Lo & Co. Blog

Lo and Amy!

I stumbled across Amy Salinger's website and blog and knew that I must meet her! Our websites are nearly identical with our blogs, videos and practical advice for real people! It is a little spooky that her avatar is mimicking mine - seriously.   I sent her an email and was elated when she got back to me.  We met up for coffee and we were off talking a mile a minute like we were identical twins who had just found each other.  We are practically separated from birth - except that she has brown hair and eyes, was raised on the East Coast and is Jewish. But, we are style sistas - and that is all that matters.  

Amy has these fantastic videos that show you how to work with items that you most likely already own.  There are videos on how to work with belts (great safety pin secret!) organize your closet, find the perfect jean,and much more.   Her blog is a must read as she combines great tips with a sense of humor that will add a little levity to your day.  It is like having a BFF that is your own personal stylist!  She also has some great posts for brides that have been on weddingbeepro.

Amy and I are putting together some fun and fabulous posts on style so if you have any questions or concerns that you would like addressed please send me an email.

Ask Lo

Dear Lo,

Like every other bride, I want to look 'perfect' on the big day and am tempted to hire someone to do my make-up for me but we are getting married in the middle of nowhere and finding someone to travel there without having a huge budget has been an issue - so I'm thinking I'll end up doing it myself.  Problem is, I rarely wear make-up...I'm just WAY to tired/lazy in the morning to do anything with my face before I head to work besides slather on some Neutrogena Tinted Moisturizer and Clinique High Impact Mascara.  So, needless to say, I'm NERVOUS - there are SO many products and now there are HD formulas added to the mix to create even more confusion for me!!  I have no problem investing in quality make-up, but since I have no idea what I'm buying most of the time I end up not liking it and getting discouraged -Ugh. People say my eyes are my best feature, so I want to try and play those up for the big day - but I've tried applying fake lashes before and had a terrible time (I'm a blinker when things get too close to my eyes!) I could be hopeless. 

~ Chelsey

Chelsey au naturel

Inspriration

 

Fashion Critic

Amelia Lyon Photography

Chelsey, 

You are too cute!  You look really great without makeup and it will be easy to make you look even more "natural" for your wedding.  First of all, your eyes are gorgeous and you have great skin and bone structure. Let's just even out your skin tone and and a little definition and dimension.  I love your inspirational photos and this is what I refer to as a "classic eye".  It is all about a sheer shimmer shadow and a tight liner across the top of the lid. False lashes can add extra glam. I did this eye on Carissa in a previous post which has a detailed product list.  The only difference is doing a pink lip instead of a deep berry.

I think this will be a great complement to your halter style dress and summer wedding venue.  However, since you don't wear a lot of makeup we need to see how comfortable you are with this eyeliner.  I want you to go to a Bobbi Brown, M.A.C. or Stila counter with these photos and ask an artist to show you how to do this eyeliner.  All of the aforementioned brands have a gel liner that is perfect for this and easier to use than liquid liner. I recommended trying a dark gray liner instead of black - it will be a little softer.  For the lip try out some of the Bobbi Brown pink glosses layered over a lip pencil.  I love Bobbi's Petal, Pink Beige, and Rose Sugar gloss.  I have used these on countless brides over a neutral lip pencil.  You can adjust the color with the lip pencil.  If you more pink in your lip go with a pinker liner or for more depth use a darker pencil under the pink gloss.  Experiment and find what you feel best in.  Finally, if you feel that the liner is too strong you can smudge the liner and soften the look.  Simply apply a medium gray shadow (M.A.C's Print shadow) on a small eye shadow brush and blend it into the liner.  This creates a smudged smoky line which many women feel more comfortable in.  There is no perfect look for everyone, it is all about what you feel best in.  Trust your gut and don't worry, as an expert I guarantee you are going to look gorgeous no matter what!

xoxo,
Lo

Lo in The Knot

I had the pleasure of working with the lovely bride Linda who is photographed beautifully by Jennifer Davis.   Linda doesn't usually wear much makeup, so we kept her eye shadow light and added my favorite lashes (Andrea #53) to her eyes.  This made her look a little more glamorous and she definitely felt like a diva when she left my studio after her trial.  I love to see women discover how fun false lashes can be.  False lashes have a slight weight to them and they tend to make a women more conscious of her eyes.  Hence, there are more through-the-lash glances and batting of the eyes. Linda's makeup is enhancing her natural beauty and I feel it suited her style to a "T".  I want to thank Linda for being so open and appreciative - she really made my job a joy.

