(Clockwise from left) Billy Jealousy’s Combat Lines Face Moisturizer, Lab Series for Men oil-free towelettes, Matte for Men, Burt’s Bees tinted lip balm, NARS Cosmetics Matte Bronzer

1. Start off by cleansing your face with a PH-balanced cleanser that contains antioxidants, with a subtle scent to invigorate and awaken the face for the work that’s about to come. Matte for Men rejuvenates with the right amount of vitamins to liven up your pores. Available at Sephora for $28.
2. Moisturizing is key to holding your new glow. I recommend an SPF protection moisturizer that also combats lines and aging, such as Billy Jealousy’s Combat Lines Face Moisturizer with SPF 30. Available at Beauty.com for $38.
3. Don’t set the concealer with a powder if you plan on mixing textures. If you decide to set with a powder, use only a powder to avoid a sticky and streaky appearance.
4. Test your skin first to see which type of bronzer would work best for your skin. Between powder, blush, foundation, cream or tinted moisturizer, aerosol, liquid, stick ... your options are endless.
5. Non-comedogenic is preferable, as you don't want a product that's prone to clogging your pores and overproducing oil (leading to acne and a splotchy appearance).
6. Matte only. Putting on makeup is enough to make you feel slightly effeminate, right? Well, avoid anything that contains shimmer as it will make you look a little extra shiny in your wedding photos. NARS Cosmetics’ matte bronzers blend easily and work well on the male complexion. Available at Narscosmetics.com for $38.
7. After showering, look in the mirror to check where the light hits the higher planes of your face. To avoid an unnatural look, focus on the four main points of your face: nose, chin, center of your forehead and your cheekbones. Spritz a toner or misting spray prior if you can’t tell what points of your face the light takes in. Lush’s Tea Tree Water does the trick and also resets the PH-balance in your face. Available at Lush for $19.95.
8. When applying the bronzer to your face, focus sharply on the jawline and angle your brush on a narrow angle down your cheekbones (pucker your lips to make it look more angular).
9. To contour your jawline, start from behind the ear and bring the brush down and just under your jawbone. If you can’t tell where your natural jawline is, use your fingers to navigate and go just under the jawbone to bring out your masculine features.
10. A tinted lip-balm, such as Burt’s Bees in Tigerlily, works in moderation. Don’t overdo it, otherwise you’ll end up looking like Barbie’s main squeeze. Available at Drugstore.com for $6.99.
11. Remember! Tap your brush and don’t blow on it.
12. If you need to blot throughout the day, don’t rub your face, as you’ll do more harm (acne!) than good. Keep a few spare Lab Series for Men oil-free towelettes in your jacket pocket for quick bathroom touchups from working too hard on the dance floor. Available at Sephora for $15.

By Alyssandra Barnes

Forget tiaras and birdcage veils, Badgley Mischka and renowned hairstylist Peter Gray have shown that silk flowers are the refreshing new bridal hair accessory trend. The fashion house’s new line of effortless sophistication features graceful 1930s-inspired bridal gowns with dramatic embroidery and beading. To complement this elegant fashion line, Gray has created a modern hairstyle with a simplistic elegance.

“I wanted to created bridal hair that was fresh, cool and simple,” Gray said.

For his new look Gray used white silk flowers, such as hydrangeas, and a touch of homemaking skills to create a modern spin on the century-old bridal bun. After texturing the hair with a MoroccanOil Hydrating Styling Cream and a MoroccanOil XLPRO Paddle Brush, Gray used a diagonally-placed comb to create a twisted side ponytail. Then he created another twist, angled the opposite way, with the remaining hair, followed by sewing techniques to make a vibrant look.

“At the nape, I overlapped the two roped ponytails and used a large darning needle threaded with spooled sewing elastic to sew them together,” Gray said.

After the two tails were fastened, Gray overlapped them and crossed them to opposite sides. After adding texture to the hair with a bit of styling gel, Gray pinned the ends of the twists into a beautiful chignon at the base of the neck. He then added the silk flowers for a modern yet elegant look.

“To finish, I added multiple white silk flowers to the style to change up the classic, Gauguin-like, wedding look of one flower behind the ear. Instead, I used flowers in three different linear placements on each model, in different directions to follow the angular, twisted rolls of hair.”

This gorgeous hair look would be great for any wedding. Consider using colored silk flowers to accent the natural beauty of your eyes or to incorporate the lovely colors of your wedding palette.

PRODUCTS USED:

Moroccanoil Fizz Control, $32

Moroccanoil Hydrating Styling Cream, $31.80

Moroccanoil Luminous Hairspray Strong, $21

Moroccanoil XLPRO Paddle Brush, $24

Each couple has their own preferred areas of splurging and saving when it comes to wedding planning, and many opt to DIY on their day-of beauty. Creating your own hair and/or makeup looks is an easy way to save and we were inspired by the simple and effortless, yet elegant, beauty looks during Bridal Week at Isaac Mizrahi for Kleinfeld.

Romy Soleimani for Stila Cosmetics used five products (all of which can be found in your everyday makeup aisle) to create this natural look.

Soleimani prepped models' skin with Stila Perfect & Correct Foundation ($44), which contains a primer, mineral pigment and a setting agent in one pump. A light concealer was dabbed to cover any blemishes and followed with an illuminator to highlight cheekbones, bridge of the nose and above the lips for a youthful glow. She opted to skip eye shadow, blush and eyeliner, and instead only used waterproof mascara on the lashes. A pop of pink came from the brand’s Long Wear Liquid Lip Color in Petal & Muse ($22), which goes on as a gloss but dries into a creamy matte finish so you can ensure it stays through celebratory kisses with your bride.

Using a cocktail of MoroccanOil products, runway stylist Tamara McNaughton created beautiful, free-spirited ballerina buns. “We wanted looks that were simple and elegant, but not too ‘done,’” she explained backstage.

To balance the graceful, feminine lines of the gowns, she created a squared volume at the crown, brought the hair close to the sides of the face, and designed twisted loose-wrapped buns softened with natural-looking flyaways.

By Bobby Schuessler

Are you a soon-to-be bride or groom? If yes, book a spa appointment immediately. It’s the biggest day of your life, right? Everything has to be perfect—right down to your fingers and toes, especially if you’re wearing sandals or having a beach wedding.

Fortunately for you, we caught up with Carol Jo Pisciotta, lead nail technician at New York City’s Bliss49 Spa, to get the secret tips on how you can have flawless-looking nails ready for those wedding day ring shots.

BRIDES

	Exfoliate once per day with a soft scrub to remove the dead skin.
	Moisturize daily with a thick cream and use oil to soften the cuticle.
	Put a coat of nail strengthener on to harden the nails and help them grow.

GROOMS

	Moisturize using a cuticle oil and cream daily.
	Push back the cuticle back with a pusher or orange wood stick to remove build up.
	Buff the nails using a soft buffer to remove ridges and give them a shine.

FOR ALL

A few days before the wedding, treat yourself to couples nail treatments to ensure fingers and toes are in tiptop shape. “This is a great way to spend time together while getting pampered and helps to relax and get rid of pre-wedding stress,” Pisciotta says.

 If you’re near a Bliss Salon, try one of their “wedding packages” for the ultimate luxurious experience. We love the “Wedding Belles”, “Premarital Pore-Fection” and “Perfectly Groomed” packages!

Photo: blissworld.com