Bridal Makeup Tips for your Wedding Day!!!

The 2014 wedding season is in full swing and I would love to revisit some of the wedding beauty tips I shared a few years ago, as I believe bridal makeup should be timeless.

A million things have been said and written about looking great on your wedding day, but I guess it wouldn’t hurt to add my two cents 🙂 Getting married is one of the most memorable events in any woman’s life. Therefore, this is one day you want to look your very best. The idea is not to look like a different person… you want to look like a more glamorous and elegant “you”. The key is to enhance your best features without going overboard.

Enter your Makeup Artist!!! Hiring a makeup artist on your wedding day is not a must…it’s an option…a great option (in my opinion). Makeup Artists are professionals who assist in achieving your desired look on your wedding day and take the trial and error out of the equation on such an important day. Your final look adds the finishing touch to a perfect day. Most brides spend a lot of time and money on their special day, therefore making sure their physical appearance is planned out and also matches the events of the day is imperative. Once you have decided on the Makeup Artist of your choice, trust your instincts and:

Trust your Makeup Artist

During the trial session with your Makeup Artist, you will go over the perfect look for your wedding day. But for the Savvy Bride who wants to know more about the bridal makeup process, here are some tips to make sure your bridal makeup look is just as fabulous as your wedding. These tips will reinforce what your Makeup Artist will share with you on your special day:

1) Make it last! You want your makeup to last all day. Primers = Long Lasting Makeup. Begin by applying a face primer before your foundation and eye primer before your eye shadow. Once all your makeup has been applied, use a setting powder to set your makeup. Remember, you will be in the midst of an all day “photo shoot”, therefore touchups are recommended to keep you looking fresh all day. Make sure you have lipstick or lip gloss and blotting powder handy for touch ups. Try to duplicate the Makeup Artist’s kit, if you can. If you can afford it, purchase the foundation, lipstick, blot powder and the blush your makeup artist uses so you can touch up (if they are unable to stay all day). It’s a great investment in the long run, because you can use the items long after your wedding and honeymoon. If you are on a budget, lipstick and blotting powder are the most important for your “Day-of-Arsenal”. The rest of your makeup should stay intact, depending on the products you or your Makeup Artist used. M.A.C has a great blotting powder with a mirror for quick check ups.
2) Avoid like the Plague! Avoid overly shimmery products i.e. eye shadows (in the crease or browbone area. Shim, blush and bronzers. Products for added glow are ok, but shimmery products can make the skin picture oily, so avoid if you have oily skin. Also, stay away from products with SPF 16 or greater because your face could look white or have a blue-ish under cast in flash photography. Last but not least, eyebrows are important for framing the face, so plan ahead and have your eyebrows groomed a few days before the wedding. Messy brows are a big NO-NO!

3) Know your wedding! Think of the type of wedding you are having. Are you having a beach wedding with a flowy chiffon dress, vs. a huge cathedral wedding with a heavily beaded dress? You makeup style should reflect the occasion. You shouldn’t have a heavy, overly done makeup look for a beach wedding.
4) Forget Trends but follow your own rules! Don’t be too trendy with your makeup style. Make sure years from now you will like your wedding look. For instance, will you really love rhinestones on your eyelashes 20 years from now? But at the same time, don’t be afraid of a little bit of color on your wedding day. You don’t have to stick to a neutral palette…venture out. Try playing up one feature. Go “bold” with a deep pink, magenta or coral lipstick, but make the look modern by keeping the rest of your makeup minimal. For example, if you go with bold eyes, choose a nude lip. If you go with bold lips, then tone down the eyes.

5) Lash-it up! Talking about eyelashes…I think false lashes finishes all bridal looks. It opens up the eyes and gives a more intense look to the eye. I especially love the Demi Wispies by Ardell. I also love M.A.C #7 and #33 lashes for a natural romantic look.

