Here is some info on the couple from her site:

Rachel – I’m currently a student at Union University working on getting my Bachelor of Science in Nursing. In my scarce free time, I am a hobbyist photographer and enjoy spending time with my husband, Gregory. One of our favorite activities is swing dancing – we actually got to know each other when partnered together at a swing dance class in college.

Gregory – I studied music in college and began playing professionally after I graduated. Along the way I also taught myself to program, and now spend a lot of my working as a freelance software engineer. In my downtime, I love enjoying fine food and drink with my family and friends.

Let’s start with looking at where cosmetics are available for purchase:

The Drugstore

This includes your corner drugstores as well as larger stores like Walmart and Target. Here you will find many consumer brands and all the products you could need for a full personal makeup kit. There is also tools, brushes, and accessories like false lashes. Everything is categorized by type i.e. eye shadows with eye products, lip colors all together, etc. One of the pros about drugstores is that the items are inexpensive. So if you are trying out a new color or product type, there is little risk. These stores are also open very late, so you can grab something in a pinch pretty much any time of day or night. Biggest down sides to drugstores is that you can’t test anything out before you buy it. So that dream-mousse-whipped-fancy pants-looked nice on tv-foundation could turn out to be a flop, and you just lost your $10. Since there are no salespeople, there is no one available to ask questions about a product either. The other crummy thing is that majority of the brands carried in drugstores are not of great quality. They have a lot of fillers such as talc, so essentially you are paying for chalk and very little pigment. Drugstores are great for temporary products, such as mascara, and for one time use items like hot pink glitter eye shadow for a New Year’s party.  Overall, I wouldn’t build my entire makeup kit from the drugstore.

The Counters

All department stores have a cosmetic section with several counters. Each brand is clearly labeled and carries multiple products in each category. You could build and entire kit from one line, or mix & match from multiple lines. Counters carry brands that are higher quality than drugstores and therefore a bit more expensive. The packaging is nicer and the product lasts longer. Counters are run by salespeople that can aid you in sampling a particular shade or they can give you a full makeover. It’s a great opportunity to try out the items before committing. The problem though, is that counters are run by Salespeople. Their job is to meet a quota set for them by the store so they will try to sell you the newest/holiday/limited edition/whatever works/ items. Chances are, if you are a woman 55 or over who rarely wears much on her eyes and has difficulty applying eye liner, you are not in need of a electric blue liquid liner. But one convincing chat with a salesgirl and you’ll walk out of that store with ten liners in various shades that you will never use. Also, the salespeople tend to be well versed in one line. Which means if there is a better item for you at another counter, you’ll never know about it because your salesperson doesn’t know and wouldn’t tell you even if they did.

Free standing stores

Free standing stores like Sephora are ideal for offering options for every person looking to purchase makeup. They carry several lines and all are of high quality. You can sample products on your own or ask a sales person for help. Scheduling an appointment for a full makeover can involve trying products from various lines all at once. The prices vary between lines, allowing everyone to find a good fit for their budget without sacrificing quality. If you purchase an item and decide later after using it that it isn’t a great fit for you, bring it back! They will refund you or help you find a replacement. The biggest issue with a store like Sephora, is that it can be very overwhelming. There are lots of lights, colors, shiny things that a person can become extremely overstimulated quite quickly. It’s not a store for browsing, but more suited for a hunt. You can walk in, go straight to a salesperson and say “I need…” and they will help you find it. Because they are not paid on commission, there isn’t the pressure of adding items to your purchase to satisfy their quotas.

Boutiques

Nashville has several options for getting the Sephora experience with multiple lines and educated salespeople, but on a smaller more manageable scale. Private Edition, Woo Cosmetics, and Cosmetic Market are a few. All the benefits of shopping at Sephora, but without the inevitable brain explosion. You can also find luxury lines at these locations that command big dollars, but invoke envy from all the other ladies in the YMCA locker room as you powder your nose with Sisley after spin class.

Part 2 of Makeup Shopping will discuss must have basics and the “absolutely do not no matter what” buy list.

For your makeup needs, contact Nashville Makeup Artist, Amy Lynn Larwig, for more information

Image by Caroline Tran

Image by Clayton Austin

Image by Simply Bloom Photography

Image by Brandon Kidd

Image by Three Nails Photography

Images by Blushing Bride Studio

So what do you do
When somebody you’re so devoted to
Suddenly just stops loving you
And it seems they haven’t got a clue
Of the pain that rejection is putting you through
Do you cling to your pride
And sing ‘I will survive’
Do you lash out and say ‘How dare you leave this way?’
Do you hold on in vain as they just slip away”

Let’s be real. Back in 1998, Mariah Carey wasn’t singing about her lost love. She was pining for mascara that stayed put all day and didn’t leave her with black circles around her eyes by 3pm! Many women face this problem daily and it becomes a source of great distress and nothing seems to be a great fix. Well there are a few reasons your mascara may be making a run for it.

Your eye cream. Many eye creams have oils in them that will eat your mascara. Many mascaras contain lanolin, mineral oil, linseed oil, or a variety of other oils. And since oil breaks down oil, your eye cream may be responsible for the slip and slide happening around your eyes. Look for an oil free formula, or skip the eye cream in the morning.

Your concealer. Under eye darkness is one of the biggest concerns I hear about. So of course, many ladies opt to use concealer under their eyes. Unfortunately many concealers act the same way as eye cream by using their oils for evil, smudging mascara all over. Make sure after you apply your concealer, you powder that area to set it and provide a barrier from your mascara.

Oily lids. Some ladies just have oily skin, which means their eye lids turn to creasy greasy messes. If you notice creases on your top lid and mascara smudges underneath, this could be you. Using an eye primer will provide a matte surface for your eye products and keep that oil from coming through.

Crummy mascara. I am not a proponent of spending $30 on mascara. Drugstore brands are just fine for daily use. But if you find a particular brand consistently slides on you, but others don’t, then by all means, switch brands! Waterproof mascaras should only be used when the possibility for crying, intense sweating, or water activities is inevitable. It is too tacky for everyday use and will end up breaking your lashes if you wear it too often. Regular formulas are best for daily use and there are definitely some solid brands at your local drugstore.

After examining which of these culprits could be leaving you raccoon eyed, it’s easy to see what steps to take to eliminate the problem.

For your makeup needs, contact Nashville Makeup Artist, Amy Lynn Larwig, for more information // Image by Phindy Studios

Photography – Micah G Robinson // Venue – Mint Springs Farm  // Event Coordinator – Michelle Soll {Burlap And Brooches} // Hair & Makeup – Stephanie Russell // Cake – Darlenes Kakes // Dress – Modern Trouseau Nashville // Tuxedo – J. Michaels Clothiers // Rentals & Details – Chef Penelope & Music City Tents & Events // Floral Design – Vintage Florals // Invitations & Designs – Elizabeth Hardin {Hardink Calligraphy}