Laura Walton Make-up

Tutti Rouge Lingerie

2013-03-08T16:15:00.001+00:00

Just before Christmas, I worked with the wonderful Abbi-Rose who needed an extra pair of hands on a campaign video shoot for upcoming lingerie brand 'Tutti Rouge'. Our location for the day was Hampton Court in Surrey, a beautiful old school-house with an enormous Christmas tree in the main hall and deer roaming the grounds! The film was for the brands Autumn/Winter 2013 Collection and the concept was all about festive fun, with plenty of present unwrapping, party balloons and champagne popping!

We had three beautiful models to make-up on the day and I set to work prepping the models skin and painting their nails in festive red and glitter. Abbi's beautiful make-up consisted of glittery eyes, sheeny skin and pops of colour on the lips. Hair, styling and direction was by the fabulous Joey Bevan who put together a fantastic set!

Behind-the-Scenes

Check out the finished video featuring the stunning DD+ lingerie in luxurious shades and fabrics. Keep an eye out for the best gift... the most gorgeous puppy that we all wanted to take home after the shoot!

Tutti Rouge Lingerie available from April Online and in Bravissimo Stores.

Thanks to the whole team for such a fun, festive shoot! Special thank you to Abbi-Rose for some amazing advice and just generally being lovely! x

Credits:

Creative Director - Jessica Prebble

Make-up - Abbi Rose
Director/Wardrobe/Hair - Joey Bevan
Cinematography/Editing - Paul Bates
AC - Chris Belcher
Models - Emma, Jamie-lee and Beth

Miss Dior 'La Vie en Rose'

2013-03-03T17:14:00.001+00:00

I'm in love with the new Miss Dior film 'La Vie en Rose' directed by Sofia Coppola and starring the beautiful Natalie Portman. The new chaper of the Miss Dior love story features Portman wearing Dior Haute Couture designs whilst playing in fountains, reclining on beds of roses and sharing kisses with her handsome co-star. She wears the classic Dior cat-eye flick with a new twist, a pop of blue, and fresh, youthful pink cheeks and lip. Discover the new Miss Dior film, an ode to love, just as its creator, Christian Dior, intended it.

Miss Dior Eau De Toilette is available nationwide now.

Do you think Natalie Portman is the perfect face of Miss Dior?

Illamasqua Imperfection

2013-02-01T18:48:00.000+00:00

"Who says only perfection is beautiful?"

The creative people behind Illamasqua have once again created a fabulously unique new collection for Spring 2013. This has to be one of my favourites, and one I think all of us can relate to. Cleverly entitled 'I'mperfection', this play on words is all about embracing the traditional idea of 'Imperfection' and celebrating those freckles, beauty spots, scars and birthmarks.

We all know those images we see in magazines and on adverts are made-up and airbrushed to within an inch of their life, but it's easy to forget this when looking closely at yourself in the mirror. As a make-up artist, I constantly see beautiful, seemingly perfect models everyday but without a doubt, the ones that stand out to me are the ones with beautiful freckles, over-sized eyebrows or a gap in between their teeth! It sounds like a cliche, but I always remember the model who was smiling and down-to-earth on set and had a little something 'imperfect' about them; who wants to see the same face again and again, my job would certainly be very boring for one!

Illamasqua are known for their inspiring and open-minded campaigns and I for one am sold! "Stand up and show the world what makes you perfectly, imperfect. We want you to highlight the features other
brands encourage you to cover up. Because life isn't about finding yourself, life is about celebrating who you really are."

"Within the word imperfection you'll find I'm perfection;

sometimes the soul of the word is staring you in the face.

It is our so called flaws that make us unique.

The beauty is in our differences, our imperfection is our beauty."

Alex Box, Creative Director

Tip: Standout items for me are the Limited Edition Nail Varnish in 'Speckle' a beautiful speckled Lilac and the new Lipstick in 'Immodest', a vivid, matte Pink.

Illamasqua Spring 2013 I'm Perfection Collection launches on 31st January 2013.

Will you be embracing your 'I'mperfections'?

Benjamin Roberts Campaign Shoot

2013-01-23T13:18:00.001+00:00

I first worked with Bridalwear company Benjamin Roberts over a year ago on a series of television programmes for Wedding TV (take a look at an episode here). In November, I was asked to do the Hair and Make-up on a two-day shoot in South Wales for their new season collection. We were shooting on location near Swansea at Stradey Castle, which was apparently used for filming the Dr Who Christmas Special in 2011. This beautiful castle, with its grand staircase and roaring flames of the stately fireplace was the ideal backdrop to the stunning collection.

As for styling, we kept the make-up natural and beautiful for the dress lookbook on day one. The skin was fresh and dewy with a pretty bridal flush to the cheeks. I used smoky taupes and browns on the eyes and applied Ardell False Eyelashes. Sarah's brows were filled in with my trusty MAC Brow Pencil in Lingering and a neutral pink gloss finished the look. Hair was swept up in a high-bun to display the beautiful headpieces.

Behind the Scenes - look one in the stately rooms; it's not every day I get to set-up in an area like this!

The advertising images were the focus for day-two where we could go for a little more drama! I shaded the cheekbones with some deeper contouring and blended a strong plum blush onto the apples of the cheeks. Black eyeliner and darker shading added more definition to the eyes and a deep plum lip completed the look. Sarah's hair was styled in loose curls and later, a textured side-bun.

Behind the Scenes - look two in the impressive entrance-hall; stunning chandeliers and beautiful dresses

My hero products for this shoot:

Estee Lauder Eight Hour Cream
No7 Lipstick in Plum Beautiful
Ardell Demi Wispies Eyelashes

The final images will be published in multiple Bridal Magazines in February.

Many thanks to a truly fantastic team! The guys and girls at Benjamin Roberts were so friendly and welcoming, Ryan's photography was stunning and the lovely Sarah made a fabulous room-mate!

Credits:

Client: Benjamin Roberts Ltd.

