Tanning made easy peasy!

Ever wondered what Make Up Artists' use on set to achieve an even, instant tan without the worry of colour transferring onto those super stylish clothes?
I am sure many have their favourites; I personally would always rate Clinique's Body Tinted Lotion which creates an instant bronzing effect plus effectively gradually tans so beautifully.  And I wouldn't dismiss some other brands I have found as trusty additions to my kit but I must give Model Co Tan Mousse a mention as a prime example of easy peasy tanning!
The fluffy light mousse is easy to apply, ideal for 'I've no time at all' tanning moments and yes, this does leave skin looking sunkissed so naturally though obviously if you'd rather go all out Essex you could apply more (and more).
Top tip: I say a light spray of Model Co Shimmer Airbrush Illuminator over the top, you're party ready as you'll ever be!

If you'd like to check this out and more Model Co products they're  available online or at large Boots stores too!

Get kitted out with Carolyn K!

You just have to take a wee glimpse at Carolyn K's beauty books to know you want one NOW!

I have 3 kits, one for eyes called 'define your eyes' and these two below 'make me blush' for cheeks and 'raise your brows', which are my favourites and have been supreme additions to my work bag.  I think we all have a love for neat palettes as they look pretty sharp and playful, though I specifically adore them for their consideration to our purse strings! 

Make me Blush, clearly marked out instructions on how to contour , highlight and add a pop of colour!

Raise your brows, again with instructions and technique of application to achieve the perfect arch to your brows.

Check out more of Carolyn K's UK manufactured products at 

The Powder Rooms 

Blush it on!

Pro or not, you will love this Neve Blushissimmi palette from Cocktail Cosmetics of 10 wearable shades to either create a pop of colour to cheeks via the top row or to contour and highlight with the lower pans.

Neve have taken it a step further as they can be applied wet or dry depending on the intensity you want to achieve.   Whether you are a Make Up Artist or Beauty Junkie you will get full use of this and its only £21.95, the price of a top brand lippie. I know, that's cheeky!

Pro essentials: La Vaque Cufflette.

I have an eye for accessories, usually in the form of jewellery though I am super excited with this Pro palette in the form of a cuff.  It's not a sci-fi communicator, it does not 'beam me up' though La Vaque Professional Cufflette Palette shiny surface does allow for mixing hues to perfection and more importantly a good way to reduce cross contamination plus preventing my constant bugbear of smears on the back of my hand and clothes at the end of the day!

I haven't been wearing the cufflette but I tend to hold it as one would an artists' palette.

A decent size for mixing lip colours, foundations, concealers etc about the size of two credit cards.  

And it's not only a new addition to my kit but one of the many new products from my make up chums at www.cocktailcosmetics.co.uk 

Sephora, Beijing, China

Sorry for the absence of late....so by now you know I dabble in beauty and on a recent trip to Beijing I was lucky enough to visit quite a few Sephora stores to make the odd purchase too!

As you can see above I honed in on items I needed for my kit such as the flat liner brush, mineral buffing brush, lip gloss palettes x 3, 4 step buffer (so handy) and my first scoop, the lash comb, which is curved so easy to use, something I've been on the look out for that for years.   I also bought the pretty nail stickers which are becoming a huge hit in the UK and emerging to the Chinese market.

One day they were there the next gone!  Due to the Japan vs China political situation I couldn't get my hands on the Lunasol Eye brow Mascara in two shades, trust me I tried and all Sephora's had pulled anything remotely Japanese!!  As luck would have it, RMK actually stock 5 shades, yes, 5 so I shall be grabbing those instead (in the UK).

Here are a few other brands that took my interest..

Make Up For Ever and Ever!

Most MUA's are in need of super duper performance from their make up products; lasting, heavily pigmented and if possible, waterproof!
Make Up For Ever is known for all three and more which is why they are such a firm favourite for us Make Up peeps, especially for TV work, which is why I'm showing off my small selection of Aqua Creams purchased from my local make up store last year, Guru Make Up Emporium, because I've been testing these out for an upcoming TV show (which I can't mention).
These really do last the distance and are extremely versatile as they can be applied to eyes, buffed onto cheeks, mixed in with foundations or worn on lips and waterproof they are too.  Another added bonus is that a very little goes and very long way, so hurrah, although £17.50 might seem a lot, they make a good beauty kit investment and you cannot beat a little staying power.

