REAL BRIDES: KRISTINA!

One of our beautiful spring brides, Kristina, sent us a few photographs from her special day. We absolutely loved working with Kristina and her bridesmaids! 

Kristina + Sarah placing the veil!

Kristina adding some sparkly touches! 

Beautiful makeup + more jewels!

Bride + sister, Kasie

Pretty lady before her walk down the aisle!

Hair : Sarah Bell

Makeup: Kaitlin Candella

Location: Amber Grove, Moseley, VA

Photographer: Laura Gordon Photography 

THANK YOU Kristina & CONGRATULATIONS! 

xo,

AVE 42

PRO PICKS: 5 FAVORITES WITH NATALIE GORDON

We are extremely excited to have Natalie contributing to our blog this week! In case you didn't know, Natalie is the founder & genius behind Avenue 42, and works with brides and clients on a daily basis as our lead make up artist. She's also our spray tan & eyelash extension guru, just to name a few of the many skills under her belt. You would think she grew up dreaming of being a makeup artist with how much success and skill she has gained in the beauty and bridal industries alike, but Natalie actually was planning a career in law before getting started with makeup! Check out her beauty must-haves below!

1) Trader Joe's 'A Midsummer Nights Dream Cream': "People who know me know I am a moisturizer fanatic. There is nothing worse than a body lotion that leaves you sticky or greasy; equally annoying is a lotion that disappears and leaves your skin feeling thirsty. This product has been a favorite of mine for about 5 years. It's fragrance-free and super moisturizing all year round! It is great for eczema sufferers too!"

2. Kevyn Aucoin Brow Pencil: "This superfine mechanical pencil lets you define the brows without looking overdone. It's better than using an eyeshadow to fill in brows because it lasts without smudging or smearing. (That's an extra bonus in this 100 degree heat!)"

3. Temptu AIRpod Collection: 'An at-home airbrush system that requires zero cleaning and is user friendly? A makeup that lasts for hours through sweat and rain? Need I say more?"

4. Elemis Tri-Enzyme Resurfacing Facial Cleanser: "I suffer from rosacea, cystic acne, and have uber-sensitive skin. YUCK! I need a daily cleanser that can remove makeup and oil gently, exfoliate without scrubbing, and kill bacteria. Voila!"

5. Carmex Lip Balm: "I know, I know. People either love it or hate it. Like I mentioned before, I am prone to acne. Many lip balms contain waxes and oils which can cause breakouts around my mouth. Gross! Carmex contains salicylic acids which kills bacteria. I don't think I could go without this product for very long!" 

Natalie at the Avenue 42 studio!

A big THANK YOU goes out to Natalie for providing us with some insight on a few of her favorites. Make an appointment with Natalie at our Richmond location for make up, lashes, or spray tanning for a special night out or just to treat yourself! You will not be disappointed! 

XO,

AVE 42

"BEAUTY BOXES": GUILTY PLEASURE FOR PRODUCT JUNKIES

We've all done it-splurging on hair products or makeup that we just don't need but rather desperately want to look pretty next to all of the other gems on our bathroom shelves. Some of us seek out products that we see on the pages of magazines, some of us simply buy these often high-priced items out of curiosity only to experience disappointment of said product not being all it was cracked up to be after shelling out a pretty penny. However, a trend that emerged a few years ago is still proving to be a less expensive way to curb an often pricey habit. What is it you might ask? They're called "Beauty Boxes", and there's one out there designed just for whatever type of beauty habit you might have!


These parcels of splendor arrive right at your door, typically brimming with the newest products from well-known lines, and often are filled with newer lines you've never heard of marketing the product that inevitably brings them cult status in the beauty world.


What you should know is that the arrays of sample-sized products vary from month to month, and from company to company. The brands may stay similar, but the product selection is not always the same. It's an easy way to test out new products without ever having to step foot inside of a store, and without having to waste money on a full-size item before you have had the opportunity to try it. Several of the companies offering this service have a questionaire you can fill out before shelling out the dough for  their monthly offering to curtail what sort of samples they include to your specific taste.


We love Birchbox, whom are the pioneers of this "subscription beauty" service (their "discover your next everything" tagline says it all). Other companies such Julep Maven cater to those obsessed with all things pertaining to nail polish and manicures, and there's even a brand specifically for the luxury brand coveter, BeautyBar.com, who's "Sample Society" package will send you on a monthly sensory overload of to-die-for goodies.

Could life get an easier? We didn't think so.

XO,
Ave 42

NEW AT AVENUE 42: KEVYN AUCOIN BEAUTY

We've said it before and we will say it again: the team at Avenue 42 is highly dedicated to bringing the best of everything to our clientele-which is why we are absolutely thrilled to now offer Kevyn Aucoin Beauty at our Richmond location! We have spent countless hours trying to find the perfect makeup line that captures the essence of everything we believe in, and we could not be any more ecstatic about this perfect fit!

