“I want to look like myself, but better.” - Every Bride Ever

“I want to look like myself, but better.”

By far the most common request I get from future brides! Makeup is anything but one size fits all and this description can mean something different for everyone. Essentially what they’re saying is they want to feel the prettiest they’ve ever felt without caking on the makeup. I hear you and I understand!

To get a feel for what someone may consider a more “made up” version of themself, I ask how you wear your makeup on a day-to-day basis and what you might do if you’re getting ready for a night out. Do you fill in your brows? Do you like eyeliner? Do you fill in your waterline? Are you a lipstick or lip gloss kind of girl?

The makeup application is about YOU and what makes YOU feel good. There are ways to sculpt and create new features using dramatic contouring, but my approach to bridal makeup is more about enhancing the features you already have. We take the best of the best and make them pop! This is what I consider to be timeless beauty.

Love your eye color and want them to stand out? We’ll use some color theory to pick eye shadows that will make the color even more intense. Then we’ll go a step further and pick a lash shape that compliments your eye shape!

Love your lips? Let’s add a little color to them! If you want them to look fuller we can use a contouring technique to give them more of a pouty effect without over-lining.

Take good care of your skin and want it to glow? You’re speaking my language! It all starts with proper skin prep and adding highlight in specific areas to catch the light in a flattering way.

I’m here to help guide you but ultimately my job is to make you feel the most beautiful you’ve ever felt on one of the best days of your life!

xoxo - Laura

2019 Holiday Wish List

The holidays and gift giving season is upon us! This time of year can feel overwhelming for a lot of people. Travel, family, and finances can leave you feeling spread thin, but I’m here to help! Instead of spending hours swatching, roaming, and scratching your head in Sephora trying to figure out what’s good, I’ve created my own holiday wish list that I know your daughters, friends, nieces, moms, sisters, cousins, and yes, even the men in your lives would love! Consider me your personal shopper this holiday season :) No more wasting your money on mediocre makeup and skincare. If you like the product but don’t want to buy a full collection, many of these are available for individual sale as well which will allow this list to fit many different budgets! Let’s dig in -

So freaking cute! The Ka-Lip-Oscope from LimeLife by Alcone is a trio of 2 lip glosses and a liquid lipstick that comes in the cutest packaging! You get to choose from 3 different color bundles - my personal favorite is option #2 with Macaroon, Grace, and Peace.

$34.00

https://www.limelifebyalcone.com/laurahendersonmakeup/product/LLH19LSCOPE?category=Holiday

I love Fenty Beauty glosses! They’re a high-gloss formula without the sticky feeling. This set gives you 5 shades including Fu$$y, Pretty Please, Hot Chocolit, Confetti, and Cheeky.

$42.00

https://www.sephora.com/product/glossy-posse-set-P449065?icid2=bestsellers:p449065:product

Hourglass Ambient Lighting blush has been a staple in my kit for years! It reflects light beautifully and is flattering on so many different skin tones! This year’s palette is called “Ghost” and trust me when I say it’ll be a hit with your luxury loving loved ones!

$58.00

https://www.sephora.com/product/ambient-lighting-blush-palette-ghost-P450081?icid2=top-rated%20by%20the%20community:p450081:product

Starry Eyes collection from LimeLife by Alcone is a great option for someone who loves the basics! This comes with a black waterproof eyeliner (my favorite!), best selling Perfect Mascara, clear eyebrow gel to tame those brows, and a professional eyelash curler. (Each of these products are available for individual sale)

$50.00

https://www.limelifebyalcone.com/laurahendersonmakeup/product/LLH19ESC?category=Holiday

LANEIGE lip products have become a hot commodity among my group of professional makeup artists and for a great reason! It works. They have a few different options but this one includes the Lip Sleeping Mask and their Lip Glowy Balm! Perfect for keeping your (I mean your friend’s) lips hydrated this winter!

$18.00

https://www.sephora.com/product/kiss-me-day-night-P450232?icid2=products%20grid:p450232

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Take a pause right here! I’ve been using this for about 2 weeks now and let me just say - you need it! The Dew Confidence oil not only hydrates your skin, but it helps tone and tighten your skin as well! Yes please. (This is also great for expecting mothers) And let’s not forget about the bath bomb! This little guy packs a punch with 9 drops of One Drop Wonder, a potent oil for hydration!

