Wednesday 28 July 2010

Diary of a Makeup Artist

19th to 25th July

This week I went browsing around a Vintage Craft Fair in Newport Pagnell to see what little treasures I could find. At the fair I met Donna who makes exquisite vintage jewellery and head dresses for brides. Her company With Love from Pearl is bespoke, hand made and custom designed.

So I'm really pleased that 'With Love from Pearl' is now a recommended supplier on our links page of the Beauty Call website for MK and NN.

We are also following Donna’s blog too: http://www.withlovefrompearl.blogspot.com/

Also this week I met Polly for her free bridal hair trial. Polly wanted boho style curls and is wearing a small headband in her hair. I started by blow-drying her hair which is very fine using lots of volume spray worked into the roots. I rolled the hair and pinned it allowing the curls to cool as I worked through the hair. I then removed the clips and rang my fingers through the hair which loosened the curls. Creating volume behind the band gave style shape. I am looking forward to seeing Polly on her wedding day.

Another bride to be, Nancy confessed to me that she had always been worried about having her makeup done and was scared she would have an orange line around her face! I assured her that the foundation would match perfectly and this was often a concern for people who had never had professional makeup applied before.

I used MAC N1 face and body foundation and blended this in to the face giving flawless light coverage (with no orange line much to Nancy’s delight!) The eyes were light with MAC Blanc type and all that glitters. Bobbi Brown black gel eyeliner was applied with a tiny flick up at the corner of the eye lid. Then I applied a couple of coats of black mascara to the eyelashes that had been prepped with eyelash curlers. To finish black individual lashes were added to make the lashes appear fuller. To the lips I added Ruby and Mille lip base to moisten the lips and applied Vie Crème Brule gloss a peachy colour to compliment Nancy’s blue eyes.

Her hair was taken up at the crown and pinned in creating soft loose curled look. Sections were kept free and these were twisted around and pinned in to the main style. I softened the fringe and finished off with hairspray to hold in place.

I was so excited when my copy of Vintage Life magazine arrived! It’s full of all things from past and includes a modern twist. There were really good retro hair and makeup tips too! I particularly enjoyed reading the article about makeup packaging and may have to find one of these compacts for myself.

Jen x

Wednesday 21 July 2010

Diary of a Makeup Artist

12th to 18th July 2010

This week I thought I would share with you some exciting makeup products I have brought to add to my kit.

Whilst in London I popped into M.A.C just off Carnaby Street. I come across a foundation brush which is round and not flat. It picks up less foundation than the other styles of foundation brushes where the bristles are quite compact. Use it in circular movements and it effortlessly blends in the foundation giving a smooth finish. I’ve found it easier to blend with around the eye area. It’s a must have! This is great for anyone updating their make up bag.

In Debenhams Milton Keynes I picked up some more YSL Touch Eclat. I would not be without it!! I love the way using a small amount can make such a difference to your complexion. Use it on the inner and outer corners of your eyes. Also down the side of your nose and just above your cupids bow. My tips would be not to apply it with the built in brush but to use your finger and gentle pat this on to your skin. Use it sparingly and it will work wonders for you.

I had seen the Guerlain Terracotta Lady featured in the August copy of Vogue Magazine. So I had to go and see what it was all about!! In my local House of Fraser I tried it and said straight away ‘I’ll take one please!’ I wore it over the weekend and was very impressed. It’s so sheer and adds a soft subtle glow to the skin. It looks good on the décolleté and shoulders too. I will use this on brides who want to have a subtle glow and also have a tan. The packaging is wonderful and the lid holds the wonderful brush which you can apply the powder with.

I’m so excited as I had my car sign written with the Beauty Call logo. I am so thrilled to be promoting my franchise in Milton Keynes and Northampton for Beauty Call…if you see this car around you will know I am somewhere nearby!

Just a reminder that "Tips, Teas and Tiaras" at Drop Dead Gorgeous is next week on Wednesday 28th July…it is not to late to get your ticket….come and meet me for top bridal makeup tips, bubbly and cupcakes. You also get a goody bag!

Catch up with you next week.

Jen x

Thursday 15 July 2010

Diary of a Makeup Artist

5th to 11th July 2010

It’s been a jammed packed week….let me tell you all about it!

I met with Elizabeth who is the owner of Shutter Betty this week. I’m so excited that we are going to be working together. Elizabeth has asked me to be her recommend make up artist and stylist for her creative portraiture work. Elizabeth’s work has been printed in The Times, Under the Radar, 4Talent Magazine, Guitarist Magazine, Metro and London Lite. I look forward to shooting with her very soon.

The airbrush makeup clip that I filmed went live this week on the Beauty Call You Tube Channel. Why not subscribe to our channel!

There are lots of fantastic tips that are quick and easy to try yourself. On Sunday all the Beauty Call franchisees came to Milton Keynes and filmed lots more clips to bring to you on our channel including 40’s lips, messy up do, foundation tips, long lasting lips and strip lashes to name a few. There will also be some before and after images too. If you have any makeup hang ups you would be interested in seeing tips on please e-mail us and let us know.

