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
I may not be from Texas, but my mantra has always been:
“The bigger the hair, the closer to God.” Amen, right?
As I’ve mentioned before, my hair is very fine. Anyone that has managed my tresses always says the same thing: “You have a ton of hair, it’s just fine.”
Now I’m not talking fine as in “Girl, you’re so fine!”, rather, fine, as in the politically correct term for flat, limp, sticks-to-the-side-of-your-head, type of fine. (I just hope they’re not lying to make me feel better. [[Sighhh]] )
To combat this travesty, I tried UNITE’s Volumizing Shampoo and 7Seconds Conditioning spray a few years ago. These two products quickly became part of my holy grail of essentials.
I was instantly hooked and wanted/needed/had to know more about UNITE.
So here’s the deets…
Founded by creative director Andrew Dale, UNITE is a premium, boutique, fashion-based brand, found in select salons only. His philosophy of creating quality products to make life easier for his clientele, paired with his experience of working alongside major fashion designers, is the reason UNITE stays true to beautiful hair.
{Side note>>>}When Presleigh was diagnosed with Celiac [read more on that here], I realized UNITE’s products are all gluten free-which I love and appreciate now more than ever!
To say I was thrilled to try out UNITE’s entire Volumizing System is an understatement[!!].
Let me preface by saying: It doesn’t disappoint.
Get excited loveleigh’s:
VOLUMIZING SHAMPOO/CONDITIONER: Excellent if you are in constant search of a shamps/conds combo that will give you fuller, more volumized hair.
KEY POINTS:
+it will not weigh your hair down
+leaves your hair soft, with flexible volume and lift
+enhances your hairs natural shine
I have found in my quest for more volume, that most volumizing systems can be too drying-even for my oily mop. Nobody wants volume with brittle ends, right?
Well, UNITE’S volumizing shampoo volumizes without sacrificing your hair’s natural moisture.
KEY INGREDIENTS:
+ Hydroxypropyl Methocellulose: thickens hair and enhances volume
+ Moringa Seed Extract : color locking antioxidant
+ Botanisil: Moisturizes, locks in color, thermal protector
7SECONDS Condition-Leave in Detangler:
Is by far, THE BEST. Ever.
Magic in a bottle.
Swear.
Thank me later.
It literally works wonders! Especially on Presleigh’s beautiful, head full of fine, tangled mess. Only 4 pumps and 7 seconds later, we are tangle and tear-free. It has become a staple in her beauty regimen, naturally. 😉
Because of my oily skin, some products tend to cause my scalp to become excessivley oily, as well. 7SECONDS absolutely does notmake my hair oily; only giving me soft, extra healthy, shiny hair.
This is UNITE’s #1 selling product[!!]
Other Benefits of 7SECONDS include:
+Seals the cuticle and protects hair all day long
+Thermal protector
+UV protector
+For all hair types
BOOSTA Spray: Now Boosta is the business! It has an amazing fresh, tropical, coconutty smell. So obvi it’s going to leave a loveleigh lingering scent.
You can apply BOOSTA to wet or dry hair and spray from roots to end. (I’ve only tried it wet)
I hold BOOSTA about 6-8 inches away from my scalp and spray directly on my roots and throughout my damp hair. I blow dry as usual. A
It is so lightweight-as if there is no product in your hair! It’s amaze, to say the least.
All day my hair has added bounce and volume. Even my second day hair has more volume than it usually does.
SESSION Whip Foam: So not your typical mousse. Volumizing foam.
You can scuplt, lift, or create full locks-truly weightless.
The consistency reminds me of whipped cream! It doesn’t dissipate in your hand either.
Use a golf-ball size amount and distribute evenly through hair. Style as usual and voila(!): big, sexy, amazingly volumized hair.
GO365 Hairspray: 3 Hairsprays in one. Turn nozzle to desired strength and you get the hold (soft, medium or strong) you want!
This has to be the coolest hairspray I have ever used! What a fabulous idea to simply turn the nozzle to choose the type of hold you need. It works well and has a fresh smell too.
UNITE Expanda Dust: insta-volume! One puff on the roots adds extraordinary lift, texture and hold.
Not to be confused with a dry shampoo. Totally different.
This is an ultra fine powder made of:
+Kaolin-adds texture and hold
+Potato Starch-thickens and adds volume
+Tapioca Starch-thickens and adds volume
+Corn Starch-adds body and hold
+Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice-adds moisture and soothes hair and scalp
UNITE Expanda Dust does neither–it gives instant volume that really lasts. Say buh-bye to Queen of Flat Hair!
DISCLAIMER[!!]: Now don’t go ape shizz with this product either. I can’t stress this enough! Remember less is more and distribute evenly and sparingly.
The 7SECONDS Dry shampoo : breathes new life into your hair so you can save time in your day.
Clean hair without washing? Yes, please!
+Sulfate & paraben free
+remove excess oils
+increase volume
+refreshes hair without having to re-shampoo in shower
Finally[!!], a volumizing system that really works.
