Halloween

Aside from glamour/party/bridal makeup...I thought to try my hand at semi grotesque makeup!

This came hand in hand with the party I was attending so I thought oh why not let my hair down (literally) and dress up. Now getting into character was hmm debatable-so I thought why not go as the queen as hearts. My inspiration came from the picture below which I had seen on Pinterest.

Noticing the eye detail I thought as a total amateur I would attempt to combat this look...let me have your thoughts on my picture below.

As I was on a creative streak I decided to do Halloween style makeup on my family members for a party we were attending that evening - clearly we were all in character whilst being clicked.

I created the following in order (L-R)

The devil,

Skeletal pirate,

Anime/bleach character,
Queen of Hearts (on myself),

Skeleton

 

I tied my hair loosely up and had a pretty high bouffant  - so yes there was major backcombing involved as I didn't incorporate any hairpieces or padding and incase anyone is wondering I purchased my outfit from Amazon - although this is particulary risque for myself it was pretty easy to pull off along with the makeup.

Here are close-ups of the four other individual looks I had done on the day - don't they look fantastic in character?!!

I'm keeping this post short and sweet and letting the pictures do the talking.

P.S. Check out my vanilla cupcakes which I took along to the party- they were simply scrummy!

Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick

Aside from liquid foundations I thought I would try something different on my face. Viola I happened to come across this foundation stick at the Bobbi Brown counter and thought I would give it a go. Ladies I can only say good things about this product, not only is the product buildable, it doesn’t leave any streaks when applied and buffed onto the skin, furthermore the creamy texture (due to the shea butter and olive extracts) means you are not dragging the product across your face either.
 

* “It’s creamy yet weightless texture blends seamlessly so it perfectly mimics the look of healthy skin”

This is the perfect foundation if, like me, you dislike the feel and appearance of foundation on the skin. The new formula glides on nicely leaving a really natural finish that is light and breathable.

Unfortunately when I was colour matched using this foundation, the makeup artist at the counter was a tad heavy handed so it looked and felt like an orange mask – So Not Attractive. Nevertheless, I trusted my instincts, took it home and tried it with a lighter hand and a good brush, building up coverage using thin layers which is what I'd recommend.

It also lasted a fair amount of time (still looked good after 13 hours) on my combination skin.

I'd recommend going to a shop if you can to get shade matched and stick to your guns. I have an almond complexion with a yellow undertone (my shade is Warm Tan, 4.5) and for some reason the makeup artists in stores like to go a shade too light or a shade too dark on my skin. Know your colour and your undertone and don't be afraid to say no if you feel it's too light or too dark. I tend to walk out of the store towards natural light and then check my face, as the lighting in department stores won't do you justice!
I purchased the Foundation stick from House of Fraser at £29.00, which came in slightly cheaper than other brands that I have used in the past.

TOP TIP: After moisturising your face and applying your normal primer; lightly apply across forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin. Blend with a good foundation brush, I would recommend the Real Techniques buffing brush, as this is what I use.

This is definitely my new Holy Grail product, and I've already recommended it with confidence to family and friends!

*Quoted from the Bobbi Brown website

Karva Chauth 2014....

Hello all you beautiful ladies on this special day of Karva Chauth.....its my 10th fast so thought I would post on my blog what my look was for the day!

For anyone who is unaware around the Karva Chauth fast...it is a sacred fast which women keep for their husband or future to be. Its kept from after sunrise until the moon is out at night and is a strict fast which is observed without food or drink and is only broken when you have seen the moon and offered prayers.
I believe that it is personal as to why women keep this fast, some keep it for the longevity of their husband and others who observe the fast prior to marriage keep it in the hope of having a good husband...no pun intended!!

Back to the look for the day my outfit and jewellery were gifted by my mum when my son was born so I kept them for today. The hot pink and golden hues are my favourite so I created a subtle makeup look on myself.

