A friend of mine in the wedding industry brought a few more very important wedding do's and don'ts to my attention. I can see the obvious do's and don'ts (and the one's pertaining to beauty) but since I do not work every single job in the wedding industry, some things I tend to overlook.
1. Cash Bars. I have heard of this, but I never knew that people actually did this. A cash bar? Really? Come on you guys. It is rude to have a wedding, make people buy you gifts and travel a long distance to attend YOUR wedding and then make them pay for their own cocktails. It breaks ALL the rules of proper wedding ettiquette. Instead, you should opt for a beer and wine bar. I know some venues will allow you to bring in your own wine and possibly other alcohols for a small(er) fee. If alcohol is THAT important to you, then cut costs elsewhere, or just don't have it at all.
2. Do not wait a year to send out thank you cards to everyone. Whether they bought you a gift or not is irrelevant. (they should, but remember, they don't HAVE to) If they took time out of their busy schedule to celebrate your special day with you, you can at least send them a card telling them you appreciate them being in attendance. Also, please don't be lazy or stingy with thank you cards. After all of the time that the DJ's, wedding and event planners, photographers and videographers put into your wedding, I think that they deserve a little thank you card as well, don't you?
3. If you attend someones wedding, DO NOT come empty handed. Times are rough financially, but you can at least purchase (or even make) a beautiful card congratulating the new couple on their special day. Weddings cost money. They aren't free. You should show gratitude for being invited to such a special occasion.
4. Picture this. The groom is gussied up in his handsome tux at the alter patiently awaiting to get a glimpse of his beaming bride in her gorgeous wedding gown. In the back of the chapel, the flower girl is fussing with her dress and the ring bearer is picking his nose. The bridesmaids are all in matching gowns, arms linked with the groomsmen waiting for the wedding to begin. When suddenly, you show up late to the wedding and then try to "squeeze by" the bridal party. NO! You either be on time, or you can wait in the back. That is RUDE and will kill the whole ambience of the wedding.
5. I have found that it is popular to have the bride, groom, bridal party, and parents of the bride and groom stand at the door of the reception hall to greet and speak with guests. Don't you dare dash through (or ditch) the wedding party line. Do you really think the bride enjoys standing in that line in her VERY uncomfortable high heels while everyone else is enjoying her party? Probably not. Do me a favor and at least stop by and say "Hi."
6. Never ever wear jeans to a wedding. I thought this goes without saying, but apperently not. *sigh*
7. If you have a pre-determined menu, please identify the entree(s) on a place card. Your guests would like to enjoy their meal. They do not want to spend the entire 7 course meal playing the guessing game on what they are actually eating.
8. NO bridezillas. Don't act like one. In fact, don't even consider acting like one. This includes, but not limited to, snapping your fingers at people, being rude, or saying "It's my day." I do not understand why brides are rude to the people that are preparing her wedding. All I have to say, is if you snap your fingers at me while I am doing your wedding makeup, do not be surprised if you end up with raccoon makeup. I'm just saying.
9. Don't ask your family members and friends to do anything except be in your wedding party or enjoy your wedding. Don't ask them to bake your cake, do floral arrangements, be your photographer etc. Friends and family should enjoy the day, not work it. If it does happen, do not expect anyone to assist this family member/friend. No, I do not have extra ladders, scissors, know how to tier a cake, or make a bouquet. Worse, I have plenty to do rather than fill in the mistakes of others. HIRE PROFFESSIONALS! An event coordinator/ wedding planner will basically take care of everything. (PS I know some great ones if any of you soon-to-be brides need one!)
10. Please do not use an iPod in lieu of a DJ/Band. A DJ or band leader holds a very important role other than playing music. They control the flow, timing, and mood of the event with the venue, which an iPod cannot. Your guests did not spend $400.00 on a Williams Sonoma knife set that YOU registured for to hear the "Top 25 most played" playlist on your iPod.
I would like to give thanks to my anonymous friend for helping me out with those. :) If any of my other professional wedding vendor friends have some do's and don'ts that you would like to share, send them to me! I would love to share them with our readers.
On a personal note...
Tonight I was catching up on a little trashy reality TV and stumbled on the Bad Girls Club Season 4. First of all... is this really a show? Girls getting trashed and going to night clubs? I'm so mad that I didn't think to film this first. HELLO! I live in Vegas. I see this EVERY day! There was this particularly annoying girl on there named Natalie. She was running around LA screaming "I run LA! I run LA!" calling herself a "socialite". I was unimpressed because 1) I am fairly certain, that The Terminator runs LA, and all of California for that matter and 2)I would not know who she was without that show. Paris Hilton. Kim Kardashian. THOSE are socialites. You, Natalie, are not. Anyway, She brought on one of her friends named Marcus and introduced him as a celebrity saying she only goes to clubs VIP style and she only hangs with celebs. I looked at this kid and I didn't recoginze him (but what do I know) so I decided to google him. This is his credited professional work that I found on his website:
Red Tails (2009) David 'Deke' Watkins
Extreme Movie (2008) Wyatt
Taking Five (2007) Lincoln
Take the Lead (2006) Eddie
Roll Bounce (2005) Boo
The Nightmare Room: Scareful What You Wish For (2001) Ryan
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air(1994) Boy on dad's back (not credited)
Nothing to Lose (1997) Joey
One Night Stand (1997) Young Charlie
Moesha (1996-2001) Myles Mitchell
Thea as Cedric
Another Cinderella Story (2008) as Dustin "The Funk"
High School Musical 3: Senior Year (2008) Cameo: Boy at Troy's Party (not credited)
Martin : Marvin, Martin's Son
Fresh Prince of Bel Air... boy on dads back? HSM 3... boy at Troy's party? (Both "not credited") You're kidding me right? If that's a celebrity, then so am I. (Told you so, Shauna)
Ok, so maybe I haven't been in a TV show. Well not YET at least. My reality show should be coming soon.
Ryan Seacrest if you are reading this, I need my own reality show. Stat. kthnxbye.
