Wedding Make Up Tips & Advice

You want to look your best on your special day so make sure you plan your make up carefully, well in advance.

Whether you are doing your make up yourself or hiring someone else to do it, try to remember the following: -

1. Your make up should be an enhancement of what you normally wear. For example, if you usually go for the natural look, stick to natural colours but slightly stronger. You don't want to try out blue mascara and red lipstick! Remember your fiancé is marrying you, so he should at least recognize you! Saying that you should define your features stronger than what you usually do, so they show up in photographs. You should feel comfortable in the make up you are wearing, this is not the time to try out anything drastic. On your day you don't want to be worrying about your shade of lippy whilst saying your vows.
   

1. If you are having your make up done professionally, make sure you have a practice run before your big day. A good idea is to have a dress rehearsal and take photos, so you can then check that it will look good.
   
2. Like a very dear friend of mine who recently got married, she cried the whole way through. Waterproof mascara is a must!
   
3. You want your make up to last all day. There are some fabulous long lasting make up items around, which will ensure that you don't need to “touch up” during the day. Believe me you won't have time to re-apply your make up.

 

Make up Tips

1. Starting with concealer and foundation. Be careful about the colour foundation you choose. Whilst you should always go for a match as near as your skin, anything too pale will make you look washed out if you are wearing a white/ivory dress. Try to choose a yellow toned foundation to bring warmth into your face. Alternatively use bronzing powder to give you a bit of colour – if you are wearing a low cut dress remember to sweep it across the chest area so you don't look “two toned”.
   
2. Whilst there are some lovely “shine” products available to give a dewy complexion, again be very careful where you use them. In photographs it will be easy to mistake the “glow” for sweat – not nice. If you are applying a highlighter, stick to brow bones, cheekbones and a dab in the middle of your lips. If you are wearing a low cut dress add a little on your décolletage. Beware of any makeup that is too sparkly, this can look strange in the photos. Matte is usually best.
   
3. Pending on what season you are getting married this will also have to be taken into account when planning your makeup. Avoid anything too shiny on your skin if you are getting married in the summer, stick to a coloured lip-gloss but don't wear shine all-over. Light formulas are better as you don't want your makeup melting in the sun. Winter make up can be more dramatic although again it's best to stick to a stronger look of your usual make up, bear in mind if it is a very cold day, you may want a green concealer. Green will counteract any redness to stop you looking like Rudolph!
   
4. To make your lipstick last all day. First apply a lip primer to give your lips an even surface and rid of any flaky bits. I always apply foundation to the lips and let it dry – this gives a good base. Then line your lips with your lip pencil (which should be the same shade as your lipstick). Then fill in all your lips with the pencil. Finally on top of that apply your lipstick. Blot with a tissue and reapply your lipstick – repeat this twice. Now your lipstick should stay on all day. If it does start to wear off you will have the lip pencil underneath so your lips won't look patchy.
   
5. Although foundation/concealer should be left to areas where you need it, i.e. around the nose then blended into the cheeks (you don't want to put it everywhere otherwise it will look false), you can also apply to your eyes to give your eye shadow a good base and something to cling on to.
   
6. Eyebrows - have them professionally shaped before your big day and enhance them with a same colour eyebrow shade. Eyebrows frame your face and it can make a huge difference if you have the professionally shaped – a la Liz Hurley!
   
7. To make your eyes look bigger and whiter choose dark navy mascara. If you are dark skinned or have brown eyes then black is usually best. Brown mascara can make eyes look tired.
   
8. To lift your eyes apply a highlighter just below your brow bone. If you have small eyelids, apply a highlighter just in the center of the eyelid and a dark brown shade in the eyelid crease – this will lift your eyes. White/ivory eyeliner in the rim of your eyes also makes them appear brighter, however be careful if you wear contact lenses as your eyes maybe sensitive. To make your eyes look more wide set blend the highlighter in the inner corner of your eyes.
   
9. For a natural flush apply a light natural pink shade onto the apples of your cheeks – don't go to harsh, especially if you are drinking which can give you a natural flush look without the blush.
   

Finally remember on your big day to have the following to hand.

• Cotton buds, to wipe away any smudges under the eyes
• Your lippy, should you need a touch up.
• Some translucent powder to blot away any sweaty patches
• Breath freshener (you will be doing lots of kissing – alcohol breath is not very attractive!)
• Contact lens solution – if you wear them.
• Small phial of your perfume to keep you smelling gorgeous – which you will be!
• And your man of course!!!

Smoky Eye Look We're Dying To Try 2 of 3

Low-Key Glam—Rich and creamy, the brown smoky eye from Cushnie et Ochs is soft enough to wear during the day but still sexy enough to turn heads. Choose a cream shadow and blend up to the brow. Apply the same shade at the lash line and smudge lightly. A touch of gold in the inner corner of the eye keeps the look light and bronzer on the cheeks and a light pink lip adds an out-of-doors feel.

The Tools: M.A.C. Mega Metal Shadow in Peek-at-You, $19.50, available at M.A.C.; Tarte Provocateur Amazonian Clay Shimmering Powder, $30, available at Tarte; M.A.C. Wonder Woman Lipglass in Emancipation, $20, available at M.A.C.; Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Shadow Blending Brush, $16, available at Sephora; Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Shadow Pencil in Rehab, $20, available at Sephora  Attributed to:  Betsey McLain

Smoky Eye Look We're Dying To Try 1 of 3

It just wouldn't be Fashion Week without the ubiquitous smoky eye. And this time around, the runway staple seemed to pop up at show after show, with makeup artists whipping up looks that ranged from grungy to glam. And why not? The smoky eye is the best option for getting that mesmerizing, smoldering look—but its biggest draw just might be its variability: The smoky eye can be kept night-shift-dark and edgy or softened up using lighter, less severe shades. Here are three fresh and doable yet still sexy retellings of the smoky eye to try now.

Winged Victory—Somewhere between the cat eye and smoky eye, we find Tom Pecheux's look for Derek Lam's fall 2011 collection. Using two new Estee Lauder silver and black shadows, he first winged the black smokey eye shadow out toward the temples, then applied a metallic grey shadow on the center of the lid for a silver foil finish and paired the look with a nude, matte lip.





