Science proves that if you’re happy, serene or in love, your skin changes from the inside out to look healthier, radiant, even younger. Here’s how to fake it.

What Love Looks Like…

A GORGEOUS GLOW

When you’re head over heels, lovey-dovey hormones make sure it’s written all over your face—you have an undeniable radiance.

Whether you’re on a date with someone new or curled up on the couch with your honey, your brain is full of dopamine and oxytocin. Those two feel-good hormones, even in low levels, cause an increase in blood flow to the skin—and that spike in circulation, along with the oxygen and nutrients the blood carries, makes skin more luminous, says Richard Fried, M.D., a psychodermatologist (a specialist who’s both a derm and a shrink) in Yardley, Pennsylvania. And if your PG date turns R-rated, the effects become more pronounced: Blood vessels dilate when you get turned on, giving cheeks a subtle flush.

People perceived women wearing makeup as more confident than those who weren’t, a study in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology reports. Project extra boldness with a bright teal nail polish like Dior Vernis in Nirvana, $23, seen here.

Fake It Until You Feel It

Not wrapped up in nightly smooching sessions? Start using treatments laced with retinol or a prescription retinoid before you hit the sack. Both vitamin A derivatives encourage the formation of blood vessels, naturally brightening skin, says Howard Sobel, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City. The topicals also prompt skin to shed dead cells on the surface, giving your complexion an allover radiance.

To instantly achieve the prettifying effects of being smitten and enhance tone, apply a sheer bronzer that has a touch of iridescence. (Try Bobbi Brown Illuminating Bronzing Powder in Aruba, $35.) Then blend a little vibrant-pink cream blush (like Urban Decay Afterglow Glide-On Cheek Tint in Crush, $24) on top of the blush you usually wear—but only in the center of your cheeks. The result is an envy-worthy complexion that will have friends wondering what (or whom!) you’ve been doing lately.

What Happiness Looks Like…

SMOOTH, YOUTHFUL SKIN

Regular LOLing with your besties reduces stress hormones and keeps skin’s support structure intact and youthful. How? Laughter truly is the best medicine: It releases endorphins that counteract the negative psycho-physiological effects of stress, says Lee Berk, Dr.P.H., associate professor of psychoneuroimmunology at Loma Linda University. What does that mean for skin? Fewer fine lines. “Stress increases inflammatory enzymes called MMPs,” Dr. Fried explains. “They’re designed to ward off infection, but having too many can make skin chronically inflamed and vulnerable to UV damage and wrinkles.”

Fake It Until You Feel It

Add a little azelaic acid to your skin-care routine to help skin function as if you’re as happy as can be. This gentle exfoliant, derived from barley or wheat, reduces inflammation, says Dr. Fried, who recommends prescription-strength Finacea. And although sunscreen should be an everyday habit, you need it more than ever when you’re feeling not so hot. Look for one with antioxidants (such as Olay Complete Ageless Skin Renewing UV Lotion SPF 20, $15), which protects against UV damage while fighting inflammation.

What Serenity Looks Like…

A CALM, BALANCED COMPLEXION

Keeping your cool promotes healthy skin, mostly because of what you’re not doing—i.e., enduring the damage of Hurricane Stress.

When you’re frazzled, nerve endings release pro-inflammatory neuropeptides that break down the barrier that protects your skin from environmental irritants. That leads to dryness and flakes. A mellow you keeps nasty chemicals at bay, seals in water and makes your skin’s outer layer as impervious as a weatherproof jacket. Your skin’s forecast: evenly toned, without a hint of blotchiness or flakes in sight.

Fake It Until You Feel It

Keep skin calm and carrying on with creams that contain ceramides (hydrating lipids naturally found in skin) or niacin (a form of vitamin B3 that bolsters skin’s inherent moisturizing ceramide levels). Both act as chill pills for your complexion, helping maintain a strong shield against the outside world. Products with dimethicone create a lightweight seal that prevents moisture loss and penetration of possible irritants, Dr. Fried says. (Try Nia 24 Skin Strengthening Complex, $85, which contains all three soothing ingredients.)

