Downloadable Cards!

Hey there all of our brides-to-be!

We’re all talking about the fun ideas Simply Bridal has come up with for this busy season of love! December is the most popular month for giving, receiving and popping the question, so the team at Simply Bridal has created adorable downloadable engagement announcements to share the wonderful news with friends and family. They also serve as a reminder to keep an eye out for your Save the Dates! With you and your groom’s  best interest always in mind, these do-it-yourself cards are the perfect way to save some of that well-earned cash you’ll be spending on your loved ones this holiday! As they tell us, “all you need is a printer and some kind words!”

We love these and know all of you will too. The holidays are all about being together with friends and family – the perfect time to share the love. Simply Bridal has also created DIY thank you cards for you to use as well.

Download, print, and share away! Don’t forget to tell others who may appreciate this wonderful idea!

Great job, www.simplybridal.com!

 

Happy Holidays from unBridaled Beauty!

 

Are You a Fashion Forward Bride? Part II: Fashion Tresses

We checked out the trends that dominated the runways this year, and latest bridal fashions and beauty are certainly a hot topic. Out of these chart toppers, which is most like you?

 

Hair styles say a lot about you, as the bride. Which of these make the statement you desire?

1.       BRAIDal Beauty

Quite popular with boho brides, there are many variations to perfecting this whimsical look. Whether a simple and sweet fishtail or a crown-topping compact coil, a plait can make a beautiful feminine statement.

 

2.       Top Knot

Chic bun is an easy no-brainer for you ladies with high-style. Perfect anchors for cascading veils, tight up-dos are a popular favorite.

 

 

3.       Clean Sweep

Amp up the sophisticated style of your look with a clean sweep off the face. So stylish, yet subtly sexy, this ‘do will surely get the “wow” you’ve been searching for from your guests.

Are You a Fashion Forward Bride? Part I: Wedding Dress Fashions

We checked out the trends that dominated the runways this year, and latest bridal fashions and beauty are certainly a hot topic. Out of these chart toppers, which is most like you?

As far as gowns go, we chose some of our favorites:

1.       Jeweled and beading details

Bling never left the bridal world, but it is currently in full swing! From mesmerizing all-over beading, to intricate bodices, and encrusted sleeves, brides love their sparkle.

 

2.       Keyhole backs

Just a ring of skin, yet so seductive. The majority of wedding designers used this look in their lines this season, making it one of the most popular styles. Usually encircled with lace detail, it gives the dress a more sophisticated illusion and appeals to all types of brides.

 

3.       Long sleeves

Popularized by Kate Middleton two years ago, the royally-inspired long sleeves look is still going strong. Billowy and skintight versions are equally beautiful, and the 2013 designs radiate Old-World charm.

 

Tips for Booking Hair and Makeup

Working for an onsite hair and makeup service business, we run into many things that you, as a bride, aren’t aware of when booking your wedding day services that could greatly help you as you plan! So, we thought it might be quite useful to talk about 5 tips regarding this part of wedding planning.

1.    Wedding planning is stressful as we know it! So, it will benefit you greatly to be organized and on top of things, so that as the big day approaches, everything runs smoothly. In this regard, booking hair and makeup services at least 6 months out will be ideal. Essentially, this gives enough time for your wedding party needs to be fully covered. The more time the hair and makeup team have, the better they can accommodate you. 

2.    When scheduling a trial run for hair and makeup, it’s best to plan for 3-6 weeks before the wedding date. If you schedule too early, you might find something different and decide you would like a different look – which results in scheduling another trial run, and more cost to the you. 3-6 weeks is the perfect time frame for you to be completely sure that the looks you chose are the ones you feel most beautiful with!

3.    Researching pictures and bringing them to trial runs are an excellent way to clearly communicate your vision for your wedding day.  At unBridaled Beauty, we actually require you to print out pictures of hair and makeup that you like. Doing so, helps the artist see a clearer vision of what you desire, so you are more than pleased with the results. There are tons of styles – we get all types of different hair and makeup photos!

4.    Keeping the Bridal Coordinator of the company you have booked with informed and up to date on the progress of your wedding services and what you will need, avoids additional stress and worry. By keeping in contact with the beauty team, there will be ample time for rearrangements if need be and you won’t need to worry knowing that you’ll be ready to roll on your big day!

5.    If you have a large wedding party, it is normal to have an early start time to the hair and makeup process. Any hair and makeup team you work with should have your best interests as their first priority and at unBridaled Beauty, we will make sure that there is plenty of time for everyone to be picture perfect!

