Colour Correction News!

I have long been a fan of Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat highlighters.  A shade no. 2 is permanently in my makeup bag and shades 1, 2 and 3 are always in my professional kit.  You can imagine my excitement when I heard about the launch of the neutraliser shades which are not only perfect to correct skin-tone but beautifully packaged too.

Here's the theory bit! Skin discolouration can be disguised by an opposing shade.  The basic colour wheel below will help you to understand. For example, if you have too much redness in an area of your skin i.e the cheeks you will be able to tone the redness down by adding green on top (opposite colour on the wheel). If you have purple bruising you can tone this down by applying yellow on top. If you have darkness under the eyes this will mostly consist of blue tones which can easily be cancelled out by applying peach or even orange in severe cases (commonly on darker skin tones).





I often have to use a green corrector to correct redness in the skin which is a common problem so the YSL green neutraliser will now be a firm kit staple!
Available at Boots the Chemist and all good department stores RRP. £25.00
A great alternative at less than half the price is the Max Factor corrector stick which is equally quick and easy to use.
Available at Boots the Chemist RRP £9.99

Top Tip! For dark circles try applying a small swipe of a peach corrector under the eyes directly onto the dark area, blending well into the skin before applying foundation and concealer.

Application Tips! Apply correctors after moisturiser and primer (if you use it) but before foundation and concealer.  Remember a little goes a very long way with this product, you only need a small swipe then pat well using fingertips to blend the colour seamlessly into the skin.  Next stand back and check that you have toned the skin discolouration down effectively, finish by applying foundation and concealer as normal.  If you have applied too much product you will be able to see it looking grey/green on the skin.  Remember you are only neutralising the colour with corrector you are not trying to get rid of it entirely.  The combination of using foundation/concealer together with correctors will achieve this for you.

  


Makeup lessons and Masterclasses available via www.nikimakeup.co.uk

Makeup artist - My Kit favourites!

Here's a few of my favourite makeup picks from my professional kit.



YSL Touche Eclat (a kit staple)



Kiko 3D Instant lip plumping gloss



Bobbi Brown lip pencil in Ballet Pink (a great shade that suits so many)



MAC eyeshadows in Bark, Carbon, Arena, Era, Cork, Woodwinked and Omega (staple long wearing shades)




Daniel Sandler Eyeshadows in Rosy Tan (a pretty and flattering colour)



MAC lipsticks in Angel and Brave (great wearable colours that I use a lot on Brides in particular)




Nars Blusher in Orgasm (a great colour that suits so many)



Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze and Glow compact (kit staple)




Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour cream (THE best non sticky lipgloss and is a great multi-use product)



MAC Blot powder (excellent at blotting shine all day without caking)

I would love to know what your favourite makeup products are?

My summer make-up bag!

I Summer is just around the corner, we hope...it is a great time to shake up your make-up bag!

Here is a peek of what I will be using mostly.

Make-up bag @ www.charlottetilbury.com

Nail polish Boots No.7 Gel-Look Shine shade 'Hotting Up'

Laura Mercier Bronzing gel

Bobbi Brown BB Cream shade 'Fair'

MAC studio finish concealers in shades 'NW20' and 'NW30'

YSL touché éclat shade '02'

Barbara Daly Trade Secrets dream shine highlighter 

Kiko Bronzer shade '100'

MAC Eyebrow pencil shade 'Strawberry Blonde'

Maybelline Brow Drama transparent gel

Bobbi Brown pot rouge shade 'Calypso Coral'

NARS eyeshadow duo shade 'Isolde'

Kiko eyeshadow palette clic system shades '257' and '236'

Bobbi Brown long wear cream shadow stick shade 'Golden Bronze'

Bobbi Brown Smokey eyes mascara shade 'Black'

Bobbi Brown lip liner shade 'Ballet pink'

Bobbi Brown shimmer 24 Karat shimmer brick 

Charlotte Tilbury lipstick shade 'Bitch Perfect'

 

Christmas Beauty Gift Ideas: My Top picks!

Looking for some gorgeous Christmas beauty gifts look no further I have picked some of the very best!


Lancome Mini Juicy tubes Gift set £20.00

Lancome Mascara Gift sets £22.50

Clarins Lip Collection - All about lips £19.50

Clarins Essential Eye Make-up palette £35.00

Cosmetic Bag "Contents: My Face" £9.99 at www.totally-funky.co.uk

YSL Touche Eclat Christmas Gift set £25.00

Urban Decay NAKED 3 Eyeshadow palette £37.00

Benefit Bronze 'n' Dandy set (mini sizes) £16.50

Alphabet Bags Exclusive to Selfridges Canvas Pouches £20.00

Happy Shopping!

Inside my summer make-up bag!

What to know what is inside the make-up bag of a Professional Make-up artist?

Here is my personal summer make-up bag staples.

Laura Mercier Bronzing gel for face
Smashbox camera ready concealer stick shade 04
YSL Touche eclat
Kiko bronzing powder shade 100
Kiko Rock Attraction shade 05 Sound Coral brightening blusher
Kiko eye base primer
Charlotte Tilbury eye pencil colour chameleon shade Amber haze
Nars Eyeshadow duo shade Isolde
Shu Uemura eyelash curlers
Barry M Lash Vegas black mascara

I'd love to know what your summer make-up essentials are, get in touch and let me know!

Niki

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Splurge vs Steal:Longwear Lipcolour

I am loving the new long wearing lip colours on the market now. Gone are the days of dried out lips and cracked looking lipstick!

