These products rotate on the reg; but this is what I’m obsessing over right now.Die for this color. That Marc is a smart man.This bag literally fits so many goodies!Say buh-bye to dry lips with Tarte’s Lipsurgence + pick your favie color while hydrating. Perf!YSL Volupte needs no intro. Go get one! All the colors are so beautiful!
She just so happens to be my girl, and I couldn’t be more proud of her accomplishments.
What I admire most, is her dedication, hard work, attention to detail, and that a real passion is her driving force to succeed in life. It’s impressive.
Oh boy, is she a real spit-fire too! Countless memories filled with so much laughter, it hurts with this one.
Perfection! {Photo Credit: Flash of Life Photography}
+Hey doll, introduce yourself and give us some deets:
My name is Tonya Brewer. Born & raised in sunny San Diego. I didn’t grow up with much…just enough, but I always knew I wanted more. From a young age, I was always obsessed with beauty & fashion. I always tried to make new trends of my own.
Fast forward to my late teens, fresh out of high school I enrolled into cosmetology
school.
To pay what little bills I had, I also started working for MAC Cosmetics. MAC really helped me find my passion for the art of makeup. While working at MAC I never turned a job down; weddings, Quinceañeras, parties, family photos…you name it, I’ve done it. Eventually that turned into bigger jobs. Performers, photo-shoots for magazines, TV Shows.
Then, finally I got THE phone call. I was asked to be the MakeUp Artist / Hair Stylist for the Demi Lovato’s South American Tour. I literally dropped everything & my life has never been the same since.
After the tour, I was lucky enough to sign with an agency & I have had the opportunity to work with celebrity clientele ever since. Love my life. xxxo
Obvi her style has been on point from the start! Rockin that denim like no other.
Right now I’m obsessed with LESS, minimal everything. For hair I’m loving the undone look. One of the latest looks I did on my client, Bella Thorne, for her last red carpet was a messy fishtail braid. I threw in some cute velvet ribbon to keep it young & fresh like her.
As for makeup, I die for lash overload. Lately my go-to look is a boyish, smudged eye shadow, with a pink or berry lip stain.
+What one hair styling product are you loving?
Hands down can not live without Shu Uemura Volume Maker. Easiest way to add volume & texture.
This was a very fun red carpet look. Bella and I wanted to put a twist on one of our favorite hairstyles, which is a fishtail braid.
Exact Steps to Bella’s Fishtail Braid:
+For Bella’s fishtail braid we started with damp hair.
I applied Shu Uemura Fiber Lift Protective Volumizer from root to tip and blow dried the hair in large sections using a round brush.
This product is great for adding volume & protecting the hair from heat.
+Once the hair was dry, to keep the fishtail secured to one side, I braided starting at her right ear and continued the braid down the nape of her neck towards her left shoulder.
+You only take the regular braid to the nape of the neck. Doing this keeps the hair secured to one side.
+Before starting the next step, I lightly misted the hair with Shu Uemura Sheer Lacquer Finishing Spray. Bella and I thought it would be great to dress the braid up by adding some ribbon that complemented the dress. So I took the two pieces of velvet ribbon, one blue and one green, tied them together at one end, and I used a bobby pin to secure the ribbon at the top of what will be the start of the fishtail braid.
+The first step in creating a fishtail braid is to separate the hair into two equal sections. Keep one section in your left hand and one section in your right hand.
+The next step is to take a thin section of hair from the outside of the right section of hair and cross it over to the left section of hair.
+Repeat the process on the opposite side by taking a thin section of hair from the outside of the left section of hair and cross it over to the right section of hair.
+Now the ribbon we pinned in, I treated as if it were an extension of her hair and crossed it back and forth in the same pattern.
+Once you complete this method all the way down you want to tie the bottom of the fishtail off with a clear hair tie.
+Once the braid was secured, I took what was left of the ribbons and wrapped them around the clear hair tie, tied a knot, and cut off the excess ribbon.
+Once the braid was finished I loosened and pulled at the braid & ribbons to give it a slightly imperfect look.
+I then secured any loose ends with bobby pins and lightly misted the hair again with the Shu Uemura Sheer Lacquer finishing spray.