Photographer: Ryan Bater

Model: Sarah Beake

Make-up and Hair: Laura Walton

Professional Beauty Awards 2013

2013-01-15T14:24:00.001+00:00

As you may have already seen on my Facebook or Twitter profiles, I was announced as a finalist for the Professional Beauty Awards Make-up Specialist of the year towards the end of 2013.

I have followed the awards for a few years now and on a whim, decided to apply on the last day of entry. To my delight, a few weeks later, it was announced that I had made the final and I was to travel down to London to compete!

The brief for this year was to complete a Spring/Summer 2013 trend look. A week of research, planning and designing later, I arrived at the location and met my model. My focus was on the 'Brights' trend as seen at Moschino, Michael Kors and Stella McCartney. I applied a bright, peacock-blue liner underneath the lash line for a pop of colour to the eyes and chose a matte, fuschia lip. I kept my models skin minimalistic with a fresh, velvet finish and a little contouring and sculpting. I spent the last 10 minutes of our allocated hour finalising the look with individual lashes, which in hindsight perhaps wasn't the best idea with shaking hands!

One of my Moodboards for Spring/Summer 2013

An interview with judges Daniel Sandler, Justine Westwood and Antonia Hawke followed the practical. These well-respected artists have been in the industry for many years and whilst at first very intimidating, they were very friendly and easy to talk to during the interview. It was a pleasure to discuss my career past, present and future with them.

I also thoroughly enjoyed meeting the fellow five contestants, all of whom were incredibly talented! The results are to be announced in February, so wish me luck!

What do you think of the Bright trend for Spring/Summer 2013?

Happy New Year!

2013-01-01T16:41:00.001+00:00

Just a short post to wish all my lovely readers a Happy New Year! A heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you for the kind comments and support throughout my first blogging year. I'm hoping to dedicate more time to this blog in 2013, so if there's anything in particular you'd like to see, please do let me know! In the meantime, here's a round-up of my 2012 make-up highlights and I'm looking forward to seeing what 2013 brings...

Photoshoot's

Bridal Clients

Behind the Scenes

"Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us. Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right."

Wishing you all health and happiness for 2013.

What are your hopes and wishes for the year ahead?

Photoshoot: English Rose

2012-11-28T05:12:00.000+00:00

Having worked with the uber-talented Photographer, Hannah-Beth Todd over a year ago on a Magazine shoot, we decided it was about time we collaborated again. We were lucky enough to find Dani @ MO for a beautifully natural shoot, inspired by the A/W '12 'English Rose' make-up trend. Hannah-Beth, not content with just snapping away behind the camera, also styled Dani in some fantastic pieces sourced from COW Vintage in Birmingham. The soft, pastel colours and white lace details worked beautifully with this traditionally English look.

We wanted a porcelain look to the skin so I used a satin-finish foundation and spent time correcting and concealing where needed. Dani has the most amazing cheekbones so needed minimal contouring, instead I added a little light to the face with subtle highlighting. Her eyes were kept natural with a wash of soft-gold shadow on the lid and a light eye pencil on the inner-corners and the waterline. I also added a few individual eyelashes for a pretty, fluttery feel. A pastel pink lipstick was gently patted into the lips for that just-bitten look.

The hair was natural and unkempt, as synonymous with a traditional English Rose. To complete the look, I painted Dani's nails a beautiful opaque nude/lavender shade from Ciate.

My hero products for this shoot:

Ardell Duralash Natural Individual Eyelashes
MAC Strobe Cream
Ciate Paint Pot in 'Bon Bon'

Take a look at my Instagram for some behind-the-scenes images from this shoot. It was a pleasure working with the beautiful Dani and look out for my Film-Noir inspired shoot with the wonderful Hannah-Beth coming soon...

Credits:

Photographer: Hannah-Beth Todd

Model: Dani @ MO Model Management
Styling: COW Vintage, Birmingham

Make-up, Nails and Hair: Laura Walton

What do you think of the 'English Rose' trend? Will you be trying it out this Winter?

Photoshoot: 'Rock My Wedding' Campaign

2012-11-13T21:55:00.002+00:00

I had the opportunity to work with the fabulous make-up artist Gemma Sutton last month. As part of her team of bridal artists we've corresponded for over a year but, being the in-demand artist that she is, have never had the chance to meet! I assisted her on a shoot in Birmingham for the wonderful Rock My Wedding blog (if you are getting married - or even if you're not! - you must check out their inspirational blog). They were shooting and filming the AW12 campaign for their exciting new online boutique, the aptly named 'Rock My Boutique'!

The shoot wasn't your traditional bridal story, it had a gritty, urban feel and was set in an abandoned warehouse at the Custard Factory. The backdrop looks amazing in the images but on one of the coldest days in October, we resorted to warming up one of the models with a hairdryer. The oh-so-glamorous world of fashion! Kudos to the models changing into mini and strapless dresses, a models life is a lot tougher than you would imagine.

Behind-the-Scenes

I set to work on Jack, the male model, evening the skin tone and contouring the face. No work was needed for his incredible mane of hair!

The three girls had simple but sexy make-up with smoky liner and a pop of colour on the cheeks. They all sported dishevelled up-do's and I picked up some fantastic hair tips from Gemma along the way. Here's a small selection of final images from the campaign.

Watch the beautifully shot 'Big City Love' Campaign Film here.

Head on over to the blog to view the rest of the shoot and best of luck to the guys and girls at 'Rock My Wedding' with the beautiful Boutique!

Special thanks to the lovely and super-talented Gemma for a great shoot x

Credits:

Rock My Wedding

Make-up and Hair: Gemma Sutton assisted by Laura Walton
Film: Simon Clarke
Photography: Ann-Kathrin Koch

Photoshoot: Maria @ Boss

2012-10-23T15:16:00.001+01:00

So, I've been keeping busy with lots of fantastic test shoots recently! The first came a few weeks ago with The Full Frame Photography. We had been wanting to shoot for a while and finally got together to shoot the beautiful Maria at his studio in Birmingham.