6) Give it a Run! A test run that is…by setting up a trial with your Makeup artist. Test runs are the best time to figure out what you like and don’t like. Trying out your makeup look for the first time on your wedding day is a big no-no. Try to avoid stressful situations like this on your big day.
7) Have fun! Take in the moment and focus on the positive. It is important to remember…Makeup can be washed off, so don’t worry if you make a mistake, just start afresh. Give yourself and the Makeup Artist enough time to complete the perfect look with time to spare. Stay true to your personal style and “Tap into the fabulous You” on your special day!

And since a wedding blog post is nothing without pictures 🙂 …below are a few lovely brides and bridesmaids I have had the pleasure of working with since I was last here. I say this as I cover my eyes and proceed to run away.

 

Makeup by Tiwa Lawrence

Makeup by Tiwa Lawrence

Makeup by Tiwa Lawrence

 

Makeup by Tiwa Lawrence

 

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Red on my mind…

Red lips might seem risky to some,  but as a Makeup Artist, I tell you, anyone can wear red lips. Time and time again, I hear people saying, “my lips are too big for red lips” or “my lips are too small for red lips” or “I look like a night walker with red lips” or “Wow, I can’t believe you are wearing that color, it would never look right on me”… really???

  

Red Lips Rock! You just have to find the right one for you. Don’t be shy, don’t be afraid to try before you buy.

Tip of the Week: Head over to your closest makeup counter. Bobbi Brown, MAC, Sephora, Ulta are great places to start. Go on a weekday, when the artists are less busy so you can ask as many questions has your heart content. Try out as many lip colors as you can and walk outdoors (please make sure you sanitize the products before you try them on). Take a mirror with you outside and see how the color complements your skin in natural light. Armed with patience and time, you should be able to find that perfect shade for you.

Depending on your skin-tone, some colors might look better than others. Using the color wheel as a guide; one could say, if you have more yellow or olive undertones in your skin, then a lip color with more orange undertones would probably look better on you. If you have red or pink undertones in your skin, then a lip color with more blue would probably look better on you. But again, trying a color on against your skin is the best way to see what looks best on you. Remember, there are no rules when it comes to makeup, so don’t eliminate any colors before you try it out for yourself.

Below are some red lip colors I tried on for you guys.  To be honest, I really don’t pay attention to my skin’s undertone, when it comes to lip colors. If I like it, I wear it.  

 

 

 

 

Strut Your Stuff Kissable Lipcolour

 

COVERGIRL Lip Perfection in Burn

 

 

 

 

 

MAC Red Lipstick

 

 

 

 

 

Viva Glam I Lipstick by MAC...This has got to be my favorite red lipstick of all time

 

Chili Lipstick by MAC...This lipstick is matte, but there is a shine due to the camera's flash

 

Check out these beautiful ladies showing off their red lips:

 

 

 

 

 

Aishwarya Rai

 

 

 

Kim Kardashian

 

 

 

Dita Von Teese

 

 

 

 

Rihanna

 

Images from here, here and here

What are your favorite reddish lip colors?

Thots,

Tiwa

  

Thinking of Spring???

I have a love-hate relationship with Spring. I love the weather, but I hate my allergies. I love experimenting with makeup, but I hate when I feel the need to rub my eyes and almost ruin my eye makeup (I usually catch myself before I do serious damage. Luckily, over the years I have developed some serious “eye-rubbing” self-control, lol).

  

But since spring is pretty much upon us, I guess I need to start getting mentally prepared and embrace it once again.

  

TIP of the Week:  For allergy sufferers; experimenting with fun lips colors is a great way to add color to your look without focusing on your eyes. Corals, peachy and orange lips colors are on trend this spring. Below are some of my favorite coral, peachy, orange tone lipsticks and lipglosses.   

MAC Hi-Falutin' Dazzelglass

 

MAC Mahogany Lip Pencil and So Vain Kissable Lip Colour

 

MAC Vegas Volt Lipstick (No lip pencil)

OCC Lip Tar in Grandma with MAC Mahogany Lip Pencil

NYX Orange Lip liner and MAC Morange Lipstick

Please feel free to add your favorite spring lip colors in the comment section.

 

Thanks,

Tiwa

 

My Hair… What a Story!!!

