My summer Essentials....

I often get asked by my clients and friends what make-up and skin care products I use so today I thought I would share with you my personal summer essentials that I use everyday.

Inside my bathroom cabinet:

Bodyshop Cocoa Butter I Have used this product since my early teens, it is a very rich intensely hydrating moisturiser that is great for very dry skin and cracked heels and elbows as well as leaving skin gorgeously soft and glowing. It smells divine!

Creme de la mer the gel cream I have been using creme de la mer skin care since my early twenties and thoroughly believe in this 'wonder' cream. I occassionally break out in eczema on my eyelids and face and this cream is the only cream I have found to beat it! I absolutely love the silky, light feel of this luxurious face cream.

Creme de la mer eye balm I also use the eye balm patted very gently around the orbital bone area night and morning. I have to put a little on my eyelids aswell as they can get very dry.

Urban Retreat Ultra fast tan During the summer months I always apply a fake tan to achieve a healthy looking golden glow. This year I discovered Urban retreat's spray on tan in a can which gives a great naturally even and surprizingly long lasting colour.

Clarins Eau Dynamisante Invigorating fragrance Once again a staple summer fragrance that I have continously used since my mid teens, it is a gorgeous summery and light refreshing scent that evokes memories of holidays gone by. I usually carry this in my bag and spritz away throughout the day. It definitely has 'the feel good factor'.

Loreal Eye Absolute Eye & Lip make-up remover I only discovered this product recently but absoloutely love it! I use it every night to easily and gently sweep away all traces of eye make-up. I also use it in my make-up kit-it removes even stubborn waterproof mascara with no effort at all. It is non-greasy but has the feel of water so it is suitable for sensitive eyes and contact lens wearers.

Aveda hand cream I have tried a lot of hand cream's over the years but I always come back to this one. I try to use it everyday but often forget... It is extremely hydrating and smells pretty good too.

Aveda foot cream I have used this foot cream on and off over the last ten years, it really is great for moisturising and softening hard soles and I love the minty invigorating fragrance as you apply it.

Nivea Light SPF 20 I always use this if I know I will be out in the sun as I find I still tan but without burning and its great as it is non greasy.

Boots Soltan SPF 50 Stick I have used this product for a couple of years now. I have a few large scars so I apply plenty of this to them before I leave the house in the morning and quite often carry it with me for touch ups through out the day.

Inside my make-up bag:

Laura Mercier tinted bronzing gel I have used this product every summer for years now. It achieves a gorgeous, natural and glowing tan for the face and saves me having to wear foundation or damage my skin by getting a real tan. I have not found another product that even comes close to this it truely is amazing!

Lancome Bronzing powder I have used lancome bronzing powder for years and love the natural sunkissed look it achieves. I sweep it all over the face and neck with a large powder brush to achieve a natural finish after applying my Laura Mercier gel.

MAC studio finish concealer A fabulous concealer that provides ultra long lasting coverage, I use this under the eyes mixed with a little moisturiser and apply it directly to blemishes.

YSL Touche Eclat Another staple product for me that I have always used. I apply this over concealer under my eyes to highlight any shadows. I also use it around the mouth to accentuate the cupids bow and detract from shadows at the corners of the mouth.

MAC Eyepaint 'Untitled' I have long raved about this product it is better than any other primer or eye base I have tried! I use it on almost everyone, it is my favourite product in the world and I hope it is never discontinued! Apply a small amount over the lids to keep eyeshadow in place all day without creasing and it also evens out the skin tone on the lid perfectly.

MAC Eyeshadow 'Amber lights' This is my favourite colour eyeshadow to wear-a beautiful bronze. It opens my eyes and contrasts well against my dark brown eyes. It is a wearable everyday shade that even I am probably stuck in a rut with!

MAC Lipstick 'Faux' I have worn this colour most of the time over the last seven or so years maybe with different lip pencils and glosses but it is my favourite muted pink for everyday. The main reason behind this is many years ago when I first wore it my partner exclaimed "That's a lovely lip colour on you" and bearing in mind I worked at MAC at the time and he saw me in all sorts of make-up looks on a daily basis and never ever commented this comment stuck and I have pretty much worn it ever since....

Body shop brow gel clear I have always used a brow gel everyday without fail to keep my brows looking polished and well groomed. Brush through in an upwards direction and smooth over with fingertips to shape.

Maybeline False Effect Mascara At the moment this is my mascara of choice. It is always hard trying to find the perfect mascara but this one pretty much ticked all the boxes with me. Its reasonably priced and made the most of my short, fair lashes.

MAC creme blush 'Virgin Isle' I mostly use this colour during the summer months. It accentuates a tan beautifully. It is a bright orange that may look a little scary in the pot but if you pat on the apples of the cheeks and blend well it will create a fresh healthy flush of colour.

Well thats all my current fave's I hope you have enjoyed reading this as much as I have enjoyed writing it. Enjoy the summer!

IN THE NEWS

ASOS Fashion Show:

I recently was part of the make-up team at a fashion show for ASOS at Mary Ward House in London. All of the models were brave staff members strutting down the catwalk as part of their Big Social yearly event where all ASOS staff get together!

