Junebug's Wedding Blog - Celebrating the Best in Wedding Style, Fashion, Photography and Decor : beauty treats

Ballet Inspired Pre-Wedding Workout with Pure Barre

christy — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 13:00:00 GMT

As a former dancer myself, I know well the power of regular ballet classes to transform muscles and create an amazing overall feeling of strength and poise. That's why I love the approach of Pure Barre - for myself, and for anyone looking to feel better in their body. Pure Barre is an exercise system created by a dancer and choreographer that uses small isometric movements at the ballet barre to lift your seat, tone your thighs, abs and arms, and burn fat in a way that's fun and centering at the same time. What could be better for a bride-to-be?

The Junebug team recently made a little visit to the Pure Barre studio in Queen Anne, Seattle to have owner Sami Dinsmore Sweeney (the stunning fitness guru seen below) give us a lesson to share with you. Our models for the day were the lovely Amy and Emily - our very own Junebug team members - who bravely tried out these new movements, on camera, in leggings and tank tops, and looked gorgeous doing it. (Bravo and thank you girls!) If you're looking for some new moves to feel more toned, connected and confident, try these out! And check out PureBarre.com to see if there's a studio in your area. Group classes are a fantastic way to feel motivated and supported while you're reaching your health and fitness goals.

Push Up Variations - Targets chest, arms and shoulders

Variation 1: Starting in a straight arm plank, rotate fingers in towards each other. Lower down 2 counts, extend arms 2 counts. Repeat 10x.

Variation 2: Bring knees to the ground, heels in toward the seat. Place hands directly beneath the shoulders. As arms bend down, keep elbows close to the sides to target the backs of the arms. Extend to straight arms, then repeat 10x to targets triceps.

Straight Arm Plank - Targets abs and arms

Place hands below shoulders, arms straight. Pull right leg into chest and create little pulsing movements as you repeatedly pull the knee into the chest, firing from the abs. Continue to pulse knee in for 30 seconds. Switch legs and repeat with left leg.

Knee Dancing - Targets thighs

Sit on your heels, bringing knees a hip distance apart. Lift your seat off your heels a couple inches, then lower and tap seat lightly to the heels. As hips lift, tuck the hips under. Lower and lift seat repeatedly for 2 minutes.

Wide Second - Targets inner and outer thighs

Hold onto a chair for support, bring legs wider than shoulder distance. Rise to your tippy toes, then bend your knees and bring your hips down towards knee level. Lower hips down 2 inches, then lift 2 inches for 60 seconds. Then reduce the movement to down 1 inch, up 1 inch 60 seconds. Repeat for 3 minutes.

Pretzel - Targets outer seat and lower back

Sit with knees bent, right leg in front and left leg behind you. Place hands either on the ground in front of you, or lift in the air for more of a challenge. Rotate left hip forward, attempting to lift ankle higher than the knee. Lift left leg up an inch then down an inch for 30 seconds. Rest for 15 seconds, then repeat 4x. Switch sides to complete series.

Standing with Straight Leg in Turnout, and with Bent Leg - Targets outer seat and thigh

Bring right hand to a chair for support. Bend right knee and bring left leg straight behind you on a diagonal. Point toes and pulse the leg up for 30 seconds. Rest for 15 seconds, then repeat with left leg bent. Switch sides to complete series.

Table top - Targets seat

Come to hands and knees. Bend left knee, bringing your heel in towards your seat. Flex foot and press up, pressing with the glutes and not the leg. Press up for 30 seconds. Rest for 15 seconds and then repeat 4x. Switch sides to complete series.

Back Extension - Targets lower back

Lie face down, squeeze seat as you extend arms and legs long, lifting off floor. Hold still for 60 seconds.

Back Dancing - Targets seat and thighs

Lie on back, bend knees and lift hips into a bridge. Lower and lift hips, squeezing glutes on the lift for 60 seconds. Rise to your tippy toes and repeat for 60 seconds.

Now if that doesn't get your muscles burning, I don't know what will! Incorporate these exercises into your own fitness routine and let us know what you think.

