ASK THE EXPERT: For Skin That Glows all Day …without the greasy look

As promised, our resident NYC Makeup Artist – Laura Pugliese (that's her photo on the left) – has provided us with the secrets to glowing skin that won’t look greasy on your wedding day. Check out her recommendations below.

Hey Ladies-

Looking for that healthy movie star glow on your big day? Here are my current favorites to ensure flawless radiance all day. With just a few simple steps, your skin will steer clear of unwanted shine and the dreaded greasy look for your wedding pictures! Plus, they have the added benefit of working well with all skin types.

Products:
MAC Prep and Prime Skin SPF 50
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Powder (pressed)
Armani Silk Foundation
Makeup Forever high-definition Loose Powder

How to get the look:
-First, apply a thin layer of MAC Prep and Prime SPF 30 using a foundation brush
-Use Armani Silk Foundation all over the face and neck
-Finish with High Definition Loose Powder from Makeup Forever

For more coverage add:
-MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Powder (pressed)

Beautiful glowing skin that will be picture perfect from “I Do” til after you cut the cake!

If you have any makeup questions that you want answered, go ahead and post them on the Stellina Events Facebook page and I will answer them in an upcoming blog post.

Cheers,
LP

To find Stellina Events on Facebook go to:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/London-United-Kingdom/Stellina-Events/76001007135

Stellina Events is on Facebook!

I am happy to say that Stellina Events now has a Facebook page so stay tuned for the latest wedding trends, fashion updates, and chats about all things wedding on our page!

You can find the Stellina Events page on Facebook by clicking the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/pages/London-United-Kingdom/Stellina-Events/76001007135

Smart gown shopping

While you are attending appointment after appointment at department stores and bridal shops looking for the perfect wedding gown, don’t forget to take note of the prices of your favorite gowns. When you find one you like, make sure to price it out at all of the stores in your area since department stores many times will have different prices. Saks Fifth Avenue in the US, for instance, is a good store – they tend to price the same gown or tuxedo lower than other high end department stores.

If you find a gown you like, definitely do your research to find out where the designer is holding upcoming trunk shows in your area since you may have the opportunity to meet the designer at the show as well as get a discount on the gowns.

If you have found a few gowns you love but you aren’t getting married until the following year, why not wait until the big sales? Bridal designers come out with new designs twice a year so all of the gowns left over from previous collections are usually reduced in price if you attend specific sale events.

For example, if you live anywhere near New York City you will definitely want to head to Kleinfeld’s biannual sales event.
Go to http://kleinfeldbridal.com/index.cfm for more details.

For a list of Kleinfeld’s upcoming trunk shows go to:
http://kleinfeldbridal.com/index.cfm?pid=6

Introducing Daily Candy Weddings!

For those of you who live for Daily Candy (or those who don’t yet but will following this blog), I am thrilled to say that Daily Candy now has a weddings website! On the site you will find ideas on wedding design as well as local vendors within the cities that the column focuses on, which include: London, Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, DC. So go sign up for Daily Candy and start getting the info delivered straight to your inbox!

To sign up, just go to:
http://www.dailycandy.com/weddings/

NYC Makeup Artist Laura Pugliese joins the Stellina Events blog team of experts!

I am thrilled to announce that Laura Pugliese, an amazingly talented makeup artist has just signed on to be a Stellina Events blog contributor. Now all brides, no matter where you are located, can receive advice from Laura straight from New York City. Laura has worked on countless advertising campaigns online, in print and for commercials for brands such as Nike and Olay, at Fashion Shows for Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, for TV shows such as Saturday Night Live, on music videos, on theatre productions like Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids and for magazines like GQ. She is really fantastic and we are happy to have her as part of the Stellina Events blogging team.

For more information on Laura, please go to:
http://lauraelizabeth.carbonmade.com/

Stay tuned to the coming blogs for Laura’s first entry on how to get beautiful glowing skin on your wedding day…

A new color palette: Ballerina hues

So you are bored with chocolate, turquoise, and lavender and are looking for something a bit new and fresh but very pretty. The color palette of ballerina hues - pale pinks, cafe au lait, the softest khaki – are hues that will compliment the white or crème of your gown, but allow for the whole bridal party to appear to be floating on air, like a ballerina. Blush-toned flower arrangements with some green leaves as an accent will make guests feel like they are walking through a heavenly garden.