$74.00

https://www.limelifebyalcone.com/laurahendersonmakeup/product/LLH19FCC?category=Holiday

Don’t let the price tag scare you away, Sonia Roselli’s luxury skincare line is absolutely incredible! I use her entire line on myself and these two babies are pure gold. Especially for winter! Her Instant Exfoliation Spray is a liquid that you rub to remove any dead skin cells, but it also adds hydration instead of leaving your skin feeling tight. Water Balm is a 5-in-one product - moisturizer, toner/serum, day cream, night cream and makeup primer! It will help plump fine lines and leave your skin feeling baby-butt soft. Great for men and women!

$89.00

https://www.soniaroselli.com/collections/beauty-bundles-1/products/the-og-original-gangsters

This one is for the men in your life and it’s the mothership of manly products! The Game Face collection from LimeLife by Alcone includes Power Start face & body wash, Cool Down face balm, Charged Up shaving cream, and Farm to Tub charcoal body soap! If you don’t think he’ll use all of these they are available for individual sale…but he’ll use them all.

$58.00

https://www.limelifebyalcone.com/laurahendersonmakeup/product/LLH19MGFC?category=Holiday

Remember the excitement you had as a kid when you opened a present Christmas morning and it was EXACTLY what you wanted? The Riki Skinny mirror is that for teens and adults! I use this mirror every single morning getting ready, even while traveling. The lighting has different settings for brightness, it has Bluetooth that connects to your phone to take pictures, it comes with a magnifying mirror attachment, an attachment for your phone which is PERFECT if you do Facebook/IG lives or videos, and an adjustable stand. This was listed as one of Oprah’s favorite products this year! To celebrate it’s listed as 20% off through 12/2/19! Don’t walk, RUN! Then thank me later :)

Original: $194.00

Sale: $154.00

https://www.limelifebyalcone.com/laurahendersonmakeup/product/LLYAMRMO?category=Lighted%20Mirrors

Beauty Do's and Don'ts Before Your Wedding

IT'S THE FINAL COUNTDOWN *cue music* You're down to the last couple of weeks before you say "I do". While going over your checklist for the 3rd time, you come to realize that maybe, just maybe, you've been slacking a little bit on your own personal care because you've been busy DIYing the last few things for the wedding. But c'mon, wine and pizza are obviously the best options while staying up until 1am on a Wednesday painting candle holders with gold glitter for your centerpieces. And what's the big deal if you don't wash your face tonight? You're tired and just want to crawl in to bed.

I'm sure those center pieces are going to look AH-MAZING, but YOU are the bride and you will be the main focus at the wedding, not the small details you've spent hours and hours perfecting. So with that being said, I've created a list of common beauty mistakes brides make leading up to the wedding and how to prevent that dreaded "SOS" email to me the night before your wedding.

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Mistake #1: Waxing anything on your face within 72 hours of makeup application

Why is this a mistake? Makeup won't sit properly on freshly waxed skin. The area will be red and the makeup will break apart. You also run the risk of having a reaction to the wax and then we'll also have a breakout and/or rash to deal with.

How do I avoid this? Schedule your appointment about 3 days out from your wedding day.

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Mistake #2: Getting your first spray tan ever within a week of your wedding

Why is this a mistake? Because you could end up looking like a patchy Ooompa Loompa! You could also have a reaction to an ingredient used in the formula.

How do I avoid this? Get a spray tan 2-3 months out from the wedding to see how the color sets and if it becomes streaky. Once you find one you like, use that the week of your wedding.

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Mistake #3: Trying out a new facial the week of your wedding because your BFF swears by it

Why is this a mistake? Any time you try a new product on your face, you run the risk of breakouts and irritation.

How do I avoid this? Talk to your dermatologist or esthetician to see what facial/treatment would best suit your skin needs. Start treatments at least 2-3 months out from the wedding to give your skin time to adjust and see results.

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Mistake #4: Switching up your skincare routine

Why is this a mistake? The same reasoning applies as why you don't want to try a new facial right before a big event. You don't know how your skin is going to respond and many times you'll experience breakouts as your skin adjusts.

