Preferred Vendor Spotlight: AriesFireBomb
Ja’Mon and I chatted via zoom where I had the pleasure of getting to know a little bit more about him. His energy and vibe are contagious - you should definitely hire him for your next big event or dance party!
by WPI Founder, Jessica Mae
A couple of months ago I had the pleasure of “e-meeting” Ja’Mon, Founder of AriesFireBomb, via Instagram. I was immediately drawn to his energy and the work he does for the local community in Minneapolis. When I learned that he was a Minneapolis DJ I wanted you to know more about what he does, what inspires him, and share that with all of you!
The Interview
Ja’Mon and I chatted via zoom where I had the pleasure of getting to know a little bit more about him. His energy and vibe are contagious - you should definitely hire him for your next big event or dance party!
“I love intimate dance parties, 200-300 people”
How did you come up with the name AriesFireBomb for your business?
Well, I am an Aries and have been told I resemble many Aries traits. I’m an easygoing person, but also have a passionate side which can be good or bad I suppose.
What inspired you to become a DJ? How long have you been doing it?
I’ve been DJ’ing for 5 years and have always been passionate about music. I snuck watching MTV as a kid (since my parents wouldn’t let me watch it) and loved the art that was created through music videos.
What is your favorite genre of music and why?
This is a tough one to answer! I listen to everything. If pinned down I would have to say that House music is my favorite because it incorporates a lot of other styles of music and genres. Of course, you can never go wrong with the ’80s and 90’s music! I love how good that era makes people feel when they hear it.
Ja’Mon Kimbrough
AriesFireBomb in action!
What is your favorite type of event to DJ?
I love intimate dance parties, 200-300 people. There’s a sense of community and a vibe with a smaller group like that. I’m able to feel the energy of the room which makes the next track I play easy to select. I love to show people different styles of music they haven’t heard before that enhances the vibe of the party/event.
Any advice for couples trying to pick their first song and put together a playlist for their wedding?
I would say, avoid picking songs that speak to only one of you. Try to find songs that you both find special. The playlist should be a mixture of both of your tastes in music, while also considering the type of vibe you want to have. If the dance is important to you, you may want to consider thinking about the type of music that will get your guests on their feet!
When you’re not DJ’ing what do you enjoy doing?
I am a creative at heart. I enjoy writing, photography, film making and cooking.
Where can people find you?
Contact Ja’mon at AriesFireBomb
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Preferred Vendor Spotlight: PAINT Nail Bar Wayzata
We are always on the hunt for the best of the best in all things beauty. PAINT Nail Bar in Wayzata, MN is no exception. From their incredibly chic salon. to their customer service and talented nail technicians PAINT Nail Bar is by far one of the best places to get a nail service in the Twin Cities.
We are always on the hunt for the best of the best in all things beauty. PAINT Nail Bar in Wayzata, MN is no exception. From their incredibly chic salon. to their customer service and talented nail technicians PAINT Nail Bar is by far one of the best places to get a nail service in the Twin Cities.
The Interview
I sat down with one of the owners, Angela, and asked her all the things to bring you the inside scoop and reasons why you should book your next manicure + pedicure at PAINT!
What inspired you to open a PAINT Nail Bar Location?
We saw a need for a cleaner, healthier nail salon. PAINT Nail Bar impressed us with how much emphasis they place on overall cleanliness and sterilization. At PAINT we also put our amazing team first. We were attracted to that philosophy of business leadership.
PAINT Nail Bar Wayzata Owners: Angela and Dan.
What makes PAINT different from other nail salons?
PAINT Nail Bar is an experience center first, and a cool nail salon second. There is an energy at PAINT that makes us unique in the nail salon space. We focus on building relationships and strive for real client engagement, not just excellent customer service. Our products are healthier and are free from known toxins that are harmful to skin and nails. Our chic home décor is regularly commented on by clients. It’s a comfortable place to relax and be pampered!
Can PAINT accommodate private parties? If yes, how would someone book?
PAINT Nail Bar is all about parties! We host many including little girl princess parties, birthday parties, team-building corporate events, and Men’s and Ladies’ nights. Scheduling a party is as easy as calling the front desk at 952-777-2778!
One of PAINT’S values is offering a non-toxic environment and services. What does that mean?
At PAINT we use only products that are 5,7 or 9 free of harmful toxins. We strive to maintain the integrity of the natural nail. We do not use drills or UV lamps as both have a negative effect on a customer’s health. We use Gel X or sculpted gel products as a healthier alternative to harmful acrylics.
What steps is PAINT Wayzata taking to keep clients and staff as safe as possible from COVID-19?
PAINT is dedicated to the health and safety of our staff and clients. When it comes to COVID-19 some changes may be permanent and some may be temporary, but our dedication to ensuring the safest and best PAINT experience is forever. Below are a few measures we are taking at this time. For a full version of our preparedness plan please visit our website HERE.
Every guest is required to wash their hands upon arrival and wear a disposable face mask.
Client spacing will be done in accordance with the CDC and WHO guidelines at our manicure and pedicure stations.
Thorough cleaning and sanitation of all surfaces and equipment with medical-grade cleansers.
Nail techs will wear face shields and face masks.
How can someone schedule an appointment and where can we connect with you online?
Clients can schedule their appointments by calling us at 952-777-2778 OR they can book online HERE. We are on Instagram and Facebook, you can find us at @paintwayzata. If email is preferred PAINT can be reached by clicking the button below.
What else should we know about PAINT?
At PAINT we are dedicated to partnering with and supporting other local businesses. We regularly host trunk shows where local business owners can showcase their products or services to our clients and staff. We are always looking for ways to help create a wonderful and memorable experience at PAINT Nail Bar.
Pink Nails
Ballerina Nails
Flamingo Nails
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Hair Styling and Makeup Artistry in Minnesota Exempt from Board of Cosmetology
Gov. Walz signs bill SF 2898. A win against Minnesota’s wildly unequal treatment that infringes on the Equal Protection Clauses of both the U.S. and Minnesota Constitutions for hair and makeup artistry.
Bill SF 2898 Exempting Simple Hair Styling & Makeup Artistry Passes in Minnesota
UPDATED ON MAY 27TH, 2020
Governer Walz signed bill SF 2898 today, finalizing the two-year battle against the Board of Cosmetology unconstitutionally redefining their rules to deem simple hair styling and makeup artistry illegal. Now, freelance artists and agencies who employ them can continue the businesses they have legally operated for years without interruption or fear of fines, being shut down, or forced into cosmetology school requirements that do not focus on their career paths.
For decades and generations, freelance artists have been providing simple hair styling and makeup artistry in Minnesota (and nearly every other state in the U.S.) without licensure and regulation. In December of 2018, thousands of freelance individuals and agencies like WarPaint International were threatened by the decision of the Minnesota Board of Cosmetology to re-interpret language in the rules governing salons and cosmetologists making what we do illegal overnight. No grace period, no grand-fathered rules, no help. Businesses were being fined and shut down. Some even left the industry.
“Minnesota’s wildly unequal treatment infringes on the Equal Protection Clauses of both the U.S. and Minnesota Constitutions.”
The interesting part? The Board of Cosmetology is not a law-making entity; legislators are. Yet they unconstitutionally enforced their “rules” as such, affecting people’s lives, careers, families, and retirement.
WPI Founder, Jessica Mae, doing makeup in 2011 at RAW Minneapolis on International Model Taylor Skye.
A lawsuit filed against the Minnesota Board of Cosmetology
In an article published by the Star Tribune in November of 2019, the “rule” change offered by the Board threatened thousands of female entrepreneurs and independent business owners by shutting down their businesses overnight. A pending lawsuit by local artists and Minnesota’s premier School of Makeup Artistry, Faces Etc. MN began to help shape the way for standing up to corrupt overreach by an agency seeking to benefit from the growing industry of bridal artistry.
According to Forbes online, “to enforce its rules, the Board has ordered makeup artists to cease and desist and slapped them with thousands of dollars in fines. Violating the law can even risk criminal penalties.” Forbes also went on to say “Minnesota’s regulations are not just ridiculous, they’re also unconstitutional. (The Board has declined to publicly comment on the case.) Furthermore that “there is no natural and reasonable basis” to license makeup and hair services for brides, but not bridal photoshoots, Minnesota’s wildly unequal treatment infringes on the Equal Protection Clauses of both the U.S. and Minnesota Constitutions.
“History was made today. A fearless group of entrepreneurs stood strong and fought for what was right and won against all odds. I am honored to stand alongside an amazing group of professionals. Let freedom ring!”
“The law” is filled with loopholes
The law, however, is filled with loopholes. The Board doesn’t require a license to offer hair or makeup services for fashion, film, media productions, photoshoots, TV, or the theater. Selling makeup at retail counters like Macy’s, Sephora, Nordstrom, MAC, and the like are all fine and legal. The Board doesn’t recognize sanitation or health concerns there.
And in fact, according to the Board of Cosmetology rules, we can dispatch a Makeup Artist to go on-site to do makeup (and hairstyling) for a model, posed as a bride, in a fake wedding for a photoshoot without any health or sanitation worries or BCE infractions. But the same model can be married the following day in the same dress, at the same venue having her hair and makeup done by the same artist, using the same products and brushes and this would be deemed illegal.
Absolutely. Ridiculous.
Minnesota State Capital in St. Paul, MN
The fight for preserving the craft was worth it
Jessica Mae, Co-Founder of WarPaint International alongside her husband Samuel J. Koza joined forces with local artists, industry competitors, salon owners (who believed in the cause), and a local Minneapolis Makeup Artistry School to protect jobs, to stand up for what is right and to preserve the craft of freelance artistry.
History was made today. A fearless group of entrepreneurs stood strong and fought for what was right and won against all odds. I am honored to stand alongside an amazing group of professionals. Let freedom ring! - said Jessica Mae.
Battling against odds
As independent artists and business owners flooded the sidelines in the chambers at the State Capitol, more noise and interest surrounded the controversy concerning freelance artistry. Many artists gave testimony to their career, their families, their safety & sanitation as well as positive reviews for their business and reputation to build credibility around their job that they have already performed for years without interruption.
Other media outlets began to comment on what seemed obvious to most - the corruption and greed associated with fees in the growing bridal industry. The representative for the Minnesota Spa & Salon Association and the BCE repeatedly, under testimony, directed their concerns to safety for the public in sanitation practices. None-the-less could not give educated responses as to why they would have health concerns ONLY for bridal clients and no other segments of on-site or freelance artistry. The local media outlet, City Pages, further explored the issue with local Artists, Cristina Ziemer and Melanie Rivers by entitling their article “Minnesota hairstylists, makeup artists take a stand against stupid, confusing laws”
Disappointment along the way
Adversity and opinion certainly are common in any undertaking but a lesson learned in the beauty industry is that one or two people can cause hate and miseducation amongst a community. One would hope that all artists, cosmetologists, aestheticians, nail techs and other individuals working in the beauty industry would band together as a community of creative artists and individuals that we call the “beauty industry”.
