HOLIDAY FACE

 Zilch! Horrible eye bags, small break out (thanks uni) and very bad brows. Still growing them out... they are very uneven I know.

Hair, make-up and new scarf! 

KEY PRODUCTS:

LAURA MERCIER TINTED MOISTURIZER SPF 20 - NUDE

DIOR EYE-SHADOW - 760 TWEED

SUE DEVITT EYE INTENSIFIER PENCIL - AVA

THEBALM MARY-LOU MANIZER

BEAUTE COSMETICS LIQUI-GEL STAIN - FEVER

ILLAMASQUA LIPSTICK - ENCOUNTER

NYX BLUSH - TAUPE

Hey guys, happy holidays! So nice to play around with make-up and look semi-presentable for once. Very easy soft smokey eye with winged eyeliner and red lips... and of course highlighting.

Have a good holiday and wish me luck on my dissertation!

MUM GETS A MAKEOVER 6

KEY PRODUCTS:

NARS BLUSH - ORGASM

PIXI EYE BEAUTY KIT - NO.3 MAGIC

BECCA BROW POWDER - ASH

ELF TONE CORRECTING POWDER - COOL

Hey guys, here's my mum again! She usually moans that the make-up I do on her is too 'natural' or boring, so I decided to play up with the eye shape by adding some drama and lift. This look could of possibly been more 'night' than day, but the satin finish eye-shadows tones down the intensity - so I think gives an overall soft finish appearance, without looking too overbearing. Everything else was kept soft and fresh to give an appearance of youthfulness (which we all want) :)

CHIARA FASHION BLOGGER EVENT SHOOT

Spencer from Le Bibliotheque rocking a green smokey eye, bronzed skin with glossy lips.

Rachel from Lost In Lipstick with a soft brown smokey eye, defined brows and red lips.

Em from EmTalks sported a warm brown smokey eye, peachy fresh skin and soft nude lips.

I'm usually a behind the scenes girl, but I got asked to take some shots of me doing my thing... so here's a totally non-contrived shot of me touching up Rachel's lipstick. 

Disclaimer: all photos belong to Chiara Fashion.

Hey guys, so last week I had the awesome opportunity to work with Chiara Fashion to be the make-up artist for their blogger makeover event. This was a great opportunity to not only work with a fashion brand but also to get to know some bloggers in person.

I do blog, but I wouldn't call myself a 'blogger' (especially compared to the standards today) - I just keep this as a personal journal. So it was very exciting to meet the girls who do it on a  larger scale and get some insider knowledge on how they keep it up and their motivations in starting in the first place.

The concept of the day was that the girls chose their own outfits and they'd be a photo shoot documenting their looks. It was a pretty hectic schedule so I was doing each girl one after the other, meaning I didn't have time to come onto set to do any touch-ups (until the last girl). I also met a lovely Chiara colleague who also does hair and make-up, so we worked as a duo making up each girl - she did an awesome job on the hair!

I want to say a massive thank-you to the team at Chiara Fashion for inviting me over and spending the day at their studios. I had a really lovely day meeting the bloggers (I'm not just saying that) and being part of the makeover team.

If any of the items from the photos takes your fancy head over to Chiara Fashion! They have some really lovely pieces and I was very luckily gifted an item from their store which I will feature in my next post.

Hope you guys enjoyed this post. Which look is your favourite?

L.F DOES S/S - TWO TONED LIPS

Sophie brought along another Illamasqua card, this time showing how to do a two toned lip. Lips is a territory I'm slowly getting into, so I wanted to try a new technique on Elly. 

Plain face Elly with just MAC's snob on.

 After! It's quite a heavy look with the full brows, eyes and lips.... but I think she pulls this off perfectly. The tones compliments her skin tone and enhances her existing features.

Flash shot to bring out the colours more.

KEY PRODUCTS:

MAC LIP PENCIL - VINO

NYX LIP PENCIL - PINKY

MAC EYE-SHADOW - GULF STREAM

ILLAMASQUA PURE PIGMENT - ALLUVIUM

MAC BLUSH - SPRINGSHEEN

Hey guys, so this is Elly's look! Elly showed me her purchase of Illamasqua's pure pigment in alluvium, which was this beautiful blue-purple shade and so blue smokey eye was the route I decided to go down for her. I used a few different tones to add depth and the teal blue running across the crease I think softens the whole look. I was a bit undecided on which colour way to go with the lips but I'm a total sucker for a dark lip and I wanted to use MAC's vino which was in Elly's make-up bag.

