Latest news with #RoseSiard
Refinery29
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Refinery29
I Did My Own Wedding Makeup & It Was The (Second) Best Decision I Made
All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. I've always felt that the best part of going out is getting ready. I'm a proud bathroom makeup girl (see required TikTok viewing here), and few things bring me more bliss than uninterrupted time with my makeup, brushes, girly pop playlist and enhancing my features with glam. So why would things be different when it came to my wedding day? For the three years that I was engaged, I always hoped to do my own makeup (hair was a different story). Not only have I been a beauty editor for years, but I've always loved doing my own makeup for special events. However, the more people I floated the idea by, the more well-intentioned friends tried to talk me out of it. 'You're not going to want the pressure,' they'd say. 'Just sit back and let yourself be pampered.' I mean…that did sound nice. But I can probably count on one hand the number of times I've genuinely loved getting my makeup done. Being a beauty-industry professional has made me pretty particular (and knowledgeable, even though I'm no artist) about how I like my makeup done. Even the most experienced artist is at a disadvantage compared to my years of practice applying eyeliner at the precise angle that elongates my eyes, or a pop of blush right at my cheekbones to lift and wake up my complexion. That's not even counting getting the shades and undertones right; I've been scarred by too many frosted berry and magenta lipsticks than I'd care to admit. Which brings me to a few months before my wedding, when I was surrounded by a small mountain of products and a weekend afternoon dedicated to bringing my Instagram saved folder of soft, bridal glam to life. I felt good about translating elements of each inspiration photo IRL, but for my look to last from first-look photos through the reception — not to mention show up on camera — I definitely wanted some advice from the pros. 'To make your makeup show up in photos — especially with flash — adding warmth and depth is essential,' says Rose Siard, beauty educator and founder of Rose and Ben Beauty. 'Bridal makeup means different things to different people, but to me, a timeless bridal look features a lightly defined crease, a highlighted lid, a half wing starting from the iris outward and a pair of Ardell 424 lashes.' After an afternoon of meticulous swatching, I narrowed down my 'kit' that included everything I needed to execute my dream bridal beat. Then I figured out the order to precisely document each step in my Notes app for flawless recreation. My goal was to make the day-of as stress-free as possible; with a recipe to follow, I knew I wouldn't be forgetting a step somewhere. (Just Virgo things.) 'For longevity, layering is key. Build your complexion in thin, even layers and set with a puff and powder,' recommends Siard. 'A great trick: spritz setting spray before powdering to lock in each layer and help the powder grip better.' Luckily for me, I lived in Florida at the time and was getting married in Vermont. If I could get my practice look to last in humid 90°F weather, then I'd feel more than confident in it lasting in breezy, mountain air. Another tip from Siard was avoiding products with sunscreen — the only time she (or I, for that matter) would ever recommend doing so. 'While great for daily wear, [mineral] SPF can interfere with makeup formulas and cause flashback in photos,' she explained. The entire process took me a little over an hour and I went about my day as normal: walking my dog a few times, getting coffee after lunch and hopping on Zoom calls (albeit much more glam than usual). I intentionally did as few touch-ups as possible (aside from re-applying my lip after lunch) to see how my makeup held up. I examined (and photographed) my face every few hours and asked my fellow beauty coworkers for their candid feedback. ('Oh my god, Karina,' said Jackie. 'Wait, I think it's perfect,' added Lia. I work with the loveliest people!) The night before my wedding, I unpacked all the makeup and tools in one of my suite's bathrooms (the only time I will ever say that!), grouping them by eyes, face, lip and brushes. The following morning was a blur of breakfast and hair grips, and then it was time for me to start the routine. While my bridesmaids finished getting ready, I retreated to my private makeup oasis (the aforementioned extra bathroom). Accompanied only by my mum (and trusty iPhone note), I began recreating my previous practice sessions. As with many brides, my goal was to look like a more romantic, glam version of myself. I knew I wanted the focus to be on the eyes — my favourite feature — and settled on a soft, warm, smoky eye with a hint