Bridal Makeup Artist Vancouver, BC Michelle Wong Wedding Make-up & Hairstyling Service

Wedding Favours

Sun, 11 May 2008 19:22:00 +0000

Wedding Season is Here! As Summer approaches, many of my Bridal Makeup clients are busy completing the final steps of their Wedding Planning.

While a Wedding is essentially an experience to cherish, Wedding Favours are what your guests can literally "take away" with them to remember the occasion always. Wedding Favour is also a wonderful way to dress up your reception and reflect your personal style and creativity.

I recenlty came across " My Wedding Favours", an online store that carries an extensive selection of classy, unique, and interesting Wedding Favours, all at excellent prices. They have beautiful personalized, seasonal, themed or colour-coordinated Wedding Favours, as well as a variety of Wedding reception accessories, place card holders, Bridesmaids gifts, jewelry and bags, Groomsmen gifts, Ring Bearer and Flower Girl Accessories etc. They ship to Canada & USA.

Here are a few of my favourites items from their collection:

Photo Coasters in Various Designs
Mini Wedding Cake Candles (so cute!)
Padded Silk Travel Mirror in Matching Silk Pouch
"Cut Out for Each Other" Heart Cookie Cutters
Tons of Asian Wedding Favours
"It's a Shoe Thing!" Shoe Bottle Opener
"Apple of My Eye" Mini-Candle
Be my Bridesmaid/Maid of Honor Dress Cookie

They have Lots more....Happy Shopping!

Michelle Wong
Vancouver Wedding Makeup Artist and Hairstylist
www.michellemakeup.com

My Skin Care Favourites

Mon, 05 May 2008 05:45:00 +0000

Through these years being a Makeup Artist in Vancouver, this is one question that I have been asked again and again – "What do you use for YOUR skin?"

I do read a lot about beauty and skin care, and love to try new lines and products, so the answer to that question will change from time to time, but I am happy to share what I’m using these days:

Suki - Lemongrass Cleanser w/ Chamomile & Vitamin C
Suki - Complexion Brightening Cream
Suki - Facial Toner w/ Shitake, Burdock & Olive Leaf

Suki is a complete line of 100% natural skin care products, made with "the highest quality clean ingredients, harvested and processed to sustain their dynamic, living elements, ensuring the highest potency and optimum results". I have been using this line for 3 months and LOVE the way my skin feels... clean, soft and healthy! I have recommended Suki products to my sister, too, and these are her favourites:

Suki - Blue Chamomile & Echinacea Facial Moisture Serum
Suki - Facial Clay w/ Green Tea, Roses & White Willow

Before I purchased their products in full sizes, I tried them in their sample kit first. They have one for normal to oily skin type, and one for normal to dry skin:

Suki - Mini Anti-Inflammatory Skin Care Kit
Suki - Mini Antioxidant Skin Care Kit

I never go out without sunscreen and I’ve been enjoying this all-natural sunscreen lately: Kimberly Sayer - Ultra Light Facial Moisturizer-SPF25. It is hydrating but not sticky, perfect for daily use and under Makeup. Another of my morning favourites is Suki Active Tinted Moisturizer SPF 15. It’s silky smooth and gives just enough colour to even out my skin tone.

Some of the above items are available at Choices and Capers. However, I prefer to order mine from Upurea Makeup (a Canadian website) - the prices are up to 40% cheaper, with free samples and free shipping!

Michelle Wong
Vancouver Makeup Artist and Hairstylist
www.michellemakeup.com/

Carolyn Urgently needs a Stem Cell Donor

Mon, 28 Apr 2008 02:50:00 +0000

My friend Carolyn Tam in Toronto has been diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia 16 months ago. After her first treatment of chemotherapy, she was in remission for only a year. The Leukemia has relapsed. She will need a Stem Cell transplant to survive this time, and we are desperately looking for a matching donor.

Her brother has been tested negative already as a potential donor. According to her tissue type, anyone can be a possibility, related or unrelated.

Please visit http://www.SaveCarolyn.com
ONLY A SIMPLE BLOOD TEST IS NEEDED to determine your stem cell profile. Nothing more.

Please register as a stem cell donor at your local registry - I have already registered! Information can be found HERE.

Thank you and God Bless.

Michelle Wong
Makeup Artist - Vancouver, BC, Canada

www.michellemakeup.com

Self-Defense Tips for All Women - Through a Rapist's Eyes

Sun, 20 Apr 2008 17:56:00 +0000

My job as a Mobile Makeup Artist requires that I travel to different locations for work (sometimes in wee hours), so I have to be very safety-conscious. Was glad to come across this article which gives great self-defense tips for all women. I am not sure who is the original author. Not sure whether it’s a genuine report from studying real-life rapists, either. However, many of the ideas make good sense. Just read with a grain of salt and stay Safe!

This is important information for females of ALL ages. When this was sent to me, I was told to forward it to my lady friends, but I forwarded it to most everyone in my address book. My men friends have female friends and this information is too important to miss someone. Please pass it along.

A group of rapists and date rapists in prison were interviewed on what they look for in a potential victim and here are some interesting facts:

1) The first thing men look for in a potential victim is hairstyle. They are most likely to go after a woman with a ponytail, bun, braid or other hairstyle that can easily be grabbed. They are also likely to go after a woman with long hair. Women with short hair are not common targets.

2) The second thing men look for is clothing. They will look for women whose clothing is easy to remove quickly. Many of them carry scissors around specifically to cut clothing.

3) They also look for women on their cell phone, searching through their purse, or doing other activities while walking because they are off-guard and can be easily overpowered.

4) Men are most likely to attack & rape in the early morning, between 5:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.

5) The number one place women are abducted from/attacked is grocery store parking lots. Number two: Are office parking lots/garages. Number three: Are public restrooms.

