colors, too much highlight, pale or vibrant lip colors like hot pink or red.  You might be inclined to contour, but if you do....do it sparingly.  There's already plenty of drama with a smoky eye and a deep lip.....too much contour can add a harshness that takes this look from romantic and moody to heavy/goth in a heartbeat! 

INDUSTRIAL HAIR: 

Think undone, organic styles with a sexy edge....

www.wisnerphoto.com

Start with dry shampoo or root texturizing powder to provide volume and grab, and prevent hair from looking too perfect and shiny.  If you have long, thick hair, a deconstructed fishtail braid is tailor made for the industrial vibe.....it should be pulled apart and slightly messy. Loose chignons work well....again, go for an undone look with loose tendrils.  There shouldn't be obvious curls or precise placement, and hair at the crown should have plenty of height and texture. A pompadour pony with a raked back texture is perfect to show off standout jewelry! Half- up, half-down can work too.....replace curls with loose waves and twists and skip traditional accent braids...it reads more boho.  This is a great occasion to try an unusual hair piece in metal or mesh.  Keep jewelry simple....a cool statement necklace or bold earrings (not both) are all you need, and this isn't the time for traditional sparkly bridal jewelry...think simple shapes and elegant, unexpected styles.  If you have your eye on more traditional embellishments for jewelry

Beatbox Photography

or hair, try darker versions of them in amber, rose gold, or platinum....it fits better with the industrial feel.  

Elements to skip: 

Smooth, overly traditional and overdone hairstyles, styles with soft curls and boho braid accents.  Choose waves or twists instead of curls. Skip traditional jewelry and embellishments, choose unexpected statement pieces.

(All Hair and Makeup shown here by Jennifer Trotter of Lip Service Makeup)

Obviously you could go more "over the top" with bolder makeup, steampunk accents and metal accessories, but these choices reflect a more realistic and less costume-y approach. This bridal beauty inspo will fit within an industrial themed wedding, but still look timeless....and gorgeous!

Be sure to read the entire article here for more tips on how to infuse the industrial trend into other elements of your wedding....decor, your venue, lighting and more. Thanks again to BRIDES for featuring me!

Want some great tips on mess free snacks to enjoy in your bridal suite?  Check out this previously published BRIDES feature for my tips on everything you need to know about what to serve!

The Wedding MBA Podcast Interview with Celebrity Officiant Clint Hufft!

I am SUPER excited that I've been invited back as a featured speaker at Wedding MBA this fall! Wedding MBA is a national conference of wedding vendors from all over the US held each year in Las Vegas.  There are educational breakouts for specialties like beauty, florists, planners, DJs, photographers, etc., as well as large presentations that apply to any vendor in the wedding industry....plus a full scale trade show and awesome parties sponsored by iconic sponsors The Knot and Wedding Wire.  If you're in the wedding industry and are interested in going, this year's event will be October 2-4, and you can find all the information here.  Last year, I met so many fabulous people and had some really great discussions about how we approach our businesses.  We're in such a unique industry...it's incredibly helpful to learn from each other!

As I prepare to speak again this year, I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Wedding MBA Podcast host, Clint Hufft....an LA based celebrity officiant who, incidentally, married Ryan and Trista from the Bachelorette.  Very cool! Clint will be interviewing all the featured speakers leading up to the conference this fall.  We had a great chat last week!  We covered a lot of bases....including my backstory of my journey into becoming a bridal beauty expert, including the one (pretty silly) thing I was letting hold me back.  It led perfectly into one of my upcoming presentations this year, entitled "Breaking Bad: How to Set Yourself Apart from the Competition".  (Here's a list of presentations  from this year's event if you want to see more!)  In the competitive wedding industry, that's not easy, and if you live in a large market like I do (Dallas Fort Worth is one of the biggest wedding markets in the country), it can be intimidating!  I'll tell you a little bit about the journey I had to go through, the realization that some of the things I perceived to be different about me actually HELPED me become a bridal beauty expert, and my thoughts on the wedding industry and brides.  You can find it on Itunes under the Wedding MBA show, or there's a direct link to the podcast here.

I hope you enjoy it, and if you're a wedding vendor.....I hope you'll join us and stop by to say hello at Wedding MBA this October!  I'd love to meet you, and hear YOUR story.  Have a great day everyone!

5 Practical Tips to Organize your Makeup Bag (Reader's Digest Feature!)

When I teach private lessons, there's always a moment....

Before we begin with step by step application, I always review current products and tools and at least half the time, women are embarrassed to show me their makeup bag! Often, it's old, ratty, dirty and not at all reflective of the beautiful woman sitting in front of me. While I definitely don't judge, I will offer tips to get that bag organized....that's a pretty defeating way to start your day!

A few of my tips were featured in Genius Tips to Organize Your Makeup Bag in Reader's Digest Today (click on the link to check out the entire article!), but I wanted to share all of my tips so you don't miss out.  Let's go....