of champagne sparkle. Paired with a glossy, terracotta rose lip (a dialled-up version of my everyday hue) and luminous, diffused skin, it was decidedly less 'done' than a traditional bridal makeup, which tends to skew heavy on the smoky eye and lipstick. Some core products key to my look were the Rare Beauty Always An Optimist Pore Diffusing Primer, £15, that I tested earlier this year alongside Make Up For Ever HD Skin Foundation, £37. I crafted a soft, warm shadow look by starting with a base of e.l.f.'s Liquid Metallic Eyeshadow in Moon, £6 (a game-day swap from what I had in my OG breakdown), Chantecaille's Jasmine Eyeshadow Duet, £57, currently on sale for £28.50, and my favourite travel eyeshadow palette, Natasha Denona's Mini Glam Palette, £24. The Stila Stay All Day Liquid Eyeliner, £21, has always been my must-have for my signature feline flick and I wouldn't have trusted anything else for my big day. A full strip of falsies (even trimmed down to size) tends to weigh down my eyes, but I love individuals or clusters; I added two Ardell trios to the outer corners of my eyes for an extra winged, lifted effect. Patrick Ta's Major Headlines in She's Seductive, £34, transformed me into a blushing bride, and Nars' Explicit Lipstick in Body Heat, £34, (which I discovered after interviewing Ciara, the face of the campaign) paired with Lisa Eldridge Sculpt and Shade Lip Pencil in 2W, £20, was my bridal lip combo, topped with the 2.0 version of middle school favourite gloss, Stila Plumping Lip Glaze in Kitten, £20. (Yes, this was for both sentimental and performance reasons.) Lastly, I set my face with a dusting of Tower 28's GetSet Blur + Set Pressed Setting Powder in Balboa Banana, £28, and locked everything in with Morphe's Continuous Setting Mist, £18. Looking back on it now, doing my own makeup was easily one of the best moments of my wedding day. I fell in love with beauty watching my mum do her makeup day after day, and having her by my side on one of the biggest moments of my life was incredibly special. I feared that I'd get nervous or stressed — if there was one occasion where I'd falter with liquid eyeliner, it would be my wedding — but that couldn't have been further from reality. All the practice paid off and I felt muscle memory kick in as I blended my shadow and carefully set my complexion. I knew I could execute my look in an hour but I left myself nearly two to avoid feeling rushed. 'One of my biggest tips: don't stress during application and enjoy the process,' says Siard, who also did her own bridal makeup. 'I still cherish the memory of sitting in the venue with a small vanity, calmly applying each step. It was such a beautiful, grounding moment." As a beauty editor, I did have an advantage with access to professional expertise, in addition to gratis products. Nonetheless, I hope this inspires and empowers fellow beauty-loving brides considering doing their own wedding makeup to trust themselves and go for it. Now that I'm on the other side, I truly feel like doing your bridal makeup is not only possible, but can be extremely fun and rewarding. (It was also a rare moment of quiet serenity in a busy weekend of socialising.) Every time someone complimented my glam, I was so excited to share that I did it myself — and I may or may not already be accumulating ideas for a vow renewal…
Refinery29
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Refinery29
I Did My Own Wedding Makeup. It Was The (Second) Best Decision I Made
All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission. I've always felt that the best part of going out is getting ready. I'm a proud bathroom makeup girl (see required TikTok viewing here), and few things bring me more bliss than uninterrupted time with my makeup, brushes, girly pop playlist, and enhancing my features with glam. So why would things be different when it came to my wedding day? For the three years that I was engaged, I always hoped to do my own makeup (hair was a different story). Not only have I been a beauty editor for years, but I've always loved doing my own makeup for special events. However, the more people I floated the idea to, the more well-intentioned friends tried to talk me out of it. 'You're not going to want the pressure,' they'd say. 'Just sit back and let yourself be pampered.' I mean…that did sound nice. But I can probably count on one hand the number of times I've genuinely loved getting my makeup done. Being a beauty-industry professional has made me pretty particular (and knowledgeable, even though I'm no artist) about how I like my makeup done, and even the most experienced artist is at a disadvantage compared to my years of practice applying eyeliner at the precise angle that elongates my eyes, or a pop of blush right at my cheekbones to lift and wake up my complexion. And that's not even counting getting the shades and undertones right; I've been scarred by too many frosted berry and magenta lipsticks than I'd care to admit. Which brings me to a few months before my wedding, when I was surrounded by a small mountain of product and a weekend afternoon dedicated to bringing my Instagram saved folder of soft, bridal glam to life. I felt good about translating elements of each inspiration photo IRL, but in order for my look to last from first-look photos through the reception — not to mention, show up on camera — I definitely wanted some advice from the pros. 