Claire Cox headed up the hair team and Jenny Glynn the make-up team. There were forty models, twenty five female and fifteen male and between four hairstylists and four make-up artists we had two and half hours to do the hair and make-up.

The hair was worn high up on the girls in a bun, the guys had minimal grooming literally a touch of concealer and powder if necessary. We painted the girls nails prior to make-up in a deep berry shade.

The make-up look consisted of moisturising the skin well to begin then mixing MAC Strobe cream with foundation to achieve a dewy finish. We used MAC pigment in pink opal mixed with Elizabeth Arden 8hour cream on the high points of the face to achieve a strong highlight. Eyebrows were defined and the eye sockets strengthened using MAC texture eyeshadow. One layer of mascara finished the eyes. A touch of cream blush in Tint by MAC on the cheekbones to define a little and the lips were a Strong berry getting ready for autumn winter trends already!

Below are some of my personal snaps from the event.

IN THE NEWS: ALL FOR EVE

A new beauty brand 'All for Eve' has launched exclusively to Harrods Urban Retreat by beauty entrepreneur George Hammer. The range is designed to create awareness of gynaecological cancer and donates 100% net profits to the 'Eve appeal'.

The line consists of six products including a red lipstick, body butter, body lotion, hand cream, body wash and a swarovski crystal nail file. Each product is designed by a leading industry professional for example, the red lipstick is designed by celebrity make-up artist Daniel Sandler. Another two products will launch in June including a nail polish created by nail queen Sophy Robson and a rich and moisturising body scrub.

The products have already received numerous industry beauty awards.

Every year one million women worldwide are diagnosed with gynaecological cancer, 18,000 of those are in the UK. The Eve Appeal is determined to create awareness and raise funds for gynacological cancer.

Products can also be purchased online at either www.beautique.com or www.hqhair.com.

IN THE NEWS:HISSYFIT.

I was recently given some training on the Hissyfit range so I thought I would share with you a little information about the products.

Created in Australia, by Australian Olympic Gold Medallist Louise Dobson and magazine editor Sue Smethurst. Neither could find a foundation that offered maximum sun protection so they created their own. The Hissyfit range is now available at Urban Retreat, Harrods, London.

This unique range offers products for the face, body, hands and lips, providing sun protection, skin care and make-up all in one! The fantastic 3-in-1 benefits include *Mineral beauty *SPF50 and *Anti-ageing skincare. Vogue Australia says... "It's the holy grail of make-up".

Products include....'Saving face', a super smart 3-in-1 foundation offering broad spectrum protection SPF 50, flawless coverage and anti-aging botanical extracts. Contains a blend of mineral powders and natural sunscreens. You can choose from eight carefully selected shades to match every skintone (nude, light, sand, medium, fresh, rich, latte, and mocha).

'Body double', a body lotion that pampers with a 'couture' fragrance, intensely hydrates and protects the skin as well as fighting the effects of environmental aging. Contains SPF 30+ and UVA/UVB protection.

'Handy work', is a personal favourite! An anti-aging hand cream that uses botanical extracts and broad spectrum protection SPF 30+ to fight the visible signs of aging, whilst intensely hydrating.

'Lip service', I adore this glossy lip balm, it offers anti-aging SPF 50 + UVA/UVB protection, whilst moisturisng the lips using shea butter, jojoba oil and vitamin E. Available in four great shades including berry, guava, plum, and toffee plus a clear shade. I have been using the clear over my favourite lip colour to add protection, shine and nourishment to my lips and I must say it feels and looks great!

Products are paraben free and water-resistant. Prices are also very reasonable with all products under £25.00.

See www.hissyfit.com for more information.

IN THE NEWS: FOUNDATION /BASE BRUSH

FOUNDATION/BASE BRUSH:

This brush is made from synthetic hair and suitable for use with the majority of cream/liquid based cosmetic products as it is easy to clean afterwards. For hygiene reasons this brush should be cleaned after every use as foundation for example will 'go off' on the brush overnight. Use a shampoo and warm water or a professional brush cleaner, after you have cleaned the brush leave it to air dry on the edge of a surface so that air is able to circulate the entire brush head.

Apply foundation to the tip of the brush only, there is no need to apply foundation to the entire brush head. Begin by applying foundation to the centre of the face nose, forehead and chin using the brush to blend the product outwards evenly towards the hairline, you generally need a little more coverage in the central parts of the face. I mostly opt for a dampended brush to apply foundation as it makes the brush easier to control.

Use the brush to blend the foundation until you can see no visible strips of colour. When applying product to the brush do not rub the brush into the product, apply a minimal amount of make-up to the brush tip and apply a little to the face at a time. Keep adding more product and blending until you achieve the desired coverage you are looking for. This is great because you can achieve a very natural coverage or a heavy duty coverage depending on how you use the brush to control the product. When applying the make-up use a firm yet gentle pressure to control the application. If the end result appears to thick and heavy, you have either applied to much product to the brush or simply added too much not knowing when to finish. Use only the tiniest amount of foundation at a time to see a difference, less really is more!

