Friday Fave! Milani Baked Blush shade 05 Luminoso

This isn't America's iconic No.1 baked blush for no reason. It is in many a make-up artist's kit and celebrity makeup bag.

This blush is slow-baked on terracotta tile, begining life as a cream dough mixture infused with multi-dimensional shimmers and colours that swirl together and dry down into a beautiful silky-smooth powder that provides a natural enhancing colour and glow. Skin immediately looks youthful, radiant and healthy on application. 

I love the Buildable colour!  It is easy to apply and blends effortlessly.

'05 Luminoso' is my favourite shade a gorgeous warm peach that suits so many of my clients and is in my personal make up bag too.  A firm "Friday Fave!"

I also love shade '01 Dolce pink' if you prefer a pink toned blush!

Lasts up to 12 hours and is newly infused with antioxidants.

Available in 8 shades.

RRP: £14.00

Vegan, Cruelty free, made in Italy. 

Shop here:

https://go.shopmy.us/p-94102975

Friday Fave! Rare Beauty Positive Light Silky Touch Highlighter

Rare beauty a brand by Selena Gomez is vegan and cruelty free.

I firstly just love the product name "positive light" I am all about positivity especially as I sit here on the rainiest, greyest May day...I belong in the sunshine.

I had a good play with this brand on holiday last week in Marbella where incidentally it was definitely sunny and positive vibes!

I love the packaging and the texture of this product it is divine (literally like silk)! It is like the finish of a liquid but it is a powder!

The reason I like this highlighter so much is it gives a glass-like dewy glow to the skin that looks so natural! The powder itself glides on seamlessly. 

The best bit it does not sit in fine lines (tested!). It is long wearing (transfer and smudge proof) and water resistant perfect for summer that is coming!

PRO TIP:  I like to apply to the tops of my cheekbones for a killer glow and highlight around my eyes to make them pop under the arch of the brow, centre of the lid and inner and outer corner of the eye.

There are six shades, I opted for shade 'Mesmerize' a rose bronze shade perfect to highlight summer sun-kissed skin.  This will enhance a wide range of skin tones and types (suitable for sensitive skin), I would say suitable for all ages too :)

A firm Friday Favourite and a great new addition to my pro kit!

RRP. £26.00

https://www.rarebeauty.com/products/positive-light-silky-touch-highlighter?variant=40253134930055

FOUNDER QUOTE

“Being rare is about being comfortable with yourself. I've stopped trying to be perfect. I just want to be me.”

SELENA GOMEZ, CA

December Update! Looking back at my 2020!

Sending my Followers, Brides, Clients, Colleagues, Friends and Family Love, Happiness & Good Health for Christmas & the New Year.  2020 has been a challenging year for all of us in different ways but we are all in this together and we all have to keep going!

Looking back at my 2020!

#Barbados

This year actually started off so well my husband turned 40 and to celebrate we went to Barbados at the end of February. We had such a wonderful holiday...towards the end of our stay we started to hear about things getting bad in Italy and people at home stockpiling toilets rolls! We arrived back in March and just two weeks later the UK went into its first Lockdown.  

At the beginning of the year I did manage to meet some lovely Brides for trials ahead of their weddings... some have now had to postpone their date, some cancelled altogether and some actually managed to get married!

Trial photos taken on my I-Phone.

I had some weddings this year and feel very grateful to have been a part of these.  I am also lucky that I work freelance and do editorial and branding shoots which also kept me busy during the summer months. I also qualified for the Government Grant scheme which has been an enormous help and I am so grateful to receive this.

I had time as I had less work to participate in some bridal styled shoots and work with some fabulously talented wedding suppliers.  One shoot even made the cover of Your Herts & Beds Wedding magazine.

I spent much of the spring lockdown painting and drawing which was therapeutic and made me happy!

We embraced the mask!  We enjoyed lazy spring and summer days in the garden and exploring the local Hertfordshire countryside.

