PRIDE MONTH!

PRIDE month is here and I have to give it up to my LGBTQ+ community out there! You are trailblazers and hold a very special place in my heart! I see you and want to celebrate you!

Here are some fantastic resources for PRIDE events in Los Angeles!

Love In Every Color events at Santa Monica Place! They have a great rainbow lantern installation there which is amazing!

More events here!

Artists and Activists to follow and look out for are:

1. Niecy Nash Host/Actress

2. Rapper/Songwriter Little Nas X

3. Elliot Page Actress/Activist

4. JoJo Siwa YouTube Personality/Singer/Dancer

5. Bowen Yang Comedian/Saturday Night Live

All of these LGBTQ+ advocates are paving the way for themselves and for others with courage and a sense of belonging. Of course, these are just a few…there are a million more that help in representing this community and instilling LOVE is LOVE !

Here are some LGBTQ+ Beauty Ambassadors to watch and follow.

Neon MUA aka @neonmua #ColourpopMEBLACK

Khai aka @blackbirdkhai Shapeshifter

Myla aka @pradaolic Graphic Liner Queen

Dylan Davis aka @dylandavii A colorful soul!

LGBTQ+ Beauty Brands to Follow and Support!

Trixie Cosmetics

Non Gender Specific

 KIMCHI CHIC BEAUTY

FLUIDE

I hope this BLOG post sends up Rainbow colored heart emojis into the sky and into the universe! The more LOVE we spread around the better! Hopefully this week I will post a PRIDE inspired makeup look so stay tuned and watch for it on my Instagram page and while you are following all of these talented humans, make sure you give a follow to me @makeupthebride which houses all of my bridal and my beauty work!! Thank YOU!!

Beauty Recycling Programs!

Raise your hand if you have tons of empty or expired skincare or beauty packages that you wish you could recycle!! Yes, this is me too!! I have a collection of MAC Cosmetic lipsticks/lipglosses and I have a bag full of mascara wands that is ready to be shipped off. Let me share with you in honor of EARTH DAY some great organizations and options for beauty recycling!!

Terra Cycle if you haven’t heard is an organization that recycles everything!! In a partnership with Garnier…they have created a free recycling program for all brands of skin care, hair care, and cosmetic packaging. Amazing news, right?! It’s easy to do…just join their program and download a free shipping label or you can search the map on this website for recycling solutions near you. An important note, as of April 1, 2021…recycle shipments must be at least 15lbs in order to earn Terra Cycle points which is an added incentive for consumers. These points can be redeemed for charitable donations, non-profit organizations or schools. This is really an incredible resource for us BEAUTY enthusiasts! YAY Earth and giving back!

Nordstroms which is my personal ‘MotherShip’ of stores has a BeautyCycle program to help recycle a wide array of products for eventual reuse. There are collection bins in the beauty department. They also are committed to giving you sustainable options for beauty purchases. They want it to be easy to find elements that align with your values from sourced materials to the ingredients. Please go to link to view the list of acceptable products that they collect. Just another reason to be Nordies #1 fan!

Loop by Ulta is another great option for those that wish to purchase beauty with a zero waste component. “With Loop, temporarily place a 100% refundable deposit to borrow the packaging, and we'll professionally clean and reuse it once you're finished.” They even deliver your products in a reusable tote! When you’re done with the product, just schedule a pick up from your home or you can use UPS. Once items are returned, your refundable deposit gets placed back into your account ready for the next purchase. Easy peezy!!

Back to M-A-C program helps reduce the amount of plastic sent to landfills by asking consumers to bring back their MAC containers. 6 empty M-A-C containers returned to a participating store will in turn receive a FREE lipstick of their choosing. Smooch-tastic!

Wands for Wildlife will take washed and cleaned mascara wands to use to help remove fly eggs and larva from the fur and feathers of wild animals. There is no more noble of a cause for my used wands of which I have many. I love the fact that this organization went viral after posting a picture seen at this link and is now global. This program has been paused due to the pandemic but of course, a very worthy recycling program to note.

Here is another resource link of many other beauty brands that accept and embrace recycled packaging and that also may have rewards as well.

I hope I introduced you to some easy and fun ways to recycle your beauty packages in honor of Earth Day!

How My Virtual Makeup Classes Work!

Here I am with my iPhone in hand working the camera and taking shameless selfies at the same time…lol. I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you about how my Virtual Classes work. My last BLOG post was all about the best type of lighting options for an at home virtual makeup experience so I thought this would be a great follow up.

We start out with you BOOKING the class which will take place on Zoom on a specified date and time. As you fill out the information for your class, you will also be asked pertinent questions about your makeup routine, makeup products and makeup practices. Any and all concerns you may have or would like to tackle within our time together, we will accomplish. I will always customize each and every class around your needs, keeping in mind what the emphasis is.

I will send you an email confirming your class chosen and prep notes to keep in mind before your class.

I always suggest my pre-requisite class of Makeup Bag Makeover because this really gives me an idea of what you have at your disposal. If your products and/or tools are correct for you AND if your items are not expired. If you should have any gaps or holes that need to be filled or tools like brushes that you may need to get in order to perform the class, this will be our time to figure all of this out. If I then need to do some research and find you products or tools that you may need, then I do so. This class gives us a fantastic baseline that really connects to the rest of my class roster.