'To make your makeup show up in photos — especially with flash — adding warmth and depth is essential,' says Rose Siard, beauty educator and founder of Rose and Ben Beauty. 'Bridal makeup means different things to different people, but to me, a timeless bridal look features a lightly defined crease, a highlighted lid, a half wing starting from the iris outward, and a pair of Ardell 424 lashes.' After an afternoon of meticulous swatching, I narrowed down my 'kit' that included everything I needed to execute my dream bridal beat. Then, I figured out the order to precisely document each step in my Notes app for flawless recreation. My goal was to make the day-of as stress-free as possible; with a recipe to follow, I knew I wouldn't be forgetting a step somewhere. (Just Virgo things.) 'For longevity, layering is key. Build your complexion in thin, even layers and set with a puff and powder,' recommends Siard. 'A great trick: spritz setting spray before powdering to lock in each layer and help the powder grip better.' Luckily for me, I lived in Florida at the time and was getting married in Vermont; if I could get my practice look to last in humid 90°F weather, then I'd feel more than confident in it lasting in breezy, mountain air. Another tip from Siard was avoiding products with sunscreen — the only time she (or I, for that matter) would ever recommend doing so. 'While great for daily wear, SPF can interfere with makeup formulas and cause flashback in photos,' she explained. The entire process took me a little over an hour, and I went about my day as normal: walking my dog a few times, getting coffee after lunch, and hopping on Zoom calls (albeit much more glam than usual). I intentionally did as few touch-ups as possible (aside from re-applying my lip after lunch) to see how my makeup held up. I examined (and photographed) my face every few hours and asked my fellow beauty coworkers for their candid feedback. ('Oh my god, Karina,' said Jackie. 'Wait, I think it's perfect,' added Lia. I work with the loveliest people!) The night before my wedding, I unpacked all the makeup and tools in one of my suite's bathrooms (the only time I will ever say that!), grouping them by eyes, face, lip, and brushes. The following morning was a blur of breakfast and bobby pins, and then it was time for me to start the routine. While my bridesmaids finished getting ready, I retreated to my private makeup oasis (the aforementioned extra bathroom). Accompanied only by my mom (and trusty iPhone note), I began recreating my previous practice sessions. As with many brides, my goal was to look like a more romantic, glam version of myself. I knew I wanted the focus to be on the eyes — my favorite feature — and settled on a soft, warm smoky eye with a hint of champagne sparkle. Paired with a glossy, terracotta rose lip (a dialed-up version of my everyday hue) and luminous, diffused skin, it was decidedly less 'done' than a traditional bridal makeup, which tends to skew heavy on the smoky eye and lipstick. Some core products key to my look were the Rare Beauty Always An Optimist Pore Diffusing Primer that I tested earlier this year alongside R29 beauty-editor favorite, Lawless' Forget The Filler Foundation mixed with my go-to Make Up For Ever HD Skin Foundation. I crafted a soft, warm shadow look by starting with a base of e.l.f.'s Liquid Metallic Eyeshadow in Moon, Chantecaille's Jasmine Eyeshadow Duet and my favorite travel eyeshadow palette, Natasha Denona's Mini Glam Palette. A dual-ended Stila waterproof liquid eyeliner has always been my must-have for my signature feline flick, and I wouldn't have trusted anything else for my big day. A full strip of falsies (even trimmed down to size) tends to weigh down my eyes, but I love individuals or clusters; I added two Ardell trios to the outer corners of my eyes for an extra winged, lifted effect. Patrick Ta's Major Headlines in She's Seductive transformed me into a blushing bride, and Nars' Explicit Lipstick in Body Heat (which I discovered after interviewing Ciara, the face of the campaign) paired with Lisa Eldridge Sculpt and Shade Lip Pencil in 2W was my bridal lip combo, topped with the 2.0 version of middle school favorite gloss, Stila Plumping Lip Glaze in Kitten. (Yes, this was for both