 

We managed to have a few days away in September for my Birthday in beautiful sunny Norfolk and in November we had an overnight break in Cambridge which was lovely we actually got dressed up and went "out out" for a meal and cocktails, just before things started getting bad again and the second UK Lockdown began.

I also had time to organise years of work, update my websites and do some training.

I embraced new ways of working!  PPE consisting of mask, visor and gloves.

Finally today on the 23rd of December back in a lockdown (tier 4) after a rainy dog walk I saw this beautiful rainbow at the top of my road a fitting end to 2020!

It will be my husband and I this year for a quiet Christmas as for many of us. We have never done this in all the years we have been together so we will embrace it and enjoy face timing our families.  We have lots of food, drinks and gifts and will be grateful for all that we have and thankful to all those working so hard on the front line every day.  

I wish you all a very Happy & Healthy Christmas & New Year and for those that have employed my services this year for shoots, weddings, lessons, makeovers and purchased my gift vouchers and artworks I am eternally grateful thank you so much for your support it means so much.

Niki 

X

 

FRIDAY FAVE! Bobbi Brown Lip Pencil Ballet Pink

This is such a great nude pale pink that suits so many people! I literally use this all the time in my kit it is one of my go-to lip liners.  If you are looking for a perfect natural pink liner this will likely be it!

It also comes with a sharpener which is an added bonus, I don't know many beauty brands that do this!  The velvety formula smoothly glides on and gives long-lasting definition and these pencils really do stay on well! I often wear it alone applied all over the lip with a little lip balm on top.  Alternatively you can outline lips before or after applying lip colour whichever suits your preference.






.

RRP. £19.00
https://www.bobbibrown.co.uk/product/2343/32757/makeup/lips/lip-liner/lip-pencil#/shade/Ballet_Pink

Tuesday Tip! Exfoliate your way to gorgeous lips!

Exfoliating is important even more so if you have dry, flaky chapped lips.



Keep your lips conditioned by exfoliating the lips no more than once a week.

Exfoliating regularly will remove dry dead skin to achieve smooth soft lips.

You should prep' the lips in this way before you add colour.  Lip colour on chapped lips does not look good!

My favourite way to exfoliate lips is to apply some Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream or you can use vaseline. Then rub gently with a cotton bud all over the lips to lift off the dry skin.

You can also use a soft toothbrush gently in circular motions.

Alternatively use a lip exfoliator or sugar scrub and gently rub off with a warm flannel.

Make your own scrub easily by using one teaspoon of honey mixed with two teaspoons of sugar.

Now you know how and why you need to exfoliate the lips give it a try!

Makeup Lessons, Occasion & Bridal Enquiries via www.nikimakeup.co.uk

Tuesday Tip! Double-Duty Beauty!

If you are pulling in the purse strings or just partial to a beauty trick I hope my favourite 'double-duty' beauty tips can help you!



BB cream, this is great to apply to legs to banish any imperfections.

Bronzing powder, my favourite trick is to use bronzing powder as an eyeshadow or to blend through the eye socket to add definition.

Concealer, if you are out of foundation you can always use a small amount of concealer mixed with moisturiser to give you a base.  This can also be used lightly over the lips as a primer before applying colour.

Creme Blush, will easily double up as a great lip colour simply pat lightly onto the lips for a subtle colour.

Eyebrow Pencil, this can double up as an eyeliner. Warm the tip of the pencil in your palm before application to soften, this will stop it dragging the skin as eyebrow pencils will be harder than eyeliner pencils.

Lipbalm, can tame flyaways, smooth brows, hydrate dry skin patches, highlight skin and moisturise cuticles.

Lipstick, apply a dot to each cheek and blend out well with your finger tips for a complimentary flush of colour to your lipstick of choice.

Mascara, paint onto a separate eyeliner brush to apply as eyeliner.

Mini shampoos, use left over travel size shampoos or hotel freebies to wash your makeup brushes.

Toothbrush, use this to exfoliate lips gently, brush gently through lashes to separate and brush through brow colour to take out excess for a natural look.

I would love to know your double duty beauty tricks, comment below!