How do I avoid this? Talk to a professional several months out from the wedding to determine the best skincare routine for your skin type. Stick to that routine religiously leading up to your wedding day! Often times it takes several weeks before you can see dramatic results, but there are also things happening that you can't see, so be patient.

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Mistake #5: Eating pizza, fast food, and drinking alcohol because it's convenient and you "need a drink"

Why is this a mistake? Although it may be easy, greasy foods are likely to cause breakouts, you'll experience bloating, and alcohol will dehydrate your skin.

How do I avoid this? Stick to clean, unprocessed foods as much as possible! Limit your sugar intake, which also means limit the amount of wine you're drinking at 1am (I know, I know, please don't hate me!). Drink LOTS of water to keep your skin hydrated as well as eating water-rich foods like cucumbers and apples. If you haven't noticed yet, hydration is KEY!

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Mistake #6: Pimple popping

Why is this a mistake? Popping pimples is a great way to get an infection if your fingers are dirty as well as causing it to scab over.

How do I avoid this? Step away from the pimple! It's normal to get some breakouts when you're stressed, and I know it's a natural reaction to want to pop it, but the best thing you can do is keep your hands away from your face and leave it alone. It's easy for me to cover discoloration (red zits). What's not easy is trying to conceal texture. If it scabs over, it'll be much more noticeable.

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Mistake #7: Whitening your teeth the morning of the wedding

Why is this a mistake? Most whitening agents will leave white splotches on your teeth for several hours after use.

How do I avoid this? If you can afford it, whitening your teeth at the dentist is obviously going to be the best option. If you want to use white-strips, use them for a couple of weeks leading up to the wedding and then once more the night before the wedding. Avoiding liquids that stain your teeth like coffee and red wine is always helpful!

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Mistake #8: Not getting enough sleep

Why is this a mistake? Skin can become dehydrated and you'll start to notice bags or puffiness around your eyes.

How do I avoid this? "Beauty Sleep" is a real thing! Studies show that when you're in a deep sleep, your skin cells are actually regenerating at a faster speed. This means it'll help with skin elasticity, complexion, and discoloration.

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I know keeping up with everything can be a lot, but feeling your best and looking fab makes it all worth it! Soon enough you'll be relaxing on the beach with your hunny sipping on a margarita. Aww yisss.

xoxo - Laura

Ms. New Boudie

“It’s about doing something for yourself. For no other reason than you want to. It’s about reveling in yourself. Celebrating who you are and the power that you have. You have the freedom of choice, self-determination, and the ability to do anything you set your mind to.

From the moment you were born, society sends women a very clear but confusing message: Be pretty, but not too pretty. Everyone is allowed to look at you, but you aren’t allowed to like it. You have to be pretty in a certain way. Dresses are good, but mini-skirts are slutty. There are rules that don’t make any sense at all; they conflict and clash and make us doubt ourselves. But f*ck that noise. You can wear whatever you want. You can look however you want. You get to decide what makes you feel good, because it’s your body, your choice, your decision. ”

— Kate Connelly

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I've been wanting to write this blog post for a while but in light of everything that's happening in our country, I couldn't think of a better time than now! And PS, you CAN be a 10 with a flat chest. When I decided to pursue makeup artistry, I wanted to go in a direction I was passionate about. Yes, I love makeup and playing with products & colors, but there is so much more to it than that. As a bridal makeup artist, I've had the opportunity to work with some of the most amazing women. They trust me to make them feel their most beautiful on one of the biggest days of their life, and that's a responsibility I do not take lightly. About the same time I started my business I met a photographer whose main focus was maternity & newborn. I did makeup for a few of her maternity sessions and fell in love with her style of photography. When she told me she was going to start offering boudoir photography and wanted to team up I was excited, but I had no idea how much this would impact me on a personal level.

