Brows for a Cause!!

Wednesdays in December from 11-6, come to The Bridal Studio (at 610 Mainstrasse in Covington) for flawlessly shaped brows. Your donation of $15 goes directly to The American Heart Association, a cause near and dear to my-(well, you know)

Appointments recommended but not required.

nancy@brideface.com

bridal makeup artist/ Beth; married!

These images are by Bob White of White Photography. Isn't she radiant?

Cincinnati makeup artist/ Holly; married!

Holly is a dear friend of my dear friend Alison (you can spy her in a couple of the images below)

These beautiful images are courtesy of Bluebird Photography.

Don't you love the plaid wraps and her husband's kilt? How I love a kilt. And a bride in a red lip!

This first shot is of me and my assistant, Kat, both beautifying the mother of the bride; things were running late and that was the way to get it done. She said she felt like a total diva with two people working on her.

Hair by the fabulous Jen Nally. I highly recommend on-site hair; why run around like a maniac on such a special day? Let the salon come to you.

Aaron & Michael; grooming the grooms

Aaron and I have been friends many many years and I have never felt more honored than I stood up for him last month at his commitment ceremony in Richmond VA. His groom Michael is Good People and i am so happy for them!

I brought my trusty airbrush machine along to get the guys camera ready; Mike can get a little razor burn and irritation from shaving, like many men, so I just lightly sprayed over the red for a very natural look. I also camouflaged abit of breakout for Aaron. Guys often shy away from this type of thing, but lately I have been seeing more grooms opt for a bit of a touchup if they come along when their fiance is getting makeup for an engagement shoot. who wants a big zit showing on the most photographed day of your life?

from Aaron:

"Nancy-
I just wanted to take a minute and let you know how grateful I am you were available to help me on my wedding day. I know most guys probably do not even think about "make-up" when they get married, but without you I am not sure what I would have done. Being in my 30's I wouldn't think I would still have to be worried about blemishes, yet on October 10th it looked like I had just hit puberty! I have to say you are a miracle worker. Having you and your "airbrush" machine saved the day. We looked at our photos (without any re-touching) and you could not see a single flaw. I was concerned that it would look like I was wearing make-up but no one could tell, myself included. What was even better was that I didn't feel like I had anything on. Knowing that it is that easy to erase any flaws or blemishes and that I did not look or feel like I had on make-up, I will definitely recommend your services to every guy I know. I felt and looked like a million bucks on my wedding day. Thanks again for saving the day!"

Join us Wednesday November 18!

Just in time for the holidays, get glammed up with your girlfriends while sipping on a festive cocktail. Join us at Havana Martini Club for a holiday-themed martini - a Scroogedriver or Peppermintini perhaps? - and get a makeover from head to toe featuring the latest tricks and trends. Enter to win a free weekend Lexus lease and a Richter & Phillips sterling silver bracelet! Event is free to attend. No R.S.V.P. required. Brought to you by Cincy Chic, an online publication for women in Greater Cincinnati. Sponsored by Lexus RiverCenter.

I will be doing mini makeovers for Cincy Chic; come see me and grab a cocktail!

Bad Vibes

Can we stop the madness? The proliferation of vibrating beauty products has gotten a little out of hand, and it is bordering on perversion. First the Spinbrush, a rotating mascara wand. Then the vibrating mascara. Next, the vibrating lash conditioner; because if a formula doesn't work in the first place, by all means add batteries to it.

But this one really takes the cake.

Oscillating foundation-? Really, L'ancome-?

The ads claim that the motion breaks down the "nourishing" qualities of the microbeads. First of all, it's minerals and you know how I feel about those. Not a fan.

I am all for a great massage during a facial, but this is absurd. It reminds me of the exercise device you strap around your waist and it vibrates the inches away. This is the kind of thing that makes me stabby; cosmetics execs thinking they can dupe consumers into buying something this ridiculous.

Just say no to this trend, and if you succumb, please don't tell me about it.

Cincinnati airbrush makeup/Jessica; married!

images courtesy of the splendid Steph Carson
florals by the very talented Katie Elfers
I told Steph that Jessica's beauty reminds me of Cher-like back when she was in Moonstruck-? that exotic bone structure, giant almond shaped eyes. Swoon; a makeup artist's dream!

Mutual Admiration Society; Lifetime Films

Last week my husband and I celebrated our one year anniversary. I so wish I could say we curled up on the sofa to watch our wedding video, but alas; I cannot. Because we were being very frugal and opted to skip it. The "semi-pro" footage that was taken has since disappeared(don't get me started) and we are left with just Tine Hofmann's amazing images to remember the day.

One of the most common regrets of brides is that they do not have a wedding video. (Do not let that be you, girl!)

Matt Pine and I have been buddies for a few years now-I probably work with him more than any other vendor. He makes the films that make you cry, whether you know the couple or not. And his way with finding that perfect tune to suit the mood of your event=perfect.
so if you are on the fence about whether you want to budget for a wedding film, think about me and my darling Husface, deprived of seeing ourselves on our anniversary, and watching COPS instead.

Kristen, married! by Mollie for brideface.

from Mollie: "Kristen had an amazing sense of style that resonated from her makeup to flowers. She got married during "Taste of Cincinnati" weekend, where the wonderful Cindy Wagner took her and her party to shoot pre-wedding pictures. She was so strikingly beautiful--I'm quite sure those who got a glimpse of her forgot about the food for awhile."

photography: Cindy Wagner

planning: Your Wedding by Jen

florals: Courtenay Lambert

L'oreal Telescopic Explosion Mascara

I probably blog more about mascara than nearly any other product because I have found that most women, myself included. It is one of the only mass market items I am willing to keep in my kit, so it is relatively painless to try different formulas. I try just about every new formula I can get my hands on, and in most cases the gimmicky ones fall flat. The vibrating one is just pretty silly, but fun. It is supposed to mimic the wiggle that you do in your lash root to create volume and lift.

When I saw L'oreal's knockoff of the infamous Givenchy Phenomeyes, I just had to give it a go.

Complete with urchinesque wand, it promises ultimate volume and seperation. At $11.50, I found it awfully pricey for a drugstore mascara. And I was sorely disappointed. The shape of the prickly ball makes it impossible to achieve any "lift" and it leaves a very spiky, unattractive lash, not full and fluffy like L'oreal Voluminous.(Carbon Black is divine) I still adore Maybelline Collossal and Cover Girl Lash Blast as well.

Skip this, if you can resist that cute little brush. Overall score: meh.

Blog Love from Lifetime Films

We are blushing and we don't even have any makeup on yet. Check this link!http://thelifecastingblog.com/?p=612