The Smokey Eye Shadow Tools: Estee Lauder Pure Color Eye Shadow in Black Crystals, $20, available at Estee Lauder; NARS Velvet Matte Lipstick in Madere, $25, available at NARS; Dolce & Gabbana Smooth Eye Colour Duo in Romance, $36, available in March at Saks Fifth Avenue.


Attributed:  Betsey McLain

The Two Magic Ingredients for a Lighter & Brighter Face

The latest studies show…

How many times have we heard that? Countless, I imagine. But guess what? Those “latest studies” are actually pointing to some real, actual results (this time).

So, I assume since you’re here you wanna hear ’bout the good-results studies about the two magic ingredients. Okay, okay…

Per the American Academy of Dermatology, real, actual results from honest-to-goodness studies — Harvard, even — point to the effectiveness of glucosamine combined with niacinamide to reduce hyperpigmentation of the skin, especially in those with UV damage.

What’s this mean? In laymen’s (or laywomen’s) terms, use a combo of glucosamine and niacinamide in the right amounts and, in time, you should see lighter, brighter skin.

Hey! That’s great!

But wait. Where do you find these magic ingredients? What is the “right amount?” How long will it take before you get the glow?

Hold still, I’m not finished.

1. You can get glucosamine (in the effective form of N-acetyl-glucosamine, best known for helping treat arthitis prior the skin studies) and niacinamide (a vitamin B derivative) at most any bulk skincare actives retailer: Skin Actives Scientific, Bulk Actives, Garden of Wisdom or LotionCrafter. Just mix them into your favorite (non-active) facial moisturizer for a custom blend.

If you’d rather not DIY your skincare, you can also find them together (ah, how sweet) in Olay’s Definity line.

2. The amount of each active, at least the amounts noted in the “studies,” suggest that 2% glucosamine and 4% niacinamide should do the trick.

3. How long must you wait to experience the magic? Try four to eight weeks.

Not bad, eh?

Well, the news gets even better. How, you ask? Because glucosamine and niacinamide are both shown to be effective for all skin types (hear that, Sensitive Sally?), plus they’re inexpensive. Expect to spend about $6 (or less) for each active if you buy in bulk — doing so, you should have enough to last several weeks or more. And Olay is asking about $25 for their Definity complex.

Light on your pocket book, bright on your face.

Sometimes those studies ARE right … and bright.

Attributed: Girl Paint

Wedding Day Makeup Advice and Tips

• Wedding Day Makeup Tips And Advice

Your wedding day is going to be one of the most memorable days of your life. You want to look and feel the beautiful, radiant bride with your makeup enhancing your natural beauty. Your every blush, smile and kiss will be recorded on film so your bridal makeup needs to be picture perfect and look flawless all through your big day. This guide to wedding makeup will take the stress out planning your wedding makeup.

Wedding makeup advice:

Prepare your skin for your wedding day Unfortunately many women wait until they are only a few months away from their wedding day before they even begin to give any thought to skin care. Start early and take care of your skin now. You will need to work out your skin type to help you establish a proper skin care regime. This, combined with good eating habits, drinking plenty of water, getting enough sleep and regular exercise will ensure that your skin will be radiant on your big day.

For help understanding your skin type and how to develop a quick and easy skin care routine please read Khush’s article; Great looking skin – A simple 4 step skin care guide.

Wedding makeup tip: Beware facials !

Unless you have facials on a regular basis DO NOT get one the week before your wedding day. Facials can pull impurities to the surface, and you do not want to break out the week of your wedding. To also help avoid blotches and blemishes do not make any major changes in your skin care routine during the few weeks before your wedding. The weeks before your wedding is not the time to experiment with your skin care. If you regularly get facials have your last regular facial a good week before the wedding.

Wedding makeup tip: Pimples and acne.

If you do have a breakout, do not pick. Do not do anything that can irritate or redden or enlarge the problem. Use pure Aloe Vera to treat any bumps or breakouts. It is a wonderful healer.

Wedding makeup tip: Keep away from too much sun.

Don’t get too much sun before your wedding. Sunburns, peeling skin and tan lines can sabotage your special day.

Wedding makeup advice: Use a professional makeup artist or do it yourself ?

If you are confident in applying your own makeup there is no reason you can’t do your own wedding makeup. If you are not so confident with your makeup abilities your wedding makeup is not the time to experiment – you want to look your absolute best on the day and your wedding photos will be your lifetime mementos of your special day. If you are unsure of your makeup abilities, or just want the peace of mind of not having to worry about your makeup, use a professional.

Either way read on – I’m sure you will find the following tips and advice useful.

Wedding makeup advice: Things to consider when planning your wedding makeup.

You will want your makeup to be appropriate for the time of day, the venue (indoors or outdoors) and complement the style of your wedding dress so once you have confirmed the arrangements for your wedding day, and you have decided the style of your wedding dress, you can start to think about the style of makeup you prefer. Things to consider include;

Night time or day time wedding ?

Night time weddings are typically more formal than day time weddings. For a night time wedding consider a more sophisticated makeup look. For a day time wedding makeup tends to be more natural.

Indoors or outdoors wedding ?

Outside lighting is stronger so your makeup should to be softer and more natural than makeup for an indoor wedding.

The lighting.

Different lighting requires different makeup styles. Night time lighting tends to dull makeup so a stronger makeup look is preferable. Natural and day time lighting is more generous to makeup so, again, consider a more natural makeup look.

The color of your dress.

Ivory and off white tend to make the skin look softer and can therefore support a more glamorous makeup style. White tends to look strong and washes out most faces so consider using softer colours to enhance the face.

The style of your dress.

The stronger the neckline of your dress the more sophisticated the hair and makeup style will need to be match the dress’s style. A neckline that cuts deep and is off the shoulders will look great with a hair up hair style so that the line of the neck and shoulders is shown off. Consider also the length of the dress, the shorter the dress the more simple the hair and makeup should be. Remember you are creating an entire picture, do not wear a beautiful dress and stylish heels and then wear your hair and makeup like you do when you wear your jeans. Don't sell yourself short on such a memorable day.