If you like the soft tones but want to spice it up a bit, have your bridesmaids accessorize with coral accents such as a necklace, chandelier earrings or a statement ring in a shade of the peachiest coral (but be careful it isn’t too red, more peach-toned). Makeup in peachy shades (like Lancome Colour Fever Gloss in Solaire and MAC crème blush in Blossoming) work great with this look. The contrast between the coral and the softest ballerina hues is surprising, modern and beautiful. Plus jewellery always makes a great gift for your bridesmaids!

In case you like the two dresses above, please find more information on where to buy them below:

The long gown is by Tadashi and can be purchased online at Saks Fifth Avenue. Please go to:

http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/main/ProductDetail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524446206577&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=282574492715030&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474399545537&bmUID=1239027959415&ev19=1:70

The strapless dress is by Shoshanna and can be purchased online at Saks Fifth Avenue. Please go to:

http://www.saksfifthavenue.com/main/ProductDetail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524446218546&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=282574492715022&ASSORTMENT%3C%3East_id=1408474399545537&bmUID=1239028599826&ev19=3:43

A Great Tip to Finding a Fabulous Makeup Artist (no matter your price range or location): MAC

Looking for an amazing makeup artist but can’t find the right one or have found a bunch but not in your price range? No problem! MAC really solves these problems for brides making it easy to find a qualified makeup artist no matter where you live or your budget.

If you have searched high and low for a makeup artist but can’t find one that knows how to use makeup to compliment your natural beauty (rather than lay on the lavender eye shadow and heavy foundation) then look no further than MAC. All of the makeup artists at MAC stores and at MAC stands in malls are trained makeup artists. A lot of them work at MAC for a day job and freelance on the side at photo shoots for ad campaigns, magazines, TV, movies or theatre – these are real professionals who treat your face like a canvas and whilst they can do the crazy dramatic makeup, they are also pros at the basics which is turning any girl into a blushing bride by enhancing her natural beauty, which is what your wedding look should be all about. Fees for makeup artists at MAC to come to you on your wedding day are based on the professional’s background and base location (e.g. NY and London artists would most likely be pricier than those based in smaller cities)

If you are looking to spend some money on your makeup but nowhere near $250 or £200, then why not make an appointment for a consultation with a MAC makeup artist at the local MAC shop or stand to get some ideas? There is a fee for the consultation (see below) and then rather than hire the makeup artist for your wedding, why not just buy the products that you really like for your wedding and then have a good friend or family member who you know and trust that is talented at painting her face to have her do your makeup on your wedding day?

If, however, you live in a city that doesn’t have a MAC shop or a stand at your local mall, don’t fret! The MAC website (the main one) has two fabulous services (free of charge!) that can help brides-to-be design their look.

One service is called Email an Artist, where you plug in your contact details, your attributes (eye colour, skin type, skin tone, hair colour, etc) and your big question (e.g. I am looking for a perfect wedding look, I want dewy skin, a smoky eye but not too smoky, and a light peachy lip – please help!). Then a MAC makeup artist reviews your question and emails you a full list of instructions as to how to create your look, which MAC products you should use and how to use them to create this look. You can then purchase products if you like since they deliver all around the US and UK. If you choose this option, I would highly recommend selecting some ideas beforehand from magazine photos so that you can have a reference to the looks you like.

Another service is called Chat Live with an Artist. With this service you can speak to a MAC makeup artist live online on instant messenger to brainstorm ideas with them regarding your wedding look. This is just another great way to get some direct advice from MAC makeup artists when you don’t have a MAC shop nearby.

MAC makeup is certainly one of my favourites – they have wonderful shades, great products and amazingly talented makeup artists. If you are having trouble finding a makeup artist, then definitely check them out!

Prices for consultations vary by location:
In the US consultations cost $50 and you get a free mascara
In the UK consultations cost £25 and the price comes off any product you buy

In the US (or for the two online services above) go to:
http://www.maccosmetics.com/

In the UK go to:
http://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/templates/door/finder.tmpl