Archives for April 2011

New Product: Fusion Beauty IllumiCover Line Smoothing Luminous Concealer

April 11, 2011 · Leave a Comment

I’m a huge fan of all things Fusion Beauty. I’m a huge fan of all things luminizing concealer. And now, Fusion Beauty has released a luminizing concealer!

Fusion Beauty IllumiCover Line Smoothing Luminous Concealer

Apart from being the latest product in a great line, I can’t wait to try this concealer – not only is it luminizing, it is also a buildable formula. I’ve really come to like the look of airbrush concealer, but airbrush makeup does need a layer of good coverage underneath it, and a brightening concealer is the way to go when it comes to the orbital area. So if you are an airbrush fan, try a layer of Fusion Beauty Concealer and then your airbrush makeup over it for a super bright look.

As with all Fusion Products, there is great ingredients in Line Smoothing Luminous Concealer – HydroGel hydrates andÂ plumps up your skin immediately to give you an even more wide awake look, and MatrixylÂ® 3000 works on wrinkles over time. So you aren’t just concealing – you are treating your skin!

And my favorite part – it doesn’t just come in the standard Light-Medium-Dark options, there is also a “Pale” shade, which seems like it would be the shade for us gals who are a little more on the far end of Light.

Find Fusion Beauty IllumiCover Line Smoothing Luminous Concealer at Sephora.com.

Bridal Hair Accessories: Show off your Bridal Glow with a Pretty Hair Clip

April 7, 2011 · Leave a Comment

Remember a few years ago when it was all the rage to use a gorgeous brooch as a hair clip? I loved it, but there was a few problems – first, it was hard to grab enough hair in a standard pin clasp to really hold it in place – the brooches kept flopping all over the place. Second, if my hair was conditioned as much as it should be, the pin tended to slip down on the silky strands. Third, using a pointy pin next to my head seemed rather dangerous (I ended up pricking my head with a pin more than once….ouch!).

Ban.do 100 Vintage Brooch Bobby Pin

I’m guessing the good folks at Ban.do had these concerns in mind when they designed the fabulous Ban.do 100 Vintage Brooch Bobby Pin. They copied it from a stunning brooch they found at an estate sale and instead of a pin, they attached it to a bobby pin. So it will stay in place, hold enough hair to create a style, not poke you in the head with a pin, and add a chic sparkle to your bridal look.

If you are a bride who is considering a Veronica Lake style for your big day (and if you need ideas, check out January Jones in Marie Claire UK), you may want to give some thought to the 100 Vintage Brooch Bobby Pin.Â It’s perfect for holding hair back on one side so everyone can see your prettyÂ face as you say I Do!

Find the Ban.do 100 Vintage Brooch Bobby Pin at Lock & Mane for $130.

Bridal Hair: Hairspray

April 6, 2011 · Leave a Comment

When my cousin got married, she decided she wanted to try curls instead of her naturally pin-straight, thick, mirror-shiny hair. When her stylist was done (with 15 minutes to the ceremony), my cousin took one look in the mirror and decided that she hated how she looked with curls. So she started frantically brushing her hair out to get it back to her standard style, but after the curls had been sprayed and sprayed in place, her signature raven, thick, glossy locks were now limp, flat, dull, and so lacking in shine that her hair took on a greyish tint.

Lessons to be learned:

1) Always try a hairstyle out before your big day
2) Use a non-stick hairspray that imparts gloss
3) Genetics are aÂ wacky thing – she is the first and only one in her family (on either parent’s side) to have straight hair. The rest of us have big mops of curls…

We’ll be talking about #2 today – how to get glossy hold from a hairspray. You may want to change hairstyles between ceremony and reception, and every bride wants soft, touchable hair, not crunchy, sticky, shellacked on hair.

Two bridal hairsprays to consider:

Blow Blow Out Serious Non-Stick Hairspray

Blow Blow Out Serious Non-Stick Hair Spray: Last year Lyn gave this hairspray a thumbs-up in her review that you can read here. It’s also my go-to hairspray – I love how it doesn’t feel like I’m wearing hairspray, but it holds volume from the roots and lasts all day. I hate that “stiff root” feel, but Blow Out is utterly weightless and lets hair moves beautifully. And if I want to restyle, just brush it out (even finger raking works), and it’s like you are starting with fresh, clean hair. And true to it’s name, hair never gets sticky and hair stays shiny. Plus, the pretty pink can looks great on a vanity table! Find it at Lock & Mane for $19.75 (it’s a huge bottle!)

Jonathan Product’sÂ Finish Control High Shine Flexible Hairspray:Â I haven’t tried this one but have heard amazing things about it. If you are a fan of Pantene Ice Hairspray but would like something with more movement and less stiffness, High Shine Flexible Hairspray is a good choice. In before and afters I’ve seen, it adds great shine and has amazing ingredients: Sweet Almond protein, Cucumber, Rose infused water, and a Panthenol vitamin complex to name a few. Find it at Lock & Mane for $30.

Bridal Hair Accessories: The Modern Tiara

April 5, 2011 · Leave a Comment

Personally, I think tiaras should be part of everyday dress. Wouldn’t making a sandwich just be all the more special if you were wearing a jeweled tiara?

Carolina Rodriguez Reina Jeweled Headband

But if you are insistent that tiaras should be reserved for royalty and brides, then this Carolina Rodriguez Reina Jeweled Headband is a fresh take on the bridal tiara. The headband will hold your hair in place and pull light towards your face. Try it with an updo for an extra wow factor.

FindÂ this great pieceÂ at Lock & Mane (where I know they have “Champagne Thursdays”, so can “Tiara Tuesdays” be far behind????)