Maria needed some lingerie shots for her book and we had the opportunity to get a few beauty portraits too. The Photographer wanted to keep the makeup quite clean and natural, so I kept the colours neutral and let her beautiful skin and freckles shine through. Maria has such big, doe-like eyes so I left her lids clean, with just a little contour in the crease, and smoked an inky black liner underneath her lashes for definition. Her plump lips were prepped well and left free of liner to keep the look fresh, pressing a little Creme Cup by MAC onto the lips and highlighting the cupid's bow. Body make-up was also applied for the lingerie shots to perfect the skintone and add a natural glow.

My hero products for this shoot:

Urban Decay 24/7 Eye Pencil in Zero
Nars The Multiple in Copacabana
Benefit Bathina Body Balm

Maria has the perfect face for make-up with the most incredible features and was a total dream to work with. I think these shots are beautiful and hope to work with the fantastic team again.

Credits:

Photographer: The Full Frame

Model: Maria @Boss Model Management @Alan Sharman

Make-up and Hair: Laura Walton

Face Lace by Phyllis Cohen

2012-09-18T18:09:00.002+01:00

Face Lace have introduced five beautiful new designs to their collection, including additions to their Eye Lace range and two brand-new Demi-Veil designs.

If you haven't yet discovered these intricate ready-to-wear make-up designs, Face Lace is a new concept from make-up artist Phyllis Cohen in response to so many people’s plea: “I wish I could do make-up like you.”

Making its debut in 'Corrie Nielsen's' Autumn show at London Fashion Week in February 2012, the unique motifs are inspired by such diverse sources as Op Art, French Lace, Mehndi, Ironwork and Calligraphic flourishes.

'Burlesque' Eye Lace

Artist History

Founder Phyllis Cohen is famous for her intricate designs and innovative creations. Shooting to fame in the eighties, she was responsible for creating many of the decade's most bold and extravagant looks for the likes of Annie Lennox, Steve Strange and David Bowie. More recently, Phyllis designed tattoos for Jean-Paul Gaultier and House of Holland, and her editorial work spans Vogue to Dazed and Confused.

Source: phylliscohen.co.uk

Originally an Illustrator and Fine Art graduate, Phyllis has an eye for artistic, bold fashion masterpieces. “Back in the eighties, I used to make stick-on makeup adornments for Zandra Rhodes’ shows. I also used to use vinyl stencils, and I was wondering how I could combine the two things when I dreamed up the idea for this” she explains.

Tip: Whilst not necessarily everyday wear, these stick-on designs make it simple to adorn your face or body, adding a unique flair to an evening or fancy dress look. If feeling creative, you can add your own touches with coloured liners and lashes. I think these would be fantastic to add a little touch of glamour to your up-coming Halloween event.

New designs available from Face Lace

Eye Laces retail for £11.95: Calligothic, Tribaldelic and Frou Frou

The Demi-Veil designs retail for £19.95 available in White, Gold and Black: Sweetart and Renaissance

How would you wear your Face Lace?

Aston Villa Photoshoot

2012-09-04T15:36:00.001+01:00

With the busy Wedding Season taking up most of my time this summer, it's exciting to now look ahead to some more photoshoots this Autumn/Winter. This is a shoot that took place earlier in the year at Aston Villa's training ground for the club's 2012/13 Home Kit. I was asked to assist make-up artist Katy Short with male grooming for some of the players, I was of course only too happy to help out!

Katy was asked to create a shine-free, even complexion for the shots and ensure the hair was neat and tidy. She also created some 'sweat' for the action-shots using Glycerine and water spray. My job was to ensure everything looked perfect on camera and the players were well powdered. The shoot was a lot of fun and the players didn't object too much to having to wear foundation, not a diva-strop in sight!

Take a look at this behind-the-scenes video:

I'm now looking forward to working on some more 'male grooming' shoots and designing my moodboards for some Autumn/Winter beauty tests, watch this space...

How To... Find Your Perfect Match: Part Two

2012-08-02T20:02:00.000+01:00

Source: allure.com

Now you have decided which Foundation Type is right for you, it's time to select your correct shade. Regardless of which type you choose, purchasing the right colour is crucial to achieving a flawless look.

In a recent survey by Bobbi Brown cosmetics, 42 per cent of British women said their worst beauty nightmare is a foundation 'tide line' (a mask-like effect, with different colour face and neck), so you're not alone in finding it difficult to choose the right shade.

Identify Your Skin Tone

When choosing a colour, it is important to consider both your skin tone (which varies due to sun exposure, age or skin conditions) as well as your undertone (the colour that comes from under the skin's surface). There are three undertones to choose from:

Cool (pink, blue, red undertones) - skin looks better in silver jewellery and you burn easily

Warm (yellow, peach, olive undertones) - skin looks better in gold jewellery and you tend to get a golden tan

Neutral (neutral undertones) - combination of the two

Since most skin colours have either a yellow tone or a pink tone to them, match your foundation accordingly i.e. yellow based foundation for warm tones and pink based foundation for cool tones.

Most of the time, a foundation with a yellow undertone is best, unless you have the fairest of skin tones. Dark skin has both yellow and red undertones, with a predominance of yellow at the light end and red at the darker end.

There are several shades available in each colour group (e.g. fair, ivory, tan, dark) to match the different skin tones.

How to Shop For Foundation

Seeking advice from a make-up counter in a department store can be daunting, but having an artist/supervisor assist you with finding your shade can be invaluable and takes out the guesswork. I really believe you should ‘try before you buy’, how many foundations do you have lying unused in a drawer at home after finding it was completely the wrong shade for you. Always ask for a sample of the foundation you’re matched to; as your skin warms up throughout the day, it can sometimes oxidise and darken, particularly on oily skins. Tip: It’s a good idea to take an empty pot with you to decant a tester into in case the counter has run out of samples.