Also, last night I watched Bank of Hollywood which is a show where people go on there and ask ridiculously rich celebs for money. I just want to clarify that Ryan Seacrest went inside my mind, and took this idea right out of there. I have been saying we need to do this type of show for years! For the most part, the people that went on there had legitimate needs and it was sweet to watch people helping other people. That was until this idiotic couple stomps on the stage and asks for $75,000 for their "dream wedding." I almost died. It got worse when they showed photos of the expensive designer wedding gown she wanted to purchase, the castle they wanted to swap vows in, and the TWO CARAT TIFFANY'S cushion cut diamond ring that she wanted. Who do they think they are to just waltz up onto that stage and ask for that kind of money for a wedding? Icing on the cake... they both don't have jobs.
To the couple who had the courage to do this: You two are materialistic LOSERS. If you are "so in love" then drive to Las Vegas and get married at the drive thru for $65.00. You do not need a 2 carat Tiffany's ring. You do not need to get married in a castle. You do not need a designer gown. You need to get a job and a life. Thank you.
xoxox
Allyson Stagg
CEO of The Las Vegas Style Sirens
www.LVstyleSirens.com
LVStyleSirens@yahoo.com
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Holiday Parties... Look the part!!!
It is Mid December ladies! I know you all have holiday events, parties, and New Years coming up. So what is the hot look this year?
I think everyone can agree that you can't go wrong with a beautiful smokey eye. This winter, it is ALL about the beautiful dark, sultry eye. (And LACE! I am SO happy about that!)
Before you get nervous or excited, let me just clarify that a smokey eye DOES NOT mean that you plaster black from your eyelid to your brow bone, circle it around your eye and then slather your brow bone in shimmery white eye shadow. Ugh. Barf.
There are several ways to do a smokey eye. Everyone has a different opinion on how a smokey eye should look, and everyone has their favorite ways to do it. Today I am going to walk you through one of my favorite ways to do an amazing fool proof smokey eye.
1. Start with a clean, well moisturized face.
2. ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS start with your eyeshadow. Eyeshadow will always fall underneath your eye whether it be light or dark. If it falls, and you have already applied concealer and foundation, when you wipe it off you will have to reapply your concealer and foundation. Save yourself the few extra minutes and always start with your eyes.
3. Apply a neutral primer all over your eye. I love Paint Pots by MAC in Painterly and Soft Ochre.
4. Grab a black eyeliner that is NOT smudge proof or water proof. (I love Le Crayon Khol in Ebony by Lancome) Color on your eye lid from the lash line to the crease. It does not need to be filled in completely and it does not have to be neat.
5. Take a synthetic eyeshadow brush and blend the eye liner so it turns into a smokey grey and it is evenly distributed all over the eye lid from the lashline to your crease. I love brush #242 by MAC.
6. Take a dark brown eyeshadow and pat it on top of the blended eyeliner. I love Handwritten by MAC.
7. Take a blending brush (brush #224 by MAC) and use a neutral MATTE or almost matte high light color (I love Brule for light skin and Era for medium to dark skin. Both are by MAC) and blend from underneath the brow bone to the crease. Blend the light color and the dark color so that you have a soft transition between the dark brown and the light highlight color.
8. If you would like to add a little more definition to the shape of your eye, or the colors are not blending as well as you would like, take a medium brown and use the #224 brush to softly brush it back and forth in your crease. I love Cork by MAC for all skin tones.
9. If you want to add a little glitz and glam, dust a super sheer coat of loose glitter over the dark brown shadow on your eye lid. I love Reflects Gold or Antique Gold by MAC.
10. Follow with a few coats of black mascara, a pair of false lashes (full or half set... you chose!), and a little black liquid or gel eyeliner and BAM! Smokey eye in full effect.
I personally do not like to put any eyeliner on the bottom, but if you want to, you certainly can. I think it looks really good if you put it in the water line or smudge a little bit of dark shadow right under your lash line.
This smokey eye is cool because it doesn't need to look totally perfect. It is okay if it looks a little messy. That is what makes it so sexy.
Finish off the look with a foundation of your choice, a neutral blush, and a neutral lipstick, and you are good to go.
When you wear a smokey eye, it is good to keep the rest of your makeup pretty neutral. If you start to feel a little daring, you can wear an intense lip such as a rich berry or bright red.
Rememeber, there are NO rules when it comes to makeup. Ok, I lied. There are a few tiny little rules, but for the most part, it is free game! Have fun and enjoy being a woman. Just rememeber, no matter what you wear, you need to rock it!
xoxox
Allyson Stagg
CEO of The Las Vegas Style Sirens
www.LVStyleSirens.com
LVStyleSirens@yahoo.com
I think everyone can agree that you can't go wrong with a beautiful smokey eye. This winter, it is ALL about the beautiful dark, sultry eye. (And LACE! I am SO happy about that!)
Before you get nervous or excited, let me just clarify that a smokey eye DOES NOT mean that you plaster black from your eyelid to your brow bone, circle it around your eye and then slather your brow bone in shimmery white eye shadow. Ugh. Barf.
There are several ways to do a smokey eye. Everyone has a different opinion on how a smokey eye should look, and everyone has their favorite ways to do it. Today I am going to walk you through one of my favorite ways to do an amazing fool proof smokey eye.
1. Start with a clean, well moisturized face.
2. ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS start with your eyeshadow. Eyeshadow will always fall underneath your eye whether it be light or dark. If it falls, and you have already applied concealer and foundation, when you wipe it off you will have to reapply your concealer and foundation. Save yourself the few extra minutes and always start with your eyes.
3. Apply a neutral primer all over your eye. I love Paint Pots by MAC in Painterly and Soft Ochre.
4. Grab a black eyeliner that is NOT smudge proof or water proof. (I love Le Crayon Khol in Ebony by Lancome) Color on your eye lid from the lash line to the crease. It does not need to be filled in completely and it does not have to be neat.
5. Take a synthetic eyeshadow brush and blend the eye liner so it turns into a smokey grey and it is evenly distributed all over the eye lid from the lashline to your crease. I love brush #242 by MAC.
6. Take a dark brown eyeshadow and pat it on top of the blended eyeliner. I love Handwritten by MAC.
7. Take a blending brush (brush #224 by MAC) and use a neutral MATTE or almost matte high light color (I love Brule for light skin and Era for medium to dark skin. Both are by MAC) and blend from underneath the brow bone to the crease. Blend the light color and the dark color so that you have a soft transition between the dark brown and the light highlight color.
