Happy Anniversary Karlie and Dane!

Last year I did a wedding that was very memorable. Everything about this wedding was so unique and had so much style! The dress, the accessories and the overall style was fun and playful. Karlie moved to Los Angeles from Canada with her fiance to start a new life and a wedding to plan. I was so blown away that at the age 20, she was so courageous to move to a new country and to get married. However, when you meet Karlie her faith in God and her love for her husband Dane is really inspiring and gives assurance that she knows what's right for her. 

The wedding took place at one of my favorite venues in Los Angeles, Shutters on the Beach in Santa Monica. Karlie and Dane got married on a Monday morning and the day could not have been more perfect. For Karlie's eyes, I chose to do some plums and golds to make her striking blue eyes pop. I used airbrush makeup over a cream pink blush still allowing for her cute freckles to show through. I just love the combination of Karlie's bright blue eyes with her red hair!  

I cannot believe it has already been a year! Congratulations and wishing you many more years together! 

xoxo,

Yana

Shayla Wedding

Shayla got married last summer at the beautiful Shutters on the Beach hotel in Santa Monica. She had wedding brunch BBQ, which I thought was so different and fun. Also, what a great way to save some $$ and still have a beach wedding at one of the top venues.
Her photographers, Marlin and Marlene Munoz were fabulous and I just love working with them. Here are some photos of Shayla on her wedding day:

Davee with Shayla's sister

Having a laugh while doing Shayla's makeup

She is ready to walk down the isle

Getting in the car to go to the ceremony site

A candid shot

Shimmer and Glow

Maybe you're not a shiny, sparkly person by nature. That's fine. But this is your wedding we're talking about! The one day of your life when you can, and should, use every trick in the book to look like the pretty princess you get to be for your nuptials. So why not treat your skin to a little shimmer and glow? We're not talking about encrusting yourself with glitter, but a little incandescence never hurt anyone. Not only that, you'll look radiant in the hundreds of photographs that will be taken of you as a bride.

What's the best way to achieve the look of luminosity? First, you need to make sure to keep your skin exfoliated and moisturized. This alone can make it appear more radiant. Next, you need to decide whether you want to have a fake tan or not. Not the kind that makes you look like you should be dangling from a citrus tree, but rather one that gives you that sun-kissed appearance. You can have this sprayed on at a salon or use a tanner purchased from the store. The most natural look can be achieved by using a product that builds color gradually over time. Also, bronzing powder can be lightly and strategically swept over your skin. Consult your make-up artist for his or her expertise on how and what to use to get your glow.

Now that your glow has been established, it's time for the shimmer! You can purchase luminescent lotions or powders to give you a subtle sheen. These come in a variety of colors, but it's best to choose one that closely matches your skin tone. Some are even scented for extra appeal. Apply this to any skin your wedding dress doesn't obscure, but don't overdo it! You don't want to end up transferring your shimmer to everyone and everything around you.

A little extra effort and you can be radiant on this most special occasion!

Schedule Your Pre-Wedding Facial Wisely

Everyone loves and deserves some pampering, especially brides-to-be! Whether you treat yourself to a new haircut, a massage, or a mani/pedi, you'll (hopefully) leave your appointment looking and feeling like a million bucks. One service you might consider bypassing prior to tying the knot is a facial. Yes, a facial may feel wonderful while you're having it done, and yes, they're great for your skin in the long run, but they can also result in some unwanted side effects that can prove disastrous for a bride. So, what are these side effects and how can you avoid them if you really want to have a pre-wedding facial?

If your skin's not accustomed to the stimulation and deep-pore cleansing of a facial, your face can break out. Badly. This happens because during a facial, toxins and impurities are released and oil production in your skin is stimulated. The result can be a face full of unsightly blemishes. Not ideal for wedding photos! Another unpleasant outcome that can result is an allergic reaction to one or more of the products used during the facial. This is especially common for those with sensitive skin. A good esthetician will take every possible precaution to prevent either of these results from occurring. If you absolutely long to have a pre-wedding facial, do so at least two weeks prior to the big day.

Mia

I have been meaning to post these photos for while now..but only got to it now when the wedding craziness has slowed down.
Meet Mia. She got married on August 1st, 2009. She came to meet with me in March and we instantly connected.
On the wedding day, I did Mia's hair and makeup and had a few assistants help me with the rest of the bridal party. Everyone looked stunning! Mia's hairstyle was very modern, yet classy. It was great for dancing and the heat. We decorated with fresh orchids to make it look feminine.
For Mia's makeup, she wanted a natural look. Since she doesn't wear makeup on a regular basis, I wanted to make sure she felt comfortable and like herself...just prettier! So, I used light and medium brown tones on her eyes with a winged eyeliner. Then I used individual lashes to open up the eyes and give a more dramatic effect. Of course, I airbrushed the foundation and blush. For the lips, I went with a soft peachy-pink tone that really complimented her beautiful complexion.
Mia was so easy to work with and was so great that I felt re-energized for the whole day (even after working for since 5 am until 3pm without a break!)
Thank you for that, Mia :)

Friends Wedding

This weekend was the wedding of one of my dear friends, Tanya. Tanya and I go way back...17 years to be exact! And this Sunday, I saw her get married to the love of her life, Ben.
It's so special for me to make my friends feel and look beautiful. I get the privilege of not only making up all of the girls, but to laugh and cry with everyone and be a part of the day. And since I went to their beautiful wedding, I got to see the end result and how beautiful and happy she was throughout the night.
Tanya has the most beautiful green eyes...like a cat! I wanted to make her eyes stand out from mile away without making them too dark. So, I used one of my favorite pigments from MAC called 'Tan". I also accentuated her crease with 'swiss chocolate' from MAC. I put a lot of individual eyelashes on her and finished it off with lots of black mascara from YSL.
Tanya has a really beautiful skintone that I also wanted to accentuate. I used a smashbox dual luminizing primer on her cheeks to give her a nice glow in the light. It really makes a difference on pictures. And of course, I airbrushed her with the Dinair foundation. Her skin looked absolutely flawless and even when I wanted to touch her up at the party...she was still looking as fresh as she did when I did her makeup!
I hope to be a part of many more of my friends weddings!!!