6) The thing about these men is that they are looking to grab a woman and quickly move her to another location where they don't have to worry about getting caught.

7) Only 2% said they carried weapons because rape carries a 3-5 year sentence but rape with a weapon is 15-20 years.

8) If you put up any kind of a fight at all, they get discouraged because it only takes a minute or two for them to realize that going after you isn't worth it because it will be time-consuming.

9) These men said they would not pick on women who have umbrellas, or other similar objects that can be used from a distance, in their hands. Keys are not a deterrent because you have to get really close to the attacker to use them as a weapon. So, the idea is to convince these guys you're not worth it.

10) Several defense mechanisms he taught us are: If someone is following behind you on a street or in a garage or with you in an elevator or stairwell, look them in the face and ask them a question, like what time is it, or make general small talk: "I can't believe it is so cold out here," "we're in for a bad winter." Now you've seen their face and could identify them in a line-up; you lose appeal as a target.

11) If someone is coming toward you, hold out your hands in front of you and yell STOP or STAY BACK! Most of the rapists this man talked to said they'd leave a woman alone if she yelled or showed that she would not be afraid to fight back. Again, they are looking for an EASY target.

12) If you carry pepper spray (this instructor was a huge advocate of it and carries it with him wherever he goes), yell I HAVE PEPPER SPRAY and holding it out will be a deterrent.

13) If someone grabs you, you can't beat them with strength but you can by outsmarting them. If you are grabbed around the waist from behind, pinch the attacker either under the arm (between the elbow and armpit) OR in the upper inner thigh VERY VERY HARD. One woman in a class this guy taught told him she used the underarm pinch on a guy who was trying to date rape her and was so upset she broke through the skin and tore out muscle strands - the guy needed stitches. Try pinching yourself in those places as hard as you can stand it - it hurts.

14) After the initial hit, always GO for the GROIN. I know from a particularly unfortunate experience that if you slap a guy's parts it is extremely painful. You might think that you'll anger the guy and make him want to hurt you more, but the thing these rapists told our instructor is that they want a woman who will not cause a lot of trouble. Start causing trouble and he's out of there.

15) When the guy puts his hands up to you, grab his first two fingers and bend them back as far as possible with as much pressure pushing down on them as possible. The instructor did it to me without using much pressure, and I ended up on my knees and both knuckles cracked audibly.

16) Of course the things we always hear still apply. Always be aware of your surroundings, take someone with you if you can and if you see any odd behavior, don't dismiss it, go with your
instincts!!!

You may feel a little silly at the time, but you'd feel much worse if the guy really was trouble.

1. Tip from Tae Kwon Do: The elbow is the strongest point on your body. If you are close enough to use it, do!

2. Learned this from a tourist guide in New Orleans . If a robber asks for your wallet and/or purse, DO NOT HAND IT TO HIM. Toss it away from you....chances are that he is more interested in
your wallet and/or purse than you, and he will go for the wallet/purse. RUN LIKE MAD IN THE OTHER DIRECTION!

3. If you are ever thrown into the trunk of a car, kick out the back tail lights and stick your arm out the hole and start waving like crazy. The driver won't see you, but everybody else will. This has saved lives.

4. Women have a tendency to get into their cars after shopping, eating, working, etc., and just sit (doing their checkbook, or making a list, etc.) DON'T DO THIS! The predator will be watching you, and this is the perfect opportunity for him to get in on the passenger side, put a gun to your head, and tell you where to go. AS SOON AS YOU GET INTO YOUR CAR, LOCK THE DOORS AND LEAVE.

* If someone is in the car with a gun to your head DO NOT DRIVE OFF, repeat: DO NOT DRIVE OFF! Instead gun the engine and speed into anything, wrecking the car. Your Air Bag will save you. If the person is in the back seat they will get the worst of it. As soon as the car crashes bail out and run. It is better than having them find your body in a remote location.

5. A few notes about getting into your car in a parking
lot or parking garage:

A.) Be aware: look around you, look into your car, at the passenger side floor, and in the back seat.

B.) If you are parked next to a big van, enter your car from the passenger door. Most serial killers attack their victims by pulling them into their vans while the women are attempting to get into their cars.

C.) Look at the car parked on the driver's side of your vehicle, and the passenger side. If a male is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, you may want to walk back into the mall, or work, and get a guard/policeman to walk you back out. IT IS ALWAYS BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY. (And better paranoid than dead.)

6. ALWAYS take the elevator instead of the stairs. (Stairwells are horrible places to be alone and the perfect crime spot. This is especially true at NIGHT!)

7. If the predator has a gun and you are not under his control, ALWAYS RUN! The predator will only hit you (a running target) 4 in 100 times. And even then, it most likely WILL NOT be a vital organ. RUN, preferably in a zigzag pattern!

8. As women, we are always trying to be sympathetic: STOP! It may get you raped or killed. Ted Bundy, the serial killer, was a good-looking (he looks like Rob Lowe!), well-educated man, who ALWAYS played on the sympathies of unsuspecting women. He walked with a cane, or a limp, and often asked "for help" into his vehicle or with his vehicle, which is when he abducted his next victim.

9. Another Safety Point: Someone just told me that her friend heard a crying baby on her porch the night before last, and she called the police because it was late and she thought it was weird. The police told her "Whatever you do, DO NOT open the door." The lady then said that it sounded like the baby had crawled near a window, and she was worried that it would crawl to the street and get run over. The policeman said, "We already have a unit on the way, whatever you do, DO NOT open the door." He told her that they think a serial killer has a baby's cry recorded and uses it to coax women out of their homes thinking that someone dropped off a baby. He said they have not verified it, but have had several calls by women saying that they hear baby's cries outside their doors when they're home alone at night. Please pass this on and DO NOT open the door for a crying baby ----This should be taken seriously because the Crying Baby theory was mentioned on America's Most Wanted this past Saturday when they profiled the serial killer in Louisiana

P.S. If you have any concern at all about burglars or rapists breaking into your house, do consider subscribing to security monitoring service, and make sure that all the signs and stickers from the monitoring company are conspicuously displayed on your doors and windows. The burglars/rapists will probably move to the next house -- an EASIER target -- when they see that an alarm could be triggered at yours.