Wedding makeup tip: Give yourself plenty of time to organise your makeup.

Before you meet with a makeup artist, or purchase any makeup, take some time to go through bridal magazines and pull out makeup styles that you really like and some you don’t like. Armed with your bridal magazine cut outs and a picture of your wedding dress book an appointment with your makeup artist for a trial run or a consultation at your cosmetics counter. Don’t do this at the last minute. Make sure you have a good couple of weeks up your sleeve so you have time for a couple of sessions if you don’t settle on a preferred style and colours first time up. Once you have your makeup look sorted make sure the makeup artist or beauty consultant writes everything out, and notes any makeup items you may not have that you need to purchase. If you are doing your own makeup have a couple of dry runs well before your big day so you have the makeup style and look perfected well ahead of time.

Wedding makeup tip: Be yourself

You want to look sensational but remember you want to look like yourself and feel comfortable with your appearance. You can look great and stay within your comfort zone. You want your husband to be to recognise you when you walk down the aisle. Plan ahead and give yourself time to find the makeup look that you love and feels comfortable.

Wedding makeup advice: Purchasing or selecting your makeup.

Now you have settled on your makeup style here are some tips and advice on your specific makeup requirements:

Foundation: Sort out your foundation well ahead of time. The key to successful wedding makeup is perfect looking skin. Make sure that your foundation matches your skin tone exactly and doesn’t look mask like. Give yourself plenty of time to experiment and find the perfect foundation for you.

For help selecting your foundation please Donna’s article; Choosing and applying foundation – A simple step by step guide.

Wedding makeup tip: Highlight one facial feature

You know your best facial feature; your plump rosy lips, your beautiful eyes or your lovely check bones. Your makeup should highlight your chosen feature. Don’t try and highlight more than one feature, it will look “too much”. If you use a bold red lipstick to highlight your beautiful lips go low key with your eye makeup. Conversely if you choose a stunning smoky eye look choose a more subtle lipstick or lip gloss.

Wedding makeup tip: Watch out for “seemed a good idea at the time”.

Watch out for fads; in 20 years time hot pink lipstick will date your wedding photos. You want to look as classic as possible so that your photo memories are timeless.

Blush: Become a truly blushing bride by choosing a warm flattering cheek colour in a pinky peach or rose or, if you tend to get flushed, a brownish tone. Experiment and find the blush colour that suits your skin tone. Use a powder based blush, they will usually last longer than cream blushers. To apply blush, start at the hairline by the middle of your ear, blend forward to the front of the cheek, and then back to the hairline and upwards. For a perfect application find a blush brush that is the size of the apple of your cheek. After the initial application dust the blush with some loose powder and then apply a touch more blush to the front of the cheek.

Lipstick or Lip Gloss:

You will be doing a lot of kissing on your wedding day so you will need a lip colour that will last. Use a matte or longwearing lipstick or lip gloss because you don't want to be constantly touching up your makeup during the day. Be sure to use a colour that complements your hair and eye colour and use a lip liner in the same colour family as your lipstick or lip gloss. Don’t use a lip liner much darker than your lipstick or lip gloss. This technique looks harsh and very unnatural in pictures. Purchase the lipstick or lip gloss and lip liner to keep in your purse for the whole day. Wedding makeup tip: Smallish lips If your lips are naturally small the lighter the lip colour the fuller the lips will seem.

Wedding makeup tip: Makeup remover.

Be sure to have makeup remover ready for any accidents. As you know makeup doesn't just wipe off, especially not off a beautiful white wedding gown. Makeup wipes are a convenient way to keep makeup remover handy.

Eye shadow: For help selecting and applying your eye shadow please read Khush’s article; Beautiful eyes made easy. If you are considering smokey eyes please Khush’s article; A step by step guide to sexy smokey eye makeup.

Wedding makeup tip: Eyebrows.

Properly groomed and shaped eyebrows help enhance and add expression to the face. Have your eyebrows groomed but do this a week before the wedding in case you get a few red bumps after plucking or waxing. Fill in your eyebrows, if needed, with an eyebrow pencil shade that's slightly lighter than your eyebrows. Brush through with an eyebrow brush or a clean toothbrush for a more natural look.

Mascara: For extra lush looking eyelashes use an eyelash curler before applying your mascara. Prepare for those tears of happiness by using a good waterproof mascara. Apply two coats, let the first coat dry before applying the second coat. When you purchase your waterproof mascara make sure that you have an eye makeup remover that also takes off waterproof mascara.

Finishing Touches: When you have finished applying your makeup you may want to apply a little more blush, and then finish with a final brush of loose powder.

 

Have an amazing day !!

Nearly Naked lingerie?

Lingerie that blends perfectly with your skin tone!
Ever felt embarrassed after realising that your white or black bra was showing through your top during that important party? It could now become a thing of the past.

British retail giant Mark and Spencer have launched a range of 'Nearly Naked' lingerie that blends perfectly with any woman's skin and appears invisible under clothes, reports the Daily Mail.

While other attempts at making 'nude' underwear have tended to take a one-colour-fits-all approach, the 18-pounds 'invisible' bra comes in four shades to match a range of skin tones. Using a spectrophotometer, a machine that can assess the individual shades, which make up the final colour, the company scanned the skin tones of more than 1,000 customers.

The results were then compared with ethnicity data from the Office for National Statistics to select colours that were an exact match for human skin. The bra is available in sizes 32A to 40D. The range also includes matching briefs for 8 pounds.

"Women are recognising the need to wear a neutral-coloured bra which complements their own skin tone and can create a 'disappearing act' under clothes," said Soozie Jenkinson, head of lingerie design for M and S.

"When we were actually testing out the software before release we had one gentleman who hadn't been to confession in about 20 years. He went in and did his confession with it and he said it made it much easier on him," he added.

British retail giant Mark and Spencer have launched a range of 'Nearly Naked' lingerie that blends perfectly with any woman's skin and appears invisible under clothes, reports the Daily Mail.