Instead, some licensed individuals went on live social media platforms calling freelance artists “filthy pigs’ and claiming disease and infection, yet the state doesn’t have a record of those infections or complaints. Truth be told, many freelance artists have gone out of their way to invest in training and sanitation on their own in order to build a reputable business and in fact, have begged for a mandated sanitation course that fits into our career path. But the Board, as usual, had no comment.
We’ve learned a lot through the legal process and are very grateful that due process and hard work paid off. This bill passed in the House with a 128 to 4 vote and in the Senate with a 64-3 vote.
A win for all
This is a true victory for not only freelance artists, but licensed professionals as well. Prior to the bill passing, a licensed cosmetologist/aesthetician would have to obtain their standard license as well as a manager’s license and a special event permit. They will no longer have to jump through those hoops in order to provide makeup applications and hair styling for onsite events! This will save them money and precious time.
Truth and justice prevailed
In the end, a very long road of hard work was put into this undertaking. We had truth and justice on our side and God in our hearts. HUGE thank you’s are owed to some very hard-working people and businesses for making change in Minnesota to preserve jobs, career paths, and the future as we await Minnesota Governor Walz’s signature.
Thank you to:
Megan Stewart Forbes - our lobbyist from the Institute for Justice
Nino Altobelli of Rocco Altobelli Salons
Debbie Carlson of Faces Etc. of MN (Makeup School for Artistry)
Mia Pietruszewski, Keely Frisvold, Cristina Ziemer, Melanie Rivers, Amy Marie Reid, Lady Vamp Artistry, Zeil Bridal, Jacqueline Burt, Jamie Arrington.
And our gracious competitor Primped MN, who has been a support mechanism, agent of change, and an industry friend in the face of adversity.
May the force be with all of you and may the “beauty industry” work as a transparent entity furthering the cause of beauty, artistry, health and sanitation practices, and most importantly, the preservation of our craft.
Jessica Mae, Founder WPI
Owners, WarPaint International Beauty Agency.
Jessica Mae with Senator Karin Housely
Jessica Mae with Nino Altobelli
Testifying with Megan Stewart Forbes
Jessica Mae with Representative Kelly Morrison and Kalya Vanderziel
Jessica Mae with Artisan Keely Frisvold
Founders Jessica Mae & Samuel Koza with Artisans Mia and Keely
Nurse Lindsey's Lipstick Looks
With all the focus on our frontline workers during these challenging times, we wanted to give nurses and healthcare workers everywhere some simple makeup inspiration. So we reached out to our friend Lindsey Kuehl, who is a Minneapolis healthcare worker and also a Minneapolis model.
Nurse Lindsey’s 3 Days of Lipstick
With all the focus on our frontline workers during these challenging times, we wanted to give nurses and healthcare workers everywhere some simple makeup inspiration. So we reached out to our friend Lindsey Kuehl, who is a Minneapolis healthcare worker and also a Minneapolis model.
Now, you don’t have to be a model to wear these lipsticks or achieve these simple looks. But Lindsey loves her Instagram and knows how to take a great natural light photo.
She did these looks for us in her home.
Lindsey’s Lipstick Day 1
The first lipstick look, in blue scrubs, is done with Elixery Cosmetics “Lakshmi”. Lakshmi, named after The Hindu Goddess of Beauty and Wealth, was born atop a glittering lotus flower. To Her devotees, she grants prosperity.
Bright cool-toned fuchsia pink with subtle violet micro-shimmer. Beautiful on all skin tones – it even makes your teeth appear whiter! Lakshmi is for flirting and dancing all night; she’s not for the faint of heart. Be bold. Creamy satin finish. Lightly vanilla scented.
COLOR: Fuchsia (hot pink lipstick with violet iridescence)
FINISH: Satin/Pearl
Buy Elixery Lipsticks online from WPI.
Nurse Lindsey Kuehl wearing Lakshmi by Elixery Cosmetics
Lindsey’s Lipstick Day 2
The second lipstick look, in light blue scrubs, is Tempest - also from Elixery Cosmetics. Tempest is a hard lipstick color to describe. Brown? Pink? A faint bluish shimmer? Some would call this "mauve" but Elixery tries to avoid that description (because mauve is technically purple - and Tempest is definitely not purple.)
It is a sheer color, nude on deeper skin tones and neutral on paler complexions. It's a gorgeous everyday color, perfect for the board room, and sexy enough for the bedroom, as they say. A perennial favorite.
COLOR: Brownish Pink Lipstick
FINISH: Sheer
Buy Elixery Lipsticks online from WPI.
Nurse Lindsey Kuehl wearing Tempest by Elixery Cosmetics
Lindsey’s Lipstick Day 3
The third lipstick look, in black scrubs is Color Intense in “Girls Night” from Beautycounter. An industry-leading standard of safety. The creamy formula moisturizes so lips feel soft and smooth, never dry, and uncomfortable. Natural peppermint oil delivers a subtly refreshing flavor. There are eight all-new shades in the Color Intense line ranging from naturally nude to intense red deliver the rich color payoff and luxe satin finish you want, with the safety you deserve.
WPI Founder, Jessica Mae, belives in Beautycounter and is a Beautycounter consultant. You can shop for Beautycounter products on her site.
Nurse Lindsey Kuehl wearing Color Intense Girl's Night by Beautycounter
Nurse Lindsey Kuehl wearing Color Intense Girl's Night by Beautycounter
How To Tell If Your Freelance Artist Has Sanitary Practices
Here’s what you can expect to see from WPI going forward. And if you’re not a client of WPI, what you should and need to look for when working with freelance makeup artists and hairstylists for your events, photoshoots, and special occasions.
Onsite Beauty. Whenever, Wherever.
In a time where we are being asked to social distance, stay at home and wear a mask when we go out - we have become ultra-aware of how easily and quickly disease can spread. As the country begins to open back up, I felt it was important to take some time to educate you on what you should and need to look for when working with freelance makeup artists and hairstylists for your events, photoshoots, and special occasions. In addition what you can expect to see from WPI going forward.
“Now more than ever it is important for you to be educated about beauty sanitation in order to protect yourself and ensure you’re working with a professional.”
With services like instacart, amazon, and all the instant gratification apps we have now, the trend and demand for onsite beauty services has been on the rise. Getting your makeup and/or hair done in your home, office or at your event venue has become rather mainstream. It’s no longer something reserved only for the uber-rich or celebrities. As such, there are some things you need to consider before hiring an artist to come to your home. Or even when getting a service at a beauty counter. Now more than ever it is important for you to be educated about beauty sanitation in order to protect yourself and ensure you’re working with a professional.
Education
First and foremost you need to ask about education. What type of sanitation training, if any, has the artist or company had? Do your research to ensure you’re hiring a professional that has sanitation practices and procedures in place. Ask questions like “Can you explain what your safety and sanitation practices are?”.
Photo Credit: White Peach Photography.
Makeup Artist Jessica Mae
What to expect during a service
An artist arrives at your doorstep, you are eager and excited to soon be looking your best for your special event. Here are some of the most important things to expect/look for sanitation wise before, during and after your service.
Arrival. The artist should ask where you’d like them to set up and then immediately wash their hands.
Set up. The artist should spray the table or set up area with 70% alcohol or an EPA registered hospital grade disinfectant. Next they should lay down clean paper towels to set up on. Hair artists should lay down a clean heat protector mat (in lieu of paper towels). Once they have set out the product they will need for the service, powders, eyeshadows, tweezers, palette knife, palette and any tool that will be used throughout the service should be sprayed with the EPA disinfectant and let dry prior to beginning. **Take a peak at their kit, is it clean and organized?
Disposables. The artist should have disposable makeup applicators such as mascara wands, lip wands, sponges, q-tips etc. The disposables should be kept in a clean, organized container or bag.
Bobby pins and clips. The artist should have clean, unused bobby pins stored in a clean, organized container or bag. Clips that are reuse-able should be stored in a clean, organized container or bag. **Bobby pins should NEVER be placed in the artists mouth and then applied to the client’s head.
Palette and Palette Knife. Some artists will use disposable palettes and palette knifes and some will have stainless steel. Either are fine so long as they are using one or the other and they are properly sanitized (or new if using disposable).
Brushes. All makeup and hair brushes/combs should be visibly clean.
Capes. If a cape is used, it should be clean.
Application. Once set up, the artist should use hand sanitizer or wash their hands again. During the application you should see the artist scooping out cream and gel products with the palette knife and putting onto the palette. The artist should NEVER apply cream or gel product directly from the container onto you. Mascara must be applied with a disposable mascara wand, and should only be dipped into the tube once. Lipstick or lipgloss must be applied with a disposable wand, the product should be de-potted onto the palette and applied with the wand from there. Dirty brushes/combs/clips should be kept in a separate area away from the clean ones and off of the work area. Disposables and any other trash created during the application should promptly be discarded in a zip lock or clean bag the artist brought with them. The work area should be kept clean and free of dirty utensils at all times.
Post-service. The artist should spray down all tools and product used with the EPA disinfectant. Makeup brushes should be cleaned with a brush cleaner. Hair brushes and combs should be cleaned with barbicide.
Red Flags.
Ok, so now you know some of the most important sanitation elements that need to be in place in order to remain safe. So now I’ll share a few red flags to look for. If ANY of these happen you should immediately ask the artist to stop the service and either use your product or discontinue the service entirely.
The artist doesn’t wash their hands or use hand sanitizer.
The artist doesn’t have disposables.
The artist’s kit is dirty on the inside.
The artist double dips product. An example would be, they use a disposable mascara wand. They dip it into the mascara tube, apply to your lashes and then dip the wand back into the tube. If they do this with you, you can bet they’ve done it on dozens of other clients. Gross!
The artist does not have 70% alcohol, EPA disinfectant or brush cleaner. Some artists won’t carry alcohol if they have the EPA disinfectant - this is ok. Also, some artists will have enough brushes for multiple applications and therefore won’t need to use brush cleaner onsite as they will clean them at home - this is ok - so long as they are not using dirty brushes on you or anyone else.
The artist’s brushes are dirty.
What is WPI doing to keep you safe post COVID-19.
All of our artisans will be required to wear a mask when working with clients.
All of our artisans will be required to take additional sanitation training through Barbicide and Bactronix (or equivalent) before returning to work from the shut down.
All work areas will be set up a minimum of 6 feet a part from one another.
I hope you found this information helpful. WPI is committed to your safety in addition to providing high level services. We look forward to getting back to work and Preparing you for Battle!
Are you seeking the best in the beauty industry? WPI specializes in bridal beauty, corporate/commercial beauty, editorial applications, celebrity applications, on-site consumer applications and “The Beauty Membership”.
Why Engaged Couples Should Secure Their Wedding Vendors Right Now
If you haven’t secured all of your vendors for your 2020 or 2021 wedding or event you need to get on it! Especially if you have your eye on a specific vendor, and have been waiting until the date is a bit closer. Don’t wait any longer! Availability is growing limited due to Spring and Summer weddings and events getting rescheduled.
Hero image: Laura Robinson Photography.
For newly engaged couples just getting started or couples with wedding dates from May 2020 and beyond…
The current pandemic has hit us all in multiple ways. Finances, emotions, summer plans, wedding plans and so much more have become collateral damage in the wake of COVID-19. One of the hardest hit industries is without a doubt weddings/events. Pre COVID-19, businesses were ramping up for the beginning of wedding and event season, but suddenly those plans and preparations came to a screeching halt.