Here are some other useful links:
http://www.met.police.uk/sapphire/docs/womenssafety.pdf
http://www.met.police.uk/sapphire/staying_safe.htm

Michelle Wong

Speicalist in Bridal Makeup - Vancouver, BC, Canada

www.michellemakeup.com

Eye Makeup Removal

Sat, 05 Apr 2008 21:19:00 +0000

During my Spring vacation last week, I was spending time with my friend's family and their two teenage daughters. Knowing that I'm a Makeup Artist, they had many questions to ask. One night, we were talking about removing eye Makeup. I was appalled to see how hard they were rubbing their eye Makeup off. At a young age, the effects of such pulling and tugging may not be apparent. However, once you are a little older, it's definitely not advisable to add more wrinkles to the eye area by stretching the skin there unnecessarily.

My favourite eye makeup remover is Sweet Almond Oil. It's available in most health food stores or supermarkets, at very reasonable prices.

So here's how I would do it:

1) Wet a cotton pad. Squeeze out the water, so that it is damp but not dripping wet.

2) Pour a little Sweet Almond Oil on the cotton pad. Fold the cotton pad once, press gently to mix the oil and water. Open the cotton pad again.

3) Upper eyelid: Wipe the cotton pad with Sweet Almond Oil from the inner eye corner to the outer eye corner. Repeat if necessary. Rotate the cotton pad so that you don't keep wiping with a part that's already dirty.

4) Undereye: Press the outer eye corner with your ring finger (gently!), use the other hand to wipe from the outer eye corner to the inner eye corner.

5) Mascara on eye lashes: Wipe from the roots to the tips, then sideways a few times until all mascara is gone.

The water in the cotton pad helps to remove the water-soluble Makeup, while the Sweet Almond Oil removes the oil-soluble Makeup. This method works well even if you are wearing waterproof mascara, except that it might take a few more wipes.

Use the other side of the cotton pad when necessary. Just add more Sweet Almond Oil on that side.

The Sweet Almond Oil nourishes your eye lashes and the skin around your eyes!

Note: Sweet Almond Oil is good for bedtime Makeup removal. If you are planning to re-apply Makeup immediately after the removal, then you should use an oil-free Makeup remover.

Michelle Wong

Vancouver Bridal Makeup Artist

www.michellemakeup.com

Valentine Stories

Sat, 09 Feb 2008 05:37:00 +0000

Through these years working in bridal makeup and hair, I have met hundreds of wedding couples from Vancouver, Hong Kong, US, England and many places in between. I’ve seen high-school sweethearts tying the knot after 12 years of dating, or courageous “newly mets” having 2-3 month long engagements, long-distance relationships, good friends turned lovers, lost and found second chances etc..... I enjoy hearing how the Brides met their Grooms, and what brought them to the path of marriage.

Lately I’ve noticed that internet-dating or speed-dating could be part of the story, and have known a few Brides who found their better halves through such services. If you are intrigued, like I am, by this modern phenomenon, you might be interested in a new play that I just purchased tickets for -- The Quickie. “A Vancouver-based, contemporary romantic comedy that rips a strip out of speed dating, making whoopee, and cultural collision.”

Here' s a review by Susan Peake at http://reviewvancouver.org/

To the dating couples, engaged couples, married couples, or anyone else who is still looking... if you would like to watch something fun and cool during this Valentine’s week, check this out...

Six Performances:
Thu-Sat, Feb 7-9 at 8pm

Sun, Feb 10 at 2pm
Fri-Sat, Feb 15-16 at 8pm

Venue: Playwrights Theatre Centre (1398 Cartwright Street), Granville Island
Tickets: $15 at the door, $13 online via PayPal at www.scriptingaloud.ca/quickie

Michelle Wong
Bridal Makeup Artist in Vancouver, BC, Canada
www.michellemakeup.com

Fabulous Lashes for the Holiday Glamour

Sun, 23 Dec 2007 02:39:00 +0000

With all the Christmas parties and New Year celebrations coming up, Fake Eye Lashes is a great way to dress up your look.

While I personally prefer individual lashes for the ease of blending them with the natural lashes and the comfort while wearing them, it could be tricky for you (without professional help) to put them on, especially when in a hurry.

Strip lashes are less comfortable to wear, but easier to apply. These lashes come in all shapes, styles and price pionts. Some are made of synthetic hair and some made of human hair. Ardell (available widely in drug stores) makes decent ones that go for only a few dollars a pair. If you are planning to re-use yours and prefer better quality or fancier designs, check out Shu Uemura (at Holt Renfrew) and Make Up Forever (at Sears).

Here is a 1-minute video tutorial provided by Make Up Forever Paris:
http://www.makeupforever.fr/

Since fake lashes are made in uniform width to fit different sizes of eyes, it is extremely important to trim the lashes prior to application, in order to fit the width of your own eye lids perfectly. Lashes which are too wide look silly and tend to come off more easily. If you are Asian, even just taking the inner halves of the standard lashes and putting them on the outer halves of your eyes could give a gorgeous look.

As with everything, practice makes perfect. If you are planning to wear fake eye lashes for the first time for an important occasion, do practise the application in advance and wear them for a few hours to make sure that your eyes are comfortable with them.

