Ezzy Got married 2 weeks ago at the Westin Key West Resort & Marina. Amanda and I got everyone ready in Ezzy’s suite and had a lot of fun making sure all the ladies looked absolutely beautiful.

Ezzy had a picture of  the hairstyle she had in mind and said she wanted her makeup to be glam. A girl after my own

 

 

As you can see Ezzy’s features are pretty amazing! I was just in love with her gorgeous eyes.

 

Notice how perfectly the false eyelashes enhance her shape.

Thank you so much Ezzy for trusting us with your hair and makeup. We loved being a part of your day and will never forget you either!!!

My long-time (and a favorite) client Jessica was sitting in my chair a few days ago getting her hair did, when I noticed her lovely fingers, or should I say finger nails. They were lacquered in a minty green shellac with little glittery particles sparkling all over. Ooooooooh…. :wub: She quickly gave me the lowdown.

Turns out she bought a few chunky glitter nail polishes on the Internet from a lady who mixes them by hand. Unfortunately, these polishes are barely available due to her mile-long waiting list. WHO HAS TIME TO WAIT? After doing a little research of my own, turns out mixing your own polish isn’t that complex… or so I thought.

My first mixing turned out great.  See photo on my FB page. Unfortunately, after a few days, I noticed the glittery particles in the bottle had completely lost their color. Blah. I found out later, the trick is to use Polyester particles. Those, my lovelies, are IMPOSSIBLE to find. I tore the Internet apart and came up with absolutely nada. I did, however, stumble upon Deborah Lippmann Glitter nail polish. THE END. I bought 5. Holla!

The formula

The formula thickness varies from polish to polish depending on the amount and size of glitter. 3 coats will give you the full effect.

The 5 of them dry reasonably quickly, although each additional coat added quite a bit of time.

The colors

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY is so much fun! It’s a clear nail polish with multi size and color glitters. I like one coat to give my nails just enough sparkle, but I can see how 2 or 3 layers would be great depending on your party mood.

 

 

CANDY SHOP is the one for you if you like pink and glitter!  The color pay off is pretty strong with lots of different glitter sizes and colors in the  mix. I love it!

 

 

MERMAID’S DREAM is sooooo pretty… Seafoam glitter base with gold microglitter and medium bright blue glitter. 3 coats will give you a gorgeous finish. The formula is a tad gritty. Nothing a top coat won’t fix.

 

 

GILTTER IN THE HAIR is for the girl in search of subtle and delicate. The baby blue base is very sheer, with light pink and light blue hex glitter and small, round glitter. The glitter is not really sparkly. I like it layered over my French Mani. Sublte is nice sometimes!

 

 

BRING ON THE BLING is the definition of chic! This is a wonderful polish if you just want a hint of color with some sparkles. It has a yellow undertone and layers best over warm colors. A keeper!

 

Chunky glitter polishes that aren’t packed with glitter are tricky to apply. And practice will defenitley help. The best way I found to apply is by placing small dots of polish onto the nail, and to lightly extend out. If you’re going for more than one coat, wait until the polish is completely dry. Otherwise, not only will it take forever to dry, but  you’ll also risk dragging particles from your first coat. Be patient and use a little electrical fans to speed things up.

Studio Marie-Pierre rating: A+

Deborah Lippmann polishe ($18) can be found at  Neiman Marcus . Nordstrom . Barneys New York . Bloomingdales . Holt Renfrew.

WHICH COLOR IS YOUR FAVE? :biggrin:

Inverted Fishtail braid into deliberately messy chignon

 Braids are classic, trendy, simple, elegant… and the list goes on. Have you noticed how much popularity  braids have gained lately?  Braids are forever chic and never go out of style.  Celebrities sports them in magazines and Red Carpet and have brought their popularity to an all time high it seems. And that’s a great thing in my book!

Braids can do everything from adding interest to an up-do to giving a hippie-chic twist to straight strands. There are MANY different types of braids and some of my favorites are the Boho braids especially when incorporated into soft, beachy romantic updo’s which are so perfect for Key West!  Here’s a few photos of some of my recent work. Different type of  braids requested recently by my brides and bridal parties.

Classic bun with a small braid wrapped around. This one was inspried after Molly Sims Wedding do.

 

Boho Style French Fishtail incorporated into a big bun

 

Inspired after Katniss in The Hunger Games — One of my fave!

 

 The gorgeous wavy waterfall braid.

 Are you a braid kinda girl?

 

 

I had so much fun with Shannon, oh my goodness, so much fun! Her style was right up my alley and I couldn’t get enough of her incredible blue eyes and peachy skin. Is it just me or does she resembles Jennifer Aniston?

Her makeup eye color was specifically chosen to enhance her goreous peeppers. Rosy cheeks to keep the freshness going with my all time favorite Nars Orgasm. I love a litle color on lips and this pink lipstick and lipgloss are just perfect.

 

(falsies are a must for all the brides :biggrin: )

Shannon had lots of hair and wanted to keep a realx feel to the overall look.
Congratulations Shannon it was so wonderful to be a part of your day!

I am a skin care fanatic! I love creams, lotions, potions, serums, cleansers, and anything with high-grade exfoliant power. Just recently, one of my local clients (thank you Elaine!) gave me a sample of Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment. I’ve seen it all over the Internet, but I’ve never gotten around to trying it.

Now, ExfoliKate is getting a lot of use in my bathroom.  A salicylic-based exfoliant designed to brighten and decongest, I put a small amount  on the tip of my finger and apply in circular motions.  ExfoliKate has scrubbing microbeads and three powerful enzymes – papaya, pineapple, and pumpkin – designed to effectively clean pores. I leave it on my skin for up to two minutes, sometimes longer, and then rinse it off. I also like to use it in the shower because steam helps activate the ingredients.

The smell is earthy and spicy and rather pleasant.

As a side note, I was a little concerned with irritation. Some of the reviews out there had strong warnings about intense stinging and burning sensations. I’m happy to report that I did not experience that whatsoever. However, for those of you with sensitive skin ExfoliKate Gentle Exfoliating Treatment may be a better option.

 

I use it a two to three times a week depending on how my skin looks and feels, and I’m really happy with the results. I think my skin glows brighter and definitely feels smoother after each use.

The price is killer – 2 oz. for $85 – but thankfully a pea size of the product goes a long way.

Studio Marie-Pierre rating: A

What skincare products have you been loving lately?

Melissa knew excactly what what she wanted for both her hair and makeup. Molly Sims inspried updo and very soft makeup with false eyelashes. She had come in for a trial a couple of month prior to her wedding.  I was looking forward to seeing her again on her big day.

Her wedding and reception took place at the Reach Resort in Key West March 10, 2012. I met her and her lovely mom in her room to get them both ready.

 

 

 I love the classioc chignon paired with a small braid. Braids are so in right now! The flowers add the perfect delicate touch to Melissa’s style.

Congratulations Melissa!!

 

We have some of the prettiest brides. Truly. And work with some phenomenal vendors. The outcome can only be spectacular, case in point Stephanie and Brian Key West Wedding video Filmed by the uber talented Michael LaFrance and crew.

 

Stephanie + Brian {Wedding Trailer} from LaFrance Films on Vimeo.

As you probably know from my past posts, this couple is close to my heart. When I watch this trailer I relive the experience all over again. Goose bumps!!