8. If you would like to add a little more definition to the shape of your eye, or the colors are not blending as well as you would like, take a medium brown and use the #224 brush to softly brush it back and forth in your crease. I love Cork by MAC for all skin tones.
9. If you want to add a little glitz and glam, dust a super sheer coat of loose glitter over the dark brown shadow on your eye lid. I love Reflects Gold or Antique Gold by MAC.
10. Follow with a few coats of black mascara, a pair of false lashes (full or half set... you chose!), and a little black liquid or gel eyeliner and BAM! Smokey eye in full effect.
I personally do not like to put any eyeliner on the bottom, but if you want to, you certainly can. I think it looks really good if you put it in the water line or smudge a little bit of dark shadow right under your lash line.
This smokey eye is cool because it doesn't need to look totally perfect. It is okay if it looks a little messy. That is what makes it so sexy.
Finish off the look with a foundation of your choice, a neutral blush, and a neutral lipstick, and you are good to go.
When you wear a smokey eye, it is good to keep the rest of your makeup pretty neutral. If you start to feel a little daring, you can wear an intense lip such as a rich berry or bright red.
Rememeber, there are NO rules when it comes to makeup. Ok, I lied. There are a few tiny little rules, but for the most part, it is free game! Have fun and enjoy being a woman. Just rememeber, no matter what you wear, you need to rock it!
xoxox
Allyson Stagg
CEO of The Las Vegas Style Sirens
www.LVStyleSirens.com
LVStyleSirens@yahoo.com
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Marry me David Tutera
If you know anything about me, you know I love reality TV. Thank goodness for Tivo which makes it possible for me to catch up on all 100 of reality shows after Cash (my 1 year old son) goes to bed.
One of my favorite shows is My Fair Wedding with David Tutera. I would die for this man. Literally. I am known for being a little sassy, and sometimes saying what is on my mind without thinking first, and so is he. We are a match made in heaven.
Being in the wedding industry, I guess I just assume that some things are obvious when it comes to planning a wedding. Well, I was wrong. By watching My Fair Wedding, I have learned that to some people, nothing is off limits. In order to make this a little less complicated, I have compiled a list of wedding do's and dont's that David Tutera and I can both agree on.
1. Emerald Green and Purple are a HUGE no no for wedding colors. In fact, these colors are not appropriate for ANY occation. Oh wait, Mardi Gras. Yep. That's about that only time these colors would be appropriate.
2. Balloons are not for weddings. They are for children's birthday parties and High School Homecoming floats. No balloon arches. No balloon centerpieces. No no no.
3. A strip tease is never appropriate for your first dance at your wedding reception. Seriously. (Yes Shauna, you MAY take off your garter to "Cherry Pie")
4. Enough with the tulle! I can deal with a little bit of tulle. (And by a little bit, I mean 1/2 a yard) But really ladies...really? Dresses made of tulle. Table cloths made of tulle. Chair covers made of tulle. Ugh. Itchy, wrinkly, and messy. Those are the three words that come to mind when I think of tulle.
5. A brides bouquet (actually ANY bouquet) should NEVER be made of sponges. I'm just gonna throw that one out there.
6. A brides bouquet (or any bouquet for that manner) should never be made of hot glue, glitter, and fake flowers.
7. Actually, just stay away from hot glue as much as possible when it comes to making things for your wedding.
8. Actually, just stay away from making things for your wedding as much as possible. That is what professionals are for.
9. A sun dress is NOT the same as a wedding dress.
10. Please limit the number of items you place in your hair on your wedding day. You do not need a tiara, veil, flower, pendant, and glitter all at once. I think one or two items should be sufficient. One would be even better, but I can deal with two.
11. Wedding dresses are typically white or ivory. Lets stay away from colored undergarments.
12. If you live in the same city as the venue where you wedding will be held, go view it in person. Do not book it online. If you are unable to see your wedding venue in person because you are having a destination wedding, be sure to do tons of research. Make sure that you know exactly what you are getting. Read reviews, make a few phone calls, and don't be afraid to ask questions.
13. In general, DO YOUR RESEARCH. Don't be lazy. This is your wedding! I know it can be overwhelming, but this is a very important day. Be sure that the vendors that you are going to be dealing with can deliver exactly what you want, at a price you can afford.
14. Trends change, and they change quickly. What was considered "cool" or "cute" 10 years ago, may not be considered cool now.
15. Have some manners on your wedding day. No one wants to see you in your beautiful gown, drunk, swearing, and burping with a cigarette hanging out of your mouth. Feel free to take an etiquette class if necessary.
I am saying all of these things and I am half joking. Well, actually, I am dead serious, but I am saying them in a joking manner.
My point is, if you think you know everything, let me just tell you right now, you don't. Wedding professionals do. Trust what they say. Before you even think about planning a wedding, sit down and figure out what is important to you. Times are rough financially and everyone is on a budget. You need to invest your money into what is important to you on your special day. Call around and get pricing for everything that is on your WANT list for your wedding. When you snap back into reality because you find out how much things REALLY cost, narrow that down to the NEED list. I always recommend hiring an event and/or wedding planner in your area. This will relieve a ton of stress. They are familiar with vendors in your area, and more importantly, the different vendors style and pricing. They can point you in the right direction and help you create the wedding of your dreams on your budget.
PS I am so excited because Lauren and I have a couple new things that we will be doing on the blog. Everyone keep posted because they all involve our readers!
PSS I now have 8 followers on this blog! YES!
xoxox
Allyson Stagg
CEO of The Las Vegas Style Sirens
www.LVStyleSirens.com
LVStyleSirens@yahoo.com
One of my favorite shows is My Fair Wedding with David Tutera. I would die for this man. Literally. I am known for being a little sassy, and sometimes saying what is on my mind without thinking first, and so is he. We are a match made in heaven.
Being in the wedding industry, I guess I just assume that some things are obvious when it comes to planning a wedding. Well, I was wrong. By watching My Fair Wedding, I have learned that to some people, nothing is off limits. In order to make this a little less complicated, I have compiled a list of wedding do's and dont's that David Tutera and I can both agree on.
1. Emerald Green and Purple are a HUGE no no for wedding colors. In fact, these colors are not appropriate for ANY occation. Oh wait, Mardi Gras. Yep. That's about that only time these colors would be appropriate.