I’m obsessed with weddings! Every year I look forward to friends or family tying the knot. I get so excited to check the mail and see what color scheme and venue the invitation will reveal.
Maybe its the love, the details, that inner glow of a blushing bride, or a bit of nostalgia [I’ll be celebrating 9 years of marriage this year! ((sigh))], I love ‘em.
If you’re just dreaming up that perfect day, or recently engaged and planning your entire wedding around what you’ve found on Pinterest, it is important to remember the beauty related details.
Let’s be real, it’s the biggest day of your life! You will care more about how that lip combo looks than any other moment in time. All eyes will be on you.
No pressure, right?!
The way you style your makeup for the big day is very important to your overall bridal look. Keep in mind, wedding makeup falls between your everyday casual look and more dramatic evening makeup; in terms of color, style, and intensity. Except, if you’re going for a themed wedding; then you will need to style your makeup accordingly.
Makeup will highlight your best features and bring out the hidden beauty in your face. It will also turn you into that blushing bride we all want to see and you’ve always dreamed of being.
So I have created aBridal Beauty Do’s & Don’t list to consider:
MUST DO:
+ Hire professionals: for both makeup and hair. Trust me! Even if you’re going for an au naturel look, you will still be wearing a significant amount of makeup that is beneficial for photos and will last all day.
+ Setup trial-runs: Super important so there are no surprises and you get the exact style/look you want. Have realistic expectations; but don’t be afraid to speak up. At the end of the day, the professional you hired wants you to be happy with their work too.
+Moisturize,Moisturize, and then moisturize again: Sometimes planning a wedding can cause anxiety/stress that can wreak havoc on our skin. Of course, its easier to say don’t stress, but let’s be real here. So extra moisturizer will make your skin prepped and ready for a flawless makeup application.
+Have day old hair (or more depending on hair type): Even I, with crazy grease-monkey hair, withheld from washing the day of. Every hairstylist I know recommends this and actually prefers dirtier hair; it’s easier to style. If you’re concerned about oil, use a good dry shampoo [UNITE 7 Seconds Dry is a good choice].
+Wear False Lashes: A must! Seriously, don’t be scared. They look incredible in person and can do wonders in photos. I prefer strip lashes, but have seen individual lashes done beautifully too.
+Spray tan well before: Naturally, you will want to look like a bronzed goddess. So a good spray tan will do the trick. Doing it 2-3 days beforehand will allow the extra bronzer and that nasty smell fade into a sun-kissed glow. Don’t forget to exfoliate like a maniac right before though.
+Wear waterproof/Smudge-proof Mascara (even with lashes on) & Stay-proof Foundation: A few tears are bound to happen. It can be a very emotional day[!!]-so it’s best to be prepared. Wearing a good smudgeproof or waterproof mascara (find the one I recommend here) will ensure everything stays in its proper place. Also, setting your stayproof foundation with a translucent or mineralized powder is an essential technique.
My stunning cousin, Joelle.
ABSOLUTELY DON’T:
+ Do anything Cray! Seriously, its not the time to experiment. The main goal is to look like yourself, only more stunning. So no cutting, coloring, or any other potentially disastrous change you might be considering.
+No random facial treatment(s): it may sound like a fab idea, but don’t even think about it. Start any facial treatment program at the very minimum, 3 months before. You want to give your skin time to recover. Plus to make sure your skin doesn’t have a bad reaction. Could you imagine developing a rash? It can happen people.
+Though shall not wax/thread/tweeze your eyebrows: At least a week prior. Makeup WILL NOT adhere to fresh skin. It can also leave bumps and redness behind that is impossible for anyone to cover. [For brow grooming tips visit my post on eyebrows.]
My beautiful friend, Kim at her wedding last year.
Essential products/tools to purchase
Even if you hire a professional, these are important items to have with you.
Lip combo of choice: liner, lipstick, and gloss for touch ups.
A new mascara: no one likes old clumpy mascara. Plus, I’m a freak about my own personal mascara that no one else has ever used-even if your MUA uses disposable mascara wands.