Seattle residents, we love the Pure Barre studio in Queen Anne where we shot this session (we're proud to count them as members of Junebug), and it's also a fantastic little spot to pick up cute workout gear. They sell pieces from Pure Barre, Splits 59 and Mondetta Performance Gear that we couldn't get enough of (Amy and Emily just had to try some on as you can see here, and getting them out of those super-soft sweatshirts after the shoot was no easy task!) Pure Barre has a University Village and Bellevue location as well, and many others all around the country.

Pucker Up! Perfect Red and Pink Lips for Valentine's Day

christy — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 17:00:00 GMT

In honor of Valentine's Day, I thought we could go all the way girly today and swoon over something beautiful, feminine and utterly obsession-inducing... the Perfect. Rosy. Lip. Whether you're a gal that goes for an edgy hot pink, a rich raspberry, or a classic ruby red, finding your favorite lipstick can be a search akin to finding the holy grail. But, thank goodness, a heck of a lot more fun...

For a pretty, bright pink lip like the one in this photo of Min Hyo-Rin photographed by Choi Yong Bin for Vogue Girl Korea (via Beauty is Diverse) try: Kevyn Aucoin Beauty 'The Elegant' Lip Gloss in Cloudaine, Nars Lipstick in Schiap or Lancôme 'Spring 2012 Sensual Vibrant' Color Fever Gloss in Rose Petal, all from Nordstrom.com

For a rich, dark, glossy berry pink lip like in this editorial photo from Rouge magazine, try: Sephora Collection Rouge Cream Lipstick in Crush 23 from Sephora.com, CoverGirl Outlast Lipstain in Scarlet Pucker from drugstore.com or Shiseido 'Shimmering Rouge' Lip Color in Venus from Nordstrom.com

And for a classic red lip like the lovely Blake Lively is wearing in this photo by Mario Testino for Vogue magazine, try: M·A·C 'Pro Longwear' Lipglass in Whoops from Nordstrom.com, Neutrogena MoistureShine Lip Soother in Cherry Twist from drugstore.com, or M·A·C 'Sheen Supreme' Lipstick in New Temptation from Nordstrom.com

Happy, happy Valentine's Day! What are your favorite lipsticks?

Summer Beauty Tips from the Barneys Blog

christy — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 13:00:00 GMT

Barneys New York, the one stop shop for all things ultra-fashionable, now has a blog called The Window and I'm loving the style scoop they're providing!

Just in time for summer, Barneys' blogger Kim Anderson interviewed nine leading beauty experts, from top makeup artists like Daniel Martin and Gucci Westman to in-the-know beauty editors from Harper’s Bazaar, Allure and W Magazine, to share their secret weapons for easy summer skin care and beauty. Perfect for all women, whether you're walking down the aisle, down the hall, or down the beach, here are the top tips we loved the most... and you can read the full article along with all kinds of other beauty and fashion goodness at Barneys.com!

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I. Jessica Prince, Beauty Editor, Harper’s Bazaar

• Summer Essential: I’ve tried tons of tinted moisturizers, and Shiseido The Skincare Tinted Moisture Protection SPF 20 is my favorite. The formula provides an instant dewy glow and protection from the sun—perfect for warm-weather makeup.

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Daniel Martin, Makeup Artist

• 1. NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Red Square gives balance to a dewy, sun-kissed complexion. The added bonus is the pencil form for application precision.
• 2. Besides the buildable and comfortable coverage you get from Koh Gen Do Moisture Foundation, its plastic tube makes it convenient for travel.
• 3. My friend Catherine at Vogue turned me on to Serge Luten s Water Lip Color in Indian Ink. It’s the perfect shade and texture for a barely-there color. Very chic!
• 4. I use Yves Saint Laurent Pure Chromatics Wet and Dry Eyeshadow for the intense color payoff! The amazing shades take you from day to night, and they don’t crease in the humidity.