Simply Bridal

Hey bloggers! Check this out!

 

Simply Bridal is a company that custom creates the dream wedding dress for their brides – handmade and affordable! High quality fabrics, fantastic detail, and custom fitting result in gorgeous gowns that easily surpass the value of tailoring pre-made gowns at a higher expense. Their dresses are absolutely fabulous, along with their new line of bridal jewelry! unBridaled Beauty personally recommends Simply Bridal and all they have to offer! Check them out at www.simplybridal.com  - you won’t regret it! J

 

 

Great beauty product!

Hey there bloggers!

 

I have another great recommendation for you! I, as well as my roommates, have started using an awesome new product – The Simply Body Soap Net. Personally, this comes in extremely handy and I’m sure you all will agree. Alright, so we all know that your bar of soap in the shower becomes slippery and fragile after many uses right? Inevitable! On another downside, the softness of a typical bar of soap does nothing to exfoliate the skin so all of the dirt and grime from the day washes away. In comes Soap Net! This tiny mesh net with adjustable wristband holds an entire bar of soap. The mesh helps create a more voluminous lather, while also exfoliating the skin. The wristband, with a variety of colored beads, keeps those slippery suckers from sliding right out of your hands. After using, it’s easily hung up (this is especially helpful when my bar becomes small and brittle) The Simply Body Soap Net is a wonderful product – not only beneficial to the skin, but it extends the life of your soap. My roommates agree that it makes a world of difference.

What are ya waiting for? Find out for yourself!

http://simplybodysoapnet.com/The_Simply_Body_Soap/Main.html

Introducing the newest member of the unBridaled Beauty team!

Hello everyone!

    My name is Shelby Hopkins and I am the newest member of the unBridaled Beauty team! I am extremely honored to be working with the wonderful Marcella and her exceptional team of artists. I am so excited to get settled in and make sure each of our blushing brides has a flawless wedding experience!

    Currently, I am a student at the University of Central Florida and studying Event Management with a double major in Hospitality Management. I am fascinated with the world of Hospitality and all of its avenues, from handing out lollipops at Disney World, to fluffing a brides train as she walks down the aisle. Living in Orlando, I have been immersed in the best of the best that this industry has to offer, learning and growing every step of the way.

    On the unprofessional side of things, I am a country girl at heart! Despite having grown up on the beach in Fort Lauderdale, the woods and mountains are where I feel most at home. (I swear I must’ve been born there!) I enjoy being outdoors, and gearing up for activities with friends and family. Besides, it’s okay to be a tough girl once in a while, as long as you clean up nicely, right? I was raised with southern values and cherish the support my family has always surrounded me with.

Well, that’s enough about me! Again, I am so excited to be a part of the unBridaled Beauty team and look forward to speaking with all of you!

Thank you!

 

Shelby Hopkins

Bridal Coordinator

Social Media Manager

Read Orlando Wedding Magazine? Check Out This Issue For My Bridal Beauty Tips!

I feel honored to have been asked to be in June 2012 issue of Orlando Wedding Magazine as their featured artist. I got to make up our model's hair and makeup and then spill some beauty secrets to recreate the look. 

Click here to read more! You don't want to miss this.

Natural Beauty - Orlando Wedding - June 2012

 

Ever Wondered What It Takes to Create A Magazine Shoot?

Here is a behind-the-scenes look at Lake Mary Healthy Living Magazine Shoot. Working on the beach...it doesn't get much better than that!

Click below to watch the video:

Lake Mary Healthy Living Magazine, The Look, 2012 (BTS) from Betsy Hansen on Vimeo.

 This is the final result from what you saw on the video! It's so much fun watching it come together. You can see of my portfolio at www.unreelbeauty.com

 

Photography by: Betsy Hansen

Hair: Angelica Chrysler

Makeup: Marcella Cardinal

Models: Ashlen and Josie from Prodigy Models
Video: Dani Bauer
Wardrobe: Sophie & Trey and 4th and Ocean

Are You A Bride Who Wants More Dramatic Eyes?

My unBridaled Beauty team and I love to customize every bride's look for her wedding day. It's what makes it fun and exciting for us as artists. Brittany really wanted to make her eyes stand out and had selected a look that complimented her bronzed skin, using deeper browns, golds and lining her eyes with black to make her brown eyes pop. 

As a general rule, I do recommend brides play up the eyes. Don't worry if you cry- with primer, water/sweat-resistant airbrush makeup and waterproof mascara, we've got you covered!