"That's why I began doing makeup in the first place; I was hoping that through helping people see the beauty in themselves, I could try to find it in me." - Kevyn Aucoin

Aucoin launched his namesake line in 2001, at the height of what had already become an absolutely illustrious career. After moving to NYC in 1983, Aucoin started out by offering his services to test models for various agencies throughout the city. Shortly thereafter, he was discovered by VOGUE and began working with them on a regular basis. He was well known for defining how makeup was both made and used by skin tones verses ethnicity, and firmly believed a woman was empowered through revealing her natural beauty rather than covering it up. 

His laundry list of celebrity clients ranged anywhere from one of his childhood idol's; Cher to Martha Stewart, as well as many top models of his time including Cindy Crawford. His work has also graced the covers of some of the worlds most well known publications, such as Cosmopolitan and the aforementioned Vogue. 

Several of these top-of-the-line products have reached cult-status, including gracing Allure Magazine's "Best of Beauty" list several years in a row for its one of a kind eye-lash curler. 

Stop by to learn more from one of our talented makeup artists and try out some of these simply amazing products! 

           www.kevynaucoin.com

xo,

Ave 42

NEW AT AVENUE 42: TEMPTU AIRpod COLLECTION!

The Temptu AIRpod collection hit our shelves this week, and we could not be any more excited to bring this amazing brand to Richmond! Temptu, the industry leader in Air-Brush makeup, launched its consumer brand in 2009 and more recently updated this amazing system in the fall of 2012. We still can't get enough of it! 

This system offers easy, camera-ready results in just minutes, with absolutely NO MESS, and minimal steps. Each formula is encapsulated in a "pod" which can easily be popped on and

off the application wand. Bacterial contaminations that typically occur when using brushes or sponges for a traditional make up application are essentially eliminated through using their perfectly pigmented foundation, blush, and highlighting pods. AIRpod makeup is also oil free, dermatologist reccomended, and hypoallergenic. Traditional foundations can settle into pores and crease, but this patented SILKsphere technology sits on top of the skin creating an absolutely flawless finish. Did we mention it also packs up nicely for travel?

Find tips and tricks, and a ton of great video how-to's on their website, www.temptu.com. Their website is jammed packed with useful information, including the "get the look" feature that is updated frequently with new, exciting looks for you to try at home, which includes this pretty face from the BCBG S/S 2013 NYFW show!

Drop by our studio today to check out this beautiful collection, as well as our other new additions! 

xo,

AVE 42

PRO PICKS: 5 FAVORITES WITH KAITLIN CANDELLA

One of Avenue 42's very own is sharing her 5 Favorites with us this week! Stylist (and makeup artist!) Kaitlin Candella joined Avenue 42 at the beginning of this year after re-locating from NYC! She has trained under some pretty epic editorial stylists, educated for many well known beauty brands, as well as worked with many of NYC's prestigious clientele. Some of her accolades include working at the 2011 Tony Awards, as well as New York Fashion Week. We are more than happy to have her here with us, and hope you enjoy learning about some of her favorite products! 

Kaitlin working with a rogue ballerina...

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 1) Kimia, Kimia Exquisite Rejuvenation FacialSystem, $138, www.mykimia.com "this tightens my skin but leaves it soft, and minimizes pores-amazing!"

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2)Ellis Faas, Creamy Lips in L101 "Ellis Red", $35 www.ellisfaas.com; "this is the PERFECT shade of red I have always been on the hunt for. Not to mention-it doesn't bleed and wears all day"

3) Kiehls, Kiehls Superbly Efficient Anti-perspirant & Deodorant, $19.50, www.kiehls.com; "I have used this for 5 or 6 years now and still LOVE IT! It is scent free, leaves my 'pits super soft and dry"

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4) "Itasca" by Lubin Parfums, $120, www.lubin-parfum.fr "this scent is actually unisex! It has a super clean woodsy smell, I am a sucker for cedar!"

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5) Peter Thomas Roth "Lashes to Die For", $22, www.sephora.com "This is my favorite part of putting on my makeup everyday!"

THANK YOU for sharing with us Kaitlin!

xo,

AVE 42

BORN IN THE USA: Our Favorite American Beauty Brands

We are so thankful to have the freedom to have amazing jobs in an amazing industry that we are passionate about. What would be a better day than the Fourth of July to take a step back and celebrate some of our favorite American-bred beauty brands.  Here's a look at some of America's finest:

Burt's Bees, created by Burt Shavitz and Roxanne Quimby originating in Maine in the 1980's, the company was started when Roxanne started making candles from Burt's left over beeswax. The brand then grew to incorporate more than over 195 products for beauty, personal hygiene, and babycare.

