The Best in New England :: African American/Black Makeup

Sharon, July 21st, 2013: Martha’s Vineyard
When I met Sharon during her makeup trial in the spring, she explained to me that she wanted a very natural look, and most importantly, she wanted someone who could work well with her brown skin tone.  I was excited about working with her in Martha’s Vineyard, and flattered because she drove all the way from Connecticut to Massachusetts, for me to do her trial.  On her wedding day, I couldn’t have asked for a more fun and laid back bridal party, especially during the mid July summer heat!

Melissa, September 1st, 2013: Gloucester

Melissa also wanted a softer look.  Her wedding took place Gloucester, and her venue had a stunning view of the sea!  I had done her trial with brown and beige eye shadows, but she ended up changing her mind about her original look…she went with pinks and plums in the end.  She did not do a second trial, and I appreciate her total trust in me.  Even though she is a minimalist, she didn’t mind wearing a medium set of lashes, instead of small ones.  She tried them on the day of her trial, and she felt comfortable and adventurous enough to wear them on her wedding day.  Her bridesmaids were my kind of bridesmaids; they all wanted false lashes to enhance their makeup, and I didn’t have to do any convincing!

Plums and Berries

Because it’s often easier said than done to capture the right makeup/picture moment while working, photographing brides when they are made up and ready to go can be difficult as they rushing to leave, surrounded by a lot of people. Sometimes, I simply forget because I’m too focused on doing makeup.  For this reason, I do makeup for fun occasionally.   I did Della’s makeup a couple of times.  The first time I played with some eye colors and big lashes, which would work very well for a night out, or perhaps a traditional African wedding.  For the second look, I did a soft plum/berry look, similar to Sharon’s and Melissa.  I airbrushed her to give her super smooth skin, and used a different set of lashes for a softer look. 

The Beauty of Bronzer

It’s summer, the weather is getting warmer, and the sun is getting brighter. People are spending more time under the summer sky, and their skin is getting darker. Of course, everyone feels that they look better with a tan, but this does not mean you should stop protecting your skin from the sun’s harmful rays.

Undoubtedly, summer is a popular season for weddings, and whether you’re the bride, in the bridal party, or a guest, you certainly want to feel and look your best--- and because of this, many people go tanning prior to a wedding. There’s nothing wrong with having a little color on your skin, but it’s best to leave the tan at a minimum for safety reasons. Too much exposure to the sun can cause many unwanted spots, freckles, permanent burns, and can even lead to worse problems down the road. Luckily, finding the right color bronzer can give you the gorgeous glow you’re craving while also saving your skin from a lot of unnecessary damage from the sun.

 

New England’s Best Wedding Makeup Hints :: How Eyebrows Frame The Face

With so many magazines and celebrity photos everywhere these days, it’s quite obvious that thicker eyebrows are the newest trend. While you don’t have to go overboard with filling your natural eyebrows in like some celebrities, it is sometimes a good idea to simply enhance the thickness of your brows. After all, eyebrows do frame the face.

Some women who have naturally light hair will also have light eyebrows, so adding a little enthusiasm to their brows is not a bad idea, especially for a bride on her wedding day. Adding just the right amount of color and thickness to the eyebrows can change the overall appearance of the face.

When a bride is at her makeup consultation, it’s important to discuss what type of eyebrow technique she wants to achieve. For example, the groundbreaking and popular trend right now is the heavy brow, but the heaviness should vary depending on the age, shape, and size of the bride’s face. Some women are afraid to highlight their brows because they don’t want to appear too dramatic, but with the skills of a trained makeup artist, together you can achieve the perfect depth, color, and size of your eyebrows’ appearance for your wedding day. This is again why a consultation is so important.

            See the photos below for a perfect example of how adding the right amount of boldness to the eyebrows can truly enrich the final look.

City of Boston’s Top Wedding Makeup :: Choosing Your Makeup Look

Future brides will often wonder what the 'perfect' bridal makeup should look like. The truth is, it’s different for everyone, so there is no one right answer. This is why it’s important to schedule a makeup consultation before your wedding, so both the bride and the artist can choose what looks best.

When thinking about your final appearance on your big day, you might want to consider the following questions. If you need help answering them, don’t worry, this is what your makeup artist is trained in, and with their help, you can achieve your ideal look.

·        Are you hoping to maintain your own natural everyday look that makes you feel most comfortable?

·        Do you want to step outside your comfort zone just a bit?

·        Is there a theme you want to stay with based on your flowers, dress, and decorations?

·        Do you have a favorite facial feature that you want to accentuate?

·        Is there a feature you’d like to be toned down?

·        What specific colors do you want to wear?

·        Do you want to appear subtle, or do you want your make up to really stand out?

Once you have pondered these questions and come up with some answers, you should be good to go, and your consultation will run a lot smoother. Whatever path you choose, you will know it’s the one you planned, so you are sure to feel and look your best!

Professional Wedding Makeup in Boston :: The Essentials of a Makeup Trial

 What is a makeup trial and what does it consist of?

The makeup trial is the time when the future bride and the makeup artist meet prior to the wedding day.  It is the time when the artist examines your features and skin complexion and creates a look just for you, based on your personal style and skin complexion. 

Why is it important?

Trials are not mandatory, but I strongly encourage all brides to get one; it will simply give you peace of mind.  A trial avoids unpleasant surprises, and it ensures that the makeup process runs smoothly on the day of the wedding.  Every bride should have a vivid of what she is going to look like on her wedding day. 