2. Balloons are not for weddings. They are for children's birthday parties and High School Homecoming floats. No balloon arches. No balloon centerpieces. No no no.
3. A strip tease is never appropriate for your first dance at your wedding reception. Seriously. (Yes Shauna, you MAY take off your garter to "Cherry Pie")
4. Enough with the tulle! I can deal with a little bit of tulle. (And by a little bit, I mean 1/2 a yard) But really ladies...really? Dresses made of tulle. Table cloths made of tulle. Chair covers made of tulle. Ugh. Itchy, wrinkly, and messy. Those are the three words that come to mind when I think of tulle.
5. A brides bouquet (actually ANY bouquet) should NEVER be made of sponges. I'm just gonna throw that one out there.
6. A brides bouquet (or any bouquet for that manner) should never be made of hot glue, glitter, and fake flowers.
7. Actually, just stay away from hot glue as much as possible when it comes to making things for your wedding.
8. Actually, just stay away from making things for your wedding as much as possible. That is what professionals are for.
9. A sun dress is NOT the same as a wedding dress.
10. Please limit the number of items you place in your hair on your wedding day. You do not need a tiara, veil, flower, pendant, and glitter all at once. I think one or two items should be sufficient. One would be even better, but I can deal with two.
11. Wedding dresses are typically white or ivory. Lets stay away from colored undergarments.
12. If you live in the same city as the venue where you wedding will be held, go view it in person. Do not book it online. If you are unable to see your wedding venue in person because you are having a destination wedding, be sure to do tons of research. Make sure that you know exactly what you are getting. Read reviews, make a few phone calls, and don't be afraid to ask questions.
13. In general, DO YOUR RESEARCH. Don't be lazy. This is your wedding! I know it can be overwhelming, but this is a very important day. Be sure that the vendors that you are going to be dealing with can deliver exactly what you want, at a price you can afford.
14. Trends change, and they change quickly. What was considered "cool" or "cute" 10 years ago, may not be considered cool now.
15. Have some manners on your wedding day. No one wants to see you in your beautiful gown, drunk, swearing, and burping with a cigarette hanging out of your mouth. Feel free to take an etiquette class if necessary.
I am saying all of these things and I am half joking. Well, actually, I am dead serious, but I am saying them in a joking manner.
My point is, if you think you know everything, let me just tell you right now, you don't. Wedding professionals do. Trust what they say. Before you even think about planning a wedding, sit down and figure out what is important to you. Times are rough financially and everyone is on a budget. You need to invest your money into what is important to you on your special day. Call around and get pricing for everything that is on your WANT list for your wedding. When you snap back into reality because you find out how much things REALLY cost, narrow that down to the NEED list. I always recommend hiring an event and/or wedding planner in your area. This will relieve a ton of stress. They are familiar with vendors in your area, and more importantly, the different vendors style and pricing. They can point you in the right direction and help you create the wedding of your dreams on your budget.
PS I am so excited because Lauren and I have a couple new things that we will be doing on the blog. Everyone keep posted because they all involve our readers!
PSS I now have 8 followers on this blog! YES!
xoxox
Allyson Stagg
CEO of The Las Vegas Style Sirens
www.LVStyleSirens.com
LVStyleSirens@yahoo.com
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Foundation Nation
Let me start off by saying that your face and neck will always be lighter than the rest of your body. It does not matter if you fake and bake or spray tan, they will always be lighter. I understand that it's not attractive if your face resembles Casper the friendly ghost and your body looks like you have spent a month on the beaches of Cabo, however, there are ways to handle this situation properly.
ALWAYS match your foundation to the skin tone on your face. I do not recommend purchasing a foundation that you can't try on before you buy it. To know if it is the correct foundation for you, you need to be able to see what it looks like on your skin, feel the texture to see if you like it, and make sure it is the appropriate coverage for you. Foundation is one makeup item you should not mind splurging on. (OK, So I splurge on every type of makeup, but if I could only splurge on one, foundation would be it.) Going to a professional makeup counter is a great idea because the artists that work there are familiar with how to match a foundation and they can explain their products in detail. ALWAYS have them apply it for you and DO NOT buy it right then. Wear it for the rest of the day. Walk outside, and look at your face in the sun light. Double check to make sure it is the right shade, and make sure it lasts through your daily activities. Ask for a sample (they should always give you at least a small one.) and use that sample for a day or two. If you like it, then go back and purchase it.
If you need to darken your face and neck to match your body, use a bronzer. Apply your foundation as you normally would, follow with a light powder such as a blot powder to set the foundation. Then follow with a pressed, MATTE bronzer. (I love Matte Bronze by MAC) If you do not apply a light powder between the bronzer and your foundation, the bronzer will "stick" to the foundation in certain spots and look uneven. You can apply as many coats of bronzer as necessary to bring your face up to the appropriate shade. Avoid using bronzers with shimmer in them. You do not need your entire face and neck covered in shimmer. Gross. Shimmer should only be used to highlight certain areas. Remember, shimmer down ladies, shimmer down.
NOTE: Orange foundation looks good on no one. Let me repeat that. NO ONE. Not even you. Slathering your face in foundation five shades too dark is not going to solve anything. All it is going to do is make you look orange and uneducated. Not to mention, it gives you a crusty makeup line. Ew.
You should have at least two different foundations that you switch out for different seasons. For example, in the Summer, I like to have a foundation with a little less coverage and I like it to feel light on my skin. I usually go for a mineral powder. It is so hot here in Las Vegas, so a powder works really well for me during the summer. In the winter, I like a little bit more coverage so I tend to switch to a medium to full coverage liquid foundation.
Some foundations I LOVE are:
Bare Minerals SPF 15: I love this powder foundation. It is like magic fairy dust and is perfect for a sheer to medium coverage. It does have a little bit of radiance (NOT shimmer :)
Studio Sculpt SPF 15 by MAC: This foundation is a mix between a cream and a liquid and is perfect for medium to full coverage. It glides right on and stays in place all day. I like to rub it between my hands before applying it to warm it up so that it glides on my face flawlessly.
Lancome Absolue Makeup SPF 20: This is a foundation that feels like a whipped dream on your face. It gives beautiful full coverage without feeling heavy or looking muddy and thick on your skin. It is a little expensive, but very worth it. Whenever I wear this foundation, I always get a ton of compliments on my skin.