As I do with every client, I ask them to come with a clean face. No makeup. I find it incredibly interesting that whenever a client sits in my chair, whether it be a bride, bridesmaid, mother, etc they say at least one negative thing about themselves. More mature clients focus on their wrinkles and crows feet, others focus on their pesky breakouts, and some talk about discoloration. When it comes to boudoir though, it goes much deeper than that. Too many times I see and hear women say they'll book a shoot "once I drop a few pounds" or they don't want to because "I'm too old, it's for young people". And the ones that do decide to book a shoot make comments about how their body just isn't what it used to be after having 3 kids, or how they've put on a few pounds, or ask if I can cover their stretch marks. It makes me sad when I hear these words come out of women's mouths so often, but the more I thought about it the more I realized these thoughts are manifested because of the way society makes us think we should look.

When you step out of your comfort zone it feels as though your "flaws" are being lit up with a hundred red flashing arrows. Something I started noticing as I did more of these shoots is how many women went in to the shoot feeling self-conscious but came out feeling excited and liberated. The transformation that happened in such a short amount of time was night & day! Around this same time, I was in the middle of a fitness challenge and wanted to do something special to celebrate my hard work when I was done. I contacted Kate, friend and owner of Boudoir by Kate Juliet, and asked to book a session. Now don't get me wrong, I felt the nerves and the pressure to look my best, but I was excited! I trusted Kate and knew she would help calm my nerves. She looked at me like I was out of my mind when I started doing pushups and squats before we started LOL I had never done anything like this before - I wasn't married, or engaged, or even dating anyone. I did this because I wanted to do it for myself. I wanted to push, or more like shove, myself out of my comfort zone and do something that was solely for me. These photos weren't to impress a man, they were for me to love myself and all my flaws.

The song Try by Colbie Caillat resonates with me so much when it comes to this topic. After talking about what we do to impress or please other people (makeup, hair, nails, buying designer clothes), there's a line that says "Wait a second, why should you care what they think of you? When you're all alone, by yourself, do you like you?" Whoa. Do YOU like you? That can be a tough question to answer after spending so long being our own worst critic. Between Instagram/Instaglam, Facebook, YouTube, and all other social media platforms that only shows the best of the best, it can be easy to feel inadequate. This is why I love boudoir photography so much. No matter your insecurities, it gets you out of your comfort zone and allows you to see yourself in a way you may not have seen before.

I've done two boudoir shoots for myself now and I've come up with a list of my Top 5 Tips based on my own experiences:

1) Hire a photographer that specializes in boudoir: These aren't photos you want your best friend's cousin taking. We've all had a picture taken that was NOT flattering, then immediately untag ourselves from the post. Photographers that specialize in this area have done their research and have an eye for capturing your most flattering features. Also keep in mind this can be a very intimate experience and your photographer should handle it in a professional manor. Respecting your comfort level and the way they speak to you are both going to play a major role in your overall experience. If you feel more comfortable hiring a woman, do it! If you love a male photographer's work and want to hire him, do it! If you like the look of studio photos, don't hire someone who only does outdoor shoots. This is about you and your comfort level. Photographers that specialize in boudoir will also have a system in place for handling your photos with care. They'll be using trusted sources to develop the photos vs the teenager at Walmart.

2) Makeup: I may be biased on this one but I highly recommend getting your makeup done. In a lot of photos you'll be looking down, which means your lids and lashes are going to be a focal point. 

3) Stretch: I'm not kidding on this. Do it! You will be twisted like a pretzel the entire time, arching your back, and flinging your hair around. Try to incorporate a little yoga in to your daily routine leading up to the shoot. I made the mistake of skipping this step for my first shoot. I'm in the gym regularly and I was sore for a solid week.

4) Eat: As I just mentioned in Tip #3, you're essentially doing yoga the whole time, which is a workout! If you don't eat, you're likely to get light headed or weak. It doesn't have to be a big meal but get something in your stomach to give you energy.

5) Embrace the Experience: It's completely normal to feel nervous coming in to a photoshoot, especially one like this, but I encourage you to enjoy being pampered, rock the body suits, and let yourself live a little!

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BONUS! Top 10 Things Every Woman Should be Reminded of:

1) Everyone has rolls when they bend over.

2) When someone tells you you're beautiful, believe them. They aren't lying.

3) Sometimes we all wake up with breath that could kill a goat.

4) For every woman unhappy with her stretch marks is another woman who wishes she had them.

5) You should definitely have more confidence. If you saw yourself the way other see you, you would.