Do you guys like the transformations?

L.F DOES S/S - COLOUR AURA WITH S.K

Sophie came round with some Illamasqua look cards and the 'colour levitation' eye look inspired me to create a colourful smokey eye. I particularity like the use of orange used by Illamasqua, so that became the starting point for me.

Before! Thanks for braving the camera and internet :)

Candy-fairy iridescent goodness!

KEY PRODUCTS:

URBAN DECAY 24/7 GLIDE ON EYE PENCIL - ASPHYXIA

MAC PAINT POT - ROLLICKIN'

MAYBELLINE EYESTUDIO LASTING DRAMA GEL LINER

MAC REFLECTS TRANSPARENT TEAL

MAC EYE SHADOW - OFF THE PAGE, CREME DE VIOLET AND AQUADIASIC

Hey guys, last week my wonderful friends Sophie and Elly came round to be my models for the day. I got total free reign but they had mention they would be going out later, so it was in the back of my mind not to go too crazy. I've probably mentioned this before, but a special shout out to both of them for being really supportive about my interest in make-up. They've been encouraging and there for me since day one, so thank-you so much. It means a lot to me!

With my Illamasqua reference, I used the orange shade as a wash on the lids as the starting point and it just went from there. I wanted to play with colour but for it to be a softer interpretation I've gone down the candy route with the iridescent pastel tones. The use of MAC's reflects transparent teal really finished the look for me, but unfortunately you can see a little stray flecks about.

I hope you like this look and Elly's look will be up on here next.

PROM MAKE-UP - 28/06/13

My gorgeous client, her skin was AMAZING (butter soft and normal skin type = jealous). She has the most stunning facial structure and full lips too. A dream to work with!

After! Smokey brown eye with winged eyeliner to help even the lid shapes and soft blush on the cheeks with a wash of colour on the lips. I've noticed the lip shape is slightly uneven, I'm not sure if it was rubbed off whilst getting her hair done or my error. Not too much of a big deal because my client said she would use something of her own over...... but lesson of the day: double check. 

Hey guys, I didn't think I'd be doing a prom job this year, but out of the blue I got one. I always find it funny when a client asks for a 'natural' look but always shows me a really full on look as a reference. I just went with a look to enhance her features, but be 'glam' enough to be noticeable. Working on the eyes was a good learning curve too, because you might notice her eye lids are both completely different shapes - so the challenge was to use eyeliner and false eyelashes to even them up. I think she looks really beautiful and I'm just slightly annoyed at myself for the lip mishap.

Until next year for another prom job!

MAKEOVERS

Before

After!

I don't have a before photo but the client wanted to look very natural, so I just did subtle enhancements just to define the features slightly. 

My mum has been doing these makeover photo shoots for awhile for fun for her friends, and whilst I'm sticking around I've been roped into doing the make-up. You might see a few more of these if my mum keeps advertising them around to her friends.

MUM GETS A MAKEOVER 5

Mum with nothing, she hates her bags!

My mum going for the Kawaii look. 

KEY PRODUCTS:

BOBBI BROWN CORRECTOR

YSL TOUCHE ECLAT RADIANT TOUCH HIGLIGHTING PEN

BEAUTE LIQUI-GEL STAIN - FEVER

Hey guys, so I'm back home for 'now' so my mum returns on my blog. I got given free reign as usual and I always prefer to do a softer diffused look on her. She has a tendency to be heavy handed and it's very aging and unflattering. I'm also trying to veer my mum onto bolder lip shades. I remember when she used to rock Chanel red lips when I was really young and I always thought she looked awesome... she says her lips are too big, but accentuate your existing features!

