Hi there Sugar-plums! Happy Holidays From Renee over at Two Fishes
(If you have any makeup questions please leave a comment and all will be answered)

While I love the cold weather and the cute, snuggly hats and scarves, I’m always sad to see my bronzy glow fade away. Well, it’s more like “peace out”, gotta go…gone. There I stand, in front of the mirror, trying to figure out why I don’t look “fresh” anymore. And then it hits me—I need more blush. Blush is like a $20 face lift in my book.

Here is the breakdown on blush, from every day to your wedding day.

There are several formulas of blush—powder, gel, creme in a pot, creme in a stick and watery tints. Some formulas work better on certain skin types. For example, a creme blush is miniaturizing to the skin, and helps dry skin look more hydrated. A gel blush or tint works well for women with oily cheeks. Look to see if the pores are slightly larger on your cheeks than your forehead. If so, it can be a sign that your skin is more oily in that region of your face. Anyone can wear powder blush and it is the easiest to apply.

How To Apply
Speaking of application! There’s one thing that can ‘date’ you faster than a lightening strike—blush application! Here are some updated application tips:

*Work your blush brush along the cheek bone from the bottom part of your nostril toward the middle of your ear. Use the Tragus of your ear as the guide for your brush. (The Tragus is the little piece of cartilage in the middle part of your ear.)

*Try pointing the end of the brush down toward the ground. I’m not saying perpendicular to the ground…just in that direction. It helps guide you away from the area right below the eyes which is too high for your blush.

*Don’t forget a bright, “clear” pop of color on the apple of your cheek. It doesn’t have to look like a Barbie circle on each side of your face if you use the right tools and the right color. Begin close to the bridge of the nose and move your brush in an outward, and downward motion. Then blend the color slightly past the apple of your cheek, but not all the way back to the ear. Let the brush do the work for you. In fact, the perfect blush brush will cover the apple of your cheek when you smile.

*After dipping into your powder blush, tap the excess off and then take the brush to your face. Instead of tapping, I cup my hand and gently press the brush into my hand to take the excess powder off. It works the color into the bristles just enough so that when I place it on the cheekbone, I don’t get a blob of color sitting right on the client’s face!
*Oh, and if you put on too much blush—use your face powder or foundation on a sponge to blend and mute it out a little.

Tools:
If someone or some makeup company gives you a tiny, narrow little blush brush that is barely an inch wide…then I say that person is not your friend! You need something more substantial than that! Try a natural bristled brush that fits perfectly on the apple of your cheek. If it’s any bigger, then you risk having blush all over the side of your face. It should have a slightly rounded top and when you look at the brush, you should see shorter bristles in front and longer ones in the middle of the brush. This will help prevent streaking and insures the distribution of color in a natural looking way.

For creme, gels or tints, use your ring finger and middle finger to apply the product. Or you can use a foundation brush! If you decide you like the look of applying your creamy blush with a foundation brush, definitely splurge on an extra one. You could really have a mess on your hands if you didn’t rinse all the blush away before using it with your foundation. (Mmm…visualizing that is a little scary.)

There’s one more tool you might like—a Face Blender brush! It’s larger in diameter than a blush brush, more rounded, longer bristles and a lot more dense. Use it in a swirly motion over your cheek bones. It blends everything so nicely making each color fade into the next. That’s a sign of beautiful makeup!

Below is a guideline to use for choosing blush shades to compliment your skin tone. My usual tip still stands true: Run your finger across the product to see if it feels smooth and luxurious. If the product is streaky and feels grainy, it will not be easy to blend and may look splotchy on your skin.

What To Buy For your Skintone
Alabaster and Porcelain: Pale pink (Think bright pink.)
Fair: Soft, yet deeper pink, Warm Rose
Medium: Tawny, Brownish Pink shades, Mauve tones, Chocolate Cherry
Tan: Deep Rose, Warm Apricot, Peach
Olive: Plum, Golden brown, Rose
Dark: Cranberry reds, Current, and on some richer skin tones, pale pink is gorgeous.

You May Want To Buy
Bobbi Brown: Rose Shimmer Brick, Pot Rouge won an award from The Knot, cranberry powder blush, pale pink powder blush
Mac: New Ungara powder shade out that’s limited edition
Stila: Gel blush in a squeeze tube
Benefit: Posey Tint and BeneTint, and highlighters
Nars: Multiple Stick in Orgasm and in powder, the NEW Super Orgasm, Deep Throat, Mata Hara, Moania and Desire

For brides, layer your blush. Try a creme with a powder over it for long-lasting color. Also, remember that blush naturally fades away over time, so it may appear a little brighter than you are comfortable with at first.