While other attempts at making 'nude' underwear have tended to take a one-colour-fits-all approach, the $25 'invisible' bra comes in four shades to match a range of skin tones. Using a spectrophotometer, a machine that can assess the individual shades, which make up the final colour, the company scanned the skin tones of more than 1,000 customers.

The results were then compared with ethnicity data from the Office for National Statistics to select colours that were an exact match for human skin. The bra is available in sizes 32A to 40D. The range also includes matching briefs for $12 pounds.

"Women are recognising the need to wear a neutral-coloured bra which complements their own skin tone and can create a 'disappearing act' under clothes," said Soozie Jenkinson, head of lingerie design for M and S.

"When we were actually testing out the software before release we had one gentleman who hadn't been to confession in about 20 years. He went in and did his confession with it and he said it made it much easier on him," he added.    

The Best Makeup Remover for your Skin

All of us take great pains to look beautiful. Makeup products come in really handy in hiding our flaws and accentuating our assets. We spend hours in front of the mirror shaping our eyebrows with a pencil and curling our lashes with a mascara. Painting our lips and concealing our wrinkles becomes a part of our routine. Water proof makeup products make sure that our efforts get paid by holding on our makeup throughout the day. But what happens at night, when you return home, tired from work? Do you take as much efforts to remove your makeup or you simply slump onto the bed and doze off? Many of you might have tried to remove your eye makeup with soap and water and ended up looking like a raccoon. If you want to really free your skin of makeup, without damaging it, you need to go for the best makeup remover available for your individual skin type. More on skin care.

There are many hazards of sleeping with your makeup on. The ingredients in foundation, blush or lipstick may irritate your skin and clog your pores. This may result in acne outbreak. Eye makeup can be particularly dangerous as the cosmetic ingredients may enter your eyes and cause several infections. Allowing these cosmetics on your skin for more than the intended time can cause irreversible damage to your skin. Hence, it is a must to chalk out a makeup removal routine and adhere to it. More on eye makeup remover.

Best Makeup Remover for Sensitive Skin

If you have sensitive skin you sure must be using makeup products especially formulated for sensitive skin. However, it is equally important to choose a makeup remover that caters to the need of your skin type. Since, sensitive skin tends to get irritated easily, a natural cleanser is apt for such skin type. Olive oil, jojoba oil, castor oil are some natural makeup removers for sensitive skin. If you are going for commercially available makeup removal products, make sure it is free from alcohol and perfuming agents. Alcohol dries up the skin and makes it itchy, which can be a problem with sensitive skin. More on lip makeup remover.

Best Makeup Remover for Dry Skin

Most makeup removers for sensitive skin also work for dry skin. Cleansing milk is one of the most effective makeup removal product for dry skin. It gently removes the makeup and cleanses the skin, so that no residue is left. Dry skin also benefits a great deal from using natural makeup removers mentioned above. Alcohol based products are harmful for dry skin, hence go for oil based products. Oil based products are apt for dry skin as these products dissolve the oil in the makeup products.

Best Makeup Remover for Oily Skin

Best makeup remover for acne prone skin or oily skin is the one which does not leave a greasy feel behind. Thus, oil based makeup removal products are definitely not for oily or acne prone skin. Oil based makeup removers indeed remove the makeup effectively, but they often leave an oily, greasy residue behind. This may clog your pores and lead to more acne. Hence, if you must use them, always remember to wash off these products from your face. Alcohol based makeup removers work well for oily skin type.

Makeup removers are also available in pads and towelettes. These pads are saturated with cleanser, hence you only have to wipe them off your face. They are very effective in removing waterproof eye makeup. These makeup removal products are also very convenient to use while traveling. The other makeup removal products come in the form of gels or liquids and you need to apply them with a cotton ball.

A best makeup remover gently removes the makeup and prepares the skin, so that you can apply new makeup on it, the next day. Keep your makeup removal routine simple so that you are likely to follow it.

World Watch - Vogue

Fei Fei Sun.
Britt Maren.
Bambi Northwood Blyth.
Milou Van Groesen.

The season’s hottest girls land on the cover of Vogue Nippon in a stunning Vuitton shot by Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin.

What does your hairstyle say about you?

You might think your flowing tresses say “casual”, but are other actually hearing “unconfident”? What does your hair really say about you?

 Secret Signals Your Hair Sends:

Short

Cropped hair is often interpreted as signifying intelligence, openness and honesty -what you see is what you get. As a rule, shorter styles also tend to make younger women appear older and more sophisticated.

Shoulder length

A woman with medium-length hair is usually perceived as classy and strong. People often view her as powerful, and someone who exemplifies both brains and beauty.

Long

If long hair is well kept, it suggests confidence and sensuality. But watch out for unkempt styles, which send a very different message: that the person is trying to cover up the parts of her body or face she considers flawed.

Curly vs Straight

Waves give the impression of playfulness, warmth and carefree nature; wearing your hair straight tells people that you are together, polished and stylish.

Ponytail

A neat, traditional ponytail is the picture of poise – it’s a good style for meeting your boyfriend’s parents or giving a presentation in front of your boss. A pony tail higher on the head conveys a more casual, energetic look.

Attributed: SouthAsianLife

Seven Steps (Saptapadi) around the Sacred Fire

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During a Hindu wedding ceremony the bride and groom take seven important steps together around the sacred fire.
An important aspect of the Hindu ceremony is to light a fire. This fire has a special significance in the traditional Indian wedding ensuring that the human spirit is tied with the divine.

The fire invokes one of the most important of the vedic gods, Agni, the God of fire to witness the seven wedding vows between the bride and groom.

As a result the fire is called the holy Agni. Agni is Sanskrit (a classical language of India) for fire. Agni is considered sacred and vows taken in front of Agni are considered to be unbreakable.

During the Hindu wedding ceremony the bride and groom come to the altar as God and Goddess in human form. In many parts of India the bride is considered Lakshmi, Goddess of Fortune, and the groom is her consort Vishnu, the Great Preserver.

