Awesometastic Stuff: Yumé Blush

Apple raspberry, orange vanilla, lavender honey, coconut lime...sounds tasty right? Although you can actually eat this stuff (great for honeymoons) Yumé Blush body chiffon makes your skin silky soft too!

This would make for a cute bridesmaid gift or favor at a bridal shower, but best part is that all the Yumé Blush products are 100% botanical and vegan, can be used for your lips, face and body and can be found at your local Whole Foods. Or you can order it online at Yumé.

They sent us some samples to try, and honestly, I really love this stuff, it's soft, and succulent, smells amazing, you only need a tiny bit, and I can use it on my face, lips, elbows, well, all over.

We tried the Chocolate Coconut, Vanilla Orange, Apple Raspberry and Lavender Honey, all were so fantastic, that I had to share it with my friends.

I think this would make a great gift for your bridesmaids, or a fantastic thank you for someone hosting a shower for you.

Have you tried it?

Beauty Week: Loose Braided Bun

Loose Braided Bun

The messy bun is a great look, plus it's pretty difficult to mess up a messy bun. Or is it supposed to look messed up? Either way, you can't lose.

But some occasions call for a more polished look, that where this awesometastic style comes in. It looks a lot harder than it actually is but it gives the illusion of more time spent.

Prettified hair in minimal time?

We love it!

This style would be great for an outdoor wedding or for a bride during the rehearsal.

Beauty Week: Shellac Manicure

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Acrylic nails can do a world of damage to your digits. I had them in the 90s and I swear my nails are still recovering.

 Rather than ruin them for your wedding, make your nails healthy by using a strengthening polish a month or two before the wedding and when you book your nail appointment ask for a shellac manicure.

Shellac looks natural, doesn't chip for weeks and it isn't bad for your nails!

Plus you can get classic French manicure colors or go for a crazy color combo with an accent nail.

This bride got shellac done that coordinated with her wedding color scheme!

What do you think, Shellac?

Beauty Week: Facials

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Having glowing skin on your big day is one of the number one things a bride wants, including a million great pictures where you can look at your glowing skin for years to come!

Consider getting a facial more than a week before your wedding, because you don't want to be left with red and splotchy skin.  Some sources suggest you should leave two weeks between your facial and wedding, but if you're a regular spa-goer you'll have a better idea of how your skin reacts. (Oh, and we're jealous if you're a regular spa-goer, just sayin'.)

Another great thing about facials? You can alter the ingredients that work best for you whether you have dry skin or sensitive, and those cucumbers are great too!

Beauty Week: Waxing

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According to The Knot's Wedding Channel, reserve any kind of waxing to at least a week, preferably more before your wedding date. 

Never, and we mean never, wax anything, and we mean anything, the day of your wedding. You could get redness, bumps or irritations you don't want to see, or feel! 

Do a test run with an esthetician about three months before your wedding so you can see how long it takes for any redness to go any, then you can have an idea on when to book your appointment before the big day! 

Beauty Week: Tightlining

Sometimes we get so busy we don't take the time to make little touches that can make a world of difference, but we all need a touch of glamour even if it's not for a party or wedding.

This week I want to focus on things that can make a world of difference not only for your wedding day, or a special occasion, but for your everyday as well.
Check out this tightlining technique that makes your lashes looks mega-full and defined. It may take a little more time at first, but you'll be doing this everyday once you get the hang of it!

Makeup by Kara Winslow

It's hard to find a makeup artist you mesh well with when coordinating for the big day. You don't want to look like a clown, you still want to look like you, and you'd also like to see makeup still on your face in photos taken during the reception.

We love Kara Winslow she will make sure you 1) don't look like a circus freak and 2) give you a natural look that will last all day. Seriously, the girl's got talent.

Check out Kara's website to see all her amazing work, I mean she's good enough for Ryan Lochte and he jumps around in the water all day! (Ok, swims reallllly fast in the water all day.)

Go USA!

Get in Shape: Body

For today's get in shape post, we are talking about the body. Now I think brides can go a little overboard with this part for their wedding day.

Every girl wants to lose a few pounds here and a few pounds there, but let's not go crazy okay. We don't want you passing out on your wedding day from malnutrition!

Tips for getting your body in shape, you may have heard these before, but I would like to stress these key points.

