MAC W,NW and C,NC foundations/concealers whats the difference??

I have had a few people ask me what the difference between MAC N,NW and C,NC foundations and concealers...I think its confusing as some people think that if you wear a NW foundation you automatically need a NW concealer...This is not the case

W and NW is for peach/pink based skin. Typical pink/peach tones are red heads/fair skinned that don't tan easily

C and NC is for more yellow tones (most common), brunettes, Olive tones Asian and white skin that tans easier

With the concealer you may use a NC foundation but if you have dark circles its likely you will need a NW concealer as the peach tone will counteract the blue in the circles under the eye! and vice versa. the whole face is not just one colour, the eye underneath are almost always pink, blue, green so you need a concealer to counteract this. A good way to do this is with a colour wheel  (above)opposites on the chart work with each other so for example green tint concealer will camoflage red as they are opposite on the wheel

If you are in doubt don't be afraid to ask the MAC representatives thats what they are there for!! I hope this helps ;0)

Royal Britania Madness!!!

Hello Lovelies!!... well in case you've been living on another planet you will not have escaped the fact that the royal wedding is almost upon us!!!...I love a bit of union jack anyway so I'm Uber happy theres lots of lovely things to buy limited edition!


Very excited about the new Chanel collection ,Chanel has announced its move into Oxford Street’s Selfridges store with a new counter set to open this July, and to celebrate the occasion the brand will be launching a limited edition line of make-up.

The collection was created by Peter Phillips, (creative director for Chanel Makeup),Ha has taken his inspiration from the London scene and most likely the impending  Royal nuptuals.The London Madness Collection includes new, eye-popping red shades of Rouge Allure and Le Vernis, and the highlight, the Pearly Banner Palette – an ivory, gold and silver highlighter embossed with the Union Jack.

And how could we forget one of the most famous and well loved British designers of all time!  This bag is set to be an iconic classic since the untimely death of Alexander McQueen...

And I love this British Lady too my girl crush Jessie J..Giving the American stylistas a run for their money..what great Makeup Artistry..Love it!

And good ol Kate Moss was rocking one of these on recent day out..not toooo Jelous!!!

Love these commemorative necklaces by The Mymbles Daughter..so original..check out the website some lovely little bespoke peices

Oh and just for good measure....mmmmm

The Chanel Brit collection oohh laaa laaaa!!


Hope you all have a lovely day whatever you do!..xxxx

Willow the Wisp shoot in the woods!!

Last night I did the make up for a shoot that took place in the New Forest woods!.Was so much fun but got a little scary when the sun went down and it was literally pitch black!! ( visions of Blair witch spring to mind) Plus there were wild ponies and foxes watching us...Why I thought gladiator sandals were a good idea I will never know..numerous pony poos later I regretted my fashion over function decision.


The brief was Willow the Wisp and Faith wanted an ethereal look panda eye,dewy skin to make Amy look almost like a forest dwelling being

I used strobe cream mixed with MAC face and body to give the sheer finish trying not cover her lovely freckles!

 I used Mac Medium Mixer to apply the Silver glitter pigment to the eye and have to say it lasted 5 hours and didn't budge!! it can be used on anything inc lips! very cool product to be creative with. I kept the lips bare with lots of clear gloss and Vaseline.

I cant wait to see the final images by Faith Mason, the pictures in this Blog were taken by me just to document my work!

1950s Dita Inspired Look.

Hi y'all well I'm always banging on about Dita so thought it was only time I did a look inspired by her!..hope you find my methods useful!

Products I used:

• Shu Umera base mouse SPF
• Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser Natural
• C2 Mac face and body
• Mac colour base LUNA
• Mac skin finish powder "soft and gentle "
• Gingerly Mac blush
• Shu Umera eyeliner pen
• Shu Umera Lash curlers
• Bone eyeshadow Bobbi Brown
• Max factor Masterpiece mascara
• Mac Translucent powder
• Bobbi Brown concealer 'Natural"
• Mac Russian Red Lipstick
• Rimmel clear gloss

Face: First I primed my skin with E45 and Shu Moose spf base. left that to soak in then lightly covered my face with LM tint moisturiser and C2 foundation mixed together. Concealed under my eyes and lids and powdered with translucent powder.

Eyes: Mac coulour base ( LUNA) over lids followed by Bone eyeshadow from Bobbi brown. I used Benefit  medium brow kit to fill in my brows. Shu Umera liner to wing my eye and mascara to finish (curling eyelashes before mascara)

Lips: Moisturised my lips when I did my face to ensure good surface. (exfoliate if needed) applied lip balm. allowed to sink in for a minute then applied lip liner all over lip to make the colour bolder and last longer ( the lipstick really grips to the skin) finish with MAC Russian red and gloss! to make the lips pop i finish with conceal around the edges of my mouth.

Cheeks: Soft & gentle skin finish on cheekbones and gingerly blush on apples of my cheek.

Have fun xxx

Graduated from AOFM...hooray!