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Eva Chen, Beauty Director, Teen Vogue

• Summer Essential: I am a total manicure-aholic. After using a polish once, I never use it again, except in the case of Girls Just Want to Have Fun. It’s the perfect coral, and her ultra-smooth formula is easy to DIY!

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Amy Keller Laird, Deputy Editor & Beauty Director, Allure

• Summer Essential: Sheer bright lipstick is ideal in the summer. You get a pop of color without heaviness or worry that it’ll migrate in the heat. I adore Yves Saint Laurent Gloss Volupte in Tangy Orange — it’s a true orange shade that feels like lip balm and has a delicious fruity scent.

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Gucci Westman, Makeup Artist

• 1. I love the Ama La Hydrating Face Polish, perfect to prepare your skin for summer, get rid of dead skin and get an even glow.
• 2. Natura Bisse spf 50 Luminous Shield feels nice on the skin and provides a great canvas for makeup.

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Jane Larkworthy, Beauty Director, W Magazine

• 1.Chantecaille Real Skin Foundation SPF 30 - Despite being decades beyond the “Sea Breeze” teens, I still deal with shine, particularly in summer. Hence the powder foundation.
• 2. Yves Saint Laurent La Laque Nail Lacquer in Rich Coffee – Along with teal and coral, I am totally digging dark brown toes for summer. It’s terribly chic and unexpected.
• 3. Without NARS Blush in Orgasm, I automatically look tired and washed out. The orgasm shade makes my cheeks (and nose, and forehead) look just short of sunburned.
• 4. Le Labo Santal 33 Fragrance is the lightest way to be sexy in summer heat. I can already imagine how this will smell in the breeze with a white linen dress.

Thanks Barneys! xoxo

Giveaway! Winks by Georgie Beauty Luxury Lashes

christy — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 13:00:00 GMT

Luscious false eyelashes can work wonders on all kinds of women with all kinds of personal style - they can be minimal, adding just a hint of definition, or be bold and dynamic and bump up the beauty of your eyes in a flash. I admit to being a huge fan of false lashes, so I was thrilled to learn about and try the lash collection from Winks by Georgie Beauty. They are 100% natural, exquisitely packaged, practically weightless and made with such high quality that each pair can be worn multiple times. Georgie Beauty even created an eyelash adhesive that never includes formaldehyde, parabens, or phthalates, which means they've eliminated most allergy-causing ingredients typically found in lash glues.

Lucky for everyone out there who loves false lashes along with me, Georgie Beauty is giving away a complete set of their Winks lash collection to one special Junebug reader! Our winner will receive a pair of each of their three lash styles, a refillable, recycled eco-compact and a tube of botanically-infused adhesive. Nice! To enter to win simply leave a comment here letting us know which lash style you'd choose for your wedding day, rehearsal dinner, or date night look and what makes lush lashes so fun for you. We'll accept entries through Sunday, June 12th, and randomly choose a winner on Monday, June 13th. UPDATE! Congratulations to our winner, linda d! Check you e-mail for our note, and we just know that you'll adore your lovely prize!

Check out the Georgie Beauty website for lots more information and to choose your favorite style, and visit www.NeimanMarcus.com to shop online. Good luck everyone, and thank you so much Georgie!

Red Carpet Hair Styles for Weddings from the 2011 Oscars

christy — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 19:04:00 GMT

The news and internet is flooded today with fashion and entertainment reporting from the 2011 Academy Awards, and I just had to chime in with some of my favorite red carpet hair styles that would look equally beautiful for a bride on her wedding day. First up are the ladies who wore their hair swept back cleanly and simply, with classic, pretty makeup to match - Anne Hathaway, Jennifer Hudson, Sandra Bullock, Hailee Steinfeld and Mandy Moore. I love the old-Hollywood feeling that these up-dos add to each woman's look.

Next are the women who went entirely modern with their hairstyles, wearing it down at it's natural length - Natalie Portman, Cate Blanchett, Michelle Williams, Halle Berry, Gwyneth Paltrow, Scarlett Johansson, Amy Adams and Penelope Cruz. From Natalie's sculpted waves to Michelle and Halle's pixie cuts to Scarlett's tousled bob and Gwyneth's sleek straight do, this easy approach to a formal affair can give a fashion forward look to every woman no matter what her hair length or shape.

