Beauty Essentials Every Bride Needs in Her Handbag

1.    LIPSTICK 

Lipstick is an obvious must keep.  You’ll be eating, drinking, laughing and kissing – your lips will need a touch up.

2.    BLOT POWDER/PAPER 

No matter how well your makeup has been applied, under lighting and all the activity of your day your face can get a bit shiny.  Control that oil build-up quickly by dabbing on some colorless blot powder or absorbing the access oil with some blotting paper.  A MUST HAVE.

3.    EYELASH GLUE

You never know when your false eyelashes will need a touch up.  Keep a small eyelash glue in your purse just in case.

4.    Safety Pins

Wearing a bridal lehnga is no joke; it’s an art to carry. Your bridal stylist will pin you up and set your dupatta but you never know when you could have a malfunction.  Keep a few different sizes of safety pins in your purse.

 5.    BOBBY PINS

While wearing even the most solid bridal updos, it’s easy to get stray hair or your teeka could fall forward.  Keeping a few bobby pins for quick tucks and pin ups will save you from being uncomfortable the entire night.

6.    SMALL MIRROR

 

Keeping a small mirror is a good idea to keep check on how your looking and for any touch ups you may need.

7.    MINTS

Self explanatory – keep a few mints.  They will defiantly come in handy.

8.    COTTON SWABS

 

Cotton swabs are great to use to touch up or clean up any makeup mishaps, like runny kohl, smudged lipstick or any spots on the face.

 9.    SAMPLE SIZE FRAGRANCE

 

Before you get into the banquet hall dab on a fresh application of your favorite perfume.

10.    PAIN KILLERS

Weddings can get stressful, keep a few painkillers just in case.  Last thing you want is a head ache that won’t go away!

10.   STRAWS

Keeping a few straws is a great way to help keep your lipstick on the whole night.

How to Choose the Right Bridal Jora

Shopping for the perfect wedding dress can be exciting and fun- but can also end up being an overwhelming task considering the options we have available.

THE KEY TO STARTING YOUR WEDDING PREPARATIONS IS: RESEARCH. 

Before hitting the stores- research on what is going on in the market and what your favourite designers are suggesting for the current season. Survey market trends. Keep a file of images of design ideas which interest you.

The complete bridal look not only about the perfect dress- but also the right jewelry, make-up and hairstyle which would compliment your whole look.

Research various jewelry designs, make-up looks, and hairstyles which interest you as well. Remember- the perfect bridal look is a combination of all of these elements.

Research. Research. Research.

BE READY.

Make sure that when you book an appointment with your designer, that you are not shooting in the dark- and you have a clear idea of what you are looking for. Keep various colors, styles and design details in mind which interest you as well- all of this will help your designer in putting together the right look for you which will compliment your figure as well as your personality.

South Asian Bridal Wear Inheriting Couture Style

As a wedding planner – I always have to pay attention to bridal trends and keeping up with the newest styles in Bridal Fashion.

SOMETHING THAT HAS RECENTLY REALLY IMPRESSED ME IS THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE “SARI” OR “LENGHA” INTO A ONE PIECE GOWN.

Now this isn’t just any traditional white gown like we’ve seen our European neighbours wear. These gowns are “blinged” out with crystals and jewels stitched on to the finest fabrics. I would say I saw this trend coming about five years ago, when I got married. I wore a mermaid style lengha, two piece, but tried to make it appear as one. Proud to say I saw this fashion start up from Pakistan, as designers took our tops and stretched them to hang off of our ankles – bringing back the “anarkali.” Eventually, they dragged on the floor, developed trails and had the most intricate thread and needle work.

IN THE AGE WHERE WEARING COUTURE COMES WITH A HEFTY PRICE TAG, WHY NOT TRULY GET THE PERFECT BANG FOR OUR BUCK AND SPORT OUR WEDDING DRESS ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION?

