The New Indian Bride

Once you have the perfect look, accentuate it with the perfect jewels.  I love heirloom jewelry passed down from moms to daughters. I was lucky enough to receive two such spectacular pieces in my wedding and I will always cherish the family history and personal memories these jewels embody. 

I was also lucky enough to receive three beautiful, new, designer jewels from My Leading Man’s family.   They spoiled me with golden gems from Tanishq, the leading designer jewelers of India.  Given my new love of Tanishq, who better to give us the latest tips and trends in bridal jewelry. 

According to Tanishq, bridal jewelry is all about the details.  Most brides will adorn necklaces and earrings of varying sizes and styles but it is the extra pieces of accent jewelry that brides are paying more attention to these days.  The Tikka, the kamar patta, armlet, payals and toe rings are back in a big way! 

I am loving these images highlighting extra special bridal jewelry details.

I love this ad from Tanishq too!  Tanishq Advertisement

You created the perfect bridal canvas with glowing skin, long lashes and perfectly groomed and gorgeous eyebrows!  Now your face is ready for the next step: Makeup!

Amidst all the jewelry, heavily embroidered wedding lengha, the bindis and whatever else is going on around your face, you may simply not know where to begin with makeup. 

The best advice I received during my recent nuptials is to make sure your face is not engulfed by all the glitzyness occurring around your face.  You want to make sure your face stands out.  That does not necessarily mean heavy, intense and overpowering makeup.  Rather think of your bridal makeup look as creating balance to allow your face to shine through rather than blend into your bridal finery. 

I love the bridal looks presented on http://www.studiosila.com/ 

What do you think of Indian bridal make up?  What are your observations about makeup as a bride, bridesmaid or wedding guest!  Post a comment! Let’s hear what you have to say!

Perfectly sculpted brows are a beauty essential for every lady, not just for brides-to-be!  That’s why TNIB is thrilled to feature Ravy Mehroke, the President of Bombay Brow Bar in Vancouver with eyebrow essentials especially for brides!

TNIB:   Why is a good eyebrow look important, especially for brides?

BBB: Having the perfect brow look is uber important! It’s a fantastic way to complement your facial features and to enhance your natural beauty. Well-shaped brows can easily change the way you look, take years of your face, give you immediate eye lift and  It’s especially important for brides because it’s their big day and they deserve to look beautiful in every way. Besides, bad brows = bad memories.

TNIB: What is the current trend in eyebrows? Thicker? Thinner? Etc?

BBB: Big, beautiful, shapely brows are sooo hot right now! Not only do they tend to look more natural but they also add a touch of sexiness to your look. This brow look is currently being sported by celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Brooke Shields and Megan Fox. 

TNIB:  Does this trend hold true for brides?

BBB: Eyebrow trends are always changing but ultimately, we always recommend working with your natural facial features and face shape to find the perfect brow look for you. Eyebrows that are too thick, too thin, not long enough or unruly call so much attention to them that they can actually take away from your prettier features. Well-shaped symmetrical brows allow other pretty features, like your eyes, to really stand out.  Bride or not, you always want to rock perfect brow!

TNIB: What should bride’s do before the wedding to prepare for the perfect brow look? 

BBB: Especially for brides, we suggest coming in two to three months before if a complete reshape is desired or at least 2-3 times before the big day. This gives the bride enough time and regrowth to work towards the ideal shape for her brows. With a little bit of patience and planning, you brows can look absolutely stunning for your big day. We also offer a brow service for men, a good idea to include in your hubbie-to-be’s prewedding day grooming if his brows need some major taming. 

TNIB: In addition to threading, what should a bride do to perfect the brow?  Eyebrow pencils, etc?

BBB: You can truly raise some eyebrows on your big day by being prepared with a brow makeup kit that keeps your brows looking perfect all day long! A good brow kit should include the following:
          1) A brow shadow help fill in unsightly gaps to give you a finished brow look. Tip: If you have light brows, the colour should be 1-2 shades darker than your natural brow colour OR if you have dark brows, it should 1-2 shades lighter
          2)  A brow brush to apply the brow shadow for a natural finish
          3)   A brow wax to keep those brow hairs under control
          4)   A brow highlighter to lift those gorgeous arches
 

TNIB: I would love to come to the Bombay Brow Bar but I am not in your area.  How do I pick a good eyebrow shop in my area? What should I look for?

BBB: We highly recommend going to a beauty place that specializes in eyebrow shaping. Also, look for a professional eyebrow service that maintains a high level of hygiene and sanitation and who use a 3-point technique to determine your brow shape. Most importantly, the brow professional needs to be rocking perfect brow look themselves!

About Bombay Brow Bar:

As Co-Founders and brow-obsessed sisters, Amy Minhas, and Ravy Mehroke are on a serious brow mission-to bring serious brow perfection to women all over the world in a modern, girly and fun way. Together, we fight evil brow-shapes and overly tweezed brows so women can rock out with perfect brows 24/7! Armed with a license in Esthetics, and a degree in Business and HR, we are helping stylish mavens get their brow-groove back!

Learn more about Bombay Brow Bar at www.bombaybrowbar.com

Face Week continues at TNIB with tips on eyelashes.  Who better to give brides-to-be advice on eyelashes than leading lash expert Joyce Poon the President and Founder of Noir Lash Lounge, Vancouver’s premier lash destination specializing in semi-permanent eyelash extensions.

TNIB: Are lashes for every bride?

Noir: Yes, ABSOLUTELY. You need something to last at least the full day (and a bridal day is a LONG day), show up beautifully in pictures (strip lashes, so not attractive and oh-so-fake) and still stand proud despite the tears. Really what bride won’t shed a few on her special day?

TNIB: How should a bride-to-be determine if lashes should be part of her bridal look? 