I am very proud to say I have graduated from AOFM with a certificate of combined Foundation/Advanced Makeup 

I have spent two weeks in London on an intensive course covering the broad spectrum of skills needed to be a freelance makeup artist. topics covered were:

• Smokey eyes
• Foundations- powders creams ,skin base prep and prime and concealing
• Eyebrow shaping
• Avantgarde make Up
• Catwalk make Up
• Body painting (greasepaint, and water based)
• Bridal
• Editorial looks
• Sculpting and high lighting for face
• Red lips
• Ethnic skin and male grooming





The great thing about the course is that we had a tutorial from a different working makeup artist everyday, all of whom have worked in the industry for years, we got to see their portfolios and pick their brains about the industry and what makes a good kit.

We also had a shopping day where we had the opportunity to buy from Bobbi brown,Mac, benefit, Shu Umera, bare essentials and  Charles Fox with up to 35% discount!!!..I spent a fortune but love my kit now and cant wait to get to work!

My essentials for a kit are:

• Shu Umera SPF Moose base
• Shu Umera Eyelash curlers
• Shu Umera 7H lip brush
• Shu Umera eye liner wirh refills
• Mac face and body C1, C2, C3, C4, C5
• Mac Medium Mixer (fab for using pigment on lips and eyes)
• Mac full coverage for concealing
• Mac skinfinish in soft and gentle
• Mac strobe cream
• Bobbi Brown shimmer bricks
• Laura Mercier tinted moisturiser in Bone ,Natural and Golden  (perfect for bridal)
• Laura Mercier translucent powder for setting
• Benefit brow set
• AOFM Brush set

I definitely would recommend this course for anyone interested in Makeup and hair as a career...in my opinion its the best out there.

Not only do you get the training but the aftercare is great! you get the opportunity of working at London fashion week and assist on shoots, there are also masterclasses with leading artists in the industry which are free if you do the courses.

http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/profile.php?id=1244653768  AOFM face book page

Academy of Freelance Make Up course

SO.... I'm a little excited!,  I'm off to London for two weeks to train at the AOFM! situated in the heart of the west end they offer a broad range of courses starting from foundation courses to Total pro hair and make Up courses at reasonable prices, I have spent the last year looking for the best school  for me that would meet my needs (some of them seem to be a little outdated or overpriced) and judging from  the feedback AOFM have received i have definitely made the right choice! they have now opened a school in New york and Paris !!

There are also alot of great Industry names associated with AOFM  (Jana Ririnui, Christina Irevedra, Rachel Wood, Jade Hunka, Maria Papaodpoulou  all of whom contributed to the AOFM book Make up is Art ( I reviewed this a few weeks ago) and are tutors at the academy.



They also have great working relationship with brands such as MAC, Shu Umera, Bobbi Brown St Tropez and many more. The thing that really appealed to me is the aftercare. Many people do courses and don't know how to take it to the next level this course aims to help you make contacts, network and really get involved in events like London fashion week, magazine shoots and hands on training and assisting, i think that's invaluable to a new face in the industry.

I will keep you all updated with what I'm doing and photos so watch this space..wish me luck ;0D

http://www.aofmakeup.com/v6/flash_london.html
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/profile.php?id=1244653768

choosing the right shade of foundation for your skin tone

Did you know most women will buy around 7 foundations before they actually find the correct shade to match their skin tone?, Some women will buy a foundation the colour of what they want their skin to be instead of the tone they ought to be! its very tempting to go shades darker but this never looks natural always try and match your exact skin tone (try mixing colours on your hand if you cant find one).


Experts say its best to choose a foundation with a yellow undertone even if you think your complexion is porcelain and pale. Its also important to choose the right type of foundation for your skin type and needs. ( oil based is not good for oily skin).



The best way to test your shade is to stand in natural light and dab some on your jawline up to your cheekbone you can do this with a few and compare the results. You will instantly see the best match and that's your shade..even if it takes 10 trys at least you will be wearing the right foundation!! get samples instead of buying the bottles if you don't want to try in the shop. or ask for help that's what they are there for!!

Foundation guide

You Have: A dull, dry complexion
You Want: Glowing, dewy skin
Try: A hydrating foundation. There are moisturising foundations that deliver sheer coverage (like tinted moisturisers or balms) or medium to full coverage (like creamy liquids and whipped foundations). Stay away from powder and mattifying formulas. They'll zap your skin of oils, leaving your skin looking dry and chalky.

You Have: Oily skin
You Want: Smooth, matte skin
Try: An oil-absorbing foundation. Look for buzzwords like 'oil-free,' 'mattifying,' or 'shine-reducing' on the foundation's packaging. As a general rule, oil-free or oil-reducing liquid foundations impart light to medium coverage, while cream and compact foundations give you full coverage.

You Have: Combination skin
You Want: A uniform complexion that's neither shiny nor dry.
Try: A foundation with silica beads and lecithin. The silica beads soak up oil on your t-zone (forehead, nose & chin), while the lecithin hydrates dryer areas like your cheeks.

My top  foundation picks:

Award winning Bobbi brown Natural Finish is perfect for oily skin as its an oil free formula that lasts all day with great coverage in a great range of colours.

I love this foundation its really smooth and leaves a natural finish without that caked look, a little goes a long way!!I wear this everyday. perfect with SPF 15 to keep the wrinkles and sun damage at bay.

Lancome Photogenic luminescence is Ideal for a night out, great coverage without being too heavy and light reflecting particles make the finish flawless!