6) Don't look for a man to save you. Be able to save yourself.

7) It's okay to not love every party of your body, but you should never stop trying.

8) We all have that one friend who seems to have it all together. That woman with the seemingly perfect life. You may be that person to someone.

9) You should be a priority! You are not an option, a last resort, or a backup plan.

10) You're a woman. That alone makes you pretty damn remarkable.

xoxo - Laura

Top 10(ish) Drugstore(ish) Products Under $20(ish)

We've all been there - we're watching a YouTube tutorial on how to do a bomb smokey eye and then realize all the products being used add up to the down payment on a house. Now what?! 

I've come up with a list of my favorite products for under $20! But I gotchu, most of these are even under $10! The majority of these you can find at Target/Walmart, Ulta, and a couple you'll need to order online, but trust me when I say it's worth it! 

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When people talk about makeup they often forget one of THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS - skin prep! A hydrated, healthy base is going to make your foundation wear so much better throughout the day. Now let me preface this by saying I think if you're going to splurge on something, it should be skincare products. I would choose a solid skincare routine over the newest eye-shadow palette any day of the week! I also understand that sometimes that just isn't an option. I chose the brand No7 for several reasons but one of the things I like the most about it is they have different options depending on your skin type and what your skincare needs are. Everything is clearly labeled so it takes the guessing-game out of it. Here are my top 3 recommendations for skincare products:

1) $10 - No.7 Beautiful Skin Melting Gel Cleanser - the reason I love this cleanser so much is because it starts as a gel and turns in to a milk cleanser once you start rubbing it in to your skin. It does a great job of taking off makeup and gunk that's built up on your skin throughout the day! 

2) $15 - No.7 Beautiful Skin Day Cream - They have several different formulas depending on what type of skin you have. These day creams have SPF 15 which is really important to remember in your skin care routine! SPF is SO SO important to prevent wrinkles and protect your skin!  

3) $21 - No.7 Early Defense Premiere Defense Night Cream - This product is meant to help protect youthful skin. I love night creams because your skin cells regenerate when you're sleeping. It also doesn't hurt to get a little extra moisture as the air gets colder and dryer! Again, depending on what your skincare needs are they have several different types of night creams to choose from.

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Sticking with the face let's move on to foundation! L'Oreal has a line called Infallible that a lot of people love! 

4) $13 - L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Glow Foundation - This formula is great for those of you who love that healthy glow! It's ideal for people who tend to have skin that's more on the dry side of the spectrum.

5) $13 - L'Oreal Infallible Pro-Matte 24HR Foundation - The matte formula would be ideal for those of you who get oily throughout the day. 

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Once you have on your foundation you'll want to add some dimension back in to your face which is where your bronzers, highlighters, and blushes come in! 

6) $9 - NYX Matte Bronzer - When you're looking for a bronzer you'll want to get something that's matte. If it has shimmer in it it's going to make you look weird, trust me on this one. 

7) $15 - Benefit Hoola Matte Bronzer - If you're willing to spend a few more dollars, Benefit has a great bronzer! This shade works on most skin tones and goes on beautifully. You can find this at Ulta & Sephora.

8) $10 - Makeup Geek Blush - You have to order Makeup Geek products online, but trust me when I say it's worth the wait!! In my opinion, you won't be able to beat the price for the quality of products they provide. Think MAC, but half the price. 

9) $7 - Maybelline Master Strobing Stick - Okay, I'm going to be honest and say I haven't actually used this product BUT I love cream highlighters and this one got great reviews. Creamy highlighters wear beautifully and have a more natural look vs a powder (in my opinion). I like to rub some on to my finger and then pat it in to the high points of my cheekbones. 

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Moving along to the eyes! I'm incredibly picky when it comes to my eye products! I mean, the eyes are the window to the soul so they better look good! :P Ain't nobody got time to struggle with blending their shadows and crusty looking eyeliner. 

10) $6 - Makeup Geek Eyeshadow - YOU GUYS! These are my favorite eye shadows, hands down. They blend beautifully and are seriously pigmented. Remember when we were talking about those amazing blushes? Same brand. You truly cannot beat the price for the quality. Just don't forget to order a Z-Palette with them. They comes as singles so you can create your own eye shadow palette. 

