January Update!

I had a lovely Christmas and New Year break, I hope you did too!

New Year was nice and quiet this year we visited Cley in Norfolk for a few days just me, my husband and our little pooch. It was freezing but sunny at least so we enjoyed some lovely country and beach walks alongside hearty pub stops.

I had three stand out fabulous Christmas presents this year a Joseph Joseph makeup station with mirror for my own personal use instead of a makeup bag overspilling and a separate brush set and a separate mirror it holds everything in one place and also a signed Bobbi Brown book which I devoured in a couple of days (I read all of Bobbi's books as teenager and she inspired me greatly to become a makeup artist) plus my cosy John Lewis new slippers which I literally barely take off.

I hate January and winter in general is just awful for me so I tend to hibernate as much as I possibly can... there has been a lot of Netflix and chill mode activated!  Also finishing off lots of Christmas left over chocolates and cakes...finally finished the delicious Christmas cake I made too.

My Chosen Guiding word for 2026 is "JOY" and I am truly trying to find joy in everything I do and bring a little joy to others.  I am making time for painting this year and when not in my makeup studio working I have been painting which has certainly brought me immense joy!

I have even been enjoying getting arty with my breakfast presentation!

It has certainly been a busy time for bookings this month and next year is looking very busy for weddings already so do book suppliers early to avoid any disappointment!

I have held a few makeup workshops this month which I really enjoyed and I have met some lovely ladies along the way.  I am planning lots more throughout this year so do keep an eye on my instagram and website for updates if you are interested. It has also been lovely meeting lots of my 2026 Brides for their pre-wedding trials as well.   I am looking forward to working at some gorgeous local venues over the coming months.

For all Bridal booking enquiries see www.nikimakeup.co.uk and event/shoot enquiries www.nikimakeup.com

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

Friday Fave! CHANEL Les Beiges Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream

I love anything that helps achieve that golden sun kissed healthy glow and this product defintiely does that!

A cream-gel bronzer to achieve a natural sun kissed glow.

Simply swirl a synthetic brush normally used for foundation or contour blending over the face where the sun would naturally hit for example the forehead, tip of the nose and cheekbones.  In the summer I like to take this down onto the neck underneath the chin and jawline where the sun often misses and onto the shoulders and décolleté.  This bronzer leaves a luxurious natural "velvet" matt finish on the skin.

The bronzer comes in a large flat 30g jar making it easy to apply and the product lasts well.  This is a great investment for Spring and Summer which is just around the corner now!

Two shades Soleil Tan (390) and Soleil Tan Deep Bronze (395).

RRP £43.00

Can I wear SPF on my Wedding day?

SPF can cause flashback in photographs taken using a flash.  Flash back is a white cast that appears on the skin in photographs. 

The main ingredients causing this are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.  Silica and Silver Mica often found in mineral makeup and high definition powder because of the silky smooth finish they achieve are also a major culprit.

Be mindful when choosing 'Illuminating' and 'light reflecting' highlighters, moisturisers, primers, setting sprays, concealers and foundations as these can also increase the risk.  

Sunscreen products are designed to bounce light off the skin so therefore are definitely best avoided. 

It is worth noting SPF will not cause flash back with digital photography.

The safest foolproof way to avoid it is to not use SPF on the wedding day.  

Charlotte Tilbury now has a Primer SPF 50 that has no flashback I use this on most of my bridal clients as it keeps makeup in place, adds glow and smooths pores as well as protecting the skin. I  recommend this although when studying the ingredient list is also contains titanium dioxide. https://www.charlottetilbury.com/uk/product/invisible-uv-flawless-poreless-spf-primer

There definitely are cosmetic products containing these ingredients that can be used, I advise always testing by taking a flash photograph before the big day.  For example, I have used Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation in my professional kit forever and never had any flashback issues however I know a lot of people do with this particular foundation that contains SPF 10.  It could be down to the amount used/how it is applied as I use very little normally as I like to achieve natural looking skin or the powders that are used on top of it to set the makeup.

Chemical SPFs often used in makeup will also not cause it however mineral SPF such as titanium dioxide and zinc oxide mentioned above can.  This is because of the opaque white pigments designed to reflect the suns harmful rays, reflect a camera flash on top of this and you are left with a white appearance.

Below are just some of the famous faces that have been caught out in the past!

All Wedding Enquiries via www.nikimakeup.co.uk

April Update!

Back to work month!  Three busy weeks back full of make-up lessons, bridal trials and shoots it certainly has been a whirlwind few weeks back to work.  I didn't realise how much I had missed my job until I was back doing it either, so I am very happy to be back doing what I love to do.

Here is a few of my candid phone snaps along the way:)

New ways of working... it is not easy doing makeup wearing a visor but it has to be done.

Another day another set up.  My office can be at a studio, wedding venue, clients house, hotel the list goes on.  It is great to work in so many varied and sometimes very interesting places. 

Behind the scenes of me on a recent bridal shoot.

Glowy skin on this bridal model and dreamy wavy hair.

Bridal Hair & makeup Trials have taken up a lot of my time over the last few weeks ahead of this years weddings.  Some brides I am meeting just weeks before their wedding day.

Make-up Heaven! My happy place.

How gorgeous is this models hair, I just went with the natural curl how could you not! Pink make-up complimented the look for a 'secret garden' themed wedding shoot.

I loved creating these dreamy waves.

Classic up-do bridal hair trialing.

Beautiful natural hair and makeup for this lovely Bride to Be!

My second wedding of 2021 how lucky am I to work on these gorgeous girls.

My favourite hair pic' has to be this!

All wedding, prom and occasion make-up and hair enquiries via www.nikimakeup.co.uk

March Update!

I have mostly been painting, meditating and reading this month : )

If I am honest its been great to have time to do these things that I never get time to focus on. I have loved it and now have to just manage finding time to do it when I am hopefully back to work from April 12th!

I have a lot of bridal trials to book in for April and May, I will be doing this around April 10th/11th.  I am looking forward to meeting lots of new Brides ahead of 2021 weddings.  I have also booked in some shoots already for April and have weddings going ahead from May.  My kit is cleaned and packed ready to go and I am excited to pick up an eye shadow palette and work some magic once again. Not so excited about the PPE but it has to be done.

I had my first Covid-19 vaccination this month which I am so grateful for, this was definitely a highlight of the month for me.

See some of my paintings below I find it very therapeutic to just sit and loose myself in painting for a few hours without a care in the world!  I have also set up an Etsy shop for sales of my recent prints so do take a look, all are highest quality giclée prints.

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

I am taking 2021/22 bookings. Please book early to avoid disappointment, £30.00 booking fee is required.

www.nikimakeup.co.uk

Shoots via www.nikimakeup.com