“COVID-19 has changed the wedding and event planning game.”
An important tip is to take a step back, breathe, and to not let these events scare you. Exercise patience, understanding and faith. There are a lot of unknowns right now and all of the answers may not be available. You have plenty of time before your big day, but with the current state of things, wedding vendors are shifting dates and contractual promises nearly ever day.
WPI Bride Emily. Makeup by Artisan Laura. Hair by Artisan Keely
That being said, anticipate that availabilities are going to be slim across the board as dates are quickly filling up for 2020 and also into 2021. At WPI, we have rescheduled dozens of Spring/Summer 2020 weddings and events to late 2020 and 2021. So what does this mean for couples who already planned on a late 2020 or 2021 date?
Seriously… Book your wedding vendors now
If you haven’t secured all of your vendors for your 2020 or 2021 wedding or event you need to get on it! Especially if you have your eye on a specific vendor, and have been waiting until the date is a bit closer. Don’t wait any longer! Availability is growing limited due to Spring and Summer weddings and events getting rescheduled. Vendors book on a first come first serve basis and depending on the size/capacity of the company they may only book one wedding or event client per day or weekend. Also, during a time where we have little to no control over the events taking place in the world, it will put your mind at ease knowing your vendors are secured.
What if I’m considering postponing my date due to COVID-19?
Communication is key. Even if you are only considering postponement get in touch with your vendors as soon as possible. Don’t wait. Your vendors want to help support you through this and make any rescheduling as stress-free as possible. This will also aid the vendors in having a realistic snapshot of what their availability looks like in order to book other clients. As stated many times over the past few weeks, we are all in this together.
COVID-19 has changed the wedding and event planning game.
For the time being, throw traditional timelines for when to book vendors out the window. As a beauty vendor we typically see clients book 6-8 months in advance, but honestly - the sooner you book the better. Especially when you find a vendor you love. For us, there is no such thing as booking “too” early.
According to many wedding planning services like The Knot and Wedding Wire, you should book your vendors as far out as a year or more. According to some wedding industry blogs, hair and makeup should be the 5th or 6th vendor your book after securing your wedding planner, your venue, your band/DJ, Photographer, and your dress. In all honestly, WarPaint International has brides that book their wedding day beauty services as far as 3 years out.
Yes. For real.
Celebrate anyway
Remember this important piece of advice - if you allow something out of your control to damage your vision of your wedding day, then your life’s biggest event will be consumed with mounting stress. Planning your wedding and special events is fun and exciting and though it can cause undue stress even without COVID-19, finding ways to embrace reality will help make lasting memories for years to come.
A few tips from WPI
Since we all have a little extra time on our hands at the moment, use it to your advantage. Here are a few tips that just might help.
Turn off the news, put down social media and immerse yourself in planning your special day!
Find a great book to help remind you of the important things in life and why you are on the journey that you are on. Might we recommend “Slow Down, Wake Up: 150 Short Meditations For A More Present Life” by Nicolas Cole and Dr. Matthew Jones.
Consider another meditative addition to your wedding day or in the week leading up to it with Bridal Yoga classes. WarPaint International offers Bridal Yoga Flow for our bridal parties in Minneapolis / St. Paul.
Looking for an award-winning beauty agency to perfect your wedding day hair and makeup? Book WarPaint International today.
Prince Inspired "Purple Rain" Makeup Look by Minneapolis Beauty Agency
2020 marks our first annual edition of “The Purple Rain Makeup Look” by WPI. WPI Artisan, Mia Pietruszewski, curates a glamourous and sexy look that pays appropriate tribute to his purple highness while also being a look that anyone can wear.
The “Purple Rain” Makeup Look
The First Annual “Purple Rain Makeup Look” by WPI 2020
It’s the anniversary of the passing of Minneapolis’s Purple Highness - Prince Rogers Nelson. Prince moved from the terrestrial to the celestial realm on April 21st, 2016; just four short years ago today. As Minnesotans, we celebrate the Purple One’s achievements more every year. Being a Minneapolis-based company (and residents), living the Lake Minnetonka area, just minutes from Prince’s Paisley Park home, we feel his loss even still today.
“I wanted the eyes to be the main focal point of this look, so I began there.”
Prince Inspired Makeup
2020 marks our first annual edition of “The Purple Rain Makeup Look” by WPI. Since we are currently experiencing this unprecedented and historic time, these images are taken at home under The Makeup Light, on an iPhone. You can expect to see a new edition of Prince Inspired makeup looks every year going forward. We guarantee 2021 will be off the hook with live footage from a professional photo studio. So we tasked one of our WPI Artisans, Mia Pietruszewski, with curating a glamorous and sexy look that pays appropriate tribute to his purple highness while also being a look that anyone can wear - and rock it!
As it turns out, purple is the color of Mia’s soul, so this project was as natural as it was special for her.
Beauty Products Used
Moisturizer: Sei Bella
Foundation: Hourglass Vanish Stick , shade is Porcelain
Concealer: Tarte Shape Tape, shade is Fair Neutral
Setting Powder: Ben Nye Fair translucent powder
Blush: Seraphine Botanicals, Shade is Lychee + Gold
Brows: Anastasia Beverly Hills Dip Brow Pomade, Shade is Dark Brown.
Highlighter: Estate, shade is Lit
Lips: Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink, shade is Loyalist
Gloss: Ofra, shade is Smiley for Ryleigh
Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour palette for highlight and contour on the whole face
For The Eyes
Lime Crime Venus III Palette, shades Rapture, Dreamy, Paradise and Bliss
Lime Crime Immortals Palette, shade unseen
Graftobian eyeliner pencil in shade Black
NYX “That’s the point” felt tip liquid liner in shade Hella Fine
L’Oréal Telescopic mascara in Carbon Black
Sei Bella Volume Extreme Length and Lift mascara in Black
Mia’s Inspiration
I wanted the eyes to be the main focal point of this look, so I began there. It took a lot of building to create the dimension I wanted. I started using the lighter shades in my palette to build shape, and really fine tuned the cat like shape with various shades of purple and black. I have Blue eyes, so knowing that purple is complimentary to that, I wanted to create a way for my eye color to pop even more. Lining all around the eye is a great way to make any eye look FIERCE!!
Of course I had to finish with my signature winged liner- you’ll rarely see me without 😉. A seriously purple hazey-smokey shade with ice cold blue eyes, and skin like glass. Fresh, dewy skin with a pop of blush is always my favorite.
Pro Tips from Misfit Mia:
Don’t ever skip the blush!
My highlighter could always stop traffic, and that’s the way I like it!
A look is never complete without lips- even if it’s just gloss!
About The Artisan
Mia has been a WPI Artisan since July of 2016. She’s a talented multi-media makeup artist who thrives on curating Avant-Garde, high-fashion looks, all the while deeply skilled in natural looks for bridal and everyday beauty that can be worn by any woman.
She attended and was certified by Faces, Etc of Minnesota (a multi-media makeup school) and was named the WPI Artisan of the Year in 2017. She lives the values of WPI by helping her clients “Prepare For Battle”.
Work With Mia
You can work with Mia when new health artisan safety practices are put into place and the stay at home order is lifted. You can support her now but purchasing makeup applications at 50% OFF. Just drop us a note when you buy them that you’d like to work with Mia.
You can also book onsite hair at half off too! We’ll send a WPI hair artisan along to finish the look.
2 For 1 Future Services
You can support us by taking advantage of 50% off of our signature onsite beauty services - Onsite Beauty. Whenever, Wherever. (excludes bridal services). This equates to 2 For 1, 4 For 2, 6 For 3 and so on.
There NO LIMITS on number of services bought.
There are NO restrictions on when you can use your services in the future.
Just add as many to cart as you’d like. When this is all over, we’ll contact you to begin scheduling services for your events, date nights or special evenings.
Prince’s music fills establishments and homes more now than ever. And with the Minnesota Vikings also sporting purple pride, the reminder and symbolism of what a sole color represents to people in Minnesota is literally everywhere - let alone to those whom he touched across the globe.
Photo Credit: Paisleypark.com
“Paisley Park is a place where art, music, fashion, and culture are celebrated, energized, and inspired by the visionary creative spirit of Prince. Once his home and studio, Paisley Park now draws people from around the world to attend tours, concerts, and events, and feel the love, awe, and wonder that is expressed in Prince’s emotional words: “Paisley Park is in your heart.”
Has Your Onsite Beauty Service Provider Had A Criminal Background Check?
How safe is your freelance makeup artist or hairstylist? If they don’t provide a background check or your beauty agency doesn’t criminally check contractors for your safety - move on.
Your Safety First
How safe is your freelance makeup artist or hairstylist? If they don’t provide a background check or your beauty agency doesn’t criminally check contractors for your safety - move on.
We believe in safe services. One massive oversight in the beauty industry, specifically the freelance or onsite beauty industry, is the lack of barriers to entry into the field. Every year, hundreds of thousands of brides seek vendors for various categories on their checklist of “to-do’s” when it comes to wedding planning. One of those very popular services to book is wedding day hair and makeup artistry - onsite. Not just brides employ these Artisans - consumers hire makeup artists and hairstylists in their homes for special dates, celebrities, and media companies book them almost weekly, event planners bring them into galas and corporate events. Onsite beauticians work with kids, the elderly and others.
WPI Artisan Wendy, working with children at the “My Little Pony” event at Mall of America
Who is checking?
Sadly, no one is checking. At WarPaint International, one of our first priorities is providing a level of conscious safety, to not only our Artisans as they enter your home, event venue or space but also to our clients. In a day and age of on-demand services and app technology, more and more strangers are infiltrating our space. But do you ever ask about the backgrounds of these individuals?
You should.
“Criminal background checks on freelance beauticians are nearly non-existent in the wedding industry. ”
When interviewing beauty service providers or beauty agencies, the most important thing you should fact-check is not whether a certain artist can achieve that winged eyeliner or special braid. A reputable company has tenured Artisans and a hiring process that takes the guessing games out of the selection process for you (though we understand that is part of the fun…). No… your first question should be “do you criminally background check your team?”
Criminal background checks on freelance beauticians are nearly non-existent in the wedding industry. We have found that very few companies, if any, do regular background checks on their Artists. Sadly, we know of very few that do any at all. In our own investigation, we find that many do a social media spot check at best; an alarming due-diligence when considering someone you’ve never met will be entering your home, hotel room, event space or church. Often times, purses, private belongings or sensitive information are out in the open and it does get stolen. Worst case scenario, you may be in physical danger or future danger. Most freelancers that work solo are not really interested in being business owners either, so they likely will not have a background check run on themselves often to provide to clients and in most cases do not carry insurance or liability.
Insist on process
When speaking to onsite beauty companies, ask important questions, such as:
How do you hire your team?
What does your interview process look like?
Do you technically test them?
Who approves or rejects them?
Do you do background checks on your Artists?
What system are you using to provide that data?
Have you ever had an issue with security or personal threats?
Do you carry liability insurance in the event of an accident?
Do you have a professional bridal/corporate contract that serves to protect all parties?