My favourite splurge purchase is YSL Rouge Pur Couture Vernis A Levres. The shine of a lipgloss and the stay put colour of a stain. Gorgeous packaging and a neat slanted tipped applicator for precision.
£23.50

My super-star steal is Loreal Paris Glam Shine 6HR Lip gloss.  Lips look glossy and plump! The colour lasts well, it feels nice on and it also has a good slanted applicator.
£8.69

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.

My wedding make up.

I recently got married in sunny Spain, I thought I would share with you the skincare and make up brands I chose to wear on my wedding day.

My skincare regime included moisturising my face with Creme de la mer oil free moisturising lotion, a light lotion that I have favoured for many years now. I used the Creme de la mer eye balm in conjunction with this after I was converted many years ago after it miraculously rid my Eczema.

Before applying make up I applied Clarins beauty flash balm to instantly achieve glowing skin and make my make up last throughout the heat and a lot of dancing!

My foundation of choice was MAC Face and Body in shade C2, this feels very light and natural to wear especially in a hot climate and ultimately lasts the duration. Concealer was MAC Studio finish in shades NC20 and NC30 mixed together, a concealer I have used myself and in my kit for many, many years!  Under my eyes I used a little YSl touche eclat, to finish I set my base using MAC Blot powder in shade medium dark.

For my eyebrows I used Bobbi Brown shadow in shade Blonde brushed softly through my brows to define the shape and clear brow gel from NO.7 to set.  To achieve soft, bronzed smokey eyes I used Urban Decay primer potion in shade Eden as a base to even the skin tone on my eyelid and to ensure my eye make up would last. I next applied Benefit cream shadow in shade Birthday suit on the lower lid blended towards the crease with an urban decay powder eye colour on top. This colour was from an urban decay palette I have actually had for a while and never used but loved the colour when seeking the perfect champagne shade, which I can tell you even for a make up artist was incredibly hard! I spent many hours at make up counters testing colours to find the colour I really wanted. In the eye socket I blended two Nars shades from the Isolde duo and Mulch from MAC.  To define around the lash line I used MAC shadow in Bark and blended with MAC cork shadow to soften.  I finished with MAC Nylon shadow to highlight my brow bone.
I used Bobbi Brown Black gel eye liner to define my eyes which I applied under the eyelid as well as on top, I also applied a Lancome Kohl pencil into the rim of my eye as it was an evening wedding I felt this was acceptable.  I finished with a few coats of Lancome Defincils waterproof black mascara and a few clusters of Ardell individual lashes to make my lashes a little longer and fluttery at the outer corner of my eyes.

I used Dior Bronze compact powder bronzer in shade Honey tan to give a enhanced glow to my skin as well as Daniel Sandler watercolour creme bronzer in shade Riviera to subtly contour my cheekbones and nose.  For blusher I opted for Benefit Cha Cha tint as I knew this would last and is a great feel good summer colour.  I used YSL limited edition golden touch highlighter for the face to highlight my cheekbones, cupid bow and inner corners of my eyes.

I used a MAC lip pencil in shade subculture to define my lip shape and filled in with a brand new lipstick Rouge d'Armani sheers by Georgio Armani in shade 302, a beautiful sheer red. I used a Clarins colour quench lip balm on top which was a mini free sample and did not have a name on the tube but was a beautiful subtle peach tone.

All brushes used were by MAC, Bobbi Brown and real Techniques.

Photograph supplied by David Toms
http://www.davidtoms-weddings.com/



















For bridal make up services in Souhern Spain please see www.marbellamakeup.com
and for services in the UK www.nikimakeup.co.uk

MY TIPS FOR UNDER EYE DARK CIRCLES

The basics...

• Six to eight good hours sleep


• Hydrate with plenty of water throughout the day


• A healthy diet including fruit and vegetables and excersise at least three times a week


• A daily routine of moisturing the eye area night and morning. Pat eye products gently around the orbital bone not too close to the eye using your ring finger.

The make up...

• Apply a tiny amount of peach toned colour corrector onto the dark area under the eye using a make up brush, preferably made from synthetic hair. Pat with fingertip to blend into the skin evenly.


• Apply a little undereye liteweight concealer, again using a make up brush. Once again, use a fingertip to pat and blend the concealer. Remember, less is more you only need a little amount of product on the brush.


• Apply a highlighting pen directly to the shadowed area, a tiny amount is necessary. Pat with fingertip to blend and smooth into the skin for a natural finish.


• Set with a little, light dusing of powder using a small brush. Tap excess powder off the brush before application.


• Neutralise the colour on your eyelids using a good eyebase before applying any eyeshadow. Set with a Cream or bone coloured matte shadow to achieve the perfect blank canvas before applying colours.


• Use a liquid/cream/powder highlighter under the browbone and at the inner and outer corner of the eyes dabbed lightly with a finger or a brush to really brighten the eyes.


• Apply an off white pencil inside the rim of the lower eyelid to awaken the eyes.


• Apply a lighter eyeshadow on the lid and a deeper shade in the eye socket and outer corner, this will also help to open the eyes .


• Complete eye make up with mascara and eyeliner to define the eyes.

Niki Loves...

• Bobbi Brown's peach corrector and Georgio Armani's master corrector


• Laura Mercier's under eye secret concealer


• YSL Touche eclat highlighting pen


• MAC #217 or #224 brushes


• Laura Mercier Invisible loose setting powder


• MAC Eyepaint shade: Untitled


• Highlighters include Daniel sandler watercolour 'Icing', MAC cream colour base 'Pearl' and Benefit 'highbeam'


• Benefit eyebright pencil


• MAC and Bobbi Brown eyeshadows


• Maybelline and Max factor mascaras