Makeup Girl Says

Foundation Application

2012-02-14T10:51:00.001-08:00

A question that I get asked often.....

"How should I apply my foundation?"

Firstly, I'd like to say that there isn't really a 'wrong' way to do makeup.

There are, however, things you can do to make application easier and give a better/smoother result, so that's what I'm talking about here.

You can apply foundation with your hands, a sponge or a brush (or a trowel in some cases ;p) and it's mostly personal preference as to what you use, but the type of foundation you use might determine what's best.

So, whichever implement you choose to use, make sure it's clean to start with - you don't want to go rubbing bacteria, crusty makeup and old face-grease back into your skin do you? That's exactly what you're doing every time you use your makeup-encrusted brush or sponge that used to be cream but is now a browny/orange colour! Gross, I know! You should really try and wash your brushes once a week to keep them in good condition and nice and fresh, sponges every few days. Use an anti-bacterial soap, rinse well, gently squeeze excess water out then lie flat to dry overnight on a clean towel.

Applying Your Makeup:

*Gently blend the makeup onto your face, starting at the centre and working outwards - this will help to avoid too much makeup in the hair line or around the jaw line.

*Finish using gentle downwards strokes - smoothing down the tiny hairs on your face so they don't end up pointing in all directions!

If you're using your fingers, the warmth from your hands will warm up the foundation and make it that bit easier to blend into your skin. You can apply cream, mousse or liquid foundation this way. Be gentle, especially around your eyes, and use your fingertips to stroke the makeup over and blend in into your skin, not drag your face around! Using your fingers will generally give a full coverage and can be hard to ensure everything's gone on evenly.

If you use a sponge the same follows: Smooth don't drag the makeup over your skin, not forgetting to blend around the edges of your face. Use a sponge for creams, mousse, liquid or powder. Sponges will suck up more makeup than brushes or your fingers, so they can be a waste of foundation and are harder to control the amount of makeup you end up putting on your face. They are also harder to clean properly.

Using a brush is by far my preferred method - it keeps your hands clean, the brushes are easy to wash and if you look after them they will last a long long time!
The classic foundation brush is great for liquid foundations, especially if you like a fuller coverage, and many have a curved or angled edge that make it easy to get right in by your nose and eyes so you don't miss a spot.
The duo fibre brush is my personal favourite. The black bristles are natural and the white synthetic and it makes a little foundation go a long way. Once you're done swirling the brush round your face you're left with an airbrush-like finish as the makeup has been buffed to perfection! What's more these brushes can be used with any type of foundation, wet or dry. You only need a little on the brush and then using gentle circular motions sweep the makeup over your face.
You can also use a blush brush in the same manner - the soft and fluffy bristles will mean that the makeup is dispersed evenly over your skin and is well blended.

There are a lot of good makeup brush suppliers out there now, and although MAC do great brushes, I can also highly recommend Royal & Langnickel and Crown.

Bridal Shoot with Gillian Million Wedding Accessories

2012-02-13T09:00:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago I spent a lovely morning with Gillian from Gillian Million Wedding Accessories and Barney from Timeless Pictures for a photoshoot show-casing some of the gorgeous bridesmaid and flower girl accessories that Gillian has in her shop.
She is a very talented lady, hand-making everything herself in the little workshop in her shop on Teddington High St. It is certainly well worth a visit for any bride-to-be who might be looking for hair accessories, jewelry, veils, and many other beautiful sparkly things!
Our models were some very lovely young ladies who I'm sure loved every minute of dressing up in the gorgeous dresses from Little Bevan, and fresh flower head pieces and bouquets from Rosaberg Flowers. The head pieces for our bride in this shoot were also Gillians handiwork.
Here are some of my favourites...

New Nail Love!

2011-11-16T10:23:00.000-08:00

I've been getting back into painting my nails lately, in an attempt to stop me picking at them and let them grow a bit (I'm a terrible nail-fusser!)

The is my latest favourite look - bright base with crackle on top.

The crackle nail varnish is not that new anymore, but I thought I'd do a little write up on it anyway since everywhere I go people ask me about it - obviously there's still lots of people who need to see this stuff as it's quite cool!

As my base colour I used Rimmel 60 seconds varnish colour 819 Green With Envy, a lovely metallic turquoise and over the top I used OPI Black Shatter.

I love the Rimmel nail varnishes as they come in loads of cool colours, dry really quickly and are a really good price! They also last quite well on the nail, as long as you use a top coat.