Should You Be Tanning Before Your Wedding...or Ever?

Okay, yes. Aside from being a makeup artist I am also an esthetician, and yes, I believe tanning is probably the worst thing you can do for your skin. That's only if you want to have smooth, even-toned, wrinkle-free skin for as long as possible.

I'm also aware that it's going to happen (soaking up sun, that is) especially if you live in Florida and I personally love going to the beach and getting some rays myself...safely, of course. 


With that being said, I have been a bit horrified when my beautiful, young and lovely brides have confessed they were going to tanning beds "only a few times" to get a nice color before the wedding. "All it takes is a few times" I try to tell them, but I can tell they look at me like the party-pooper esthetician/makeup artist that's raining on their golden skin parade. 

What Style of Bride Are You?

Can I just say; I love my brides. Brandie was one of those brides that just reminded me of why I absolutely love doing what I do. She is fun, bright, and always has a smile on her face! (Seriously. All the time).

It was an absolute pleasure working with her on her wedding.

She's not someone that wears a lot of makeup on a day-to-day basis (although she can definitely rock it when she's going out). She's a daring, strong woman that's not afraid to pull off some bling (diamond studded piercings on her back, I might add!) She rides her very fast motorcycle, yet is feminine and beautiful, and has an inspiring strong faith. In general, she rocks. 

Here's a look at her big day:

Inspired by Khloe Kardashian's Wedding Makeup?

One thing is for sure- I love my brides. I have to say that in most part, they are all just amazing women to work with and my team and I are honored to be a part of their big day.

So much so, that it has occurred to me to begin telling you about them. Each one is unique in their vision, especially when it comes to hair and makeup. Maybe you're engaged and looking to get some ideas, or maybe you're just browsing, but I always learn something with each new perspective...perhaps because I'm obsessed with makeup!

I first met Andrea at her trial run. She was a very classy bride with a very good idea of what she wanted, which makes my job so much easier!

I always ask that brides-to-be bring pictures to the trial run of hair and makeup they like. The reason for this is two-fold: 1. It gets them to really hone in on what they want and 2. It provides us with a visual, so there is nothing lost in translation. I learned a long time ago that my idea of one thing is not someone else's, so this avoids confusion and frustration. Aside from that, I am an artist, so I am very visual anyway.

Andrea provided Jaime (on of my very wonderful and talented hair artists) and I an image of Khloe Kardashian. The look was long, loose curls and lined, dramatic eyes was something that inspired her.

Melanie Mills Answers Your Lack-Luster Skin Concern: How Do I Get Perfect Summer Skin?

You may or may not have heard of the name Melanie Mills, but if you've ever watched an episode of Dancing With the Stars, then you've seen this Emmy award-winning makeup artist's work at play! (and six times nominated, might I add).

Melanie's work is no easy task because her job doesn't only encompass traditional makeup for the face, but for the body as well. Before she came along, there was a need for a fast and easy way to make up the body that would require minimal touch-ups and wouldn't come off with the dancers' impressive (but sweaty) performances. Seeing a need for this void in the beauty, makeup and dancer's world, Melanie has certainly delivered.

Introducing GLEAM by Melanie Mills! This transfer-resistant Body Radiance comes in four different tones: Light Gold, Rose Gold, Bronze Gold and Deep Gold.

Ladies, with the summer and sundresses coming up, this is a must for radiant, glowing, even and luminous skin.

I had the opportunity to connect with the artist herself to have her answer all those questions I just know you have, so here goes:

Have You Heard About Kim Greene's Bags?

So, if you're a professional makeup aritst, you've most likely heard of the talented Kim Greene. If you're not a professional makeup artist (except maybe in your bathroom), then let me introduce you to her. Kim has not only been department head in an innumerable amount of Hollywood box office hits such as Wanderlust, Superbad, Charlies Angels: Full Throtle, The Wedding Singer, and Herbie Fully Loaded, just to name a few (check out what else she's done here), but she has also skillfully designed her own line of bags for professional makeup artists and the everyday woman.

Now, you may be wondering: what makes her bags so special?

I'll tell you!

What Is the Difference Between Skin Type vs. Skin Condition?

The skin is very complex and we find that people are constantly misdiagnosing their skin type and skin condition.

What is the difference? 

Are You Getting Your Beauty Sleep?

