Hello Beauty Blog Babes!
I’m back on the blog to share stunning photos from another beautiful wedding I had the honor of doing the makeup for. Nikki Duschinsky and Matthew Berg tied the knot back in November of 2015 in a beautiful Greek Orthodox ceremony. I have known Nikki for years since my days at CBS and also got to the do the makeup for her twin sister’s wedding the year prior! At this point, I feel like I’m part of the family. Here’s a beautiful view into the most epic day of their lives:
Matty and the boys getting ready at the barber’s. Don’t you love how stress-free and simple it is for men to get ready for their wedding day? Meanwhile us girls have to be up at the crack of dawn and run around like nervous wrecks making sure everything is perfect! Ha ha.
Handsome guy! 
My stunning Greek goddess.
In my 13 years of doing weddings, I have come across two kinds of brides: the “Natural” bride and the “Smoky Eye” bride. Guess which one Nikki is? We went with colors from Urban Decay’s Naked 1 palette and added some Blackberry and Shadowy Lady eye shadow from MAC for a dramatic flair. She has really lush eyebrows so I added just a bit of brown eye shadow and set them in place with clear eyebrow gel.
My favorite close-up of her
My partner Melina and I got all 10 of these beauties ready. We had so much fun getting to know these witty and chatty ladies!
Nikki with her sisters. I loved the choice of going with black for the bridesmaids dresses. It really made this November wedding feel modern and classic at the same time.
Ugh first looks always make me cry!
One of my favorite wedding shots is the obligatory aerial church photo. It really shows the architecture of these beautiful, and often times historically old, buildings. All weddings are beautiful, but there is just something about ones that take place inside a church that intensify the emotion and meaning of the day. FEELS!
Take a look at this big fat, sophisticated Greek wedding party.
Take in those clouds! Makes you think about just how small we are in this great big world… Side note, Nikki’s veil is everything!
This is one of those rare pictures that could have been taken in any decade. Is it 1960? 1975? 1988 (well, no, there aren’t any ruffly shoulder pads) or 2015? Unless you know these two, you’ll never know😉 
The crowd taking part in a traditional Greek circle dance. I love it!
Aren’t they the cutest?!
Congratulations to Nikki and Matty, may you enjoy this amazing journey called marriage together until you are old and gray.❤
Photography Credit: Michael Anthony Photography
Hi beauty baes!
Today I want to talk to you about EYEBROWS. Brows have been having a moment for the last 5 years and it seems as though they are here to stay. Eyebrows frame the face and bring attention to the eyes. My own go-to makeup look always includes bold brows, lashes and lips.
MAC Eyebrow Pencil-$16.50
This is a twist-up, self-sharpening brow definer that adds shape, color and density. MAC has a ton of eyebrow products but I find myself leaning heavily on these in makeup applications because I like making teeny tiny, delicate strokes to create a natural hair look in the brows. If you are just starting out in the brow game and want a more defined look than what you get by applying just shadow in your brows, then this is the product for you. Lingering and Spiked shades work for most people!
Anastasia Beverly Hills- Dipbrow $18
This fast-drying waterproof pomade resists smudging and sliding. The highly-pigmented formula blends easily to create the illusion of full, thick brows, and a little goes a long way. I’ve been using the Chocolate shade every day in my brows with an angle brush, I swear by it! I recommend this product for intermediate peeps who want that “Instagram brow.”
Benefit- Gimme Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel: $24
This innovative brush-on fiber gel adheres to skin and hair creating brows where before there were none. It builds easily for thick, lush arches, thanks to a tapered brush for blending and a precision tip for shaping. The fiber gel is water resistant, long lasting, and buildable for natural-looking brows. I recommend this product for anyone with sparse or super light colored brows.
Makeup For Ever Aqua Brow: $21
Aqua Brow is a highly pigmented gel that enhances and reshapes natural brows. The waterproof formula creates a strong hold while its high concentration of pigments allows for intense color payoff that will not fade. Aqua Brow’s creamy gel texture gives an even, natural result that will last all day. I used to be obsessed with this product before I gave Anastasia’s Dipbrow a try, but I’m willing to go back to it after I run out! You’ll need an angled brush for this one as well. Great for intermediate to advanced peeps.