I reckon it looks pretty cool, and I have to say it has lasted well - this picture is after 3 days wear!

The crackle/shatter varnish goes on quite thick and cracks as it dries on your nail. It take a bit of practice to get the hang of it - if you double back over a bit you've already painted it goes a bit funny, but you get used to it quickly. It dries matt, which is quite cool, but with a lick of top coat you can turn it glossy.

To give your nail polish the best chance of survival, use a good base coat onto a freshly squeaked nail*, which gives the varnish something to cling to and protects your nails from being stained.
I always do 2 coats of polish (if I'm just wearing a colour) the first very thin, then follow with a great top coat to prevent chipping. If you want your colour to last extra long you can apply a new layer of top coat each day. I'm loving Barry M's Basecoat/Topcoat/Nail Hardener All-In-One, it works really well on my rubbish brittle nails!

So what do you think?!

* using a cotton pad swipe over your nail with nail varnish remover so it's squeaky clean ;) Even if you don't have any polish to remove this will clean off any natural oils or residue from day-to-day stuff on your nails.

2011-10-25T05:30:00.000-07:00

So here it is my latest editorial hair styling work, featured in C-Heads Magazine.
This issue the theme was wonderland, and our shoot was entitled 'Bird of Paradise'...

photography: Rossella Vanon
model: Kara @ Profile
makeup: Katie Wilton
styling: Marina German
hair: Natalie Guest

Way back, but, what the heck!: Beauty Writing no.2: Lumine Style Magazine

2011-10-05T11:35:00.000-07:00

Just sifting about on my computer and I found this article that I never blogged a while back.
Slightly out of date, but the tips are still relevant as bright lips are always popular!

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I recently did a bit of writing for Lumine Style Magazine. This was at the request of the editor after she had read my blog!! Yay!
The first issue was published online at the beginning of this month. You can find my article on page 29.
But for those of you who don't wish to search, here it is:

My Bride: Blogged!

2011-09-02T06:05:00.000-07:00

One of my lovely Summer Brides has had her carefully hand-crafted, DIY, vintage-inspired wedding featured on the lovely wedding blog The Ebury Collection.
See the story and beautiful images here: Sophia & James' Chic Vintage Wedding

Sophia looked stunning in her Sassi Holford dress, as did her bridesmaids in their dresses from Coast. I did hair and makeup for Sophia and her 3 bridesmaids, here are some of the images that she sent me...

Published Again!

2011-07-27T03:18:00.000-07:00

Beauty & Bones Editorial published again!

This time in online & print fashion editorial mag Etoilee...
Click here to see the rest of this lovely magazine and buy your copy!

Hot Vintage Bridesmaid Dress, or 'What should I wear to my trial?'

2011-06-08T09:09:00.000-07:00

I had a hair and makeup trial with one of my lovely Winter Brides the other day and although she loved the look, she was having a hard time feeling 'bridal' in her work dress and slippers.
In order to get into the feel of being 'The Bride' and get to grips with the vintage-inspired hair and glowing makeup we had settled on, I suggested she get changed into something with a similar colour or neck line to her wedding dress.

Lo and behold, it turned out she had her sister's bridesmaid dress at the house and so she swiftly got changed.
Well all I can say is WOW what a difference that outfit change made!

I've always advised wearing something with a similar neckline to your wedding dress for your trial. Seeing that extra bit of neck, shoulder and decolletage can really make a difference to how you look, and how you feel about your wedding hair and makeup, especially when the alternative is jeans and a t-shirt!

I just had to write this, not only because it was a great example of how what you wear can really influence how you feel at your trial, but also because the bridesmaids dress in question was absolutely fabulous!

This picture does not do it justice, but it is gorgeous - very vintage looking with beautiful detailing on the shoulder straps and a lovely golden champagne colour. You wouldn't guess where it's from either - John Lewis! Details below if you would like to track it down to have a closer look, which I'd strongly advise if you're going for a vintage theme to your day. Dress by John Lewis: Uma Satin Back Crepe Dress

Papercut Editorial

2011-06-01T10:00:00.000-07:00

New editorial published in Papercut Magazine!
Loved this shoot - really creative, lots of fake hair and hair pieces, massive long plait!
See larger images here: PAPERCUT

Shot by Rossella Vanon,
Hair by Natalie Guest,
Makeup by Katie Wilton,
Modeled by Irena Kiseleva.