I even attempted Mehndi on my hand this year...amateur yes...however not bad for the first try!!

Makeup used to create the Karva Chauth look;

Eyes
Benefit Lemon Aid Primer
Illamasqua Precison Gel Liner

Mac eyeshadow in sushi flower

Urban decay palette 2 eyeshadow in Half Baked

Mac eyeshadow in carbon

Lips

Mac lipstick in girl about town

Face

Bobbi brown skin foundation stick in warm natural

Mac concealer in NC35

Mac mineralize skin finish in soft and gentle

Mac powder blush in peaches

Hair

Sweeped back with a slight back combed bouffant and brought to the side with soft curls.

Hope you all had a blessed day....I will love you and leave you with a final image of me before I left for the mandir this evening...and the lovely present I received from my husband after I had broke my fast.

One Year On As An Artiste...

This month is a special one for me as it marks one year since I've been beautifying clients. I qualified as a Make Up Artiste two years ago but as I was expecting at the time I decided to focus on my pregnancy and impending motherhood (as no one explained the joys of morning sickness and having to roll out of bed...sober.) When my son was a few months old I then decided I could manage being a mother and a makeup artist and successfully juggle the two - as this is key! At this time my sister-in-law pushed me by creating social media accounts and a business image for myself, which anyone starting a business will tell you it is the foundation to a successful one! I'm so glad she helped me out as the combination of managing a newborn and sleepless nights takes it toll on your creativity and as any new mother will tell you it isn't at the top of your list to do anything for yourself.

The last year has consisted of me getting myself out as a brand and recognised in this ever evolving industry. In January, I completed another course to refresh my skills and add bridals to my portfolio, this gave me the confidence to take on more bookings. The result of this meant my name was being recommended amongst clients as my portfolio grew and grew with experience in different areas such as Bridal and occasional. 

Thank you to everyone who has helped me along the way, to be where I'm at right now within a year is pretty good and I can't wait to see what happens in the next year or so. Also thank you to everyone who reads my posts and follows my experience through my social media accounts, your feedback means a lot! 

Photoshoot at Hilton Hall

A team of makeup artists who qualified at the Arman Milind Academy in January 2014 decided to get together and organise a photoshoot. As I had previously done a shoot only in March, I decided to take the reins and actively help to organise it. 

It was on a bigger scale this time with 4 MUAs, 3 photographers and 12 models in total!

We held the shoot at the Hilton Hall in Wolverhampton which I found very picturesque. Having already done a traditional bridal shoot, I wanted to combat the occasional hair and makeup and english bridal looks as those tend to be more in demand, I chose 4 looks which I thought best described my flair for makeup and hair.

My first model was Simone, I opted for vibrant colours to enhance her natural beauty and compliment the outfit she was wearing. I used MAC eyeshadows mostly on her to bring out the deep purple and bright pinks mixed with an Urban Decay eyeshadow named half baked from the naked palette number two.

Make-up used on Simone:


Eyes:

- MAC Eyeshadow in Vibrant Grape.

- MAC Eyeshadow in Carbon.

- MAC Eyeshadow in Sushi Flower.

- Urban Decay Eyeshadow Half Baked from their Naked Palette - Number 2.

- Illamasqua Gel Eyeliner in Black

Lips:

- MAC Lipstick in Girl about town.

Face:

- MAC Studio Fix Foundation NC20.

- MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Light Plus.

- MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle.

- MAC Powder Blush in Style.

Hair:
Here I created a low bouffant style and used a long hair piece to sweep the hair to the side. This hairstyle is particularly popular for parties this season.

Kavita was my second model and I felt she had the face for a classic vintage style which was really suited to her. The soft colour used on her eyelids complimented the sharp red on her lips. The face was very softly contoured around the jawline and cheek area. I wanted the hair to be the main focus for this look, therefore I opted for a bold and fabulous hairstyle.

