BeautyCast Videos for DIY "making up" on a Bride's Special Day

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and if that’s true (and it is), a video is priceless! The BeautyCast Bridal Collection DVD Volumes 1 and 2 will give you all the tools you need to do your makeup like a professional makeup artist. Created by talented makeup artist Barbara Siragusa, Beauty Cast DVDs offer lots different makeup looks especially for brides and others significant to her wedding party such as her attendants, and mothers of the couple. Volume 1 offers seven makeup looks for a traditional, white wedding. Volume 2 offers ideas five different looks for a “fantasy” wedding.

What’s really wonderful about these videos is the ability to see a makeup artist work in close-up on eyes, lips, cheeks. The dvd clearly shows the colors used, the brushes used (and why that brush is important), the techniques to apply everything, and then, a final “reveal.” You can learn so much about application, color choice, and blending from watching these whether you’re a bride looking for DIY on your special day, or you just want to finally understand what makeup artists are doing when they’re applying full makeup on your face (no, a chart from the department store makeup counter isn’t going to really help you faithfully re-create a look that an expert has created). I also like the idea that Ms Siragusa has chosen models of all ages, skin types, and ethnicities. These women do not look like supermodels, they look like average women who want dramatic makeup for a special occasion...and I love this!

The looks are not everyday makeup. They are complicated and require a lot of practice to accomplish (so get the videos well in advance if you're really going to try and re-create the looks for a special occasion). In some cases, we counted more than 16 different products and colors used on the eyes alone. It’s just too much makeup for most women, even if it's done by a professional makeup artist. On the other hand, if it's just too challenging for you, take the looks and tone them down to create a glamorous vision of the original. The focus is all on the eyes and lips...no foundation or concealer techniques are shown, and the lips are all very dramatic. I personally wouldn’t suggest red lips for a wedding day as in one of the looks from the Fantasy Wedding collection. A bride does way too much kissing on her special day to use a dark lipstick, and hope it won't smear. False eyelashes are also used in most of the looks. That's ok if you like them, but on a wedding day, I think they are impractical (brides cry, and lashes get loose). Again, you can pick and choose what parts of the look you want. I really enjoyed watching the videos. They were instructive, entertaining, and well produced. Don’t wait to say “I do” to check them out - www.youarethesupermodel.com

*if you like this review, check out the latest Advice Sisters What Works Beauty, Cosmetics & Fashion review column for FALL 2008--up NOW at http://www.advicesisters.net/whatworkscol3.html