Behind the scenes, Teddington shoot

2011-05-19T05:07:00.000-07:00

Oops, well it's been a while since my last post, but it's only because I've been soooo busy! Never a bad thing, so that's certainly not a complaint.

Last month I did quite a lot of photoshoots, and have been getting some of the results back over the last few weeks, which has been very exciting. I can't show all the pictures, as some are going for submission to various places, but I thought I'd share some behind the scenes pics of a shoot I did based in the comfort of my own home! It was lovely not having to lug my kit around and we made use of the lovely day by the river and over the bridge at Teddington Lock. I love the results, and even these images are pretty cool too - looking good unretouched.
Thanks to photographer Jenna Davies for great images and the lovely models from D1.

Prepping for a slicked back wet-look, and faux-afro hair!

Unique Bridal Shoot... Images

2011-03-17T11:39:00.000-07:00

Yay!

So, I've got the pictures back from the shoot with Unique Dress, Hearts N Crowns!
These are my favourites!...

Unique Bridal Shoot

2011-03-14T10:54:00.000-07:00

New Photos!

I joined forces last week with some of my wedding supplier friends for a bridal photo shoot session!

Bridal shoots are always fun and give a good opportunity to do multiple looks in one day - a good challenge for everybody involved!

So, I thought I'd include a few behind-the-scenes pictures of the shoot in this blog before you see some of the finished images, which I'll post soon.

The makeup stayed the same for all the looks as I wanted something to be constant throughout, but I changed the hair style for every new dress we shot.

The jewellery and hair accessories were all provided by Jess from Hearts n Crowns and I loved how her quirky, pretty and alternative pieces go so well with Ali's vintage-y, one-off Unique Dresses.

We were shooting in Ali's studio where she works her dress-making magic, which you'll see in the lovely garments in the finished pictures which I will post soon!

Thanks to Church Photography for taking the pics!

Look Good... Feel Better

2011-03-01T11:51:00.000-08:00

Whoever thinks that makeup can't make a difference to the world... think again.

Look Good... Feel Better is a charity that runs classes in hospitals all over the country (and all over the world), where ladies going through the traumas of cancer and it's treatments can come together and learn about skin care and makeup. Their aim is to empower women with the ability to combat the visible side-effects of their treatment by restoring a positive self-image, confidence and a sense of control.

Participants of these small classes get a lovely goody bag filled with products (all donated by some of the best know beauty brands) and are talked through a step by step process of cleanse, tone, moisturise and makeup application, including eyebrow-pencilling and lashline-emphasising for ladies who are suffering hair loss.

I am proud to be a new volunteer for Look Good... Feel Better, and having just joined I am very much looking forward to my first class at Kingston Hospital in March.

If you know someone who would benefit from a class, or you're a makeup or skin care professional who's interested in volunteering, please go to the Look Good... Feel Better website for more information.

Real Bride: Jenny

2011-02-02T03:10:00.000-08:00

So I just got some pictures from a lovely bride who's wedding I did in July last year.

I love it when people send me pictures of how they and their bridesmaids looked during the day, it's really nice to see everyone looking so happy!

Just thought I'd share a few of the pictures that Jenny sent me - love the one of their first dance!

Should I Work For Free?

2011-01-21T12:59:00.000-08:00

Possibly one of the best things I've seen in a while:

Should I Work For Free?

Naked Bodycare send the Freebie Fairy!

2011-01-19T10:38:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I don't actually know who the Freebie Fairy is, but whoever they are I'd like to thank them!
A little while before Christmas I received a parcel in the post, which turned out to be a hair product from Naked Bodycare, the Naked Style Extra Shiny Finishing Serum. I didn't order it, so thanks Freebie Fairy.
After testing it out over the holiday here's what I think of it.
Naked Style Extra Shiny Finishing Serum

They say: Beautiful things come in small packages and this little gem brings instant shine and radiance, putting the sparkle back in your hair. Do it Naked style - our silicone-free formulations allow product junkies the freedom to style their hair without synthetic product build up, which can damage the hair causing weakness and loss of natural sheen.

Moisturising botanical extracts with natural minerals add a glossy sheen.

Veggie & Vegan friendly.