Studio Tint SPF 15 by MAC: This liquid foundation is a simple and to the point tinted foundation. It is super sheer coverage, and works well for people who don't like much coverage in a foundation. It is also perfect for those days you are going to hang out by the pool and you want to have a little something on, but don't want people to know about it. It also has the built in SPF. Perfection!!
NOTE: All of these foundations have SPF... obviously that is very important!
xoxox
Allyson Stagg
CEO of The Las Vegas Style Sirens
www.LVStyleSirens.com
LVStyleSirens@yahoo.com
ALWAYS match your foundation to the skin tone on your face. I do not recommend purchasing a foundation that you can't try on before you buy it. To know if it is the correct foundation for you, you need to be able to see what it looks like on your skin, feel the texture to see if you like it, and make sure it is the appropriate coverage for you. Foundation is one makeup item you should not mind splurging on. (OK, So I splurge on every type of makeup, but if I could only splurge on one, foundation would be it.) Going to a professional makeup counter is a great idea because the artists that work there are familiar with how to match a foundation and they can explain their products in detail. ALWAYS have them apply it for you and DO NOT buy it right then. Wear it for the rest of the day. Walk outside, and look at your face in the sun light. Double check to make sure it is the right shade, and make sure it lasts through your daily activities. Ask for a sample (they should always give you at least a small one.) and use that sample for a day or two. If you like it, then go back and purchase it.
If you need to darken your face and neck to match your body, use a bronzer. Apply your foundation as you normally would, follow with a light powder such as a blot powder to set the foundation. Then follow with a pressed, MATTE bronzer. (I love Matte Bronze by MAC) If you do not apply a light powder between the bronzer and your foundation, the bronzer will "stick" to the foundation in certain spots and look uneven. You can apply as many coats of bronzer as necessary to bring your face up to the appropriate shade. Avoid using bronzers with shimmer in them. You do not need your entire face and neck covered in shimmer. Gross. Shimmer should only be used to highlight certain areas. Remember, shimmer down ladies, shimmer down.
NOTE: Orange foundation looks good on no one. Let me repeat that. NO ONE. Not even you. Slathering your face in foundation five shades too dark is not going to solve anything. All it is going to do is make you look orange and uneducated. Not to mention, it gives you a crusty makeup line. Ew.
You should have at least two different foundations that you switch out for different seasons. For example, in the Summer, I like to have a foundation with a little less coverage and I like it to feel light on my skin. I usually go for a mineral powder. It is so hot here in Las Vegas, so a powder works really well for me during the summer. In the winter, I like a little bit more coverage so I tend to switch to a medium to full coverage liquid foundation.
Some foundations I LOVE are:
Bare Minerals SPF 15: I love this powder foundation. It is like magic fairy dust and is perfect for a sheer to medium coverage. It does have a little bit of radiance (NOT shimmer :)
Studio Sculpt SPF 15 by MAC: This foundation is a mix between a cream and a liquid and is perfect for medium to full coverage. It glides right on and stays in place all day. I like to rub it between my hands before applying it to warm it up so that it glides on my face flawlessly.
Lancome Absolue Makeup SPF 20: This is a foundation that feels like a whipped dream on your face. It gives beautiful full coverage without feeling heavy or looking muddy and thick on your skin. It is a little expensive, but very worth it. Whenever I wear this foundation, I always get a ton of compliments on my skin.
Studio Tint SPF 15 by MAC: This liquid foundation is a simple and to the point tinted foundation. It is super sheer coverage, and works well for people who don't like much coverage in a foundation. It is also perfect for those days you are going to hang out by the pool and you want to have a little something on, but don't want people to know about it. It also has the built in SPF. Perfection!!
NOTE: All of these foundations have SPF... obviously that is very important!
xoxox
Allyson Stagg
CEO of The Las Vegas Style Sirens
www.LVStyleSirens.com
LVStyleSirens@yahoo.com
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Lip liner is sexy!
Let me start off by saying, that you should ALWAYS wear lip liner. It doesn't matter if you wear lipstick, or just lip gloss, lip liner helps to make your lip look more polished and prevents your lip product of choice from running and bleeding everywhere. Nothing is worse than feather lips! Don't be lazy. Put forth the extra two seconds, and apply a lip liner, ladies.
Today, I was asked a very good question. What color of lip liner should I wear?
Oh man... where to begin? I LOVE lip liner. I probably own every color known to mankind. You can honestly mix and match any color that you would like, but when you are just starting out it is good to match the lip liner to the lip product that you are wearing. I think that matching the lip liner to the shade you are wearing is always a safe bet. You can go up to two shades darker than the lip product that you are wearing and still get the same, natural effect.
Lip liner can also help you out in sticky situations. Lets say that you purchase a lipstick that you THINK you like while you are at the store, but when you get home, you realize it it wayyy to brown for you. All you would need to do is choose a lip liner shade in the same color scheme as your lipstick that has a little bit more of a pink tone, and apply it. This will help tone down the brown in the lipstick and give you a more pink tone.
If you know me at all, you know I die for red lipstick. I wear it ALL the time. I used to wear it with red lip liner, but once my lipstick would start to wear off, I would get this gross red ring around my lips where my lip liner was. I was talking to Lauren about this problem, and she simply said "You are wearing the wrong lip liner. You need to wear a natural one that matches your lips, or maybe a shade or two darker." Man. She is brilliant! Once I started wearing a more natural lip liner, I never had that problem again. So, if you are going to wear a red lipstick, go with a more neutral lip liner. We love Creamola and Cream o Spice (Both by MAC) to go with any shade of red.
To apply lip liner, simply follow your natural lip shape. Make sure it is symmetrical and even. Lauren likes her lip liner light and right on the lip line. I, on the other hand love Pam Anderson style. I like it dark, and I always over draw my lips. CAUTION: This takes practice. You don't want to look like a hot mess with a bad case of lip filler, so ask a professional to teach you and practice a few times before wearing it out in public.
