Beauty Advent: December 5th!

Festive Make-up look December 5th

Green eyeliner with glitter gel liner applied on top.  You can use gel, pencil, liquid or eyeshadow for the green eyeliner.  i used Mac eyeshadow in shade Steamy.

Compliment the green with pretty pink lips and cheeks.

My Top Beauty products for January 2014!

1) Estee Lauder Double Wear Concealer.
For fabulous long lasting coverage.

2) Creme de la Mer:  The Eye balm Intense.
Miracle cream to hydrate, brighten and banish skin conditions such a eczema.

3) Lucas Papaw Ointment.
The ultimate lip balm and a super ointment for dry skin conditions.

4) BioDerma Crealine H2O cleanser.
Super gentle cleanser that easily removes even stubborn make-up.

5) YSL Rouge Pur Couture Vernis A Levres glossy lip stains.
Superb array of colours that shine brightly and really last without drying the lips.

6) Kiko Cosmetics lip pencils.
Fabulous long wearing colours at an even more fabulous price.

7) Kiko Cosmetics Lipsticks.
Super range of colours and different finishes at a super price.

8) Stick on nails
My new Obsession for trendy nails. Check out some of my recent choices below!
Different brands are available at most good Chemists and make up stores.

9) St. Tropez Gradual Everyday Body Moisturiser
Keep that gorgeous glow even in winter.

10) Loreal Absolute Make-up Remover Eye & Lip.
My all time favorite eye make up remover, non-oily and removes even waterproof make-up.

Lucas' Papaw Ointmentment!

This product I have long underrated until now!  It has been knocking about in my kit for at least a year. I recently started using it more when I ran low on Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour cream which is similar.  It is however less shiny and less sticky than Eight hour cream.

Lucas' Papaw has many great uses including helping burns, dry skin conditions, sores, bites and as a intense moisturizer.  I know models that slather this on the entire face when flying to keep their skin super hydrated!

This was my absolute go-to product on my recent honeymoon in Mauritius.  My bites were banished instantly with a dab of this wonderful ointment and the itching immediately stopped.  After my awful cold my lips and nose were sore and dry but this soothed and banished redness and dryness so much quicker than it would be normally.
Even my husband was converted to use it as a lip balm and he will not use anything usually.

I personally love to dab this onto the tops of cheekbones to achieve a gorgeous dewy glow and worn over lipcolour it keeps lips perfectly dewy and hydrated.

This is a firm staple in my make-up kit and my make-up bag from now on!

Available at Amazon.com and Netaporter.com
Price £9-£12

December Update!

December has been full of Christmas fun! We visited Berlin at the beginning of the month to see the Christmas markets it was bitterly cold and snowed but drinking the Gluhwein certainly helped to warm us up! The markets were all fabulous to meander around carelessly for hours looking at all the wonderful handmade gifts and delicious food for sale. We really enjoyed visits to both The Helmut Newton Gallery and the Bauhaus archive while we were there.  See some of my Berlin photos below.
I also have a couple of Christmas brides and really enjoy beautifying them for their gorgeous winter weddings that are just extra magical at this time of the year.  I have also been busy with many party make-ups and shoots for magazines including Glamour and Good Housekeeping plus a menswear shoot for Duck & Cover...so a busy month what with the additional Christmas shopping, wrapping and baking to boot!
We have had lots of fun festivities with our friends and family and I look forward to a lovely week off over Christmas to relax  and that means no social media! Well maybe just a little...

On reflection 2013 has been a great year for me, I am truly blessed and I hope 2014 will be even better!
I would like to wish my friends, family, clients and followers a wonderfully happy and healthy New Year!
XXX

 Berlin Holocaust Memorial

 Currywurst!

 TV Tower, Berlin

 Brandenburg Gate

 Christmas Market, Berlin

 My Make-up work on the cover of next year's Bride Magazine

 Poodle tree decorations

 My homemade first ever Christmas Cake!

 Snowballs!

 Festive fun at the Christmas Markets in Berlin

Gluhwein!

MAC Veluxe Brow Liner

I am loving the new MAC Veluxe Brow liners!

I personally usually prefer powders over pencils for a natural finish but even I am won over with smooth glide of the MAC Veluxe Brow liner. A Double ended pencil that has a brush at one end to soften the colour after application.

MAC says "The artist's pencil of perfection"... "...powdery formula that's matte and velvety smooth"...

I am using shade 'strawberry Blonde' a great colour for fair brows but there are another four colours in the range including Redhead, Brunette, Deep Brunette and Deep Dark Brunette.

I recommend using a well sharpened pencil for a super defined and professional application and finish.

Available at www.maccosmetics.co.uk priced at £15.50

July update!

July flew by, a gorgeous month of sunny warm weather for a lovely change!

The month began with my first wedding anniversary and our beautiful wedding rose bloomed right on time. We visited Saint Paul De Vence, in the south of France to celebrate.  The owner of our beautiful hotel even took us for a spin in one of his Ferrari's!  This made our first anniversary even more memorable.

Back to work its been a busy month of weddings and trials visiting some beautiful venues and locations for shoots. The highlight was shooting in an amazing location house along the seafront in Camber Sands.  It was such a hot day, the sea looked azure blue in the sunlight I thought I was back in the south of France,almost a shame to be there working!

Aside from this I have been enjoying the gorgeous sunshine spending a lot of the time in the garden with my doggies and enjoying many a BBQ with family and friends. Here's hoping the warm weather continues into August. X

May Update!

May has seen wedding season in full swing with wedding make up's to do each week. I have been lucky enough to work at some stunning venues this month including Luton Hoo, The Inn at Woburn, Sopwell House, St Michaels Manor, The Dorset Square Hotel and Hanbury Manor. I am also looking forward to doing bridal make-up for my friend Angela's wedding at the end of this month at The Deer Park Country hotel in beautiful Devon.

This month I was part of a small make-up team working at The Fast & Furious premiere at The Empire theatre Leicester Square and Somerset House in London which was crazy busy but lots of fun! I was also lucky enough to fly to Barcelona for a video shoot on the beach, shame it was raining and we flew back the same day!

What with the bank holiday weekends as well this month we have enjoyed some lovely country walks with our doggies Middy and Lucas(see pictures below).

Another big change for me, last month I started using a face serum, this month I had a fringe cut!  The first time I have had a full fringe since I was about sixteen! I keep getting a shock when I look in the mirror but I do prefer it.

I am looking forward to hopefully a sunny, hot June xx

Behind the scenes at a recent photo shoot.

I recently did the make up for a fashion shoot for Anita Quansah London .

The shoot was on location in Milton Keynes with two models Paula and Saiwei.  The shoot had a strong tribal influence. This was reflected in the make-up that was a little more creative than on the average fashion shoot.  Here are some action shots from behind the scenes and a couple of the final chosen images.

Jewellery & Styling at www.anitaquansahlondon.com
Jewellery available at www.notjustalabel.com
Photography at www.robwyatt.com
Make-up at www.nikimakup.com