But don’t fret you loveleigh beauties that do not suffer from flat hair-itis, UNITE has two more systems: Moisturizing and Smoothing.
With their sleek and clean packaging, featuring 32 professional haircare products, you will def find something that works for your hair type.
Everything your heart and hair need! From cleanse, condition, style, finish and treatments.
UNITE can be hard to find because they strongly believe in protecting the integrity of their products and want to remain a premium brand. Go to uniteeurotherapy.com and use their salon locator to find the retail location closest to you or place your order online.
100% vegan, gluten free, without DEA, MEA, parabens, or sulfates and not tested on animals.
There’s a reason why celebs, beauty editors, and hairstylists alike, obsess over UNITE and you will too.
What UNITE products are you using? Share with me!
Love,
LL
xo
Be sure to find Loveleighbeauty on FB and on Instagram @ lauraleigh_xo
Hope all you Loveleigh’s are having a wonderful day filled with love!
Whether you’re basking in romance, fainting over your flowers, over indulging in rich, dark chocolate or attending an anti-valentine themed event, I have your makeup choices covered.
If you’re the latter then remember this:
A fierce red lip can cure any case of the blues.
My FAV reds: Ruby Woo, Lady Danger, Russian Red
Here are a few quick picks for your makeup today or whenever you feel like looking fierce.
EYES: Keep your eyes simple; Blacktrack gel liner for that sexy cat eye.
CHEEKS: The Perfect Cheek blush. [The name says it all]
LIPS: Kiss Me Quick stay-proof lipliner + Lady Danger lipstick
Driven by Love lipglass, Lady Danger lipstick and the Perfect Cheek Blush
Don’t forget to add a cute hair accessory!
I LOVE: A beautiful red flower or a glittery gold hair tie (<<remember these)
I will leave you all with these inspiring words:
“Love has nothing to do with what you are expecting to get-only with what you are expecting to give-which is everything.” –Katharine Hepburn
In the last two years, Urban Decay has taken the cosmetic world by storm demanding full attention to their most coveted palette’s.
To capitalize on their original NAKED success and popularity, Urban Decay released NAKED Basic; to satisfy those of us that desire sultry, matte-finish shadows.
Venus / Foxy / Walk of Shame / Naked 2 / Faint / Crave
+Venus: satin, creamy white with sheen
+Foxy: matte, peachy beige
+Walk of Shame: matte, pinky beige
+Naked 2: matte, soft taupe, with a subtle brownish grey undertone
+Faint: matte, warm medium dark-brown
+Crave: matte, black-brown
Created to be a matte companion to NAKED, it is truly a must-have addition to your beauty arsenal. If you’re a fan of basic neutrals, like minimal without a bunch of frills, then this palette is absolutely for you.
You’re not getting jipped either-each shadow is full-sized. The textures are wonderfully silky, smooth, and densely pigmented for true color payoff. The packaging is sleek and lightweight, making it easy to carry in your purse or travel.
The original NAKED palette set the stakes pretty high as it was [and still is] my fav palette.
Palette colors include:
+Virgin: shimmery, nudish-beige. {It is very light}
+Sin: frost, champagne color with a pinkish undertone
+Naked: matte, medium beige-y brown.
+Sidecar: shimmery, cocoa bronze brown with a golden sparkle
+Buck: matte, darker beige-y brown. {very similar to naked}
+Half Baked: metallic, neutral gold {one of my favs!}
+Smog: medium dark bronze with a gilded bronze sheen
+Dark Horse: chocolate brown with beautiful bronze shimmer
+Toasted: shimmery, dark pinky-brown
+Hustle: soft shimmer, dark chocolate brown with a plum undertone
+Creep: dark blue-black with light silver shimmer
+Gunmetal: metallic, gunmetal grey with silver glitter {the best color ever!}
The palette also comes with their amazing duo 24/7 eye-pencil in Zero [creamy, blackest black] and Whiskey [creamy, rich brown].
When NAKED 2 launched last year, it totally lived up to my expectations and I immediately became obsessed. I find myself always going back and forth between the two.
NAKED 2 features five new shades, as well as six popular shades form Urban Decay’s core line of eyeshadows. Only one shadow is found in both palette’s.
+Foxy:matte, cream color
+Half-Baked: metallic, neutral gold [found in Naked1]
+Bootycall:satin, champagne color (very similar to Virgin from Naked 1, but peachier)
+Chopper:metallic, rose gold with silver micro glitters
+Tease:matte, taupe with purple undertones
+Snakebite: satin, deep bronze
+Suspect: satin, light taupe
+Pistol: satin, warm steel grey
+Verve:metallic, slightly pinky-grey
+YDK: metallic, toasty taupe with coppery micro glitters
+Busted:satin, plummy dark brown
+Blackout: matte, black
Naked 2 has more shimmery and frosty shades. Perfect for smokey-eye looks.
Loveleigh Beauty 