sentimental and performance reasons.) Lastly, I set my face with a dusting of Tower 28's GetSet Blur + Set Pressed Setting Powder in Balboa Banana and locked everything in with Morphe's Continuous Setting Mist. Looking back on it now, doing my own makeup was easily one of the best moments of my wedding day. I fell in love with beauty watching my mother do her makeup day after day, and having her by my side on one of the biggest moments of my life was incredibly special. I feared that I'd get nervous or stressed — if there was one occasion where I'd falter with liquid eyeliner, it would be my wedding — but that couldn't have been further from reality. All the practice paid off, and I felt muscle memory kick in as I blended my shadow and carefully set my complexion. I knew I could execute my look in an hour, but left myself nearly two to avoid feeling rushed. 'One of my biggest tips: don't stress during application and enjoy the process,' says Siard, who also did her own bridal makeup. 'I still cherish the memory of sitting in the venue with a small vanity, calmly applying each step. It was such a beautiful, grounding moment." As a beauty editor I did have an advantage with access to professional expertise, in addition to gratis product. Nonetheless, I hope this inspires and empowers fellow beauty-loving brides considering doing their own wedding makeup to trust themselves and go for it. Now that I'm on the other side, I truly feel like doing your bridal makeup is not only possible, but can be extremely fun and rewarding. (Not to mention, it was also a rare moment of quiet serenity in a busy weekend of socializing.) Every time someone complimented my glam, I was so excited to share that I did it myself. And I may or may not already be accumulating ideas for a vow renewal…
CNN
11-03-2025
- Lifestyle
- CNN
Brown mascara is the must-have your everyday makeup is missing, according to makeup artists. Here's why
Brown mascara quick picks Drugstore mascara: L'Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara Tubing mascara: Tarte Tartelette Tubing Mascara Mascara for fine lashes: Clinique Lash Power Long-Wearing Mascara While black lashes have been the standard, modern beauty trends like the no-makeup makeup look are favoring a softer approach, which is why brown mascara should be on your radar. It's universally flattering and an especially great anti-aging makeup hack. 'Brown mascara can be used to diminish the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by reducing contrast and creating an overall softer look,' says makeup artist Rose Siard. '[Brown mascara] is ideal for a more natural or minimal look, whereas black mascara creates bolder, dramatic definition that lends itself to more intense or evening looks,' she says. According to makeup artist Erica Taylor, this effect is rooted in color theory. 'The red tone of a warm brown can amplify a green eye, while the orange tone in a brown mascara will complement blue eyes,' she says. 'Even brown eyes reflect a more amber quality with a rich brown mascara.' Regular black creates a bigger contrast and can make the eyes appear more distinct, but it doesn't play off of these nuances and can even have a harsh effect. Along with getting the experts' recommendations for the best brown mascaras to try, I made the switch and tested a few myself. Read on for our suggestions. Your search for brown mascara should look the same as how you pick out traditional black mascara. The main focus is the effect of the formula. Are you looking for a lengthening mascara? A volumizing one? A curling effect? A combination of all three? You can also factor in whether you want a waterproof formula or a tubing mascara, which tend to be longer wearing and smudge-resistant. Then, with brown mascara, there's more variation in the shade options than just your standard black mascara. For those with deeper skin tones or naturally dark hair, I recommend looking for dark brown or brown-black shades. Since I have nearly black hair, some brown mascara is lighter than my natural hair color, so these darker brown options still add warmth but are dark enough to complement my natural hair color too. On the flip side, if you have a lighter complexion or lighter hair, a standard brown hue won't look as harsh. L'Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara L'Oréal's Lash Paradise mascara is a classic drugstore mascara, delivering voluminous, defined lashes with a couple of swipes. Taylor says the Latte Brown is a "warmer, richer brown that enhances all eye colors." Tarte Tartelette Tubing Mascara Celebrity makeup artist Natalie Dresher says she likes this tubing formula, "because it lasts all day, doesn't smudge and is super easy to take off." I also vouch for its long-lasting formula, which I find to be more lengthening than volumizing. Yves Saint Laurent Lash