Make-up used on Kavita:

Eyes:
- MAC Eyeshadow in Electric eel.
- MAC Eyeshadow in Cranberry.
- Illamasqua Gel Eyeliner in Black.
- Lancome Mascara in Hypnose.

Lips:
- MAC Lipstick in Russian red.

Face:
- MAC Powder Blush in Prism. 
- MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Medium Plus.
- MAC Studio Fix Foundation in NC45.







Hair:

I created a vintage low bun with a high bouffant. This look was created using heated rollers and hair pieces as Kavita's hair was only above shoulder length - this proves it doesn't matter what length your natural hair is as a hair piece can be styled to mimic natural hair. 

TOP TIP: If you're thinking of investing in a hair piece, I advise you purchase natural hair rather than synthetic as it is easier to style and it will keep for years - so basically it's an investment! Keep the hair piece in good condition by washing after each use and storing in something like an airtight container to keep away from dust (no don't vacuum pack it - and yes people have tried it.)

When I looked at Kezia, I immediately thought of an English rose theme combined with the 50s inspired Audrey Hepburn look. The eye socket area was softly contoured to enhance her natural eye shape and the cheeks and lips had natural hues to emphasise the English rose inspired look.

Make-up used on Kezia:

Eyes:
- Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick in Beige.
- Urban Decay Basics Palette Venus, Faint and Walk of Shame. I used Venus in the inner corner of the eye to open the eyes, Walk of Shame was used all over the life and Faint to contour the eye socket.
- MAC Gel Liner in Dip-Down.
- MAC Eye-pencil in Smoulder against her lash line and then blended it.

Lips:
- MAC Lipstick in Please Me.

Face:
- MAC Powder Blusher in Peach.
- MAC Studio Fix Foundation in NC20.
- MAC Mineralise Skinfinish in Light Plus.

Hair:

This style was a Audrey Hepburn vintage inspired look, this combined with the subtle makeup proved to be very popular amongst clients. This was evident as when I uploaded the pictures to my Facebook, it had over 3,000 viewings which speaks volumes itself.

I used a hair-piece to create this and placed it underneath to create the volume and laid her natural hair on top to hide the hair piece which resulted in natural looking hair.

My final model Gurpreet had sultry eyes, therefore I wanted to emphasise the bold smokey eye look with gold glitter as this was on trend at the time of the shoot and has been requested by many clients since seeing these images. I got the inspiration for the hairstyle from the popular Bollywood film Om Shaanti Om, which saw Deepika Padukone styled with inspiration taken from the 50s/60s.

Make-up used on Gurpreet:

Eyes:
- MAC Eyeshadow in Carbon.
- MAC 3D Gold Sparkly Chunky Gold Glitter.
- Benefit Eyebrow Kit in Dark.
- MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack.

Lips:
- MAC Lipstick in Twig.
- MAC Lipstick in Russian Red.

TOP TIP: When creating a look which involves a precise eyeliner flick I would recommend you use a MAC 210 Precise Liner Brush. This is because the brush allows you to get as close to the lash line as possible, also the product doesn't clump on the brush when being applied because of it's shape. Therefore there is no fallout of product on the face and you also end up with a more precise line meaning a cleaner finish.

Face:
- MAC Studio Fix Foundation in NC42.
- MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium plus.
- MAC Powder Blush in Springsheen.

Hair:

This style was created using the models own hair.

I did however use a little padding underneath the bouffant, this was primarily used to hold the jewelled hair piece in place securely.

I opted for a low bouffant style with flat curls, this incorporated a vintage theme which was the look I wanted to achieve as it complimented the outfit. 

TOP TIP: I recommend using padding underneath updo's if you are intending to wear any jewelled hair accessories. The padding means your hairstylist has something to secure the accessories to, meaning it will stay in all night no matter how much you dance. It's also fantastic for adding much needed volume for bouffant hairstyles. 

