MUSINGS OF A MAKEUP ARTIST

Before/After: Sex Kitten Look using YSL Glossy Stain

2012-03-04T17:01:00.000Z

I recently acquired the full set of YSL's latest offering, the Rouge Pur Couture Vernis À Lèvres or Glossy Stain to the rest of us! Is it a gloss, stain or lipstick? Well according to YSL none of the above. Using technology I won't get into, it allows the first layer to stain the lip and the consequent layers to build up colour whilst maintaining shine and long-wearing glossiness! Well I tried it

Editorial Update: Evening Standard Magazine

2012-02-26T15:49:00.001Z

Last December I had the pleasure of working with ES magazine and one of the most fascinating I have met in a while, Paz De la Huerta. Actress, artist, model but I know of her from the series Broadwalk Empire. She was incredible to work with in the sense that she knew how she would like to be made up and approached it like how an artist would paint. And thank goodness the stars were aligned and we

A Visual Diary: Mauritius

2012-02-26T15:27:00.000Z

After returning home from Barbados, I literally had 2 days to do my laundry, restock kit and squeeze in a shoot and off I was again to gorgeous Mauritius! To many, it sounds really glamorous but what many forget is that I was usually awake at 5am and finishing shoots at 6pm throughout the trip so I was, shall I say a little bit tired by the time Mauritius came along! Upon arrival I was instantly

Before/After: The Many Faces of Agnes using Shiseido

2012-02-15T16:21:00.000Z

Often during a fashion shoot, I am required to tweak looks and do variations on the same girl within a strict time frame. And yesterday was one such occasion where we had to shoot 8 shots and have slight makeup tweaks so that the shots look slightly different but yet cohesive as a spread. I decided to stick with one brand as I knew the brand well and also knew that the products would all work

A Visual Diary: Barbados

2012-02-02T15:15:00.000Z

Many of you will know that I have just been to Barbados on a work trip after my last post of me panicking about what to pack in my kit! Well I am back and am pleased to announce that the trip went well and we shot 5 gorgeous spreads which I will post up as soon as they're published. Upon arrival, we had the first day to do a recce around the island, looking for locations to shoot. When asked by

Insight My Kit: Barbados: So Many Products, So Little Luggage Space!

2012-01-21T16:25:00.001Z

I am sure you're quite tired of hearing about my upcoming work trips to Barbados and also Mauritius. I apologise for that, I get quite excited about location shoots abroad as they result in a very different vibe. The light, weather, climate, textures and skin all change according to the surrounding. So it is a nightmare to actually pack for work trips. All the products that I use in cold, wet

Tom Ford Cosmetics: Burnished Amber Eye Colour Quad & Before/After: Burnished Eyes!

2012-01-20T11:44:00.000Z

I must be the last person to actually blog about the Tom Ford cosmetics even though I think I was the first person to actually arrive at the press day! Needless to say that everything Mr Ford touches turns to gold so I had no worries that this line would disappoint. I will post more about the other products as I get and use them so for now shall we have a look at this? Burnished Amber Eye Colour

Supermodel Alert/Product Breakdown: Yasmin Le Bon

2012-01-15T18:52:00.000Z

I don't need to tell you how thrilled I was when I found out I would be making up the face of one of my favourite supermodels of the 90s who is still going strong today! Yes I was a little bit excited. And best of all it was to be shot in her lovely home where she lives with her husband and family. I've worked with her daughter Amber before so was lovely to see her again however husband Simon was

Behind The Scenes: Tea With The Grand Dame, Coco Chanel

2012-01-13T20:50:00.000Z

Over the holiday season I had some time to recuperate and rest but being me, was soon bored and dying to get back to work again! So what did I do? I started clearing out the photo library on my computer, trying to bring a system to the chaos and the multitude of random photos collected over my career! Whilst looking and sorting, I started reminiscing about all the places that I have had the

Emma Hardie: Brand Catch Up

2012-01-03T18:34:00.000Z

Happy New Year everyone! What better way to start the new year than to catch up with one of my favourite skincare brands: Emma Hardie. There really isn't an item from this gorgeous range than I dislike. I have used it all on my celebs and models alike all throughout 2011 and every single one has always commented on the incredible scent and the gorgeous textures of the products! I won't go down

Editorial Update: Vogue Russia

2011-12-31T11:20:00.000Z

What a great way to end an incredible 2011! My beauty shoot for the January 2012 issue of Vogue Russia is out and it's gorgeous! I absolutely love it, it captures a wintry & sultry Dempsey Stewart! Here's the shot, I hope you like it. Have a lovely New Year's eve and see everyone in 2012!