FLATMATE MAKEOVER 3

Before

After

Hey guys, so here's Katherine again and this time it's ball edition! I wanted to do somthing a bit different because I usually do a block colour smokey eye, but today I've done the more 'traditional' placement of having the darkest colour on the outside and working in. I played around with a brown gold tone eye and used a brighter shade on the lips just to add some warmth

 I've been spending more time with Katherine recently (if it sounds a bit odd that I'm saying that about my housemate, I usually go into uni 5 days a week and when I do come back home it's usually quite late and I go into isolation mode just to unwind.... open introvert here), mostly eating sushi and recommending make-up products for her, since she's becoming more interested. I hope you guys like it!

My last hand in is on the 7th, so then I'll be freeeeee - YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW EXCITED I AM FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

FLATMATE MAKEOVER 2

 Before

After!

Hey guys, Here's Katherine again. We had a house party/Katherine's 21st yesterday so I volunteered to do her make-up. She's becoming a bit of make-up guinea pig for me. Nothing too OTT but I wanted it to be a bit more dramatic and intense than previous looks I've done before. I initially went a bit too dark but a good tip is to persevere (you have to on clients) and whip out a duo-chrome/shimmer eye-shadow and press on top to soften it all out. So I ended doing a navy-teal eye and everything else was understated and natural. 

FLATMATE MAKEOVER

Before

After!

KEY PRODUCTS:

NARS EYE-SHADOW DUO- MISFIT (TEAL)

MAC PAINT POT - ROLLIKIN

SHU UEMURA EYELASH CURLERS

Hey guys, here's a makeover I did on my flatmate recently for a night out. I've actually done her make-up before but didn't take any photos last time, so here's her debut. With Katherine I mainly focused on correcting her brows (patch) and evening out redness. Katherine's also got a small amount of lid space, so my best advice is to focus colour towards the lash line and optically create more space by also adding shadow on the lower lash line. To frame the eyes I spent my time curling her eyelashes to compliment her lovely bambi-eqsue eyes. 

Hope you guys like this! I'm off to a 60s fancy dress next week so you'll see yet another 60s look from me - love that eras make-up!

BIRTHDAY GIRL!

My beautiful friend. She doesn't normally wear make-up so this was a really fun job! 
KEY PRODUCTS:

NO7 STAY PERFECT EYE MOUSSE - PEWTER

BENEFIT - THE POREFESSIONAL

MAYBELLINE EYESTUDIO LASTING DRAMA GEL LINER - BLACK

BROWS - MAC EYESHADOW IN OMEGA, CONCRETE AND BRUN

17 SCULPTING BROW PENCIL - NATURAL BROWN
SHU UEMURA FALSE EYELASHES

NYX BLUSH - TAUPE

NARS BLUSH - ORGASM

COLLECTION 2000 HIGHLIGHTER - MALDIVES

YVES SAINT LAURANT - LE TEINT TOUCHE ECLAT FOUNDATION

BARRY M GLOSSY TUBE - MATTE PINK

Hey guys, a quick post on the make-up I did for my lovely friend Melissa for her birthday meal! The brief was kind of glam but natural. So nothing too overdone and just accentuating features. From looking at her dress and hair I had a 'princess' style make-up in my head. Very girly - focusing on the eyes (her natural eyelashes are so long AND holds curls..... JEALOUS) but with a pop of pink blush on the cheeks and highlighting work to give the skin a good glow. From start to finish it took me about an hour! 

BEING FRIDA

SOURCE

I referenced to a lot of photos but I decided to use this as my main source for the makeup. Bright lips, blush on the upper cheekbones and obviously the iconic brows. 

Taken after the party so everything's not so 'fresh'. Also I'm not rocking the facial hair - sorry!

My outfit all bought from charity shops, I spent around £20 for everything. 

Hey guys, finally showing my face. I went to my friends 21st where the dress code was to be something from your first or last initial. I decided to go as Frida Kahlo because A. she's awesome B. I've always wanted to rock a mono-brow.

Ironically when my friends first saw me the first thing they noticed was the hair! They didn't even notice the brows until I pointed them out. Shout out to my mum for doing the hair, she did a really good job of doing a plaited up do and securing our home decorations into my hair ha!

You guys like my Frida Kahlo inspired look? 