I say: This light weight anti-frizz serum has a lovely smell and when you pump it into your palm (very easy pump action on the bottle) out comes this shimmering glistening cream. It looks pearly and shiny, very pretty in fact, and it has this effect on your hair too!
Having used this product over the holidays I always noticed a marked difference in my hair before and after application of this product. I'm often pretty lazy with my own hair styling and when it's looking a bit wild I just slick a bit of this finishing serum through the ends and stroke it though my hair and it feels sleek, does indeed look shinier and smells great.
At £4.99 it's a pretty great price for an all natural, ethically produced product that actually works!

So just a little more info on Naked Bodycare for those of you who haven't heard of them....

They make beauty products for body, hair and face, and don't use any harsh chemicals or nasties in their production - hence the '97% Natural'. (The other 3% are preservatives & emulsifiers to stop things going off and separating).

These products are really pretty ethical, clean and skin & environmentally friendly. Here's why:

- They don't contain any parabens, petrochemicals, sodium laureth/lauryl sulphate or phthalates, which can all be highly irritating, especially for dry, sensitive or eczema-prone skin.

- All their bottles are made from 50%-100% recycled plastic, and all their postage materials for online purchases are environmentally friendly recyclables.

- All products are made in the UK using as many locally-sourced ingredients as possible. Other international ingredients and materials are sourced responsibly from sustainable and community-based sources.

- None of their products, nor any of the ingredients have been tested on animals.

As if all that was not enough their products are very reasonably priced, with no products over £8 in their online shop and most hovering around £3.99. Plus if you are buying online there is free postage on orders over £20.

If you're like me and you care what you put on your body and what goes down the drain, then these products fit the bill and what's more, are kind to your pocket!

Bridal Shoot, The Grange at St. Pauls

2011-01-16T13:16:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!

Well, it's been a good while since my last post, but after an amazing Christmas and New Year holiday, which included getting engaged to my darling man, I have lots and lots to write about!

I was lucky enough to get some lovely goodies in my stocking (!) and some of them I just have to rave about!

But first I wanted to share some images from the last bridal shoot I did in December, with photographer the lovely Mortiz Leonard, at amazing location - The Grange Hotel which is directly in front of St. Pauls. I think you'll agree the location made for some beautiful pictures :)

Back To the Tips!

2010-11-18T14:58:00.000-08:00

So it's been a while since I issued one of my many tips.
Fear not dear reader, for here's another one. . . . . .

For Luscious Lashes, Leave 'Til Last!

Whether you favour a volumising one, one that adds length, one that curls or one that does all three (or claims to at least!), ensure you get the best out of your mascara and leave it’s application until last.

When you use powders on the eyes or face some will always fly loose and settle on your lashes. If you’ve already applied your mascara before powdering, the powder will fall on your lashes, stick and make them look dull and messy.

If you apply your mascara last you’ll be covering up all the powder on your lashes which has the added benefit of making them look thicker! Add a couple of coats of mascara for extra volume, not forgetting to do both the upper and lower sides of the lashes. For added oomph, use lash curlers to open your eyes up even more.

You should curl your lashes before applying mascara, not afterwards. If you do it afterwards, firstly you might crack the mascara coating your lashes and will get some drop down onto your face, and secondly you might actually damage your lashes and end up with shorter ones where they've broken!

So, when it comes to luscious lashes it's powder, curl, apply, apply!

I believe that you don't have to spend a lot on a mascara to get great results.

At the moment I'm using Maybelline Falsies on myself and, once I got used to the curved brush, am loving the effect it gives - really lifts and curls.

I also love the Lash Stylist which comes with a comb-like applicator to smother on the product - it adds loads of volume and really lifts and separates!

Brilliant retro fashion films!

2010-11-04T12:30:00.000-07:00

I have a new favourite channel on You Tube!
Just stumbled across Glamourdaze, who has a whole bunch of films from the 20s, 30's, 40's and 50's.
These include fashion tips, hair styles, and beauty routines.
Check them out they're definitely worth a look!
Find the vids here: http://www.youtube.com/user/glamourdaze

My Work Station

2010-11-01T12:26:00.000-07:00

I was working yesterday on a photo shoot and there was a little down time between the changes of looks for the model so I thought I'd take a few pictures of my work station.

It shows a small part of my makeup kit - I was only working on one model, but you can get an idea of some of the products I use and how I work. Thought some of you might like a peek!

Below are some of my fave products - I use Makeup Forever a lot as they are a quality pro brand, and I love my Ben Nye Lumiere palatte!

Young, High & Dead: Teaser Trailer!