I would just like to say thank you to Armani Boutique and Bangle Box who supplied all the outfits and jewellery. Also, a huge thanks to the photographers - Gregory Mason, Nisha Chohan and Dharma Images who worked hard with me to capture the look I had in mind. Last but not least to my four stunning models, in order of appearance: Simone, Kavita, Kezia and Gurpreet, who allowed me to create my desired looks on them to showcase my work.

Bobbi Brown Hydrating Eye cream

I’ve been using this product for little over a year now, morning and night religiously. After spending a small fortune on countless eye creams I thought it best to invest in a product which may be expensive but worthwhile.

Since hitting the late 20’s I've found the under eye area isn’t as firm as it use to be (late nights out partying haven't helped I would imagine)!!

I tend to apply the hydrating cream with my ring finger, patting it down gently under the eye as this ensures that the product is spread out evenly and not too much pressure is applied. I do this until the cream has been fully absorbed - this does not take too long as the cream is mineral-water based therefore its very lightweight.

The cream has many natural properties such as Aloe Vera, Jojoba seed and witch hazel extract to name a few...these ingredients help to soothe and revitalise the area.
I've found that the hydrating cream works well as a primer too, helping my concealer to glide on better and leaving it streak free - which is always a plus!

Since using the cream my dark circles appear to look reduced and the puffiness around the eye area has also decreased. I find if I go a day without applying the cream I can tell a noticeable difference as the skin around my eye area feels dry and tight.

The cream is marketed at £32.00 for a 15 ml and it tends to last me around 4 months of twice daily usage.

My First Photoshoot...

As i've not posted on my blog for a while (apologies) I thought I would start off with informing everyone of my first photoshoot which I did on mother's day.

It was pretty daunting for me....to say the least, it wasn't just about being face to face with a client....I found myself surrounded by other professionals within the industry who were established...from photographers and models to other makeup artists.

The first shoot was themed natural, I worked with a model called Sunita by firstly taming her hair into gentle curls using rollers, after which I ruffled the hair with my fingers, applied hair spray which completed the look.
The makeup was kept very subtle with 'sweet lust' applied on the whole of the eyelid and eyeliner to the top of the lash line(product list below)

I used Studio Fix foundation as I wanted a full coverage matt look and I set the makeup in place with a mineralize powder. I kept the cheeks very subtle again using beiges to add a shimmer and a healthy glow to the face.

Product list - Au Natural

Face
Foundation: MAC studio fix NC35
Powder: MAC mineralize in medium plus
Cheeks: Bobbi Brown Shimmer brick in 'Beige'

Eyes
MAC fluidline in black
Bobbi Brown soft kohl pencil
MAC eyeshadow in 'Sweet Lust'

Lips
MAC Freckletone

                                              Bridal
The second look which I created was the 'Classic Bride' which I was the most excited about having never done one before!
I had my model Rajan's hair up in rollers whilst I started to prep her face with Laura Mercia (product list below)
I used a combination of colours to create the vintage style eye with a bold eyeliner to finish the look. They were blended using the MAC 252 brush which for me is a god send in the world of blending!

Rajan's hair was put up into a classic bridal updo with a slight bouffant to the front allowing room for me to place her tikka (headpiece)

I found the whole experience fabulous working alongside some great people.....pictures are below from the day until the next shoot ladies and gents....

  
Product list -Bridal

Face
Foundation: NC37 MAC Mineralize
Powder: Mac Mineralize in medium plus
Cheeks: MAC powder blush in Plum Foolery
MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in Gold Deposit
Laura Mercia Primer

Eyes
MAC Nocturnals pigment set in bronze and white
MAC fluidline in black
Bobbi Brown soft kohl pencil
MAC eyeshadow in Carbon
MAC eyeshadow in butterscotch

Lips
MAC lipstick in 'Russian Red'
MAC lip pencil in 'Redd' 

Credentials: Thank you to 'lishe Boutique' for the bridal attire and 'Gregory Mason Photography' for the pictures attached to this post.