Michelle Wong
Makeup Artist for Bridal and Special Occasions – Vancouver, BC, Canada
www.michellemakeup.com

Crème de la Crème The Grand Wedding Showcase

Wed, 31 Oct 2007 08:06:00 +0000

I have been invited to do Makeup at Crème de la Crème The Grand Wedding Showcase this coming Sunday, November 4, 2007.

As described by the organizer (Countdown Events), this is a luxe event, catering directly to the discerning bride with a taste for exquisite style... a singularly unique event with a tone unlike that of a normal trade show. The crème de la crème of the wedding industry have been hand selected individuals who have demonstrated passion for style in their respective fields.

As a Bridal Makeup Artist and Hairstylist in Vancouver, BC, I am certainly excited and proud to be part of this distinguished Wedding Showcase in town. On a personal level, the show will take place in the Ballroom of Four Seasons Hotel at 791 West Georgia Street, Downtown Vancouver. This is where my own Wedding Banquet was held, and I am just thrilled to see the venue get "all dressed up" again!

If you'd like to meet the finest professionals in the Vancouver Wedding industry, hurry up and call 604 288-1691 or visit http://grandweddingshowcase.com . Admission tickets are $45 each.

Look forward to seeing you there!

Michelle Wong
Vancouver Bridal Makeup Artist and Hairstylist
www.michellemakeup.com

Another kind of Makeover ( I )

Fri, 19 Oct 2007 20:00:00 +0000

This post is not to do with Makeup and the face. However, I am so pleased with these two Makeover jobs for our home that I would love to share my experience with you.

Two of our favourite pieces of furniture bought at the time of our Wedding were a Chair-and-a-half and it’s matching ottoman. Both are large enough for two persons sitting side-by-side but smaller than a love seat, great for snuggling in front of the TV. They were on our Bridal Registry, purchased by our thoughful friends, and have been enjoyed for 6 long years.

After moving house twice, the colour became a problem. They were green. It matched the setting of our first house, but not our current one. The chair itself is structurally sound, the fabric is still holding up with only a tad of fading. We looked all over for a chair of this size for replacement, but they were hard to find. On the recommendation of my sister-in-law, we phoned Canadaupholstery.com for a price-quote. We have seen their store in Vancouver before, but dared not use their service until we had seen what a marvellous job they did re-upholstering my sis-in-law’s sofa.

The process was smooth and hassle-free thoughout. Dennis showed up with all of his fabric samples, gave us advice on what might work better, offered a very reasonable quote right away and picked up the chair and the ottoman. Five days later, the two pieces came back in stunning suedie new-look. The workmanship was great and the material looked even better than the sample. They also added stuffing and threw in a couple of new cushions. Pick-up and delivery were free. No deposit was required and we paid by cheque. We were so happy that we decided to re-upholster our 10-year-old sofa bed as well. Dennis took it as he left, and after three days, we got our sofa bed in the new matching fabric!

Dennis of Canada Upholstery was courteous, professional, and a real delight to work with. We never thought our sofas could look not just new again, but better than when they were new.

Here is their contact info:

Canada Uphostery

www.canadaupholstery.com
2153 Kingsway

Vancouver, BC, Canada

(604) 437-5402

canadaupholstery@shaw.ca

If you are having trouble "merging" your furniture after your Wedding.... give this a try..!!

Michelle Wong
Vancouver Makeup Artist – BC Canada
www.michellemakeup.com

P.S. Please note that the above recommendation is entire voluntary. I am not requested, paid or remunerated in any way by this vendor -- they don't even know I am writing about them!

Makeup on the Eye Brows

Wed, 03 Oct 2007 06:02:00 +0000

Among Professional Makeup Artists, the Eye Brow is one of the most common beauty obsession, yet for most people, it's one the most neglected area of beauty.

I LOVE doing eyebrows... shaping... tweezing... colouring... grooming. Done correctly, they can instantly brighten the eyes and perfectly frame the face. Done the wrong way, your expressions will not look right no matter how you smile.

If you are not confident about shaping your brows, leave the job to the professional ( I offer free brow-shaping during my Bridal Makeup Trials, Makeup Lessons and Photography Makeup Sessions ). After the inital shape is created, the rest is on you. Keep a tweezer handy near your bedroom or bathroom mirror. Pluck out new growth of hair as soon as you see them, usually only a few at a time. If you get lazy and skip this for a few days or more, you will lose the "good" shape before you know it...

If your eye brows are very thick, getting them waxed or threaded may be a better solution. Brow hairs that are long can be kept in place with a grooming gel. I do not recommend cutting brow hairs, unless being really pressed for time, or for a specific look at a professional shoot. Cut brow hairs lose the natural soft tapered ends and often grow out in varied lengths and directions, making the shape harder to manage in the long run.

There are different products available in the market for colouring the brows: powder, pencils, gels and creams. If your face gets oily or sweats easily, or if your bangs are at a length that touches the brows often, make sure that the medium you use is relatively smudge-proof.

Again, the tools matter. A sharp tweezer gets every tiny hair out painlessly (pull at the base..!). A Makeup Brush with a slant angle and stiffer bristles enables you to draw with more precision. And if you are super sensitive to pain, a little Ambasol on the area prior to plucking should prevent most irritation.

Michelle Wong
Wedding Makeup Artist & Hairstylist – Vancouver, BC
www.michellemakeup.com

Makeup Artist Laura Mercier's Personal Appearance in Vancouver BC

Fri, 14 Sep 2007 03:22:00 +0000

I felt honoured to be on Laura Mercier’s Makeup Team for her first Personal Appearance in Vancouver (2001), and am delighted to work along side this legend again in two weeks' time!

Laura Mercier is one of the most respected Makeup Artists in the world today. Her artistic talent has graced the covers of countless magazines. Her signature Flawless Face can be seen on top celebrities like Madonna, Oprah, Julia Roberts and more. Her line of cosmetics is loved by fans in America, Europe and Asia. Laura personally created the colours to satisfy the needs of her clients, based on a classic and always-current palette, rather than just seasonal trends. The line, established in 1996, is now available in 400 stores in 21 countries and has expanded to include skincare, bath and body and fragrance products.