Pretty is the New Prozac

POSITIVE EMOTIONS AFFECT YOUR LOOKS…

…but the path from brain to beauty can go both ways.

When you scowl, frown, or grimace, a message is sent to your brain that you’re anxious, says Robert Levenson, Ph.D., professor at the University of California in Berkeley. Because Botox temporarily inhibits full movement of certain facial muscles, it blocks some of that feedback, so “your worry might not feel so worrisome,” Levenson says. And that’s what studies show: Women who got Botox in their forehead felt significantly less depressed and anxious up to three months later than those who had other cosmetic treatments (peels, fillers, etc.), research in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology finds.

Fake It Until You Feel It

If you fear a frozen face, use a product with peptides such as argireline (try Peter Thomas Roth Un-Wrinkle Illuminator Instant Brightening Moisturizer, $68), which inhibits an enzyme needed for muscle contraction, providing subtle smoothing over time. Even makeup can work wonders on your mood: “Mirror neurons in our brains fire in sync with whatever we observe, including ourselves,” says Eva Ritvo, M.D., coauthor of The Beauty Prescription. So, if you see yourself smiling and looking gorgeous, it may trigger the neurons that tap into the emotions represented, instantly helping you feel happier and more confident. Now, that’s a beautiful thing.

Channel your inner calm: “Line inside bottom lash lines with a flesh-colored pencil to neutralize redness, so you appear well-rested,” says Raychel Wade, a makeup artist for La Prairie in NYC. Dress, DKNY.

Flawless Bride, Seattle’s On Location Bridal Hair & Makeup Specialists

Why does my hair go gray?
Melanin is a pigment that is naturally produced in the hair follicle and is responsible for giving hair its color. There gets to be a point when the melanocytes (the melanin producing cells) just stop producing, thus giving you gray hair. No one knows why hair follicles stop producing melanin;it’s most likely genetics. Many women think that gray hair is more kinky and unruly than “normal” hair, although there is no solid data to show that gray hair has a different physical structure. However, hair follicles do produce less of their natural oils as you age, which can make hair feel dry and coarse. Also, gray hairs are easier to notice because of the color difference (especially if your natural color is dark). Think about all the hairs on your head that are unruly but are the same color as the rest of your hair!

How can I cover my gray?

Temporary Root Coverage – These products are like makeup for your hair. They come in a variety of forms that range from mascara-type wands to small brushes, and are basically color pigments blended with either wax or oil to make them easy to apply. These products are temporary (just like makeup), and last only until your next shampoo.
Pros: These are inexpensive, quick fix products that are great for women with just a few grays, or for women trying to extend the life of their color. They’re also safe and not damaging.
Cons: Color can be difficult to match, and the product can be clumpy and flaky when it dries.

Permanent Root Coverage – This is permanent hair color, but it comes in a clever applicator (similar to a comb) that allows you to apply only where needed.
Pros: It’s inexpensive and easy to apply. Results last several weeks, which can help extend the life of your color.
Cons: Permanent color lasts several weeks, so if you are not happy with the results you have to live with them for awhile. New hair growth will be gray (or whatever your natural shade is), so you will need to reapply every couple of weeks if you don’t want roots to show. Permanent hair color is a damaging process, particularly if you are doing it frequently.

Permanent Hair Color – This uses the same technology as permanent root coverage, but is intended for all-over use. Permanent hair color uses reactive dyes that penetrate the outer layer of your hair (cuticle) and react with the inner layer (cortex) to deposit the hair color. There are almost endless options of hair colors, but some companies have developed products specifically designed for gray hair. These “gray-specific” products don’t use different technology, but often use more moisturizers/conditioners since gray hair tends to be drier than “normal” hair.
Pros: It’s inexpensive (if done at home), you have many colors to choose from and results last several weeks.
Cons: It can be expensive to maintain (if done at a salon), and color is permanent, so if you don’t like the results you have to live with them for a while. Like permanent root coverage, this process can be damaging.

Bottom Line
There are several good options for dealing with those pesky grays, whether you are looking for temporary results or a more permanent solution. Also, I have heard some rumors of a new technology on the horizon that could actually restore melanin to your hair — so stay tuned!