Tarte founded by Maureen Kelly in NYC; where she left her PHD program to start her brand. Kelly was a self-professed beauty product junkie previous to the creation of her line. Tarte can now be found in many prestigious stores across the board, but Maureen can thank Henri Bendel for being the first store to carry her line. 

RMS Beauty Rose Marie Swift is the genius behind this organic and colorful cosmetic line. Her nearly 20 years of experience in the beauty industry fueled the vision behind this celebrity makeup artist's line. RMS is created hydrate and illuminate skin, and is dedicated to changing the way women use makeup. Each product is toxin-free and designed to nourish and heal. 

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics Founded by David Klasfeld; his admitted beauty obsession ultimately turned into the creation of his brand for both the quality and color conscious. This brand is stands behind being 100% cruelty free and strives to use the finest ingredients available. OCC's "Lip Tar" has become an overnight cult classic for both consumers and makeup artists all over the globe. 

We hope you enjoy these brands as much as we do and are wishing you a happy and healthy 

Fourth of July!

xo,

Ave 42

Avenue 42 Celebrates: 100 Brides & 1 Year Studio Anniversary!

We would LOVE to congratulate our team on booking over 100 weddings for 2013! We are so proud of our amazing stylists, makeup artists and support staff for making this all possible; not to mention a HUGE THANK YOU to all of our beautiful brides!

If you are planning on booking with us for an upcoming wedding, we would love to share some useful information with you to make this aspect of your wedding planning as easy as possible!

The ladies of Avenue 42!

BOOKING: All booking inquiries should be directed to our booking manager, Diane Eppers. Diane helps each and every bride with the logistics of booking artists from our team! She will carefully match you with a stylist/makeup artist to complete your look on your big day. It is best to have as close to an exact number as possible of the amount of people in your bridal party receiving services on the wedding day to ensure each and every person is given the highest level of service possible.

TRIAL: We highly recommend doing a bridal trial! Even the most relaxed brides should take the time to consult with their hair and makeup team before their day of. This appointment is completed in-salon by the stylist/makeup artist that will be with you on the day of your wedding. The trial gives you time to get to know your stylist and to work together to achieve your desired look as well as offers a bit of piece of mind that you will not encounter a hair and makeup nightmare on your big day.

MAINTENANCE: All of our hair and makeup team are professionals! Each artist works closely with the technical aspects of their respective trades on a daily basis. Refer to your stylists advice on when to color or cut your hair before your special day. Your makeup artist can suggest what sort of preparation may be necessary for your skin.

NEXT STEP: After your trial is completed, you can then move forward with the booking process. A contract and deposit are required to secure our team for your big day. Your contract will arrive via email, and your deposit can be taken care of through our booking manager or in-salon on the day of your trial. We do suggest moving quickly with booking, especially during peak wedding season.

TIPS FOR YOUR HAIR AND MAKEUP TRIAL:

• If you are doing a makeup trial, it is best to arrive with a clean face. Makeup is often hard to completely remove with facial wipes/makeup remover and may often leave a residue on the skin.

• Wear a top that is similar in color to your gown! This will give you as well as your makeup artist a better idea of how your makeup will look against your gown.

• Leave enough time before your last brow/facial waxing appointment for your skin to return to its normal state. We do NOT suggest waxing right before your makeup trial. Give it at least 24 hours!

• Be as close to as tan as you would like to be on your day of. If you are planning on receiving a spray tan before your big day, we suggest doing a trial spray tan a few days before your bridal trial. 

• Preferences for hair preparation vary with stylist. Some stylists prefer hair that has been washed a day before, and some prefer to wash and set your hair before completing your style. When booking your trial, be sure to ask what your stylists preference is!

• If you have any allergic reactions to makeup, please notify us before your appointment time. Please specify the items you are allergic to and how severe your allergies are.

• If using a hair embellishment, it is always best to bring it with you. Any hair stye up or down can be completely structurally changed when adding a comb, headband, or clip. We would like to make sure your style is as secure as possible on the day of your trial so we can replicate the look on the day of. If you change your mind between the time of your trial and the time of your day of, let your stylist know!

• Bring any jewelry and accessories you plan on wearing on the day of your wedding. Earrings and necklaces can often be hidden by certain hairstyles, and we would like to ensure your special accessories are visible if this is the look you desire.

We ALWAYS welcome new brides and clients! Contact our booking manager, Diane, with Bridal inquiries at Diane@ave42.com, or contact our studio for regular appointments and additional information at 804.303.3139.

xo,

Ave 42