You will receive a friendly reminder or two that your class is coming up and to please make the final payment. You will be sent the Zoom link and all you have to do is click the link button, have your prepped station ready for makeup time and have good lighting which is extremely important. If you don’t have good lighting then a virtual makeup class will be challenging. After our time together, I send you a detailed face chart with details about where to place products and our actual recorded Zoom lesson so you can rewatch at your leisure if you so desire. From start to finish, I got your beauty back ;0 !

I hope this sheds some light on how my Virtual Makeup Classes work. It’s easy peasy!! Customized makeup classes at your fingertips! What could be better? BOOK NOW!!

How to choose your Wedding Makeup Look!

I have been a makeup artist doing weddings for over 20 years and choosing your makeup look for your wedding is a very personal experience. After all, all eyes will be on the bride, right?!! Some brides want to go all GLAM and some want a natural look. Both can be very beautiful. In this blog post, I will discuss which ‘Bridal Beauty’ look could be right for YOU!!

The Au Natural Bridal Makeup Look…this ‘bride to be’ doesn’t wear alot of makeup on a daily basis and wants to look like an enhanced version of themselves walking down the aisle. This is my most requested LOOK as a bridal makeup artist. This makeup application would always start out with a great skincare routine that is nourishing and hydrating. The makeup will enhance eye color and shape with the addition of lashes (most likely). Brows are subtle and not over done. Foundation is a tinted moisturizer or is lightweight to medium coverage. Cheeks are subtle and lip color is similar to the natural lip tint. Not alot of highlight and soft contour on the face. This overall take on a natural makeup application can be altered depending on the person and what they may want more or less of. Every look is customized for each BRIDE always. 

The all GLAM Bridal Makeup Look…this ‘bride to be’ wears makeup on a daily basis and isn’t shy about it. She most likely wears lashes especially if she is going out for a special occasion. This makeup application would always start out with a great skincare routine that is very hydrating. This makeup will have a medium to opaque base coverage on the face, highlight, liner, lashes, contour, bolder brows along with a bolder lip. She wants to be seen, if you will. Of course, this look is customizable to every Bride as well. Some may want the GLAMMED out eyes but would like everything else softer and more natural. Bold and beautiful!

The Bronzed Bridal Look…this ‘bride to be’ is on the more natural side I would say. Loves a bohemian vibe, the beach and being outdoors. This makeup look starts out with a serum enriched skincare routine. Then we add bronzed shadows to the eyes, bronzed warmth to the face with a beautiful dewy foundation, gilded or matte bronzer and either a bold lip or lipgloss that balances out the overall look. Brows are manicured but maybe not overdone and lashes are most likely added. Once again, this look can be customized to fit the beauty look that is desired. 

A Romantic Bridal Look…this is a classic ‘bride to be’. She likes makeup and wears it often but would like to feel and look her most beautiful as every bride does. This makeup application would start with a very good skincare routine as with every look. I would concentrate on using a softer eyeshadow palette that compliments the eye color and shape, a softer eyeliner look, the foundation would be a natural finish, a soft highlight and not alot of contour, a pink pout and wispy lashes with a soft filled in brow. Of course, this look can be customized too! 

Every BRIDE and every wedding is different. The wedding dress style may often dictate the BEAUTY vibe one would like to achieve. There is no right or wrong. There is only YOUR Beauty, YOUR Way, YOUR wedding day!!

Other makeup looks that may interest you are :

An overall DEWY Makeup Look

A Shimmery Bridal Makeup Look

A Bold Lip Makeup Look

An Earthy Toned Makeup Look

A Monochromatic Makeup Look

A Smokey Eye Makeup Look 

A Soft Glam Makeup Look -Similar to the ‘Au Natural’ Bride/also my most requested look.

A Vintage Makeup Look 

A Lashes and Lips Makeup Look 

If you are getting married or know someone that is, please forward this to them! Set up a Discovery Call with me to speak to your beauty wishes on your wedding day at my CALENDLY LINK here. Thank YOU!!

What's your Beauty Love Language?

What is your BEAUTY LOVE language during Covid ?

Love language and how we express love comes in 5 different categories according to therapist Gary Chapman, PhD. 

1. Words of Affirmation (To be verbally acknowledged) “ I love you but don’t touch me ”

2. Quality Time (To enjoy companionship) “Ty for giving me 5 minutes of alone time”

3. Receiving Gifts (To be given tokens of love) “Thank you for giving me 5 minutes of alone time”

4. Acts of Service (To have partners do tasks for them) ‘Thank you for doing that so I can get 5 minutes of alone time”

5. Physical Touch (To be in contact via the body) “ High fives in the hallway for another day of surviving this fucking Pandemic!”

Think we can all relate to these on some level! LOL, especially if you have kids, ya feel me!

Now, I believe we can hopefully all relate to these but how does this translate when we speak to BEAUTY in Covid Times?

1. Words of Affirmation - “You are truly be-YOU-tiful when you wear your Shape Tape Concealer”

2. Quality Time - “ I got a whole 6 minutes to put on my face today! “

3. Receiving Gifts - “ Oh how do I love you Sephora, let me count my Beauty Insider Points “

4. Acts of Service - “ Thanks hun for slathering on some Anti-bacterial gel before we

‘Do It’! 

1. Physical Touch- “Don’t even think about it unless you are giving me your full masked frontal!”

I hope you got a kick out of this post! Hope you enjoy your Valentine’s Day with loved ones! Comment and tell me if you have any fun Beauty Love Language nuggets to share!