I had an airbrush make up trial this week for Emma and her Mum Margaret. I applied the eye make up first Margaret had light colours to compliment her deep set eyes and Emma had a striking Lancôme Pink from my colour quad and some amazing Bobbi Brown gel eyeliner in black. The eyeliner was thicker in the middle of the eye and then thinner going out to the corner of the eyes. I then used the airbrush to apply foundation, blusher and bronzer. Airbrushing gives amazing flawless looking results and they were very pleased with the finish. The look for them both was compliment by thickening the lashes using individual lashes.

Louisa had her Bridal hair and make up trial. I tousled the hair using tongs then ran my fingers through to soften. On the wedding day I will add some clip in extensions to make the hair fuller at the back. At the crown I backcombed the hair to create height and then pinned in Louisa’s tiara. Louisa’s make up was light but effective. I evened out the skin tone with foundation and applied MAC eye base in medium to the eyelids. I then used the Lancôme colour quad, white shimmer eye shadow as a base to open the eye area and then applied a soft shimmering pink on top. This created a soft shimmering eye. I then applied MAC dip down gel eyeliner and MAC Mascara X in dark brown to define the eyes. I used YSL spring look highlighting palette which is a mix of three shades and has a slight bronzing effect without any shimmer.

Saturday was Natalie’s wedding. Because of the heat she choose to change her hair style which was understandable as I think it was the hottest day of the year!! I loosely curled her hair which is coarse so the curls need to be loosened off slightly be separating them. I then pinned them in from the nape of the neck giving the illusion that the hair was down but it was loosely pinned in (If that makes sense!!). Natalie’s eyes had neutral colours with cappuccino brown and ivory shimmer in the corner. I used Clarins Bronzing powder duo to compliment her tanned look and finished with Vie Blush Gloss on the lips.

I was delighted to see Natalie had e-mailed me this message the day after her Wedding (I love my job!!):

“I just wanted to email to thank you for doing my hair and make up so beautifully yesterday. My hair and make up lasted the entire day without needing a touch up and without a hair out of place. I felt beautiful and received so many compliments from my guests (and my husband!) as to how beautiful I looked. You were a pleasure to have with me on the morning of my wedding and were so unphased when I changed my mind at the last minute as to how I wanted my hair because of the heat. I didn't feel made up and felt totally natural."

Just one more thing…...there is now a Beauty Call channel on Askmk.tv - my blog is on there, as well as our video clips and we are just working on some podcasts to add too. There are some amazing images on display of the work that Beauty Call Artist has created. Your comments and feedback are very welcome so let me know if you would like to see anything else on here.

More next week. Bye for now Jen x

Diary of a Makeup Artist

28th June to 4th July 2010

Thanks for coming back to read my blog!

The Double Tree Hilton at the MK Dons stadium was packed full of Brides-to-be on Sunday. I had a great day talking to you all about hair and make up for your forthcoming weddings. I held a draw to win £50 off a Bridal hair and make up package. I am delighted to announce that Emma in Flitwick won the prize!!! Congratulations and I will enjoy making you over on your big day. To find out what other wedding fairs we are attending visit our fairs page on the Beauty Call website


Our new event Tips, Tea and Tiaras are coming to Milton Keynes and Northampton!!

The first will be on 28th July at 7pm at Drop Dead Gorgeous in Towcester. They sell a wide range of stylish custom made fascinators and hats. I will be on hand to give advice on hair and make up and how to style your hair to best compliment you chosen head piece.

On the 19th August at 7pm I will be at Beretun Designs at the Kingston shopping centre. Beretun Designs sell bespoke Bridal gowns, tiaras, jewellery and shoes that are handmade and custom designed. I will be showing you how you can achieve a glamorous look with airbrush make up. Come along and join us for an fun evening packed with full of tips and how to look your best in your Tiaras, Fascinators, Bird cage veils and hats.

To buy your tickets go to our website - they are a bargain at £10 and you will receive a complimentary goody bag. There will also be bubbly and cupcakes!!

I had the evening off on Wednesday to watch Les Misrables in the West End London. What a moving production, I loved it!! The wigs, the hair, and the make up were amazing and the whole cast had amazing voices. Well worth seeing.

I met Elena and Charlotte this week for trials fof their wedding hair and make up. Elena had a very elegant up-do. Sleekly pinned in at the front with the back all pinned in with crossing over detail at the back. Elena is wearing a mantilla which is a Spanish veil and it’s absolutely beautiful. Her make up was very natural and light with good coverage, a light foundation and a luminous dewy finish to compliment her pale complexion.

Charlotte’s decided to have an up-do at her hair trial. She had collected pictures that helped to build the style she was looking for. I started off by creating a chignon at the back. The front was kept soft by taking the front sections and pinning them but not tightly. The left over sections (as Charlotte had really long hair!) were pinned at the crown of the head creating some really nice detail.

I had great fun Saturday afternoon making over Maureen for her 80’s charity event that she organised in aid of Willen Hospice in Milton Keynes. Maureen and her husband went as Sonny and Cher. So I gave Maureen a Cher make over, with dark eyes, fuller eye browns, bold blusher and dark red lipstick. Then I applied her wig and false lashes to finish off the look. I heard that this event rose over £4000!!

I will be back next week and thanks for reading my blog. Comeback to see what I have been up to!

Jen x