1. Eat healthy. This sounds simple but everyone has a hard time with it. This does NOT mean stop eating good tasting foods. Eat less fast food and ready made dinners. Eat more fruits, veggies, and lower fat proteins such as fish and chicken. Try to roast and bake more than you fry foods.
2.  Drink lots of water and less soda.
3. Eat more whole grains and less processed foods. Just be more aware of what you are taking in. Also, treat yourself every once in a while!! Wedding planning can be stressful and dieting only adds to it, don't completely deny yourself. Reward yourself!
4. Exercise. Again, sounds simple but it's harder than it sounds. Make it a family affair, get your family fit for the wedding! Play sports together, go on bike rides, take classes at the gym. It's better when you have someone to do it with. Also, don't go overboard! Do what you can, 3-4 times a week for at least 30 minutes. Try to fit in some weights, muscle helps burn fat!
5. Remember that your fiance loves you how you are, they've been with you up until now, and they probably don't care if you lose those 5 or 10 or fill in the number pounds! You are beautiful to them now, and you are going to look beautiful on your wedding day, you just are, so don't go crazy stressing yourself out about losing weight! Just be healthy.

Caroline Johnson Photography

Get in Shape: Skin

For the second day of our get in shape week, we're gonna tackle skin. This is a very important part of your body that you need to prep for your wedding day so you can be glowing and smooth.

Photography by Pure by Lindsey; Make-up by Christy Connor

 Here are some tips:

1. For tanning, natural is best; if you want to do a tanning bed, that's your choice. But make sure to wear sunscreen, none of this 4 or 8 spf either. Let's go with 30 spf to be safe. You don't be want to be a lobster on your wedding day! I would try to stay out of the sun at least a day or two before the big day.
2. DO NOT GET A SPRAY TAN! Please, you just look orange and it's going to rub off on your dress. Just say no!
3. Make sure to moisturize daily at least a few weeks prior, so you have nice soft skin for the day and for your honeymoon!
4. Try not to stress as much as possible the week of your wedding. Stress can cause breakouts, and it doesn't do anything good for your skin! When it gets down to the week of your wedding, you've planned all you can plan so there is no use worrying about it! Just try to relax!!

Get in Shape: Nails

We are gonna start our get in shape week with something small, your nails.

Your nails are probably not too high on your priority list, but you still want them to look presentable on your wedding day, not like this..

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Ew right! You at the very least want them trim and polished! I have a couple tips for picture perfect nails on the big day.

1. If you are getting them done by a professional, no sooner than the day before your wedding, otherwise you run the risk of them getting chipped and ruined or growing out if you get acrylics.
1. Side Note: if you want to avoid a little bit of pain when getting your nails done, push your own cuticles back with your nails or a cuticle pusher, it's so much better, trust me.
2. If you're doing them yourself or having a friend do them, its best to go with the day of the wedding cause they probably won't last as long. And make sure they are COMPLETELY DRY before you put on your dress, please! Have them done a few hours before you put on your dress as precaution.
3. Toenails are important too ladies. Although they may not be showing all day, it is likely that the photographer will snag a couple photos of them in your shoes and you want to look polished.
4. Trim! You don't want them too long, medium length is probably best, then you won't need to worry about them breaking.
5. Neutral colors or a french manicure is best I think. You can try to match your colors if you want, but I think dark nails with the white dress is a little much. But if that's your personality, then go for it!

Here are a couple of images of pretty nails for the day.

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Feel free to bling them up a little with some small jewels or stick on flowers, but don't go overboard. You want the attention on your bridal beauty, not your nails, they are just an accessory.

Fall Faces

As the air turns slightly cooler, in our neck of the woods that means we are in the mid 80s. It's now time to put the white shoes away and time to transition to "Fall" make-up, and this got me thinking about bridal beauty for the season. 

I'm loving plum and deep fuschia lips, which pop against a neutral dress.

Via Brides.com

Via MAC

All-in-one kits in taupe palettes are great for easy touchups during the big day.

Via Bobbi Brown

Absolutely precious :)

Via Style Me Pretty

What would you wear to a Fall wedding?

(MasterPiece Weddings and its affiliates have not been paid for, for this post.)

The Moist Stuff

After you've got your head ready to accept the moisturizer - cleanse twice a day. And moisturize once a day. Usually before put your make up on. Always use a moisturizer with SPF, you've gotta protect your skin from the sun's harmful rays!

I recommend using a Sensitive Skin cleanser and moisturizer regardless of your skin type, at least at first. If you're new to cleansing and using moisturizer, try using Cetaphil, it's on the affordable side, and it's really good stuff!

(MasterPiece Weddings and it's affiliated have not been paid for, for this post)