Close up photos at Linda's trial:

 

Light opal shadow topped with a pinky/plum shadow lightly in the crease.  A tight gray eye liner (Bobbi Brown's Granite Gel Liner). Brows slightly penciled in with M.A.C brow pencil in Fling.

You can try this at home!!

Ask Lo - Lip Color

I am always so thrilled to learn that a woman is inspired by one of my bride's look.  I contacted Carissa, the bride of the "get-the-look" mentioned below, and she was tickled pink since she was about to give birth and not feeling like a beauty inspiration! PS she had a beautiful baby girl.

Lo,

Hello! So I just stumbled upon this entry recently (http://www.weddingbeepro.com/2009/03 /19/get-the-lookask/) on WeddingBee and I am just beyond in love with that look! My hair is darker and my skin a bit more olive/tan, and so I was wondering if you could suggest an alternate lip color but in the same realm? Maybe just a little deeper? During the day I normally just wear Burt's Bees, because I hate reapplying color. For going out I usually just wear sheer dark pink lip glosses. Origin's Once Upon A Shine in sheer raspberry is what I have right now.  

~ Amanda

Amanda,

I think that this classic look will look great on you. This look is all about accentuating your natural coloring and contouring.  For the eye shadow you want to use a color that is very close to your natural lid color, but just a smidgen lighter.  For your olive skin, I would suggest priming the eye with a creme shadow (M.A.C paints or Laura Mercier Eye Basics) in a light champagne color then topping that with a powder shadow of the same tone. Use a rosy/plum shadow lightly in the crease which will just accentuate your natural crease and add dimension in photos.  Apply a tight Black Plum gel liner (Bobbi Brown) on the top lash line as this will really pop your green eyes. You have great brows and I recommend having them filled in lightly which will add sophistication.  I used Bobbi Brown's Aubergine gloss on Clarissa, which I believe would look good on you, but for a deeper color I would suggest one of the following:

Matte Lip

Slopes lip color and lip liner (Bobbi Brown)

Gloss

Nars Rose Gitane Gloss (sheer deep wine) with a similar colored lip pencil

Alternate Pink Color (better in summer months)

Blue Raspberry Creme lip color topped with Pink Brightening gloss (Bobbi Brown).  I have used this on a couple of brides for a beautiful yet "not too pink" lip.

Please let me know which color you go with and I can't wait to see photos!

xoxo,

Lo

 

Lo & Co. in New York Mag!!

I am very excited to be a part of New York Magazine's Bridal Hairstyles Shop-A-Matic!  I have to give props to my Hair Diva, Jennie Brent and to Phab Photographer Danny Weiss. Gorgeous Melissa is the bride and Jennie did a two-in-one hairstyle.  It started out as a sophisticated updo and then after the ceremony all Melissa had to do was loosen a few pins and voila - sexy waves for dancing.

The Shop-A-Matic feature is really great for the bride and has about 100 photos of real bride hairdo's and many other categories geared toward the bride.  Check it out for great wedding inspiration!

Okay, one of my goals (besides world domination) is to be listed on the New York Magazine's Best of Weddings . I have tried to crack the code of how to get on this list but I have had no luck.  I am now one step closer to this goal, so I am officially starting a campaign to get on the NYM's Best of List.  If you worked with me and would like to leave a review - please do so at  nymag.com.

Lo Loves!

One of my favorite products is the Nars Multiple Stick in Orgasm. I just love to go to the makeup counter and say "I'd like the multiple orgasm!!"  But seriously, I put this on almost every cheekbone I touch.  It is an amazing peachy pink shimmer that adds the perfect "glow" when placed on top of the cheekbone.  It can be worn alone or in conjunction with a bronzer or neutral blush color.  However, I just noticed that Nars has a Multiple Duo with Orgasm and South Beach.  I am so excited since I use South Beach all of the time as a light bronzer/contour color. Why carry around two multiple sticks when you can have it in this convenient compact. Happy Easter/Passover!!!

