An Oldie. . . A Goodie. . . A Splurge!

Christian Dior's DIORSHOW Mascara in Noir/Black is my new favorite.  At $25, it was a splurge, but well worth it.  It's one of those must-have mascaras that is a beauty luxury.  Not only do I get great volume and length, but this is a delicious rose-scented mascara. . . that unexpected fragrance made it even more divine to apply.  I really like the brush's pointed edge to get to my inner corner lashes.

I purchased mine at Dillard's, but you can find it at any higher-end department store that carries Christian Dior Cosmetics, as well as Sephora.

My never-ending search for a great mascara continues. . .

Pretty Preservationist, Perry

The girl's got style, vision, panache, and moxie!  All this, plus she's a BLUSH girl. . . as in "I need more blush!"

Perry is one of those brides who has made a lasting impression, much like the old architecture, books, and mementos she studies and helps preserve.  This phenomenal bridal session, by the amazing Heather Forsythe Photography, is currently making the rounds on several online wedding publications (The Wedding Row, Southern Weddings, The Wedding Chicks, etc).

Thank you, Perry, for your adventurous spirit and love of all things vintage.  You can follow her planning process and journey at PerryAnnMcKenzie.blogspot.com.

Thank you, Heather Forsythe Photography, for capturing the essence of this North Carolina gal, and relaying it so beautifully.

Sun Spot Fix-It Time

I went against my own good advice: this summer, I spent time at the beach during high-peak sun hours, without enough sun screen. I also spent a lot of time driving in the car, and my left side always seems to get beat up the most by the sun.  Sure enough, those little brown sunspots have reappeared on my left cheek.  

What caught my eye at the Clinique counter was the advertising campaign with the brown-spotted egg and the clean, clear tan egg.  Hmm. . . I definitely wanted the clear, tan egg.

I left with two products, that I must say, I'm very impressed with: Clinique's Even Better Dark Spot Corrector (a milky serum), and it's moisturizing counterpart, Even Better Skin Tone Correcting Moisturizer SPF 20 (a cream).  Over the course of the last five weeks, applying the serum morning and evening, there's a noticeable difference in the darkness of my sun spots.  Even though they are still there, they've faded nicely.  I use the moisturizer only during the day because of its SPF content.

My spots were what I'd categorize as mild to slightly moderate.  I have seen results and plan to use it up. . . maybe they'll mostly disappear.  If I ever pump out a bit more of either the serum or cream, I rub it onto the backs of my hands.  (Something my grandmother taught me. . . don't neglect the hands!)  No sunspots there yet, but a little prevention goes a long way.

Check it out if you have mild to moderate sun spots. . . Ask for a sample. . . Clinique is great about that.

A Necessary Attachment

This is not a brag; it's a truth:  I love my stuff.  I love all the palettes of color, the creamy concoctions, the silky powders, the wonderful-smelling spritzers and toners, the fluffy brushes.  I love my kit which is the unit that carries all my products.  Between my kit and what my eye and mind conjure up, there lies my business.

I marvel that I get to look into a clean face and see a myriad of opportunities.  The first question I ask myself is, "What can I do to make this person more beautiful?"  Each time I start off on that note, the results are almost always spectacular.  It's leading with the heart, and I've found I cannot fail when I approach work that way.  Hmm. . . there's a little yoga in there.  When approaching most any situation or event or task in life, and if approached with, "how can I leave this better than I found it?" well. . . how can anyone go wrong?

Probably what's most un-yogic about this is my attachment to my stuff.  But it's a necessary attachment that brings about a heart-felt result.

Thanks to beautiful Britney with your "go big or go home" attitude :)  You are a joy!  

A heart full of gratitude and appreciation to the wonderful Mike and Rachel at Tillman Branch Photography for their kind attention to my "stuff" and for capturing this process.

www.TillmanBranch.com

The Language of Love

A pervasive theme in my correspondence and communication with Ashley was linguistic.  Her intonation, the fact that she's bilingual, and that so much of her charisma was felt in the way she spoke.  I relished each and every e-mail and phone call from her.


The backstory: a few years ago, Ashley was sitting unobtrusively in her assigned seat on a flight to Paris.  Young man enters plane and catches her eye.  Young man has seat next to Ashley. Evidently he knew right away she was someone he wanted to get to know.  Transatlantic flight gave them time for that initial conversation.  Phone numbers were exchanged at the end of the flight.  The rest is history.


Ashley was one of my naturalista brides.  Everything about her is natural and genuine.  Her deep love of family; her infatuation with her new groom; her love of her native South Carolina helped sustain her while living abroad and planning a Charleston wedding from France.  There were so many things I loved about Ashley, but two things really stand out:  First, she's a Mama's Gurl. . . the love and deference she showed her mom was simply endearing.  The way she called her "momma" had a ring to it that I felt was filled with the utmost respect.  Not everyone can call their mothers "momma" and carry it.  The way Ashley spoke made me want my own children to refer to me only by that moniker.  Secondly, Ashley's respect of her groom's family was lovely.  This was their first trip to the U.S.  The way she translated and slipped easily in and out of their French was like silk; effortless and accommodating.


Beautiful backdrop courtesy of Charlestowne Landing and the Legare-Waring House.  Magnificent photography courtesy of Juliet Elizabeth Photography.  Hair by Stephanie Clyburn.  Makeup by Pamela Lesch.

Makeup vs. Humidity. . . Your Makeup Wins with Model in a Bottle!

"Will my makeup last?" is a question I'm frequently asked, especially during this time of year, when humidity is at its highest.

Model in a Bottle is one of my go-to products that help ensure long-wearing makeup.  Misted on at the very end of an application, it seals and locks in the longevity of my airbrush foundation.  It's great over traditional and mineral foundations, as well.   One of the residual benefits of this product is its amazing fragrance.  But I love that it also comes in a formula for people with sensitive skin.  

I had the pleasure of meeting the creator of this line, Jill Stephens, at The Makeup Show in NYC this past May.  Her product gets the job done, and her generous spirit and enthusiasm made me want to buy a dozen of everything!  Now that I've been using it with such great results with my clients, I'll definitely request at least three each time I place an order.

Check it out at www.modelinabottle.com

Brides and Dads

I have the privilege of being a part of the inner circle on a wedding day.  I see lots of dynamics that play out.  Brides and their best friends; brides and their siblings; and brides and their moms.  All of this is wonderful stuff.  But being the bona fide daddy's girl that I am, there's something very special about seeing a bride interact with her dad on her wedding day.  It's a heart-wrenching display of trust. . . that father is in essence handing over his treasure to another man.  

So this one is for all those dads.  The ones who wonder why I'm there to begin with, because their daughters couldn't be more beautiful (with or without my help).