11) $7 - Maybelline Eye Studio Lasting Drama Eyeliner - This is actually my first choice of eyeliner that I use on clients. It's smudgeproof, waterproof, and super black. The formula is nice n' creamy so it glides on nicely!

12) $10 - L'Oreal Telescopic Carbon Black Mascara - This is an oldie but a goodie for me! I've used this since high school and it's never done me wrong. 

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Lipsticks can be tricky. Some people want matte lips, some people want hydrating lipsticks, some people only like lipgloss, so I chose NYX as my product of choice for this category. I really like all 3 of their formulas!

13) $4-7 - NYX Lipsticks/Glosses

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BONUS! I'm going to do a separate blog post about brushes because there is a LOT to talk about but the tools you use to apply makeup makes a HUGE difference! Relatively speaking, on a budget, Sigma & Real Techniques would be my go-to brands for the basics. 

I hope this brings back some hope that you can achieve beautiful makeup looks without totally breaking the bank! Don't let the YouTube beauty bloggers fool you in to thinking you need the latest and greatest, most of the time they're paid to promote those products anyways.

If your makeup budget is a little bigger, I'll be doing another post soon about products that are more commonly found at places like Sephora or Nordstroms!

xoxo - Laura

Who's Laura and Why Should I Care What She Says?

Welcome back!!! I'm so excited to get my beauty blog back up and running! I blinked and a year has gone by since my last post. I've spent a lot of time thinking about what to talk about and in what order to share it. I received some amazing topic ideas from other lovers of beauty and can't wait to share my thoughts, but first I'd like to tell you a little about myself and my experience as a makeup artist so you can better understand where I'm coming from through these posts. So grab a cup of tea, get comfortable, and let's get this blog going!

For those of you who don't know me yet, I'm a 20-something entrepreneur that loves bright lipstick and has a burning passion to help women feel a sense of confidence they may not have felt before. I live a crazy, beautiful life in Virginia and have been here for about 5 years now. Seriously, I blinked and next thing I know it's been FIVE YEARS! I was born and raised in Idaho (not to be confused with Iowa and no, it's not next to Kansas) and in case you were wondering, I DO love all things potatoes - preferably in the form of hash browns and curly fries ;) While we're on the topic of carbs, my other passion in life is fitness. Between working full time, doing makeup for weddings on the weekends, and attempting to keep up with some sort of social life you'll find me at the gym 5-6 days a week. I love lifting, I love carbs, and I love feeling strong. Also, leggings ARE pants... :)

Alright, now that we've covered the basics, let's talk makeup. When I first started Laura Henderson Makeup 2 short years ago, I was still getting a feel for what direction I wanted to take my business. Do I focus on getting in to editorial type of work? Movies? Should I start a YouTube channel? Everyone loves YouTube, right? I could make millions! One of my best friends and roommate at the time specialized in hair for weddings (you've most likely seen her tagged in the majority of my IG photos as Kirsten Marie Design #dreamteam) who really piqued my interest in bridal work. In addition to that, my brother is a wedding photographer (Scott Henderson Photography) and I had friends in the wedding industry as well, so this seemed to make the most sense for me. In the 2 years I've been doing this, I've been blessed with truly THE most amazing brides and the people I've connected with in this industry blow me away with their talent, kindness, and drive to be the best they can be! #communityovercompetition

My brides - these women aren't just another client to me, I spend months communicating with my brides before the wedding, learn about their love story and help calm their nerves as they get ready for one of the biggest days of their life. Some have even become friends through the process! I've heard horror stories from other makeup artists working with bridezillas, but I can honestly say every single one of my brides has been a joy to work with! One of my favorite parts of the wedding morning is taking a photo with her once she's all glammed up. Why I thought this was a good idea to do after I've been working for hours and feeling a hot-mess is beyond me but I LOVE it!  

In my blog you're going to see me talk about affordable products, tips and tricks, how to do certain looks, products reviews, how to take care of your brushes, keeping your products clean, makeup trends, etc. but it's important to understand that there is a big difference between the every day products you may use and products used by professionals that are meant for HD and flash photography. When you have an event coming up, like your wedding for example, don't cut corners! This is not one of the things you want to cut out from your budget. I cringe every time someone who never does their own makeup asks me for advice on how to do their makeup on their wedding day, or when that 1 bridesmaid decides she's "just going to do her own makeup". PS, when you're the only one not getting makeup professionally done, you stand out like a sore thumb in pictures. 