If you wish to meet this world-class Makeup Maestro, please call the Laura Mercier counter at Holt Renfrew to book an appointment (604) 681-3121.

Laura Mercier’s Personal Appearance is on Friday, September 28, 2007. Her National Makeup Artist Jerry Johnson and Makeup Team will be available from Thursday, September 27 to Saturday, September 29, 10am-6pm.

Hope to see you there…. !

Michelle Wong
Vancouver Makeup Artist
www.michellemakeup.com

The Sweetest Mother of the Bride

Fri, 31 Aug 2007 07:43:00 +0000

I've had the pleasure to do Makeup for many Brides along with their Mothers. The Wedding Day is an occasion of a lifetime, but also a day of great stress. I have seen many moms and daughters drawn closer on this magical day, and some trying hard to manage the bubbling tension.

Julia and Ellen have left me with a real impression amongst all my great clients this Summer.

I met Julia and Ellen during the Trial Session as well as the Wedding Day, and had some good chats with both of them. Julia, the Bride, is beautiful, young and fun. Ellen is loving, supportive and thoughtful. It was a joy to watch this Mother put her daughter’s interests and preferences first in every way during the planning and on the Wedding Day. No attitude. No demand. No attempt to steal the spotlight. Yet ready to help whenever help was needed -- prominent and humble tasks alike -- all with calmness and great efficiency.

When I told her how wonderful she was, Ellen just smiled and said, "Julia is a great daughter."

Hmmm, on the day my daughter is a Bride (in some 20+ years…), I would love to be like you, Ellen.

Thank you for your example.

Michelle Wong
Wedding Makeup Artist and Hairstylist, Vancouver BC, Canada
www.michellemakeup.com

Try on your Bridal Hairstyle Risk Free!

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 03:28:00 +0000

Before I meet the Bride for a Hair Trial, I usually would request that she gives some thoughts to the possible Hairstyle(s) that she would prefer. This might involve fixing her Hair with a few clips in front of the mirror, or browsing through magazines or internet photos for inspiration. Whether we'll be able to create the same hairstyle would depend on the texture, length, thickness of her hair and, most importantly, whether it looks good with her face-shape, bone structure and overall proportions in the Wedding gown.

Now there’s an interesting way to try out a new Hairstyle or new Hair Colour for a Wedding or any special occasion. For Brides, bridesmaids, Mothers of the Bride or Groom, and anyone who is interested, here’s what you can do:

1. Register online at www.thehairstyler.com
2. Upload your photo or choose a model
3. View yourself with over 5000 Hairstyles and 52 Colours

Michelle Wong
Bridal Makeup Artist & Hairstylist – Vancouver, BC, Canada
www.michellemakeup.com

Badger Natural Sunblock

Tue, 10 Jul 2007 08:40:00 +0000

A few weeks ago I recommended two natural and non-toxic suncreens called Mexitan and Badger for Brides and bridesmaids to protect their skin from sunburn and tanlines prior to the Wedding Day. To my delight, I just discovered that Badger is available at the following stores in the Lower Mainland:

1) Parsley Sage & Thyme Health Food Store

4916 Elliott Street,

Delta, BC V4K2Y1

(604) 946-1022

2) Victoria's Health - Head Office - North Vancouver
1637 Lonsdale Avenue,

North Vancouver, BCV7M 2J5
(604) 985 1185

victoriashealth@telus.net

3) Victoria's Health - West Vancouver Store
The New Hollyburn Medical Centre, 1695 Marine Drive

West Vancouver, BCV7V 1J2
(604) 921 1695

Michelle Wong

Makeup Artist for Weddings in Vancouver, BC, Canada

www.michellemakeup.com

Note from an Overseas Bride

Wed, 04 Jul 2007 18:40:00 +0000

Through these years working as a Bridal Makeup Artist and Hairstylist, I have met a good number of Brides from out of town – Amercia, Europe, Asia etc. Some of them grew up in Canada and still have families here. Some chose Vancouver as location for their Destination Wedding because of the city’s impressive scenery, and availability of outstanding food and beverage establishments and Wedding professionals.

Y is a Chinese Bride from Hong Kong who – typical of overseas clients – had to book my service without having met me in person. We had been corresponding via emails since last year, but wouldn’t meet up until our Trial Session four days before her Wedding in April this year.

Unfortunately, the night before the Trial, Y informed me that she had been suffering from Hay Fever since arriving in the country. Y grew up in Canada and was no stranger to this allergy. However, it was indeed stressful to have to battle it right before her Wedding. The hay fever caused puffiness around her eyes as well as rashes on her face. The medication that she had to take also made her very drowsy. On top of all these she was still having jet-lag! As a result, we decided not to try out her Make-up and Hair, for fear that the chemicals might worsen her already vulnerable conditions.

On the day of her Wedding we started very early. I still remember Y’s sleepy eyes when she opened the door in the dark. However, she was a great sport, sat through the whole makeover patiently and was in very good spirit. I also had the pleasure to work on her bridesmaid’s makeup. Everything went well and she said goodbye with a beautiful smile. I understood how much anxieties and exhaustion the allergy had brought her. I truly hoped that she would feel well enough to enjoy this most special day, and that the Hair and Makeup would not bring about any negative reaction on her skin.

A few weeks later, this note brought great to relief to me:

“Your make up has last for the whole day and the hair was great! We love it very much, everybody complimented on my hair and make up! Thanks very much! I will send you the pictures soon and I will for sure recommend you to all my friends! Again… Thanks for your great service."

