More Top Wedding Tips!

For your wedding, more than any other occasion, you want to look stunning

but still natural and like yourself.

Makeup needs to look good in daylight, artificial light and flash photography.

Formulations should be long-lasting to prevent smudges, so consider

water-resistant products if tears are likely.

The key to long lasting makeup is time preparing the skin before hand,

regular exfoliation and proper cleansing routine is imperitive,

and then creating a flawless base that doesn’t look fake or heavy.

Application of a good primer will keep foundation on all day.

When applied wrongly, powder can age you – the wrong shade or

formula can make your skin look grey and flat in the photos.

 Mineral makeup being the exception.

A pretty flush creates a youthful radiance. Choose a blush that adds life to the skin, if you are

 very fair stick to light fresh pinks, pale peach or tawney tones.

The darker your colouring, the more blush you need and the more striking the colours you can get away with.

If you are wearing white and have a cool skin tone, a palette of pearl and soft greys is perfect.

Remember to apply a pale highlighter under the brows with a touch at

the inner corners of the eyes to keep them looking bright.

Bridesmaid Rescue Kit:

Touch–up concealer ( in case of a sudden spot emergency)

Lip Gloss (all that kissing wears it off quickly)

Tissues (mop up any tears immediately, and remember…..dab don’t rub)

Blotting tissues (for those of you with oily skin these are terrific for eliminating shine without disturbing the makeup)

SPF (for summer weddings)

Favourite Products are:

Primer – Mac prep & prime under foundation primer

Highlighter – Mac Vanilla

Powder Blushes – Shu Uemura, Nars and Bobbi Brown

Summer Weddings !

How to prolong your tan :

Skin can feel tight and dehydrated after a day in the sun, so apply an intensive moisturiser to repair, nourish and sooth the skin so it will be less likely to peel. If you use a lotion with a mild fake tan content it will give a subtle intensity to your natural colour without looking fake.

Your normal makeup will look like a pale mask when you have a tan, so use a few shades darker, or do without and use a tinted moisturiser instead, or a radiance cream for a bare faced shimmer.

To revive a fading tan, apply a touch of bronzer on areas that naturally catch the sun. Brush powder bronzer in a T shape over the nose and forehead, with a little on the cheekbones, collarbones, décolletage, and sides of neck.

My favourite summer products are:

Guerlain Terracota Bronzer

Laura Mercier Oil Free Tinted Moisturiser

Sisley Nutritive Lip Balm

Guerlain Kiss Kiss Lipstick (cream)

June '09

Simple tricks for the Bride to be...

Whether you wear a lot of makeup every day, or you rarely wear it at all, here are some simple tricks that will help you look better:

• Apply a little loose powder on your eyelashes before applying your mascara, as this will give a tremendous thickening effect.
• Always apply a treatment balm before lipstick, as it will make your lips look firmer, softer and smoother.
• You should try using a sponge to apply loose powder to the face instead of a brush as it makes it more adherent to the skin.
• Brush clear mascara through the eyebrows to control them and give them a slick, groomed appearance with minimal effort.
• To lighten dark circles, apply a creamy concealor under the eye, up to the lash line and on the inner most corner of the eye using a concealor brush. Smooth & blend by patting with fingers.

Favourite products this month are:

Mac Fix+, a finishing product to be sprayed over the face after makeup application, it is infused with herbs and essences and immediately adds radiance.

Mac Tinted Lip Conditioner in Petting Pink.

Bobbi Brown Longwear Gel eyeliner in Espresso Ink.

May ' 09 

April '09 

 Time to Spring clean your Makeup Bag

With Spring around the corner it is time to do a little sorting in our makeup bags. We all have a tendency to hoard products but unfortunately they are not meant to last forever.

If anything has changed colour, smells differently to the first time you bought it, or has changed consistency, throw it away immeadiately. Here is a rough guide to the longevity of different products :

• Cleansers/Toners/Serums : 2 years
• Moisturisers : 2 Years
• Eye Creams : 2 Years
• Lipstick : 3 years
• Nail Polish : 1 Year
• Facial Scrubs : 2 Years
• Mascara : 8 weeks, the wand comes in close proximity to the eyes, so watch out for contamination
• Powder ( eye shadow & face) : These don't deteriorate, so keep the ones that suit.
• Foundation : 3 mths, if kept refridgerated will last for 12mths
• Sunscreen : 18mths, however some brands vary so check labels for expiry

If you are keeping any pots or jars remove lids and wipe around the rim with an anti-bacterial wipe before replacing them. Thoroughly clean your tools - brushes, sponges, hairbrushes and tweezers. The best way is to wash in Johnsons and Johnsons no more tears baby shampoo, as this leaves no residue. Make sure you rinse thoroughly and allow to dry naturally overnight lying on a flat towel.