Beauty Babes,
As 2015 comes to a close, I wanted to drop in and give you some new ideas to shake up your beauty regimen. Our hair, skin and nails are living organisms that change throughout the year, so why keep the same routine?
Sheet Masks
Sheet masks are a great way to treat your skin on a budget. Originated in Korea, Asian women have been using these for decades. Now thanks to the rise of Korean beauty products in the U.S., many American brands developed their own versions in every price category.
Under $10: Tony Moly- the cutesy Korean brand known for their adorable packaging (hello Panda-shaped chapstick) makes super affordable masks that work like a charm.
No Makeup Makeup
Now this is definitely a challenge for me– I LOVE makeup and color, but working in Beverly Hills for the last year has really changed the way I do makeup on others. I still use a ton of products, but the end result always looks like fresh, dewy skin, full lips and clean eyes. So put down the cream contour (yuck) and the glittery highlighter, and run (don’t walk) towards subtle products that will give you the same effect. Here are a few of my faves:
This foundation is so badass you can actually smooth it on with your fingers. It has a glowy, high definition finish that will look great with any Instagram filter you use.
MAC Prep & Prime Highlighter Pens: Comes in four shades and contains optical diffusers that float on top of the skin instead of sitting in the pores. My favorite way to use them is sweeping them on over your concealer, on the cheekbones, between of the brows and JUST the bridge of the nose (do NOT go all the way down to the tip– it will only bring attention to the largest part of your nose, who wants that?). Buff it all in with a fluffy brush for an airbrushed, Facetuned look.
Ardell Individual Lashes- Individual lashes always look more natural than full strip. I personally prefer full strip for two reasons: they are quicker to apply and look more dramatic. That being said, I’m going to try to step outside my “dramatic” comfort zone and give individuals a try (ask me if the baby will actually allow me an extra 10 minutes to do it though HA!). Applying these to your eyes is much easier with the help of a tweezer.
Cleansing Oil
I’ve been using oils to remove my makeup for many years, but I still see resistance to this God-send of a makeup remover. OIL doesn’t mean it’s bad for your skin. These days, the oil in makeup removers is actually good for your skin, moisturizing and breaks makeup down gently and easily. Here are a couple of my go-to’s:
Neutral Manicures
I can’t believe I’m saying this but let’s drop the nail art for a minute. It’s just so high maintenance! Now that I have a baby, I prefer the neutral look because it looks better for a longer period of time while still being really sexy in an understated way. You can play up the SHAPE of your nails instead of the color: almond, square, long, short. Whether you choose a nude, grey or coffee tone, there is something for everybody.
Chop It Off.
I am the queen of long hair– I have had waist-length hair for the last 12 years, and I just recently chopped a TON off. Even though it’s still considered “long,” it was a huge step for me. Waist-length hair is no fun when baby pulls, twists and yanks on it! I immediately felt lighter and my hair has more bounce to it. I didn’t realize that the length was dragging down the volume of my hair. Scroll down for some major hair inspo:
I actually LOVE both the Before and After of Adele’s cut. I’m going to go back in and see if I’m ballsy enough to do the Before.
Ciara’s hair before is gorgeous but look how shiny and sexy it looks shoulder-length!
I am loving the deep side part on Katy Perry’s bob. And my award for Best Bob in Show goes to…KHLOE! I love how blunt it is and the color is a freaking sin.
I am so excited to go back into the salon and go shorter! What about you? Will you brave the bob?
Hello Team Beauty Lovers! I wanted to pop in and share with you some of the top makeup trends I’ve noticed for this nice, hot summer we are having. These trends have been seen on the Spring/ Summer 2015 runways as well as on celebs walking the red carpet, and they are so easy to do. Notice that all of them focus on one feature, whether it’s the eyes, lips or skin. It’s meant to be a quickly-achievable makeup perfect for summer!