Michelle Wong
Professional Makeup Artist - Vancouver, BC, Canada
www.michellemakeup.com

Sun Protection for the Bridal Party

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 08:00:00 +0000

Summer is officially here! I always have to remind Brides (and bridesmaids) to avoid sun damage and tan-lines before the Wedding.

For my little one at home, I had searched all over for an all-natural, non-toxic and biodegradeable sunscreen product. I am happy to share about these two that we have been using for over a year:

1. Mexitan Sunscreen Lotion – It comes in SPF8, 15 or 30.

Active ingredients are Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Oxide. Other natural ingredients include Sunflower Oil,,Green Tea Extract, Coconut Oil, Almond Oil, Lanolin, Tocopherol Acetate (Vitamin-E), Eucalyptus Oil and Ascorbyl Palmitate (Vitamin-C)

Mexitan has a non-greasy feel and my husband has used it extensively for golf without getting burnt once. It's also great value for a large 8 oz. bottle.

2) Badger Sunblock – Comes in SPF 15 and SPF 30.

SPF 15 Active Ingredient is Micronized Zinc Oxide 12.5% (Zinc Oxide is a non-Whitening, naturally occurring mineral.) Other Ingredients include Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Natural Beeswax, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Cocoa Butter, Wild African Shea Butter, Organic CO2 Extract of Seabuckthorn Berry, and Essential Oils of Lavender, Moroccan Blue Tansy, Ylang Ylang, Lime and Orange.

SPF 30 Active Ingredient is 20.5% Micronized Zinc Oxide. Other ingredients include Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Natural Beeswax, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Cocoa Butter, Wild African Shea Butter, Organic CO2 Extract of Seabuckthorn Berry, and Essential Oils of Lavender, Moroccan Blue Tansy, Ylang Ylang, Lime and Orange.

The Badger sunblock has a more emollient feel which is great for the face, as I can skip the moisturizer. They make an SPF 15 Lip Balm Stick as well.

All of the above can be purchased online.

On the Wedding Day, it’s also a good idea for the Bridal Party to carry a bottle of Aloe Vera Gel. I have seen Brides and bridesmaids getting sun-burnt just from an afternoon outdoor photoshoot. For Aloe Vera Gel, I recommend "Fruit of the Earth" (available from Walmart) or "Aubrey Organics" (available from Capers, Choices and many other health food stores).

Michelle Wong
Bridal Makeup Artist & Hairstylist – Vancouver, BC, Canada
www.michellemakeup.com

Makeup Lessons

Mon, 18 Jun 2007 04:55:00 +0000

"Thank you for the Make-up Lesson! It worked out really well on Grad Night. I felt much more confident about putting on my makeup and it felt very comfortable and looked very natural. It is an amazingly empowering experience getting my lesson from you. Thank you!"

The client who sent this thank-you card to me was part of a Bridal party that I did make-up for last year. After that Wedding, she emailed me and asked for the list of products and colours that I used on her. She faithfully purchased everything I recommended, and was hoping to re-create the look when she would be a bridesmaid again at another Wedding a month after.

Fast-forward to May, 2007, she booked me for a Make-up Lesson, as she felt she was still lacking the techniques to utilitze those products properly. This client is a high-school teacher, and would like to do her own makeup for the upcoming Grad Dinner.

When we met, I was really impressed with the collection of cosmetics that she owned. High-end items in both practical and daring colours. As I explained the proper application of each product and how they would or would not be flattering for her, she diligently made written notes at every step, and I also made sure that she would practice the various techniques during the lesson. I did notice that she only had a few makeup brushes, and showed her some good ones which she might find useful on a daily basis. She admitted that good brushes cost as much as one or two single products, and usually she would rather add a new colour than a new brush. I couldn’t emphasize to her enough that for her particular need, she already possessed more than enough colours, and that a few new and useful brushes and tools would make a great difference to her makeover experience.

You would also enjoy the benefits of a Makeup lesson, if you:

have a decent collection of cosmetics but lack the techniques to apply them properly;
are confused by the variety of makeup products available in the market, and not sure what would work for you;
want to use makeup strategically to highlight your best features and cover or improve the less attractive parts;
frequently need to dress up for formal events, ballroom dancing or other stage performance;
wish to enhance your professional or personal image; OR
just like to have fun with make-up and look good!

I have been offering one-on-one in-depth make-up lessons for years. By studying your physical features and learning about your lifestyle and personal preferences, I would help you select the best products and tools for you, teach you how to best utilize what you have and suggest what might be missing. I would recommend practical and effective make-up techniques that you would enjoy on an on-going basis.

For more information on Makeup Lessons, please do not hesitate to contact me. You can also make the lesson a gift to someone you care about. I have given lessons to successful business women, young professionals, even teenagers and grandmothers. They all had fun with it!

Michelle Wong
Professional Make-up Artist
Makeup Lessons - Vancouver, BC, Canada
http://www.michellemakeup.com/

Wedding Videographer

Sun, 10 Jun 2007 05:44:00 +0000

When I meet my Bridal clients, usually they have already chosen a Wedding Photographer. However, I have been approached many times recently for recommendation on Wedding Videographer, so I thought I'll share this here...

If you are looking to have your precious moments captured by a Vancouver Video Production Company that has style, creativity, friendly service and superior equipment, I would highly recommend Protowork Productions Inc. I have personally worked with them many times. Protowork has vast experience with Wedding video production as well as National Award-winning films and commercials. You can check out their website http://www.protowork.com/weddings/ and use this code [MM072007] for a $300 discount off any of their Wedding packages (code applicable to inquiries on or before July 15, 2007 for any upcoming Wedding date).

Michelle Wong
Professional Make-up Artist - Vancouver, BC, Canada
www.michellemakeup.com

How to Keep Make-up Brushes in Good Shape

Wed, 30 May 2007 21:29:00 +0000

In the old days, Makeup Artists are among the few people who use brushes for Make-up application. Ordinary people usually use fingers and those little sponge-tip applicators supplied in Make up compacts.