Front Cover Matt + Metallic Summer '12 Collection

I have a lot of admiration for the ladies behind Front Cover, they really know their stuff and tirelessly bring seasonal collections hot off the heels of the catwalks from London, Paris, Milan and NYC for the loyal, beauty hunters at a good price in an informative, approachable and rather fun way.

This Summer they did not skimp on creativity and I know many bloggers have posted some fantastic, in depth reviews about their latest Summer '12 make up sets, which are more than likely flying off the shelves.  Well, sorry if this one is low on stock but I couldn't let this kit (launched in May) Matt + Metallic,creation pass by without a pic heavy post.

Due to so many elements included in this kit ie.  Satin and Matt finished pressed eye shadows plus 4 Cream Eye Shadows I thought I'd focus on the latter; they are ultra creamy, with immense staying power AND so versatile.  Let me show you...

Copper Cream Eye Shadow:  Hot flush of a colour for eyes and wearable for cheeks too.

Gold Cream Eye Shadow:  This metallic outshines the lot.

Cool Brown Cream Eye Shadow:  A seemingly dull shade but accurate for smudgy shading and depth.

Cream Cream Eye Shadow:  Supremely sparkly and a great highlighter around eyes, brow and cheek bones.

My fabulous friend, Vic was willing to be my model and allowed me to experiment with 3 extremely speedy looks.

The first look:  Sultry Metallics: Gold applied as a base colour, over lids and around the eyes.

Cool Brown used to shade inner sockets and blended.

More shading with Cool Brown under eyes and extended to outer edge.

Cream added to accentuate and highlight the centre of the lids and inner duct.

Finished look that would have even more drama with a few coats of mascara.

The second look:  Intense Copper Eyes: Copper blended over eye lids with Cream used to highlight lower lashline.

Brown eye pencil lined upper lash line.

Smudge and extend liner to create a subtle flick.

Then brown liner along the waterline (of course, a layer of Brown Mascara would complete this).

The third look:  Speedy Smoky Eyes:  Cool Brown blended over the eye lids to sockets and imperfectly smudged lower lash line.

Blend will into sockets right up to brow bones.

And there you have it, 3 wearable looks for any occasion, again to finish the 3rd look you could add a coat of Black, Purple or even Khaki mascara (very on trend) and/or line the waterline with a coloured eye liner.

I am eager to try more and already anticipating the truly brilliant A/W '12 collections!

http://www.frontcovercosmetics.com/

Givenchy brushes up nicely!

These sumptuous beauties were handed to me last week, I was thrilled to say the least!

Thick, matte handled, mid-length Givenchy brushes are one of their latest additions to one of my favourite make up brands and very much appreciated too!

  Don't get me wrong, as brands go, Givenchy were always one of the best for adding mini accessories into their well compacted compacts or Prisme's as they are known; I recall tweezers, angled brushes and wide blush applicators.  But these comfortable-to-grip applicators are a delight to work with.  I like the stiffness and density of the powder and blush brush, seen above made of superior goat hair in the typical Givenchy signature style, plus the high quality synthetic foundation brush, for an easy to apply base.  If you are looking to improve your make up bag, kit or just easily persuaded into buying good quality cosmetics, then this would be money well spent at just under and over £30 each.

The Brightening Effect!

These Une Beauty Skin Glow pencils have become the neat and nifty products I rely on for quick touch ups on set or to accompany a brightening 'pick me up' for any face.  4 good shades all packaged into slim pencils also mean they are not going to use up much space, so I would say pretty handy for a long day or better still a long night out.
I tend to use these around the eyes and to rid those annoying dark shadows but this is truly versatile as it can be worn along the waterline, plus a few quick strokes around eyes, nose and chin, then a little blending, they add instant '8 hours sleep' results.  A stroke of genius!

Some do, some don't, some wouldn't, some airbrush!

There has been plenty of chatter between Make Up Artists' about airbrushing over the years, especially since HDTV took to our TV screens, in fact I remember there being quite a hilarious panic when really it meant 'work neatly, precisely, there is now 8 times more clarity'.  These days some do it, some don't, some wouldn't and some haven't found their ideal kit.  