Noir: Come in for a trial at least a month before your wedding – get comfortable with them, see how they might look and feel. If you can schedule your makeup trial around the same time, even better! If you’re getting engagement photos done – perfect timing to coincide them all together.

TNIB: What role do lashes play in a bride’s look?  Meaning, how do lashes enhance the eyes?                                                       

Noir: Every woman looks better with longer, thicker lashes. They make the eyes appear wider, larger and yes, brighter as it brings the focus upwards (and surprisingly even slims the rest of the face as it fiddles with this proportion.)

TNIB: Is mascara enough to achieve the effect?                        

Noir: No, mascara is the worst thing you can do to your lashes on your wedding day (or any day for that matter). Mascara takes your lashes and clump them together. I have yet to find a brush/ formulation that separates, elongates and thickens as advertised.

TNIB: What if a bride knows she is going to cry at her wedding?  Will the lashes hold up?                                                   

Noir: Yes – they are waterproof and more importantly, they are CRYproof. This is the VERY reason eyelash extensions are a must. You think you won’t cry but you’ll cry.

TNIB: Anything else a bride to be should consider about lashes?                                                                                                                  

Noir: Remember to plan in advance. Brides should have their bridal lashes on 24 hours before their wedding day, so book that appointment first. Your sister, your mother-in-law and everyone else may want them done, too, but secure your appointment time first and foremost. We have many disappointed brides who book too late only to be stuck with second-rate falsies. Fridays are when most of our brides book as most weddings typically fall on a Saturday.

About Noir Lash Lounge:

Noir Lash Lounge Inc. was founded by Joyce (Cajucom) Poon in May 2008. She first learned to apply eyelash extensions in hopes of applying them to herself. After investing $200 for a kit and a private lesson, the self-application was a miserable fail.  However, her kit was new and full and surely, should be put to good use. Poon began offering her services to family and friends free of charge who were more than happy to accept.

As time progressed, Joyce Poon’s lash application skills improved and after tweaking her technique, she began mobile lash services. From there, her  quickly grew and soon, she discontinued the mobile services to offer the service out of her one-bedroom condo. By October 2008, she realized that she was no longer able to sustain her clientele herself and trained a friend to help out.  By December 2008 she opened her first location in the Yaletown neighborhood of Vancouver and now has a second location in South Granville.

I can barely contain my enthusiasm for what TNIB has in store for you this week.  It is time to speak to experts about the bridal do’s and don’ts for your face!  That’s right it’s Face Week at TNIB and I have lined up my favorite experts on all your face questions from skincare, lashes, eyebrows and makeup.  You are in for a treat!

Where better to start the week than with the skin itself. To truly radiate beauty on your wedding day, one must start with fabulous skin.  Skin is the canvas upon which your beautiful bridal face will be created.  So why not give yourself the best shot at looking amazing by getting started on a skin care regimen that makes you glow!

We are so lucky to have the most recognized name in medical esthetics from the San Francisco Bay Area, Craig Shishido of Gentle Star Med Spa as our expert today! Here are his tips for brides-to-be.

TNIB: How much in advance of the wedding should a bride begin thinking of her skin?
Craig: At Gentle Star, we prefer a bride to be to start her skin care plan a year prior to the event for the best results.  The preparation of skin is like preparing the best gourmet food.  We live in a fast food influenced society so you have to think gourmet prep equals TIME.  We can work with a six month time frame but depending on the skin condition, it’s best not to push the skin transformation.  Especially not in Indian skin.

TNIB: Are there certain skincare items a bride-to-be must have in her medicine cabinet? 
Craig: I recommend Effaclar K (La Roche Posay) and tretinoin (retin A) for spot treatments, a good concealer like gloMinerals concealer or Jan Marini treatment foundation (tinted) with salicylic acid.  I also like the Jan Marini Factor A Mask for emergency breakouts.

TNIB: What particular issues appear in Indian skin and how can they be corrected? 
Craig: Indian skin is beautiful when it is behaving.  When it’s not, breakouts can often leave hyperpigmented spots that can last several weeks to several months.  If you are on the six or twelve month plan, getting a thorough extraction based facial by a reputable esthetician is key.  Look for someone with a lot of experience with ethnic skin.  IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE.

TNIB: Should I do more or less of something in the week leading up to my wedding to be picture perfect?
Craig: I would stop doing facials or other last minute touch ups at least ten to fourteen days prior to your special day. If you do something that has an adverse effect when you are too close to the special day, you will only have makeup and Photoshop to rely upon.

TNIB: If you were to give just one beauty tip to a bride, what would it be?
Craig: To get your skin in the best shape possible, consider a twelve month plan and find the best local esthetician who has a reputation for good skin care.

About Craig
Craig T. Shishido is the Director of Esthetics and Chief Operating Officer of Gentle Star.  Prior to opening Gentle Star, he was the Lead Clinical Esthetician with internationally renowned cosmetic surgeon Dr. James J. Romano where he was responsible for the pre and post operative care and services of cosmetic surgery patients. Craig was also in charge of managing medical skin care regimens that ensured the long-term correction and preservation of skin health and beauty. The broad ethnic diversity of the San Francisco Bay Area allowed for extensive experience in Asian, African-American, Caucasian, Latin, Mediterranean skin types with conditions such as hyper & hypo-pigmentation (spots), acne, acne scars, stretch marks, rosacea, fine lines & wrinkles, and sun damage. An MBA from University of Southern California with over 15 years in the medical industry – including positions with Merck & Co., B. Braun and McKesson – Mr. Shishido was a visiting lecturer at the San Francisco Institute of Esthetics, a Paul Mitchell Partnership school as well as the Aveda Skin Institute in San Francisco.

To learn more about Gentle Star visit www.gentlestar.com