Wedding Hair and Makeup Video

Adorable wedding hair and makeup tutorial video from BHLDN.

A Dash of Sparkle

I'm a huge fan of really simple makeup on your wedding day. But that doesn't mean that you can do a subtle cheek and glam up those eyes a little, even if it's just for the reception. I love this glitter eye from The Beauty Department. Best of all you can replace the gold with pink or blue sparkle eye shadow. To view the entire DIY click the image below.


(photo credit: Amy Nadine)

Have you thought of the amount of lead in your lipstick? I know this isn't what I would normally post, but I recently saw a news segment that talked about the FDA's list of 400 lipsticks and how much lead they had in them. Some of the most common brands such as Maybelline and Cover Girl had some of the highest levels of lead. Below are the top 12 lead prone lipsticks they tested. The brand not only matters, but the shade does as well, shimmery lipsticks are more likely to have more lead. If you're interested in picking out your wedding lipstick according to the list, check out the full list of 400 lipsticks by clicking the image below.

Beauty & Fitness: Bread and Better

Do you like sandwiches? A lot of people think that sandwiches can be high in calories because they contain bread, but in my opinion a sandwich is one of the healthiest and low calorie lunches you can eat, that is as long as you don't fill it up with bacon or the like. For great sandwich ideas that all look equally scrumptious, take a peek at the chart below!


(photo credit: Pinterest)

Beauty & Fitness: Maybelline Makeup Lessons

Are you planning on doing your own wedding makeup or having a friend do it for you? Check out Maybelline's makeup lessons on their website for chic and natural ideas, as well as a few more impacting looks! You can choose lessons based on the level of complication, occasion, mood, even the color palette you're looking for. Super groovy.


(photo credit: screen shot of Maybelline's lessons page)

Inspiration Board #14: Handmade Beauty Items

Have you considered purchasing your wedding makeup through small businesses? You don't often think of finding handmade makeup and beauty items for sale, but there is an abundance of amazing makeup and beauty small businesses found throughout the web, especially on Etsy.com. The following are some great beauty care items available internationally for purchase that add a more natural feel to your wedding beauty products. A lot of beauty products from small businesses are also a lot more organic than what you find through corporate brands, and you can often find great deals on awesome products.


(photo credits from left to right: bath salts, eyeshadows, sweet citrus honey soap, solid perfume, shiny lip gloss)

Beauty & Fitness: The Best Clay Mask EVER

I'm honestly not the kind of person that uses a lot of beauty products, but there is one that I've used before that I absolutely love. It is the best clay mask out there in my opinion, so if you're looking for a mask that makes your face feel refreshed and renovated, this is the one you've been waiting for. It's great for all skin types and leaves your skin feeling truly clean. It also helps clear acne and evens skin tone. Best of all you can purchase a one pound jar of Aztec Secrets Indian healing clay for less than $15 (including shipping and handling) from Amazon.com. This is the perfect mask to start using a few months before your wedding day for both the bride and groom!


(photo credit: Amazon.com)

Beauty & Fitness: Naked Elements All Natural Makeup

I love the natural organic makeup by Cecilia Ras of Naked Elements. Her makeup is all handmade and includes a variety of colors all with an earthy nude tone that would be beautiful for a natural bridal look. You can order a sample of any color eyeshadow for a only $2 by purchasing this listing. You can also purchase samples of her blush.


(photo credit: Naked Elements Etsy Shop)

Beauty & Fitness: French Mani

I love this French mani quick DIY from The Beauty Department.



View the entire steps by clicking here! Quick tip: Step 4 includes nail polish remover.

Inspiration Board #8: Braids

It could only be so long until we had a braid inspiration board! There is no denying that braids are VERY in right now. And I'm not complaining about the fad at all. I love braids. They can be worn meticulously for a sleek bridal look, or more loose for a romantic nature feel. Each photo credit below comes complete with a link to each style's tutorial.


Photo credits from left to right: maiden braid, side braid, cascade braid, braid strands, dutch braid.

Beauty and Fitness: Healthy Snacks

Are you a big snacker? I am for sure, so it was hard to get into the habit of not snacking as much when I was trying to keep the weight off to fit into my wedding dress. I tried to stick with healthy snacks such as lime and salted cucumbers or vegetables and hummus, both a yummy option, but not snacks everyone would like. Whole Living has a section on healthy snacks that are awesome such as a great granola combo with dried papaya and berry pops if you're looking for good and healthy snack ideas.

(Photo credit: wholeliving.com)

What are your favorite healthy snacks?

Beauty & Fitness: Green Monster Smoothie

Do you like smoothies? Smoothies are a great way to refresh after a morning workout and a delicious breakfast option. Often, you get enough servings of fruits and veggies in for the day, and they can be full of oxidants. They're also quite filling, so you won't be reaching for the fridge soon after you finish.

I love this recipe from Sing For Your Supper for a green monster smoothie. It includes lots of great fruits, greek yogurt, and a handful of spinach. Plus it's the perfect sharing size. To view the complete recipe click here. For more ideas you can check out Pinterest for a plethora smoothie recipes!

(photo credit: Sing For Your Supper)

Beauty & Fitness: Get Rocking Arms

It's no secret that every bride-to-be wants to be in the best shape possible for their wedding day. For me this was no different. I lost about 15 pounds and several inches off my waist before going dress shopping and kept the weight off until my wedding day, over six months later. Best of all, I finally go into a exercise groove that I've kept for over a year. Because fitness is such a big thing on a bride-to-be's mind, we of course will be having fitness segments every once in a while, with an emphasis more on getting stronger than on getting skinnier. Afterall, your physique is very much handmade!

Today, I thought I'd share a great way to get rocking arms and work your way to completing one hundred pushups through hundredpushups.com, a great regiment for all levels. When I added this regiment to my workout routine I went from not being able to complete even five full body pushups to completing 30 within two weeks. I also noticed that it created leaner muscles than exercising with weights, more quickly. Plus, as you increase your pushup ability, you'll feel much more empowered to take on some of those wedding stressors head on.

How it works is that you complete three sets of pushups at your current level three times a week, resting a minute or so between sets. Every day you do the regimen you increase the number of pushups you do. You can also start on your knees like I did and work your way up to full body pushups, but I'd recommend only doing this after your regular workout so your muscles are warm and you don't get injured. To get started click on the image below. G'luck!

(Photo Credit: hundredpushups.com)

Beauty & Fitness: One Sided Braid

I love this one sided braid tutorial on thebeautydepartment.com. It's a cute idea for your bridesmaids or flower girl.

For more beauty ideas from The Beauty Department click here.

Beauty & Fitness: Honey Oatmeal Mask

Ingredients:
1/2 cup of cooked oatmeal
1/4 cup of honey
1/8 cup of water

To prepare, simply mix all the ingredients into a paste.

What it does:
The mask works for all skin types and not only helps to soften skin, but it can also help with acne by clearing excess oil and clearing pores. It’s simple, yet quite effective. Best of all, you probably already have the ingredients you'll need in your cupboard.