Shopping isn't so easy at drugstores such as Boots and Superdrug, you are expected to match yourself and there is no return policy for opened cosmetics, unlike some other countries! I personally think these stores should have trained staff dedicated to assist with cosmetics, but that's a whole other article! If you're lucky, you may be able to find a helpful staff member for a second opinion. If you're going it alone however, hopefully these tips will help:

Go foundation shopping with clean, moisturised skin. It might sound scary but your natural colouring may not be visible through foundation or powder.

Apply a stroke of up-to three shades in your colour group, the one that disappears is the correct match.

Fluorescent lighting can distort the way a colour looks. Take a hand-mirror shopping with you and step outside to check the colour in the natural light.

You may find that you have to mix two foundations together to achieve your perfect shade. This can actually be quite useful as it’s crucial to alter your shade when your body changes colour over the seasons or as you tan, whether real or fake!

Never try to add colour to the face by choosing foundation that is darker than the skin, the result will look unnatural and dirty! Colour should be added with blusher and bronzer.

The goal is to not look like your wearing foundation at all!

Source: lovingyou.com

Testing Your Foundation

Never test foundation on your wrist or hand, your face and body are often different shades entirely. It is often suggested that you should test out the shade on your jaw line, however your neck is usually paler than your face (the jaw blocks out sunlight to this area) and this is how tide-lines can occur!

So, you will need to consider more than just your face in order to achieve a uniform colour (you don't want a washed-out complexion as seen on Emily Blunt below). I always test shades on the chest when colour matching now after reading advice from top make-up artist Rae Morris, it really is foolproof in ensuring your face and body are exactly the same colour!

Which Brand To Choose

Foundation is one make-up item that you shouldn’t scrimp on. I would recommend buying the best you can afford as the higher range foundations have better quality pigments, last longer and perform better. There are still some great high street foundations out there that are ideal for every day wear but for special occasions and evenings out, higher-end products will ensure a flawless make-up application.

Still Can't Find Your Colour?

The darkest and palest foundation shades are often overlooked. Make-up companies will only stock the popular shades that they know will sell, which is why it can be so difficult to find the extreme shades. This can be incredibly frustrating when foundation shopping, I know as a Casper look-a-like! There are some brands that have recognised this recently, making things a lot easier i.e. Dainty Doll, Illamasqua and Bobbi Brown for pale shades and Iman, Becca, Makeup Forever and MAC for dark shades.

My top tip is to look at buying a shade adjuster such as FACE Atelier’s. This is such a fantastic idea and I use them all the time in my pro kit. Allowing you to create a custom foundation shade, add a drop of Zero Plus to go a shade darker, or a splash of Zero Minus to lighten any foundation! This will transform those un-used bottles lying in your make-up drawer and customise your foundation to suit changing skin tones.

I hope these guides have helped to explain the important factors to consider when finding your perfect foundation. Any questions? Please leave a comment below and I'll try to help. Let me know if you'd like more How To's and any suggestions or comments are gratefully received.

How To... Choose The Perfect Foundation: Part One

2012-07-24T18:08:00.000+01:00

Source: Alex Beauchesne

One of the most frequently asked questions I receive from clients is how to find the right foundation for me?! With a seemingly endless array of shades and formulas on the market, it's no wonder that choosing the best base for you can be a minefield! Get it right and no one will notice you're wearing it, get it wrong and you can end up with a clown-like mask and telltale lines.

Foundation is one of the most important items of make-up you will purchase, it evens out the tone of your skin making it appear flawless and giving it a healthy luminosity. It is worth taking the time to choose your perfect formulation. By using the correct base, you will transform the make-up you apply on top; giving your other products something to 'stick to' ensures its longevity. You can't expect your colour cosmetics to look immaculate if you have a less-than perfect base.

This staple product can even act as a protective shield to help save your skin from the tough elements you face day-to-day. Sun, wind, heating, air conditioning and other environmental factors can damage your skin, but a good foundation can aid in preventing such damage.

In a quest to simplify the foundation buying process, I have broken this article into two parts. Here I will explore the different types of foundation that are available and which ones are right for you. In part two, I will offer tips on how to shop for foundation and explain how you can finally choose your perfect shade!

How to choose the type of foundation for you

Before you can start your search for your perfect foundation, you need to think about which type works for you. With such a variety of high-tech ingredients, finishes and textures, knowing where to start can be a little overwhelming. You need to think about the formula you want, the coverage you need and the finish you require. This can be decided by factors such as your skin type and skin concerns as well as your personal preference and lifestyle.

Formula

Foundation comes in various textures, besides the standard liquid and powder versions; you also have the choice of cream, mousse, stick and cream-to-powder. The best way to select the one for you is to choose a formula based on your skin type.

Oily

Make sure you select a foundation that is oil-free. This will help keep shine at bay by creating a matte-textured finish. This formula usually contains no oils that can clog pores such as lanolin or mineral oils. Oily skins benefit particularly from using a Primer, this will help control shine and prevent make-up from sliding.

Liquid – oil-free, oil-absorbing, water-based formula

Cream-to-Powder – creamy compact that dries to a powder finish. Offers lasting coverage without being too heavy

Powder – helps to mattify the skin without feeling heavy or greasy

Try: Nars Sheer Matte, Revlon Colourstay, Urban Decay Surreal Skin Compact, MAC Studio Fix Powder

Dry / Mature

If you have dry skin, you need a foundation that contains moisturisers. Dry skin can look flat so try select a hydrating foundation with an oil base. This will help to lock in moisture and give a radiant, dewy glow.

As we get older our skin tends to dry out, a creamy foundation will hydrate the skin, prevent cakiness and hide wrinkles. The latest bases for older skins are anti-ageing moisturisers and foundations rolled into one cream.

