California Dreamin’

One of my favorite wedding looks to date will have you California dreamin’. My bride, who is originally from Colorado but made SoCal her home, wanted to keep the overall look simple and make a statement with her hair and lip color. Read on to see what makeup and hair techniques I used for this vintage California style wedding.

Before the big “I do,” I like to keep my brides calm and relaxed by giving a mini facial. I began by cleansing her skin with Comodynes Micellar Cleansing Towelettes and then spraying on Jurlique Rosewater Mist for hydration. Then, I patted on Kate Somerville’s Age Arrest Eye Cream to reduce any puffiness under her eyes and applied Caudalie Radiance Moisturizer to brighten her skin.

She wanted to keep her makeup minimal and clean, but with a bright hot pink lip! For luminous skin I used Charlotte Tilbury Wonderglow all over the skin and then lightly brushed on Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick. To hide any discolorations under the eyes, Nars Custard Concealer came to the rescue!

Next, I smoothed the long-wearing Becca Romanticism Eye Color, on her eyes and then finely lined her them with Smashbox Liquid Liner. Her lashes were coated with Shiseido Majolica Majorca, an ultra-waterproof mascara. I wanted to warm up my bride’s skin and Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronzer always does the trick. I brushed this on her cheeks, forehead, nose and chin to give her skin a healthy, sun-kissed glow.

Lastly, I lined her lips with Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Lip Pencil and colored them in with Mirabella Blush Velvet Lip Pencil, a gorgeous vivid pink. I sprayed Skindinavia Bridal Makeup Finishing Spray over her face to keep her makeup in place throughout the day and into the night.

For hair, she was loving the idea of a modern beehive. This took a lot of work and patience but the results were well worth it! I prepped her hair with Bumble and Bumble Styling Lotion and Thickening Spray and then flipped her hair over while I brushed and blow dried it. This will create amazing lift and volume in the hair. Flip hair back, section off the hair around the crown, and then using a Teasing Brush, back brush the hair where you’ll want the most height. Then do the sides of hair the same way. Spray with Elnett Hairspray to hold.

After teasing, lightly brush through to smooth hair. Now start using those bobby pins to secure the height of the beehive. The rest of the hair I twisted and pinned up just below the beehive to create texture and dimension.

Are you not California dreamin’ right now!? Let me know about your dream wedding in the comments below.

Makeup and Hair: Renée Loiz, Photographer: Brightwood Photography, Dress: Jenny Packham