“Beauty is really in the eye of the beholder”

Every woman’s definition of “beautiful” is not the same.  Part of the artist's task during the trial is to decipher what the bride considers “pretty” in makeup terms.  Sometimes the bride has difficulty articulating what the type of makeup style she likes in terms of color and intensity, and for this reason, I encourage them to bring some photos for inspirations.

Other benefits of a trial:

• You test the makeup, its lasting power, and after wearing it for a little while, you’ll know if you will be comfortable wearing it.
• You test false eye lashes; you will know if they are the right size for your eye shape and look, and after wearing them for a little while, you’ll know if you’re going to wear them for a few hours. This is especially important for brides who have never worn lashes.
• The artist records the colors used so it’s easier to replicate the look on the day of the wedding.
• Take a picture with your own camera! Once you see a few photos with and without flash, you will get an idea of how the makeup photographs.  Makeup plays a big role in photography!  You don’t want to look washed out or too made up in photos.

After your trial:

Try not to attend events at which you know you will be photographed with your makeup look (such as bridal showers), and don’t publish your look on social media sites. It’s a good idea to keep your bridal makeup look a surprise just like other details of your wedding.

If the bride has any concerns or questions about her makeup after her trial session, she should contact the artist.  Some minor concerns can be addressed via email or with a simple phone call.  If there are too many issues and the bride doesn’t feel comfortable with the look all together, it might be a good idea to schedule another trial.

See the below photos of Beth, a bride who gave me the honor of applying her make up for her trial and wedding day last summer. Beth got her inspiration from one of the photos on my website. Although she was very happy with her makeup on the trial, she decided to change her lipstick color on her wedding day.  Changes like this happen sometimes.

Beth's trial - before & after

Beth's final look photographed by the talented Leah Haydock - www.LeahHaydock.com

Massachusetts’ Best Make Up - Prepping Your Skin for Your Wedding Day

When it comes to the bride’s big day, it’s important for her to know when to start prepping her skin and what routines to follow.  It helps the makeup application go a lot smoother and your skin will look a lot more youthful and radiant.

The key to impeccable skin is to begin caring for it a few months before your wedding:

      ·        Follow a skin regimen- wash and nourish your skin every day.  Be sure to choose the right moisturizer for your skin type.

·        I know it sounds cliché and redundant, but try to eat healthy, and hydrate skin by drinking lots of water.

·        It’s probably a good idea to take some vitamins to keep your body full of nutrients.

 

 

 

 

 This will help prepare your face for a flawless finish on the day of your wedding.

A few days before the wedding:

·        Wax/shape your eyebrows.  Eyebrows frame your face and make a vast difference in your look.  If you’ve never had your eyebrows cleaned or shaped by a professional, this is the time to do it, as you want to make sure they look their best for your wedding day.

·        Reduce alcohol intake. You want your skin to appear supple and healthy as possible.

·        Try to get plenty of sleep as lack of it may show around the eye area.

·        Exfoliate- removing dead cells from the surface of your skin makes skin look smoother and brighter with or without makeup.  (Don’t forget the corners of your nose!)

 

 

 

 

Follow these simple steps, and you are sure to look and feel your very best for your special day! 

New England's Best Makeup -- The Beauty Of Asian Bridal Makeup

     “Asian beauties”, as I call them, have eye shapes that require makeup application slightly different than the typical bride. Most Asian brides are concerned that the right eye shadow colors are selected for their skin tone, that the right false eyelashes are selected for the shape and size of their eyes, and that their makeup over all looks soft and natural. However, with ample experience in Asian bridal makeup, this is a worry that I can always put to rest. 

    I had the honor of working with Peggy on December 1. (See below) From the moment I met her, I thought she had an easygoing personality, making the course of my job a lot easier. Because Peggy’s wedding was low-key, she wanted her makeup as to be as simple and minimal as possible while still looking like an elegant bride. With some false lashes for length and volume, I achieved the look that Peggy requested. I gave Peggy flawless skin by airbrushing her foundation and a glow by applying a little bronzer on her face. She looked at herself in the mirror, and she smiled.

Before & After

Photography by: Arlene D. Martson Photography

http://www.arlenedmarston.com

Boston's Best Makeup :: Why Are False Lashes Important?

     Every bride wants to both look and feel spectacular, yet comfortable, on the most important day of her life. So, it’s understandable why many women entertain the possibility of false lashes for their wedding day. If a bride is choosing to have her makeup applied by a professional, false eyelashes are an option that will truly complete her image --- they are purely a feature that will flatter and enhance the splendor of her eyes.

     There are various areas to consider when deciding to have false lashes applied. Of course, there are many different types of false lashes, such as strip lashes which are applied with an adhesive and last for one day, or eyelash extensions which are more costly but last longer. There are different sizes of false lashes as well, so having your makeup artist use the correct size on you is essential to your comfort. Because there are different and styles and sizes of false lashes, it is imperative for a bride to try them on the day of her wedding trial, especially if she is new to the world of lashes.

     No matter which route the bride decides to take, false lashes will make a vast difference on her final look. Not only will false eyelashes keep the focus on the bride’s overall facial appearance all night, they will help enrich the size and depth of her eyes. If the right lashes are chosen, a bride can still maintain her natural look and refrain from appearing and feeling “overdone.” Again, this is why it is important to have a professional makeup artist apply the lashes at the makeup trial. Keeping the false lashes on and wearing them out for a few hours after the trial is a perfect way to decide if they are for you.

Before & After

     When the wedding photographs are developed, it will become obvious why false lashes are becoming an essential part of a bride’s big day!

As you can see, false lashes create a beautiful effect from any angle