5 Beauty Bag Essentials for your Wedding Day

It's your wedding day! You've hired a glam team (hopefully, the Blend gals ;) and they have perfected your make-up. You look more beautiful than you ever could have imagined! But in the back of your mind, you know that you'll be eating, drinking, dancing, hugging, and kissing until the wee hours of the evening. Even the most durable make-up is bound to wear a little. We've compiled a list of essential products to keep you looking fresh and gorgeous on the most photographed day of your life ;) 

Touch-up Lipstick/Gloss

Lipstick/gloss will be the first thing to fade on your wedding day. Ask your make-up artist for the name of the product used on your lips. Most will offer to supply a touch-up kit for you, but you should definitely be prepared to reapply. Faded lips will make you appear washed out on camera, so touch up's are crucial!

Blotting Papers

These are a quick, no-fuss way to avoid looking shiny or sweaty on camera. Gently press these small sheets down onto oily areas (usually your t-zone) of skin to absorb excess shine. Toss the sheets when you're done! Very simple! 

Quick fix: If you've misplaced or run out of your blot papers, those protective toilet seat sheets do the exact same thing. We won't tell if you don't ;)

Compact Mirror

For obvious reasons: checking for food in your teeth, reapplying lip color, fixing stray hairs etc. 

Q-tips

Even with water proof mascara and liner to stand up against abundant wedding tears, smudging can still be a concern. A quick swipe of a good-ole' Q-tip under your eyes can save you from black smudges. 

Breath Mints

Ordering Caesar salad or garlic chicken to be served at your reception may have seemed delicious at the time, but with wedding kisses and guests looking to offer congratulations, the last thing you should be worried about is your breath. Classier than chewing gum, popping a quick mint in your mouth could definitely be a life-savor (pardon the pun)!

Twilight Fans! Want to purchase Bella Swan's Wedding Dress?

Shamefully, I must admit my love and devotion to the Twilight series rivals that of a hormonal teenage girl. (Team Edward! ;) So, you can imagine my excitement as it was announced that an exact replica of Bella Swan’s 'Edwardian-inspired' wedding gown is set to be released to the masses upon official release of the first Breaking Dawn movie in November.

Originally designed by Carolina Herrera, Alfred Angelo has been appointed to manufacture the gown for worldwide distribution. Angelo is most recently known for collaborating with Disney on a line of Princess gowns. Amazing! The replica gown will be priced between $600-$2,500 and available for purchase in November. 

Check out Bella's wedding look in this blink-and-you-might-miss-it Breaking Dawn trailer! Swoon!!!

The Best Mascara on the Market!

It's no secret that Maybelline's Great Lash Mascara (you know, the one with the pink bottle and green top?) is a favorite among make-up artists and celebs, but do you know the history behind the product? Coming up on it's 40 year anniversary, we have no doubt that Great Lash's flawless reputation in the beauty industry will continue for another 40 years to come!

Here are some fun facts:

-Great Lash sold for $1.75 when it launched in 1971.


 -A tube of Great Lash is sold every 1.7 seconds in the US

-In 1971, Lilly Pulitzer, a designer known for her bright & cheery fabrics, inspired the legendary pink & green tube.

Here's a vintage Great Lash Ad from the 70's! Check out that original packaging! Love it!

Priced at an affordable $6.40, it blows away other "designer" mascaras priced at $30 and more! Trust us, this is the best product, at the best value. Now... can we put the age old question, "What's the best mascara" to rest? ;)

Maybelline teamed up with designers Tracy Reese, Max Azria and Vivienne Tam to create this gorgeous new limited edition packaging. Each designer took inspiration from their own collection to create inspired, fresh takes on the iconic pink and green tube.

Here's what the designers had to say: 

Max Azria Inspiration: “Maybelline has been backstage for BCBGMAXAZRIA’s runway shows for the past several seasons and I’m thrilled to be once again partnering with them on the 40th anniversary for their Great Lash Mascara. To bring the BCBGMAXAZRIA design aesthetic to such an iconic product is a true honor.” – Max Azria, Founder, Designer and Chairman of BCBGMAXAZRIAGROUP

Tracy Reese Inspiration: “Great Lash Mascara is a timeless product; every woman knows the iconic green and pink packaging. I was excited to design limited-edition packaging in celebration of the 40th anniversary and chose a graphic floral print that exudes fun and femininity and complements the signature colors of the brand.” – Tracy Reese

Vivienne Tam Inspiration: “I’ve worked with Maybelline New York for the past several seasons of Mercedes-Benz New York Fashion Week. I’m delighted to work with them again to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Great Lash Mascara. My Great Lash design is adorned with the Chinese symbol for “Lash,” creating the perfect fusion of the Vivienne Tam and Maybelline esthetics. It’s the must-have beauty accessory for fashionistas this fall.”

Maybelline New York has partnered exclusively with Target to distribute the Great Lash Limited Edition collection for a limited time only starting August 21st 2011 for a suggested retail price of $6.99. Definitely a must have purchase for every beauty lovers worldwide! 

Cosmo 2011 Blogger Awards!

