Beauty Tips by Tania

Category Archives: Destination Weddings

Preparing Beautiful Skin for Wedding Day

anyano_065When looking back on wedding photos, flawless skin is pretty high up on the list of priorities for brides. For that one day, they want to have the most beautiful skin possible.

It takes time and care to have that flawless canvas for your wedding makeup artist to work on. Start early and it is within your grasp.

  1. Three months before the wedding, start getting facials once a month to deep clean your skin. If you plan to travel to your wedding destination, either get your final facial before flying out, or find a spa that uses the same protocols that your skin is doing well with. Avoid sudden changes right before the wedding!
  2. Avoid changing your skin care routine for the last three months before the wedding. You don’t want to deal with a reaction that needs time to heal or find out that the products are not working.
  3. Beautiful skin starts from the inside out. Prepping for a wedding can be stressful, so if you know that certain foods have a tendency to cause reactions in your skin, then avoid those for a few months. And above all, stay hydrated! Drinking plenty of water allows your skin to gently & naturally detox.
  4. The day before the wedding avoid lots of salt and sugar to reduce puffiness, especially if you have an early morning.
  5. Our last tip – you’ve heard it before, but we’ll say it again – do NOT forget the sunscreen!

Flawless skin for your wedding is within your grasp – just start planning early!

Destination Hawaii for Wedding Couples

j0145116Whether you are coming to Honolulu for your destination wedding, or you are local and have friends and family flying in for your wedding, this is the perfect time to explore and enjoy the beauty of paradise. There are iconic parts of Oahu that all visitor’s should see at least once, and then you have the lesser known vista’s that you need a local to suggest, because they are not in any guidebook.

For an iconic hike, you cannot get any better than Diamond Head overlooking the beaches of Waikiki. Since you don’t want to do any super-strenuous exercise right before the wedding, this is perfect for all of your family & friends. They have even modified the trail so the dreaded stairs are much easier. If you can bring yourself to wake up early, sunrise from Diamond Head is guaranteed to be spectacular.

Plan a day trip to the North Shore for our next few suggestions – you won’t be disappointed! (Just make sure to bring plenty of sunblock and water to stay hydrated!)

  1. The North Shore is the best place to get a taste of Old Hawaii. Haleiwa Town has plenty of quaint shops and as you continue driving, you’ll see many great spots to pull over and view the ocean, see turtles and seals on the beach, and, of course go swimming in the beautiful Pacific Ocean. Waimea Bay is one of the most beautiful beaches and has the advantage of the Waimea Botanical Gardens right across the main road from the beach!
  2. A Hawaiian Plate Lunch is an absolute must when you visit Oahu. One of the most well-known – and ono (delicious) food trucks, Giovanni’s is near Haleiwa Town and cannot be beat if you like shrimp. Plate lunches are available all over the island, so look for the traditional Kahlua pig lunch or indulge in a loco moco (a burger over rice with eggs cooked however you like and gravy to tie it all together).

The Polynesian Cultural Center really needs a day of its own. It is a bit of a drive from Waikiki, but check with your hotel to find a bus to take you there and they may have tour packages available as well. Look into the evening luau packages & don’t forget to take one of the canoe tours through the property. This is a perfect time to learn the history and culture of Hawaii!

For the more adventurous, ocean-loving members of your party, drive to Hawaii Kai and the amazing Haunama Bay for snorkeling. (Once again – don’t forget the sunblock and the water to stay hydrated!) The tropical sea life alone is worth the drive, but the scenery along the way is breathtaking. Drive a little further to see the blowhole and the famous Sandy’s Beach – just be careful as the surf is powerful.

We can’t give away all of the local secrets, but send us a message and we can give you a few hints of favorite spots from a local perspective! Hope to see you soon in our island home!

How do you Prep for a Trial Session

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Each eye is a different color

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Brown Shadow with a Contour eye on LEFT and Maroon Shadow with a Contour eye on RIGHT

Brides want to come to the trial session armed with pictures of a hairstyles and makeup preferences, hair embellishments like the veil, flowers, and hair clips etc.  It may be a good idea to bring your favorite eye shadow colors, those you feel comfortable in for a day wedding or evening wedding.

In order to save you time and fustration, don’t be afraid to tell your stylist what you “don’t” like from the beginning.  Throughout the trial session, evaluate what you like and how far you want to take the bridal look from natural to a glamour look. Remember it’s a trial session so have fun in the process and you can always make minor changes on the wedding day.

See www.beautybytania.com and click on the pinterest account, it can be very helpful.

Thought you might like to know

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Dear Global Brides,  You may find the attached link very interesting, I know I did.
Yours Truly,
Beauty by Tania,
Honolulu, Hawaii
Shared from Weddings on Flipboard. Download Flipboard for free here.