How are you wearing your hair on your wedding day?

all images courtesy of Yahoo! Movies

Dramatic Smokey-Eye Bridal Make-Up Tips from Tara Dowburd-Luftman

christy — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 15:13:00 GMT

Tara Dowburd-Luftman of Make-up Therapy, one of our amazing Southern California Junebug members, knows how to make a bride look and feel sexy, sultry and ever-so-beautiful! She's known for creating smokey-eyes that enhance your natural beauty and aren't too over the top, so today we asked Tara to tell us about two recent bridal make-up looks that she loved...

The Look: This look is edgy, sexy, smoky and fun with a big emphasis on the eyes and lashes. I wanted the make-up to make a statement, but not be overpowering. You should look at her and think "Glam", but at the same time think that the make-up isn't wearing her. The focus is the eyes, but the goal is to see all of her stunning features put together, beautiful and enhanced.

The Eyes: Let me start off by saying when doing a make-up application, I always start with the eyes... I am obsessed with them. However natural or dramatic, the eyes are always a huge focus. One of the most important tips to remember is to prime the eyes with an eyeshadow base that is virtually waterproof so that your eye make-up doesn't crease and lasts all event long. My favorite eye shadow bases are Bobbi Brown's Vanilla Eyeshadow Stick, MAC's Paint Pots and Laura Mercier's Eye Basics. On my client pictured here, I primed her eyes with MAC's Paint Pot in "Blackground" and then layered a fantastic black/grey shimmer (not glitter) eyeshadow all over eyelids up to the crease. I then used a matte black eyeshadow in the crease and the lower lash line, on top of a black waterproof black eye liner by Shu Uemura. Next, I used that same black waterproof eye liner above the lash line (thick) along with a Bobbi Brown Black Gel Eyeliner (thin) to create a long lasting strong look. I then hi-lighted the brow bones with a subtle golden shimmer to lift the eyes, keeping them smokey yet bright and clean. I finished her eyes by curling the lashes, applying black waterproof mascara and fabulous Shu Uemura Black Luxe Eyelashes. I trimmed the lashes from the outer corners to perfectly fit the shape of her eyes, curled the lashes again so the natural and false lashes met and applied another coat of black waterproof mascara. LOVE IT!! Once I finished the eyes, I cleaned up with a water-based eye make-up remover and applied a hydrating yet firming eye cream (I love Creme de la Mer), I used Bobbi Brown Corrector and Concealer set with a light dusting of the Loose Powder as well, keeping her smooth, bright and polished under the eyes.

The Face: On her face, I primed her combination skin with a Paula Dorf Foundation Primer. I then used a Shu Uemura creamy foundation mixed with mineral water to give a flawless, semi-matte yet glowing finish set with a little Laura Mercier Translucent Powder. To enhance and warm up her now even skin-tone, I used a light dusting MAC 45 Studio Fix on her face, neck, decolletage and shoulders. I then framed her face with bronzer and on her cheeks used a neutral blush with a "pop" of sheer pink and finished with a subtle bit of shimmer to hi-light her cheek bones and bridge of her nose.

The Lips: To balance this look and not be "all eyes" I choose a beigy/pink neutral lip color with a hint of golden shimmer lip gloss.

Special Tips: When you use skin-tone correct bronzer beneath the cheekbones, a "pop" of color on the apples of the cheeks and hi-light the cheek bones, it gives more definition and contouring effect that looks just as fabulous in person as it does in the pictures.

This look works best for a bride who wants to look feminine in a fun and sexy way. This bride typically loves playing with make-up and loves wearing it. On the day of her wedding, she wants to look glamorous and create a "red carpet effect", and she's not afraid of being the center of attention.

(Images above by Robert Evans Studios)

The Look: This look is all about sophisticated glam, elegance and 1940's retro with an edge. The emphasis is on glowing dewy skin, dark red lips, strong eye liner and major lashes.