Product Breakdown: Eliza Doolittle for Twenty6 Magazine

2011-12-14T15:56:00.002Z

I had the chance late summer to work with the talented Eliza Doolittle for Twenty6 magazine. Now I will admit that I didn't know much about Eliza except for her music played on the radio. A quick search on the internet showed a youthful pretty girl but boy did I get a shock at the shoot. Eliza was a young woman and had a beautiful face and an incredible body with legs that went on forever! So I

Product Alert: Givenchy L'Ombre Noir

2011-12-14T15:09:00.000Z

A quick post as I just had to. I got this little nifty product a few months ago and it has now become a firm favourite in my kit! Why? As an artist I love products that you can use in multiple ways, for practical reasons as it means I don't have to carry 10,000 things in my ever-growing kit! L'Ombre Noir So what is it? I suppose, to put it very simply, it's black in a compact! It can be anything

Fragrance: Paco Robanne Black XS

2011-12-14T14:51:00.000Z

It's that time of year again and personally I hate shopping for presents as it gets really stressful. I always get scents or fragrances as it's something that will usually please most people! Especially for the special men in your life. So lucky timing when I got wind of the new offering from Paco Rabanne. Black XS! Black XS for himAimed at the men below 40 I would hazard, this heady,

YSL: Brand Catch Up: Spring 2012

2011-12-06T13:57:00.008Z

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4Beauty Best Makeup Blogs: What An Honour!

2011-12-05T09:38:00.003Z

Hi guys, I apologise for the lack of posts of late. Work has been crazy and as many will know, being a makeup artist is my full time career. I digress anyway but while I was in Arizona attending a friend's wedding, I had the best surprise ever! Musings has been listed as one of Channel 4Beauty's Best Makeup Blogs! Have a look here! There are some incredible blogs on that list. It's very humbling

Clarins: Brand Catch Up

2011-11-08T18:44:00.001Z

This french beauty house has been around for years and does beautiful products that just work. Over the years I've kind of lost contact with many of it's collections and products. The only thing I found myself using again and again was the Beauty Flash Balm but more of that later. So recently when I had the chance to catch up with it's PR team, I was more than happy to do so and surprised to find

Product Breakdown: Courtney Love for Vanity Fair

2011-11-05T19:26:00.000Z

This summer I had the chance to work with the iconic Courtney Love and I was really excited! Personally I have never seen her look better than when Kevyn Aucoin did her makeup so with that in mind, I had a rough idea as to how I'd love her to look! The look I wanted was a naturally glowing look that didn't scream makeup. Beautiful skin, softly enhanced features and classiness was how I saw the

Product Breakdown: Michelle Dockery at The Cosmos 2011

2011-11-04T19:32:00.001Z

Anyone who knows me will know that I am a huge fan of period drama, Downton Abbey. So guess how excited I was when I found out I got to work with the show's leading lady Michelle Dockery for The Cosmopolitan Women Awards! Having previously worked with her on a shoot, I knew what I wanted to do with Michelle's makeup. I wanted to keep it very young and fresh but still slightly sophisticated. I

Product Breakdown: Alexandra Burke on XFactor

2011-10-31T10:53:00.004Z

So as many of you will know, Alexandra Burke was called in as a guest judge on the very popular talent show over the weekend. The response has been quite interesting, many liking her and many not but I will say that she is a dream to work with and her face is perfect for working on. The response for her look I did on her over the weekend though has, thankfully, been overwhelming and positive! So

Estee Lauder: Brand Catch Up & Before/After: Cyber Beauty

2011-10-27T22:31:00.002+01:00

As you can see this is starting to become a habit, me doing mash-ups due to work being too busy! Bear with me, I couldn't really wait! I had a little catch up session yesterday with the ladies at Estee Lauder and was presented a little collection of what's to come in December! As it stands, I was told that I am 1 of 3 people who has this collection so I was dying to show it off to you and to

Insight My Kit: Black Eyeliners

2011-10-23T15:41:00.000+01:00

Without a doubt, black liners will always be in my kit in usually more than one single formula, texture or medium. I can safely say that if I have at least one of the below liners, I can work and do a myriad of looks using it with conjunction with other products. I approach black liners in a few ways. Obviously to use it as what it was designed for i.e. lining the eye but also as a way of

YSL: Brand Catch Up

2011-10-17T17:05:00.001+01:00

Going from strength to strength ever since the appointment of Lloyd Simmons as Artistic Director, this luxury brand now promises more beautiful products! My lipstick kit for work comprises mainly of the gorgeously pigmented Rouge Pur Couture. Well hold on to your boots, coming soon are these babies! Rouge Pur Couture Golden Lustre13 permanent shades, all silky textured and infused with pink,

Before/After/Kit Essentials Mash-Up: Sultry Eyes & Strong Lips

2011-10-14T23:05:00.000+01:00

Today I'm going to do a Before/After combined with New Kit Essentials! Why? Because I've been so short of time due to the day job (makeup artist) being so busy and also I am so excited about these babies!! Shiseido Shimmering Cream Eye ColourCurrently available in 12 gorgeous shades according the the Shiseido site here. I only have four for now but am working to get a complete set soon. What's

Behind-The-Scenes Video: Their Mag Alexandra Burke Edition

2011-10-03T18:23:00.003+01:00

I was recently asked to work on Popstar Alexandra Burke for a brand new magazine called Their Mag launching soon. The first edition is edited by Alexandra and for the shoot I wanted to create looks that showcased her vibrant personality. Here's some pictures and a video of what went on during the day of the shoot and a few sneaky peeks of the looks I created. I hope you guys like it! Stay