I have been meaning to blog about this for a while. It isn’t exactly about makeup, but it falls into the beauty category: My hair!!! Over the years quite a few people have asked me how I maintain my natural hair. It is ironic, because I am definitely not an expert on natural hair care and I have made quite a few mistakes along the way (as we all do). My “hair truth” started when I had a hair crisis back in September 2009.  I thought I should share my story. Maybe someone out there will find it useful.  

I started going natural in 2002. I can’t remember the exact date I cut off the last piece of relaxed hair during my transition period (but it was sometime in 2003)…what I do remember was I didn’t really have a plan. There wasn’t as much information back then as there is now, but all I knew was that I wasn’t getting any more relaxers and I was going to start wearing my hair in its natural state. So, as the months went by, I just made up my own rules. The only things that were constant, was that I would get a deep conditioning treatment a few times a year and I would get my hair professional trimmed a couple of times a year as the years rolled on. I tried many products…trendy ones, like the Miss Jessie’s Line and whatever new product I read about. That brought me to September 2009 when I had my “HAIR BREAKDOWN”. I was in front of the mirror about to cut of all my hair. It took a moment of clarity for me to realize, all I needed was a trip to my hair stylist to get my “hair life” together. As I sat in her chair, I told her all my concerns and she put me at ease right away. I just needed a good hair cut. She cut off about 3 inches or more from my hair…and after that visit, I promised to take better care of my hair (to the best of my ability).

These are some of the things I was doing wrong with my hair:  

*Not making time to style my hair in protective styles. I would wear my  Afro out for prolonged periods of time.

*Washing my hair too often. Everyday or every other day.

*Not paying attention to the ingredients in the products I was using on my hair

*Not taking care of the ends of my hair like I should have.

*Not being patient with my hair and combing through the shaft of my hair without recourse.

 Below are images of my hair over the years:  

 

 

My hair in two-strand twists in 2005

With an Afro in 2007

 

Where I am today: I have now made changes to counteract the mistakes I made with my hair and I have seen a big difference in the health of my hair from where it was and where it is now. I have to say I am currently in LOVE… with my hair that is. I am still on the journey to improve the way I take care of my hair, but I think I have a good regime that is helping to maintain healthy hair. I still need to make more time for styling my hair, but I am working on that. My goal for the next year is to work on maintaining length, so I really have to be careful with the way I treat the ends of my hair. Shea butter and protective styles are my best friends and will help me get to my desired hair length.

 This is my hair now:   

 

 

My hair in a Twist out in October 2010

My Current Hair Regime:

1)      I wash my hair once a week. I shampoo my hair with Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo

2)      I condition my hair with The Honey Hair Mask. I have been using this intensive treatment for many years now and I can’t be happier with the results each time I use it. This product is just one of the many items in the natural product line called My Honey Child (Made by the amazing hair stylist, Krika, who is the owner of Sophia Sunflower Salon). What I love about her products is that they are all natural, they smell ohhh sooo good and they work really well. The Honey Hair Mask makes my hair manageable and leaves it shiny and healthy. Her products can be ordered online or you can pick them up directly from her when you come in for your hair appointment.

3)      After my hair is completely detangled, I pat my hair with a towel and then depending on how I plan on wearing my hair I do the following two things:

1.  If I plan on wearing it in a protective style (a hair style with all my ends covered/ hidden), I moisturize my hair with raw shea butter mixed with a very small amount of coconut oil. I also use this shea butter for my braid outs, twist outs and Bantu knots.
2.  If I plan on bringing out the curl definition in my hair, I do the above, but to damp hair, then I take a tea-spoon amount of Shea Moisture Organic Curl Enhancing Smoothie and run it through my hair to maintain my curl pattern.**Update: I rarely do this anymore.**
   

4)      For intensive moisture, once a month I leave The Honey Hair Mask on my hair for about 20 minutes and wear a shower cap on top on my hair the whole time. I use oil treatments as well. I will do a review on the oil I use in an upcoming post.

5)      Last but not least, when I feel my scalp is craving for moisture (which isn’t often), I “grease” my scalp with Sophia’s Old Fashioned Hair Grease. This is great, because it doesn’t have  the petroleum which some hair grease do… just a whole bunch of natural ingredients.