2010-10-26T12:15:00.000-07:00

Check it out, first rough cut of the trailer for Young, High & Dead!

Young, High & Dead

2010-10-26T01:26:00.000-07:00

So here are a few pics from behind the scenes of Young, High & Dead:

I made the hands using gelatin and a fake arm that one of the production team sourced mysteriously from who knows where! The stunt hand, which had to be severed, proved to be quite tough and resilient to being chopped up by an axe, but our director Luke Brady eventually got the better of it!

A bit of movie trivia: There wasn't time for me to take a cast of the actor who's hand this is supposed to be so I had to use my boyfriend's hand!

Although it might not look like it, this here is the lovely Su Elliott, who was up for everything her role involved: Rolling around on the forest floor, getting her head slammed in (not actually!) and being covered in various bloody goops lying in the dirt for about half an hour! A very cool lady.

And below we have our leading lady: Louisa Lytton.

She threw herself into her role, which involved being wrapped in chains, running round the forest and being splattered in sticky blood almost every day! She's very sweet, despite looking quite fierce here!

You can see more images from behind the scenes here on the facebook page. Become a fan!!

Every Busy Makeup Artist Needs a Little Rest...

2010-10-24T14:17:00.000-07:00

So, after a very busy few weeks that saw me stressing about wedding fairs, fake hands and horror movies, I finally had a few days off to have a little rest!

For the last part of September I was running around a muddy forest in Dorking, working on location for Young, High & Dead, a horror flick that I've been involved with as makeup and effects designer and key makeup artist. You can see a bunch of stills from the rushes on the facebook fan page here - get clicking that like button!

We had a great cast, including fab actor Philip Barantini from Band of Brothers, and the lovely Louisa Lytton and Hannah Tointon.

Stay tuned and hopefully soon I can get some pics up here from behind the scenes.

Towards the end of the month there was the Landmark Arts Wedding Fair in Teddington, which saw myself and my 2 assistants do bridal hair and makeup for 10 models in just over 3 hours. Yes, that was TEN hair and TEN makeups in THREE hours!!! Quite an achievement, and it is a testament to my lovely helpers that we got everyone done in time for the bridal fashion show. I will be in possession of pictures from the show soon. One last mention must go to my wonderful boyfriend, who designed and source parts for my lovely stand at the show. Without him it would have been an ugly table with a grey background, so thanks dear!!

Animoto Slideshow

2010-10-12T05:11:00.000-07:00

So I'm just doing a bit of work today on SEO for my website and images and have stumbled across this site Animoto. You can create slideshows of images and so I've given it a go - always trying to get my name out there and expand my reach across the internet, thus bringing more traffic to my sites. At least I hope so!
Here's the link to my little slideshow: Natalie Guest Makeup

New Bride Pics!

2010-09-14T09:21:00.001-07:00

Thanks to Carolyn who sent me some lovely pictures from her wedding, which was held at the Caledonia Club in Belgravia in July.

Her dress was vintage inspired and she decided to go for a vintage look for her hair and makeup to compliment the dress.

I created 40's style waves at the front and sides of her hair and swept them back into a low off-centre bun, which was decorated with vintage inspired hair accessories. For her makeup we continued the 40's theme with a small wing-flick at the outer corner of her eyes, and a lovely deep red on the lip finished a look that is very popular at the moment. As you can see she looked lovely!

"I just want to thank you for your patience with our wedding. And I know that I was a bit of a mess during our trial and was frustrated by the hair. However, I received more compliments on my hair style than anything else at the wedding! Seriously! It was beautiful. Thank you so much." Carolyn.

Calling All Brides-To-Be!

2010-09-13T09:47:00.000-07:00

On Sunday the 26th September I will be hosting a stall at the Landmark Arts Wedding Fair in Teddington.

As the makeup and hair provider for the bridal fashion show, my work will be on display on models in 2 catwalk shows during the day.

I will also be giving demonstrations of popular bridal hair and makeup looks.

So grab your free glass of bubbly and come visit me at stand 34 for a free consultation and great show specials!

7. Layer For Longevity

2010-09-08T09:14:00.000-07:00

Wish your makeup would stay put? Feel like your foundation shifts over the day? Hate those panda eyes from smudged eyeliner? All these problems can be solved simply, by applying your makeup in layers.