“We have not contracted Artists due to criminal backgrounds. ”
Safe Hiring Practices at WPI
Our motto is often confusing for people. It reads “Luxury and Excellence in Hair & Makeup Artistry”. Some clients don’t book us or never even inquire because the word luxury means expensive to them. But we don’t define luxury as a price tag; in fact our prices are very competitive.
Luxury is a feeling, an experience, and expectation in customer service and overall satisfaction that is met through your very first interaction until the last. That’s luxury. Inside the definition of luxury, that feeling that one has also beckoned safety. There’s no point in paying top dollar for the “Best Makeup Artist” or “top stylist” if they have a track record of misdemeanors, felonies or habitual convictions.
How we ensure your safety
WarPaint International runs full national background checks that include criminal, sex offender, national employment, credit, and education status. We do also do the typical spot check to ensure they carry themselves professionally online. No one can guarantee against crimes of opportunity, but we can take steps to ensure a high probability that our team is seasoned, community-driven professionals.
We do this by partnering nationally with Trusted Employees. Trusted Employees offers a wide range of criminal record search capabilities. We are firmly committed to contracting Artisans with complete and accurate criminal data in which all the facts are aligned and verified. Every single individual in the WarPaint International family of Artisans and supporting team members undergoes this diligence.
Wedding planning companies still missing the boat
Even the big wedding planning advertising platforms, which are a vendor on many, rarely address the issue of safety. They offer up hundreds or even thousands of options in your area depending on the city without a hint or tip on how to ensure your safety. One of the largest, The Knot Wedding Network, does case studies and provides information for couples-to-be, but even in this very informative article “Everything, You Need To Know About Getting Married in Minnesota”, safety is not an element of education.
The reality is that it’s not their duty to assume liability for your safety. So when sourcing your wedding vendors, always keep your personal safety top of mind. You can rest-assured with WPI that we will not send someone into your home, hotel room, venue or private space without knowing what their background looks like.
Book a WPI Artisan
Maybe you are done with your search or perhaps have just started. Either way, check the availability of our team by reviewing our wedding makeup and hair page and submitting your request to speak to a bridal consultant today. Many of our brides book 8 - 10 months in advance. We have beauty services secured as far as three years into the future.
Treating A Breakout Weeks Before Your Wedding
It's a couple of weeks before the big day, and months of planning are finally coming to fruition. Unfortunately, the planning has understandably taken a toll and has completely stressed you out. You're not alone. 96% of couples find wedding planning stressful. While this is bad enough as it is, stress can cause some adverse effects on your body, including your skin.
Treating a breakout weeks before your wedding
It's a couple of weeks before the big day, and months upon months of planning are finally coming to fruition. Unfortunately, the planning has understandably taken a toll and has completely stressed you out. You're not alone, as ‘The Worst Things About Wedding Planning’ by Insider reveals that 96% of couples find wedding planning stressful, with 40% even going as far as to say that it was "extremely" stressful for them. While this is bad enough as it is, stress can cause some adverse effects on your body, including your skin. Time Magazine's feature on stress and acne explains that while stress isn't the sole reason for a breakout, it's certainly a major factor that can trigger or make existing skin issues much worse.
So what is a bride-to-be to do if you find yourself having a breakout a couple of weeks before your wedding? Read on for some useful tips to treat those zits just in time for your wedding.
“Dairy is a common culprit when it comes to breakouts. ”
Avoid Dairy
Dairy is a common culprit when it comes to breakouts. And while there are many theories as to why this happens – a popular one being about the artificial hormones that dairy cows are treated with – the most substantial reason is the hormones that naturally exist in cow's milk. ‘Here’s How to Get Rid of Hormonal Ace’ by Parsley Health details how dairy can throw off your hormonal balance leading to bad breakouts. Reducing dairy intake before your big day is a small sacrifice that will lead to your breakout clearing up in no time. Avoid food such as milk, cheese, chocolate, and butter as your wedding day approaches.
Hands-off
It may be tempting to pop the zits that have surfaced, but this would only prove to be counterproductive, as it could lead to bacteria getting deeper into your skin. A dermatologist on CNBC emphasizes how this is especially true for the area around your nose and upper lip. Instead of picking at your acne, go consult a dermatologist, so you can be prescribed with antibiotics and topical cream geared towards dealing with your breakout.
Replace your makeup
Another thing you can do to manage your breakout is to buy a new batch of makeup. Makeup, especially products that haven't been used in the last six months, can become a breeding ground for bacteria. Huffington Post points out that using bad makeup can worsen your skin condition and lead to infections, so toss the old stock out and buy a fresh set. Be wary of changing brands during this time, as they could lead to some unexpected results that may worsen your acne situation. Stick to brands that you know and trust, as you shouldn't be taking risks so close to your big day.
Cover it up
If you've followed all the previous tips, then your acne problem should be reduced to a minor nuisance. But it's understandable if you don't want to settle for anything less than perfect on your wedding. A quick fix for this is to treat zits a day before and on the day of your wedding, or just simply conceal the blemish with makeup. One way to ensure success is by hiring a WarPaint International Makeup Artist on the day of your wedding, as our years of professional experience guarantees the perfection and beauty you deserve on your big day.
Or just click below for wedding beauty services and locations.
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Mobile Concierge Service in Minneapolis Focused on Families
Enter Twin Cities Mobile Mommy; a WarPaint international partner business. A concierge service for families offering guilt-free services to lend a hand from home organizing, tidying, and upkeep, running errands, home administrative tasks, planning an event or simply keeping the little ones entertained while Mom or Dad makes an important phone call.
Mobile Concierge Service - at your service.
In the world of many parents, there are numerous moving parts that contribute to how busy life can get. From daily household chores to school activities, to planning for birthday parties and beyond, there is a lot on the mind of a typical parent. Often times Moms feel like “coming up for air” is a tricky concept considering all that goes into a single day. Sometimes it seems too overwhelming to manage it all. Until, Twin Cities Mobile Mommy!
Twin Cities Mobile Mommy
Enter Twin Cities Mobile Mommy; a WarPaint international partner business. A concierge service for families offering guilt-free services to lend a hand from home organizing, tidying, and upkeep, running errands, home administrative tasks, planning an event or simply keeping the little ones entertained while Mom or Dad makes an important phone call.
“We strive to build trust and value within our community by providing our services, hosting events and supporting diverse families”
Anahita Champion
Stemmed from a local mom’s perspective, Anahita Champion started the company because she can relate to the overflowing plate of “To-Dos.” While juggling a newborn in one hand, and trying to type at her desk with her other hand, this MomBoss quickly felt overwhelmed by trying to define her new role as a Mother, being an entrepreneur, and seeing her home environment around her in piles of clutter due to the lack to time to get to her long To-Do list.
Anahita founded the company as a solution for parents that could use a second version, a clone, of themselves to help handle the essential aspects of family life.
The five core pillars
TC Mobile Mommy is passionate about growing with families and businesses by leaning on its 5 core pillars:
Service
You can find a full list of services available on their website from home upkeep, to task helper, to errands and shopping, outdoor events and more.
Team
With the #TCMomSquad, Digital Content Team, and soon-to-be contractors, Twin Cities Mobile Mommy’s team works dynamically to cover all the bases for local families.
Partnership
TCMM partners with local businesses and brands to co-host events, offer discounts on services and merchandise for Twin Cities families as well as supporting local businesses.
Events
TCMM hosts its own events as well we co-hosts events with other fellow business owners to provide in-person interactive experiences and to build camaraderie. Events surrounding Self-Care & Mental Health, Couple’s Date Night, Fitness, Yoga & Wine, and others in the works.
Give Back
In late 2019, TCMM will be rolling out its Give-Back pillar to help families in need. Whether the support is in form of scholarships for families needing TCMM services, or packing kits for the homeless, meal packing for underserved communities, charitable event support, or supporting local schools - the options are endless, and the team is thrilled to roll this out.
Family resources
Twin Cities Mobile Mommy is a great sounding board for families. From having so much that needs to be done but not quite knowing what to focus on first, Anahita Champion helps prospective clients by chatting with them on a call to hear about their unique family, listen to what’s on their plate, and suggest options on where the services can be of assistance or the best possible package for a family.
Projects and milestones
Whether a family is looking for help in a particular project or during a specific milestone, Twin Cities Mobile Mommy offers options for their clients. Monthly Memberships are ideal for families that are looking for recurring sessions. Members receive 3 hours of TCMM services each month at a slightly discounted rate, access to a private log-in portal, access to 20+ local business partnership perks, discounts on events, and much more.
One of the fabulous partnership perks TC Mobile Mommy offers their members includes 15% off on-demand Hair/Makeup services by WarPaint International!
Bundles of joy
Families looking for help during specific occasions, packaged services are also available. The Bundles of Joy are customized 4-hour sessions to help parents with a number of projects from prepping for a move (or unpacking the house), decluttering & organizing, helping prepare/settle in with a new baby, and more available on the website.
The perfect gift
TC Mobile Mommy is a wonderful gift idea for parents or parents-to-be. GIFT Certificates are available to anyone who’d like to add us to their registry or gift a family the joy of helping hands.
To learn more about how Twin Cities Mobile Mommy can help your family, or a family you know, visit their website: www.twincitiesmobilemommy.com. Twin Cities Mobile Mommy was also featured on Twin Cities Live!
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5 Bachelorette Party Ideas 2019
For the bride to be, the perfect bachelorette party doesn’t always have to involve a night out on the town. Whether you actually prefer beer over wine or are in need of a short getaway, there are plenty of fantastic options to tailor a bachelorette party for you and your friends. Here are our favorite creative ideas for a bachelorette weekend getaway.
For the bride to be, the perfect bachelorette party doesn’t always have to involve a night out on the town. Whether you actually prefer beer over wine or are in need of a short getaway, there are plenty of fantastic options to tailor a bachelorette party for you and your friends.
Here are our favorite creative ideas for a bachelorette weekend getaway.
There’s something for everyone with these fun bachelorette ideas!
Glamping
For those who want a relaxing getaway in the outdoors, glamping is the perfect option for you! Grab your girls for a luxe weekend retreat and book your ticket to the great outdoors. At Soap Lake Resort decked-out cabins and hotel rooms are situated near a mineral lake. Known for its holistic wellness properties, this natural spa is the perfect place for some fun bachelorette party games and charming restaurants. Soap Lake Resort’s bridal packages and room offerings make it the perfect place to make some memories. To book your reservation, make sure to check out their website.
(Image via Soap Lake Resort Flickr)
Distillery
Instead of opting for a vineyard or winery, try hosting your bachelorette weekend at a distillery! While most vineyard parties require travel to a different state, a great distillery is always a great in-state opportunity to drink and have a great time. Your bachelorette party can get tipsy during their bar crawl, then opt for mani-pedis and great food afterward. This affordable yet memorable bachelorette party will create memories for years to come.
Staycation
Does your bachelorette party need to be short and sweet? A staycation is an amazing opportunity to have a vacation away from home. Plan a fun night or two for you and your gals at a local nearby hotel, and let your inner child embrace the ultimate sleepover! The opportunities are endless with matching pajamas, themed games, and slumber party snacks.