A foundation or base brush as they are sometimes known can also be used to apply other cream and liquid products as well as simply foundation. I often use them to apply cream or liquid blushers as well as liquid bronzers and highlighters. This brush is also ideal for applying body make-up, perhaps a highlighter across the decolletage or concealing a scar or tattoo with cover-up make-up.

Foundation brushes may not always be convenient to everybody for every day use in our often hectic and busy lifestyles, however they are certainly worth using for a great night out or a special occasion. Using a brush to apply foundation results in a flawless and an ultra long-lasting finish to your make-up. As with all make-up brushes invest in one and look after it and it will last you a very long time.

Beauty Tips: Bridal Make-up

Beauty Tips-Bridal Make-up:

Create a “timeless” look with your bridal make-up. Ideally it should be a little stronger than you are used to wearing. You still want to look like ‘you’ although you want to look at your absolute best and have wonderful photographs to prove it.
Whether you have opted to hire a Professional Make-up Artist for the day or have chosen to apply your own make-up it is worth having a trial run at least one month before the wedding. This gives you plenty of time to make sure you are happy. If you are looking for a Make-up Artist, it is often good to go on recommendation from a friend or search the internet and choose after seeing the artists work and previous experience.

Product tips:
Invest in a primer. It keeps make-up in place all day. A silicone-based primer will even smooth out fine lines and open pores to achieve a flawless look. A great example of this is Daniel Sandler Retexturising face primer £20, Urban Retreat Harrods.
Use waterproof mascara to avoid any smudges or mascara running disasters. I recommend MAC Splash-proof mascara £10.50.www.maccosmetics.com
Opt for an eye-base before applying eye-colour, it will keep eye-shadow fresh all day and prevent colour creasing. I like Laura Mercier Eye Basics £18.00 Space N.K
Powder using a translucent compact, this will set the make-up. Translucent will not change the colour of your chosen foundation. Keep a compact with you during the day for touch-ups and to remain shine-free in your important photographs.
Choose waterproof/long-wear products wherever possible to ensure your make-up lasts well into the evening.

Make-up tips:
Choose a lip colour one or two shades deeper than your natural lip-colour to show in your photographs.
Always try the make-up in good light, natural daylight is best and try to wear light clothing similar to that of your dress to reflect the make-up at its best.
When applying eye make-up use a lighter colour on the majority of the lid and a deeper shade in the socket line to define and open the eyes. I would experiment with shades of taupe and brown.
To brighten eyes use a dot of highlighter at the inner and outer corner as well as under the arch of the brow, to make the eyes look bigger add a white eyeliner to the inside rim of the eye.

See Niki’s Bridal Make-up examples at www.nikimakeup.co.uk

Beauty hygiene tips:

Are you guilty of holding on to your favourite cosmetic and using it until the bitter end? Do you own a cracked broken compact? Using an old dried out mascara? Own an embarassing dirty make-up bag? If any of these sound familiar you might like to read on…

Clean make-up brushes and beautifying tools such as eyelash curlers and tweezers with an antibacterial hand wash/shampoo and warm water. Place some cleaning product in the palm of your hand, hold each brush under warm water then work bristles into the cleaning product until the brush is free of all make-up. Rinse and shape the brush so the hairs are not splayed, dry on the edge of a work surface so the air can circulate the brush head.

Sponges and puffs can be cleaned in the same way. Regularly clean make-up bags with a household cleaner and sponge or if suitable place in a washing machine. Foundation, concealer, cream blush and lip brushes should be cleaned after every use. Make-up will “go off” on brushes over night. For speed, invest in a brush cleanser which you can use daily. Pour onto a paper towel and gently wipe your make-up brush through until clean. I recommend MAC Brush Cleanser £8.00.

Never share cosmetics or brushes this transmits bacteria and can cause infections. Keep cosmetics in a dry area away from direct sunlight/heat as this will breed bacteria and lessen the products shelf life. If you want to help products last longer a great tip is to keep any cream/liquid cosmetics in a refrigerator. See the published shelf life printed onto the back of all beauty products. The product will show a small symbol of an open jar with a number i.e. ‘12M’ showing how many months until the product expires. Use common sense if something doesn’t look or smell right throw it away.

Below is a general guide to the shelf life of products:
Mascara 3-6 months: Mascara has the shortest shelf life as bacteria live in our lashes so the moment the mascara wand touches the lashes, bacteria is transferred to the product tube or to the other eye. Bacteria thrive in dark warm environments, within six months a mascara tube will be over run with bacteria.

Concealer: 6-12 months.
Gel/liquid liners: 12-18 months.
Foundation: Up to 12 months for water based/oil free as these tend to dry out quicker and up to 18 months for oil/silicone based.

Creams: (blushers/highlighters/shadows) 12-18 months

Lipsticks and glosses: 1-2 years

Powders: (blusher/bronzer/face powder) 2 years

Eye shadows: Up to 3 years

Eye and lip pencils: Up to 3 years