Winged, Black Sexy Eyeliner
The ULTIMATE look. If I had it my way, I’d rock this every day (which I normally do, ha ha!) Whether your liner is graphic, winged, bold, thin, swept down or smudged, you can’t go wrong with this trend. Black eyeliner has a way of intensifying the eyes like no other product. Pair this look with nude or natural lips to keep in trend.
TIP: Have a shaky hand or are new at applying liner? Stick a piece of scotch tape under your eye angling off the end of your eye and reaching up toward the end of your eyebrow. Use an angled brush and liquid or gel eyeliner and trace out your wing– the scotch tape will serve as a buffer and give you that clean line you see on the girls below. Peel off the tape and voila, perfect winged eyes!
Strobing: Glowing Skin
This trend has hit the internet by storm and is a much-needed and welcome variation of the infamous and over-used “highlight and contour” routine. If I have to un-teach one more person the tacky, heavy highlight and contouring they learned on Instagram I will scream! Strobing emphasizes on highlighting with colors that are silver in tone: think ivory, pearl, light pink, silver, etc. Because it’s not gold or bronze, it makes the skin look naturally fresh and dewy, as opposed to greasy and overdone. Skip the contour and instead pair this look with simple eyes and clear, glossy lips for a radiant look.
Bright Lips
Bold lips and summertime go together like Caitlyn Jenner and a pair of heels. Matte colors in tangerine-reds, true reds, and fuchsia are staples, as well as bright purple and creamsicle orange. Keep the eyes and skin simple and let your lips do all the talking.
Pop of Color
This trend always finds its way in the warmer months. A fun pop of colored eyeliner changes things up, and is especially fun if you have blue, green or hazel peepers. Not to worry brown-eyed girls, we are lucky in that we can wear ANY color on our eyes and it will always work! Blue-eyed beauties should try copper tones, green eyes can go for red-violet shades of purple, hazel looks great in golds and greens. Brown eyes- try royal blue!
Move over, lip injections and those crazy Instagramers who were bruising their lips on glass cups just to make their lips look bigger! Thanks to Kylie Jenner, pouty and juicy lips are all the rage and women everywhere are scrambling to get into doctor’s offices to join in on the fun. If you aren’t quite ready for the pain of needles in your lips or the sheer cost, then read below for cheaper and pain-free options that will save your wallet and your lips!
Cynthia Rowland Luscious Lips, $49.95
This lip plumping device is a manual vacuum that gently pulls blood to the surface of your lips, increasing their volume and size. You use this tool daily in the beginning and eventually your lips will only need to be “plumped” once a week to maintain their juicy new state! It’s very important to use this tool the way it’s intended and not rush into the “advanced” stage. Click HERE for specific instructions on a video on Cynthia’s site. This tool is a great alternative to painful collagen injections and even helps reduce fine lines around the mouth. It’s also safe and affordable.
Before and after
Smashbox O-Plump Intuitive Lip Plumper, $25
O-PLUMP is an intuitive lip plumper that goes on clear and then reacts with your personal chemistry to turn lips your own custom shade of pink, while instantly plumping to perfection. It’s packed with Smashbox’s exclusive Goji Berry-C Complex™, Gingermint, ginkgo biloba, pomegranate seed antioxidants, revitalizing marine botanicals and nourishing avocado oil for color and shine. If you read reviews on this product you will find that women love that the gloss isn’t sticky, it doesn’t sting on the lips, and it actually helps moisturize. This product comes in one color only that reacts to your natural lip pigment, going on clear then turning the perfect shade of pink.
Laura Mercier Lip Plumper, $30
This lip plumping gloss includes an infusion of unique ingredients that penetrate skin, stimulate collagen production and beneficially smooth the lip surface. A refreshing, cooling effect builds up over 20 minutes to plump lips, lasting up to two hours. Lip Plumper adds a slight tint to the lips for natural looking lips that are perfectly pouty and kissable. The fact that this product is currently out of stock on the Laura Mercier website speaks volumes on its popularity. It comes in five shimmery shades.