Clash Extreme Volume Mascara Siard recommends this mascara for "max drama and volume" in the shade Uninhibited Brown. It has an almost creamy-feeling application, but the formula is smudge-proof once it dries. Maybelline Falsies Lash Lift Waterproof Mascara Available in a Brownish Black shade, this volumizing, lengthening and waterproof mascara is another one of Siard's favorites. "I love this one for everyday," she says. "The darker brown adds definition but is softer relative to true black." CoverGirl Lash Blast Supercloud Mascara One of my favorite beauty launches this year, this affordable mascara evenly lengthens and defines lashes for a natural-looking effect. The air-whipped formula also helps keep my naturally straight lashes lifted. I like the depth of the Black Brown shade, but it comes in the slightly lighter Brown option too. Wander Beauty Mile High Club Length and Define Mascara Now available in Espresso, this award-winning mascara offers a rich, nearly black finish. "It separates and defines the lashes so well you can't tell that it's not black until closer inspection," Dresher says. Lisa Eldridge Kitten Lash Mascara Offering a warm, dimensional tone, the Burnt Umber shade of this mascara complements my naturally dark hair perfectly. It helps lift and hold my straight lashes, and it applies evenly without clumping. For others with oily skin like mine, light smudging might occur because of the wax-based formula. Clinique Lash Power Long-Wearing Mascara This tubing formula helps keep lashes lifted and curled while enhancing length. Taylor says the Dark Chocolate mascara is a particularly good choice for those with naturally light-colored hair. "I love this mascara because it has a very small brush that can get to the finest lashes for even blond and gray hairs, whereas some larger [applicators] cannot get to the root of really light lashes," Taylor says. Westman Atelier Eye Want You Mascara Siard says this formula "gives more length, and it's easy to build up." Created by celebrity makeup artist Gucci Westman, it's a flexible mascara made with candelilla and carnauba waxes, plus shea butter, to keep lashes looking full and fluttery. The Le Brun Clean shade, a chocolate terracotta, makes blue, green and hazel eyes pop, according to Siard. The following FAQs have been answered by makeup artists Natalie Dresher, Rose Siard and Erica Taylor. Who should wear brown mascara? Who should wear brown mascara? The makeup artists agree that anyone can wear brown mascara. 'Everyone can wear brown mascara if they want to soften their overall makeup look, but it works organically with softer eye colors and people with fairer complexions,' Siard says. Dresher says that brown mascara will enhance different facets of different eye colors. She loves the look of brown mascara with blue or green eyes. 'It makes them pop and beautifully changes the hue of their eye color,' she says. 'I also love it on brown eyes because the brown mascara pulls the warm hues from within the eye color.' Taylor adds says brown mascara is 'especially beneficial for fair skin and those of us with light lashes, where black mascara is too harsh.' Is brown mascara better for mature eyes? Is brown mascara better for mature eyes? 'As we mature, colors that are too intense, like black, can enhance the appearance of texture around the eyes,' Taylor says. A brown mascara offers a softer contrast that defines the eyes but doesn't draw attention to fine lines and wrinkles, according to Siard. Does brown mascara make eyes look bigger? Does brown mascara make eyes look bigger? While Dresher points out that mascara in general makes eyes look big and wide by fanning out lashes and adding volume, Siard says brown mascara can have a particularly magnifying effect. 'I attribute this quality to the fact that black mascara creates a stark boundary between the white of your eye and lash line, whereas brown mascara lets the lashes fade from your eye into the lid,' Siard says. For this article, we consulted the following beauty experts to gain their professional insights on the best brown mascaras. Natalie Dresher, celebrity makeup artist Rose Siard, makeup artist and founder of Rose and Ben Beauty Erica Taylor, professional makeup artist and educator of over 27 years CNN Underscored has a skilled team of writers and editors who have many years of experience testing, researching and recommending products, and they ensure each article is carefully edited and products are properly vetted. We talk to top experts when it makes sense to make certain we are testing each product accurately, recommending only the best products and considering the pros and cons of each item. For this article, beauty and fashion editor Sophie Shaw consulted professional makeup artists about the best brown mascaras and tested a variety of products herself.