So many women get scared of lip products, and I can't help but wonder why? Lips are beautiful and sexy and they should be enhanced. You can wear whatever color of lipstick you would like. I have women ALL of the time say "Oh, I can't wear that color!" and I say "YES YOU CAN!" It is all about learning to be comfortable with wearing color on your lips, finding the right shade of that particular color, and a corresponding lip liner. It may be a little bit scary at first because it is something you are not used to, but give it a try! I challenge all of you to wear a different lip color every day this week, that you typically would not wear. What do you have to lose? It's Autumn, so try rich Burgundies, deep reds, mocha browns, and deep mauves. I expect a report back! (Especially from you, Ms. Shauna.)
xoxox
Allyson Stagg
CEO of The Las Vegas Style Sirens
www.LVStyleSirens.com
LVStyleSirens@yahoo.com
Today, I was asked a very good question. What color of lip liner should I wear?
Oh man... where to begin? I LOVE lip liner. I probably own every color known to mankind. You can honestly mix and match any color that you would like, but when you are just starting out it is good to match the lip liner to the lip product that you are wearing. I think that matching the lip liner to the shade you are wearing is always a safe bet. You can go up to two shades darker than the lip product that you are wearing and still get the same, natural effect.
Lip liner can also help you out in sticky situations. Lets say that you purchase a lipstick that you THINK you like while you are at the store, but when you get home, you realize it it wayyy to brown for you. All you would need to do is choose a lip liner shade in the same color scheme as your lipstick that has a little bit more of a pink tone, and apply it. This will help tone down the brown in the lipstick and give you a more pink tone.
If you know me at all, you know I die for red lipstick. I wear it ALL the time. I used to wear it with red lip liner, but once my lipstick would start to wear off, I would get this gross red ring around my lips where my lip liner was. I was talking to Lauren about this problem, and she simply said "You are wearing the wrong lip liner. You need to wear a natural one that matches your lips, or maybe a shade or two darker." Man. She is brilliant! Once I started wearing a more natural lip liner, I never had that problem again. So, if you are going to wear a red lipstick, go with a more neutral lip liner. We love Creamola and Cream o Spice (Both by MAC) to go with any shade of red.
To apply lip liner, simply follow your natural lip shape. Make sure it is symmetrical and even. Lauren likes her lip liner light and right on the lip line. I, on the other hand love Pam Anderson style. I like it dark, and I always over draw my lips. CAUTION: This takes practice. You don't want to look like a hot mess with a bad case of lip filler, so ask a professional to teach you and practice a few times before wearing it out in public.
So many women get scared of lip products, and I can't help but wonder why? Lips are beautiful and sexy and they should be enhanced. You can wear whatever color of lipstick you would like. I have women ALL of the time say "Oh, I can't wear that color!" and I say "YES YOU CAN!" It is all about learning to be comfortable with wearing color on your lips, finding the right shade of that particular color, and a corresponding lip liner. It may be a little bit scary at first because it is something you are not used to, but give it a try! I challenge all of you to wear a different lip color every day this week, that you typically would not wear. What do you have to lose? It's Autumn, so try rich Burgundies, deep reds, mocha browns, and deep mauves. I expect a report back! (Especially from you, Ms. Shauna.)
xoxox
Allyson Stagg
CEO of The Las Vegas Style Sirens
www.LVStyleSirens.com
LVStyleSirens@yahoo.com
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Blondes have more fun?
I have a feeling many brunettes and redheads would disagree with that statement. I personally don't know if it is true or not considering blonde is all I know, but I like to believe it is. :)
Lauren and I always get asked how we get so blonde. The answer? Bleach. It is really not that complicated. That may sound a little bitchy, but I don't mean it that way. I only speak the truth.
I think what people mean to ask is how to we maintain our blonde hair, so here we go.
I get my hair done by Lauren Mortensen at Euphoria in Boca Park. She's amazing, but she only works Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and every other Saturday so book in advance! Lauren G. gets her hair done by Monika Page at Scandals Salon. Monika only works Wednesday and Saturday, so once again... book in advance. We both go every 4 to 6 weeks to get our roots done because if we don't, we look like white trash. To get my golden locks, all it takes is a magic potion that Lauren M. mixes up and 20 minutes under the dryer and BAM. I'm a whole new woman. Lauren G.'s platinum blonde takes a little longer to process. She uses bleach and a 40 volume (which by the way, makes your head feel like it is being attacked by 1,000 fire ants) and 40 minutes to an hour NOT under the dryer. Lauren G. likes her hair platinum blonde. I, on the other hand prefer a more golden tone. While I am under the dryer waiting to my hair to process and reading trashy magazines such as Star and OK!, I also have Lauren M. apply a clear toner which helps make my hair super shiny.
To me, there is nothing worse than my hair looking frizzy, dry, fried, and disgusting. Since my hair is thin, I have to do a lot of at home maintenance to keep my bleached locks looking decent. I don't wash my hair everyday. I try to wash it every other day, or even every 3 days. Dirty hair styles WAY better anyway. I use Pureology Shampoo and Conditioner (The one in the purple tube. I forgot what it is called, and honestly, I am too lazy to get up and go look) I love it because I don't need that much to get my hair clean, and the conditioner has something minty in it that makes my scalp tingle with joy. Also, about twice a week in the shower, I do a deep conditioner called Coral Therapy by RUSK. It smells AMAZING and it makes my hair so silky. I leave it in my hair for about 5 minutes while I shave my legs or something then rinse it out. After I get out of the shower, I use a leave in conditioner by TIGI called Rockaholic. It smells like grapes and sprays right on. I then brush it with a soft bristle brush and slap on some RUSK Sheer Brilliance shine serum. I love this stuff. it makes my hair shiny and soft. I then let it air dry. I NEVER blow dry it because lets be honest, I do enough heat damage to my hair. I also do another deep treatment called Dumb Blonde (No, it is not only for blondes) by TIGI. I just put it on my dry hair in the evening, leave it on for a few hours while I blog, play on Facebook, do homework, or watch trashy reality TV and then just rinse it out when I take a shower that night. Once every 2 to 3 weeks, I also do a clear toner at home which I put on my hair, leave on for about an hour, and then wash off in the shower. A clear toner just seals the hair to make it shiny. (Obviously, I am obsessed with shiny hair.)
As far as styling, I am down for any type of hair style. I wear my hair curly a lot. I used to use a curling iron, but I have recently discovered hot rollers. Bananas. They give me a ton of volume and they are do easy! I just heat them up, put them in, leave them in while I do my makeup, take them out and BAM! We're done. When I straighten my hair, curl my hair, or use hot rollers, I always spray on RUSK Thermal Spray on my hair. It helps protect against the heat damage and I love it.