Don't keep used dirty sponges, as even washing will not remove all of the grime. Clean brushes daily in between use using by wiping in surgical spirits.

Hottest Spring Makeup Looks :

Joing together bronze eye cream shadow with primrose pink blush and high Gloss lips offers you a refreshing and original spring face for 2010.  Some recommended products to achieve this look :

• Mac : Blushcreme in Posey, Eyeshadows in sublime nature & Naked Pigment
• Nars : Metis Lip Gloss
• Clinique : Miss Hibiscus Lip Gloss, Touch tint for eyes in pink sheen

 March '09

Q : How to choose & apply the right foundation?

  Choosing the right foundation can be difficult on your own, so unless you avail of a private makeup lesson with a reputable makeup artist the alternative is to approach a consultant at a cosmetics counter for advise, they will encourage you to try different colours and textures and will give advise on which suits your skin-tone and lifestyle best. But remember the consultant will usually be selling one particular brand; so go to several counters to get different opinions on product ranges. One thing to bear in mind is that if you have only light freckles it is pointless trying to cover them up with a darker shade, it won’t work! Instead, stick to a sheer foundation, which allows you to even the skin-tone without concealing the freckles. If the freckles are dark and you wish to conceal them use a cream foundation, as its consistency will help with coverage and balancing the skin-tone.

 1:      Apply foundation over freshly moisturized skin, as it is easier to blend, firstly dot foundation on your forehead, nose, chin & cheeks. Preferably using a foundation brush, use light upward strokes to blend foundation. Alternatively use your fingers as the next best thing but avoid sponges at all costs as they are a hive of bacteria and absorb a lot of product, which is very wasteful.

2:      Pay particular attention to the hair line & jaw line as these are the real give-away areas that show if you have not blended properly, and will help you avoid that orange face/white neck look! Always apply in natural daylight where possible.

3:     Apply a little concealor cream over any spots or blemishes. When choosing a concealor a lot of magazines recommend picking one a shade lighter than your chosen foundation, this is correct but only for under-eye concealing of circles and dark shadows. Therefore choose one the same colour as your foundation, which will avoid leaving pale marks on your foundation so you won’t look like your wearing any.

4:     Finally, finish with a light dusting of pressed powder to set the foundation for the day.    

February '09

• Picture Perfect Skin

      Q : How do you prepare your skin for the big day?

      A : To ensure you have picture perfect skin on your big day, I would highly recommend plenty of sleep and water for the approaching months. Nothing ages you like tiredness and dehydration. Also Dermalogica have a skin brightening facial treatment which exfoliates your skin, leaving it positively glowing with radiance. After a course of these treatments you will definitely be ready for your close up

•  Make up artist v DIY Job

      Q : Why book a Professional Make up artist for the big day rather than a DIY Job?

      A : If the brides and bridesmaids book a pro for the day to apply their wedding makeup they need not worry about it lasting. The most up to date quality products will be used which not only provides a photoshoot finish but will save the bride the cost and hassle of purchasing the righ products. Also it gives peace of mind as it takes the stress of getting the application right on the morning themselves. Your chosen artist will offer you experience, reliability and the ability to listen to the clients requirements. When booking a makeup artist remember word of mouth is the best recommendation, so if your chosen artist has been recommended ask for previous clients so you that contact them to chat about their experience.

However if they decide to do it themselves here are a few tips.

1. Apply a primer under foundation, MAC is the best on the market at the moment in my opinion.

2. Use a brush to apply foundation and really work it into the skin with gentle even strokes.

3. Always set the Makeup with a loose powder, it does not leave a powdery look, which a compact powder often can.

4. Bring tissues and cotton buds in case of smudging from tears and do not forget the lippy....

• Spring/Summer Makeup trends for 2009

    Q : What are the key makeup trends for Spring/ Summer 2009?

    A : It is important to remember that your wedding day makeup should be timeless no matter what the current trends are, and they should be adapted to suit the individual. I always like a bride to look radiant, no matter which look she may choose for her big day. This is achieved by ensuring the skin is well primed for foundation and the right foundation is chosen for the right skin type. Once the base is correct she will always look fantastic.

The keywords on the catwalks however are ' playful/romantic/elegant'. Fresh faces with subtle tones of apricots and pinks. Dewy Skin and soft glossy lips. However if you are not used to wearing light shades, then your wedding day is not the day to try something new. Always stick with what makes you feel comfortable and confident.