We've heard the expression our whole lives, and have often joked about it. The truth is sleep is necessary for anti-aging and beauty benefits in general, as well as health and hormonal balance. I've never understood the expression: "I'll sleep when I die" because lack of sleep will contribute to the deterioration of your body and immune system...and could very well contribute to an early grave! I don't know about you, but when I don't get quality sleep, or get less sleep than I'm used to for more than one night, I just don't feel right. I'm more bloated, the lines on my face seem more pronounced, my skin looks dull, not to mention crankiness, heightened emotional sensitivity and fogginess. It can even heighten depression!

You may be thinking "well, that's why there's a Starbucks or Dunkin' Donuts on every corner! Just drink caffeine!" True, caffeine will give you a jolt, but more than one cup a day may actually be harming you. Due to the ongoing stress in our everyday lives (kids, meetings, deadlines, family, money, etc.) your adrenal glands are working overtime. The adrenals sit on top of our kidneys and they're in charge of monitoring the body’s stress response through the release of cortisol and adrenaline in the ‘fight or flight’ response. Both of these hormones are essential when in balance in order to have a healthy stress response and fight infection.

Do You Know What Inflammation Is?

This is a subject that is very true to me. I absolutely and without a doubt believe this is the number one cause of all skin and health problems!

Firstly though, how would you define inflammation?

Most people think of redness, burning, and overall discomfort, right?

What Products Should I Use To Relieve My Dry Skin?

Dry skin indicates that the condition of the skin barrier needs a little help, mainly because your skin doesn’t produce enough oils.

The lipid barrier is a naturally-ocurring barrier that consists of a mixture of oils and ceramides. Think of it as the ‘bouncer’ in your skin. It decides which ingredients to let in, and what to keep out. It makes the skin stonger, and the healthier it is, the more hydrated your skin will be, and the less irritated it gets.

It’s naturally acidic in its pH and this is to keep harmful bacteria and irritants out! When this barrier is weak or insufficient (which tends to be the case often with so many barrier-debilitating procedures such as strong peels, microdermabrasion, lasers, etc), it lends the skin to be more sensitized and more ‘reactive’ to products. It can also give way to more inflammation in the skin, which in turn accelerates aging, and increases the occurance of acne and pigmentation. (Click here to read more on inflammation)

This lipid barrier is very much influenced by diet, stress, hormones, prolonged exposure to water and cold, dry weather. If you live in a cold state or country, you know this first-hand.
Clients during winter-time in Colorado always have the same complaint: dryness.
This is due to the harsh, dry cold outdoors and then the heat inside every home
and business.

This constant fluctuation in temperature affects the fats that lubricate the skin
and begin breaking them down. Aside from this, it can cause the weakening and
breaking of small capillaries, causing redness and a ‘flushed’ look.
You are also more prone to developing wrinkles with dry skin.
What is Your Course of Action?

What Are Stem Cells and Why Are They Important In Skin Care?

There is new and groundbreaking technology revolutionizing the skin care industry and you may be seeing it here for the first time.

Skin care enthusiasts, listen up: This is the way the skin care and anti-aging market is headed and you definitely want to come along for this ride.

What am I referring to?

Why it’s the wondrous, miraculous and scientific world of adult stem cells.

According to New Beauty’s article on stem cell treatments in the 2010 Winter/Spring issue: “Doctors in the esthetic industry are ecstatic about the new discovery of fat-derived stem cells. Research shows they are a modern way of defying the signs of aging and oneday preventing aging all together.”

Exciting, right?

So the next question is obviously- do you know what stem cells are?

How Do I Know If LED Products Work?

 

(After 6 treatments with the PhotoActif Professional machine. Results are not typical in home use machines. Property of Rosa Cardinal International, LLC and www.europeanskininstitute.com)

There is a lot of hype nowadays promoting LED machines for home use, touting the same, amazing results you would obtain from a professional machine. It’s not to say you can’t get good use out of them and see some results, although they may not be as drastic as if you were getting them professionally done. I think we can agree that some results for the fraction of the cost can be just what you’re looking for and a perfect harmony between your beauty regimen and your wallet.

The truth is: a lot of these treatments can be very costly and sometimes self-treatment is the only realistic approach. However, remember not to be ‘wowed’ with all the fancy terminology and pictures of serious-looking people in lab coats. It’s your due diligence that you’re getting the best product, even if you’re looking for a bargain. Just because you can get a deal doesn’t mean you should get it, and by the same token, for those of you that are treatment snobs, just because it’s affordable doesn’t always mean it’s not good.

Moral of the story is you should always ask questions, but before you know what to ask or look for, I am going to educate you on how and why LEDs work.

Light-Emitting Diodes(LED): What are they?