Flawless Bride, Seattle’s On Location Bridal Hair & Makeup Specialists

It may seem silly, an article about how to properly clean your face.  I mean really?  Isn’t this something we learned when we were toddlers?  Well yes and no.

Yes we can keep the dirt off our face, but most of us don’t know the proper way to keep our skin from clogging with comedones or worse having acne!  God forbid!

So, here’s a few steps that will keep your skin clean and clear and looking amazing!

First there are the tools, of course.

One of the best face washes, the most bang for the buck has got to be Cedipil, and you can find it at Wal-Mart for under $10!  Get the one for Oily Skin; it works wonderful for all skin types, I kid you not, have yet to find anything better on the market.  It doesn’t lather, so don’t use too much try to get suds.  This is a real face wash and not body wash, no suds is a good thing.

You also want to have an exfoliant, a manual one, so no apricot scrubs or muds; I am talking a good manual cloth.  Wash clothes work, but the best thing you can get is a Japanese Wash Cloth.  You can find them at most oriental markets or even import stores like Cost Plus World Market.  You can also find them online I am sure.  If you can’t find one you can use a good old fashioned wash cloth or you can finally make use of that darned Kabuki Brush!  Yes, Kabuki brushes can be used as exfoliators.  Strange huh?

Ok, now for the steps:

1.  Pre-wet your face with warm or hot water.  This opens up the pores so the exfoliant and wash can work.

2.  Apply face wash directly to your skin.  Do not put on your washcloth/Kabuki Brush, as this will waste product.

3.  Vigorously exfoliate, this does not mean taking skin off, this just means a nice healthy scrub that will get all the makeup/oils/etc off.

4.  Then rinse your face thoroughly with warm water.  Then one last rinse with cold.  The cold water will now close your pores so that nothing gets back into them now that they are all cleaned out.

When you are wearing makeup, you may wish to wash your face twice.  If using liquid foundation three times is even better to make sure all of skin is cleaned.

Well there you have it.  The proper way to wash your face!

Flawless Bride, Seattle’s On Location Bridal Hair & Makeup Specialists

Tonight is a night that lingers on the very edges of past and future.  A day of shadows and dreams and memories.  This is the one night of any year when all things are possible.  When we are not simply bound by the things that are.  This is the one night that dreaming is permitted, that dreaming is demanded and where hope reigns supreme.  It is the one night where we can leave behind all the baggage and  fears and regrets of the past three hundred and sixty five days.  The one day in which we can reinvent ourselves.  Tonight is the night we get to start fresh.  We get to enter a new year and embrace the hope of what can be.

You may spend this night in the company of friends, laughing, dancing, drinking.  You may spend it alone in quiet contemplation, however you choose to leave the old year and enter into the new, you will do it with hope.  That is what I wish for all of you.  That you can leave behind the past, take from it the lessons it was supposed to teach and step boldly into a new year with hope and joy.

2012 will be your year.  I plan to make it mine.

Happy New Year from all of us at Flawless Bride

Flawless Bride, Seattle’s On Location Bridal Hair & Makeup Specialists

As the days shorten and grow colder we begin to miss the warmth of the sun.  Perhaps it is the reason that this winter, hair colors are warming up, as if they are creating an homage to the summer we are beginning to miss.

Blondes are warming up their hair with lowlights of rich browns or coppers.  Adding natural looking streaks that blend and flow.  Brunettes are adding life and luster to their hair by using highlights of caramel and bronze to lighten and warm, or going rich with deep chocolates & mahogany.

And red heads, well, red in definitely in.  Nothing tops reds from bright, brash coppers to deep, rich burgundy.  It’s fun to be a siren and red is the best way to do it.

Adding some warmth to your hair is a great way to freshen up your look without breaking your budget.  There is no need to completely change your hair color, not when you can have a demi-permanent color added to your current color to add some depth and warmth.  Not only will it make you feel like a brand new woman, it’s a cost effective way to add space between your color services.

Nothing is more thrilling then walking out of the salon with a whole new you, and adding a dab of copper or mahogany to your locks will give you that feeling while leaving a little green in your purse.  After all, this is the time of year when we need to look our best and find that our budget is stretched thin by holiday parties and gift giving.