Face

Before applying your foundation, apply a primer over your face. This will help your foundation adhere to your skin, it will make your skin look silky smooth and will also help your foundation to last all day. I like Barbara Daly's 'Face Lift', which gives a lovely glow and plumps up the skin. (Yes, that's the Barbara Daly stuff you get from Tescos!) Follow up with your foundation, whether it be liquid or cream, preferably applied with a brush so as to use less product.

Liquids and creme makeups, once applied to the face, still retain these qualities, so if you want them to stay put for longer you need to 'set' them. This can be done using loose or pressed powder, applied with a brush or puff, all over the face. Whether you use a puff or a powder brush depends on your desired result - use a brush with light sweeping strokes for a more natural look, or press on with a puff for a more vintage, powdered look. If you're after that dewy, glowing look use only a very small amount of powder over the forehead and nose, leaving the cheeks and temples, although remember that this makeup may not last as long.

Eyes

Believe it or not your eyelids are the greasiest parts of your face! In order to keep your eye makeup looking fresh all day you have to prep the skin underneath it first, or your lovingly applied eye makeup may have a tendency to shift and crease.

Before applying eyeshadow, put down a base of foundation or concealer on your eyelid, followed by a loose powder or natural shadow to set it. Even better, use an actual eye lid primer. I like MAC's Paint Pot in 'Painterly' This base will act as a primer for your eyeshadow and prevent it from shifting and creasing throughout the day. It will also act as a great base over which to blend your shadows and finally, using a primer will let the colours of your shadows come through truer as they have a good opaque base underneath.

For eyeliner, simply press a little powder over the top using a small powder or angled brush. Remember that eyeliner is another cream makeup, it's just in stick form, so still needs to be powdered. You can use translucent powder, or a matching colour eyeshadow for greater intensity. This has the added bonus of helping fill in any gaps in between your lashes and make them look thicker and fuller. Finish with a good coat of mascara.

6. Keep Things Tidy

2010-08-26T09:23:00.001-07:00

6. Keep Things Tidy

If you are going to be using bright colour powders or dark eye shadows it’s a good idea to do your eyes first, before your face. This way if there is any powder drop-down you can simply wipe if off and apply foundation and concealer to a clean under eye area, instead of having it drop and smudge all over your perfectly blended base!

When doing a makeup I will almost always start with the eyes: Apply a primer as a base so that the shadow will last longer, or make a colour grab and pop, next gently powder the primer, then apply the shadow to the lid. After I have done all the eye shadow, and pencil If I'm using it, I will clean underneath the eye and on top of the cheek bone, where often small particles of powder will have dropped. Only then will I begin to apply the base - on a nice clean face with no annoying smudges on the foundation or powder sitting under the eye to accentuate any dark circles or bags! I always leave the mascara until last. Why? Well, that's a tip for another day! Stay tuned!

5. Less Is More

2010-08-23T14:15:00.001-07:00

5. Less Is More

When it comes to using the right amount of makeup,
most of the time less is more.

Makeup should enhance your natural beauty:
Highlighting your best features and gently hiding blemishes,
not look like a mask and covering up your face.
You can always add more a lot easier than taking it away!

Bear this in mind when applying foundation - you can always add more,
and do so a little at a time.
Apply your concealer after you have done your foundation
as this way you will only use it if you need to.
Often small blemishes are covered up by your base, and if you do concealer
before your foundation it may even be wiped off or smudged around
when you apply your foundation!

4. Blend A Good Base

2010-08-15T08:13:00.001-07:00

4. Blending A Good Base

A well-prepared skin is the basis for a great makeup job, and after skin prep (cleanse, tone, moisturise again!) it starts with getting the right shade of foundation.

When you're in the market for a new foundation, instead of testing them on the back of your hand, try colour-matching vertically on your jawline. A well matched foundation should blend easily into both face and neck. If you still feel a little pale, add a summery glow with bronzer. Don’t try and make yourself darker with your foundation, you'll only end up looking like you're wearing a mask.

To apply your foundation you can use whatever you prefer - fingers, sponge, or a brush. Just make sure your hands or tools are clean. Sponges and brushes harbour bacteria that can be spread around your skin every time you use them on your face, so make sure you clean them regularly. I clean my brushes after every time I've used them, but for your own brushes or sponges, once or twice a week should be fine, depending on how often you use them.

Before applying your foundation you might want to start with a primer. This will help smooth out your skin and give a lovely surface for the foundation to cling to. Primers can be mattifying, line-reducing or skin plumping and will also help your makeup last longer.

