December update!

I love Christmas it is such a magical time! December has flown by! I have enjoyed festive drinks and dinners with friends and family, seen Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, watched Christmas films as well as Stranger things and Emily in Paris.  I have enjoyed Christmas shopping and wrapping presents and some lovely time spent with my pooch @rufustheredtoypoodle. I am looking forward to spending time with family over Christmas and having a rest as well as lots of fun!

I had one last wedding on December 20th which was lovely and festive and have been busy with makeup lessons, hair & makeup pre-wedding trials and lots of Special Occasion bookings.

Every year since 2020 I choose my guiding word for the year! I am not sure why I started this I think I read it in a book somewhere but I love to do it and the chosen word I really try to follow throughout the whole year. For 2026 I have chosen "Joy", it feels like such a perfectly aligned choice for me I have felt joy ever since I chose it a few weeks ago now.  For those that follow my Instagram Monday Motivation posts look out for lots of Joy filled posts in the New Year! I aim to take joy in even the small daily things and hope to spread a little joy to those around me.

There are so many little moments that make Christmas special for me, but I really do love to make my own Christmas pudding and a Christmas cake... the scent in the air when cooking is divine that is when it fills like Christmas to me!  I hope you all have a joyful Christmas with family and friends or maybe even taking time for yourself to enjoy the little things that you love! 

Thank you for reading my monthly ramblings!

Merry Christmas and I wish you a Happy & Healthy 2026!

Niki x

FRIDAY FAVE! Victoria Beckham Satin Kajal Liner

I love the Victoria Beckham Eye Kajal pencils, shade Cinnamon in particular is my go to shade as it is not too dark it has just enough depth to enhance eyes.

These liners are waterproof, long lasting and extremely soft to apply making them glide on easily and blend seamlessly. 

Cinnamon is a warm shimmer brown shade, which I wear myself daily. My other favourite shades are  Black, Sequin Green and Cocoa.

I must admit when I first tried them I wasn't a fan.  I found them too soft to apply but with practice I have got use to them now and love them, a definite "Friday fave"!  Plus 25,000 five stars reviews  to date agree!

If you order online you can also opt for a complimentary pencil sharpener.  The sharpener itself is the best I have ever used and I've tried a lot in my twenty year career! The design also makes it very easy to keep clean compared to all other ones that I use.

Pro Tip!

Use the smudger end of the pencil to smoke the colour around the lash line and blend the edges of the liner that you have applied to soften any harsh lines. Make sure you apply the lid to the pencil on the correct end as it comes to keep the pencil air tight.

Available in 22 shades.

RRP £32.00

https://victoriabeckhambeauty.com/en-gb/products/satin-kajal-liner

October Update!

October began with a bridal hair and makeup for a St Albans wedding at https://thehubonverulam.com such a popular choice for Brides this year! I have yet to visit myself but it is on my list! 

I also had a personal branding shoot for myself so the first few days of October were pretty intense before I left for a two week holiday on the 4th! The shoot took a lot of planning on my part from a running order of all the shots that I wanted, as well as sourcing props' and clothes/accessories for my model and myself. I am really pleased with how the shoot went and I love the images.  Personal Branding is such an important part for a small business like myself to use across social media/website. I highly recommend Stephanie Belton https://www.stephaniebelton.com who I have worked with on shoots and couldn't wait to book for my own! If you are planning a new headshot or a branding shoot do consider having your hair and makeup professionally done as well as it makes a real difference in the photographs.  Hair & Makeup will be applied to best suit you and your brand and will hold well through out the duration of the shoot but the process will also make sure you look and feel your best in front of the camera.  I think it is a necessary investment for professional images that you are 100% happy with, plus I can always tell when someone has done their own hair and makeup!  You can see some of my work here   www.nikimakeup.com

We had an amazing two week holiday in Marbella, the weather was perfect not too hot like in the summer, we both enjoyed some sunshine, rest, fresh air and great food! We explored so many beautiful white washed villages including Istan, Casares, Tolox, Monda, Coin, Gaucin, Genalguacil and Mijas - we like to do a bit of a road trip and see the real Spain! We stayed at https://www.marbellacasa.eu.com 

There was also some lovely rural and beach walks we returned fully refreshed and recharged!  

Straight back into a wedding at one of my favourite venue https://www.farmhouseatredcoats.co.uk the next day! Such a gorgeous bridal party to work with!

I have also held three makeup workshops which were so nice thank you to all the lovely ladies that came along. These are held in my garden studio in Harpenden throughout the year on select dates. I will be launching 2026 dates soon, check my website www.nikimakeup.co.uk and Instagram @nikimakeup           

I can also offer bespoke workshops if you and 4-5 friends would like to celebrate a birthday, hen party or other special occasion.  I generally do a day to evening look that suits most people and will help you choose the correct colours and products for you. All makeup and brushes are provided as well as nibbles and drinks and you'll leave with a goody bag!

Now we are in autumn mode we are enjoying roast lunches and autumn walks with @rufusthetredtoypoodle and I am already feeling festive!