The Hindu ceremony is usually filled with the chantings and blessings in Sanskrit by a Hindu priest. These ancient sanskrit blessings and rituals are thousands of years old.

The Hindu marriage ceremony is the thirteenth among the sixteen samskaras (or rites of passage) that a Hindu observes in his or her lifetime as prescribed in the ancient scriptures, the Vedas.

The highlight of course is the Saat Pheere or 7 circles around the holy fire.

This is also referred to as the Saptapadi, also called “The Seven Steps”, which is considered as the most important aspect of the wedding ceremony and only when the bride and groom walk the seven steps together is the Hindu marriage complete legally.

The Seven Steps are outlined below:

The First Step
The bride and groom take this first step along with the first vow to earn and provide for the household and maintain a purity in the diet nourishing the body whilst avoiding anything harmful.

The Second Step
The bride and groom take this second step along with the second vow to develop physical, spiritual and mental strength to ultimately live a healthy life.

The Third Step
The bride and groom take this third step along with the third vow to increase wealth and live a prosperous life through righteous and proper means.

The Fourth Step
The bride and groom take this fourth step along with the fourth vow to live together with mutual love and trust in order to gain harmony and happiness.

The Fifth Step
The bride and groom take this fifth step along with the fifth vow to be blessed with strong, healthy and virtuous children.

The Sixth Step
The bride and groom take this sixth step along with the sixth vow to live a long and happy life together by maintaining self control.

The Seventh Step
The bride and groom take this seventh step vowing that they will remain as true companions and life-long partners adding a spiritual dimension to the union.

A Bride's Beauty Wedding Day Beauty Tips

Your wedding is the "for sure" one time in your life when you want to look amazing. At your upcoming wedding ceremony and reception, you will be the center of attention, with all eyes on you as you make your way down the aisle toward your groom. Obviously, you want to look your absolute best. Prior to your wedding reception and ceremony, you need to find time to relax, while doing something special for you. Here are a few tips that will help you look like a fairytale princess on your wedding day.

Facial Care

If you have ever given thought to treating yourself to a facial, now would be the ideal opportunity. In fact, if you want to spend some quality time with your maid of honor, the two of you could enjoy a trip to the day spa together, a perfect way for thanking her for all her hard work and support. In addition to looking great, a facial will help you relax.

Today, just about every city has a day spa where you can be pampered, even smaller towns. An excellent option is a steam facial, which benefits you by releasing toxins and trapped dirt within the skin’s pores. Now, one important thing to consider is that a steam facial should be done between three and six weeks before the actual wedding day. The reason is that as the skin is cleaned, a breakout is possible.

Foot Care

In addition to walking down the aisle, chances are you will be standing for long periods of time while going through the wedding ceremony and reception. Considering that you will be wearing new shoes, standing in front of your guests while exchanging wedding vows, and then waiting to greet each guest as he or she walks through the receiving line, you want your feet to be comfortable. Then of course, remember the dancing and walking you will be doing at the reception as well.

To pamper your feet, we recommend you start by getting a good pedicure several days before your nuptials. By doing this, your toenails will look fabulous, which is especially a good idea if you plan to wear open toe shoes. In addition, you might want to consider visiting a reflexologist, which is a trained professional that uses a special form of Chinese wellness. With reflexology, pressure is applied to various points on the feet, which then benefits different parts of the body.

Body Massage

You definitely want to make time for several massages before the wedding ceremony. A full body massage is a great way to prepare for your wedding. Most importantly, you want to work with a qualified masseuse to help relieve stress, while making you feel like a brand new person. A massage the day before your wedding will relax both the body and mind, something you could do alone or with your maid of honor. As a result, you will arrive at your wedding feeling refreshed and ready to face anything ahead of you. In fact, most brides agree that after a body massage, they feel confident and more in charge simply from being stress free.

In summary, it's important to make time for yourself before your wedding ceremony and reception. By following these simple bridal beauty tips, you will look and feel your best on the most important day of your life, your wedding day!

Wedding Beauty Tips

While planning your wedding, it’s always a good idea to consider the oft-overlooked area of cosmetics. Couples break-up; couples make-up, but a bride should only wear make-up if it’s already a part of her daily routine. That’s the conventional wisdom, anyway, and it makes sense: experimenting with a new look is probably best avoided for the big day. For some a liberal dose of mascara and eyeliner was nothing new.

Try It Out Before the Big Day
If a bride wishes to try a new look, experts suggest a few practice runs long before the big day. Whether it’s a new style or new colors, it’s best to get a sense of how the makeup will look with the gown. Obviously, subdued makeup in subtle tones would be a much better match for a traditional dress than heavy, Gothic eyeliner. So the style of dress is just as important when it comes to choosing makeup looks when planning a wedding.

Equally important in the decision-making process is the bride’s planned hairstyle. An upswept look would call for a very clean, flawless facial palette in warm colors such as violets, lilacs, soft pinks and plums. Naturally the first consideration is matching a bride’s natural skin shades. As a rule, however, the lighter the makeup, the better, particularly for summer weddings with higher temperatures. Also, warm and cooler tones should never be mixed.

Consider the Natural Look
Neutral tones, also known as varied earth tone shades, are quite popular for brides. Their colors are subtle and muddied, offering a more enhanced natural look. Many brides opt for this look: simple concealer, a bit of eyeliner and light lipstick are both easy to apply, lend a natural look and require less maintenance on the big day.

Also important to consider when planning wedding day makeup is how it will photograph. If possible, request the photographer take a few trial photos of the bride while wearing the intended makeup. This will highlight any possible conflicts between the chosen colors and how they photograph.

Allow Time to Test
When planning the wedding, some brides feel most comfortable scheduling a bit of time before the ceremony to meet with a beauty products consultant. Some consultants are willing to provide service right at the wedding location; others prefer the bride and her attendants visit the salon. Should your wedding include a salon visit, again a dry-run is advisable. The bride and attendants should visit at least one time prior to the ceremony date, choose the makeup they’ll be using and practice applying it as they’ll want it to look for the wedding. Most importantly, a bride should never hire an unknown makeup consultant for her big day; it must be someone they know and trust who has applied makeup for them once or twice at a minimum.

The Essential 90 Minute Beauty Routine

Pep yourself up in the time it takes to watch a football match!

 

Running out of things to do while yet another World Cup match is on?

Make the most of 90 minutes to yourself, with a bride-to-be beauty routine that takes the same amount of time as the latest helping of footie.

Once a week throughout the month before your wedding is enough to put a sparkle in your eye and bring a glow to your skin that cannot be matched.

Thanks to beauty therapist Louise Thomas-Minns for this preen routine.

Start by running yourself a bath infused with a few drops of your favourite essential oils... lavender in particular will induce relaxation.

While your bath is running, a mini facial is in order. Massage either apricot kernel or even a good quality olive oil over the skin. Soak a clean washcloth in hot water and hold over the face for a few moments to steam and deeply cleanse. Then gently remove the oil and repeat.

The action of using the washcloth will have gently exfoliated your skin. Now you can apply a homemade facial mask which can be left on for the duration of your bath. For a drier mature skin, simply mash half an avocado and stir in some honey to form a paste; smooth over the face and neck. Alternatively, mix oatmeal with natural yoghurt and add either a squeeze of lemon juice for oilier skins or a teaspooon of honey for drier skin. The yoghurt will work wonders on munching away at surface dead skin.

Before getting into your bath, you could add a cup of powdered milk. Just as Cleopatra bathed in asses' milk, powdered milk is great for exfoliating while you soak.

At the end of your bath it's time to remove any excess unwanted hair to reveal a smooth skin. Try new Nair Pretty Naturals hair removal cream. I particularly like the one containing exfoliating beads to leave your legs super silky. It's quick, efficient and easy to use, and gives you extra skin-smoothing properties of papaya extract.

Finish by removing your face mask with a warm washcloth, and then spend a few moments massaging the oil you sued to cleanse in an upward, circular motion to detoxify and reduce any areas of puffiness from the face.

Achieving your Sexy Look - Step by Step.

Changing your look is as simple as you make it. Achieve a sexy look with these beauty tips; darkening the eyes, adding clear lip gloss, wearing gold around the eyes, making lashes fuller, creating a natural blush on cheeks, and volumizing your tresses.

Follow these beauty tips for a smoking hot look that is sure to seduce.

Darkening the eyes
Add a classy touch of seduction by using a deep purple, deep grey or even a deep bronze to the eyes. Create a bold, sexy look by applying the eye shadow or eyeliner close to the lash line on top and bottom. This makes the eyes look dramatic and gives you a sexy allure.

Golden highlights
Next, highlight your eyes and cheekbones by adding a gold bronzer or shimmer at the temple of the head. Adding warm tones, like gold, you give your face a natural glow and inviting look.

Bonus Tip
Most women apply eye shadow first, but according to the experts, starting with eyeliner helps the look last longer. Close your eyes and line the upper lash line. Apply the liner in such a manner that there remains no gap between your lashes and the line. For mastering this trend, you must apply the liner to become part of your lashes, not circling the eye. Use your fingertip to smudge it in.

Clear lip gloss
A definite trend and welcomed by men is clear lip gloss. Guys prefer not to wear your chosen lip color so opt for clear gloss when freshening your pout!

Volumized tresses
The last tip to master for creating a sexy look is volumized hair! Wash and dry as normal. Now hair is ready to be styled. Create lots of volume by spraying the roots with hairspray. Section hair in six ways (top; middle; underneath and from side to side). Do not make exact parts as you want this to be a sexy, natural look. After spraying the roots, let dry. Then move and place pieces where you want them. Whether you are leaving your hair down for a natural look or pinning it up, style hair and respray for a finished look.

IMPORTANT: Beautiful Complexion
Makeup brushes gather bacteria that can transfer onto your skin causing pimples and blackheads so it is crucial to keep them clean. A quick and easy way to clean your makeup brushes is to use baby wipes.

Staying beautiful and attractive takes work, for sure, but keeping your skin clear is one of the simplest ways to ensure great skin and that youthful glow. Make sure your hands are clean before touching your face to avoid transferring additional bacteria. To keep face extra clean and exfoliated, gently massage cleanser into your face, leaving it on for a few seconds to dissolve impurities. Then rinse away with cool water to eliminate excess cleanser and boost circulation. Pat dry with a soft towel.

LAST: Power of Plum
One last beauty tip is Go bold with a plum lipstick. Or...if you want something more subtle, opt for a plum gloss. Deep plum lip glosses are amazingly stunning on many skin tones. Choose a flattering nude that is slightly pink or splashed with shimmer to add shine over the plum hue.

The Mystery and Grace of the Sari

 

The quintessential eastern fashion statement, the sari seems to be the most misunderstood garment, in the history of apparels.

Though a number of European designers are increasingly vouching for its comfort and beauty, it is still an enigma for western cultures, mysteriously draped and staying in place without any help from pins or buttons!
A charming folktale goes The Sari, it is said, was born on the loom of a fanciful weaver. He dreamt of Woman. The shimmer of her tears. The drape of her tumbling hair. The colors of her many moods. The softness of her touch. All these he wove together. He couldn’t stop. He wove for many yards. And when he was done, the story goes, he sat back and smiled and smiled and smiled.
The long length of garment in rich hues weaves and warps, is just another few yards of textile, till it is draped on a womans body. And that is the beginning of the transformation, both for the garment and the woman.

The world's oldest surviving fashion statement, the sari first finds mention in the Vedas, the ancient wisdom of the Asian sub-continent. More than 5000 years ago it existed in a similar form and was called cheera, meaning covering cloth. Some people think that Indian sari is influenced by Greek or Roman toga, which can be seen on ancient Roman statues. This is not correct.

Saree is essentially Indian in nature and was best suited to local climatic conditions. Cotton was cultivated in India centuries before Alexander the Great landed on the borders of India and Indian cloth was a wonder to the Greeks. In fact, Herodotus and other ancient western historians thought there were trees in India which grew cloth!