MUM GETS A MAKEOVER 4

KEY PRODUCTS:

ELF COMPLEXION PERFECTION

BENEFIT CREASELESS CREAM SHADOW/LINER - BUSY SIGNAL

BENEFIT - BELLA BAMBA

NO 7 BLOSSOMING LIP & CHEEK DUO

STILA KAJAL EYE LINER - TIGERS EYE

MYFACE COSMETICS EYETOUCH - A WHOLE LATTE LOVE

BOBBI BROWN CORRECTOR - LIGHT PEACH

MAC STUDIO FINISH CONCEALER - NW 25

L'OREAL GLAM SHINE CREAM - SWEET NUDE

Hey guys, so another mum post this week! Keeping it natural because she was just off to some Chinese opera/play thing, so nothing dramatic. Also I convinced her to dye her hair back to her natural dark tones. I think it suits her more, but what do you guys think? 

PROM MAKE-UP - 30/06/12

Pretty girls for prom :)

KEY PRODUCTS:

MAC BLUSH - SPRINGSHEEN

MAC LIPSTICK - SHY GIRL

MAC EYE SHADOW - SATIN TAUPE, OMEGA AND BRUN

URBAN DECAY 24/7 EYELINER - UZI

NARS BRONZING POWDER - LAGUNA

BOOTS NO7 PERFECT LIPS LINER - NUDE

Hey guys, sorry this is actually from awhile ago! I'm behind with keeping my posts in chronological order.

My only prom job this year but I had loads of fun doing these girls make-up. I kept things quite natural looking but still 'done'.

I think there's a tendency to go a bit 'drag' with prom make-up as you want to transform yourself but less is generally more, especially if you are wearing a statement dress.

L.F DOES S/S - CORAL KISS

I worked on top of her existing make-up which was: mascara and Garnier BB cream

She has the longest lashes EVER.

KEY PRODUCTS:

REVLON SUPER LUSTROUS LIPSTICK - KISS ME CORAL

SHU UEMURA EYELASH CURLERS

URBAN DECAY 24/7 EYELINER - ROCKSTAR

CHANEL ILLUSION D'OMBRE EYESHADOW - ILLUSOIRE 

Hey guys, so this is Elly again who is one of my closet friends from high school. She's just super awesome and positive all the time AND she gets my fascination with make-up - most of my friends just think I'm crazy.

She had a date to go to, so that was the brief - do whatever I wanted but not too 'crazy'. She also bought a lovely coral shade from Revlon that day so i wanted to somehow incorporate it in.

I did all the make-up apart from the base as she just wanted to keep what she was wearing. Random side note.... I personally don't mind seeing a few blemishes - unless I'm doing a shoot or they want to look 'perfected'. I kind of like to keep some elements kind of 'real' - sometimes I get sick of seeing all these immaculate young adults, it's normal to have blemishes. Nothing to be ashamed of!

MUM GETS A MAKEOVER 3

 Mum with zilch!

The eyelash glue is still drying so please ignore and the lip colour isn't perfect - my mum just slapped it on.
I also decided to add navy on the lower lash line to match her dress (which you can kind of see) and also helps to brighten the whites of her eyes.

Hey guys, so I'm back 'home home' so my mum often asks me to help her get ready. She wanted quite a 'done' look so we decided to use false lashes on her for once, and I think  this helps to frame the eyes more with so much smokiness going on. 

This probably won't be the last time you see her face around here so welcome mummy L.F! 

MUM GETS A MAKEOVER - CHRISTMAS EVE

My mother again! She's becoming a regular face now

My mum has been going to more parties and events than me since I've been back at home... geez how ironic!

Anyway I think this is my favourite look I've done so far on my mum. Well you can actually see the make-up now as I've *kind of* sorted that horrible 'flash of death'.

Not just for 'mature' ladies but generally it's best not to stick to 'trends' and to just enhance existing features to actually keep things 'modern'.

To keep with the festive theme I used a red lipstick as a stain and with the eyes a 'soft' smokey eye with a taupe-y  purple and browns. I think shimmer/frosty eye-shadows are FINE to use on 'mature' ladies - you just need definition. And for this use matte shades to give it that 'opaque' structure to frame the eyes. 

MUM GETS A MAKEOVER

BEFORE

DAY

NIGHT

THE POWER OF MAKEUP

MODEL-MORPHOSIS

Fee from Makeup Savvy just tweeted this and I had to show you guys. 

Enjoy!