Tea Party
Host your very own tea party! A low key but still celebratory event, a tea party can be a great last-minute option for guests who won’t be in town until a couple of days before the wedding. From customized napkins and tea favors, a tea party can still be customized to your needs for a personalized feel. Cousins and college friends can break the ice over scones, petit fours, and tea for an untraditional yet memorable time. This easy to execute idea makes it one of the best bachelorette party ideas for 2019.
City Stay
You don’t have to go to Sin City for your bachelorette weekend! While Vegas is the perfect destination for some, consider traveling to other cities for a more intimate experience. A fun weekend trip to Nashville or Portland might be the ideal bachelorette party, packed with tons of cool restaurants, shopping, and bar crawls. In addition, choosing a city in between old college friends makes it easier for everyone to gather together. Get your itineraries ready and book your next trip. And while hitting a night on the town, don’t forget your on-site hair and makeup!
Plan the Perfect Bachelorette Party Today
So what are you waiting for? With plenty of options to choose from, start brainstorming your perfect bachelorette weekend now.
** (Hero mage via https://www.winemag.com)
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Summer Beauty Trends to Try at Home
On hot summer days, you might feel like throwing your beauty routine right out the window. Don’t worry, though– the summer heat isn’t impossible to beat! We’re sharing some of the latest at-home trends to help keep your beauty game on point this summer.
On hot summer days, you might feel like throwing your beauty routine right out the window. Through the sweating and the swimming, it can be hard to keep anything on your face. On top of that, humid summer temps can wreak havoc on your hair. Don’t worry, though– the summer heat isn’t impossible to beat! We’re sharing some of the latest at-home trends to help keep your beauty game on point this summer.
Photo by Jesse Schoff on Unsplash
At-Home Glow
Summer is all about being outside and enjoying the warm weather, but with sun exposure sometimes comes sunburns. So, if you plan on basking in the warm rays for hours at a time, it’s probably a good idea to update your skin care routine to include products that contain SPF.
While you’re at it, take a look at the ingredients in all of the beauty products you use daily. Recycle old or toxic items and replace them with safe beauty products that can improve your health. If you update your collection before summer, you can protect your skin, prevent sunburns, and live a healthier lifestyle.
Do you want healthy, glowing skin, without the harmful rays? Research sunless self-tanners and choose a product that works best for your skin type. If you have dry, sensitive skin, look for a moisturizing sunless tanner to nourish and improve skin texture. Some organic products contain antioxidants and vitamins (like A, B, and E,) which help fight signs of aging–and who doesn’t want that?
Sunless tanners allow you to develop gorgeous color without putting your skin’s health at risk. Plus, the at-home application process is easy and convenient–just make sure you read the labels and follow the directions before using the product.
Photo by GreenBlender.com
At-Home Sip
Forget ‘rise and shine,’ this summer is all about ‘rise and glow!’ Kick your morning routine off with a healthy smoothie that’s good for both you and your skin. Blend this latest trend right into your favorite smoothie recipe: Beauty Dust. What is it? Good question. Beauty dust is an edible, powdered blend of plant-derived herbs and vitamins that help improve the appearance of your skin and hair.
A trend like this seems too good to be true, but beauty dust is a tasty and easy way to improve the look of your skin. GreenBlender’s Purple Beauty Dust Delight smoothie recipe is full of natural ingredients that help boost your immune system and energy level. For people who don’t get enough vitamin-C, this recipe provides a healthy dose to improve your health. You can also thank this recipe in advance for improving collagen production and giving your skin a gorgeous, summer glow!
Photo by Miguel Del Sol on Unsplash
At-Home Spa
No, you’re not dreaming. According to reputable doctors, feeling stressed out really does affect the appearance of your skin. There are multiple ways stress upsets your skin, but a common culprit is the release of inflammatory chemicals that cause inflammation. Manage your stress with this relaxing trend: an at-home spa.
Do yourself a favor and set aside some time each day to practice self-care. One soothing way to do this is creating a spa-like oasis right at home. Summer is one of the best seasons for large-scale remodeling projects, so think about how you can modify your bathroom (or even an outdoor area) to feel more relaxing. A jetted tub or steam shower are excellent options for relieving pain and creating a spa-like atmosphere to help you de-stress.
If you’re like most people, installing a new bathtub probably isn’t something you know how to do–or at the very least, not something you can accomplish as safely, quickly, and correctly as an experienced pro can. So, save yourself even more stress from potential DIY-related errors, and find a licensed plumber to complete your tub or shower installation.
Once your project is complete, you can enjoy all the mental and physical benefits that accompany soaking in a jetted tub. Aromatherapy can help reduce inflammation and stress; which can help improve the health of your skin and hair. Don’t just dump oils into your bath–educate yourself on how to safely add essential oils to your bath so you don’t end up irritating your skin. Summer is a difficult time of year to maintain a fresh, hydrated glow. While you soak, give your face some love with a natural, hydrating face mask. An at-home spa can relax your body and mind, leave your skin soft and hydrated, and allow you to relax anytime you need, right at home.
If you want to unwind and take care of yourself (especially in the heat) incorporate these trends, as well as any other ones you enjoy, into your routine this summer!
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Amy and Andrew - Black Lace, Gothic Style Real Wedding
Amy and Andrew’s wedding was styled by the amazing wedding stylist Anna Wang, creating a palette full of blacks, reds and orange-glow candles.
Real Wedding Submissions
Amy and Andrew - Black Lace, Gothic Style Real Wedding
The Wedding Backstory…
Amy and Andrew met through mutual friends, but they almost didn’t meet because Andrew was about to head overseas the next day. But decided to come out for the night anyway…
Andrew organized the proposal in advance, with some help from some friends. They were all heading overseas to Hong Kong for a wedding, and decided to extend the trip to a few other places. So, when they were at the Fushimi Inari temple in Kyoto, Japan, he bent the knee and popped the question!
Amy was never a traditional person, she is covered in tattoos and the color white was never for her. So she chose elements from dresses she liked and worked with the designer to make her dream, modern black dress.
Their wedding was styled by the amazing wedding stylist Anna Wang, creating a palette full of blacks, reds and orange-glow candles.
The Story
How did you and your partner meet?
Andrew and I met through mutual friends. We almost didn’t meet back then as he was heading overseas the next day but decided to come out to a local club for the night anyway. He was extremely shy at first, but then with some liquid courage and cheek, he asked to borrow my mobile to make a call and ended up calling himself to get my number!
How did he propose?
Andrew organized the proposal in advance, with some help from some friends. We were all heading overseas to Hong Kong for a wedding, and decided to extend our trip to a few other places. So when we were at the Fushimi Inari temple in Kyoto, Japan (my favorite city!) he bent the knee and popped the question. I was so floored; my first thought was that “Why is he doing that – is he offering me chocolate?!”.
“I was so floored; my first thought was that “why is he doing that - is he offering me chocolate?!”
How did you choose your wedding gown?
I was never a traditional person! I am covered in tattoos and white was never for me, so naturally, I always knew I would be wearing a black dress. I picked some elements from dresses I liked and worked with the designer to make the dream dress. I very much love the modern styles but also love the gothic look that replacing white lace with black lace makes.
What do you love most about your partner?
He has a heart of absolute gold, NEVER fails to make me laugh each day and he is funny as heck!
What’s your most important piece of advice for creating and maintaining a strong relationship?
Communication is key; in the first few years we were together it was all about knowing each other’s communication styles. He is more of a brooding type, who doesn’t like to be pushed into talking about “feelings” and talking things through. I am much more the type to sit down and talk it out right away, so I pushed. So, for a time it was hard. However, after 7 years, I am a lot more patient and he is a lot more open. Also, never act or speak in harshness. Not once have Andrew and I cussed each other or traded insults. Respecting each other as partners and individuals at the same time, is also really important to us both.
The Wedding
What sort of style did you envision for your wedding day?
Summery with bright colors, elegant, intimate, full of love, and with a lovely representation of 2 cultures.
What was your favorite moment from the day?
Gothic; full of blacks and reds and orange-glow candles. The floral feature roof over the dance floor at the reception was unfortunately, turned into a permanent feature before the wedding day! So the black and red flower roof was out of the question. However, looking back at the pictures, the white actually provided a really nice and open contrast; so in the end, I was still ecstatic with the outcome, and saved some money.
What was your favorite moment from the day?
Being walked down the aisle with both parents on each side at ceremony will always be a really special moment in my life. Being announced as husband and wife too of course, and shocking all the guests when Andrew and I made our entrance at the reception, head-banging to a metal song (Face the Pain by Stemm)!
Name your wedding soundtrack (aisle, reception entry, first dance songs):
Bridesmaids, groomsmen, flower girls and bell boy walked out to “With You” by Sum 41.
I walked down the aisle to “Stay Young, Go Dancing” by Death Cab for Cutie.
Reception entry was “Face the Pain” by Stemm.
First dance was “Take the World” by Johnny Swim.
Father/daughter dance was “My Hero” by the Foo Fighters.
We also had a family dance song, which is my parent’s song, which is “Waiting for a Girl Like You” by Foreigner.
Where did you go on your honeymoon?
We went to a short 2-week trip to Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam. A 7-week trip to Europe is in the books as our “official” honeymoon!
Any Regrets?
If you could do it all over again... what would you change?
The one thing I would have changed on the day would have been to be more prepared in what shots I wanted the photographer to capture as the family photos didn’t go as I had planned in my mind.
Any tips that you can give to future brides?
Just enjoy yourself... surround yourself in the positive vibes that family, friends and unity brings, and try not to sweat the small stuff!
Vendors & Credits
The Dress: Made by True Love Couture
Bridesmaids Dresses: Shona Jay and ASOS
Groom’s Suit: Brent Wilson
Makeup & Hair: Organized through my wedding stylist, Anna Wang (Martha and Bell were the artists)
Submitted Feature: Adorn Invitations
Shoes: Sheriton
Accessories: N/A
Photographer: Zee & Cee Studio
Ceremony Venue: Eschol Park House
Reception Venue: EVilla Capri
Celebrant: David Cox
Wedding Invitations: Giant Invitations
See more of Amy & Andrew
Taking The Mystery Out Of Myths: Dispelling Old Wives’ Tales About Beauty Rituals
“Beauty is pain” is an age-old expression used to rationalize the great lengths women endure to uphold or bolster their appearance. Beliefs like this can come at a cost and send conflicting messages that make it difficult to navigate the realm of beauty.
Dispelling Old Wives’ Tales About Beauty Rituals
“Beauty is pain” is an age-old expression used to rationalize the great lengths women endure to uphold or bolster their appearance. Beliefs like this can come at a cost and send conflicting messages that make it difficult to navigate the realm of beauty.
Consider some of the old wives’ tales regarding beauty that have been passed down through generations, like: “If you pluck grey hairs, more will grow back,” or, “You can shrink your pores by splashing cold water on your face.” Combine those with the proclaimed “top tips” from magazines, and the overwhelming amount of cosmetic advertisements that continuously surface, and the beauty realm quickly turns into a game of Two Truths and a Lie — where a player tells two truths and one lie, and we’re left to determine which statement is, in fact, the false one.
So to help preserve your well-being (and sanity), we’re unraveling widespread beauty myths to help you find the best approaches to your beauty regimen and to know which ones to avoid.