Liquid – moisturising, oil-based formula

Stick – offers high level of coverage

Cream - apply with a damp sponge to control the coverage and prevent it looking heavy

Tinted Moisturiser – easier to apply and great for a no-makeup look

Mousse – good for mature skin as it doesn’t sit in fine lines

Try: Laura Mercier Moisture Supreme, Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick, Laura Mercier Creme Smooth, Nars Tinted Moisturiser, Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse

Combination

If you have combination skin (such as dry skin with an oily T-zone) you will need a foundation that prevents shine whilst preventing dehydrated areas from drying out.

Cream-to-powder – locks in moisture while controlling shine

Liquid – oil-free

Try: MAC Studio Tech, Clinique Superbalanced Make-up

Normal

Normal skin can wear a whole range of foundation formulas, from powder to cream to liquid, depending on the type of coverage and finish you prefer.

Try: Chanel Perfection Lumiere

Sensitive

If you have sensitive skin that's prone to flare-ups, make sure you opt for a fragrance-free, oil-free, non-comedogenic, hypo-allergenic foundation.

Powder – doesn't need as many preservatives as it doesn’t contain water, which are often the culprits when it comes to triggering irritation on the skin

Mineral - contains no additives and in powder form, it needs no synthetic preservatives. Is non-comedogenic, meaning that it won't clog your pores

Try: Clinique Almost Powder Make-up, Bare Minerals Foundation

Coverage

Next, you will need to consider how much coverage you require. If you have good skin, but want to even out a few ruddy areas, consider a sheer coverage. For an uneven skin tone or blemishes, consider a medium coverage foundation.

You will also want to take factors such as your lifestyle and the occasion into consideration. For example, if you are going to the shops and simply want to cover a little redness, you could choose a tinted moisturiser. If, however, you are going to an important event and you want to achieve a polished look, you should wear a foundation that offers more coverage.

Sheer

Suits clear skins or those with only very slight pigmentation or subtle blemishes. They smooth out the skin tone and texture whilst allowing your real skin, including freckles and beauty marks, to be visible. Almost undetectable on the skin due to the translucent pigments, they are forgiving, mistake proof foundation.

Tinted moisturisers and some powders (applied with a brush) are ideal if you are not a “makeup person” and require a light feel to your make-up. Try: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser

Medium

Covers around 60% of blemishes and uneven skin tones. These foundations are thicker in consistency and provide more coverage for minor skin discolourations. Liquid, Mousse and Cream-to-Powder formulations all offer a medium coverage. Powders applied with a sponge and Mineral's applied with a brush also offer a medium finish.

Look out for formulations with buildable coverage too, these give you more control enabling you to build up more coverage as and when you need it.

Full

Sometimes needed for serious skin issues such as scars, birthmarks and acne. I personally would never use these all over the skin as they can result in a fake, mask-like finish that actually draws more attention to your skin.

Apply creams or stick foundations sparingly and use a heavy-duty concealer in areas where more coverage is required. Try: Keromask Camouflage Cream, Vichy Dermablend

Source: fashionista.com

Finish

The finish is the amount of sheen a foundation leaves on your skin. There are three types: matte, semi-matte and illuminating.

Matte – Typically for those with oily skin, matte foundations absorb oil, leaving your skin with a shine-free, powdery finish. It can look a little dated and flat however, lacking the luminous glow of real skin. Only use this finish if you have severe oil-control problems.

Try: Clarins Ever Matt

Semi-matte – Has a more velvety, satin-finish. Most foundations are semi-matte and they work on almost anyone. These give the most natural looking finish with a much softer glow.

Try: Make Up Forever HD

Illuminating – Contain three-dimensional pigments which bounce light off the face giving a luminous glow. Fantastic for dull skins that lack radiance i.e. dry, mature or sallow. Illuminating foundations are infused with finely ground light-reflective particles (such as mica and crushed pearls) which give a soft-focus effect to the skin, diffusing the look of fine lines and wrinkles.

Try: Chanel Pro Lumiere

I hope this helps to de-mystify the many foundation types, if you have any questions, please leave a comment below. Now that you are aware of the types of foundation that are suitable for you, you're ready to select your shade...

Look out for Part Two: How To Find Your Perfect Match.

Chanel Make-up Confidential Video: Mirror, Mirror

2012-07-10T15:32:00.000+01:00

Chanel's Creative Director of Make-up, Peter Philips, has created a new short-film for Make-up Confidential. (If you've never visited this digital magazine, you must take a look, it's content is very creative and innovative!) The teaser video, entitled 'Miroir Miroir', has been designed to preview the brand's five new Rouge Allure Lipstick shades which are set to launch on the 14th September 2012.

Inspired by a mirror-embellished coat from Chanel's Paris-Bombay pre-fall show, Philips revealed that the 'mirror look' isn't a mask, the crystals and mirrors were individually applied onto the face in no less than four hours!

So, how did make-up maestro Philip's come up with the surreal, mesmerising concept? "I was mainly inspired by an editorial makeup I did a few years ago. It was a composition of pieces of crystals and mirrors that I applied on a girls face. We did some amazing pictures, but I always felt a bit frustrated that we never captured this makeup in movement. I loved the sparkling, hypnotizing effect, which, unfortunately, you partially loose in a still image. When the idea of doing a film around the lipsticks and Paris Bombay Show started growing in my head, The concept complimented the shades and the hypnotizing, psychedelic aspect fitted well with the Indian theme."

To highlight the new lipstick collection, he kept the rest of model Inguta Butane's make-up minimal. "I kept the eyes almost naked. I only curled the lashes, applied Ombre Essentielle in “Ivory” and our “Clair” khol liner on the eyes, and that's it. On the lips I applied 5 different, new shades of Rouge Allure lipstick: Pimpante, Excentrique, Enjouée, Exaltée, Palpitante."

Quote Source: graziadaily.co.uk

What are your thoughts on the new short-film?

