My Wedding Makeup

In light of the royal wedding and Meghan Markle's natural bridal makeup, today I want to share the look I wore for my own wedding.

When Jason and I got married in 2015, we were very hands on and did everything ourselves (with help from our friends and family of course!). The fact that event planning was a major part of my job and that we agreed on everything, made the whole process stress-free, but when it came to my makeup I didn't know where to start, and quickly became overwhelmed.

As you know, I don't wear a lot of makeup in my everyday life and for my wedding I wanted to look and feel like me, just one step up. That meant no contouring, very little eyeshadow and liner, and a low-maintenance lip. A few months before our outdoor wedding in Maine, I took to YouTube for some guidance on how to do my makeup so that I would look polished in pictures but not overdone in real life. I watched video after video and nearly every tutorial felt too over the top for me and my personal makeup style.

So, to come up with a look that felt right for me, and wouldn't wear off in an hour or two, I took a little bit of everything I already knew and did a ton of experimentation leading up to the big day. After weeks of product trials and side-by-side comparisons I narrowed in on a look that was easy and photogenic, but not over the top, and today I want to share that look with you. Like I mentioned, this look was very easy to do and some of the tips I learned were critical in ensuring my makeup stayed put. For example, one of the tips I share in the below video helped my shadow and liner stay put all day and night which is normally impossible with my small lid space and deep crease that runs through where my shadow goes. All-in-all, I hope you find this tutorial helpful if you're looking for a natural bridal look you can easily do yourself, or if you just want a pretty, polished face that's appropriate for work or an evening out. I've embedded some more pictures below along with my video tutorial and a widget of everything I used - exact shades are listed in the description box of the video. Thanks so much for watching and happy wedding season!  

Coming Up Roses: Some Of My Favorite Rose Beauty Products

There is no denying that I love roses. I love roses in my home, in my yard, in my bridal bouquet and of course, in my beauty products. To share this love with you, today I want to share some of my favorite rose beauty products. Each of these items smell divine, really work and help inject a little bit of glamour and aromatherapy into my beauty routine. 

1. First up is a product that has been in my beauty routine for over 20 years. I first incorporated Thayer's Witch Hazel in the rose scent when I discovered the power of toner and it's still one of my favorites for a gentle tone that helps balance my skin without stripping or irritating it. It smells wonderful, doesn't sting or make my face red and is an absolute bargain. I also love to put some in a portable spray bottle and spritz my face for a little refresher during the hot and humid summer months. 

2. Hand cream is one of my beauty essentials and this rose scented option from Jurlique is perfect. Moisturizing without being sticky and fragrant without being suffocating. I've been using it for years and always have one in my bag. 

3. You know I love blush and this neutral, barely there rosy shade from Milani is one of my all-time favorites. I love how natural this shade is (it's a dead ringer for Tarte Amazonian Clay blush in Exposed). Plus, it lasts all day and applies seamlessly without streaking. 

4. This multi-purpose balm from Jurlique is another product that I've been using for years and have consistently repurchased. I love this for my lips, elbows and cuticles to keep things feeling soft. It has the same Jurlique rose smell that I love and lasts for ever because a little goes a long way. This Jurlique rose powder is another great product. 

5. After seeing countless glowing reviews for the By Terry CC Cream I finally picked one up and I loved it from the first application. It smells heavenly, doesn't irritate my skin, evens out my complexion without looking or feeling heavy and stays fresh all day - even during hot Charleston summers. 

6. One of my all-time favorite fragrances is Jo Malone Red Roses and it's been a staple in my beauty routine for years - I even wore it on my wedding day. I love how fresh it is but also that it smells exactly like a rose garden without feeling stuffy. It's definitely not for everyone, but if you really love rose like I do, I think you'll love this. 

7. Since favor lip balm for everyday, I don't mind spending a little more on a luxurious option like this one. It's certainly pricey and I haven't repurchased it for that reason, but it's a lovely balm to consider adding to your routine if you feel like treating yourself. I also love that this one comes in a stick form so that you can easily reapply throughout the day while on the go.

8. During the colder months or if my hands are feeling exceptionally dry, I'll reach for this hand cream from Grown Alchemist. It's slightly richer than the Jurlique option I mentioned earlier and I find that for me, it works better in the fall and winter but it smells lovely and absorbs quickly. I also love that packing and it's definitely one of my most Instagramable beauty products.  

9. I recently swapped traditional moisturizer for a hydrating serum, but the Dr. Hauschka Rose Day Cream is such a beautiful product that I couldn't omit it. I love the smell (unsurprisingly) and how quickly it melts into my skin leaving it feeling and looking refreshed and hydrated. 

10. No rose list would be complete without the Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist. This is another product that I've been using for years and I love it for setting my makeup and refreshing it throughout the day as needed. It also doubles as a toner and feels amazing if left in the fridge for a bit before applying during the summer. 

Memorial Day Packing Guide | 10 Easy Pieces, 1 Carry-On (VIDEO)

Today's video is a quick and easy Memorial Day packing guide. This 10 piece travel capsule is perfect for a 4 day getaway and features items you probably already have in your wardrobe. I've linked everything down below (or similar items when necessary) and you can see my corresponding video with a few outfit ideas here or at the bottom of the post. Thanks so much for watching!

1. White T
2. Striped Wrap Top (old Zara but this is similar)
3. White Linen Shorts (old J.Crew  but these are similar)
4. Jeans
5. Sundress (old Ralph Lauren but this is similar)
6. Navy Blazer
7. Light Scarf (purchased in Tuscany but this is similar)
8. Sunglasses (old Ralph Lauren but these are similar)
9. Espadrilles
10. Sandals

On My Radar No 39

Happy Friday! I spent most of this week playing around with Final Cut Pro X and after countless tutorials and some trial and error, I think I'm finally getting the hang of it. I used it to edit my capsule jewelry collection video that went up yesterday and only had a minor glitch towards the end. It all worked out in the end though and I'm so excited for not only using it more in the future but also playing around with some slight tweaks to my editing style.

Speaking of updates, I'm also excited to upgrade my camera again soon. I updated my equipment last year to a GH5 but haven't had much luck with it so I'm swapping that out for the new Sony A7iii and I can't wait! I'm always trying to make improvements in my content and I love challenging myself to get better. In the meantime though, here are a few of the things that I've been loving this week. 

RUFF'S SIGNET RINGS NEW WEBSITE | First up, is the newly updated Ruff's Signet Ring website. I partnered with Ruff's as a brand ambassador for my new signet ring and I couldn't be happier with it! Not only are they a delight to work with, but they are true artists and my ring has exceeded my expectations. I have a video coming up all about my new ring, but in the meantime I recommend checking out their newly redesigned website which is absolutely beautiful. 

NEW KOH GEN DO AQUA FOUNDATION | If you've seen any of my makeup routine videos, you know that I prefer a light base and typically achieve the look I like with a lightweight foundation, tinted moisturizer or mineral powder. When it comes to foundations that meet my requirements, nothing holds a candle to Koh Gen Do. I wore both the Aqua and Moisture foundations exclusively when I lived in the city and I was over the moon to hear that they recently reformulated their Aqua Foundation to make it even better! I love the light, breathable finish that looks like skin - just perfected - and that it's cruelty-free, and formulated without artificial ingredients, fragrances, synthetic pigments and petroleum-based mineral oil. 

HOW TO WATCH THE ROYAL WEDDING | The highly anticipated royal wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry takes place this weekend and this article outlines all the ways you can watch it.