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10 Things to do for Your Skin Before Your Wedding

We get a lot of questions about what sort of preparation brides can do for their skin before the wedding. This infographic {courtesy of Simply Bridal} points out 10 important things that you should do to get, and keep, your skin in tiptop shape for the wedding.

Number 9 is especially important. At Makeup for Your Day our team of talented artists are equipped with high quality makeup with quality ingredients that will look and feel great on your skin. We think it is very important to have hair and makeup trials in case there is anything you want changed before the big day. This ensures that you look and feel your best on your special day!
To see photos of our brides after their hair and makeup trials with different members of our talented team, check out our Facebook page!
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Picking the Right Perfume: What Scents are you Attracted To?

Picking a perfume can be difficult and overwhelming. There are so many different bottles and scents to choose from! The process of choosing can take a while especially when you are trying to figure out what sort of scent you are looking for. The Beauty Department had this awesome infographic that helps connect what things you are attracted to with the sort of scents that fall in that category.

What sort of scents are you drawn to? Do you have one signature scent – or a perfume for every season, mood and occasion? Let us know via Twitter, Facebook or the comments box below! 

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The Pros and Cons of Different Self Tanner Formulas


People love that “glow” and the way their skin looks in the summer, and there is a healthy way to get that look without exposing yourself to harmful UVA and UVB rays. Self tanners can seem scary if you have never tried them before – there are so many to choose from! Here is a breakdown of a few formulas on the market and their pros and cons.

Creams and Gels

Creams and gels generally take longer to dry than other formulas. This can be a plus for anyone trying self tanning for the first time because it allows for more time to rub in the product. The key to applying creams and gels is to exfoliate well beforehand. If you are inexperienced with applying self tanner pick a cream or a gel that gives a gradual tan. Once you get more experience you can buy a quicker developing formula.

Sprays

Sprays can give a great, even tan – but the spray formulas tend to dry really quickly. Another drawback is that it is really difficult to spray your own body evenly (and to get everywhere.) If you have someone to help you out, you can try a spray – but we still suggest to start with a cream until you feel comfortable.

Foams

Foams are a sort of cream and spray hybrid with a very unique texture. Many people are drawn to this formula because the foam is visual, which makes it easier to apply. Foams dry quicker than creams and gels, but because it is easier to apply, for people with a little more experience this isn’t a problem.

Towlettes

Towlettes are a great products for touch-ups. Due to the fact they tend to have less product per towlette and can dry out quickly they are hard to apply your whole tan with a towlette. Also, if it is a clear formula, sometimes it is hard to tell where you have already applied which could lead to over-application in certain areas and would prevent an even, natural-looking tan.

What products or formulas do you love – let us know via Facebook, Twitter or the comments box below!

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Toxic Shampoo Ingredients to Avoid

Although it may only take you a minute or two to wash your hair, doing it multiple times a week over your entire life adds up quickly! That is why you want to be sure that you aren’t absorbing tons of toxins.

Many of the chemicals in products haven’t been tested, and certainly haven’t been tested in conjunction with each other. So it is important to be aware of chemical ingredients and the harmful effects so that you can shop to avoid them.

Dioxane is found in shampoo and many other personal care products. Some baby shampoos even contain this toxin! This chemical is harmful to the kidneys, liver, brain and central nervous system.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is a big part of what makes the shampoo lather. This ingredient is also used to clean car engines! This chemical in some shampoo formulas can alter your skin’s structure allowing the chemicals to penetrate deeper which makes it easier for the chemicals to get into your bloodstream.

Propylene Glycol is an active ingredient that is also found in antifreeze, tire sealants, paints, adhesives, enamels and engine coolants. This is a strong skin irritant that can cause liver abnormalities and kidney damage.

You’ve probably heard of Parabens. It’s been a buzz word in beauty products for a while. There are many different types of parabens (methyl paraben, ethyl paraben, propyl paraben etc.) and they act much like estrogen which can cause metabolic, developmental and hormonal disruption.  

Ammonium Chloride is an eye irritant that can be harmful when inhaled.

Formaldehyde is suspected to be a human carcinogen that can cause respiratory problems, headaches and DNA damage in some individuals.

Finding an Alternative

Although many products will claim to be “natural” or “organic” it doesn’t necessarily mean that they are. A product that is labelled as natural, may include one or two natural ingredients, but still contain many chemicals. The only way to truly know is to read the label carefully.

Opt for plant-based and petroleum-free products. These products don’t lather easily, but with practice, you will get the hang of it! Although these products can be more expensive and have a shorter shelf life, but it is worth it to avoid the chemicals.

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5 Things to Know About How You Shampoo

1. Technique Matters!

Regardless of the shampoo you buy, you won’t reap the full benefits if you don’t wash your hair correctly. Using your fingers, you need to massage the shampoo into your scalp and then rinse it. This will get rid of any sebum or product build up so that your hair can grow and be healthy from the scalp.

2. Less is More

If use too much shampoo and it foams up a lot then it is more difficult to wash your hair correctly and get the product right to the scalp. Use about a quarter-sized amount of shampoo and be sure to get it right to your scalp.


3. Good Ingredients Don’t Always Get the Job Done

All products claim to do something; whether it is to moisturize, create volume or fight frizz. Argan oil is a very popular new ingredient to hit the market, but unless the product contains at least 1-5% of that ingredient, it won’t make a difference for your hair.

4. Blondes Need to Use Clarifying Shampoo More Often 

Chemically treated hair becomes very porous and can absorb hairspray, persperation, city polluion and minerals from shower water. This can cause blonde hair to pick up yellowish tones. To avoid this, clarifying shampoo should be used at least once a week to help dissolve natural build up and to neutralize unwanted tones.

5. Immediate Results May Be Deceiving 

If your hair is in serious need of moisture, volume or anything else – be willing to wait. Any shampoo that promises immediate results may work well the first few washes but end up causing build up and becoming less effective. If it is a good product it may be 2 weeks to a month before you see real results, but they will last!

Check back tomorrow for a list of ingredients to avoid in shampoos. It is more than likely that you will have at least one of them in the shower!

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5 Lesser-Known Essential Oils and What they can do for You!

It is great to have some knowledge of essential oils and what they can do in your health and beauty routine. In the post we list some interesting properties and uses for 5 lesser-known essential oils.

Cedarwood Atlas is an oil that is extracted from cedarwood shavings and has a sweet and woody aroma. This oil is a antiseptic, astringent and a natural sedative. This is a great oil to treat fungal infections, dandruff, insect bites and stings. (This oil should not be used if you are pregnant.)

Clary Sage has a fruity and flowery aroma and is a natural antidepressant, sedative and has anti-inflammatory properties. This oil is often used to reduce high blood pressure and ease depression, nervous tension and stress.

Frankincense oil is a warm and piney-smelling oil that is used as an astringent, antiseptic and sedative.  This oil can help treat ulcers, asthma and bronchitis.

Mandarin oil is a sweet and citrusy-smelling oil that is a digestive, laxative and sedative. It is a great oil for hiccups and coughs. It can also be used to help prevent stretch marks.

Neroli oil is an antidepressant, antiseptic and an aphrodisiac. It has a sweet and floral scent and is an excellent remedy for stress, skin problems and heart palpitations.

*These oils (alone) should not be directly applied to the skin. Instead, mix a few drops of the essential oil in a carrier oil such as olive oil, jojoba oil or almond oil. Always test a small amount of the mixture on the inside of your wrist to make sure that your skin won’t react.

Would you like to know the properties and uses of more essential oils? Just let us know in the comments box below and we can do a series of posts to let you know about other great essential oils and how you can use them in your health or beauty routine.

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MYD Shares some Father’s Day Gift Ideas

It can be difficult to shop for guys sometimes. What do they really want? Well, we put together a list of a few things that guys wouldn’t even know they want, but will love! These are some amazing products that will make your dad, or husband feel pampered.
Lab Series: Skin Care for Men – Instant Skin Booster

This awakening serum helps skin look at feel lifted and toned by targeting dryness, redness, puffiness and parts of the skin that have lost firmness. This miracle serum also helps strengthen skin’s natural collagen. This serum can be used day or night and will leave your skin looking, and feeling, rejuvenated.
Anthony: Logistics for Men – Invigorating Rush Hair + Body Wash
We love the woodsy scent of this shower do-it-all. The clean, masculine scent is invigorating and perfect to waken the senses in the morning. We love that this is a full body lather which makes it great for a gym bag or travelling. We love luxurious, but low maintenance products!
Clinique – M Protect Broad Spectrum SPF 21 Daily Hydration + Protection

SPF has been added to a lot of foundations or moisturizes for women, that is why we love seeing daily moisturizers for men that also include SPF. This cream hydrates and soothes the skin while protecting it from harmful UVA and UVB rays. 
The Art of Shaving – Fusion Chrome Collection Shaving Brush

This is a great gift for any guy that doesn’t already have one. This brush takes shaving from a “have-to-do” routine thing, to a luxurious experience. This gift would work well with our next suggestion as well. 

Anthony: Logistics for Men – The Perfect Shave Kit

Picking out quality shaving products for men can be difficult with all of the selection out there. This kit is a great way to sample some things. The kit includes a glycolic facial cleanser, a pre-shave oil, a shave cream, an after-shave balm, a facial scrub and a toiletries case. This kit is great for travelling and will help achieve a great shave!
What products would you buy your father or husband for father’s day – are you considering purchasing some products for him to try? We would love to know!
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Tame that Mane! Tricks to FIght the Frizzies.

Frizzy hair is caused by a number of things, including humidity, split ends, dryness, brushing incorrectly and using the wrong products. Once you understand all of the factors of hair frizz, it is easier to fight it to achieve a smooth look.

First the easy stuff. You have probably heard this said once or twice, but trim your hair every 6 weeks. This will get rid of the split ends and give your hair an overall smooth and healthy look. Another simple trick is to avoid brushing your hair when it is dry. You will want to comb your hair gently with a wide-tooth comb or your fingers once you are out of the shower to help prevent frizz.

Choosing the right products is a big part of dealing with frizz and it starts with the shampoo. Many shampoos and conditioners contain ingredients that will dry out hair and cause it to be more frizzy – such as Alcohol and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. Be sure to read the labels of your products carefully.

Dryness is something that almost everyone deals with at some point. Whether you color your hair, treat it or use heat styling tools often – you know how dry, dull and lifeless (and frizzy!) your hair can get. Using a deep conditioner once a week will help restore moisture and the the hair’s natural oils which will make the hair healthier and smoother. Also, using a heat protectant spray before styling will help lock in the hair’s moisture and prevent some (not all) of the damage.

What sort of products or tricks do you use to fight frizz – we would love to know! Let us know via Twitter, Facebook or the comments box below!

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Spotlight on Ciaté’s Unique Nail Products

Ciaté is a company that was started by UK-based nail artist Charlotte Knight. The company has seen great success with the invention of many unique, never-been-done-before nail product breakthroughs.

The company’s polishes, texture kits and treatments create the most interesting manicures and pedicures giving women the ability to have statement nails without going to a salon.  Some of their trend-setting products include:

Ciaté’s Paint Pots Nail Polish 

These nail polishes come in a variety of highly pigmented colors and look stunning on hands and feet. Their polishes are known to be ahead of the trends when it comes to releasing new colors and are inspired by beauty, fashion and design to create new colors. 

Ciaté’s Chalkboard Manicure Set

Start by applying the black matte polish to your nails and let it dry. Then use the chalk pens to doodle fun designs on your nails! The chalk will come off in water, but once you find the design you like, seal it in with the clear top coat and you are good-to-go!
Ciaté’s Very Colourfoil Manicure Set

This is an extremely fun manicure kit that allows for a creative, and incredibly cool, look for the nails. This look creates a raw foil finish, but includes a top coat that is so shiny that it will be unlike any other metallic manicure out there!

 Ciaté’s Velvet Manicure

This kit to the beauty community by storm when it was released. This kit contains and two-step process that will leave your nails with a velvet finish! This kit was inspired by the idea of layering textures that was seen on the runways. After brushing the crushed velvet onto your nails, you will know why this kit claims to be “luxury” at your fingertips!
Ciaté’s Sequinned Manicure


Don’t want the party to stop? This kit allows you to apply sequins to your nails which creates a fun and textured look like no other. Unlike other nail polish that tries to achieve this sparkly, multi-dimensional look, by brushing sequins onto the nail directly, it allows easy application to achieve this unique look.
Ciaté’s Caviar Manicure Set

Just when you thought it couldn’t get more crazy, the caviar nail kit comes out. Following the idea of luxury and texture for the nails, this kit includes pearlescent beads for a 3D effect that will turn heads. Although it is not real caviar, this look emulates the classy food and gives the impression of high-class opulence for your hands and feet. 
*All products are available at Sephora. 
What is your favorite Ciaté kit? Would you like to try any of these? Let us know via Facebook, Twitter or the comments box below!



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MYD Shares some SPF Tips

~ The best time to apply sunscreen is right after showering, or right before you leave the house. This is to enable the product to fully absorb into your skin to provide the desired protection.
~ Buy and apply a broad spectrum formula. This means that the formula will protect against both UVA and UVB rays.
~ Although we all love the “do-it-all” products, if your moisturizer or foundation includes SPF that is under SPF 15 then you should apply another product that is (at least) SPF 30. Do not apply the second product until the first is fully absorbed.
~ Reapply your sunscreen every 1-2 hours.
            * Experts suggest that you apply sunscreen under your makeup, so how do you reapply during the day if you have also applied makeup? Beauty experts suggest SPF powders. They will absorb oil and protect you from UV rays. 
~ Although lips are on the face, most people don’t think they need to apply sunscreen to the lips like they do to their faces, but lips are also very vulnerable to sun damage. Apply a SPF balm under your favorite lip color, or find a lip balm that includes SPF in the formula.
~ Until recently, not much was said about UV damaged strands because you can’t get cancer from too much UV exposure to your hair. However, the UV rays can make your hair dull and dry. There are many spray-on SPF hair protectants and moisturizers that are great to spritz on before heading out. We also love summery statements such as beach hats to protect your face and hair from the sun. 
What are your SPF tips, or your fave products – we would love to know! Let us know via Twitter, Facebook or the comments box below!