Contest: Two Fishes Artistry
Monday, November 17, 2008 at 12:00PM The fabulous Renee Armour, makeup artist extraordinaire and owner of {Two Fishes Artistry}, just launched her new website. The new site not only showcases her stunning work, but also has fabulous features including “Our Favorites” a list of Renee’s favorite sites including everything wedding. We recently caught up with Renee to answer our Brides most important makeup questions and here is what she had to say:
What products are a bride's must have on her wedding day?
Renee: Laura Mercier Oil-Free Primer, Dior Show Waterproof Mascara, and Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Eyeliner--and don't be scared of eye liner! It's your best friend when taking professional photographs! Also, a pink-toned blush for the apples of your cheeks and a pink or rosy lip-gloss. It's a clean, fresh look. Note: If the site of pink blush scares you, remember that most of them apply like watercolors. It may look too garrish in the container, but once applied, it's a soft, flushed look.
What are your best makeup tips for a bride?
Renee: Under eye circles can be very challenging for brides, and it's the one thing that disappoints them in bridal portraits. First, use a moisturizer specifically for under the eyes. Apply a pink or peach-toned corrector under your eye and along the bridge of your nose (where the vein is) to conceal darkness. The corrector will cut the darkness and "lift" the under eye area. However, it should not look gray or ashy. Next, layer a yellow-based concealer over it to match your skin. Finish with a light dusting of powder. Our eyes are drawn to the darkest features on your face, so you definitely want to make sure under eye circles are concealed. You'll find that your eye color pops when the concealer, blush and lips are right. Avoid anything that says brightening or luminizing on your wedding day. Those products usually aren't flash friendly.
Renee: I can't leave you today without mentioning skin care for your brides. Brides-to-be: Start your skin care regime soon! You only need a few simple products: a cleanser formulated to remove makeup (not all of them remove makeup!), an exfoliator; a serum with at least Vitamins A, C and E; and a night cream to repair damage. It's hard to tell a difference in your skin at first, but keep with it--day and night. Beautiful, glowing skin on your wedding day is so worth it!
In celebration of the recent launch of Renee's website {Two Fishes Artistry} we have a very exciting giveaway. One lucky winner will win a gift basket filled to the brim with fabulous Bobbi Brown products!
Win: A Bobbi Brown Gift Basket that includes the following: Bridal Palette (includes French Pink blush, two eye shadows, eye liner, two lip colors, and a lip gloss), mini glitter lip gloss in Berry, long-wear gel eye liner in Mahogany, mini brush set with case (includes face blender, lip and eye shadow brushes), Buffing Grains, and a black canvas cosmetic bag. Retail Value $200
How to Enter: Leave a comment and share your best beauty secret. We will pick a random winner.
Contest ends Monday, November 24th at midnight!
View Printer Friendly Version
Email Article to Friend
Reader Comments (37)
My secret isn't so secret but it is so necessary for me! I must wear a moisturizer with SPF 15 or more or I will get a burn in the middle of January! SPF on the face is so important for everyone but most of all for the fair skinned brides!! I would love to win this contest! :)
I agree with Colleen - moisturizer with SPF is a must!
My only secret might not be a secret but I only figured it out recently! I wear liquid eyeliner, but I dont like the harsh line it can leave, so I put it on first! Then when I put eyeshadow on over it, the edge is softened and it looks much more natural (but still noticeable).
Two very simple, but effective beauty tips. I traded in my high priced eye make-up remover for baby oil, which gently removes make-up and leaves my skin oh so soft. Secondly, before I workout, I apply a light coat of vaseline to my feet before putting on socks. You'll forever have soft footsies!
My secret isn't much of a secret... I drink tons of water and avoid salt. I also moisturize my entire body immediately after getting out of the shower. It's amazing how much hydration helps!
I apply under-eye concealer after I apply my eyeshadow so any excess powder that falls off the brush onto that area gets taken care of!
Soft feet = happy feet! I put a dab of moisterizer on my feet before putting on my socks and going to working out. The heat from working out really puts the lotion to work and softens my feet!
My secret is moisturizer with SPF 30...Living in Southern California, with such dry weather at times, my skin gets super dry, but Lancome's moisturizer with SPF has really changed my face and I love it and definitely recommend it!