Brides started to adapt the style as we saw Bollywood really take it up a notch with their blatantly over the top dance numbers. We observed stars like Kareena Kapoor and Katrina Kaif bless the red carpets with long “flowy” dresses that were embellished with some of the most luxurious embroidery and bead work. 

For anyone with a modern theme to their reception, this kind of look works almost perfectly as there is nothing more contemporary than an elegant gown to pull everything together. If you actually consider this option for your own wedding, the one piece is also practical. Not only is it easier to carry than the traditional sari or lengha, but often at times it can also be more cost effective.

I would like to see more “DULHANS” adapt the gown as their choice of wear for their receptions. For heaven’s sake – it’s unquestionably easier to dance and maneuver in. And it can easily be converted into evening wear appropriate for any dressy function.

Future brides – take note! You have more selections than just a mermaid style “lengha” or “resham sari.” Do your research and choose something that works for you! Consider stepping outside the box and exercising this trend as you are supposed to look and feel like a princess. And we all know a princess truly can’t be a real princess without her ball gown!

5 Lipstick Shades to Try in 2014

January’s all about the new things you want to try, and the things you MUST do. If you need a list of resolutions to follow, read the 10 resolutions every desi MUST keep in 2014 by clicking here. 

#1 RED

Red lips are classy, but my only worry with them is when I see teenage girls sporting them. They should be kept off for an occasion, in fact I still don’t own one. BUT this year, let’s change that and try it on… at least once. I know we’ll fall in love.

#2 BERRY

It looks closer to vampy lips, but it’s more subtle than them. Mix in a slightly darker shade of your pink to bring in the wintery seasons of the later months of the year.

#3 VAMPY

I’m sorry if you are, but I’m not the greatest fan of vampire novels and shows like the Vampire Diaries and Twilight, but one good thing they may or may not have brought about are the vampy lips. A little in-your-face they are, but I think they’re growing on us. So let’s get on the bandwagon and try them out this year!

#4 NUDE

Just like red lips, these are a classic. As someone who has to be out the door at 8am in the morning, I often opt for nudes because they look great, and are not in your face. You can dress it up for an occasion by smoking out your eyes, too!

#5 GLOSSY

I know in YK12-13 there was a huge trend of trying out matte, but to be honest, I’m not the biggest fan of those. Let’s try to gloss it up this year a little and bring in those junior school times back when lip gloss was our only source of beautification.

So, which one are you beautys trying out first? Is there something you would NOT try? Tell me in the comments

The Mahraja Look

THE TERM MAHARAJA (THE KING OR THE ROYAL LOOK) IS WELL KNOWN.  ALTHOUGH IT ORIGINATES FROM CENTURIES AGO, IT HAS NOW BEEN TRANSFORMED INTO A LOOK FOR FEMALES.

The look is mostly no eye makeup on the upper lid of the eye but rather more a smudged charcoal line concentrated under the eye that extends straight from the inner eye towards the outer side of the eye.  It is a look anyone can pull off but ideal for small eyes or for Asian eyes.

STEPS

1)  Begin by lining the inside of the upper and lower eye with a black, dark brown or midnight blue pencil.

2)  Don’t put any liner on the upper lid and keep the focus under the eye. Slowly start by applying liner on your lower lid more as a straight line and extend your eyeliner a bit longer then normal.

3)  Use a brush or even your finger tips and gently rub over the liner you created to make it look softer and to blend the line without smudging it.

TIP: Change it up by applying blue inside the eye and black outside to make it more dramatic and as well to change it up from the usual black eye pencil

Simple Beauty Tips

Black Pepper to cover Gray Hair

I received this comment which I thought would be particularly helpful for everyone struggling with gray hairs instead of resorting to hair colors. 

"I don't have hair loss problem but my hair is dry and has lots of gray hair. I am applying yogurt mixed with black pepper thrice a week started this week. This is helpful to cover grey hair and my hair had become soft and looking darker."

Thanks a lot to the person who has dropped in this comment :)