My Top Five Make-up Brush Cleansers!

Yes Brush Cleansers ladies! They do exist and you should be using them ...

It has come to my attention that there are many of you (you know who you are!) who do not clean your makeup brushes often enough or indeed have never cleaned them!

You invest in often expensive brushes and if you look after them they will last you a very long time.

The best way to keep them clean is to use a mild shampoo and warm water.  For stubborn products like lipstick and some foundations use good old fairy liquid to bring brushes up squeaky clean.

If you do not have time to use a shampoo/cleanser that you wash off with water opt for a liquid or spray option that will give immediate results with no fuss and quicker drying time.

Here are my top five brush cleansing products to pamper your all important brushes with!

1. MAC £12.00
https://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/product/13804/307/products/brushes-tools/brushes/eye-brushes/brush-cleanser




2. Laura Mercier £14.50
http://www.feelunique.com/p/Laura-Mercier-Brush-Cleanser-250ml



3. Bobbi Brown £12.00
https://www.bobbibrown.co.uk/product/13995/7791/brushes-tools/conditioning-brush-cleanser




4. Dior Backstage Brush Cleanser £16.00
https://www.johnlewis.com/dior-brush-cleanser-150-ml/p523062


5. Estée lauder £13.00
https://www.esteelauder.co.uk/product/12883/2753/product-catalog/makeup/accessories/brushes/makeup-brush-cleanser




Makeup lessons available via www.nikimakeup.co.uk

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

September Update!

September has gone by in a flash and the end of the summer has definitely arrived!
With this in mind I escaped to Spain for some sun and sangria with my family for a week which was so relaxing and 28 degrees of sunshine and blue skies every day. Returning to the grey clouds is not at all fun so I am currently plotting my next trip away!

September also saw my birthday so I visited St Michaels Manor in St Albans (see some photos below) for a lovely evening of cocktails and a delicious dinner with my husband and spent the day relaxing with my book in the sun and had a lovely long country walk with my poodles.

This month I have mostly been busy with my much loved bridal work as September is always a super busy month for me... six weddings this month and lots of trials and special occasion make up's as well. I have also launched my make-up tea parties this month which I have been very busy working on during August.  I am very excited about this new venture working with my mum to combine afternoon tea with a professional make-up lesson, sounds like heaven to me!
I have also had a few fun shoots recently, one in particular shot in such a beautiful countryside location in Henley with its own private railway, it really was amazing see a few of my images below.

For all enquiries please see http://www.nikimakeup.co.uk/