To apply your foundation, start in the centre of your face and work outwards, blending the product onto your skin and leaving no harsh edges or uneven patches. Pay particular attention to your jawline, hairline, eyebrows and in front of the ears. You don't want unblended foundation stuck in any of these places!

If you're using a liquid or cream base and you're not going for a shiny or dewy look, remember to powder your face to ensure your foundation stays put. Powdering will set the liquid or cream, meaning it won't shift around on your skin, and means your makeup will stay looking fresh for longer.

3. Nightly Routine

2010-08-12T05:33:00.000-07:00

3. Your Nightly Routine.... (get one!)

If you are too busy rushing out the door in the morning to have a Daily Routine, consider having a Nightly one. You can treat your face well at night to help it heal and regenerate as you sleep. This should include the good old cleanse, tone, moisturise, with exfoliation once or twice a week. The cleansing removes surface dirt from your skin, the toner restores your skins pH balance, and the moisturising replenishes moisture lost throughout the day. Even oily skin needs moisturising - without it you skin will go into overdrive to try and reyhdrate itself and could end up more oily! There are some lovely light-weight lotions out there which suit oily and combination skin better than thicker creams. Exfoliation will remove the more ingrained dirt and stubborn dead skin cells which do not come off with your normal cleansing. Take care that your exfoliation is not too vigorous or scratchy - I recommend using Soap & Glory's Mini Mitt for gentle exfoliation (see review in a lower post).

I also recommend using a face mask once a week, perhaps as you have a hot chocolate (or even a cleansing lemon and hot water) before bed time. For oily or combination skin try a mud or clay mask that will suck out impurities as it dries. If you have dry or sensitive skin try something creamy, gentle and hydrating, perhaps with calming rose water in it. If you've never used a product before, do a patch test before smothering it all over your face!

At night you can take an extra moment to give yourself a little pamper when doing your moisturising by including a face massage. Using long upward strokes, smooth over your decollete and neck, followed by small circular motions working outwards and upwards from the centre of your face. This mini-massaging will help increase blood-flow to the skin, which will help flush out toxins and aid in the overnight renewal process as your skin works hard while you get your beauty sleep. Plus you’ll feel lovely and relaxed before bed!

...Mud Mask.... Cucumbers Optional!....

2. Clean Up...

2010-08-11T03:53:00.000-07:00

So, here's the next installment of my top ten tips.

Clean Up Before You Hit The Sack

Even if you’re tired (or tipsy!) it’s never too late to just quickly clean off your makeup, especially your foundation. Your skin regenerates at night, so if it’s covered up with makeup it can’t really do that so well. Have some face wipes handy to at least give your face a quick once-over for those occasions when you can’t go through your normal nightly routine. I'll talk about getting a good skin-care routine next time, so keep watching!

I like Cucumber Wipes from Boots - they smell lovely, plus they're inexpensive and almost always on 2 for 1 special offer!

Top 10 Tips. 1. Keep Hydrated

2010-08-10T09:43:00.000-07:00

As I might have mentioned before, a while ago I was asked by the editor of new magazine Invazian to write a top ten tips for the first issue of the mag.

It was pretty hard to whittle down everything I know into only 10 tid-bits of information, but eventually I managed and so over the next few days I'll be posting those tips here for you! Some are the usual stuff that you might have heard a thousand times, but guess what? It's because they're true!! Hopefully there'll be something here you didn't know too. Let me know what you think!

Keep Hydrated

You’ve heard it before I know, but it really can make such a difference to your well-being: Drink lots of liquids, most importantly water (but other liquids like juices, tea, coffee and soup count too). An easy way to achieve this is to have a bottle of water on hand throughout the day and you’ll find yourself sipping away at it without realising it, making this goal a lot easier to reach. Keeping skin hydrated from the inside goes a long way to keeping it supple, youthful and clear and there are many other benefits too. Being dehydrated can lead to lack of concentration, and often we confuse our body’s urge to drink with the desire to eat, so topping up on fluids regularly means having more energy and being more alert and not feeling so peckish for naughty snacks!

First Wedding Fair!

2010-07-11T08:52:00.000-07:00

I'm very excited as this week I have confirmed my place at my first ever Wedding Fair!

I will have a stand, have two scheduled demos, and what's more I will be doing all hair and makeup for the models in the bridal catwalk show!

Having secured this profile-boosting position as makeup artist and hair stylist of Teddington Wedding Fair I have a lot to sort out, but am already planning my stand and the various looks for the bridalwear models.