#1 Buy a new bag annually, and make sure it's big enough for your daily essentials! 

If you have a lot of cosmetics, store excess products in clear, plastic containers and just keep your everyday products in your bag.  Your goal is to quickly pull out your makeup bag, see all the stuff you need to get your daily makeup on and go!  Your everyday essentials should fit fairly snugly to avoid jostling and breakage.

#2 Choose a bag That can Wiped Out and Spot Cleaned  

Meaning, vinyl, plastic, or PVC, at least on the inside. You'll want to wipe down your bag every so often anyway, but definitely don't choose a delicate bag that will be ruined with one spill or broken eyeshadow!  Skip any kind of fabric....I once had a super cute canvas bag....I was sold on it because supposedly, it could be washed. It could indeed, but the makeup stains (particularly red lipstick) would not come out, so it was ruined anyway. : (

#3 Get Rid of any Products That are Broken! 

This can be an emotional issue...so many women hate waste, AND hate to spend money on themselves. It's shocking to see an elegant, put together woman attempting to create her daily beauty routine from a crumbled mess of almost gone and broken products.  Seriously ladies, you deserve better! Toss any shattered powders or items with broken cases ...now. Just do it.It's not worth dipping your hand into a case full of items covered with shattered eyeshadow every morning just to save that little bit of product! Yes, I know there are a jillion videos telling you how you can save it, but unless it's a brand new Chanel blush or something, it's not worth the hassle....just toss it and move on.  And while you're at it, go ahead and toss anything that's almost gone or expired too.  You'll enjoy getting ready so much more when your cosmetics are in good shape!

#4 Choose the Right Bag for You and Pack Wisely

 I like bags that either have two sections that you can unzip and lay flat while doing your makeup, or cases with a squared off bottom that stand up. There's no right or wrong....which bag works best will have a lot to do with how many cosmetics you have. (Check Pinterest boards for fab makeup bag inspiration!) One thing? Don't choose a case that falls over or requires dumping everything out every morning...ideally, you want to work from your bag and replace everything when you're done.

- Store palettes and hard cases standing upright....if they were a library book, their spine would be facing up. This will allow you to fit more product in your case. This works especially well with square or rectangular cases where you can stack up palettes against the edges.

- Buy a small mesh pencil case for small items - check the container store, office supply store, or dollar store (the Japanese dollar stores have lots of great options!). Use this small case to corral lip liner, eyeliner, skinny mascara tubes, tweezers, cuticle scissors.  Keeping all the little things under control is the easiest way to keep your bag neat.

- Buy jewelry ziplocks for disposables.  One of my favorite organizing tricks! Try Hobby Lobby or any store that carries jewelry making supplies....they have tiny ziplock bags that range from the size of a business card (perfect to store a stash of Qtips and keep them clean!), to a deck of cards (handy to corral a few odd sized items.  They even have really small ones that are perfect to store your pencil sharpener....it keeps it clean and keeps the shavings from getting all over the rest of your bag. (These bags are also genius for storing jewelry when you travel, or for packing vitamins, Advil and pills so you don't have to carry big containers.)

- Makeup wipes - always keep a pack in your case.  Not only used for removing makeup, but these are excellent for wiping down your products, the inside of your case if there's a spill, or for getting eyeliner or lipstick off hands.  Bonus, if your bag isn't super full, a pack of makeup wipes on top will keep your products from knocking around within your case.

- Do not, I repeat...do not store makeup brushes loose in your makeup case!  It's important to keep them clean and germ free, but also they'll make a mess on the rest of your products.  Assemble your most used daily brushes and then choose a small pencil case (similar to the one for eye and lip liners) or a brush roll that fits your stash...you can choose one that fits inside your bigger case, or just keep them separate. It Cosmetics also has several travel brush sets that have been edited to include essential brushes, and they're already packaged in a protective case.

Bonus tip?

If you normally do a natural look every day, create two makeup cases.....one with all your everyday essentials, and the second one should hold your date night/special occasion beauty supplies. Special occasion items could include smoky shadows, products with shimmer, bolder lip colors (yes, I recommend a deep red! : ), lashes and glue, slick black liner for a cat eye....anything you would normally choose for a fancier night out.  Keeping it separate means you don't

have to wade through lashes and glitter every morning to get to your daily concealer and mascara, AND having those items ready to go makes it super easy to stash that bag in your tote when you need to glam up for after work function, holiday party or date.

Remember, the whole point is that it should be easy and fun to get ready in the morning! It's pretty hard to feel beautiful and put together if getting ready means pulling out a germ laden, beat up makeup bag that has a bunch of old products covered in a broken blush, right? 

Thanks again to Reader's Digest for featuring a few of my tips today!

What are YOUR favorite makeup organizing tips?  Share in the comments below!