The Eyes: As I mentioned above, I always start with the eyes. For this look I didn't want the eyes to compete with the lips and look too made-up or overdone. Because we decided that we wanted the eyebrows to be strong as well I filled them in with a brow powder to enhance her great existing shape. Eyebrows are always key because they frame the face- they must be groomed and not look "drawn on". If you have a full brow, powders work best and look the most natural. If you don't have very much hair in your brow or not much of a shape, using a non-oily eyebrow pencil alone or along with an eyebrow powder will look natural and have great staying power.

As you can see, this bride has AMAZING green eyes so after priming them with a Bobbi Brown's Vanilla Eyeshadow Stick, I used Shu Uemura ME Brown 850, a taupe/plum/grey eyeshadow with a subtle shimmer (not glitter) on the lids. I then used Laura Mercier Coffee Ground Eye shadow, a matte medium toned gray color in her crease (focused on the outer corners) and finished with a shimmery hi-light in her inner corners and brow bones using Shu Uemura Pearl Powder. For eye liner (a key part of the look) I layered and blended both Shu Uemura M Black Eye pencil and Bobbi Brown Black Gel Eyeliner, for waterproof wearability, above and below the lash-line. Lastly, on curled lashes with black waterproof mascara, I applied a strip of false eye lashes as well as a few medium length individual false eye lashes on the ends to complete the look. The lashes add drama and glamour that looks just as stunning in person as it does for the photos. To complete the perfect eye, after eye cream, I applied a creamy concealer, one shade lighter than her skin-tone, and a light dusting of Bobbi Brown Pale Yellow Loose Powder.

The Face: I wanted her skin to be in one word... luminous. To create her flawless, glowing skin I primed her moisturized face with a dab of Laura Mercier's Face Primer. I then mixed Shu Uemura Depsea Mineral Water with Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick and set with Laura Mercier Translucent Powder. I used the same hi-light powder that I used on her eyes on the bridge of the nose, mid forehead and collar bones. I didn't use bronzer on her face because I wanted her face even and fresh, not looking tanned. I did use a neutral berry "pop" of color to give a warm, yet vibrant effect and compliment her lip color.

The Lips: As you can see, her lips are the main focus. The lips look plump, fresh and semi-matte. The bride has a good amount of yellow and pink undertones in her skin therefore choosing a red lip color was easy. I went with a warm toned red by Bobbi Brown named Burnt Red and went with a deeper, cooler toned lip pencil by Nars named Amazon. This gave the perfect red balance. Remember when using a red lip color, it's very important to finish the look with a lip pencil so it looks polished, clean and the lip color will last longer. Do make sure that the lip pencil isn't too dark or too bright. When applying stronger lip color, I feel it looks best and wears better if you apply the lip pencil after the lip color so the color won't bleed.

Special Tips: Though I didn't use a bronzer on her face, I did use it on her decolletage and tan lines so her skin-tone looked blended, sheer and even. When it comes to selecting a bronzer, I prefer no shimmer (so it looks more natural and better in photos). You want to use a bronzer that enhances your skin's natural undertones. Look at the inside of your forearm to help you notice if you are more golden, red, brown or pink.

Also, when applying a darker lip color, it is easiest and "goof-proof" to do it with a lip brush vs. the tube. You can control it much better and gives a much longer lasting finish.

This classic/elegant/vintage look is for a bride that is not afraid of dark lipstick and lashes. If you don't usually wear strong color on your lips, your wedding day is not the day to do it. You don' t want to look back on your pictures years down the road a wonder, "what was I thinking?" You want to recognize yourself and feel like the most fabulous version of you. You can always do a toned down version of this look using a sheer red or berry color with a neutral lip-tone lip liner, a lighter eye liner color like grey or brown and use a few individual false lashes on the ends with out a strip. The look should suit your style and comfort-level best!

(Images above by Duke Photography)

Thanks so much Tara! Love it! For more make-up tips and real wedding looks, be sure to visit Tara's blog too.