Festival Favourites- Make-up

Festival season is once again upon us! From isle of Wight last weekend, to the daddy of all festivals Glastonbury in a matter of days and V, Reading and Leeds finishing our Summer off nicely, UK festivals have become pinnacles of the British Summer.

So whats a girl to do when she wants to maintain that glamorous glow during 4 days of mud, hot sun (or heavy rain depending on the weathers mood!) and un-comfy camping?!

Well, its simple- follow this weeks blog posts for the professional tips to keep you festival fabulous all weekend long!

First up- it's a girls best friend-  make-up.

When my clients ask me if their make-up will last all night, I can honestly say I know it will not only last all night, but that it will still be immaculate when they wake up the next day.

How do I know this? Because I take my time applying make-up in light layers, rather than speedily applying a heavy coverage.  

Now, I'm not suggesting you wear the same make-up all weekend long (Believe me, it has been and can be done if you so wish!) but following the layering tips, will ensure your make up will stay in place from breakfast through to a midnight rave and beyond.

So, how do we layer?

Starting with your base, apply a small amount of concealer to any areas needed.

Next, take a small amount of your foundation (I would HIGHLY recommend Smashbox Studio Skin for longevity) and buff into skin using a dual fibre brush on circular motions. Crown 406 is ideal for this.

Repeat until you have achieved the level of coverage needed. 

For a long lasting bronzed glow and peachy cheek,  using the same dual fibre brush, take a cream bronzer and apply where the sun usually hits- forehead, cheeks, chin and nose. Chanel Bronze Universal is expensive but its my absolute favourite. Next, apply a cream blush, such as Kryolan Lip N Cheek to the apples of the cheek, again using your dual fibre brush. 

(If you hadn't guessed already, this brush comes in rather handy!)

Then lightly powder skin using a translucent powder, I like Rimmel Stay Matte Powder for a budget buy on a fluffy powder brush such as MUA F4. 

Now for the next layer! Taking your powder brush, apply a powder bronzer and blusher over where you have applied your cream. Remember this will add an extra strength of colour, so apply lightly and repeat if and when neccessary. My favourites include- Max factor Bronzing Powder and MAC Blusher.

For eyes, it's the same technique as cheeks! Start by applying a long lasting eye shadow cream using your fingers- Estee Lauder Pure Colour Eyeshadow Paints are available in a wide range of colours and do not budge!

Layer your eye shadows on top, using a flat brush to apply, pressing the colour firmly. MAC Eye Shadows and their 239 Brush are the perfect tools for the job! 

Finish with a flick of No7 Stay Precise Felt Tip Liner and two coats of Stay Perfect Mascara (this mascara is seriously life-proof- perfect for our festival look!)

And for lips?! If you like a natural look, I would suggest lining and filling in lips with a liner, Bourjois Lip Pencils are a great bargain, and finish with a tinted balm like the selection by  Burts Bee's. For a stronger look, why not try my favourite No7 Stay Perfect Lip Stain. 

And voila! Your long lasting festival make-up is complete!

Next up- ultimate festival hair!

What's in my foundation drawer?!

What most people find surprising is that professional make-up artists rarely use the products in their kit on themselves. Unless, that is, we are testing longevity, pigment or practicing a specific look for a job.

Instead, we too have our own personal make-up bags for day to day use.

Typically, mine carries far more budget brands than my kit. Even if I choose to invest in a more expensive product, if I think it would be perfect for my clients or a job, it quickly finds its way into my kit!

As I have mentioned previously, my make-up 'bag' during my teenage years was, in fact, a make-up drawer. Since then I have  done my uttermost to downsize, but as a terrible hoarder and beauty shop-a-holic, my make-up now call  a small drawer unit, complete with Cath Kidston esqe ceramic rose handles, home. (I do suffer from a slight Cath addiction too...)

So first up is my Foundation drawer! 




Since working for Max Factor back in 2007, I have been a huge fan of their Miracle Touch Foundation. This solid to liquid foundation offers a medium coverage, with a radiant finish, perfect for my admin/office days!

My latest Max Factor purchase is their CC Cream. CC (Colour Correcting) creams  are the big beauty news for 2013, with most brands launching theirs this Spring. Formulated to contain skincare to hydrate and enough pigment for a natural flawless coverage, this my best friend on my days off! 










I am also a big fan of No7 foundations Stay Perfect and Beautifully Matte, which both offer medium to full build-able coverage and perfect for an oily T-zone like mine. The great thing about No7 is their Foundation Match made Service which I use two to three times a year to ensure I'm wearing the right shade! 
You can read more about this service by visiting my previous blog post on this topic. 

For a special occasion or a long work day-night, I always turn to Smashbox Studio Skin Foundation. Another medium-full coverage (can you tell I like a good coverage!?!) this fantastic product is sweat, humidity and transfer proof- and stays in place for over 15 hours. Trust me, this is one product where you can believe the hype!







When I'm suffering for any blemishes or darkness under my eyes, I like to use Smashbox High Definition Concealer or MAC Pro Longwear Concealer either under or over my foundation. Both offer a high level of coverage with a natural long-lasting finish. 

As a girl with skin prone to a bit of shine, my powder is a must!
Each morning I finish my make-up with a light dusting of Smashbox Halo Powder and keep MAC Blot Powder in my handbag at all times. You never know when you might need to powder your nose after all!


Phew- that is one packed drawer!!