Nowadays it is not uncommon for any of us to have a full set of brushes just for daily Makeup requirements. Brushes of good-quality are not cheap. However, well-made ones can often last a decade or more, if they are cared for properly.

Storage: Please store your Makeup brushes carefully. It could be a cup-shape container on your dresser counter, in which the end of the brushes with the hair stay on top. You can also use a brush roll or holder that include individual slots for different brushes. If you need to put all of your brushes into a Make-up bag for easy storage and travel, please use a bag made of firm material and whose length is longer than the longest brush in your collection. This is to ensure that the shape of the hair arrangement is maintained. High-end brushes are usually hand-made so that all of the hair is aligned to the perfect shape for soft and smooth application of colours. If the hairs get twisted or bent, the resulting application of products will not be even.

Cleaning: Clean-up after every use is ideal, but unfortunately not always feasible. However, do at least tap off excess products after every use on a kleenex. Then once to twice a week, use a brush cleaner or mild shampoo to throughly clean out all the product build-up. Johnson & Johnson Baby Shampoo works very well for this. Try not to wet the ferrule (the metal part that holds all the hair together) of the brushes. After rinsing with cool water, wipe off excess moisture from the hair, then lay the the brushes flat on a paper towl to air dry. Do not leave the brushes upright with the hair on the top while they are still wet, as the moisture will seep into the hair in the ferrule and loosen the glue or cause rotting inside. Once in a while, a light hair conditioner can also help revive the luster of brushes made with natural hair. N.B. Do not use rubbing alcohol to clean Make-up brushes that have natural hair, as it will dry out the hair over time.

If you prefer the brushes to dry quickly after each clean-up, you might like professional brush cleaners. When I work on set for film, fashion, photography, or when I do Makeup for multiple Bridesmaids and Moms in a Wedding party, I clean and disinfect all of my brushes after using them on each actor, model or client. After a few swirls in the professional brush cleaner, these brushes can be dried with a tissue and ready for immediate use. My favourite cleaner is made by Cinema Secrets, which will "clean, sanitize, deodorize and condition", "kills viruses, bacteria and removes all traces of make-up, creams, waxes and powders." They are also "environmentally safe and non-carcinogenic." Available from www.hollynorth.com.

Michelle Wong
Vancouver Makeup Artist
www.michellemakeup.com

Pre-Wedding Weight-Loss Program

Mon, 14 May 2007 04:18:00 +0000

Weight is one of the top concerns for women and, naturally, one of the top concerns for Brides, bridesmaids or Mothers of the Bride or Groom.

The truth is that most Brides I've met do lose weight just from the stress of organizing a Wedding. However, if you prefer a more systematic and healthy plan to achieve the ideal weight for your Wedding, I would like to introduce you to Art De Vany, a scientist/athlete and author of Evolutionary Fitness.

My beloved husband has recently lost 12 pounds over 6 weeks, by practising the dietary and exercise advice from Art De Vany. The great thing about De Vany's weight-loss plan is that the meals are delicious, fresh, nutritious and easy to prepare. You also don't have to do pro-longed and intensive exercise daily, as long as you follow the basic principles about the type of exercise to do and the time and duration while doing it.

If you are looking for a way to look better and healthier at your upcoming Wedding, I would highly recommend that you take a look at http://www.arthurdevany.com .

Michelle Wong

Bridal Makeup Artist - Vancouver, BC, Canada

www.michellemakeup.com

Thoughts on Makeup for Mother of the Bride & Mother of the Groom

Mon, 07 May 2007 03:47:00 +0000

It's Mother's Day again...! As a proud Mommy, I do sometimes imagine what my daughter would be like on her Wedding Day.....

Well, she's only 3... so I still have plenty of time to keep dreaming.....

In my previous posts, I've discussed the Hair and Make-up for Bridesmaids. However, the looks of the Mother-of-the-Bride and Mother-of-the-Groom are even more important, but frequently neglected.

From my work I noticed that Moms in Vancouver, especially those of Asian Brides or Grooms (Chinese, Japanese, Korean etc.) are often modest about looking too beautiful at their children's Wedding. I often hear comments like "It's not my day... It's my daugther's day... Let HER be the gorgeous one." "I'm too old, don't waste money on me..." "My skin is too wrinkly to wear Make-up anyway...". As a result, they looked pale and far less glamourous than they could have on such a special occasion.

On the other hand, on certain Mothers of the Brides and Grooms, I've seen bold and over-the-top kind of Makeup styles that they have been wearing since the 70's and 80's.

As a Makeup Artist, I love working with the Moms. Apart from the Bride, the two Mothers are definitely the biggest female VIPs of the Wedding Day. I've only been a Mom for three years and I know how much work and energy it takes to raise kids. These Moms deserve to be the stars!

Actually, lots of guests attend the Wedding because of the parents, and the two Mothers are often the most greeted ladies after the Bride, photographed throughout the ceremony and reception. A good Makeup application not only brings out their natural beauty, but helps them feel great as they step on the red carpet, and guarantees their looking elegant and radiant in all the Wedding photos.

To encourage all Mothers to look fabulous on their children's Wedding Day, this Summer I am offering special rates on Makeup for the Mothers of the Bride and Groom. Please feel free to email me at info@michellemakeup.com for more information about my Bridal Makeup and Hair service.

Happy Mother's Day...!

Michelle Wong
Bridal Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist - Vancouver, BC, Canada
www.michellemakeup.com

What is Special about Bridal Make-up

Tue, 01 May 2007 06:32:00 +0000

Since I started my training and career in Makeup Artistry, I've learnt how Makeup can make a real difference in a wide variety of settings.

