Beauty post by Basma Masri | Creams!

Creams Are Not Only To Moisturize!

We are all used to using creams to moisturize our face, neck, and body. But we are forgetting that other cream products exit for other beauty purposes, such as adding color to our eyes, cheeks and lips!

Especially for brides, this is a great staying power beauty tip; Use cream based eye shadows, blushes and lipsticks to create a base for any powder based product that is coming on top of the cream product. Your eyes will crease less, you wont have to apply a primer, and your makeup will last longer.

What is great about cream based products is that they work for every skin type. So if there is a color that you like, don’t be afraid to just buy it and enjoy it. My advice, try shades of reds and pinks.



Basma is Revlon's Ambassador and Makeup Artist in the Middle East and the founder of the beauty label B. beautiful. Basma is the beauty contributor to Absolute Precision.

Follow Basma on Twitter for more of her tips! @bbeautiful_me

Beauty & Make-up post by Basma Masri

Creams Are Not Only To Moisturize!

by Basma Masri

We are all used to using creams to moisturize our face, neck, and body. But we are forgetting that other cream products exit for other beauty purposes, such as adding color to our eyes, cheeks and lips!

Especially for brides, this is a great staying power beauty tip; Use cream based eye shadows, blushes and lipsticks to create a base for any powder based product that is coming on top of the cream product. Your eyes will crease less, you wont have to apply a primer, and your makeup will last longer.

What is great about cream based products is that they work for every skin type. So if there is a color that you like, don’t be afraid to just buy it and enjoy it. My advice, try shades of reds and pinks.



Basma is Revlon's Ambassador and Makeup Artist in the Middle East and the founder of the beauty label B. beautiful. Basma is the beauty contributor to Absolute Precision.

Follow Basma on Twitter for more of her tips! @bbeautiful_me

Rain... on your wedding day!

What is every bride's number one nightmare? Surely rain!

We believe that there is a silver lining to every cloud, and can't help but think that how lovely umbrellas and a light drizzle can be for a wedding, especially for the wedding pictures...!

Stop worrying, we say, and embrace what nature gives you on your big day... huddle close with your hubby as he holds your first make-shift shelter (an umbrella!) over your head...

Here is our rain inspiration... tell us what you think!

Every rain cloud brings a rainbow...

Something borrowed, something blue?

Urban brides - bold and beautiful in the rain!

Green umbrellas make for beautiful color accents!

Bride and bridesmaids... lovely in monochrome and pastels!

Destination wedding of the week: Santorini

We love the idea of a white wedding against the beautiful backdrop of Santorini...
What is your dream destination to tie the knot?
 Keep reading the blog for more destination wedding ideas from the absolute team!

Let them eat cake!

The wedding cake is an iconic element in any wedding, and it is exciting to see the creative and innovative wedding cake ideas at weddings today... Long gone are the days of 3-tier white cakes and here are the days of cupcakes, macaroons and fireworks!

Here are some cakes we love... which do you want to cut into with your Mr Right?

Beauty & Make-up post by Basma Masri

We're excited to introduce our weekly Beauty and Make-up tips, from none other than the lovely Basma Al Masri. Basma is Revlon's Ambassador and Makeup Artist in the Middle East and the founder of the beauty label B. beautiful. She will be providing us with bridal beauty and makeup tips and tricks starting today. Be sure to tell us in the comments: What beauty or make-up tips do you want more of? - absolute team

"Your face is a canvas!" - Basma Masri

Prep and Prime!
by Basma Al Masri

When applying your makeup, there is a very important step prior to that; prep and prime.

I am sure you heard this a lot before, your face is your canvas, and it really is! If your canvas is not prepped well to welcome color on it, then your painting will not look polished. The same is applicable to your skin, if it is not prepped well, then your makeup will not only not look polished, but it won’t last as much, and it won’t look as fresh.

When it comes to your skin, make sure you prep it well; it must be well cleansed and moisturized according to your skin type (not your sister’s or friend’s). Then start priming it; apply a primer all over your face (either a clear primer or a color suitable to your skin). Let it sit in for a few seconds before applying your foundation.. and then makeup away.

Follow Basma on Twitter for more of her tips! @bbeautiful_me

Life's a Beach...

A common dream wedding venue is the beach, and in our region, we are especially lucky to be blessed with so many sandy beaches... If you're thinking about saying your "I love you"s as man and wife on a sandy shore while waves crash, then there are the top three things to keep in mind to make sure it stays romantic, whimsical and fun.

The weather: The best times for this are November to January, and then March and April, as the air will be humid-free and crisp and chances of rain are slight... The breeze will be lovely and add so much to the mood...

The dress: Make sure the dress you select is beach-appropriate... think lighter fabrics and lose the train! Compensate with a gorgeous veil and keep the make-up light and natural!

The photography: Sunset photographs will capture your wedding forever. Make sure your photographer is ready for the perfect snaps, as well as you, the groom and anyone else who you want in those pictures!

The first dance...