Dior Addict Lip Maximizer, $31
Dior Addict Lip Maximizer moisturizes lips and gives an instant-volume effect for full, plump lips. Its mint-vanilla scent provides an even more addictive fresh sensation. Use as a base to prime, smooth and boost lip volume before adding color, or over lipstick for a touch of shine and a plumping effect. For intensive lip care, it can be used alone as a 15-day treatment applied daily in the morning before makeup or in the evening. This product comes in one color that enhances your lip color with the slightest hint of pink, and many reviewers stand by its claim.
Hello beauty lovers!
After taking a sabbatical from the blog, I’m happy to say I am back and feeling much better. For those of you who don’t know, I’m pregnant! And let me just say that I would never wish the first trimester on anyone. It’s brutal, but obviously worth it🙂 If you’d like to check in on me and baby, check us out on my pregnancy blog HERE.
Now on to more pressing beauty news. Lips are a huge trend that aren’t going away anytime soon. What’s great about wearing a bold or bright lip is that it allows you to be somewhat “lazy” with the rest of your makeup: just throw on some winged liner and mascara and you’re done, right?!
In honor of the lip trend, I wanted to share some of my favorite lip must-haves from MAC Cosmetics. I have been on/off with this amazing brand for the last 11 years so not only do I know the product like the back of my hand, but I obviously love and recommend it too. Before we begin I do want to tell you guys that lipstick is THE hardest thing to purchase at a makeup store. You absolutely must try it on before you purchase to see how the color will pay off on your lips. Swatching it on your hand does not help, because most people have a different skin tone in their lips than their hand. Here we go…
UP THE AMP LIPSTICK & FASHION BOOST LINER
Up the Amp is a creamy red-violet lipstick that looks good on most golden/olive skin tones. The beauty of Up the Amp is that it looks different on everyone! I have loved this color for about 9 years, and I finally found its perfect pair in Fashion Boost liner, which is a magenta-toned purple color. The liner is a long-wearing formula so it helps Up The Amp stay on for up to 6 hours. IF you have darker skin and don’t fall in love with Up the Amp, try it’s deeper, frostier sister in Violetta (MAC store-only).
SIN LIPSTICK & CYBER WORLD LINER
I just recently began my relationship with Sin lipstick. Long-loved by celebrities like Rihanna, Sin is a deliciously deep dark matte burgundy red. So rich! I like pairing it with Cyber World liner to pull out the blackish-purple undertones in the lipstick. Ugh, this combination is gorgeous on everyone, from fair all the way to deep dark.
REBEL LIPSTICK & NIGHTINGALE LINER
Rebel is a mid-tonal cream plum with a berry undertone. There are two things I love about this lipstick other than the amazing color: it’s a Satin finish, meaning it’s a semi-matte that gives you all the benefits of a long-wearing matte without the dry feeling. The second is the fact that there is something about this color that actually stains the lips, thus making it last longer and leaving a nice stain behind. Nightingale lip liner is a brand new lip liner, and the ONLY one in the MAC lineup that matches Rebel perfectly. Love this combo on everyone!
VICTORIANA LIPSTICK & CHERRY LINER
Victoriana is a limited edition, matte red lipstick from the MAC Toledo collection. It makes me sad that this is a limited item because it is the BEST red lipstick I have every seen from MAC. The most popular red, Ruby Woo, actually looks pink compared the to the true, vibrant, matte red that is Victoriana. I can’t get enough of the beautiful depth and color of this lipstick. And pairing it with Cherry liner just makes it disrespectfully perfect.
Hi Beauty lovers! Halloween is fast approaching so I wanted to give you some ideas from Halloweens past in case you were looking for a last minute costume. Which one of these do you want to try most?
SkeleFace
Zombie
Lily Munster
Anime Character
Mermaid
Dio de Los Muertos