A few more of my favorite products are Masterpiece hairspray by TIGI Bed Head. It is a hairspray AND a shine spray in one with an amazing hold and it smells like pineapple. I literally die. If you like textured hair use Wired by RUSK. Put a little on your wet hair and let it air dry. Play Dirty by Short Sexy Hair is the best dry wax ever. Just be careful not to spray too much on or your hair might look a little greasy!
So now that I've told you a little about my favorite products and my golden locks, if you see me at Walmart, in my yoga pants, a hoodie, and messy hair, please don't judge me. Everyone needs a day or two off, especially when you are as high may as I am.
xoxox
Allyson Stagg
CEO of The Las Vegas Style Sirens
www.LVStyleSirens.com
LVStyleSirens@yahoo.com
Lauren and I always get asked how we get so blonde. The answer? Bleach. It is really not that complicated. That may sound a little bitchy, but I don't mean it that way. I only speak the truth.
I think what people mean to ask is how to we maintain our blonde hair, so here we go.
I get my hair done by Lauren Mortensen at Euphoria in Boca Park. She's amazing, but she only works Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and every other Saturday so book in advance! Lauren G. gets her hair done by Monika Page at Scandals Salon. Monika only works Wednesday and Saturday, so once again... book in advance. We both go every 4 to 6 weeks to get our roots done because if we don't, we look like white trash. To get my golden locks, all it takes is a magic potion that Lauren M. mixes up and 20 minutes under the dryer and BAM. I'm a whole new woman. Lauren G.'s platinum blonde takes a little longer to process. She uses bleach and a 40 volume (which by the way, makes your head feel like it is being attacked by 1,000 fire ants) and 40 minutes to an hour NOT under the dryer. Lauren G. likes her hair platinum blonde. I, on the other hand prefer a more golden tone. While I am under the dryer waiting to my hair to process and reading trashy magazines such as Star and OK!, I also have Lauren M. apply a clear toner which helps make my hair super shiny.
To me, there is nothing worse than my hair looking frizzy, dry, fried, and disgusting. Since my hair is thin, I have to do a lot of at home maintenance to keep my bleached locks looking decent. I don't wash my hair everyday. I try to wash it every other day, or even every 3 days. Dirty hair styles WAY better anyway. I use Pureology Shampoo and Conditioner (The one in the purple tube. I forgot what it is called, and honestly, I am too lazy to get up and go look) I love it because I don't need that much to get my hair clean, and the conditioner has something minty in it that makes my scalp tingle with joy. Also, about twice a week in the shower, I do a deep conditioner called Coral Therapy by RUSK. It smells AMAZING and it makes my hair so silky. I leave it in my hair for about 5 minutes while I shave my legs or something then rinse it out. After I get out of the shower, I use a leave in conditioner by TIGI called Rockaholic. It smells like grapes and sprays right on. I then brush it with a soft bristle brush and slap on some RUSK Sheer Brilliance shine serum. I love this stuff. it makes my hair shiny and soft. I then let it air dry. I NEVER blow dry it because lets be honest, I do enough heat damage to my hair. I also do another deep treatment called Dumb Blonde (No, it is not only for blondes) by TIGI. I just put it on my dry hair in the evening, leave it on for a few hours while I blog, play on Facebook, do homework, or watch trashy reality TV and then just rinse it out when I take a shower that night. Once every 2 to 3 weeks, I also do a clear toner at home which I put on my hair, leave on for about an hour, and then wash off in the shower. A clear toner just seals the hair to make it shiny. (Obviously, I am obsessed with shiny hair.)
As far as styling, I am down for any type of hair style. I wear my hair curly a lot. I used to use a curling iron, but I have recently discovered hot rollers. Bananas. They give me a ton of volume and they are do easy! I just heat them up, put them in, leave them in while I do my makeup, take them out and BAM! We're done. When I straighten my hair, curl my hair, or use hot rollers, I always spray on RUSK Thermal Spray on my hair. It helps protect against the heat damage and I love it.
A few more of my favorite products are Masterpiece hairspray by TIGI Bed Head. It is a hairspray AND a shine spray in one with an amazing hold and it smells like pineapple. I literally die. If you like textured hair use Wired by RUSK. Put a little on your wet hair and let it air dry. Play Dirty by Short Sexy Hair is the best dry wax ever. Just be careful not to spray too much on or your hair might look a little greasy!
So now that I've told you a little about my favorite products and my golden locks, if you see me at Walmart, in my yoga pants, a hoodie, and messy hair, please don't judge me. Everyone needs a day or two off, especially when you are as high may as I am.
xoxox
Allyson Stagg
CEO of The Las Vegas Style Sirens
www.LVStyleSirens.com
LVStyleSirens@yahoo.com
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Long time, no see.
It was brought to my attention tonight by my favorite stalker, that we have not noveled in over a month. This is NOT okay and you all have my deepest apologies. We will try to improve on our noveling skills.
We have had a very busy past month and a half which is crazy because typically, November and December move by in a snail-like manner due to the lack of weddings, photo shoots, and events. Not this year though! This year is full of firsts for us, I guess. Moving on....
Lets do a quick little replay of the last few weeks, shall we?
Well, first of all, we had an amazing photo shoot with London 5 Photography. It was a Dia De Los Muertos themed shoot and it went brilliantly. Jessica and Joe were are models, and Jessicas obsession with Americas Next Top Model was much appreciated. She knew how to execute every pose flawlessly. We went up into these caves (which we hiked 5 miles to get too) to do the shoot. All of the pieces in the puzzle just seemed to fall into place that day. I am so happy with the out come and I can not wait to see more photos!