I leave you with a rekindled flame. I used to love Shimmer Br
icks, Shimmer Blocs, Shimmer-anything-on-your-cheeks. Then I fell out of love. Now, we’re back on. I find that with my dry skin and no color, the rosy glow of a Shimmer Bloc catches the light and makes me look fresh, alive and put together. Only one swirl, though, because too much of this stuff is like too many chocolate truffles—a few are great, the entire box is overkill.

Take care this month, ‘blushing’ brides-to-be!

-Renee

PS—I just can’t wait to share this with you! Look forward to an article on Airbrush Makeup coming in 2009. But first, I’m going to review an excellent book about beauty and health for you next month. Are there any Dr. Oz fans like myself? He has just released a new You book with Dr. Roizen called You: Being Beautiful. Ohh, it’s phenomenal! I can’t wait to tell you more!

Simple Ways to Increase Intimacy
Meredith Carrillo, M.S. Marriage and Family Therapist

Unplug
Turn off cell phones, blackberries, computers, and television. Take time that is just about the two of you, see what happens!

Unwind
Take a moment for yourself to de stress (a bath, journal, meditate). Now that you are more relaxed spend at least 30 minutes with your partner doing anything that is relaxing.
Get Out- Tell your partner to “get out” of the house…and then join them!
Find a special place in nature that you can enjoy together. Whether it is a park, the beach or watching a sunset you can return to this spot for bonding through out your relationship. It can also be used as a haven in stressful times.

Increase Physical Touch
Be aware of how much physical space is between you and your partner. Increase physical touch when you are with your partner. Touch their arm when talking to them, hold hands as you walk; place your hand on their back as you stand beside them. Brush up against them as you pass them. Eye contact and physical touch increase the opportunity for intimacy!

Laugh Often
What ever gets the two of you laughing…do it!
Taking the time to foster intimacy as a couple even amongst stress and change will be a valuable skill through out your life together as husband and wife!!

Meredith Carrillo, M.S. Marriage and Family Therapist
Meredith offers premarital, individual and couples therapy in Dana Point, CA.
You can learn more about Meredith HERE and HERE

Call Meredith today for a phone consultation at (949)290-7798

Since I just got married this past week, I have an entirely new perspective on brides and weddings—and makeup, of course! This post is a “Do and Don’t” list made especially for brides, whether you are hiring a makeup artist or doing it yourself.

Do a trial run with your makeup and hair. A trial run should always be included in the price quoted by your makeup artist. Not so with hair—it’s usually a separate expense. There’s just no compromising on this one…it’s hard to feel pretty with a hair style you don’t like and can do nothing about.

Don’t underestimate the amount of time needed to do makeup and hair. Remember that your dressing room will be filled with well-wishers wanting to take a picture, chat and ask you questions all day long! If you are doing your own makeup, you’ll need a little quiet time to concentrate on the task at hand without feeling rushed.

Don’t forget your lip gloss. Give it to your MOH or mom, just don’t forget it! After the ceremony, you’ll be talking to people, taking a sip of water, kissing your groom—your lip color and gloss are going to fade. By the time you start your Bride and Groom photos, you will definitely need a touch up. Your makeup artist may include a full-size lip color and gloss in the price or they may offer to stay on site for touch-ups. If so, take them up on it! You don’t want to use your old, daytime Brownie Pink lip gloss with the bridal look your artist has created!

Do pick out a cute robe! Mine was cute and fuzzy, but short! Every time I moved, I felt like my photographer was getting a shot of my rear end! If you aren’t a robe girl, check out those strapless, terrycloth beach cover-ups. They come down to mid-thigh and are easy to slip over your head.

Do replace a plastic hanger for your gown with a pretty satin one. If you don’t have one, ask your wedding coordinator. You would be surprised what they can pull out of those emergency tool boxes!

Speaking of wedding coordinators…they are worth their weight in gold and diamonds. Even if your guest list is super small or you can only afford to have a wedding coordinator on the day of your event, it’s worth it. Day-of wedding coordinators do everything from give directions to lost guests, partner with your photographer and caterer to make things go smoothly, take the tasks and pressure off of your plate…you name it, they do it. If your mom is the primary person helping you plan your wedding, a day-of coordinator is like a special gift to her.

I think these are somewhat random tips, but they were on my mind for all of you beautiful brides-to-be!
Still floating,
Mrs. Renee Armour

We also wanted to let all you ladies know that Renee recently launched www.twofishesartisrty.com where you can book a makeup artist online. Renee is based in the Florida panhandle and primarly takes clients in AL, MS, & FL  she has created a directory to help brides locate  qualified makeup artists across the nation.