 

From L to R: Shea Moisture Raw Shea Butter Moisture Retention Shampoo; The Honey Hair Mask; Ouidad Double Detangler Comb; Sophia’s Old Fashioned Hair Grease; Raw Shea Butter mix and Shea Moisture Organic Curl Enhancing Smoothie

My Main Hair Tip: Everyone’s hair is different. Do what you think is best of your hair, just like you would with your style of applying makeup or how you dress. Just because someone is using a certain product doesn’t mean it will work for you. Trial and error is the best way to find out which products work best on your hair type. You can take leads from friends, bloggers, etc to see what products they use, but use them only as suggestions and make sure you keep trying until you get the right combination of products that work for you. I believe the less products you use, the less stress.

 Thots,

Tiwa

*****Update*****: I mentioned that I moisturize my hair with a raw shea butter mixture that I used to make but I just don’t have the time anymore. I found a place that makes a great conditioning butter, so to save time and energy, I use the Extra Conditioning Butter from here. I love it! As for my favorite hair oil… I use Jamaica black castor oil to massage my edges (close to my temples) and scalp to help promote hair growth.

Beauty Tips for Your Wedding Day

We are right in the middle of wedding season, and I can’t believe I haven’t mentioned bridal makeup yet. I am going to start a short bridal series, in which I will share some makeup tips and also showcase some of the amazing brides I worked with this bridal season. A million things have been said and written about looking great on your wedding day, but I guess it wouldn’t hurt to add my two cents 🙂 

Getting married is one of the most memorable events in any women’s life. Therefore, this is one day you want to look your very best. The idea is not to look like a different person… you want to look like a more glamorous “you”. The key is to enhance your best features without going overboard. Enter your Makeup Artist. Hiring a makeup artist on your wedding day is not a must…it’s an option. Makeup Artists are professionals who assist in achieving your desired look on your wedding day. This adds the finishing touch to a perfect day. 

One of my fabulous brides, Pamela in June 2010. She and her Bridal party were such a joy to work with and I feel privileged that she chose me as her Makeup Artist. Photography by Ivan Watkins

 

These are some tips to make your bridal makeup turn out just as you planned:  

 
1) Make it last! You want your makeup to last all day. Primers = Long Lasting Makeup. Begin by applying a face primer before your foundation and eye primer before your eyeshadow. Once all your makeup has been applied, use a setting powder to set your makeup. Remember, you will be in the midst of an all day “photoshoot”, therefore touchups are recommended to keep you looking fresh all day. Make sure you have lipstick or lipgloss and blotting powder handy for touch ups. Try to duplicate the Makeup Artist’s kit, if you can. If you can afford it, purchase the foundation, lipstick, blot powder and the blush your makeup artist uses so you can touch up (if they are unable to stay all day). It’s a great investment in the long run, because you can use the items long after your wedding and honeymoon. If you are on a budget, lipstick and blotting powder are the most important for your “Day-of-Arsenal”. The rest of your makeup should stay intact, depending on the products you or your Makeup Artist used. M.A.C has a great blotting powder with a mirror for quick check ups. 

2) Avoid like the Plague! Avoid overly shimmery products i.e. eyeshadows, blush and bronzers. Products for added glow are ok, but shimmery products can make the skin picture oily, so avoid if you have oily skin. Also, stay way from products with SPF 16 or greater because your face could look white or have a blue-ish under cast in flash photography. Last but not least, eyebrows are important for framing the face, so plan ahead and have your eyebrows groomed a few days before the wedding. Messy brows are a big NO-NO! 

3) Know your wedding! Think of the type of wedding you are having. Are you having a beach wedding with a flowy chiffon dress, vs. a huge cathedral wedding with a heavily beaded dress? You makeup style should reflect the occasion. You shouldn’t have a heavy, overly done makeup look for a beach wedding. 

4) Forget Trends! Don’t be too trendy with your makeup style. Make sure years from now you will like your wedding look. For instance, will you really love rhinestones on your eyelashes 20 years from now?  