I struggled for years contemplating the ideal airbrush gun and compressor for me, which sounds like a simple task but alas, I had the dilemma of my entire kit to think about practically.  Compressors aren't light weight and easy to carry. To my mind it's like carrying a generator in your kit and with back issues and an ever growing hair and make up kit averaging 15kg, I was keen to find an airbrush solution that was reasonably priced and not back breaking.

Many years ago, oh crikey, maybe even 10 years ago, I frequently used SKII's Air Touch Foundation on fashion photo shoots but mostly for Black & White photography work with various photographers such as Terry O'Neill, the late Lord Litchfield and John Swanell.  The nifty handheld pod was bite-sized, so I had no issues with keeping this in my work bag at all times.  The effect was good although at times limited.  It was often hard to control; one couldn't get a lighter touch for instance, it had to be one way and one way only.  Another downside was that the shades weren't always well matched and being an Asian brand some shades would appear a little too yellow or peachy, though I would always contour and swap the foundation inserts frequently to get achieve the desired effect.  It was good while it lasted!  

After about 7 years of researching, I finally came across a kit I thought would suit my needs.  It was compact, (yey) and the foundations that accompany it focused on ingredients such as Vitamins A and E, which improve the appearance and hydration in the skin, allowing the heat resistant Silicone to appear natural whilst actively longer lasting.  The brand is Airbase and has been in my life for almost 4 years.

I'm not sure why I've not blogged about Airbase till now, maybe its because there has been sudden interest, plus I assumed it was geared to being a Pro only brand but alas the public want to know more about Pro techniques and MUA essentials more and more.

Above is a lady I made up for a shoot recently and this photograph was taken a few hours after make up application...yes, lovely eye colour, courtesy of Front Cover Cosmetics but take a look at her skin.  From time to time I have people telling me, 'Oh yes, the make up used for TV and Magazines is heavier, right?'  Er, no!  But I often reply that my aim is for skin to appear as skin though flawless and merely enhanced.

Do I use Airbase in all my work?

No, but I get a feel for a job and lighting conditions etc and decide from that.  I originally egged myself to research yet again into getting an airbrush kit after working on a week long Pokerstars TV Ad, which was studio based with dramatic lighting, over 12 players a day and on average 17 hour days.  I thought, this is the type of job where an airbrush gun could really show its mettle and make life a little speedier for me with the added bonus of less 'touch ups' on set. (which makes the 1st AD very happy). 

What type of jobs have you used Airbase?

I've not only used Airbase for studio based work but would recommend it's use for Black & White photography, it is second to none.  I recently found the benefit of airbrushing for a bride and her upteen bridesmaids and mother of the bride too, this saved time and I knew the results would be received well.  I have also had the experience of working with burns and scar survivors, who have benefited from airbrushing when their skin is extremely sensitive, therefore, non-contact application can be such a relief.  I enjoy the reaction from well established actresses or ladies over 50+ who might have had a bad experience with airbrushed make up or declare it will make their skin look heavily made up, flat and add on years rather than take them away.  Once they see how the foundation helps blur imperfections without clogging the pores and diminish fine lines, they are in awe.

What do you most like about Airbase?

I like the results I get every time, who wouldn't?  It's fun to mix up the perfect shades and contour with such a nifty gun that is comfortable to hold and easy to determine the finish you want.  I would say high on my list is the fact the compressor is no bigger or heavier than a small bottle of water so I tend to keep all my Airbase kit neatly tucked away in a clear plastic make up bag along with 7 shades of foundation, 2 blushers, 1 bronzer, Primer, Mitt and Cleaning/Thinner solution. That's compact!

What do you most dislike about Airbase?

I'm sure most would agree that worst part about any airbrush kit is cleaning it but it has to be done in order to avoid any clogging or damage! Although a little fiddly at times, once you get the hang of it it becomes less of a chore, though it is always good to know the Airbase team are on hand to give you advice over the phone or via email and always happy to assist with technical issues.

Who would you recommend Airbase to?

It is not the cheapest addition to anyone's kit, so I would firmly say Pro's working for Brides, it might change your life and for those in TV, Film, Beauty, Advertising and Fashion it is another dimension and medium, therefore, another useful tool.