Your makeup needs to last 8-12 hours through sweat, tears, dancing, getting smothered in cake and possibly even a champagne bottle exploding in your face (love you, Kirby! LOL). I also wouldn't recommend choosing your makeup artist by price shopping. You're spending a lot of money on a photographer to capture those special moments which will include your face in 90% of them; spend the money on an experienced makeup artist who's work you love and you know will make you look and feel your best on your big day. Find someone who really listens to what you want and communicates what your best options would be for your face shape/features. For brides it's all about finding ways to enhance your natural beauty! 

Now that we've gotten the introductions out of the way and you know a little bit about my story and how I got to where I am (and my short rant about skimping on your makeup budget), stay tuned for the fun stuff! We're going to keep it real here and talk about popular topics AND things that may not have even crossed your mind!

xoxo - Laura

Katelyn & Michael | Wedding

I had the absolute pleasure of doing Katelyn and her bridesmaids' makeup on her special day! It was hot and the weather was doing everything but cooperating, but everyone kept such a positive attitude and the rain held off just long enough for the "I do". 

MAKEUP ARTIST // Laura Henderson Makeup

HAIR STYLIST // Kirsten Marie Design

PHOTOGRAPHER // Photography by Marirosa

VENUE // Rust Manor House 

xoxo - Laura

Bridal Beauty

I had the opportunity to do a collaboration with some VERY talented women recently and the results are stunning. I love getting to let my creative juices flow and this photoshoot allowed me to do exactly that! We did a gorgeous purple smokey eye with big voluminous lashes *swoon*

MAKEUP // Laura Henderson Makeup

HAIR // Kirsten Marie Design

PHOTOGRAPHY // Traci J Brooks Studios

FLOWERS // Mel's Bells Wedding Flowers

xoxo - Laura

My Newest Adventure - Nerium!

Hello! Exciting things have been happening lately and I'm so excited to finally share it with all of you! I had a big long post I was about to make, but as the saying goes, a picture's worth a thousand words...and I have several! Nerium is a breakthrough skincare product that was discovered accidentally while doing research for cancer patients, but has had unbelievable results on people's skin. I'm very, very, very skeptical about these kinds of products and I'm extremely picky about what I put on my skin. After meeting people who have been using it for months & years and seeing their results, I had to try it for myself - I've always struggled with large pores and redness in my face. Nerium has a 5 Day Challenge where you get to try the product for free for 5 days and see the difference for yourself, at no risk to you. If you know me, you know I'm a go-big or go-home type of person. Since I knew I could return it and get all of my money back if I didn't like it, I ordered the combo pack which included all 3 of their products - night cream, day cream, and body firm (we'll get to that later!).

My 5 Day Challenge experience: By the second night of using it, I could see and feel and difference in the texture of my skin. The third night, my nose was completely smooth and my makeup went on flawlessly the next morning. I can't even explain to you the difference in my skin within a week. I didn't think an anti-aging cream would do much for me since I'm 23 and wrinkles aren't a concern of mine at this point, but my skin is GLOWING and my foundation lasts all day. I'm also using the Body Firm cream and will post my 30 day results next month. I've already seen results from this, but I want to give it the full 30 days recommended before giving a review.

After experiencing this product for myself, I wanted to tell all of my friends about it. It doesn't matter if you're young, old, male, female - everyone has had, currently has, or knows someone experiencing issues with their skin whether it be....

