FRIDAY FAVE! ROUGE HERMĒS POPPY LIP SHINE

Ooh this was a nice treat! An anniversary gift from my husband! 

This colour is my kind of colour! I love any shade of coral or orange.  This particular one is a transparent sheer tone combining a subtle sparkly shine.  Perfect for those days when you want to look like you've made little or no effort! The colour enhances lips beautifully with mother-of-pearl micro-particles.

The packaging of this lipstick is just gorgeous! I love to listen to the click as it snaps shut, it simply oozes luxury!  The lip colour is packaged in a cute little cover inside an orange Hermēs box, I feel like I put it to bed every time I tuck it back inside the box!

This one is a definite personal Friday Fave!

Made in Italy and refillable!

RRP £62.00

Friday Fave! Charlotte Tilbury Unisex Healthy Glow

This tinted moisturiser is a personal favourite of mine, a firm staple in my personal make-up bag.

It is super hydrating and moisturising and gives a lovely natural tinted glow to the skin.

I honesty instantly feel more awake and my skin looks and feels so much better once I have this on!

I apply this after my normal moisturiser has settled, you can apply foundation and or concealer on top.

It is easy to apply, squeeze a a small pea sized amount from the tube and apply to the whole face using fingertips to warm and blend the product into the skin.

Containing tanning pigments it cleverly morphs to your own skin tone for a flawless natural finish.

For me it really is summer in a tube!

40ml £39.00

June Update!

June! I love this month it always feels like summer finally in the UK.

A lot of lovely weddings this month, I am fully into wedding season now and loving it! Some hot and sunny ones and some not so hot and sunny ones but all wonderful and enjoyed just the same.

June began at a new venue for me in Peterborough the very grand Holmewood Hall, a great choice if you are still venue hunting! https://www.holmewood-hall.co.uk

I had a lovely wedding at www.farmhouseatredcoats.co.uk one of my favourite local venues, hair and makeup for five it was busy one but fab' all the same.

I also had a Sunday wedding which are not as common, I have a few over the summer this was at www.northmymms.co.uk

A beautiful bride that I did hair and makeup for who had a reception in a marquee at home, it did sound quite a lot of work in the lead up but I am sure it was worth all the joy!

Another bridal party that had a marquee wedding, what a gorgeous bunch of girls!

I do quite a lot of weddings at  www.tewinbury.co.uk and it was nice to visit on a sunny June day.

Incidentally I am now quite booked up in peak months next year already so do enquire and reserve your date soon to avoid any disappointment. For all makeup and hair enquiries www.nikimakeup.co.uk

Proms, Ascot and this weekend (last in June!) I have a school ball all keeping me busy in my Harpenden based studio.

I am really into eating a date or two with a coffee mid morning at the moment I think it is after we had them at breakfast on holiday last month, nice instead of chocalate/cake! Have you tried dates, do you like them I'd love to know!  I have also been enjoying breakfasts in the garden, it is just so nice to get outside.

We visited Knebworth house one weekend which was fab' a really interesting day out, do go if you haven't been! www.knebworthhouse.com

When I am not working I have been doing some painting and sketching you can follow my art shenanigans @nikicreates.  I think I am a "fair-weather" artist I seem to do loads in the warmer months when I can sit outside in the fresh air and listen to the sounds and sights of nature around me which inspires me.

FRIDAY FAVE! Charlotte Tilbury SPF 50 INVISIBLE UV FLAWLESS PORELESS PRIMER

I absolutely love this primer for the summer month's especially!  This is a definite "Friday Fave" and has been a firm staple in my pro' kit since it launched a few years back.  

It gives a gorgeous glow to the skin, primes, protects and hydrates as well as reducing pores and fine lines, ...and yes it really does!

A lightweight formula and the best bit which I love for my clients having professional photos taken there is no "flash back", that mean's no white mark's under the eye in your pictures ladies!

This can be worn alone following your normal skin care routine or as a primer underneath make up.

Contains Hyaluronic acid to plump the skin, a soft focus beauty glow filter,  UVA and UVB and SPF 50 as well as a myriad of other supercharged ingredients!

Suitable for every age, skin type and tone.

I like to apply this with my finger tips and massage into the face alternatively a brush would be great for even application. A little actually does go a long way.

30 ml RRP £40.00

www.charlottetilbury.com

FRIDAY FAVE! BY TERRY HYALURONIC PRESSED HYDRA-POWDER

Friday Fave! By Terry Hyaluronic pressed Hydra-Powder

A Skin care first pressed powder!