Nars Duo in Orgasm/South Beach $45

 

www.narscosmetics.com

Ask Lo - Blushing Groom?

Dear Lo,

This question isn't for me, persay, but for my fiance. He gets red cheeks really easily (I don't think I have a photo without them there). Is there anything we can do to tone them down? I think I've made him paranoid with all my make-up attempts for our wedding day! He's fair skinned, blond, and blue-eyed if that helps. Thanks!

~ Jane


Jane, thanks for such a great question!  I have covered pimples, sunburn and even added a little bronzer to my grooms.  I even ambushed a Father of the bride and trimmed his unruly eye brows (Bride and Mother were ecstatic!). However, it ultimately depends on how comfortable the guy is with grooming.  I would tell him that every man on TV (including the big bulky sports guys) have on makeup to look good on camera.  I have applied foundation, concealer and bronzer on very masculine models.  There is nothing weird about it, but if your man feels uncomfortable than let him be, respect his opinion because it isn't a big deal.  I have seen many handsome grooms with pink cheeks and it just part of their charm. Being perfect doesn't make for good photographs. Focus on being in the moment and connecting with your man and family. That is what makes good photos and good times.  If he is up for a little "smoothing out" it then I suggest the following.

Tinted moisturizer applied from under his eyes down toward the beard line.  This will even out skin tone slightly and also disappear into the skin, so there is no sign of makeup. Make sure he is freshly shaved and lightly apply with your fingers.  You can then set this with a little translucent powder use a sponge and apply a little over his cheeks and T-Zone area which will also eliminate shine. I love Laura Mercier's Tinted Moisturizer because it comes in a varitey of tones for a perfect match and contains SPF 20. There are many other great brands as well, but check out the label carefully to be certain that there the product contains no illumination or shimmer. That could be bad :-)


www.lauramercier.com

An awful lot of fair skinned people flush easily.  I always tell them that the benefit is that they can save a lot of money on blush and they never look pasty!!!  Best of luck to you and your healthy looking groom!

xoxo,
Lo

Flower Girls - Shimmer and gLOss!

Disclaimer:  I am dead against beauty pageants and making little girls look like mini Barbies! I encourage my nieces to read, learn, explore, play sports and get dirty.  However, playing with makeup, hair and clothes can be a fun part of being a girl (not the only part!).

I love to put a little shimmer and gloss on the little girls and I wanted to show you all a way to do it without spending more than $10.  I know that some people may not be a fan of any makeup for young girls and I completely respect that.  I apply makeup to include the girl in the pampering process and to make her feel extra special. They get to be part of the "big girl" ritual and who doesn't like a little gloss and sparkle??  For girls 10 and below it is completely age appropriate to dust a little shimmer shadow on their eye lids and cheeks in a sheer pink or champagne. Top their lips with a pink sheer gloss and they are all "princessed" up! For older girls, you may want to apply a little mascara and a blush with a little more pigment.  Painting their nails can also be a fun part of the process.  Here are some great products that are super duper affordable.

e.l.f. www.drugstore.com

Super Glossy Lip Shine SPF 15, Watermelon  

gloss - watermelon $1.49

All Over Stick, Pink Lemonade $1.49

Mineral Blush in Joy or Bliss $5.00

There is a great mascara ($1.49) and mineral eye shadow ($3) as well as a bunch of other fun and affordable products.  I also really like the Super Glossy Malt Shake for us "big girls" and for a buck forty nine, buy two!!

Lo loves Trish!

After finishing my previous post Under Eye Dilemma, Linda asked me to recommend a blush color for her.  Well, it is pretty impossible for me to give a short answer (especially after too much caffeine) and I decided to do another post on the wonders of Trish McEvoy products!  TM is a little pricier, but is perfect for the minimalist who loves everything in one place and is a must have if you travel a lot.  I love her eye shadows, blush, powder, and her No. 9. Blackberry and Vanilla fragrance and creams.

I recommended the following products for Linda:

Blushes

Easy Going (along the cheekbone) and Natural (apple of the cheek

Eye Shadows

For all over eye - White Peach

Highlight color - Glamorous gold

Medium Colors - Deep Olive, Sable Bronze, Gilded Bronze, Bronze Patina

Eyeliner –-Ebony or Rich Brown Definer

Go Trish!  (maybe she will take my calls now!!!)