 *discoloration*

*wrinkles*

*fine lines*

*uneven skin texture*

*razor burn*

*loose skin from losing weight or pregnancy* (Nerium Body Firm)

*cellulite* - ladies, put me in a bath of Body Firm, amiright

If you want more information about the product and Nerium as a company, I'm not an expert but here's a short video that breaks it down for you: 

I'll be posting another exciting announcement here soon (OH BOY OH BOY!), but for now I just wanted to update everyone on my new adventure! Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or want to try Nerium for FREE for 5 days. I have a limited number of bottles on hand so first come first serve :) For all of you young entrepreneurs out there, you can request more info through http://lauralhenderson.neriumnextgen.com/

xoxo - Laura

Jes & Dean | Wedding

Hello! I am so excited to share these photos with you! Jes had a beautiful autumn wedding at King Family Vineyard in Crozet, Virginia and Nick & Erin Photography captured it perfectly. Her whole bridal party was such a delight to work with and I am so thankful I got to be a part of such a special day. Jes' energy and love for life is contagious! To see more amazing photos, check out www.donnerphotos.com! Hair for the bride and her bridal party was styled by the very talented Kirsten from Kirsten Marie Design :) 

xoxo

-Laura

Fall Favorites ♥

Happy Monday! I don't know about you, but fall is my absolute favorite season. There's something about the cool crisp air, scents of pumpkin spice, snuggling up in oversized sweaters, and trees painted orange red & yellow that makes my heart happy. 

I've had several requests for my favorite fall makeup looks, so here are two different easy styles that will go with pretty much any scarf, sweater, or hat you choose :)

#1 is a very natural look, focusing on your skin. As the weather changes, your skin is more prone to dry spots. Dry skin will cause your foundation to get flaky or break apart throughout the day, which isn't a cute look on anyone. To help avoid this, make sure you're using a moisturizer before bed and in the morning after washing your face. My favorite is Dramatically Different Moisturizing Gel from Clinique. I also like to use my Clarisonic Mia 2 at night, then apply a special night cream meant for deep moisturizing. 

I prefer a luminous foundation, especially during these colder months. It'll give you a natural looking glow and make your skin looks fresh and healthy. Add a highlighter to the tops of your cheek bones, under your eyebrows, and across the bridge of your nose. I use Laura Mercier's Matte Radiance Baked Powder - goooorgeous! I added a touch of MAC's Matte Bronzer under my cheek bones, but use a light hand. Remember, we're going for a fresh, natural look! For my eyes, I used warm and neutral browns from my Morphe warm palette to add depth paired with either brown or black eyeliner. For this look, I used a black eyeliner pen and smudged it out to keep everything looking soft. I added a nude lipstick and clear gloss for my lips, then sprayed my whole face with MAC Fix Plus to set everything.

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#2 I wanted to add some color, so I did a darker smokey eye with a bright red lip. I used the same face prep as described in look #1 as well as the same browns, but added a little black in my crease & lower lash line and used a gel liner. I know black can look scary on your brush, but use a light hand when applying and blend it out for a dramatic crease. The key is to keep it in the outer corner of your crease and blend, blend, blend. Then blend some more.

I recently discovered Revlon's Colorstay Overtime lip color and have mixed feelings about them. Some colors are perfect and stay put for hours and hours and hours. Others tend to break apart and get flaky. I think the key is having moisturized lips, but not to the point where if you kiss someone, they'll slip right off your lips. BUT, if you're trying to save money and get a long-wearing lipstick, I would recommend them. Well worth the money ($8.00), but may take trial and error to find what works best for you. I've started using Mary Kay's Lip Mask to smooth out my lips then applying the Lip Moisturizer before starting my makeup to give it a chance to hydrate my lips. I'm wearing Ultimate Wine for this look - perfect shade for a warm deep red. 

Dramatic Smokey Eye - Step by step

To give my skin a glowing effect, I mixed MAC Studio Fix foundation with MAC Strobe Cream. Strobe cream is perfect for brightening your skin if you look or feel tired. To conceal any dark areas under my eyes, I use NYX concealer and set it with Laura Maurcier Secret Brightening Powder. To contour, I used MAC Matte Bronzing powder under my cheek bones and blush by Benefit in the shade Coralista. My favorite highlighting powder is from Laura Mercier which I use on the tops of my cheek bones and just under my eyebrows. I also put a dab of it on the inner corners of my eyes to make them appear bright since my eyeshadow was so dark. Since I went more dramatic on my eyes, I wanted to keep my lips fairly neutral. I used Bobbi Brown brightening lip gloss in the shade Pink Opal. 

Once everything is all done, I always always always set my makeup with Urban Decay's Chill Makeup Setting Spray.