So indulge just a little.  A little bit of color, some gold, some bronze, or some copper and rock those holiday parties and make your rivals (you know you have them) green with envy.

VIP-CAT Bride, Seattle’s On Location Bridal Hair & Makeup Specialists

During the holidays and into the New Year we find ourselves pressed for time.  Here are some awesome tips and products from the Writers at Self.com.  Enjoy!

Shave 30 minutes off of your daily beauty routine and still look polished with these handy tricks.

Save 20 Minutes

Dry Hair Faster! – Ask anyone—the biggest beauty time-waster is drying your hair. So skip shampooing (or do it the night before) and try this shortcut: First, dampen face-framing strands with a spray bottle of water. Then spritz them and your crown with a styler containing tea tree oil. It erases any not-so-fresh smells and softens hair, making styling a breeze, says Laura Boton, a salon owner in Chicago. Blow-dry the front pieces, blast some air at your crown, and hit the road!

Tea tree oil in Bb Tonic Lotion, $20, eases styling; lemongrass extract builds volume.

Save 20 Minutes

Must shampoo? Blow-dry roots first. They trap the most water.

Save 7 Minutes

Step up your skin care! – Meet your new morning must-have: a face wash that also exfoliates. It gives you a glow without the need for a separate scrub and toner, says Tony Nakhla, M.D., a dermatologist in Newport Coast, California. Next, apply a tinted lotion that has antioxidants. You’ll hydrate and treat skin, nixing the need for makeup. It’s two steps instead of six!

Smooth on Ultraflesh Tinted Moisturizer, $34, to hydrate, protect and camouflage.

Save 3 Minutes

Pare down primping! – Ready, set, sort! Removing products you don’t use daily from your cosmetics bag (neon shadow, perhaps?) makes grabbing essentials a snap. It’s even better if your go-tos can multitask. “Buy a combo lip- and cheek-color stick and double-ended brushes to cut chaos in your bag,” suggests Brett Freedman, a makeup artist in Los Angeles. You can also take a pass on liner: Brush on mascara, let lashes dry while you finish getting dressed, then curl. You’ll create serious oomph in half the time.

Creamy Shiseido The Makeup Accentuating Color Stick, $33, shown here in Rosy Flush, adds a tint to cheeks and lips.

Well I hope these tips help you survive the Holidays and the New Year! 

VIP-CAT Bride, Seattle’s On Location Bridal Hair & Makeup Specialists

In love with shimmer and sparkle???  Well All that glitters is GOLD this holiday season baby… Gold is so in and HOT right now from your nail polish, skinny jeans, accessories, cocktail dresses, all the way down to your bubble bath!

A perfect golden object this fall is a perfect pair of shoes from Michael Kors.  These lizard embossed leather heels, teamed up with a metallic nylon clutch…. You’ll be bling’n it on baby.

NO glass slippers this season… check out these show stoppers by Carlos Santana, you can find them at macys.com.  Who says flats can’t be sexy??  Steve Madden has satin flats with dreamy golden rhinestones that are guaranteed to dress up any outfit.

Believe it or not, JC Penny has a great collection of Golden attire this winter season.  From Super cute metallic gold jeans to bouncy Lurex sweaters…. you would be surprised!!  This is not your grandma’s JC Penny’s any more.  If you haven’t been in there in a while, stop by and check it out!!  You can put together a very, very sexy and trendy outfit for under $100!  That is amazing!  Check out these fashions exclusively at jcp.com/musthaves

VIP-CAT Bride, Seattle’s On Location Bridal Hair & Makeup Specialists

Color seems to be seeping in, regardless of age or ethnicity and even of social standing.  I’ve seen grandma’s sporting hot pink highlights and soccer moms with blue or purple.  Of course the most avid of those sporting color is of course pre-teens, but that is only with a strong twist of their mom’s arms.  Color has been sneaking in more and more over the past years and months, I’ve personally tried almost every shade, from light purple to vibrant, artificial red.  I can personally tell you green was NOT a good look for me.  Color isn’t just for teenagers anymore though; it’s spread out and snagged the rest of us, little snippets of vibrant, artificial enhancements peaking out through the strands of our hair.

