December Update! Looking back at my 2020!

Sending my Followers, Brides, Clients, Colleagues, Friends and Family Love, Happiness & Good Health for Christmas & the New Year.  2020 has been a challenging year for all of us in different ways but we are all in this together and we all have to keep going!

Looking back at my 2020!

#Barbados

This year actually started off so well my husband turned 40 and to celebrate we went to Barbados at the end of February. We had such a wonderful holiday...towards the end of our stay we started to hear about things getting bad in Italy and people at home stockpiling toilets rolls! We arrived back in March and just two weeks later the UK went into its first Lockdown.  

At the beginning of the year I did manage to meet some lovely Brides for trials ahead of their weddings... some have now had to postpone their date, some cancelled altogether and some actually managed to get married!

Trial photos taken on my I-Phone.

I had some weddings this year and feel very grateful to have been a part of these.  I am also lucky that I work freelance and do editorial and branding shoots which also kept me busy during the summer months. I also qualified for the Government Grant scheme which has been an enormous help and I am so grateful to receive this.

I had time as I had less work to participate in some bridal styled shoots and work with some fabulously talented wedding suppliers.  One shoot even made the cover of Your Herts & Beds Wedding magazine.

I spent much of the spring lockdown painting and drawing which was therapeutic and made me happy!

We embraced the mask!  We enjoyed lazy spring and summer days in the garden and exploring the local Hertfordshire countryside.

 

We managed to have a few days away in September for my Birthday in beautiful sunny Norfolk and in November we had an overnight break in Cambridge which was lovely we actually got dressed up and went "out out" for a meal and cocktails, just before things started getting bad again and the second UK Lockdown began.

I also had time to organise years of work, update my websites and do some training.

I embraced new ways of working!  PPE consisting of mask, visor and gloves.

Finally today on the 23rd of December back in a lockdown (tier 4) after a rainy dog walk I saw this beautiful rainbow at the top of my road a fitting end to 2020!

It will be my husband and I this year for a quiet Christmas as for many of us. We have never done this in all the years we have been together so we will embrace it and enjoy face timing our families.  We have lots of food, drinks and gifts and will be grateful for all that we have and thankful to all those working so hard on the front line every day.  

I wish you all a very Happy & Healthy Christmas & New Year and for those that have employed my services this year for shoots, weddings, lessons, makeovers and purchased my gift vouchers and artworks I am eternally grateful thank you so much for your support it means so much.

Niki 

X

 

November Update!

A quiet yet busy November!  Lockdown ensured very little physical make-up work for me however I have been busy behind the scenes at Nikimakeup HQ making sure my kit is sanitised and ready to go for a busy December!  I have also been getting to grips with a bit of web design updating my bridal website www.nikimakeup.co.uk and my beauty and branding website www.nikimakeup.com. This was a job in itself as 'technical' is not my strong point but it kept me busy and I am happy with the results... for now!

I have also planned a Black Friday offer if you book during the last weekend of November you can save 20% on a 1:1 makeup lesson with me.  The lesson can be taken anytime throughout 2020/2021but has to be booked during the event. Simply get in touch to book.

***RRP/ £120.00 now £96.00***

For those that are not aware I also have an Etsy shop with some of my art for sale! There is currently 20% off everything for Black Friday.  https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Nikicreates?ref=search_shop_redirect

Lastly Gift Vouchers are now available to buy in just a few simple clicks directly on my website www.nikimakeup.co.uk Treat someone you love this Christmas, available to purchase as late as Christmas Eve!

I have made my annual Christmas puddings and plan to make a Christmas cake in the next week too!  Lockdown has whizzed by this time around, time flies when you are having fun I guess I am good at keeping myself busy.  Still ploughing through my never ending to do list!

I have taken some time out to relax too, I have been binge watching Below Deck I love it! I have watched all 8 seasons in Lock down and now to start on Below Deck Mediterranean!

If you are reading this I hope you are coping well during the pandemic, things will be better for us all soon.

Stay safe and well!

Niki x

Friday Fave! Rimmel Lasting Radiance Concealer

I love this concealer!  I have used it for a couple of years now, it is one of the few budget make-up items I like to use in my professional makeup kit.  It comes in six shades, I have them all and use them on most of my clients, mixing them to achieve the right shade if necessary. I find the coverage very good without being too heavy and thick. 

It is particularly good to use under the eyes as it contains vitamin C to banish tiredness, brightening and illuminating for a fresh faced look wide awake you!

If you have acne or require a full cover concealer for blemishes this isn't the best one for the job but if you have the odd small spot or area of redness and for under the eyes it is marvellous!

A definite Friday Fave! & a snip at £6.38.

Friday Fave! Charlotte Tilbury Wedding Belles

Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution Lip colour in shade 'Wedding Belles'.

This is a beautiful modern matte nude-pink lip colour. 

Works beautifully with pillow talk lip liner for perfectly kissable lips.

A classic timeless shade for brides to be!

Vegan

RRP £25.00

October Update!

Well it is all a bit dreary at the moment isn't it?  COVID plus winter approaching agh, I am trying to keep positive by not watching too much news, this and the odd sweet treat which certainly helps!

Thrilled to have a published shoot this month in 'Your Herts & Beds Wedding' magazine. This is now an online only magazine, follow this link to read the full shoot plus lots of other fun wedding stuff to see and read! https://www.county.wedding/image_upload/flippingbook/YHBW82/

I have been doing a number of branding photo shoots recently which I love.  I will be adding a new section to my website soon to show some of my recent work.  This was lovely Rachel who was very nervous having photographs taken but looked absolutely amazing!

Photography by the super talented Alison Burrows https://www.ajburrowsphotography.co.uk

Lots of hair styling this month too as well as makeup for shoots, trials and weddings.

I have also designed some face charts because I know what I need from a face chart when I am doing make up lessons for example, so I made just that!  Blank versions of these can be digitally downloaded from my Etsy shop. I am also going to produce physical face charts soon available on textured paper.

https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/Nikicreates?ref=shop_sugg

At the beginning of the month I spent a lovely weekend with my husband in beautiful Cambridge, a nice break from the crazy life we are all living right now.  I had not been shopping in so long I was like a caged animal that had been let loose! 

Out Out COVID Style! It was so nice to get dressed up a bit and have somewhere to go! Although with everything going in the wrong direction at the moment I will be staying safely at home mostly now hibernating during the winter.

Cute poodle pic! One of my little munchkins!

All makeup and hair enquiries www.nikimakeup.co.uk