Category Archives: Beauty

Boudoir Photography – Show Him Your Provocative Side

Posted by Jacqueline L'Ecuyer, Bridal Lingerie Expert on March 16, 2010

As you get closer to your wedding, and you have figured out all of the details for your venue, your guests and most importantly your wedding attire, now it’s time to think about getting your groom something special. Every bride wants to give him something unforgettable, something that will calm his nerves and reassure him that he is making the best decision of his life.  And what better way to do that than with a sexy little photoshoot?

Photo from Provocateur By Carmen Boudoir Photography

Photo Credit: Provocateur By Carmen Boudoir Photography

Cosabella recently had the pleasure of working with Provocateur by Carmen. The above picture is of a real San Francisco bride. For this shoot, Carmen included the crystals from her wedding centerpieces to tie in the wedding day with this gift for the groom. Carmen offers tasteful and most importantly, extremely flattering Boudoir Photography nationwide.

Carmen has a true passion for her work and has unmistakable talent for helping ordinary women get in touch with their sexy side.  Although it may be hard to believe … all of the women on Carmen’s site are regular women.  She never uses professional models and, as you can see on her site, they are all simply gorgeous.

What better gift for your future hubby can you think of than a little black book filled with sexy, tasteful and seductive pictures of you?  Leave it in the grooms suite so he can browse through it before the ceremony and remember how much he loves sexy you.

Speaking from experience, Carmen is extremely professional and makes you feel very comfortable.  She guides you through the entire shoot, step-by-step so the experience is effortless and exhilarating.

So rest assured that Carmen has taken the guess work out of what you should get your hubby for your wedding … and as a added bonus, you leave with new found confidence … something every powerful women can use!

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Also filed under: Guest Experts
March 16, 2010 by Jacqueline L'Ecuyer, Bridal Lingerie Expert
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Wearing Makeup on Your Wedding Day

Posted by Leisa Kanienberg, Makeup Artistry Expert on March 11, 2010
ebony-and-andrew-vintage-wedding057

Photo Credit:Marzena Wasilewska

Since this is my first Wedloft blog post, it seems appropriate to start at the beginning. Deciding how to wear your makeup on your wedding day may seem like a daunting task, and for some brides it may not even be a consideration. Makeup can often times be an afterthought, but it really is a critical part of your wedding day photographs. It is the key to being camera ready after making a considerable investment on a wedding photographer or videographer. Many of the brides I work with report that they wear little to no makeup, usually out of a lack of time or know how. This, coupled with a general fear of makeup, either because of a bad experience or  lack of experience can be overwhelming to anyone.

The first step to overcoming a fear of makeup is to embrace it’s temporary nature. If you try something that you don’t like, it only takes seconds to start fresh. If done correctly, makeup will enhance your beauty and give you the best result in your pictures. If for no other reason, makeup is absolutely necessary for professional photography. Although your photographer is a trained professional, you will be in multiple lighting situations over the course of the day including natural, fluorescent and flash.

14cf6_toronto-wedding-photography-workshop-photos

Photo Credit: Dave and Charlotte Lifestyle Photographers

You will be photographed up close and at a distance, much like how your guests will see you throughout wedding and reception. Another factor is that your pictures will likely be in black and white and in color. Your makeup needs to be both black and white and color photography friendly in all of these different types of lighting. In addition, depending on the type of videography package you have reserved, it’s possible that your videographer might be shooting your wedding in high-def which requires a more specialized type of makeup.

vintage-mexican-wedding11

Photo Credit: He and She Photography

vintage-mexican-wedding09

Photo Credit:He and She Photography

Once you have made your peace with makeup, or if you are already a makeup addict, a trained artist that specializes in bridal or beauty makeup can do your wedding makeup or teach you how to do it yourself. Your wedding dress will be perfectly complimented by a flawless makeup application and you will look beautiful in your photographs.

wedding_makeup

Photo Credit: Segerius Bruce Photography

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Also filed under: Guest Experts
March 11, 2010 by Leisa Kanienberg, Makeup Artistry Expert
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Achieving the Perfect Wedding Day Glow

Posted by Leslie Norvell on February 25, 2010

The weeks leading up to your wedding day can be exhausting. Late nights of preparing seating charts, tying the perfect bows on favors and making all of those last minute phone calls can leave any bride sleep deprived and stressed. How could anyone look beaming and rested after 346 seating chart attempts of keeping Aunt Susie away from Cousin Igor? Yet, we must find a way to create the look of stepping off a Bahamian yacht.

Photo Credit: Dan Rappa

Photo Credit: Dan Rappa

My skin has two settings: white and red. There is no middle ground. The few times in my life where I have appeared tan can be aligned with times when I had no responsibilities and lived at the beach. I wondered how I would ever achieve this look and not look whiter than my wedding cake.  The “fake bake” isn’t all that attractive of an idea to me because of the long-term risks of skin cancer. Also, when I have indulged in the tanning bed previously, it usually just gave me a fake sun burn, which is worse than a real sun burn in my estimation.

Photo Credit: Bedzine.com

Photo Credit: Bedzine.com

Just before one of my bridal showers, someone introduced me to the Magic of Mystic Tanning. I was very nervous about this process and my mind kept going back to that “Friends” episode where Ross tans twice on his face and looks to be a shade of Muppet orange when it’s over. I can’t be Muppet orange for my shower!! But … I just did it … and it was nice. A soft Carribean glow, made me look like less of a pasty mess. However, the Mystic Tan leaves a horrible dark orange stain on your palms and soles of your feet. It’s a little freakish.  I tried one more time after that and asked around. To my disappointment, there’s no real way to avoid the mutating palms.

I appreciate a good google, so I started searching for a solution. My wedding was in Las Vegas and I would argue that Vegas is the epicenter for fake tanning.  There are too many girls that need to look pageant ready at a moment’s notice residing in the Silver State. A few internet searches later, I was armed with many avenues, some of which surprised me– let’s start there.

A Tan Van? Oh yes. A van that will come to your home and airbrush spray tan you and your friends. The package pricing even provides for bridal party specials. The prices are very competitive and it sounded like a good idea if you were planning a bachelorette or make-over party just before your wedding. The Tan Vans use the personalized airbrushing, so it is applied directly to your skin, missing your palms and feet. It even offers the ability to create contours, like fake abs or Kelly Ripa arms.

Tanning Salons offer a number of airbrush tanning solutions, and that’s the route I ended up taking because I was a little uncomfortable with tanning in a van. I kept thinking of a new slant on the Saturday Night Live sketch: You got tanned in a Van DOWN BY THE RIVER! RIP Chris Farley. Sidebar … back to the glow.

Photo Credit: Tanning-Central.com

Photo Credit: Tanning-Central.com

A few tips for you  before you go out in the airbrush tanning world:

  • Before you go, take an extreme exfoliating shower. Using a salt scrub, lufa and/or pumice stone, scrub your skin to remove any dead skin. Dead skin will not absorb the color the same as live cells, so it makes the solution look even. You will also want to shave your legs prior to your tan.
  • Plan your undergarments accordingly. The solution will get all over your undergarments, so you will want to wear an old bathing suit or plan to go nude, if you and the applicator are comfortable.
  • Give yourself plenty of time to dry. Make sure the solution is dry before you begin putting your clothes back on. Any wiping or rubbing clothes on the wet solution will compromise your tan.
  • Plan your day to allow 12 hours afterward of no water or tight-fitting clothes. If you plan to get a pedicure, you will look like you have a sock tan line … I speak from experience …
  • As time wears on so will your tan. You will gradually fade each day, so I suggest getting your tan 2 days before your event and not using any products or soaps that will scrub away your skin/tan.
  • ALWAYS do a practice run. You want to make sure you are using the right person and the right level of solution. Try a tan before the big day to make sure it’s the right one for you.

In case of emergency: lemon juice, exfoliants and soaking/scrubbing will take it down a notch.

Good luck and Good Tanning!

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Also filed under: Our Brides & Grooms
February 25, 2010 by Leslie Norvell
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Beautiful Wedding Day Skin – All Year Round!

Posted by Lily Riley on February 9, 2010

For those of us who live in colder climates, keeping our skin looking lovely through the winter can be quite a challenge.  And if you, like me, have a winter wedding in the works, that challenge can take on a whole new significance.  Trying to look your best at a time when dry skin is ubiquitous and a healthy glow seems impossible to achieve can be a bit of an adventure.  But I assure you, there are plenty of products out there (and what bride doesn’t love her skin care products?) that will ease any concerns of walking down the isle with dull, dry skin peeking out from under your veil!

First and foremost, it’s important to get rid of all the dead skin standing between you and your wedding day glow.  Vogue once described exfoliation as “the Ivy League of skin care regimens,” and I couldn’t agree more.  Fresh’s Brown Sugar Body Polish is a fantastic way to exfoliate and moisturize in one sweet-smelling step.

Fresh

Photo Credit: Fresh

For your face, Trish McEvoy’s Beta Hydroxy Pads provide great exfoliation.  We all know she makes great makeup, but here she’s teamed up with her husband, a dermatologist, to turn out some fantastic skin care products as well!

TrishMcEvoy

Photo Credit: Trish McEvoy

And once your new, smooth skin is revealed, your best weapon against winter weather is, of course, a great moisturizer.  I’ve recently fallen in love with Mario Badescu’s Protein Night Cream.  The best skin care instruction I ever received was to protect your skin from the elements during the day – wear sunscreen, etc. – and at night, replenish, as your skin is more able to absorb nutrients while you sleep.  So an intense lotion like this will provide the extra boost of moisture your skin needs!

MB 1

Photo Credit: Mario Badescu

And what bride hasn’t simultaneously cracked up and felt a twinge of fear seeing Anne Hathaway turn bright orange after a spray-tanning session in Bride Wars?  Well ladies, fear not, as Decleor Aroma Sun is an amazing self-tanner that not only generates a streak-free, natural-looking tan, but moisturizes as well.

