Friday 23 September 2011

My Make-up Today - quick and easy is the name of the game

As a busy Mummy to a little girl I often need quick and easy make-up that stays on really well through food fights, tears (mine and Nancy's) and the everyday mishaps that are part of the kind of days we have at home together when I am not working.

I did my make-up in 10 mins flat this morning whilst Nancy was amusing herself on our household trampoline (our bed) and I thought as I was doing this I would share with you the products I used and a quick overview of how I applied them.

Moisturiser: Oilatum Natural Repair 
Foundation: Bourjois 10 Hour Sleep Effect ; colour 74 (apply with fingers and latex sponge to smooth)
Brows: Laura Mercier Eyebrow Pencil colour; brunette
Concealer: Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage  colour; SC3 (only apply as spot/blemish cover-up)
Blush: Shiseido The Make-up Blush Duo colour; pink (rose nature)
Eyelash Curlers: Shu Uemura Curlers (curl top lashes)
Mascara: Leichner Waterproof mascara colour; Jet Black (3 coats top and bottom)
Powder: Origins Brighter By Nature Skin Tone Correcting Make-up colour; 4 Light/Warm (sweep a tiny amount over skin with a fluffy brush at the end of your make-up)

Remember this is a quicker than quick make-up.  I didn't use any colour / pencil on my eyes as a good eyelash curler and 3 coats of mascara gives me that wide awake look. Put it this way, if I bumped into Ashton Kutcher in the street on my way to buy some eyelashes or nappies, I would feel groomed, confident and glowing and ready to accept a lunch date from him!

Tuesday 20 September 2011

Adult Spots - How To Effectively Cleanse

Over the last few weeks my skin has taken a turn for the worst :( I have big spots on my chin area -which are often related to hormones - so I wanted to share with you what I do to help my skin heal.
As soon as I feel that bruise feeling on my face I kick start my Super Cleanse Skin Routine and keep my fingers crossed for speedy results and for the horrendous spots to vanish!


Super Cleanse Skin Routine

Firstly I remove all traces of make-up with Liz Earle's Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser making sure I use the muslin cloth very gently over the bad areas and with tepid, not hot, water. It is important to say that when my skin is bad I don't wear foundation unless I am going out.

Secondly I boil the kettle, grab a large plastic mixing bowl, a large clean towel, cotton wool, my Avene Toner and a bottle of tea tree oil. 

Face Steam Process:

Fill the bowl with the freshly boiled water and add 5 drops of tea tree oil, swish round and leave to cool for 3/4mins.

Tie your hair back and place your head 4 inches above the water level and cover your head with the towel - hold the towel around the neck area so no steam can escape. 

Steam your face for 3 mins. 

After this first steam session soak a cotton pad with your usual toner (I use Avene Gentle Toner) and tone your face all over.

Top up the water with more boiled water straight from the kettle and repeat steaming your face for another 3/4 mins.

Cleanse your face with your toner again and pat dry with a clean towel.

If you need to squeeze the spot (steaming will ripen the area, sounds gross but it is true) use a very fine pin or needle to ease the spot out but it's essential to sterilise it in boiling water or a dettol/tcp solution first as you do not want to infect the area. DO NOT POP THE SPOT WITH YOUR FINGERS - this ruptures the skin and creates a scabby spot and even worse, scarring.

Wait for 10 mins and moisturise and apply tea tree oil to the spot/s using a cotton bud.

Steam every other day until your skin clears up and continue to steam your face once a week for the rest of your life! - who said being a woman was easy?!

Tuesday 13 September 2011

Michelle Ganz's Wedding Morning

Michelle first contacted me back in November 2010 with an enquiry about having her make-up done for her wedding in August 2011. It seemed such a long time away back in November but a few weeks ago was Michelle and Darren's wedding day and I was honoured to make her and her bridesmaids up for her big day. Her wedding took place at the Runnymede on Thames Hotel in Surrey and the view from her room was a beautiful and busy River Thames with barges and boats cruising along it - just gorgeous!

We had two make-up trials over the months leading up to her wedding day and we really perfected her glam, but bridal look that made her really stand out in her fantastic dress and great hair by Rebecca Wakeman - think red carpet chic mixed with beautiful bride and you can imagine how incredible she looked when we had finished!

I have a selection of photos for you to see (non official ones) so take a look and let me know what you think. I will post some official ones soon when Michelle gives me the nod!

Few hours to go until hair and make-up, so just relaxing (and posing!) 

View from the hotel window; a very British game of croquet by the Thames

Just about the leave for the ceremony

A real red carpet snap!

See what I mean about ultra chic........

Working with Michelle Ganz, now Lee, was an absolute joy from beginning to end.  I enjoyed her relaxed nature immensely and her organisational skills were second to none throughout the whole process and I loved it how she kept me in the loop with decisons she was making.  Michelle's skin is just so beautiful to work with too, she has a great skincare routine and went for regular facials with a trusted beautician for many weeks before her wedding day and this paid off enormously.

Many Happy Returns and Mazel Tov to Michelle and Darren and may you have a brilliant and happy marriage together.

x

Sunday 11 September 2011

Hen Do Heaven!

Last night I made up 5 (of 15) hens at an amazing Essex mansion in Little Laver. You can see the superb mansion on this link : Essex Mansion

They had a TOWIE theme to the weekend and last night (Saturday) they headed to Faces in Gants Hill for a Totally TOWIE night out! I was booked as the make-up artist to the Hen + 4 and I turned up at the house armed with glitter, eyelashes and lots of shimmer. 

See the pics below and see if you can pick out the 5 girls who had some Lucy Baker Make-up love:



A few pics of me in action too:

Painting George's face

Busy Hair and Make-up dept at the mansion

My final make over before they went to FACES nightclub