March Update!

It has been a busy month of bridal makeup and hair trial's in my new garden studio which I am absolutely loving working in.   I am looking forward to Spring when the outside decking and path area can finally be completed.

Here are some of the gorgeous ladies I have had the absolute pleasure of working with during March.  I am so looking forward to a super busy April, wedding season is in full flow now. I am seven weddings in this year already it is definitely THE year to get married!

All Enquiries via www.nikimakeup.co.uk

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

Tuesday Tip!

Dry, cracked lips? Well here is my top tip for smooth moisturised lips!

In my job as a Makeup Artist I have met with hundreds of women over the last twenty plus years who suffer mildly or quite severely from dry lips especially in winter when we are indoors with the central heating full blast and then go outside and it is freezing cold.

Most women and girls that I meet apply lip balms that are often made with mineral oil or petroleum jelly.  These both sit on the surface and do not re-moisturise. Ingredients such as phenol, salicylic acid and menthol used in many  lip balms can also dry out lips, so it can become a vicious cycle for many, the more balm you apply the drier the lips become. Plant oils and purified lanolin are the best choice for keeping lips soft and comfortable.

Personally I have worn lipstick or lip gloss pretty much every day since my teens and I have never suffered with dry lips. I am a firm believer this is due to the lipstick/gloss worn as more often they contain a number of nourishing ingredients, feel comfortably hydrating to wear and keep lips protected from the elements.

Here are some of my favourite hydrating lip colours for a natural day look:

https://www.bobbibrown.co.uk/product/2342/40428/makeup/lips/lipsticks/nourishing-lip-color#/shade/Blush

https://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/product/13854/88565/products/makeup/lips/lipstick/lustreglass-lipstick?shade=Hug_Me

https://www.charlottetilbury.com/uk/product/matte-revolution-lipstick-pillowtalk

https://fentybeauty.com/products/gloss-bomb-universal-lip-luminizer-fenty-glow

Give my lips tips a try and do let me know how you get on!

February Update!

I cannot believe as I sit writing this tomorrow is the 1st of March time is flying past this year so far! Oh and not to mention one of my favourite days of the year Shrove Tuesday, which means pancakes lots of pancakes!

I have just returned from a few days break in the Cotswolds as I had a wedding at beautiful Caswell house www.caswellhouse.co.uk on Saturday and it was also the 25 year anniversary of when my husband and I met so we thought it would be nice to escape.  We had such a lovely stay touring the lovely Cotswold villages, there really is so many things to see and do there and we were lucky the weather was so unusually sunny with perfect cloudless blue skies although absolutely freezing!

Wedding venue goals at Caswell house with a lovely bridal prep' room as well.  Check out those glorious  February blue skies!

I have been busy with trials this month ahead of spring summer weddings and also had four weddings so a very early start this year for wedding season!  I am also very booked up this year now although I do have a few gaps here and there and I am taking 2023 bookings, indeed I had a 2004 enquiry today!

Lots of hair styling lately, part up part down styles are always a favourite and a timeless option.

Looking forward to a very busy March, I am just generally trying to keep on top of things at the moment as I have never been so busy and there is only one of me!

I am so looking forward to brighter warmer days ahead...roll on Spring.

www.nikimakeup.co.uk

www.nikimakeup.com

Friday Fave! La Mer The Cleansing Foam

I brought this to try in the Black Friday event before Christmas as I have wanted to try the La Mer Cleanser for some time.  I have used the moisturising cream and eye balm for many years and have always been very pleased with them both.

I have to say I am completely converted with the cleanser now too! La Mer do have a few different options for cleansers but I have always preferred a foaming cleanser that I can rinse off.

My skin feels so nourished after cleansing with it as well as soothed, calmed and super clean.  In recent years I developed mild rosacea and I swear it has helped using this product it really achieves a calm, soft brightened complexion after use...I love it!

I use a small pea sized amount lathered in my fingertips and applied in circular motions to my face then rinsed off with warm water.  A small amount is enough to remove with ease every scrap of makeup! 

Made with La Mer's Deconstructed waters it effectively draws out impurities and excess oil without disrupting the skin's moisture barrier.

No Parabens, Phthalates, Sulphates.

£75.00 for 125ml 

What to do before a Bridal Hair & Make-up trial!

Collate any images of hair and makeup styles you like and may be considering ahead of your trial, also any dress images and general colour scheme and styling ideas are great to show and discuss with your hair and makeup artist.

Do give your hair and makeup artist as much information and detail about your day as possible so they can offer professional advice on timings and general bridal preparations on the wedding day.

Have clean dry hair ahead of your appointment and no use of straightening irons if you want those curls or waves to hold.

Wear a white or light coloured top to best reflect the bridal makeup.  Obviously if you are wearing a coloured wedding dress wear a similar shade.

Bring along any hair accessories or a veil to your trial if you have them.

If you have a favourite lip colour you would ideally like to wear, take it to the trial to test with the bridal makeup look.

If you are having separate hair and makeup artists try, if possible, to arrange trials on the same day so that you can see the hair and makeup look together.

Have any questions or concerns prepared ahead of your appointment to discuss.

Be open minded and listen to the professional advice offered as it may be different to what you think.

The most important thing is to be honest, if there is something you do not like you must say, after all the purpose of the trial is to get the desired look for the wedding day.

Have a trial earlier in the day if possible so you can see how well it lasts and always give feedback to your hair and makeup artist if something has not lasted well so that they can make the necessary adjustments on the wedding day.

Image www.rafeabrook.co.uk

January Update!

Not the best start to the year I lost my best friend and soulmate my beautiful boy Middy, age fourteen. I am absolutely heart broken. It appears life and work goes on...so I am keeping myself busy with bridal trials and liaising with brides and new enquiries.