When starting the Bridal Beauty Process

radiant skin and healthy toned shoulders

radiant skin and healthy toned shoulders

When starting the bridal beauty process, it is a good idea to look in the mirror and see what needs to be enhanced and what may need a little camouflague.  Longer hair is easier with most bridal up do’s, so you might consider growing your hair out starting today.  This should be followed by a trip to your hairstylist to discuss whether highlights, lowlights, treatments and a light trim are needed.  Next, the texture of your skin is obviously very important on your wedding day.  Begin by getting facials once a month at least 3 months before your wedding, this will help the makeup go on smoothly and last longer.  Check out bridal and fashion magazines, Pinterest and the Knot to find the latest bridal looks appropriate for you and your wedding venue.  Book your trial session about 1 to 3 months before your wedding, to ensure the look is perfect for you.  Make a realistic fitness plan and work out with a buddy to help keep you on track.  The two areas of your body to pay close attention to when wearing your wedding dress are your shoulders and abdominals.

That’s it for now.  Remember to enjoy the journey, not just the destination.

What is a bride’s day suppose to look like?

I am writing this entry because I had an amazing experience while styling a bridal party today at the Halekulani Hotel in Waikiki.  As I styled the brides and bridesmaids, I listened to the stories and memories shared by the aunty and cousins about their grandparents and other family members.  The aunty was hilarious, reminding the girls about the lives, habits and even sayings of their grandparents and relatives.  As I listened and laughed inside, I thought about memories of my own childhood.  I felt like I really understood the connection between the members of this family.  The experience was like watching an old film about my bride and her cousins growing up on the North Shore of Oahu playing and hanging out with their grandparents, aunties and cousins.  It’s funny how some experiences, even simple ones, can leave a lasting impression on you.  I was reminded that friends and family are with you every step of the way, in person and in spirit, preparing you for your wedding day.

Hawaii Wedding Destination Found

destination wddingMy brides from all over the world choose Oahu as their wedding destination for good reason.

For over 15 years, I’ve met brides from Canada, Europe, Asia, Australia and even Russia.  On an average, I will have styled at least 3 brides a week from another country and they all have one thing is common.

They’ve chosen Oahu as their destination wedding for the convenience and beauty that the Hawaiian islands has to offer.  It’s a service-oriented island which most people find out that they can book anything and everything their heart desires, yes, even a small or large wedding.   The  island’s magic are constantly being captured  in the hearts and the photos of the bridal party.  Plus,  everyone wants a beautiful backdrop of a perfect wave, waterfall or beaches of the islands.

That’s were I come in, I know most destination wedding spots and offer suggestions on bridal makeup and hairstyles conducive to  time of day, lighting, location and weather conditions.  All the while, keeping in mind the bride’s comfort level; in order to  meet her goals.  My destination brides are always relaxed and come armed with lots of sunscreen to avoid any skin problems.  So if being ” in the moment” and enjoying your wedding with spectacular photos is something you long for check out Hawaii as your destination to say “I do”.

 

2013 Pick – The Knot Best of Weddings

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Mahalo to all of our brides who have left such lovely reviews for us on TheKnot.com! You were instrumental in our being named the 2013 Pick for The Knot Best of Weddings for Make-up Artists and Hair Styling in Hawaii! We love being a part of that special day for each and every one of our brides – those that live here in Hawaii and those who visit and choose Hawaii as the destination for their special day. We will continue to strive to bring you the best beauty tips, ideas, education and yes, help, for your every day make-up and your special day. Beauty glows from within and what we do on the outside brings just a little bit of extra confidence that sparkles.

Thank you again for your support and help in this special achievement!

Are You Protected?

Rabbit Island off Makapu'u Near Waimanalo, HawaiiSunscreen…it’s the catchword that too many of us put very little importance on. However, it is an essential item in your make-up arsenal – every season of the year. If you don’t protect your skin, you will eventually need to seek correction or trowel on the make-up to cover up the damage.

If you are approaching your special day, particularly if your wedding is here in Hawaii, sunscreen is an absolute must! No one wants to have sunburned photos to show their grandchildren. Make-up alone, even if it claims to have SPF protection, is just not enough. We recommend you use a sunscreen of at least 30 SPF under your make-up on special occasions. If you are here on your honeymoon, keep the reapplication going throughout the day if you are sunbathing, sailing, sightseeing – even if it is cloudy outside. Overcast days are one of the most dangerous because we are complacent and so certain that nothing will happen.

Note for those of you who are wondering: The photo above is of Rabbit Island, a popular photo shoot location for brides and other special events. It’s on the east side of Oahu, off Kalanianaole Highway, on the way to Waimanalo. There is a beautiful view of this location from the hike at Makapu’u lighthouse.