The Bernardo Winery Faire turned out to be a huge success for both Chandra and I. We had a great time with the beautiful models in the fashion show and meeting so many brides-to-be!
They were some amazing vendors too. It made me want to re-do my wedding again. [sigh] I love meeting and seeing people so passionate about their business.
Artists at work! Collaborating on what bridal looks we want to create.The gorgeous Alisa. She has been a professional model for years and is truly stunning.
For Alisa, Chandra wanted to create a clean, yet elegant, look for her.
Eyes:
Bamboo (M.A.C.) in the crease for a pop of color
Vanilla w/ Grain (M.A.C.) packed on the lid for a limited sheen (mature eyes should stay away from too much shimmer. It can increase the look of fine lines/wrinkles)
False lashes, no eyeliner to bring out her eyes
Blush:
Blushbaby (M.A.C.)
Lips:
Whirl lipliner filled in with Snob lipgloss (both M.A.C.)
Loveleigh Beauty & Chandra Campos Makeup Artistry booth.One stop shop for all your beauty needs.
Nerium– the skincare everyone is talking about. Contact Chandra for more info.
The venue is so charming and quaint! I was in complete awe over the grounds and lush landscape. The rustic ambiance is a perfect backdrop for any San Diego Style wedding.
13330 Paseo Del Verano Norte, San Diego, CA 92128 (858) 487-1866
Love,
LL
xo
Don’t be shy! Follow Loveleigh Beauty on Facebook, Instagram @lauraleigh_xo & Twitter @loveleighbeauty
It’s the beginning of wedding season! Bernardo Winery Spring Bridal Faire is the place for any bride-to-be. Some of the best wedding vendors in San Diego will be there.
Including the dynamic duo that is Loveleigh Beauty and Chandra Campos Makeup Artistry! Come play. Enjoy some bubbly, fine wine, makeup and a fashion show with makeup provided by yours truly.
We will also have a booth set up to answer any questions/concerns + share our bridal beauty tips/tricks.
I will def be blogging about the fashion show and experience, plus share the different bridal looks we will be showcasing for the season.
Also, I’ll be posting important tips like which foundation works best, tricks to make your lip-color last, and how preparing your skin starts weeks in advance.
I recently had a tonsillectomy; hence, my being M.I.A. lately. The feeling reminiscent to shards of glass stuck in your throat for a week kind of disrupts ones mood, I’ll be honest.
However, I’m exactly 2 weeks post-op and feeling better than ever. I owe it all to a fab blog I discovered The Healing Blossom. She is dedicated to health and wellness, and gives a play-by-play of her recovery from a tonsillectomy, as an adult.
I was so grateful to have read her story because it totally helped ease my anxiety. {AHHHHH!}
I followed pretty much exactly what she did and I can’t believe how quickly I recovered!
So remember this next time you find yourself in the market for tonsil extraction or any major surgery for that matter.
What I lived on for 10 days
>Aloe + Coconut Water, with crushed ice from Sonic ((Yes, Sonic sells big bags of ice for only $1.75. My beautiful mother drove across town to get me this magical ice and it is the best evs!!)) was my go to drink all day. I swear this it what healed me so fast.
Aloe has soooo many nutritional and beauty benefits:
+Can be used topically on skin to treat sunburns: nourishes and hydrates the skin.
+Boosts metabolism to promote weight loss
+Excellant detox for a natural way to cleanse your colon
+Combats free radicals that contribute to illness and anti-aging
+Reduces/prevents inflammation
[Read more in depth on the benefits of aloe vera at Livestrong.com]
What I also discovered during my recovery is that my mani/pedi was flawless for a whole 8 days! No joke.
So if you want to preserve those beautifully painted digits, I suggest lying on the couch as much as possible, being waited on hand & foot, no dishes, no laundry, don’t deal with your kids, or fussing of any sort, and you’re good to go. Ha!
My gorgeous orchids sent from my beautiful friend, Ahsue. Their color was to die for! And they totally brightened my week.
Well, I sure have missed blogging and all of you. I’ve been working on some great stuff and I can’t wait to share!
“Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.”
– John Muir
Loveleigh Beauty 