Benefit Ultra Plush Lip Gloss

2012-07-02T22:02:00.000+01:00

There seems to be a current trend with cosmetic companies for 'matching' make-up, with MAC releasing sets of nail polish and lip colours in their Fashion Sets Collection. In keeping with this theme, Benefit Cosmetics are releasing co-ordinating lip glosses to complement their best-selling Box O'Powders. As a fan of these complexion-enhancing powders ('Hoola' is a staple in my kit!) I'm eager to add these matching Ultra Plush Glosses to my collection.

The six-piece collection, with shades ranging from sultry nudes to punchy pinks, have been created in soft-squeeze tubes with packaging that perfectly corresponds to the popular powders.

Dandelion (soft pearly pink)
Dallas (dusty rose)
Sugarbomb (shimmering pinky nude)
CORALista (sheer coral)
Bella Bamba (sheer bright watermelon)
Hoola (shimmering golden nude)

The new plush glosses glide on easily feeling super-silky and smooth, whilst the non-sticky formula offers a sheer, shimmering finish. They will need regular application as they lack the 'stick' of some glosses, but if you prefer your lip colour to have a more balm-like feel and hate that tacky feeling, you will love these!

Tip: To create a beautifully pulled-together look in seconds, apply your favourite box o'powder to your cheeks and eyes and finish with its complementing gloss.

Ultra Plush Lip Gloss Available from July 2012 at £13.50 each.

Which are your favourite Box O'Powders and will you be trying a matching Plush Gloss?

Inspiration: Magazine Covers

2012-06-25T21:59:00.000+01:00

Magazine covers are one of my biggest inspirations as a make-up artist, I absolutely love trawling through the magazine stands each month. They are a great resource for new trends and colour combinations, which inspire me when planning for my upcoming shoots.

A lot of the high-fashion and foreign magazines however, are not readily available which is where Cover Junkie is very useful. This incredible site has an enormous database of creative covers from magazines around the world, all without having to leave your sofa! I regularly save covers that catch my eye and could spend hours viewing the latest creations. Here are a few of my favourite covers from 2012 so far...

Which are your favourite magazines for make-up inspiration?

In My Kit: Clinique Airbrush Concealer

2012-06-20T18:52:00.002+01:00

Clinique's Airbrush Concealer is a light-reflecting makeup must-have. It brightens shadows and other imperfections and helps to soften the look of fine lines and wrinkles.

A relatively recent addition to my kit, this was recommended to me whilst assisting Make-up Artist Katy Short. Under-eye concealer is a make-up essential for disguising a bad night's sleep and brightening dull skin around the eye area.

Other light-reflecting concealer pens, such as the iconic Touche Eclat, are often mis-used and applied too heavily in an attempt to conceal rather than highlight. This can cause flash-back in photographs and actually accentuate under-eye circles. Whilst Touche Eclat offers no coverage, the Clinique pen conceals dark, pigmented under-eyes with enough light-reflection to add radiance to the area. At a more budget-friendly price too!

The creamy consistency is lightweight enough on the skin for easy blending without sitting in any lines or any 'cakiness'. The flow-through brush pen dispenses just the right amount of product without any mess and fits in your handbag for useful, quick application on the go.

This product is also a firm-favourite of top Make-up Artist Lisa Eldridge and if it's good enough for her..!

Tips:

Can be applied to bare skin for a quick-fix or over foundation or other concealers.

Ideal for Spring/Summer when you want to lose the heavy foundation and add more light to the skin. Try using a tinted moisturiser with the Airbrush Concealer applied under the eyes and on any imperfections.

I use this on shoots to brighten the inner and outer corners of the eye and sides of the nose.
To take make-up from day to night, clean under the eyes with a cotton bud and reapply to freshen the eye area.

For very dark circles and extra coverage, I would recommend using a small amount of regular concealer first before thinly applying the Airbrush Concealer over the top to brighten.

This video from Clinique shows application techniques:

Clinique Airbrush Concealer is available in four shades (01 Fair, 02 Medium, 04 Neutral Fair and Light) and costs £16.

Red Carpet Summer Trends

2012-06-15T18:24:00.000+01:00

The beginning of June saw two of the biggest Red Carpet Events, the MTV Movie Awards and the CFDA Fashion Awards, showcasing the best of the seasons make-up and hair.

The CFDA's are often referred to as "The Oscars of Fashion" with Designers, Models and A-Lister's alike pulling out all the stops for the occasion. The dress, hair and make-up are all heavily influenced by the latest trends from the catwalk. The MTV Movie Awards bring a more casual, relaxed vibe to the red carpet, often with youthful, fun and fresh make-up.

Here's a rundown of four of the stand-out trends from the awards. The stars seem to have taken inspiration from the Spring/Summer and Autumn/Winter 2012 Catwalks, among them the modern cat-eye and tangerine trend. It's good to see such a variety of experimental looks to inspire us this summer.

Trend 1 - The Modern Cat-Eye

Zoe Saldana offered a nod to this Autumn's graphic liner trend as seen at Lanvin. All the emphasis was on the eyes, leaving the lips nude and hair slicked-back.

Doutzen Kroes paired her cat-like liquid liner with gently swept-back hair. Get the look with MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack. Using a fine liner brush, sweep across the lash line from the inner to outer corners extending out into a winged shape.

Trend 2 - The Bright Lip

Emma Stone embraced summer with a pretty pink lip and liquid liner. Make-up artist Rachel Goodwin used Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Rendezvous - a bright, coral-y pink.

Model Devon Aoki teamed her sultry cat's eye flick with a classic red lip. Get the look with Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Red Square. Her skin was kept fresh and natural allowing her beautiful freckles to show through.

Mandy Moore sported bubblegum pink lips and a high ponytail. The bright lip was balanced out with a flushed, rosy cheek and flawless porcelain skin.

Trend 3 - Full Lashes

Kate Bosworth drew attention to her extra-curly lashes by keeping her hair sleek and off her face. White eyeliner has been used on the waterline to make her eyes look even larger and brighter. Get the look with Shu Uemura Eye Light Pencil. The rest of her make-up was kept minimal, as seen on the catwalk at Calvin Klein, with just a hint of blush and rose-bud pink lips.