So, here's to next year and getting lots of bookings for the lovely brides that will see me on the 26th September at the Landmark Arts Centre in Teddington.

Sculpting in the Sun

2010-07-02T13:53:00.000-07:00

The last few days have been very satisfying for me as I have been able to combine two things that I enjoy a lot. Sitting in the warm outdoors, and sculpting.

After a successful life-casting session last week, I had the weekend away in Germany for a nice little holiday before getting down to the business of sculpting.

So the last couple of days have been spent sitting outside my workshop, with my table in the sun, (nicely softening my clay - an added bonus) whilst I listen to my favourite tunes and get to sculpt all sorts of interesting things.

So the reason I won't be sculpting tomorrow, is because I will be on a photo shoot with one of my fave photographers, Paul from Floyd & Phoenix. We are doing a debutante-style shoot for Tattler Magazine, which is amazingly exciting! I'll keep you posted when I know what issue it's going to be in.

Published Again! This time it's KBrat Handbags

2010-06-18T03:36:00.000-07:00

Just found out I've had another piece of work published!

An article on KBrat Handbags, in Scout Magazine, a US mag, features hairstyling by yours truely!

Gotta love the big hair look ;)

You can see the whole Scout Magazine here, just click on the 'View Current Issue' tab in the Resources section.

Latest Fave!

2010-06-18T03:27:00.000-07:00

Today I'd like to share with you my latest fabulous discovery!

I guess this will be my first review on my blog, and what a great way to start - with something I think everyone should go out and buy!

It is the Face Massage Mini Mitt by Soap & Glory, who produce all sorts of delightful-smelling, gorgeously-packaged, lovely bath, body and beauty products.

It's a little circular rubber pad with a little handle, perfect size and easy to hold whilst using it.

Use it by itself or with a blob of cleanser to give your skin a thorough clean and exfoliate at the same time. The little bobbles on the pad gently massage your skin, which increases circulation, helping regeneration and keeps skin looking fresh and glowing.

I have been using mine for a few times a week for about a month now, and I have to say I have noticed a difference in my skin tone since I started using it. My skin feels smoother and looks brighter. In fact I think I will start using it once a day from now on - even with my sensitive skin it is so gentle and a pleasure to use!

And at £4 it's a total bargain!

Rush to your nearest Boots, pick one up and get exfoliating!

Fashion Shows, Front Covers, Feature Films. . . .

2010-06-18T03:22:00.000-07:00

Every now and then, after a particularly busy week perhaps, I have a moment of realisation that what I do for a job is pretty cool.

This weekend was certainly a hectic one, but very rewarding and this week has panned out to be full of interesting opportunities, and finally today, a day of rest!

Fashion Shows......This weekend I travelled up to Birmingham to take part in a fashion show, featuring clothing from brands such as Coast, Juicy Couture & Puma. I do not take part in too many fashion shows, as to be honest, often they are crazy-mad and rushed backstage. There's never enough room or time to do stuff and it's generally quite stressful. However after being asked by the organiser of the event to style hair for the show I decided to dip my toe back into the waters of live fashion events! Having worked on runway shows at New Zealand Fashion Week I know how manic things can be, but it's been a while and this was a small event.

I have to say that the show went really well, and was one of the best organised and easy fashion shows I've ever worked on and after a relaxed prep, I managed to get in about 4 or 5 hair changes during the show, pretty good considering there was often about 25 seconds in which to get the model out of her clothes and into the next outfit! Maybe I'll try a bit more runway this year after that experience, who knows?!

Front Covers......Next job was on Sunday - a photoshoot for brand new magazine INVAZIAN. We were shooting pics for the cover and an editorial spread inside, so it was another long day with about 4 different looks, but the photographer was great and I can't wait to see the end result!! Invazian will be a free publication available in many outlets across Birmingham, and also selected places across London. This is particularly exciting for me, as though I have had front covers before, they have been for online fashion magazines and this will be my first printed fashion publication! Woop woop!

Feature Films......After a mysterious request from a director for a meeting about a large prosthetic project, I agreed to a rendezvous - eager to hear more. I have worked with him and his fellow director before on a feature last year, Fly Trap, and so was keen to hear about their next project. Needless to say it's quite hush hush, but it sounds very cool and most exciting of all, I will have free reign over the design of one particular character and all the prosthetics involved! Can anyone say 'alien'.....