Contains70% mineral-based ingredients and 8x Hyaluronic Acid Types Exclusive Technology.

 Vegan and clean formula & Talc free.

Perfect for on the go or if you dislike the mess of a loose powder complete with integrated mirror & puff to keep your makeup perfected and protected all day.

A translucent pressed powder that sets, mattifies, blurs imperfections, fills in pores, fines lines & wrinkles on the skin without drying out the skin. Oils are controlled whilst keeping the skin in its natural radiance.

Skin really does look flawless and perfectly smooth personally I love the way it magically erases my pores and fine lines!

The science bit!

The 8x Hyaluronic Acid Types Exclusive Technology in three molecular weights 

- The high-molecular-weight Hyaluronic Acid delivers immediate and intensive hydration to the surface layers of the skin and prevents dehydration.

- The medium-molecular-weight Hyaluronic Acid plumps the skin and provides a smoother skin surface.

- The low-molecular-weight Hyaluronic Acid ensures a deeper, long-lasting hydration of the epidermis.

My Pro tip! Apply a very small amount to a brush/puff and press onto the back of your hand prior to application so that you do not apply to much product in one application, then build and layer by applying two to three times in the same way.

Application results in the complexion looking matte and even. Imperfections such as open pores are definitely disguised. This powder is perfect for creating a full matte finish.

I would recommend this for paler skins as I do find you have to apply quite a bit of bronzer and or blush to warm the face after application so it would not be the best option for all skin tones in my opinion!

Overall I love this powder it is a new firm staple in my personal makeup bag as well as in my professional kit.

RRP £42.00

 

Friday Fave! HAUS LABS BY LADY GAGA BLUSH

I have two shades of this powder blusher in 'French Rosette' (peachy pink) and 'Hibiscus Haze' (rose pink).

These two shades are perfect new additions to my professional make up kit.  The pigment is intense so after one swipe applied with a soft round brush you will need to blend well to diffuse the colour seamlessly.

These are a particularly great choice for oily skin types who may prefer not to use a cream blusher.  There is definitely a shade to suit all!

I just love the packaging from the minimalist boxes and simple design to the click of the compact itself.

Talc-free and skin-care infused.  Haustech powered with fermented Arnica (helps reduce redness/irritation) + Hydraberry (hydrating). Vitamins C & E (Antioxidents protecting the skin), Plant Squalane (nourishes) and shea butter (softens and protects). 

Clean, Cruelty-free and Vegan.  Available in six inclusive shades from Pomelo to Watermelon, I just love these names!

5g £28.00.  Made in Italy.

Check out the full product range at https://www.hauslabs.com

Available in the UK to buy at https://www.sephora.co.uk 

Friday Fave! Weleda Skin Food Light

Certified Natural organic skincare.

I have been using this lotion for a few months now it provides a lovely base before makeup application and literally feels like it is feeding my skin before I go to sleep at night.  I actually have oily skin but I really get on well with this lotion.  It is now a firm staple in my professional makeup kit too. I have not tried the original skin food but I definitely think the light version is fabulous in its own right.

An Intensive, instant moisturising skin care lotion containing organic sunflower oil and natural extracts of calendula, pansy and chamomile.

Skin Food Light provides the skin with instant moisture and protects from drying out, is quickly absorbed and leaves skin feeling soft and protected.

It can also be used on the body, areas such as hands, feet and elbows will really benefit.

Top Tip: I love to massage a small pea sized amount of the lotion on to extra dry areas for immediate intense hydration.

30ml £8.95 travel size

75ml £14.95

May Update!

Well I have taken a nice little break in sunny Spain for a couple of weeks this month which has been truly refreshing and I am back full of energy ready for a busy summer of hair and makeup!

Here are some of my holiday snaps of truly beautiful Andalusia (my happy place), I seriously have a problem I cannot stop taking photos and videos 47,068 on my iPhone currently argh!

It has not all been sunshine and relaxation... well as I write this I have just come back from a wonderful massage (christmas gift) at https://bodymechanixharpenden.co.uk and have a facial in a few hours with https://www.thepurefacialist.co.uk living the dream! A proper day off unheard of in freelance life well I guess I am writing blog posts and scheduling social media posts in-between never a day off really....although I am choosing to take more time for my self now after many years of burning the candle at both ends.

Here is some of my recent work pictures including three Beautiful May Brides.

Makeup only.

Hair and Makeup.

Hair and Makeup.

Bridal Hairstyling.

Bridesmaids styling.

Makeup only (below).

I also won The English Hair & Beauty Awards! Thank you so much to all my fabulous clients xxx

www.nikimakeup.co.uk