Guest Blog: DIY Make-Up Tips from Toya

I am so excited to introduce today's blog! My good friend, Toya Smith, is truly a Jill of all trades: she's mother who works full-time, a blogger with not one, but two very active blogs, a professional belly dancer with a troupe in Baltimore, and a make-up artist -- and she's amazing at every one!  We've asked her to guest star today here at Swoon and give a few make-up tutorials. We're all about DIY, so why not DIY make-up too!?! And without further ado, here is Toya with her suggestions for summer wedding beauty tips!

Beauty for a Summer Wedding

So . . . you're going to a summer wedding and you want to look your beautiful best.  Well, you've come to the right place!  Before we get started, let me be clear.  The most beautiful woman at any wedding is the bride.  Get that through your head now and there will be no problems.  LOL!  And hey, brides-to-be - if you want some tips for trendy makeup looks for your wedding, this article is for you, too!

Coral/orange lips

This may sound frightening, but believe me, there is a coral that looks great on everyone.  If you are a fairer-skinned woman, you want to go for softer corals and apricots.  Bobbi Brown had a recent collection based entirely around coral, including her glamorous and easy Pot Rouges in Cabo Coral and Calypso Coral.  Pot Rouges are wonderful in that they can be used on cheeks as a cream blush and on lips as a soft creamy lip color.  You instantly match and can make yourself look more beautiful in just minutes.  Brown-skinned beauties, go for a deeper shade that's closer to orange.  MAC lipstick in either Lady Danger or Morange will be perfect.  If you're looking for more economical choices, Milani Cosmetics has similar shades and their lipsticks have a lusciously creamy texture.

Such an attention-grabbing lip requires minimalism in other areas.  If you're going for this look, pair it with softly shimmering gold shadow, brown lip liner and a couple layers of mascara.  Add a touch of radiance with a cream highlighter under your brows and on cheekbones.  Keep hair pulled back in a sleek ponytail or chignon, with just a slight bit of lift in the crown.

Brightly Colored Eyeshadow

Summer is the perfect time to experiment with new colors on your eyes.  Brands like MAC and Urban Decay have a wide array of colors and textures for you to try.  If you want to experiment but don't want to spend too much money doing it, try NYX Cosmetics which can be found in many local beauty supply stores or ordered online from www.cherryculture.com It's also carried in Ulta.  For summer, an oceany teal/turquoise/aquamarine will be fitting, as will a rich purple.  These shades both look wonderful on women with brown eyes.  If you have blue eyes, try a warm bronze.

Simply apply your favorite colored shadow directly to your lids - do a few thin layers in order to make the color very saturated.  Skip the liner.  A few swipes of mascara and your eye look is done!  For cheeks and lips, stay neutral.  Nudes or a very soft peach will be appropriate.

Deep Fuchsia Lips

Like coral lips, these are the stand-outs of your makeup look.  MAC and Illamasqua make wonderful hot pink/fuchsia shades.  If you want to purchase less expensive options, look to NYX, Milani, or Iman (which is now available at Target and Walgreen's - score!).  Do clean black eyeliner - liquid works well.  Two coats of mascara.  Brown bombshells can do a pop of bronzer on the cheeks to warm up the skin.  Fairer beauties can do a very soft application of pink blush.

Barely There

You don't have to go all out in order to look beautiful.  Even the most minimal makeup can make you look fresh and pretty.  In this case, it's best to go for cream blush, as it will give you a flush that looks as if it comes from the inside out - it will give the most natural glow to your cheeks.  Try a rosy shade.  I love MAC's Cream Colour Bases, as well as NARS cream blushes  Other great ones are NYX and Sally Hansen Natural Beauty inspired by Carmindy.  Paired with the rosy cheek, try nude lip gloss, a couple swipes of mascara and a cream highlighter to add luminescence.

Try any of these trends and you'll feel up-to-date and fabulous.  I'd love to hear from you about how gorgeous you look!

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We can't thank Toya enough for sharing her beauty words of wisdom with us today!  Check out her blogs:  "The Life of a Ladybug" and "Makeda".  Toya is a professional make-up artist in the Baltimore area, and also offers email consultations.

We'll feature guest bloggers from time-to-time in the future. Would you like a feature? Let us know!

See you swoon,