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.

Eye shadows to make your Eyes Pop!

If you have ever wanted to know which eye shadow colours are best for you read on!

If you have brown eyes generally you are quite lucky as most colours will contrast your eye colour.  Choose from greens, blues, greys and plums, it is a case of experimenting a little and finding out which colours you like and feel most comfortable in.

Some colours I love for brown eyes include:

MAC Humid (green)

MAC Amber lights (bronze)

MAC Woodwinked (gold)

Charlotte Tilbury Queen of Glow palette

For blue eyes opt for warm shades of peach, coral, bronze and terracotta. Silver and grey tones are also a good contrasting choice for blue eyes if your preference is cooler tones. I love the below shades:

Charlotte Tilbury Copper Charge Palette

Charlotte Tilbury Rock Chick palette

MAC Soft Brown (peachy brown)

Your favourite Bronzing powder also works a treat!

It is a great idea to bring out any green flecks in Hazel eyes using purple and red shades. 

MAC Sable (gold plum with bronze) 

MAC Corduroy (red brown)

Charlotte Tilbury Golden Goddess Palette

For Green eyes red tones such as pink,violet, plum, purple, burgundy all look great and gold!

The colours below are trusted favourites of mine:

MAC Swiss Chocolate (red brown)

MAC Corduroy (red brown)

MAC Beauty Marked (black/plum)

MAC Sketch (burgundy with red shimmer)

MAC Shale (mauve)

MAC All That Glitters (gold)

I hope this helps and Happy Shopping!

www.maccosmetics.co.uk

www.charlottetilbury.com

 

Spring 2022 Beauty Trends

Stuck in a rut? Bored using the same makeup and doing the same old...? 

Look no further read on to find out what's new for 2022 Spring beauty and how you can style it to suit you.

Embellished Eyes... adorn with stick on gems, crystals, studs and diamantes.  Use ready made stick-on ones or apply with eyelash glue. As seen at Etro.

https://www.feelunique.com/p/Kryolan-Body-Jewels?curr=GBP&gclid=CjwKCAiAz--OBhBIEiwAG1rIOqcV_OzhveI8Qt_hgWEewsu6HIXE6AFdSXi9w8YTwdKT59wapBGjjxoCQb8QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Diffused Lips...  softly stained lips achieved by patting colour mostly onto the centre of the lips.  As seen at Helen Anthony.

A Pop of Glitter...  we all need a touch of sparkle to take us into Spring simply apply to face and body and even hair, as seen at Blumarine.

Stacked Hair Accessories... Glam up your hair for Spring by stacking up those clips, ideally in bold block stand out colours.

Smoke it up for Spring... smokey eyes are a classic, soften for Spring using brown tones as seen at Altuzarra.

Contour Blush... The new flushed contour.  Place blush high on the cheekbones and blend onto the temples and eyes as well. As seen at Anna Sui where blush took centre stage.

My favourite blushers are by Nars https://www.narscosmetics.co.uk/en/orgasm-blush/0607845040132.html?cgid=blush

Neon Eyes...  Brighten up your days with a subtle line or wash of neon colour. Try Urban Decay's Green pencil. https://www.urbandecay.co.uk/en_GB/eyes/eyeliner/wired-24-7-eye-pencil/ud1009.html

 

Glossy Nineties Lips are back!...   Pouts at the ready, grab a nude gloss like Fenty Gloss bomb https://fentybeauty.com/products/gloss-bomb-universal-lip-luminizer-fenty-glow

Luminous skin...  Glossy lips can be accented with glossy eyelids and cheekbones for 'All out Glow'. A must have product for this look https://www.elizabetharden.co.uk/eight-hour-cream-intensive-moisturizing-hand-treatment-1001196N440.html?cgid=skincare-skin-reliever

Minimal Foundation & Concealer.... Yes you read that correctly gone are the days of packing on thick layers of heavy base makeup.  For Spring skin can actually look like skin (music to my ears!)

Tailor at least one of these new spring trends and I challenge you to try something new! Let me know how you get on, I would love to hear. I don't know about you but I am definitely going to try a neon eye liner.

December Update!

Apologies I am a few days late with my December Update but I am easing back into work a bit slower than usual after slowing down over Christmas! I have enjoyed such a lovely long Christmas and New Year break down in Cornwall with family and friends.  It was so good to all be together even though things still were not quite "normal".  We were flow testing daily, no hugging and kissing outside our bubble, keeping distance as much as we could, limiting time with different family members and we even missed a new year party but it was perfect all the same just a bit different to the norm'!

Below are a few of my snaps. 

My pooches always love opening Christmas presents too, they are twelve and fourteen now never too old!

We enjoyed so many lovely dog walks.

Fowey, is definitely a new favourite of mine.

My Homemade Christmas pud goes down well every year.

Beautiful St Ives

Marazion

But now it's back to it! 2022 is a busy year for Weddings, I have almost 60 booked already this year. I spent yesterday contacting March-May brides to arrange pre-wedding trials.  Brides after May will be contacted next week.  I cannot wait to meet everyone! I have my brand new garden studio all set up and ready to start working in so I am super excited. If you are getting married this year and reading this do book your suppliers sooner rather than later as it unusually busy due to the pandemic.  I do still have availability this year and I am also taking bookings for 2023.

Wishing you all a very Happy & Healthy 2022!

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All Enquiries via www.nikimakeup.co.uk