Even Hollywood has seemed to embrace the trend, Singer Katie Perry has sported full on bubble gum pink, Actress Bai Ling varying shades, from white highlights to blue.  Of course let’s not forget Lady Gaga, but she is a little more out of the NORMAL realm when it comes to fashion trends.  These ladies I just mentioned tend to always be a little ahead of the trends, but when Kate Bosworth is seen with pale blue highlights at the tips of her hair, then you know the trend of color has spread to the more sedate.

Colors in, and while it is, however fleeting, why not indulge yourself and add a few strips of your favorite shade?  It doesn’t have to be permanent, though for the truest match you will want to lighten the sections that you want to be the color you choose.  My personal favorite brand would be Pravana, their bleach can lift many levels without doing damage to your hair and their colored pigments are very vibrant and last a long time.  Only downside to Pravana is that it’s not an over the counter product, so you would have to go to a salon who uses it or have a friend with a cosmetic’s license to pick it up for you at the local beauty supply.  If neither of these are an option, you can find the nearest Sally’s Beauty Supply and get Manic Panic or Beyond the Zone Color Bombs.  These are semi permanent colors and aren’t going to last longer than six to ten washes.

For color that lasts you’ll want a professional line, Pravana or Paul Mitchell, both are good.  But just a see if you even like the bright look for yourself, Sally’s has a nice selection.

I hope you’ll give color a try, something fun, might even help with the gray skies and winter blues!

VIP-CAT Bride, Seattle’s On Location Bridal Hair & Makeup Specialists

1. My favorite color is orange

3. I’m always in the mood for sushi

4. Miami is my favorite city

5. 7 is my lucky number

6. i listen to 90′s R&B-all the time! I’m musically stuck there!

7. I was born on the year of the boar according to the Chinese calendar

8. I’m bilingual- I speak, read and write Tagalog fluently

9. someday, I ultimately want to be a life coach

10. I currently have 4 tattoos

VIP-CAT Bride, Seattle’s On Location Bridal Hair & Makeup Specialists

Your not the only ones who read beauty blogs   Check out what I found on one of our personal favorites, Self.com

In the interest of extra sleep, some mornings we throw our hair in a bun and rush out the door with no more than a layer of sunscreen on our faces, leaving the real “getting ready” for later. The trade off? A bulging bag full of extra products. Luckily, there’s now a solution at hand.

Sleek, slim and easy to slip in a purse, beauty products housed in wands streamline our cargo and virtually eliminate the risk of spillage, making anytime use quick and discrete. No longer just limited to the basics, there’s a growing crop of beauty wands that tackle everything from tooth whitening to smoothing strands. Here are four of our favorites and what makes them so effective.

Go Smile On-The-Go Teeth Whitening Pen: As much as we love our trusted Crest White Strips, the speech-inhibiting stain sappers are best left at home. Go Smile’s ingenious whitening pen features a soft brush head that coats teeth with a thin undetectable film. There’s no food or drink for 20 minutes, but speaking and smiling aren’t a problem.

Full Repair Touch Up Flyaway Tamer: Smooth frizz, breakage and flyaway tresses with a reparative dose of Inca Inchi oil. Unlike most hair serums that leave our fingertips greasy, the mascara-style applicator makes for easy, no-mess touchups.

Peter Thomas Roth Anti-Aging Instant Mineral SPF 45: Multi-tasking beauty at its best, this portable mineral powder is made with anti-aging peptides and backed by SPF45 protection. Housed in a retractable brush, the mattifying blend means topping up on sun-protection during the day (always a smart idea) doesn’t have to add shine.

Josie Maran Rapid Eye Makeup Pen: This sleek, dual-ended color pen streamlines your beauty bag by packing four Argan Oil infused eye makeup essentials into one pretty magical wand. On one end, there’s a long-wearing gel eyeliner and on the other, a mini applicator. The added bonus: The middle holds a shimmer shadow with a sponge tip applicator.

–Julie Schott

VIP-CAT Bride, Seattle’s On Location Bridal Hair & Makeup Specialists