There is that one moment that defines a wedding, the start of a marriage, and that private moment between two people hopelessly in love, surrounded by friends and family... the first dance. Some couples have that one song which defines their relationship, but for many, the choice is wide and not always easy... One of our favorites is the quirky but sweet one from Jack Johnson... have a listen here:

To help you make a decision, these are 30 of our favorite songs to for couples to start their life together with... what first song will you dance to as man & wife?

1. Marry You - Bruno Mars 
2. Accidently In Love – Counting Crows
3. For Once In My Life - Stevie Wonder 
4. Everything – Michael Bublé
5. At Last – Etta James
6. (I Can’t Help) Falling In Love With You – UB40
7. It Had To Be You - Harry Connick Jr
8. Cupid - Sam Cooke
9. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) - James Taylor 
10. More Than Words – Extreme
11. She - Elvis Costello
12. Just Say Yes - Snow Patrol
13. Stand By Me - Ben E King
14. The Way You Look Tonight – Frank Sinatra
15. Truly Madly Deeply - Savage Garden
16. Unforgettable - Nat King Cole
17. Chasing Cars - Snow Patrol
18. What A Wonderful World - Louis Armstrong
19. Crazy Little Thing Called Love - Queen 
20. Wonderwall – Oasis
21. Yellow – Coldplay
22. You're Beautiful - James Blunt
23. You're The First, The Last, My Everything - Barry White
24. Your Song - Ellie Goulding
25. You Do Something To Me - Paul Weller
26. Make You Feel My Love - Adele
27. Higher Love - James Vincent McMorrow
28. Better Together - Jack Johnson
29. I'm Yours - Jason Mraz
30. Iris - The Goo Goo Dolls

Once in a while...

"Once in a while, 

Right in the middle of an ordinary life, 

Love gives us a fairy tale."

Runway Brides... New York Fashion Week

New York Fashion Week... four words that make every fashionista weak at the knees!

For us, nothing makes us tingle more than the perfect wedding dress, the element that brings a wedding together and the first dress the bride will wear as a married woman... arguably the most romantic item of clothing a girl will ever own or wear!

We couldn't contain our excitement when we heard that Project Runway's Season 5 winner Leanne Marshall  would be showcasing her Spring/Summer 2013 bridal collection at NYFW. Even more intrigued were we when we heard she had been inspired by none other than the most common of vegetables: the cabbage! 

What do you think? Can you see yourself making your grand entrance as Mrs. in one of these?

The green-hued cabbage creation

A vision in white - it doesn't get more romantic than this!

Ethereal and light - for a daytime wedding perhaps?

A key color this trend - for brides wishing to be bold, different but still  turn heads!

Sunday Snapshots - Sparkling Snaps

Sparkler pictures are fun and magical! This style of wedding photography is becoming very trendy, and it's quite easy to pull off.

Follow these simple tips to achieve shots like shown bellow:

1. Get a camera with a long exposure mode, along with a tripod to avoid a blurry effect.

2. Gather your firework supplies. Figure out how many people, or letters you will need and make time calculations for how you will light the sparklers.

3. When setting up the shot, give yourselves enough space to write the word. Also, remember that you will be writing backwards in mirror image do the final photo reads correctly.

DIY Ideas – Photograph Fun

Photographs are touch to incorporate into events, ad they add a personal touch while making a bold visual statement at the same time! There are many ways that you can play around with this option, here are a few ideas that have inspired us: Lay the pictures on the floor into the shape you want to achieve (birthday number, anniversary year, name etc.) then tape them together and stick them onto a wall. Use shots of your loved ones to create decorative centerpieces. Stick the pictures onto candle holders and watch the room light up with smiles. Attach photos to helium balloons and fill the room with flashbacks of you and your loved ones. This sets a playful yet touching mood as people can literally walk through memories at your event.  

Wedding Wednesday – Old Fashioned Romance

Your wedding is already going to be the most romantic day of your lives, so how about you maximize that feeling in the theme of your big day! Here are some tips to keep in mind when setting up your event:

Make the entrance leading into your ceremony unforgettable. Create a stunning arrangement by incorporating anything from flowers, fabrics, lights or more.

Take advantage of the loving reputation of flowers and incorporate them into your cake. Also don’t hesitate to throw in some sweet french treats into your dessert table as they give an instant feel of romance.

Use soft pastel colors and layers of tulle fabric for your centerpieces and table decorations. You can also add touches of old romance by using antique pieces such as jewellry boxes into the set up.

To look the part, the bride should wear soft lace fabrics with a traditional veil and offcorse no romantic look is complete without pearls and delicate jewels to match.

The Little White Dress

For the modern brides that dares to step out of the box, the short dress is a trend to try!

There is no better time to sport this soft and romantic bridal option than the season of lightweight dresses and leg bearing, summer! This style of dress comes in a variety of fabrics and cuts including feathers, lace, and more. They are both a classic and chic choice for any bride on her wedding day! 

Check out our inspirational picks below: