Archive for the ‘bridal makeup’ Category
Picture-Perfect Bridal Hair
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Look no further, a gorgeous style for your big day is right here
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 You’ve got the dress, auditioned the band and confirmed the catering. Now it’s time to decide on the important things — like your hair. To help you, we had stylists at the Nelson J Salon in Beverly Hills, Calif., pull together their favorite new looks for wedding hair. Not getting married? You can still sport one of these stunning dos — just be prepared to steal the spotlight from the bride.
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Bridal Makeup Looks - South Asian/Arabic
Unlike East Asians, South Asian/Arabic brides do their makeup very differently. The look is dramatic, bright and very sexy. I had a brief chat with the super awesome London-based makeup artist Angela Holthuis and scored a few pointers for you ladies.
Eyes
It is definitely all about the eyes when it comes to South Asian/Arabic bridal makeup. Eyeshadows in super bright, even contrasting colors, are used to match with the bride’s outfit. The key to wearing a lot of colors is to make sure they are smoked out and blended seamlessly.
According to Angela, the use of eyeliner is very important. “It sort of defines the culture, their beauty, in my opinion.” She prefers gel liners as they are easier to apply and are waterproof. “They are great for lining the inner rim of the eye and they stay put for hours, unlike pencils.”
With this much eye makeup, remember to use products that are fully waterproof and to make sure you keep your eyebrows in check.
Lips
Like the eyes, lips can come in bright reds, oranges and pinks. Steer clear from anything too pale to avoid looking washed out and make sure the color you choose goes well with the rest of your look.
Mehndi
Mehndi is, needless to say, a very important part of a bride’s makeup. It is traditionally done fully on the arms and legs but nowadays, brides usually go for a more subtle look and they try to keep the patterns modern.
Related Entries
Bridal Makeup Tips
Bridal Makeup Looks - East Asian (Hong Kong)
Image Credit: Henna Spirit.
Bridal Makeup Looks - East Asian (Hong Kong)
As promised, I will be doing a series of Bridal Makeup Looks from different cultures. First, I am going to start off with my hometown - Hong Kong. I will cover South Asian/Arabic bridal looks next so stay tuned!
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Day Look Hong Kong brides like to keep it natural and light, especially during the day. The look is very soft and feminine. You will rarely see any dark smoky colors or harsh lines on the eyes. Instead, a lot of soft, shimmery pastels are used. Some colors to really bring out brown eyes are pink, lavender, minty green, light blue and silver. A long-lasting eyeliner, an eyelash curler and a waterproof mascara are a must. You can also use false lashes for the day but remember to pick a pair that lengthens without being too over the top. Lining your lower lashes with an off-white/beige pencil will also make your eyes pop. To create a healthy flush as spotted on Janice Man on the left, try colors like baby pink and soft peaches. Smile big and apply directly onto the apples to create a cute doll look. When choosing a lip color, you can never go wrong with a medium pink or peach. |
 
| Evening Look 1 Turn up the heat by using darker colors or adding in more shimmer at night. A smoky look done with mauve and grey like the one on model Kathy Chow on the left, is almost fool-proof. The key to using purple eyeshadows without looking bruised is to use either a brown/charcoal color with it to create depth. Blend everything well and draw a thin line along your top lashes with a black liquid liner. Switch to a slightly denser pair of falsies if you like. Remember to also highlight the area right beneath your brow bone and the inner corners. With slightly heavier eye makeup, use a slightly darker blush and lip color to avoid looking too mod. Evening Look 2 If you are going for a traditional wedding and will be wearing a Qi Pao/Cheongsam, you will need to do your makeup differently. Use warm colors like bronze, gold or orange on the eyes. Line your eyes with a black liquid liner and wing it out on the outer corner. Wear a blush in warm tones like apricot and peach and finish the look with knock-them-dead red lips. |
More Pictures
Related Entries
Bridal Makeup Tips
Image credit: Janice Man’s Xanga, Angelababy’s Xanga, Kathy Chow’s My Dream Wedding, Clairo Ho’s Fotop, makeup artist Michael Chung and Entfun.
Bridal Makeup Tips
Bridal season is in full swing so here are a few tips for those of you who are soon to become a Mrs =)
Face
* Make sure your skin is well moisturized and use a foundation primer like Laura Mercier’s Foundation Primer ($30) to help your makeup stay on longer.
* Here is a tip I picked up from international makeup artist Zing. Mix a little bit of NARS’ Aqua Gel Hydrator ($76) into your foundation. Not only will this add in moisture and help create a dewy look but it will make your foundation glide onto your skin and blend like a dream.
* Choose a foundation matches your neck completely. If you have to choose between a lighter or a darker shade, go with the darker. The flash in cameras might reflect off your makeup and the last thing you want in pictures is a white face with a darker neck.
* Set with a translucent loose powder to maximize lasting power and avoid shine.
* Blush is a must to add warmth onto your face. Pick colors like pink, peach or rose and stick with a powder so it can last longer.
Eyes
* Smudges and creases are definitely big no-nos. Use an eyeshadow primer like Urban Decay’s Primer Potion ($16) to create the perfect base for your eye makeup and stick with products in waterproof and longlasting formulas. This means waterproof mascara, gel eyeliner like MAC’s Fluidlines ($15) and powder eyeshadows.
* Avoid harsh lines, crazy colors or anything with too much shimmer or glitter. Stick to neutrals in a satin formula.
* Do not forget your eyebrows. If you need to get them waxed/trimmed/plucked, do so a few days before your wedding to avoid irritation and redness.
* Curling your lashes is a must. I personally love Shiseido’s ($17.50) and Shu Uemura’s ($19) eyelash curlers. Alternatively, try an eyelash perm.
* To really make your eyes pop, line the lower inner rim with a beige/off-white pencil.
Lips
* Apply a hydrating balm like MAC’s Lip Conditioner SPF 15 ($13) on your lips and let it sit for 10-15 minutes. Outline your lips with a lipliner in a complementary color - never use a dark liner - and apply your lip color with a brush for the highest precision.
* According to celebrity makeup artist Bobbi Brown, “avoid neutral and pale lip colors because they can look washed out in pictures. Choose a lipstick that is one to two shades brighter than what you normally wear. Not something intense but maybe a few colors up.” Pinks, roses and plums are great choices.
Rule of Thumb
Do a test run before your big day. Get a friend or hire someone professional to help out and remember to take lots of pictures to see how you would turn out on camera. You do not want any unpleasant surprises after the wedding.
Looks
Bridal looks from MAC
Related Entries
Bridal Makeup Looks - Hong Kong
Image credits to Bobbi Brown.