Renee From Two Fishes Artistry is here again to share her makeup wisdom with us about Eyeliner.

One of the topics I am asked over and over again by women… is about eyeliner. Gel, liquid, pencil—-no matter what the formula, there’s always an issue!  Hopefully, by the end of this post, you’ll have a new perspective on choosing which eye liner is best for you and how to apply it for your big day. Our beautiful Real Brides where all shoot by Perez Photography.

First, let’s talk about eye liner pencils.  You want a formula that’s creamy enough to glide on your lid, but not too creamy because it will smear off.  Some pencils come with a spongy tip on the end for blending.  I like to recommend a pencil for women who are not good with eye liner or putting things near their eyes, don’t really like wearing it and just don’t want to be bothered with it in their morning routine.  It’s quick, easy to smudge any mistakes, and you’re out the door.  On the other hand, pencils give you the least amount of control of your line. I personally like a crisp, tight line that is stippled into the lashes with a tiny brush, so that the flesh color is not showing. I also like to make sure the outside corner is defined.  Some women just don’t have time for perfect eye liner each morning!  If that’s you, check out Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Eye Pencil. They have such cool colors, and they’re waterproof! Make Up For Ever has a decent one called Aqua Eyes.

Gel Liner is a more technologically advanced product out on the market these days…although, it  requires a brush and a little practice.  Once you get the hang of it, it’s easy.  First, you must have a very small eye liner brush—thin and flat with a pointed tip.  Apply the product on either side of the brush making sure it is not clumped.  Try using the cap to the liner to press each side of the brush.  The gel liner should be smooth on the edge of the brush. Starting on the outer corner of the eye lid, rest the brush on the lash line and make three small dashes towards the inner corner, and connect them.  Lift the lid slightly and stipple the gel liner into the base of your lashline from underneath.  (Be careful here- I’ve lined the top of my contact lense before, which wasn’t fun.) Wipe off your brush on a little tissue or run under water for a second, and lay your brush on the edge of your countertop to dry.  

For clients new to gel liner, I always suggest having three items on your vanity. They are:  Q-tips for smudging, Waterproof Eye Makeup Remover for when your efforts really go astray, and a powder liner in the same color as your gel liner.  I think the last product is most important.  If you make a mistake on your lid with the gel, just take an eye liner brush, dip it into the powder and using a firm hand, run it across your line.  Voila! Fixed. Usually the eye liner powders are triple-pigmented so they have great staying power. 

{featured from left to right}

Mac Fluidline 
Ultra-smooth, Fluidline’s gel formula provides the precision of a liquid liner with a silkier, softer finish. Goes on “foolproof” with a brush in an easy dip-and-stroke action. Long-wearing. Smudge-proof.

Elizabeth Arden Color Intrigue Gel Eyeliner
(has a softening pearl finish and includes a brush.

Prescriptives Perfect Every Line
 Glides on and stays put without smearing or creasing. 

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Gel Liner
This durable formula glides on like a liquid liner—it gives you the same bold definition, but won’t run when you tear up from a good laugh or a happy cry.

Hmm…liquid. I think gel is superior to liquid liner. You have more control with a gel, it doesnt have a wet feeling when applied, it doesnt transfer to the eye lid as quickly as a liquid. Im just going to say I dont like liquid very much.  But if you do…there’s one from Calvin Klein Beauty that’s a pen, and I felt like it was a little easier than those pots with the tiny handles. After you drop that tiny handle a few times and it flings eye liner all over your shower curtain and rug, you’ll be talking about how great gel liner is, too!

Last, but not least, there’s powder liner. Again, you need a brush. You can wet the brush for a more defined look or apply it dry for a soft, natural look.  You can apply gel liner on the top of your eye lid, and save powder for the bottom line so its not too harsh. I like to smudge a powder liner up to the eye lid for a smokey eye.  A tip—-run your finger over the shadow and then on the top of your hand.  If its velvety smooth and even in texture, you’ve got a good one.  If it’s not smooth…keep looking for a better brand.  

Some final tips regarding eye liner: 

•Try not to line just the bottom, it weighs the eye down.  Bobbi Brown always says either line the top, or top and bottom, but never just the bottom.  I agree.  All that work you did to lift and lighten under eyes with your corrector and concealer goes to waste when you put a line only on the bottom!

•Start your line on the outside corner of your eye, not the inside. There is generally more product on the tip of your brush, so naturally, you’ll deposit more product on the first place you put your brush—which should be on the outer corner.

•When creating a bold, heavily lined eye, apply a more neutral lip. 

 above illustrations provided by MAC