Times changed and its patterns changed too, and after many changes, evolution and styles later, it is today the primary wear of the Indian woman, and still the only wear for the rural Indian woman. More than 75% of the population of the Indian subcontinent wears the sari, in one form or the other.

The dress has survived the test of time, cultural invasions and even colonization. It is to its credit that the Muslim invasions, Europe colonization and even the recent globalization of styles, fashions and cultural ethos, have not managed to dent the authenticity, utility or the fan following of the sari. It still is considered the best dress for occasions like marriages, festivals and gifting to women, across the length and breadth of the country. Another interesting thing that is now seen is the adaptation of the sari for noveau fashion styles, even by some European fashion houses. One can understand the interest that the classically oriented French culture can have for a classically beautiful garment like the sari.

The sari, in its original form, was a single length of cloth with designs, worn pleated on the lower half of the body and draped across the upper part. It is worn in at least 10 to 15 styles throughout the India, though the ways of wearing above used to be common. In Maharashtra and North Karnataka region, wearing a nine-yard saree (without a petticoat – long underskirt -which was superfluous) was in vogue till 20th century. In many tribal cultures of India it is still worn like that. But after the entry of Muslim and Middle Eastern influences in India, the petticoat or the undergarment covering the lower half of the body, started. The sari was fastened on this base layer, pleated to allow free movement of the legs, then the remaining garment thrown over the shoulder to drape the top.

The style of draping the sari differs between regions in India. The rural women wear it with the topmost pleat tucked into their backs, going from between the legs, and this seems to be the most comfortable style as far as hard workingwomen are concerned. The warrior queens who went to battle on horseback would wear their saris this way, so do the women who work in the fields, as hard a their men themselves, planting, hoeing and transplanting. The garment is convenient because it leaves the arms and legs free, covers the essential parts and gives a good drape too.

In other areas, styles differ, in the cities, it is worn with more style, even as a glamorous party outfit. The sari can be made to resemble shorts, trousers, flowing gown-like or convenient skirt-wise-all without a single stitch!

The textile used to make this ethereal garment boasts of real variety. From the diaphanous cottons, soft and delicate, the muslin from Dhaka, to the sturdy silks of South India, the weaves and wafts hold sway. Each region has its own special texture and design, depending on the regional crafts and the climate of that particular area. Woven silks, gauzy muslins and textured silk cottons hold sway over millions of female hearts.
The areas which are hot and humid around the year have a unique style where the upper part of the body is not restricted to any more clothing, hence the traditional mundu of South India-Kerala is comfortable for women in those sticky, long months of tropical monsoon.

The garment has undergone functional changes even if its original style has stayed. For instance, the warrior races of Northwest India, the Rajputs developed the odhni, a slightly shorter garment worn over a flowing skirt and upper garment. The flowing skirt is called ghaghra and owes its origins to the gandharan garment that was wore in these regions in ancient times. The upper garment in the form of a small jacket or blouse is a Victorian addition, because when European cultures came into India, they were in the Victorian era, so even a naked ankle was scandal. For the far more open culture of India, this was difficult, but a mean had to be struck. So the sari adopted the blouse to please the colonial masters. Traditionally, Indian women wore what was called a kanchuki ( a single cloth tied across the breasts, much like a strapless bikini top), and there are many paintings and other evidences to prove this. But those were the times of the Kama Sutra, and for a culture that can come up with a treatise on sex, a revealing female garment was nothing extraordinary. In fact, prudery came to India only after the tenth century, first in the form of the Purdah with Muslim invaders, then Victorian values with the colonizers.

This odhni should be diaphanous, soft and billowing, conceal and yet give away the curves and beauty of its wearer. In fact, that is what the sari is supposed to do, and it does its job quite well.

The Sari is perhaps the only garment in the world that can make its wearer look modest and demure while baring the midriff, outlining the hips and draping sensuously around the curve of the waist, What is revealed is much more than what is concealed, the modesty is retained and the sensuousness is effectively conveyed. What better statement of fashion does one need?

A model presents a Satya Paul creation co-designed by Indian designers Puneet Nanda and Chiara Nath during Wills Lifestyle India Fashion Week in New Delhi, India, on April 9, 2006

10 Great Wedding Makeup Looks - Links

Your special day has finally come, and, no, I don’t mean the premiere of The Hills. It’s even better than that! It’s your wedding day.

Your plate is already spilling over with wedding plans, making sure that everything turns out right — the guest list, the seating charts, the flowers, menus and music.

With so much to do, the last thing on your mind should be your makeup. That’s where this post comes in.

It’s your beautiful face people are going to be staring at all night long. Leave a lasting impression with the help of these 101 wedding makeup looks. Go from bridezilla to bombshell in the time it takes to say “I do.”Tutorials.

1. Wedding Day Makeup Lesson by Chanel: Classic Chanel style meets makeup instruction in this helpful video. I think it makes an excellent way to start our quest for the perfect makeup for a perfect day.



2. Wedding Day Makeup Before and After: This video shows you some really great shots of before and after wedding makeup, so you can have a clear plan for the look you want for your big day.



3. Sexy Bride Makeover!: This tutorial by Beauty Cast even shows a surefire way to apply false eyelashes — there’s one great mystery solved!



4. South Asian/Arabic Bridal Makeup Looks: Here’s a nice selection of very exotic and beautiful bridal looks! Dramatic and sexy…



5. MAC Makeup Tutorial for a Bridal Look: Here’s another wonderful tutorial with ideas on choosing a bridal look that’s a good fit for your personal style.



6. Do It Yourself Bridal Makeup: If you aren’t one for hiring outside help, these tips will help you create flawless makeup that you can do yourself. Be brave!



7. Wedding Day Makeup Tips for Brides:: This is a great post with a range of wedding day tips from what concealer to use, to how to apply colored mascara. Be prepared ahead of time, and avoid a last-minute panic.



8. Tips for Long Lasting Wedding Makeup: Use these great tips to make your makeup last, and keep your fresh face even after hours on the dance floor with your new hubby.



9. How to Add Unconventional Touches to Bridal Makeup: This is where your creativity comes into play. Work your magic, and show your fun, sexy side in your wedding day makeup.