Will Your Flower Girl Remember Being in Your Wedding? I Say YES, and Here's Why.....

I was having a conversation with a bride recently...she wondered if her adorable little flower girls (ages 3-6) will even remember being in her wedding?  I definitely think so, and here's my proof....

Yep, that's me....I'm about 4 years old and I was a miniature bride in my Aunt Candy's wedding.  I don't know if that was a seventies thing, or a northern thing (I'm from Wisconsin), but I haven' t really heard of miniature brides since then, so I'm not sure?  Anyway, my dress and bouquet looked exactly like hers, and I had never been more excited I my life! Here's another thing...I'm one of 4 kids, we're all 13  months apart.  If your family is like that, then you know....you do EVERYTHING together, one on one attention is somewhat rare.  Being chosen for this special task, just me.....not one of my sisters....was the biggest thing that possibly could've happened.  I literally remember EVERY DETAIL...walking down the aisle, pictures, dancing.  I only have 2 or 3 pictures from the event, including this one, and I treasure it! The wedding day was an excited blur, but I thought it was the most incredible night.

Weddings are magical like that, aren't they?!? Who knew that someday I'd be a wedding vendor myself.....a bridal beauty expert. I have worked with well over 1000 brides (and counting!) over my 20+ year career AND get to live in the world of weddings every day. I never, ever get tired of it, and I never will...it's a honor to be a part of such a special celebration! This may be an old, grainy photo, but clearly, this pic is instrumental in explaining my love and passion for being a bridal beauty artist.

And yes, bride to be.....someday your lil' peanut will be a grown up too.  She'll remember every detail about being in YOUR wedding, and it'll make her smile.

Should you Wear Foundation When it's Hot and Humid? (SheFinds Feature!)

I live in Texas y'all...

In case you've been living under a rock, then you know it gets HOT here....we often endure temps of 90 and up six months out of the year, and yes, that includes September!  Sometimes you just can't stay in AC...outdoor concerts, weddings, a photo shoot, or even just running around during the day...women are constantly asking me how they can look polished even when it's sticky and miserable weather.

So...the question really is:

Should I wear foundation when it's hot and humid?

and....

Photo credit: Chelsea Crockett

How can I apply my foundation so it doesn't have a complete meltdown?

You CAN wear foundation when it's hot and humid, but you need to make a few adjustments from your cool weather routine for best results.  Here are my favorite tips as profiled in SheFinds!

If it's a casual occasion and your skin is looking good?

Start with a mattifying primer, add a bit of concealer on dark circles and any red spots.....go ahead and skip a full face of foundation.  Add waterproof mascara, a fun lipcolor and a bit of bronzer and work a carefree natural look!

If you need/want a full face/full coverage look despite soaring temps, here's your plan of action:

- Cleanse well, and use a light, water gel formula moisturizer (I like Garnier's versions), save the ultra-creamy moisturizers for nightime during summer months.

- Apply a mattifying gel (I like Benefit Porefessional Mattifying gel or Makeup Forever Step 1 Primer) to prep skin and keep oil at bay.

- Dot on a highly pigmented cream foundation or even a concealer that matches your skin and has a slightly drier texture (you can use less product!) with a foundation brush, focus on dark circles, blotchy areas,

shadows around your mouth.  Blend with a slightly damp beauty blender...skip using your fingers, they can add extra oil.  Use as little foundation as you can to achieve the

coverage you need to avoid a total meltdown!  (I use RCMA, IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Redness and Laura Mercier concealer)

- Set foundation with a very finely milled setting powder (I like Cover FX or Laura Mercier) buffed on lightly using a

large, fluffy brush.

- Take your dampened beauty blender and lightly press all over your face....this avoids a powdery look and helps to ensure your foundation is set.

- Final step?  A light misting of setting spray to lock everything into place....I like Urban Decay "All Nighter".

I don't recommend powder foundations for anything other than an easy mid-day touch up....., it's much easier to achieve natural looking coverage using liquid or cream products (sparingly!) and set with setting powder.

If you do get really hot and sweaty, remember these tips:

- NEVER add powder to wet or sweaty skin...it'll look pasty and muddy!

- BLOT - use a paper towel (My fave?  Viva! They have a soft, cloth-like texture that absorbs like crazy)  to gently blot moisture off your face and don't wipe...the combination of sweat/water

and wiping will ruin your makeup!  Blot gently, and it'll stay intact.

- REMOVE OIL - Once you've blotted excess sweat, THEN blot oil using a oil blot sheet (I like Clean and Clear) to blot oil instead of adding powder.

Sometimes you just can't skip a full face of makeup even when it's super hot and humid.  Follow these steps and you'll look great, regardless of the temps!

(Thanks again to SheFinds for using my comments in their feature!  Click here to read these tips, plus so many other helpful beauty and lifestyle tips on SheFinds!)