Okay lovelies... Cosmo has announced their 2011 Blogger Award search! The more nominations we receive, the more likely we are to be recognized by Cosmo. They had over 16,000 submissions last year! Ahhh!! We realize that we're brand spanking new (less than 3 months!), but how cool would it be to be nominated to fresh out of the gate?

We absolutely love every moment of what we do, and are grateful every single day to have such an incredible creative outlet. And we'd like to take a moment to THANK our clients and readers for supporting our Blend team.  

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Nominate us HERE!

Nominate us HERE!

Nominate us HERE!

Fall 2011 Beauty Trends

Fall is just around the corner and we can not wait to put the shorts and flip flops away, and bring out the boots, cute scarfs, and hats! The fall season allows for a beautiful collaboration between tones and textures of make-up and fashion. 

Fresh from the runway, here are some of the things you can expect to see trending in fall 2011:

Muted Nail Polish: 

While Summer's bright lacquers and nail art craze turned heads, it looks like we will be shifting to more muted tones in the colder months. Think less-is-more next time you hit the nail salon! 

Try: Sweetheart by OPI

Red Lips:

A personal favorite of ours, there is nothing that makes a statement like a clean red lip! Gwen Stefani, Dita Von Teese, and Christina Aguilera are just a few of the celebrities who swear by a rockin' red mouth. Tone down the eyes, and let your lips be the focus this fall!

Try: Ruby Woo by MAC

Photo: Luca Cannonieri/Gorunway.com

Metallics:

Think golds, silvers, and coppers! Amp up your fall routine by adding hints of this textured iridescent  look. For every day wear, apply metallic shadow to the inner corner of your eyes, use as a liner, or dab onto the center of your lips. 

Try: Gunmetal by Urban Decay

Photo: Luca Cannonieri/Gorunway.com

Spider Eyes:

Allow us to introduce you to one of fall's more surprising looks: spider lashes. Making their way down Gucci, Versace, and Valentino's runways, this clumpy (or as MUA's called it backstage: "cloggy" effect) look is something you always thought to avoid, right? Not this fall! Start layering, ladies!

Try: CoverGirl NatureLuxe Mousse Mascara 

Photo: Luca Cannonieri/Gorunway.com

Classic Pony:

Take a trip down memory lane with this pretty playground inspired look by Gucci. Far from traditional, this pony is sleek on top and secured at the nape of the neck with hair wrapped around it's base. A peek-a-boo feather adds a trendy touch to this chic look.

Why Airbrush on your Wedding Day?

In the last few years, airbrush make-up has gone from a hollywood secret, to a huge trend in the wedding industry. But why? Allow us to break down the benefits of using airbrush make-up for your wedding day!

What is it? Airbrushing is an application technique that utilizes compressed air to spray on a fine mist of foundation. The velvety texture lays beautifully on the skin in an even, misted pattern, creating a beautifully natural finish. This process is hygenic and allows the  makeup to conceal while also enabling your skin to breathe. 

Brush Application

Sponge Application

 Airbrush Application

Why is it good for brides? There are several reasons we prefer to airbrush for our brides and their wedding parties. Most importantly, it is completely water resistant! It will hold up against tears, hugs, kisses, eating, drinking and dancing. It's also popular among our brides because of it's super lightweight feel. Despite it's durability and flawless finish, the product doesn't feel (or look) heavy on your skin. Awesome, right? 

Is airbrush makeup right for everyone? Women of any age can benefit from an airbrush makeup application. Airbrush makeup is hypo-allergenic, oil and alcohol free, so it’s safe for even the most sensitive skin, no matter what age or condition.

5 Must Have Make-up Brushes on a Budget!

Achieving flawless make-up is as easy as a flick of the brush... er... wrist! Having the right tools can really take your make-up look to the next level. Of course we all know that brushes can be expensive, and determining what to use and where can be confusing.

We have chosen the 5 most versatile brushes for anyone looking to apply their make-up like a pro without spending money like one! 

No need to break the bank! All of the brushes we've featured are from www.crownbrush.com and are under $10 (some as low as $2)!! Check their site for a huge selection of brushes, sets, and even make-up pallets.

This duel fibre beauty gives an airbrushed look without the noisy machine! It's flat bristles leave foundation, blush, or powder looking simply lovely. 

Every gal (or guy!) should own a big fluffy powder brush. The bristles allow for a more sheer application of product and cover a large surface area. Perfect for applying powder, bronzer, or blush.

Allow me to introduce you to your new best friend and one of the most versatile brushes in your growing collection: the angle brush. This amazing little guy can apply your gel or liquid liner, concealer, brow shadow, lipstick and even eye shadow. At a whopping $1.97 you can't afford NOT to have him.

With it's flat, rounded bristles, this brush will allow you to pack on color or concealer (or both!) for a flawlessly opaque finish! Remember: when layering color, press the product into the skin in a patting motion rather than rubbing it back and forth. 

Another tool capable of tackling multiple tasks flawlessly is the blending brush. Absolutely crucial for buffing away harsh lines, it separates the pro from the every day make-up wearer. Use it to softly apply color all over the lid, blend and apply crease color or even buff on your favorite concealer!