The night of our Dia shoot, we met Adam Trujillo with Imagine photography and he pitched a shoot idea to us. Once we heard the words "Mad Hatter" we were sold. We were sooooo stoked to work with him, Weeds Floral, and Gimmie Some Sugar cakes, that Lauren and I could barely stand it. The next two weeks flew by full of weddings and an amazing VIP event at Red Rock Hotel and Casino. (PS the spa at Red Rock is GORGEOUS. I would literally DIE to work there doing makeup every day of my life. *hint hint* ;) Anyway, the night before the photo shoot, Lauren and I were chowing down sushi from Sushi Loca (She was eating the Pearl Special and I was eating Tuna) discussing our game plan and going over the makeup looks we had designed for the Mad Hatter photo shoot the next day. 8:30pm rolls around, Lauren is packing up her stuff to leave when suddenly, we both look at both of our phones. We each had 10 missed calls from an unknown number. Long story short, it was a celebrity client wanting our services for the next day. (Yes, the same day as the Mad Hatter shoot, AND PS the Latin Grammys!!!) Needless to say, we were BOOKED BOOKED BOOKED! (and stressed beyond words) We finally worked it all out and got our schedules together for the following day. We decided Lauren would go to the celebrity client and I would go to the Mad Hatter shoot and we would fill in the blanks with other employees.
The next day:
The Mad Hatter photo shoot...It was tough. I'm not gonna lie. I was trying to put foundation on our beautiful model Eva, and the dust brought up from the 200MPH wind was just layering on her face. The wind was so strong, it literally blew the false eyelashes I had put on her, off of her eye AFTER the glue dried. My makeup kit STILL has dust in it after I have cleaned it out several times. The wind knocked the cake and the flowers around everywhere. It was crazy, but the pictures turned out amazing! Weeds Floral, Imagine Photography, and Gimmie Some Sugar, all helped to make this photo shoot a total success and I had such a blast working with them!
After the photo shoot, I was rushing home to pick up my son and I ruin my car driving back to the main road from the shoot. By ruin. I mean total. I need a new engine, radiator, and a whole bunch of other things that I can't remember the names of. Sucked BIG time! I called a tow truck to come get my car and Mrs. Lauren Gardiner to come pick me up. As I sat at a dirty truck stop in Jean, NV, filthy and covered in dust from head to toe, with no car, I could not help but laugh at the fact that Lauren was in a Suite at the Mandalay Bay chummin' it with our celeb and the rest of the Style Siren crew. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing.
Oh and did I mention, we still had another 5 hour job that night AFTER all of this? Yeah. That was definitely the longest day in history.
I'm honestly tired just writing about all of this. I promise I will novel more. If you all would email me your beauty questions, I would be happy to answer them. This also helps keep me motivated to novel.
Have a wonderful night everyone! Don't forget follow is on Twitter, Myspace, and be our Fan on Facebook! (You can find it on my page www.Facebook.com/AllysonStagg)
xoxoxox
Allyson Stagg
CEO of The Las Vegas Style Sirens
LVStyleSirens@yahoo.com
www.LVStyleSirens.com
We have had a very busy past month and a half which is crazy because typically, November and December move by in a snail-like manner due to the lack of weddings, photo shoots, and events. Not this year though! This year is full of firsts for us, I guess. Moving on....
Lets do a quick little replay of the last few weeks, shall we?
Well, first of all, we had an amazing photo shoot with London 5 Photography. It was a Dia De Los Muertos themed shoot and it went brilliantly. Jessica and Joe were are models, and Jessicas obsession with Americas Next Top Model was much appreciated. She knew how to execute every pose flawlessly. We went up into these caves (which we hiked 5 miles to get too) to do the shoot. All of the pieces in the puzzle just seemed to fall into place that day. I am so happy with the out come and I can not wait to see more photos!
The night of our Dia shoot, we met Adam Trujillo with Imagine photography and he pitched a shoot idea to us. Once we heard the words "Mad Hatter" we were sold. We were sooooo stoked to work with him, Weeds Floral, and Gimmie Some Sugar cakes, that Lauren and I could barely stand it. The next two weeks flew by full of weddings and an amazing VIP event at Red Rock Hotel and Casino. (PS the spa at Red Rock is GORGEOUS. I would literally DIE to work there doing makeup every day of my life. *hint hint* ;) Anyway, the night before the photo shoot, Lauren and I were chowing down sushi from Sushi Loca (She was eating the Pearl Special and I was eating Tuna) discussing our game plan and going over the makeup looks we had designed for the Mad Hatter photo shoot the next day. 8:30pm rolls around, Lauren is packing up her stuff to leave when suddenly, we both look at both of our phones. We each had 10 missed calls from an unknown number. Long story short, it was a celebrity client wanting our services for the next day. (Yes, the same day as the Mad Hatter shoot, AND PS the Latin Grammys!!!) Needless to say, we were BOOKED BOOKED BOOKED! (and stressed beyond words) We finally worked it all out and got our schedules together for the following day. We decided Lauren would go to the celebrity client and I would go to the Mad Hatter shoot and we would fill in the blanks with other employees.
The next day:
The Mad Hatter photo shoot...It was tough. I'm not gonna lie. I was trying to put foundation on our beautiful model Eva, and the dust brought up from the 200MPH wind was just layering on her face. The wind was so strong, it literally blew the false eyelashes I had put on her, off of her eye AFTER the glue dried. My makeup kit STILL has dust in it after I have cleaned it out several times. The wind knocked the cake and the flowers around everywhere. It was crazy, but the pictures turned out amazing! Weeds Floral, Imagine Photography, and Gimmie Some Sugar, all helped to make this photo shoot a total success and I had such a blast working with them!
After the photo shoot, I was rushing home to pick up my son and I ruin my car driving back to the main road from the shoot. By ruin. I mean total. I need a new engine, radiator, and a whole bunch of other things that I can't remember the names of. Sucked BIG time! I called a tow truck to come get my car and Mrs. Lauren Gardiner to come pick me up. As I sat at a dirty truck stop in Jean, NV, filthy and covered in dust from head to toe, with no car, I could not help but laugh at the fact that Lauren was in a Suite at the Mandalay Bay chummin' it with our celeb and the rest of the Style Siren crew. Amazing. Amazing. Amazing.
Oh and did I mention, we still had another 5 hour job that night AFTER all of this? Yeah. That was definitely the longest day in history.
I'm honestly tired just writing about all of this. I promise I will novel more. If you all would email me your beauty questions, I would be happy to answer them. This also helps keep me motivated to novel.
Have a wonderful night everyone! Don't forget follow is on Twitter, Myspace, and be our Fan on Facebook! (You can find it on my page www.Facebook.com/AllysonStagg)
xoxoxox
Allyson Stagg
CEO of The Las Vegas Style Sirens
LVStyleSirens@yahoo.com
www.LVStyleSirens.com
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