Perpetual misconceptions about makeup
Makeup is a form of art that serves as an outlet for self-expression and creativity at any age. For many, the first experience with makeup can feel like a rite of passage or transition into womanhood. From this moment on, we are given endless pointers on the “shoulds” and “should nots” of choosing and applying makeup, which follow us throughout adulthood. But there comes the point where advice turns illusory.
Did you know that many believe women over a certain age should not use glittery or shimmery makeup like eyeshadow? Previous studies show a significant shift in makeup usage as a woman ages, noting that women start using less eyeshadow as they approach the age of 45, due to the belief that sparkles draw attention to fine lines and wrinkles.
However, shimmery shades can breathe life into the eyes of any age! The key to making your makeup look just as good at 40 as it did at 20 is using a moisturizer prior to applying makeup. Moisturizer hydrates the skin which smooths the appearance of fine lines. Not to mention moisturizers that contain SPF can protect against wrinkle-causing sun damage. Regardless, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so don’t be afraid to experiment with your look and express yourself with colors and shades that represent your unique personality, no matter your age.
Image via Pixabay
Influencer impact on beauty trends and myths
Much of our beauty inspiration and beloved products come from social media marketing by today’s top beauty influencers. It’s no surprise then, that Kylie Jenner, one of the most influential faces of the makeup industry, attributes her success of becoming the youngest self-made billionaire to her online presence and 175 million-plus followers. Unfortunately, social media can backfire, and in this instance, unintentionally spark a dangerous beauty trend that further supported the myth that lip plumpers work.
Seeing as Kylie Jenner’s claim to fame is undoubtedly her luscious lips, followers were quick to jump on the Kylie Jenner Lip Challenge in pursuit of a perfect pout. The idea behind the challenge is to place a small cup over the lips while sucking out air in a vacuum effect to achieve fuller looking lips. But experts warn against DIY lip plumping. Not only does the KJLC pose a significant risk of swelling, bruising and scarring, but even glosses advertised as “lip plumpers” are also harmful as they contain ingredients that irritate the lips inducing temporarily swelling. “The only products that can plump your lips are injectable fillers containing hyaluronic acid, like Juvéderm’s Volbella,” according to world-renowned cosmetic dermatologist Michele Green, MD.
Image by Getty via People
Homemade hacks and natural remedies
Rumor has it that a dab of toothpaste on a pesky pimple will banish the blemish. While there is some method to this madness, it can actually do more harm than good. The idea behind this beauty myth? Certain ingredients in toothpaste have a drying effect which may decrease inflammation and appear to shrink the size of a pimple. However, toothpaste is more of a foe than friend to our skin. Toothpaste has a high probability of irritating the skin through burning or over-drying. Additionally, dry skin triggers oil production leading to further breakouts. If breakouts are becoming a burden, or you want to prevent pimples from forming in the first place, you’re better off seeking out a prescription acne treatment or medication. But the rumor mill doesn’t stop at our skin — it extends to our hair and nails too.
They say the only time a woman is helpless is when her nail polish is drying, and if one thing is for sure, it’s just that. There’s nothing more frustrating than ruining a perfectly polished pedicure or manicure. Amid the quest to minimize nail polish drying time stems the myth that ice-cold water will dry your nail polisher faster. But patience is a virtue, which is why you won’t find yourself soaking your nails in ice water at a salon. “Getting polish to dry requires evaporation of solvents, which can’t happen when your nails are submerged in water,” affirms nail expert Lauren B. of luxury polish brand Lauren B. Beauty. “Ice water may only harden the top layer of your polish, which will leave the underlying layers wet and prone to dents.”
Speaking of luxury... high-end products and beauty industry professionals provide greater peace of mind and a better bang for your buck than the majority of DIY remedies. Which is why hair stylists and experts have remarked on the hair hack that lemon juice is effective for lightening hair, which turns out to be a half-truth at best. Rachel Bodt, a senior colorist at Cutler/Redken salon, maintains “natural lightening really only works if you have fair hair with a fine texture to begin with.” Bodt goes on to explain that if you have dark brown or black hair, lemon juice and other DIY natural recipes won't lighten your hair. Even worse, the acidity of lemon juice can damage hair. So if you’re thinking of going blonde for the summer, or more importantly, for a big event like your wedding, hire a trusted stylist.
Image by Lucas Tomaszewski via Creoflick
It’s hard to resist the temptation to jump on the bandwagon when it comes to beauty trends and tips. After all, we love shortcuts and anything else that appears to make our lives easier. But if we readily believe and rely on hearsay, we can wind up sabotaging our wellbeing by damaging our skin, hair, and nails. Above all, our health should be our number one priority, so stay informed before trying any beauty hacks by researching ingredients and talking with a medical or beauty industry professional.
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Inside the Exciting New World of Plus-Size Beauty and Makeup
Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, but you’d never be able to tell that from flipping through the pages of your typical fashion magazine. Up until recently, beauty campaigns fronted by plus-size models were a rarity. And although plus-size models in fashion have been thriving as of late, it’s been a slower climb for their makeup industry counterparts.
Inside the Exciting New World of Plus-Size Beauty and Makeup
Beauty comes in all shapes and sizes, but you’d never be able to tell that from flipping through the pages of your typical fashion magazine. Up until recently, beauty campaigns fronted by plus-size models were a rarity. And although plus-size models in fashion have been thriving as of late, it’s been a slower climb for their makeup industry counterparts.
Indeed, most beauty diversity movements have been centered around race, gender, and age. We’ve got transgender models walking runways, and models of color like Nyakim Gatwetch making headlines. However, the same can’t be said for size inclusivity in the world of makeup. It’s alarming to think that this is all despite the fact that 68% of women in America are in the plus-size range. But what exactly has kept the industry from evolving for so long?
A long time coming
In fashion and beauty, brands have profited from telling people what they should do, feel, or look like. Unfortunately, not everyone can force themselves into a mold, and what happens is they end up underserved and under-represented. Body positive fashion company Woman Within emphasizes the importance of helping women love what they wear — a gap that is being addressed by more and more clothing brands today. In the past, plus-size consumers have struggled finding stylish clothes outside the realm of billowy shirts and baggy pants. But although it’s been a welcome change, size inclusivity feels even more revolutionary for beauty. While fashion companies get standing ovations for extending their range or featuring curvy models, beauty brands don’t. And when bodies aren’t involved in advertising imagery, why bother?
Plus-size model Philomena Kwao states that a lot of it has to do with make-up brands refusing to challenge norms. “I’ve never been [casted] for commercial work,” she told The New York Times. “People are scared to try something new. It’s like, ‘I have a formula, why change it?’” But every person has a body, and every person has a face. Each one should be represented when it comes to any product.
Breaking barriers, one brand at a time
Fortunately, there are some make-up brands that are redefining beauty. Last year, Sephora released its most progressive campaign yet, featuring a diverse roster of their own employees of different sizes, races, and ages.
Sephora Diversity Campaign.
Credit: Racked
Wet n Wild's Breaking Beauty campaign is another one worth an honorable mention. Their line-up of personalities includes a model with albinism, a transgender model, and weightlifter/plus-size model Brianna Marquez.
#BreakingBeauty by Wet n Wild.
Credit: Art-Dept.com
Prior to that, cult beauty brand Glossier broke the internet with their Body Hero campaign, fronted by plus-size model Paloma Elsesser. According to Elsesser, it was a milestone both for the industry and herself, having grown up without a role model to identify with. “I didn’t even know plus-sized modeling was a thing,” she told People. “Growing up, people would say, ‘You have such a pretty face.’ It’s backhanded, but we have to stomach it.”
Caption: Paloma Elsesser for Glossier
Credit: Glossier
Small steps towards progress
At the moment, size inclusivity and diversity are having their moment. But in truth, these movements mean more to people than just being the next hottest trend or marketing ploy. While there are risks like tokenism, Elsesser feels that the end more than justifies the means. “We have to tokenize in order to normalize,” she argues. “The more that we see one Asian model, one black model, one plus-size model, it’s like people are dipping their toes, and the other foot goes in and then we’re neck deep and we just have to continue until it’s just not a ‘thing.’”
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Mita and Jame’s 2-Day Multi-cultural Wedding Ceremony
This couple celebrated their marriage over two days. As the marriage brought together a couple of different cultures, they made sure to have wedding ceremonies and celebrations that embraced both cultures and styles.
Real Wedding Submissions
Mita and Jame’s 2-Day Multi-cultural Wedding Ceremony
The Wedding Backstory…
James proposed to Mita at their favorite go-to restaurant for special occasions. He booked a table on the rooftop overlooking the city with 2 glasses of champagne. Mita describes the proposal as incredibly magical, as it left tears in her eyes.
The couple celebrated their marriage over two days. As the marriage brought together a couple of different cultures, they made sure to have wedding ceremonies and celebrations that embraced both cultures and styles.
For the church ceremony, Mita chose a beautiful white wedding gown while dress shopping in Toronto. As for the Indian ceremony, Mita and James went to Mumbai to shop their entire wedding attire. She ended up choosing a breathtaking red and gold gown for the Indian ceremony.
The western ceremony had a color palette of different tones of navy blue, while the Indian ceremony embraced bright red and gold. As for the reception, Mita and James was ready to impress with a gigantic and unforgettable life-sized pink and white wedding cake with roses.
The Story
How did you and your partner meet?
We met on an online dating app in Hong Kong. We had our first date after about 2 months of chatting online, and finally ended up meeting at a bar close to where we lived. After chatting for about 4 hours over drinks and realizing we had quite a bit in common, we exchanged numbers and met up soon again for date #2.
How did he propose?
He made reservations at Sevva, which is a classy fusion styled restaurant, and also our go-to restaurant for special occasions (many a 3 month, 6 month, 1 year anniversary and birthdays have been celebrated here). This was close to Christmas and there wasn’t a particular milestone coming up, so when he mentioned he had dinner reservations for us- I just assumed he was super excited for the Christmas season approaching us!
“When he asked “will you marry me?”, I felt tears in my eyes, said yes, and shortly after, some staff came out to take our picture and open the champagne. ”
I arrived a little late for the date as a hair appointment ran late and as I arrived, I was addressed as “Mrs Walker” and was ushered to the outside rooftop overlooking the city where James had booked a table with 2 glasses of champagne. I walked over and started going on about the hair appointment while he had a goofy smile on his face the entire time. Before I knew it, he got down on one knee, and while he reached into his pocket, I heard a few gasps around me from other customers watching the scene and that is when I registered what was happening! When he asked “will you marry me?”, I felt tears in my eyes, said yes, and shortly after, some staff came out to take our picture and open the champagne.
It was incredibly magical!
How did you choose your wedding gown?
I had 2 wedding gowns for our wedding, a white one for the church ceremony, and a red and gold one for the Indian ceremony. James and I went to Toronto in March 2018 where I had pre-bookings at a bunch of stores to find the perfect dress with my maid of honor. We had an emotional and girly 2 days when I tried on dresses in front of her. Funnily enough, the last store appointment on my list was the only one she couldn’t make it to, and that was the store with the dress that felt the most right. I sent her some photos on my phone and after hearing her response, we knew it was the right one!