Lily Collins complemented her neat chignon with a classic smoky brown eye and groomed brow. Her long lashes were coated top and bottom with mascara allowing her big eyes to take centre stage.

Victoria's Secret Angel Candice Swanepoel paired her halo braid with pretty, radiant make-up. She kept it simple with a light, shimmer eyeshadow, fluttery lashes and a nude lip. Get the look with Eylure False Lashes.

Trend 4 - Tangerine

Dakota Fanning displayed a more wearable version of Givenchy's Autumn show look. Her orange eyeshadow has reflected the coloured accents in her Proenza Schouler dress. This shade really brings out her bright blue eyes and the lashings of black mascara add definition. Honey hued cheeks and lips finishes this look perfectly. Get the look with Illamasqua Eyeshadow in Vapour.

Leighton Meester has teamed a bold orange lip with striking black liner and peach cheeks. This shade looks fantastic with her new, lighter hair colour.

Model Karolina Kurkova's orange lip complimented her stunning graphic print dress. Her shimmery gold shadow and black mascara balance out the daring tangerine. Get the look with MAC Lipstick in Morange.

Image Source: Vogue.co.uk and Allure.com

Which red-carpet beauty do you think translated the summer make-up trends best?

Karl Lagerfeld for Shu Uemura

2012-06-11T15:08:00.000+01:00

An exciting new collaboration has just been announced between Chanel's Karl Lagerfeld and make-up giant Shu Uemura. After launching his make-up line with Sephora last Christmas, Lagerfeld is now working on a special holiday make-up collection with the Japanese beauty brand.

The designer has used Shu Uemura products for more than 20 years - albeit to bring colour to his fashion illustrations, rather than their traditional use. Why? “Because other manufacturers do not offer such beautiful colours,” he tells WWD.

'I love sketching in the morning,' Karl says. 'When I go to sleep I always put my pens and papers next to my bed. I use Shu Uemura shadows to sketch, since they are such fantastic colours.'

Lagerfeld himself selected the colours and packaging for the new collection and has already photographed the accompanying campaign. Karl Lagerfeld for Shu Uemura will launch internationally in November; while the president of Karl Lagerfeld, Pier Paolo Righi, hints that the collection will reflect the designer's 'iconic, ironic style.' As a big fan of both Lagerfeld and the beautiful Shu Uemura line, I for one cannot wait to see the finished collection.

MAC Beth Ditto

2012-06-06T18:00:00.000+01:00

This month sees the launch of an exciting Limited-Edition Make-up collection from MAC. Beth Ditto will be joining the likes of Lady Gaga, Nicki Minaj and Dita Von Teese by collaborating with the make-up brand and it's sure to be a sell-out.

The stylish, inspirational and confident lead singer of The Gossip has re-defined our image of the classic beauty icon. She brings plenty of colour to the collection, with shades ranging from bold brights to candy colours and pastels.

"Collaborating with MAC on my first make-up collection has been my dream. With music, there’s a long time frame, there’s a period of gestation – you do it, sit with it, let it grow and then give birth to it. But this make-up line was different, more immediate. I was like a kid in a candy store. It’s very colourful, but the idea is that it’s versatile. I didn’t have money as a kid, and now I travel a lot, so it’s about taking several things and merging them into one. With the Shade & Smoke Shadow/Liner you have black, pastel blue and navy to play with, and the face palette has four colours which you can blend together to create a bunch of other colours." Quote Source: Stylist.co.uk

Check out this fantastic 'Behind the Scenes' video of Beth and the MAC team - soon we'll all be using potatoes to apply our make-up in the morning!

Video Source: Grazia Daily

This colourful line features Pro Longwear Lipcreme's, Lip Pencils, Nail Lacquers, Zoom Lash Mascara in three colours and No7 Lashes.

The stand-out item is the 'Shade & Smoke Shadow/Liner' which will be premiering in this collection. The dual-ended sticks of creamy Eye Shadow and Greasepaint Liner are ideal for creating the perfect smoky eye and come in four beautiful colour-ways. Having already heard fantastic things about them, they are going straight to the top of my shopping list! The 'Beth Mask' shade in particular has caught my eye, blending a striking combination of brown-bronze liner and golden-peach shadow. The polka-dot 'Powder to the People' also looks irresistibly bright and beautiful!

Prices for this collection range from £9 for the 'Nail Lacquer' to £21.50 for 'Powder to the People'.

The MAC Beth Ditto Collection is available online at www.maccosmetics.co.uk or from MAC stores across the UK from tomorrow (7th June).

The MAC AIDS Fund will donate 190,000 Euros to French AIDS awareness charity Sidaction this year.

July Magazine Freebies

2012-06-02T16:25:00.000+01:00

It's a bumper month for magazine make-up freebies! The big brands that are tempting consumers this month include Ciate, Benefit and Jemma Kidd. The July 2012 issues of Marie Claire, Glamour and Red are all on sale throughout the month of June, but don't wait around to claim your chosen gift!

Marie Claire Magazine (RRP £3.70) is offering a free Ciate Nail Polish worth £9. Choose from three new-season shades in 'Bon bon' (Nude), 'Jelly Bean' (Bright Pink) and 'Purple Sherbet' (Lilac).

These Ciate Paint Pots come in beautiful packaging with a uniquely shaped bottle and a long, easy to apply brush. I picked up the beautiful 'Bon bon' shade which is a classic opaque nude with a hint of lavender/dirty pink.

Glamour Magazine (RRP £2.00) is giving away a best-selling product from Benefit. Select one of these three luxe-minis: 'The Porefessional' which according to Glamour is worth £10, 'That Gal' worth £15 and 'Bad Gal' worth £10.

The Porefessional is a silky, lightweight balm which quickly minimises the appearance of pores & fine lines. I would highly recommend this for flawless foundation application and long-lasting results.