Decleor

Photo Credit: Decleor

Winter can be a tough time for skincare, but with a bit of extra pampering, your skin will thank you.  Here’s hoping your winter beauty routine generates some gorgeous results!

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Also filed under: Our Brides & Grooms
February 9, 2010 by Lily Riley
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The Lowdown on False Eyelashes

Posted by Stacy McCauley, WeddingWindow.com on January 5, 2010

I really wish I had included false eyelashes in my wedding day makeup repertoire. With all of the other beauty decisions I had to make…the thought, quite frankly, never crossed my mind. I recently attended the wedding of a close friend and discovered what a difference fake eyelashes can make in a bride’s appearance. My friend is truly beautiful without a stitch of makeup…and I’m not just saying that…but her lashes totally pulled the look together. They not only emphasized her best features, but made her eyes POP! She had a makeup artist apply the lashes for her, but most beauty experts will tell you that it’s pretty easy to apply false eyelashes yourself if you have the right products and a little patience. So, if you want to simply accentuate what good ol’ mother nature gave you, consider wearing faux lashes on your big day. Of course there is a right and wrong way of going about almost anything, fake lashes included, so you will want to brush up on the basics before rushing out to the nearest mall. Or, you might risk looking like a giant tarantula (like the chicky poo in the photo below). Yikes! Read on for some helpful tips…

Photo credit: http://runninginheels.co.uk
Photo credit: runninginheels.co.uk

Wedding Day Makeup Tips for Using False Eyelashes

Most falsies come in two versions – a full strip or individual flares. Single flares create a natural-looking lash, while the full strip creates a more dramatic look. If you have shorter lashes, it is recommended that you use the short-medium length flares; however, if you have long but sparse lashes, you should go with a longer length. A great trick to make your eyes appear bigger is to apply a couple of flares in the center of the lashes and top off with a coat of mascara. Look for curved lashes set on a colored strip, not a clear one. The clear strips require a coating of liquid liner to hide the strips and adhesive. For professional quality eyelashes, experts suggest the following brands: Shu Uemura, NYX and MAC. Once you have decided on a specific brand and type of false eyelashes, you will need to know how to apply them, yes? Here goes…

Step One – Measure

The most important thing to remember when using any eyelash strip is to make sure it fits your eye. Fake eyelashes come in standard sizes, but everyone has different sized eyes, therefore, your new false eyelashes may not be the ideal size for you. Always hold the false eyelashes up to your natural lashes and compare sizes. Often, the lashes will need to be trimmed. If there is any part of the false eyelash that extends beyond your natural lash, trim it off with a sharp pair of cosmetic scissors.

Step Two – Apply Glue

Although most tubes of eyelash glue have contoured tips, you can actually achieve better glue coverage by applying the glue with a toothpick. Warning: some eyelash adhesives contain Latex, so if you are allergic, stay away from this type of adhesive glue.

1. Squeeze a bit of glue onto a spare piece of cardboard or paper
2. Dip the toothpick into the glue
3. Run the toothpick along the edge of the false eyelash, applying a thin, even layer

Step Three – Apply Eyelashes

Eyelash glue is white when it is wet and turns clear as it dries. When you see that the glue has begun to change from white to clear, it is time to apply the fake eyelashes.

1. Pick up the lashes with your fingers, or a pair of tweezers if you can’t get a decent grip
2. Line up the false eyelashes with your natural lashes
3. Gently press the false eyelashes against your eyelid, as close to your natural lashes as possible
4. Use two fingertips to press the corners of the fake eyelashes against your eyelid and then hold them there for a few seconds (Please note: if you don’t line up the lashes correctly, simply remove them and try again. Wait until the glue has dried, peel it from the false lashes and then apply the glue and eyelashes again)

Step Four – Apply Mascara

To make the false eyelashes look more natural, you can blend them into your natural lashes by applying a coat of mascara to both sets of lashes. Unless you are using colored false eyelashes, obviously.

As you can see, the steps for applying fake eyelashes are fairly simple, but it will take you a few tries to get completely comfortable. So give yourself plenty of time to practice not only applying the lashes, but wearing them as well.

Photo credit: carefair.com

Photo credit: carefair.com

And for all of you visual learners out there, like me, check out the great video tutorial below. Simply click on the link to launch it!

Video Tutorial: How to apply fake eyelashes

Photo credit: premierlash.com

Photo credit: premierlash.com

Don’t have the time or patience to apply your own fake eyelashes?

If the DIY route doesn’t work for you there is another option: professionally applied lash extensions. Extensions are ideal for anyone who wants alluring lashes 24/7, although I must tell you…they are a little pricey. On the plus side, they look and feel natural, last for months and fall out naturally with your own lashes. Sound appealing? Xtreme Lashes is one of the most popular extension brands and you can find a list of certified professionals near you on their website.

Photo credit: dreameyelashes.com

Photo credit: dreameyelashes.com

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Also filed under: Our Team
January 5, 2010 by Stacy McCauley, WeddingWindow.com
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