What do you love most about your partner?
The fact that he is one of a kind! He is one of the funniest, kindest, brainiest and most amazing people I’ve ever met and he’s made me feel love in ways I’ve never felt before! He not only looks after my happiness but also deeply cares about people who are important to me. Also, he is extremely resourceful and motivated, and will do anything he sets his mind to!
What’s your most important piece of advice for creating and maintaining a strong relationship?
I think one of the biggest challenges we experience in relationships is that we are all different. We come with our own set of expectations, perceptions, and ways to approach obstacles. I think it’s important to acknowledge the fact and celebrate it as a way to learn different perceptions. Life would be very dull if we were all the same and, while we may find it easier initially, the novelty of sameness would soon wear off.
I think it’s important to communicate expectations and understand what type of communication works best for the other person. A strong friendship and good communication would go a long way in a successful relationship.
The Wedding
What sort of style did you envision for your wedding day?
Summery with bright colors, elegant, intimate, full of love, and with a lovely representation of 2 cultures.
What was your favorite moment from the day?
It’s hard to choose just one! One of my favorite moments was during the reception, observing friends and family from all over the world and thinking that all these people are here because they love and support us, and just feeling really lucky that everything came together the way it did. Another favorite moment was walking down the aisle, locking eyes with my soon-to-be-husband for the first time and feeling a rush of emotion and excitement overcome me.
Did you walk down the aisle or have your first dance to any particular song?
For walking down the aisle, I was considering a few options of classic love songs I’d grown up with. Elvis Presley’s ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’ was the one that grabbed me the most and felt right. My maid of honor then helped me find a gorgeous guitar and violin version which I immediately fell in love with. We did our first dance to Amazed by Lonestar which James chose as a love song he really likes.
Any DIY décor elements?
In some Indian weddings, brides walk down the aisle with their close family and friends under a “bed of flowers”, essentially a frame covered with a pattern of flowers. This is something I envisioned for my own wedding, however, it was hard to find such a frame in Hong Kong. Therefore, James did a bit of research on how it looks, picked up blocks of wood, hard string, and an array of flowers, and constructed the frame from scratch.
Where did you go on your honeymoon?
We went to Israel and Jordan in February. Some key things we were looking forward to was floating in the Dead Sea and camping under the stars in Wadi Rum.
Any Regrets?
If you could do it all over again... what would you change?
The one thing I would have changed on the day would have been to be more prepared in what shots I wanted the photographer to capture as the family photos didn’t go as I had planned in my mind.
Any tips that you can give to future brides?
My biggest tip would be to work as a team with your fiancé. I do appreciate sometimes it’s harder if your partner lives in another country, but for all the ladies whose partner is in the same city, don’t feel like you’re in the wedding process alone. Turn to your fiancé for help along the way and even make wedding planning something fun you do together. I actually found the wedding planning to be a fun project as we allocated tasks and deadlines throughout the process and had little celebrations when we saw key things being checked off the list. Having said that, I also think it’s important to not make the wedding process the key factor in your relationship. Engagement is a beautiful stage of relationship progression and the wedding is just one part of the celebration. We had 8 months to plan the wedding, and during that time, we would allocate 1-2 times a week where we’d meet and discuss wedding tasks, and the rest of the time to go on dates and enjoy being a newly engaged couple.
Finally – soak it all in! You only get to do this one time and people really aren’t exaggerating when they say the days go by in a flash. Try and stop every now and then to just take a mental snapshot – these are the moments I remember most vividly now that nearly 5 months have passed.
Also try and take some time away just with your partner after the ceremony to celebrate and chat about how crazy it is that you’re finally married! We had a 2 day wedding and had a bit of time to ourselves after the first day and I remember that we were both just absolutely buzzing with adrenaline and excitement – it was a very happy way to start our marriage.
Vendors & Credits
The Dress: David’s Bridal
Makeup: Megumi Sekine
Hair: Megumi Sekine
Submitted Feature: Adorn Invitations
Shoes: David’s Bridal, New York
Accessories: Roopkala, Mumbai, Swarovski
Photographer: Ali Ghorbani
Ceremony Venue: Bethanie Chapel, Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong
Reception Venue: Holiday Inn Golden Mile, Hong Kong
Celebrant: Warwick Haldane- Haldanes LLP
Bagpiper- Tony Ho (Church ceremony)
See more of Mita and James
Beauty Services for Professional Headshots
Corporate Beauty Services. WarPaint International offers hair and makeup artistry services for corporate and small business photography needs. We even have photographer relationships to incorporate a package into our solutions for your business.
Professional Headshots in 2024
For many companies, updating their headshots is a monthly or quarterly recurrence. When you think about all of the platforms in which we are required to be on stage, such as Linkedin, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, professional online forums and more - it’s no wonder we are constantly striving to be our best.
Maybe you think this isn’t for you or that you’ve never had a headshot done. It’s possible you think that no one is looking or you’ll never need a headshot in your professional career. If so, you may be making a mistake. As mentioned above, you can point to countless social media profiles which often times feature blurry or inappropriate profile pictures (or worse, no photo at all!). This certainly affects whether you’ll even engage with an individual or collaborate with them. After all, if someone can’t take a decent photo, how can I trust them with my budget?
A nice headshot can also be useful in these situations
Your email account
Your email signature
Your personal website or portfolio
Your guest posts or bylines
Your company bio that is internal or in welcome information to the rest of the company.
Your entire professional life.
Corporate Beauty Services
WarPaint International offers hair and makeup artistry services for corporate and small business photography needs. We even have photographer relationships to incorporate a package into our solutions for your business. A sample of the type of businesses we work with to provide corporate hair and makeup services in conjunction with photography or photo-driven events are:
Real estate firms/brokerages
Mortgage & insurance companies
Hotels & resorts
Magazines & media
Retail brands & store/company bio projects
Sales conventions
Travel agencies
Downtown councils, private organizations, & more.
Corporate Beauty Membership
WarPaint International also offers beauty membership to business and corporate clients. When your business has the need for professional hair stylists and makeup artists on location, on a regular basis, we can offer a team of Artisans every month or quarter to help your business look the part at our best possible pricing packages.
Why?
Business class service at preferred pricing. Schedule Hair & Makeup Artists, on demand, for corporate projects, office parties, events, galas, or even to gift to employees. Your yearly membership ensures value and world-class service. Save up to 20% with a corporate membership.
Who?
Membership is designed for independent business owners, agencies, media companies, firms, large corporations - even photographers and models and need our team often. Or anyone who’s business puts headshots on business cards, benches and more.
Valerie Doleman | Sherman & Associates.
Corporate Membership Cost
Corporate Beauty Members tend to use us for for headshots, Friday office parties (demos or beauty bars), gifts to their out-of-town superiors, esteemed hotel guests, celebrities, and more.
Annual contracts are customized to your business, so inquire today.
Are You Thinking about headshots for your business? Have You been to an event that offers lipstick touch-ups or beauty bars? View our corporate beauty services.
A Personal Journey Towards Safe Beauty Products
When it comes to beauty, you’ve likely heard buzz words like: natural, organic, cleaner, safer, green, and non-toxic. But what does this really mean, and why would someone who has built a career in the health and wellness industry get involved?
Jennifer’s story: Beautycounter
When it comes to beauty, you’ve likely heard buzz words like: natural, organic, cleaner, safer, green, and non-toxic. But what does this really mean, and why would someone who has built a career in the health and wellness industry get involved?
As the co-creator of the top-performing class format and Teacher Training program at one of the largest yoga and fitness company’s in the world, I’m grateful to be the Director of Programming and Teacher Training at a Twin Cities-based company where I create class formats and develop accredited teacher training programs and workshops that allow movement enthusiasts to take their teaching and practices to the next level. When I first stepped onto a yoga mat, I instantly connected with the physical and mental benefits of the practice, as well as the extraordinary teachers and students. The Twin Cities yoga community inspired me to leave corporate cube life and dive into a full-time health and wellness gig.
So, you’d think I’m “healthy”, right? Me too.
Childhood symptoms
Since the age of 10 or 11, I’ve suffered from debilitating migraines, which 85% of women suffer from. There was a point in my life where I was in and out of the hospital every other week and wondered how I’d finish high school or go to college. After visiting countless doctors, and mostly due to my personal research, I was able to pinpoint the role hormones played in my sickness - 80% of women suffer from hormonal imbalance.
At my wits end, and at the encouragement of a natural doctor, I started to learn the severe impact the products I slather on my body everyday could be having on my hormones – and my overall health. To put it lightly, I was furious! As human beings, we’re taught to believe that if we workout and eat well, we’re healthy, so when I learned that the last notable law regarding the safety of what I use on my largest organ every single day was passed over 80 years ago and bans a measly 30 ingredients out of the hundreds of thousands on the market, I had to take action. It’s 2019 in the US. This is a common-sense issue like no smoking on airplanes and seatbelts in cars!
Beautycounter. A safer way to beauty
Simply put, I joined a company that’s fighting every single day to regulate those buzz words. Enter Beautycounter - it changed my life. They are advocating for more health-protective laws in the largest consumer industry and that are providing safe, high-performing product options.
Some other organizations tried to blaze the way. Since 2004, there has been a movement called “Campaign for Safe Cosmetics” which has used smarts and sass to pressure the cosmetics industry to make safer products.
The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics coalition, a project of Breast Cancer Prevention Partners (formerly the Breast Cancer Fund), works to protect the health of consumers, workers and the environment through public education and engagement, corporate accountability and sustainability campaigns and legislative advocacy designed to eliminate dangerous chemicals linked to adverse health impacts from cosmetics and personal care products.
The Campaign has educated millions of people about the problem of toxic chemicals in cosmetics, which has led to an increased demand for safer products in the marketplace. Now hundreds of cosmetic companies fully disclose ingredients and avoid the use of cancer-causing chemicals, reproductive toxicants and other unsafe chemicals, demonstrating these practices are not only possible, but profitable. Retailers, too, are becoming part of the solution by requiring the national brands they sell to eliminate chemicals of concern and practice a higher level of ingredient transparency.
It’s progress, but we have a very long way to go in the United States with our journey towards safe beauty products…
Change was imminent
I had no choice. I did my research and changed this one simple aspect of my life to help carve the way for healthier living. My journey to safe beauty products pointed to Beautycounter for a few reasons. I crave connection with passionate, like-minded women, I saw an opportunity to work to pay off my pricey private school degree while making a significant social impact, and because I haven’t been this passionate about anything since becoming a fitness and yoga teacher.
BUT, change also happened because of these daunting and debilitating reasons.
I’ve suffered from unexplained debilitating migraines for almost two decades.
I care about my body and take care of myself by exercising and eating in moderation.
I’ve been lucky enough to make a career in the fitness industry and had NO clue the garbage I was slathering on my body every single day.
My hormones are already crazy enough without using products that could disrupt them even more.
Infertility is way too close to me and could be me (because…I was to control the controllable).
Everyone has someone close to them who died way too young from the C word (big love, sweet Allie).
Our government has not passed a meaningful federal law regulating personal care products since 1938.
The current legislation is less than two pages long and has sizable loopholes.