10. Summer Makeup Tips for Brides: Since the majority of weddings happen in or around summer, use these makeup tips to fit the season (think fresh summery glow).

Tip and Tricks

Have you ever woken up in the morning, only to be faced with two rather tell-tale black rings around your eyes? (It’s not a great look is it?) And you think this is very strange, as you cleansed and toned the night before, so how did these black mascara flakes come to be resting around your eyes?

It’s simple. Proper make-up removal comes with a few tips and tricks that will help to ensure that all traces of the black stuff are thoroughly removed, and you wake up to gorgeous, unmarked, bright eyes in the morning!

Here they are:

- Always begin with a cleansing wipe or cotton pad doused in cleanser (we like: NIVEA Visage Gentle Facial Cleansing Wipes for its purifying and toning abilities), and sweep all over your face to remove the first layer of make-up.
- Next, soak a cotton pad in a gentle eye-makeup remover (try: NIVEA Visage Gentle Eye Make-Up Remover Lotion), and press it over your peepers for 10 seconds to help remove excess stubborn mascara.
- Finally, go back over your face and eyes with a wash cleanser to remove all remaining traces of product, tone your skin, and leave it feeling refreshed in one fell swoop. Try: NIVEA Visage Gentle Cleansing Créme Wash.

Following these steps will ensure that your eyes are always sans the just-fell-into-bed-without-washing-my-face look in the morning, and your skin can benefit from a night of make-up-free rejuvenation.

Solah Shringar - 16 vital components for Indian Brides

A traditional Hindu wedding procession takes place following various rituals and ceremonies. The marriage is a reflection of the rich Indian culture where every ritual has its own importance. Out of many rituals ‘Solah Shringar’ of the bride is one of the most important one.

What is ‘Solah Shringar’?
A traditional Indian bride has to dress up using sixteen vital components of her beauty known as ‘Solah Shringar’ which includes make-up items, jewels and other accessories. From head to toe she is adorned with accessories that add spark to her beauty. These objects of beauty are believed to be associated with the well being of her to-be husband. Having knowledge about accessories that comprises ‘Solah Shringar’ helps you understand their worth. We offer you a brief description of the sixteen accessories worn by the bride.

Face Accessories and make up include the following components:

• Bindi: It is considered to be a mark of identity for a married woman. Traditionally, it used to be round in shape and red in color. But nowadays, a large variety of Bindis in various shapes, sizes and shades are available in the market. Generally, a girl chooses her bindi that is matching to her wedding dress.
• Sindoor: Sindoor (vermillion) is a red colored powder that is applied on the centre parting of a bride. It has various religious and mythological connotations.
• Mangteeka: It is a hair accessory that is generally worn in the centre parting of the hair and it comes till fore head. It is generally made of gold/silver.
• Anjana: Anjana (kajal) is used to highlight the eyes of a bride. It is black in color and is applied on the edges of the upper and lower eyelids. It makes a bride’s face look beautiful and attractive.
• Nath: Nath (Nose Ring) is another important symbol of holiness associated with marriage. It is a big, round ring that can be worn in a pierced nose. It is also generally made up of gold/silver.
• Karn Phool: Karn phool (ear rings) is worn by a bride in both the ears. They are generally heavy and it further beautifies the bride’s face.

Hand Accessories include the following components:

• Mehandi: Mehandi (henna) is prepared from the dried leaves of a tree. It is applied in the hands and foot of a bride. It stands as a symbol for the love between a wife and her husband. Mehandi applying ceremony forms an important part of an Indian wedding.
• Choodiyan: Choodiyan (bangles) are worn in both the hands of the bride in large number. They are made up of glass or metal. They are believed to fill colors in the life of the bride.
• Baajuband: Baajuband (armlet) is worn in the upper arms of a bride.
• Aarsi: Aarsi (finger rings) is worn in the fingers of a bride.

Other Accessories include the following components:

• Haar: Haar (necklace) is worn around the neck of a bride.
• Keshapasharachana: Keshapasharachana (hairstyle) is also as important as the face. Different types of flowers and other ornaments are used to adorn the hair of a bride.
• Kamarband: Kamarband (waist band) is worn around the waist of a bride.
• Payal: Payal (anklet) is worn around the ankle of a bride. It produces sound when the bride moves.
• Itar: Itar (fragrance) is applied to a bride to create a soothing aroma around her.
• Wedding Dress: Normally a ‘Saree’ or ‘Lehenga’ is worn as a wedding dress. They are usually of bright colors like red, maroon etc.

These sixteen signs of beauty ensure complete adornment of the Indian bride. Though many modifications have been done in beautification of a bride, still these sixteen signs of beauty continue to hold their importance.

Airbrush makeup for your wedding

Every little girl dreams of her wedding day, the day where she is going to be the most beautiful woman in the room. Besides her dress there is one thing a woman can do to make her feel beautiful and airbrush make up can help you achieve this goal.  There are several different reasons to choose airbrush make up, the custom blend foundation colors, it last all day and night, it is alcohol and oil free, it creates a flawless complexion, and it doesn’t leave a “foundation mask” it blends perfectly into the neck.   An airbrush makeup artist must know about which colors to use on a brides skin to evenly match it to their person so they don’t look fake and only airbrush make up is 99.99 percent foundation color match.

Airbrush make up is specially formulated hypo-allergenic, water based make up that is sprayed through an airbrush gun using a small compressor.  It is one of the most sanitary forms of makeup use because you are only using it once.  Airbrush make up is water proof, sweat proof and of course tear proof, so there is no need for touch ups.  Airbrush make up is extremely efficient, lasts a very long time and will look incredible in photos.

Airbrush make up is not full coverage it’s actually extremely sheer or light coverage at best.  Airbrush is great for faces that are virtually flawless or with slight discoloration. If you are looking for full coverage, flawless finish, concealer must be applied to any blemish (i.e.  Acne, scars, etc) before the airbrush foundation can be applied.

So looking as beautiful at the end of your wedding night as you were at the beginning of your wedding day airbrush makeup, when done correctly, is a bride's only option for its wear ability and beauty.