Not sure if this is much of a secret either...but I use Witch Hazel as an astringent to clean my face...oh so natural and does the trick every time. I also sleep in socks (after I've rubbed in a good coat of vaseline on my heels and ankles)...perfectly soft skin all year round.
My secret is Kiehl's Epidermal Re-Texturizing Micro-Dermabrasion scrub. My skin can get very dull, so I use this scrub every other day and it keeps my skin incredibly soft. It also gives my freshly scrubbed skin an incredibly healthy glow!
My favorite makeup tip is Q-tips! They work MAGIC when you damp the end of them and use them around your eyes to get ALL stray marks from mascara and eyeliner away that it the wrong place with out messing up any of the other work you have done! They are fab! :)
My favorite beauty tip, is to pay attention to your skin. Skin needs change from season to season and over time-so your favorite cleanser or moisturizer may not work for you anymore, be open to switching things up.
Use white eyeliner under coloured eyeliner (ie: blue, purple -- anything but black and brown) to make it pop! not a wedding day look but it's fun!
Moisturizer. I work outside, so I apply lots of it to avoid drying out.
my favorite beauty secret is related to the color of my eyes. i have brown eyes and to make them look fabulous i use a navy eyeliner. you wouldn't believe how many complements i get when i do this!
obviously do not pick me, I just wanted to say that Renee is awesome and we super love her. We also love your Blog... everything is so incredibly well done and thought out! Love Jocey & Amy
My best beauty secret is to go easy on the powder. When I mention this to my friends they make the most awful faces, but it is true. This is one of the biggest mistakes I see all the time. Powder is meant to set your makeup, not give you coverage. Used the wrong way, it can single-handedly commit two horrible makeup crimes against you, especially on your wedding day. First, it can make your skin look older than it is....think about it. Young, healthy skin is luminescent…what makeup artists call the "dewy look". Too much powder can take the natural glow out of your skin. Look through magazine photos – the most beautiful faces DO NOT have matte skin! The second really pertains to photos. Most women wear the wrong color powder with the wrong undertones - which makes your face look white or orange in photos. IF you MUST wear powder, make sure you pick one that is yellow-based, sheer, and a loose formula. This will avoid the "pale ghost" look in your most precious memories – your wedding photos.
My beauty secret is to use a nice white highlighter under your brow bone. It really makes your eyes pop! That, and for brides, waterproof makeup on your wedding day is a must!
my biggest make up tip is to use tinted moisturizer rather than foundation. it moisturizes your face, which we all need, but also provides some coverage without looking caked on, and usually has an SPF of 15 or higher. i haven't worn foundation in three years, and my make up has never looked better!
My beauty secrets....Drink lots of water. Other than that, I have somewhat droopy eyes so I take my stick foundation and start from under my eyes and make a 45 degree line up to my temples (at the far end of my eye). Sort of like the line your blush would go. Lightening this area, can make my eyes appear less droopy.
My beauty secrets....Drink lots of water. Other than that, I have somewhat droopy eyes so I take my stick foundation and start from under my eyes and make a 45 degree line up to my temples (at the far end of my eye). Sort of like the line your blush would go. Lightening this area, can make my eyes appear less droopy.
My number one tip would have to be for dry or extra dry skin... Bobbi Brown Face Oil... A small amount of this product pressed onto the skin with just your fingure tips is a perfect way to give a nice, healthy glow. I think this product is ideal if the skin appears to be dull or dehydrated. Face oil is perfect for a summer bride that has over exposed their face to the sun and needs just a little something to hydrate their skin. I love how a small amount of this product makes all the difference in the world.
I always put white/bright shimmery eyeshadow directly below my brow line to make my eyes pop and look more open.
If I experience a breakout, I dot a bit of mask on the spot before I go to bed. I leave it on overnight. By the morning the redness is gone and the bump is barely noticeable and by the second day, it is gone. Also during the winter, I work in a dime-sized drop of conditioner in my dry hair and rinse it out in the morning. My hair stays uber moisturized and shiny through the season.
Always use Chaptick on your lips before you go to bed. Your lipstick will go on smooth. If you are going to draw attention to your mouth, make it look like the perfect pout!
My tip is to rub a wet washcloth on your lips and then pat dry. Doing this helps exfoliate the lips. When you apply your lipstick or lip gloss it goes on smoother and lasts a bit longer.