For fashion runways and fashion spreads, make-up can bring out the mood... wild, cool, elegant or sexy.... For video, television and film, makeup can enhance the visual enjoyment... be it subtle, glamourous, gory or comedic... For photography and portraits, make-up can change the whole personality... For commercial and corporate clients, the priced makeup is very often invisible and understated.

Good Makeup and bad Makeup can both create a significant impact on the percieved production value of a project.

What about Bridal Makeup?

Bridal Makeup -- the name says it all, is really all about the Bride. For most Brides, the Wedding Day is also the most noticed and most photographed occasion of her life. As a Bridal Makeup Artist, my priority is not to show off my creativity or the latest trends in colours, but to use my skills, experience, tools and products to highlight the natural beauty of the Bride, bring out the best in her facial features, show of her personality, help her look gorgeous, and make her feel relaxed and feel like herself on an extremely stressful day. Some of the Brides that I have worked with could not even fall asleep the night before their Weddings. However, after their Bridal makeover, they were able start their long day with confidence and a heartfelt smile.

What does that mean to me?

It means a lot to me to know that I have made a difference: not just in a story on a film or TV show, not just for a seaon's promotion of a fashion label, not in creating just another dazzling look for a celebrity or supermodel...

But to know that I have helped a real person look and feel beautiful, poised and confident as she enters the biggest commitment of her life. That people who are closest to her can see her best on her Wedding Day, and the captured images can become memories to be treasured for many years, then passed onto her children, grandchildren, and more.

Michelle Wong

Bridal Makeup Artist & Hairstylist

Vancouver, BC, Canada

www.michellemakeup.com

Hair Q&A - Bridal Party's Hair Style

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 00:59:00 +0000

Q. How about Hair? Should I make all my Bridesmaids wear the
same hairstyle on my Wedding Day?

The options for bridesmaids' hairstyles largely depend on the texture, thickness and length of the indivdual's hair. It is not always easy to do the exact same hairdo for every bridesmaid. Some Brides choose a similar look for all their bridemaids' hair, while others are more flexible and let the
bridesmaids decide.

If you are having an outdoor Wedding near the beach or somewhere windy, however, it might be wise to have everybody's hair up, or else it might be hard to see their beautiful faces in the wedding photos.

The ideal hairstyle(s) looks good and balanced on the individual bridesmaids and is in harmony when they stand next to each other. Most importantly, it's also what each bridesmaid would feel comfortable with... if they are happy they look more beautiful! If it's not possible to have a single style for the whole party, choosing flowers or other hair accesories to match each other is also a good solution.

Michelle Wong
Hairstylist and Makeup Artist for Weddings in Vancouver, BC
www.michellemakeup.com

Weddings Q&A : Makeup for Bridesmaids

Sun, 22 Apr 2007 23:28:00 +0000

Q. What are the benefits of hiring a professional makeup artist for the whole Bridal Party? Or should I let my bridesmaids do their own make-up?

A. Unless your bridesmaids are all very good at makeup, it is very difficult to control the quality of their own work. Good makeup artists with professional training and experience are better able to create looks that present well both in person and on camera. In addition, your Wedding Day is a long day... it takes proper techniques and good products to ensure that the makeup will last the entire day... sometimes literally through tears and sweats...

Consistency is also a key issue. You might recall Weddings at which one bridesmaid looks bland and pale, standing next to another bridesmaid having full-blown smoky eyes and bright red lips. As a Bridal Makeup Artist, it is part of my job to make sure that the look of the entire Bridal Party is in harmony, both in terms of intensity and choice of colours. I will enhace the features of each person while maintaining the overall colour palette and style. Most important of all, even though all bridesmaids are looking pretty, I ensure that the Bride will stand out and be the real focus of the group - the real Star. My makeup for the Bride is very detailed and always takes about twice as much time than anyone else's.

In a nutshell, if you are having a very casual Wedding, then whether the bridesmaids' makeup are done professionally by the same artist might not matter as much. However, if your Wedding is more formal and you have invested a lot of money and time on the setting, the dresses and the photography etc, you will really notice a difference in the overall quality of your Bridal Party's look and image if their makeup is done by an experienced makeup artist.

Michelle Wong
Vancouver Bridal Makeup Specialist
www.michellemakeup.com

April 22, 2007

Makeup Q&A - How to Make My Lip Colour Last Longer

Wed, 18 Apr 2007 07:45:00 +0000

Q. I'm going to be a bridesmaid for my cousin's Wedding next week and want to look good in all the pictures through the day (and through the meals). In case I forget to touch up, is there any way I can make my lip colour last for long hours?

A. The easiest way is to get a fade-proof lipstick. There are more and more such products in the market these days. However, it's not always easy to find the exact shade that you like. In addition, they all tend to be dry, and you do have to touch up with the enclosed lip gloss pretty much through the day.

The following 5 easy steps will enable you to turn your regular lipstick into a fade-proof one:

1) Remove dry skin on your lips carefully. Pad on a generous amount of lip balm. Let sit for 5
minutes, then blot the lips gently with a tissue.

2) Choose a lip pencil with a colour close to you desired lipstick. Outline both upper and lower lips, Then colour all over inside the outlines with the lip pencil.

3) Use a lip brush to apply the base coat of lipstick colour. Blot gently with a tissue.

4) Use a lip brush to apply the second coat of lipstick colour. Blot gently with a tissue.

5) Use a lip brush to apply the final coat of lipstick colour.

Congratulations... It's done!

You can put a little gloss around the centre of the upper and lower lips for more oomph.

Extra tips:
- Drink with a straw throughout the day
- Eat your food in small cut pieces during the meals
- Restrain from pressing/pumping your lips, as that will dry up the lipstick faster than it should

Michelle Wong
Professional Makeup Artist - Vancouver, BC
http://www.michellemakeup.com