That Gal face primer contains light-reflecting pigments for a brighter, smoother looking complexion.

Bad Gal is a mascara for full, voluminous lashes. It's famously big brush can be a little too clumpy if not carefully applied, but this would be useful as a travel mascara.

Red Magazine (RRP £3.90) is offering a choice of two products from the Jemma Kidd make-up range worth £15 each. Pick up either the 'I-Glamour Volume Mascara' or the 'I-Glamour Define Eyeliner'.

I managed to get the I-Glamour Mascara which separates the lashes nicely whilst lengthening and adding volume. "The mega-black formula is enriched with Vitamin E and Glycerin to help condition and strengthen lashes, whilst providing the perfect texture to coat and lengthen with every application."

The I-Glamour black eyeliner offers a soft texture and a handy smudging tool on one end. "This pro eyeliner adds definition without dragging or discomfort, whilst also allowing essential play time, followed by smudge-resistant results throughout the day."

Which freebie are you hoping to get your hands on?

Update 5/6/12: I've just found out that the July issue of Harper's Bazaar, featuring Florence Welch, is giving away a Leighton Denny Nail Polish! Choose from one of three hot summer shades in Coral Reef, Plush Pink or Supermodel.

Jubilee Beauty Buys

2012-05-31T12:00:00.000+01:00

Some of Britain's best beauty brands have launched limited-edition products to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee this weekend. Get into the party spirit with products emblazoned with Union Jacks, London landmarks and Crown Jewels.

Shu Uemura

The Queen of lashes, Shu Uemura, have released their show-stopping Union Jack eyelashes. Stand out at that Jubilee street party with these red, white and blue Jewelled Lashes.

Union Jack Eyelashes - £50 exclusive to Selfridges

Chapstick

Combining a mix of carnauba wax, beeswax and camphor, this stick is formulated to soothe and nourish lips while preventing moisture evaporation. It also contains SPF 10 to keep lips soft and hydrated.

Union Jack Chapstick - £1.22 Available in Supermarkets and Pharmacies Nationwide

Vaseline

This Limited Edition Lip Pouch contains Vaseline Lip Therapy Rosy Lips and a handy mirror for those garden party touch-ups.

Union Jack Pouch - £3.99 from Superdrug

Harrods

New York perfume house Bond No. 9 has created a limited-edition Jubilee scent exclusively for Harrods. Harrods Jubilee features a beautiful base of Amber, Musk and Sandalwood to leave you smelling like a Queen. You'll need her bank balance too for this buy!

Bond No.9 - £290 for 100ml from Harrods

Nail Rock

The Nail Wrap trend continues with the release of these Union Jack Nail Wraps. Adorn your nails with the British flag and party in style.

Union Jack Designer Nail Wraps - £6.65 from Nail Rock

Batiste

My favourite dry shampoo has had a make-over in honour of the Jubilee. This fabulous product revitalises greasy and lifeless hair between washes, instantly leaving hair feeling clean and smelling beautiful.

Dry Shampoo in Brit - £1.45 from Superdrug

Neal's Yard Remedies

This luxurious organic Garden Mint & Bergamot Hand Lotion contains nourishing shea nut butter, jojoba and evening primrose oils.

Jubilee Hand Lotion £12.00 from Neal's Yard Remedies (Jubilee Hand Wash also Available)

Nails Inc.

'Jubilee' is a full coverage glitter polish with red, blue and silver particles. It features a crystal cap and is packaged in a patriotic British themed gift box.

Jubilee Crystal Colour - £15 from Nails Inc

Tangle Teezer

The innovative Tangle Teezer now comes in a Union Jack emblazoned cover. The Compact Styler is 100% British and a handbag favourite.

Cool Britannia Compact Styler - £13.99 from Tangle Teezer

Jane Iredale

In keeping with the 'Keep Calm' slogan craze, this exclusive refillable compact also features a hand-painted bold Union Jack design. The PurePressed base compact contains a water-resistant pressed mineral foundation and SPF 20.

'Keep Calm and Powder On' Refillable Compact - £29.95 from Jane Iredale

Will you be getting into the Jubilee spirit and looking like a stylish royal this Bank Holiday Weekend?

Photoshoot: Lost Soul

2012-05-29T17:12:00.001+01:00

Here are a small selection of images from a location shoot that took place a few weeks ago. Working with three very talented photographers at a derelict house on an old army base, we were lucky enough to have a beautiful model with a background in ballet to create these beautiful images.

The brief was to capture the dark beauty of a lost ballerina whilst keeping the look soft. After sharing numerous inspiration images with Photographer Tracey on Pinterest, I created a few face charts to share with the team at the shoot. We decided to create two looks on the day. The first was a soft, doe-eyed ballerina look with pale skin, fluttery lashes and a red lip to add a little intensity.

The second was a dark, smoky-eyed, soulful look with darker plum lips and heavier contouring.

I added some drama for the last shot of the day with an artificial tear and smudged liner.

My hero products for this shoot were:

Ardell Fashion Lashes #122
RCMA Artificial Tears
Revlon Creme de la Chrome Gloss in Plum Appeal
OPI Nail Polish in Mrs O'Leary's BBQ

Many thanks to a truly fantastic team! xxx

Credits:

Photographers: Tracey Barrow, Jo Rutherford, Chrissy Matthew

Model: Zana O'Connell

Make-up: Laura Walton

First Blog Post

2012-05-28T10:19:00.001+01:00

So, I thought it was about time I joined the blogging world! I hope to document not only my work and photoshoots, but products and techniques that I personally use and love. I would also like to share my endless inspiration for my work from photographers, magazine covers and editorials, catwalk trends, TV/film, books and fellow inspirational make-up artists.

I hope you enjoy reading and please feel free to share your thoughts and comments.

"Love of beauty is Taste. The creation of beauty is Art.” - Ralph Waldo

Laura