This legislation bans a measly 30 ingredients (compared to 1500+ in the EU), allowing products that contain potentially harmful toxins onto our counters and into our cabinets.
I can be a voice in this crucial mission.
We ALL deserve better.
When we know better, we do better.
Because Beautycounter was the #1 trending beauty brand of 2018.
To see what chemicals the products that you use every day may contain, try the EWG’s Skin Deep Cosmetic Database.
Jennifer Wieck
Supporting the mission to get safe products in the hands of everyone.
The Never List™
Beautycounter produces “The Never List” on their website. I’ve dropped those items below here so you can see some of the things we allow to be consumed in our daily routines that have long-term health affects for you and your family. The list is about 1500 products deep globally; the United States only bans 30 of them. Many of these product are cancer-causing and we let our skin soak them in every day of our lives. In an un-related article, you may find it interesting that dogs can detect cancer.
Just say no. Support the journey towards safe beauty products.
Benzalkonium Chloride
A disinfectant used as a preservative and surfactant associated with severe skin, eye, and respiratory irritation and allergies. Found in: sunscreens, moisturizers.
Butylatedhydroxy Anisole and Butylated Hydroxytoluene
Synthetic antioxidants used to extend shelf life. They are likely carcinogens and hormone disruptors and may cause liver damage. Found in: lipsticks, moisturizers, diaper creams, and other cosmetics.
Coal tar hair dyes and other coal tar ingredients
A byproduct of coal processing that is a known carcinogen. It is used as a colorant and an anti-dandruff agent. Found in: hair dye, shampoo.
Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)
A chelating (binding) agent added to cosmetics to improve stability. May be toxic to organs. Found in: hair color, moisturizers.
Ethanolamines (MEA/DEA/TEA)
Surfactants and pH adjuster linked to allergies, skin toxicity, hormone disruption, and inhibited fetal brain development. Found in: hair dyes, mascara, foundation, fragrances, sunscreens, dry cleaning solvents, paint, pharmaceuticals.
Formaldehyde
Used as a preservative in cosmetics. A known carcinogen that is also linked to asthma, neurotoxicity, and developmental toxicity. Present where quaternium-15, DMDM hydantoin, imidazolidinyl urea, diazolidinyl urea, sodium hydroxymethylglycinate, 2-bromo-2-nitropropane-1,3 diol (Bronopol), and several other preservatives are listed. Found in: shampoo, body wash, bubble bath.
Hydroquinone
A skin-lightening chemical that inhibits the production of melanin and is linked to cancer, organ toxicity, and skin irritation. Found in: skin-lightening creams.
Methylisothiazolinone and methylchloroisothiazolinone
Chemical preservatives that are among the most common irritants, sensitizers, and causes of contact skin allergies. Found in: shampoo, conditioner, body wash.
Oxybenzone
Sunscreen agent and ultraviolet light absorber linked to irritation, sensitization and allergies, and possible hormone disruption. Found in: sunscreen, moisturizer.
Parabens (methyl-, isobutyl-, propyl- and others)
A class of preservatives commonly used to prevent the growth of bacteria and mold. Parabens are endocrine (or hormone) disruptors, which may alter important hormone mechanisms in our bodies. Found in: shampoo, face cleanser, body wash, body lotion, foundation.
Phthalates (DBP, DEHP, DEP and others)
A class of plasticizing chemicals used to make products more pliable or to make fragrances stick to skin. Phthalates disrupt the endocrine system and may cause birth defects. Found in: synthetic fragrance, nail polish, hairspray, and plastic materials.
Polyethylene glycol (PEG compounds)
PEGs are widely used in cosmetics as thickeners, solvents, softeners, and moisture-carriers. Depending on manufacturing processes, PEGs may be contaminated with measurable amounts of ethylene oxide and 1,4-dioxane, which are both carcinogens. Found in: creams, sunscreen, shampoo.
Retinyl palmitate and Retinol (Vitamin A)
A nutrient that may damage DNA and speed the growth of skin tumors when used topically. Found in: moisturizer, anti-aging skincare.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLS and SLES)
SLS and SLES are surfactants that can cause skin irritation or trigger allergies. SLES is often contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, a byproduct of a petrochemical process called ethoxylation, which is used to process other chemicals in order to make them less harsh. Found in: shampoo, body wash, bubble bath.
Synthetic flavor or fragrance
An engineered scent or flavoring agent that may contain any combination of 3,000-plus stock chemical ingredients, including hormone disruptors and allergens. Fragrance formulas are protected under federal law’s classification of trade secrets and therefore can remain undisclosed. Found in: all types of cosmetics.
Toluene
A volatile petrochemical solvent that is toxic to the immune system and can cause birth defects. Found in: nail polish.
Triclosan and Triclocarban
Antimicrobial pesticides toxic to the aquatic environment; may also impact human reproductive systems. Found in: liquid soap, soap bars, toothpaste.
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5 Essential Products for Makeup Beginners
Whether you’ve just entered the world of beauty products or you’re looking to brush up on your makeup skills, knowing what to include in your essentials kit is the first step in becoming a makeup pro. Once you have the basics sorted, you can move on to finding more unique variations of your favorite makeup and create your own style.
5 Essential Products for Makeup Beginners
Whether you’ve just entered the world of beauty products or you’re looking to brush up on your makeup skills, knowing what to include in your essentials kit is the first step in becoming a makeup pro. Once you have the basics sorted, you can move on to finding more unique variations of your favorite makeup and create your own style.
In this post, we’ll take a look at some of the basic items that you can pick up from the beginning. We’ve also included a bit of information on each product, as well as a few recommendations to help you get started. So, without further ado, here are the essentials that you should have on hand for your daily routine.
Foundation and Concealer
When it comes to achieving a tone and level of concealment that you like, these two important ingredients should be number one on your shopping list. Starting off, your foundation should be light and natural. The last thing you want to do as a beginner is cake your face with too much makeup.
CC Cream is a great option that provides sufficient coverage. Maybelline and IT Cosmetics are two affordable and reliable brands to check out for your foundation and concealer needs. Be sure to apply a light amount starting off and don’t forget to cover around your eyes and below your jawline.
Eyelash Extensions
Unlike mascara and fake lashes, extensions last for up to a month with good maintenance and can help you achieve a fuller, longer and more versatile look without much fuss. The Lash Professional offers a comprehensive range of high quality, affordable eyelash extension supplies to help you get started. They also have a professional guide on everything you need to know about eyelash extensions.
Primer
If you want to achieve a smoother skin texture and fill in any lines or blemishes before applying foundation, pick up some primer. Application is simple and easy, requiring nothing more than a good brush. Here are some tips to help you apply primer like a pro.
Brushes
Leave your fingers for the moisturizer and pick up a good set of brushes for all your makeup applications. A brush makes applying and blending makeup a much more efficient, effective and hygienic process. It’s also easier to mix and match different tones and colors. BH Cosmetics has a pretty solid range of brushes for you to get started with. Sigma Beauty also has a great line up with something for everyone.
Sigma Beauty Dimensional Brush Set
An Eyebrow Kit
Natural brows are awesome but still require some maintenance. A simple set including tweezers, scissors, brushes and a pencil is all you need if you’re blessed with great looking eyebrows. Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for all of us and a bit of help from a more advanced brow kit is often necessary. Here’s a list with some great eyebrow kits for beginners.
Now that you have the essentials, it’s time to dive into the rabbit hole of makeup kits. The countless variety of products will inevitably be a little overwhelming at first, but with enough experience and know-how, you’ll eventually get the hang of it. Just don’t get too carried away - makeup can be expensive!
Want to learn these looks on your own? Book an in-home makeup lesson with a WarPaint International artisan, we also do personal makeup shopping! Happy New Year!
2019 Makeup Trends
Keep an open mind and know that trends aren’t for everyone. I’m a huge proponent to taking something mainstream and making it your own, so as you read through these trends think about fun ways to incorporate them that is authentic to who YOU are.
Makeup Trends for 2019
Happy 2019! I am so excited to share some of my favorite makeup trends that you’ll be seeing a lot of this year.
“When this year’s Pantone color of the year was announced I was really excited as coral is a great way to give yourself a fresh pick me up!”
Before we dive in, I encourage you to keep an open mind and know that trends aren’t for everyone. I’m a huge proponent to taking something mainstream and making it your own, so as you read through these trends think about fun ways to incorporate them that are authentic to who YOU are. This year you will notice the common theme of pops of color, some fun with glitter and neutral tones on the eyes. So let's do this! But first, follow me on Facebook for my live tutorials and product reviews.
The Power Lip
For me, nothing turns my day around or puts me into state quite like a power lip! One of my ultimate favs to rock is Nevermore from Elixery. If you’re new to a bold lip and feel intimidated… try sheering out the color with some clear gloss to make it a bit more translucent and less of a pow when you’re getting a feel for what works for you with this look. Another tip … when rocking a power lip the intention is that our lips are the statement piece, honor that by making the rest of your makeup more subdued.
Power Lip!
Bring out your inner boss babe in 2019!
Pantone Color of the Year: Living Coral.
When this year’s Pantone color of the year was announced I was really excited as coral is a great way to give yourself a fresh pick me up! I’ve found the easiest way to do this is to pop some coral onto the lips and cheeks. My favorite product is Ingenue lipstick from Elixery Cosmetics in Minneapolis. It’s the perfect coral shade for most skin tones and bonus…it doubles as a cheek stain! Who doesn’t love that? If your’e feeling a little extra, find your favorite coral shadow and pop some on your lids too! Tip: if you’re new to using a lipstick as a cheek stain start by putting a little on your finger tips and patting it onto the apples of your cheeks. Then blend blend blend. A little goes a long way.
All. The. Glitter.
I know what you’re thinking…”glitter? really?”. Yes, really! Glitter is a super fun way to add a little pop of glam to your look. It can get out of hand so that’s why I recommend practicing in a controlled environment preferably away from fans and small children…haha I’m kidding. But really, glitter can get crazy so I do recommend the Statement Palette from Beauty Counter. This is an awesome palette that has a mixture of matte and shimmer shadows, but it also has an awesome glitter shadow that is pretty much fool proof.
Tip: Sweep a little of Beauty Counter’s Crown on your lids alone for a fun glitter look that’s appropriate for the office or anywhere you plan to be!
No Makeup, Makeup
This trend has been gaining popularity for the last couple of years and 2019 will be no exception. I personally love this look for everything, it lets the world see the true beauty that you are! My favorite 3 products to create this look are:
Tint Skin from Beauty Counter
Volumizing Mascara from Beauty Counter
Collagen Lip Boost from Skin Savvy (bonus, it has SPF 30!)
Beautiful You
Showcase your natural beauty!
Taupe Smokey Eyes.
You’ll be seeing a lot of neutral tones on the eyes in 2019. My favorite is this new take on an oldie but goodie, the smokey eye. Typically a smokey eye includes tones of greys, charcoals and black, but this year we are seeing taupe as the the smokey element to this look. I personally feel this makes a smokey eye look way more versatile because neutral taupe tones are a lot softer and can be worn at work but also works for night on the town. You can keep the smoke nice and light or deepen it for a more dramatic effect as well. To perfect this look I love the Classic Palette from Beauty Counter.