5) Lash-it up! Talking about eyelashes…I think false lashes finishes all bridal looks. I especially love the center-only lashes by urban decay. I also love M.A.C #7 and #33 lashes for a natural romantic look.  

6) Give it a Run! A test run that is…by setting up a trial with your Makeup artist. Test runs are the best time to figure out what you like and don’t like. Trying out your makeup look for the first time on your wedding day is a big no-no. Try to avoid stressful situations like this on your big day.  

7) Have fun! Take in the moment and focus on the positive. The most important things to remember…Makeup can be washed off, so don’t worry if you make a mistake, just start afresh. Stay true to your personal style and “Tap into the fabulous You” on your special day!  

Below are some more images from Pamela’s wedding. Photography is by the talented photographer, Ivan Watkins, who was soo kind to share the images with me.  

Bridal Shoot a few weeks earlier. Makeup by Tiwa Lawrence; Photography by Ivan Watkins

The Bride with part of her bridal party. The Makeup on Bride, Pamela, and the two beautiful ladies (Kiesha and Vina) who are directly on her left and right was done by Tiwa Lawrence. Photography by Ivan Watkins.

Thots, 

Tiwa

What do you LOVE???

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner I thought it would be nice to talk about what we love about our faces and bodies.  

Each individual woman’s body demands to be accepted on its own terms. 

-Gloria Steinem    

Many times as women we tend to focus on what we don’t like about our bodies or facial features…but today I wanted us to embrace what we do love. Expressing our feelings about the things we love about ourselves is not vain. It’s a way of empowering ourselves and embracing the positive things about us.  

Ok… so let me start, lol. The things I love about my face are: My lips, skin and some days, I really like my eyes.   

What are the features you love about your face or your body? What do you like to play up with makeup or clothes?   

TIP of the Week: Why not try really hot RED lips on Valentine’s day, like this beautiful model below.  I used MAC lipstick in MAC Red and clear lipgloss to achieve this look. You can tone down red lips with a neutral lipliner.   

Michelle looking "Hot in Red"!!!

 Happy Valentine’s Day!!  

Thots,   

Tiwa

Tip of the Week: Using eyeshadow pigments as lip color

 

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving holiday. I spent time with my family and friends and had a blast.  I am looking forward to Christmas…I have 2 weeks off at work. I will use the time to catch up with LIFE, lol.  But really this year has been amazing and I can’t wait to see what 2010 has in store. But let’s get back to the topic at hand…I would like to share a tip with you guys, so here goes….

 

There are no rules when it comes to applying makeup. Improvisation is something we should all do to make our makeup collection go a long way. Using eyeshadow pigments as a lip color is one way to do this.  Some people use pressed eyeshadows, but personally I find it easier to work with pigments. I am able to pack on color with ease.

 

You will need:

• Lip exfoliator
• Small eyeshadow brush- You can try Sonia Kashuk’s Small Eyeshadow Brush
• Lip brush
• Your favorite lip liner
• Your favorite eyeshadow or pigment
• Optional: Clear Lip gloss

Make sure to exfoliate your lips. Satin Lips, Lip Mask is a great product.     

First, line your lips with the lip liner of your choice. Using your small brush, pick up some pigment from the lid of your container. Press it to the middle of your lips, then continue to add more color to the rest of your lips. You can complete the look by applying some clear lip gloss with a  lip brush, or you can leave the lips as-is for a matte look.     

Here are my lips using 3 different pigments:     

Bronzy Gold: I used Rimmel Lip Pencil in Coffee Bean and BM Pro Eye Lights in Burnt Sienna

HD Pink: I used MAC Lip Pencil in Nightmoth and BM Pro High Definition Loose Paint in HD Pink

Fuchsia Dreams: I used NYX Lipliner Pencil in Purple Rain and MAC Pigment in Jardin Aires

Fuchsia Dreams Reloaded: This is the same look as the picture above, I just added some BM Pro in HD Pink and clear lip gloss

 

I am still looking for my dream camera, so please bear with me… the photo quality isn’t great, but I hope you get the idea  🙂

Thots,

Tiwa