Before/After: Sizzling Summer Beauty

I've just got home from 4 days of shoots in gorgeous Puglia, Italy. We stayed in the most amazing resort which was basically it's own town, it was that big with everything you could think off! Villas, suites, restaurants, pools and spas. Anyway I got distracted, one of the shoots was  swimwear shoot. The weather was hot, correction, it was scorching! Which meant that as the MUA I had to look after the welfare of my model, to make sure that she didn't get burnt!

My inspiration for the makeup was gorgeous skin, enhancing features and just making her look amazing! Meet gorgeous Simone!

Face Prep: Emma Hardie Moringa Ceansing Balm, Emma Hardie Hydrating Lighter Lotion, Shu Uemura UV Under Base Mousse SPF 30, Rodial Glam Balm Lip.

As you can see Simone has a bit of redness in certain areas but nothing of any worry really. As soon as the Shu Uemura Mousse went on, her skin looked more even and smooth. I really love this product as it gives skin a gorgeous glow and evens out redness and ensures that foundation goes on like a dream. Plus the high SPF is a godsend and mousse textures helps keep shine at bay! Have a look at the results of the after shots.

Face: YSL Le Teint Touche Éclat, Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua, Givenchy Mr Light Instant Light Corrective Pen, Chanel Bronze Unversal.

Eyes: Shu Uemura Eyeshadow Light Pink, Tom Ford Cognac Sable Eyeshadow Quad, Stila Major Lash Mascara in Black, Clinique Underlash Mascara.

Eyebrows: MAC Clear Brow Gel.

Cheeks: Chanel Bronze Universal, YSL Terre Saharienne Bronzing Powder in No 1 Tanned.

Lips: YSL Rouge Pur Couture in Blond Ingenu & Beige Tribute.

Powder: YSL Semi Loose Powder in Sand.

Here's a picture of Simone in action, 4 hours after the makeup was done.

Gorgeous huh? Makeup stayed put and I barely had to powder. This was probably due to the combination of the products I used. So if and when you're in a hot environment, it is definitely worth thinking about how to layer your products to beat the heat and remain looking fresh and amazing. Any comments and questions are most welcome.

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Before/After: Blond Bombshells & Red Lips

Without a doubt, a red lip is a sign of sexual power in a woman's makeup artillery and I adore a red lip! In any form, be it stain, gloss, cream or even powder! I recently did a shoot for Norwegian fashion bible SVA magazine to showcase some the country's finest designers. My theme from the photographer and stylist was red. So it was decided that a red lip would feature heavily on this shoot.

I decided not to do anything too clever or complicated. Just a gorgeous unctuous red lip so pigmented and rich and to keep our model still young and fresh. Meet our model.

Face Prep: UNE Radiance Refresh Micellar Cleansing Water, Emma Hardie Hydrating Lighter Lotion, Clarins Beauty Flash Balm, Rodial Glam Balm Lip.

Anna is a gorgeous stunning German girl with the most gorgeous pair of lips. As you can see I have a very easy job here. I spent more time massaging the skin than makeup, to prep and make her skin glow and get it well circulated.

As for makeup, I chose my densest red lippie and keep everything else quite subdued, mainly concentrating on shading and contouring. Here's Anna all done up.

Face: YSL Le Teint Touche Éclat, YSL Touche Éclat.

Eyes: YSL Pure Chromatics Palette 8, YSL Long-Lasting Waterproof Eye Pencil in No 8 Luminescent Gold, YSL Luxurious Mascara Shocking Volume in Deep Black.

Eyebrows: Shu Uemura Hard Formula Brow Pencil in Seal Brown, MAC Clear Brow Gel.

Cheek: MAC Taupe Contour Powder, Burberry Fresh Glow.

Lips:  MAC Lip Mix in Crimson, MAC Ruby Woo.

Powder: YSL Semi Loose Powder in Sand.

Close up.

What do you think? I adore this kind of makeup! It makes the woman powerful and sexy, a combination of raw sexual power but yet still has a merest hint of insecure innocence that makes her even more enticing! Would you wear a red lip like that?

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Before/After: Return To The Smokey Eye

Smokey Eyes, probably the most popular makeup look ever, contested closely only by the flicked liner look. To be honest I haven't really done a proper smokey eye for awhile so it was rather lovely to be able to get to do 2 in the same week!

Although classed as smokey eyes, I deliberately did both looks quite different, to show that there's always variations in a theme. And that there's always something for anybody.

The first is Emily and my brief was red carpet smokey. I wanted it quite fashiony but yet very beautiful and groomed. I also wanted to keep it looking young so I kept Emily's skin dewy and brows undefined and brushed up. And to carry on the young and slightly nonchalant vibe, I applied layers and layers of black mascara. Meet Emily.

Face Prep: UNE Radiance Refresh Micellar Cleansing Water, Emma Hardie Hydrating Lighter Lotion, Clarins Beauty Flash Balm, Rodial Glam Balm Lip.

 

As you can see, Emily has lovely skin and big eyes and lovely features. The focus of the look is definitely a smokey eye so I kept the lips clean and balmed, to once again bring the look back into a non made-up makeup look. Here's Emily all made up.

Face: YSL Le Teint Touche Éclat, YSL Touche Éclat.  

Eyes: YSL Waterproof Eye Pencil in Patent Leather and Black Ink, Tom Ford Cognac Sable Eye Palette, Chanel Illusion D'Ombre in Fantasme & Mirifique, YSL Volume Effet Faux Cils Shocking Mascara in Deep Black.

Eyebrows: MAC Clear BrowFix.

Cheeks: Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate.

Lips: Rodial Glam Balm Lip, Chanel Illusion D'Ombre in Fantasme.

Powder: SUQQU Nuancing Loose Powder in Natural.

Here's a close up.

What do you guys think? I think this smokey would be perfect for someone who's new to a smokey eye as it is tempered with brown to prevent it from looking too "black". Just remember to keep other parts of the face youthful so it balances the grown up eyes.

Now for the second Smokey Eye, I'd like to introduce you to Bridgett. 

Face Prep: Une Radiance Refresh Micellar Cleansing Water, Emma Hardie Hydrating Lighter Lotion, Clarins Beauty Flash Balm, Rodial Glam Balm Lip.

 

Gorgeous Bridgett from Sweden has a gorgeous face of full features so for this fashion shoot, I wanted a really intense, dark and big smokey eye. But yet beautiful, what other way is there to be? I took the shadow further out and up than what I would usually do on most people. That way it looked almost like a mask but kept it gorgeous by blending the edges. I intensified the smoke after we tested lighting as it wasn't strong enough. Have a look.

Face: YSL Le Teint Touche Éclat, YSL Touche Éclat, Le Maquillage Make Up Mixer.

Eyes: YSL Waterproof Eye Pencil in Black Ink, YSL Pure Chromatics Palettes 8 & 9, YSL Luxurious Mascara Shocking Volume in Deep Black. 

Eyebrows: Just brushed.

Cheeks: Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate.

Lips: YSL Rouge Pur Couture in Blond Ingénu, Madina Shiny Stick in 001.

And now the close up with flash on set. I used no powder and kept the skin quite wet by applying fine layers of Makeup Mixer to catch the light.

Isn't she gorgeous? I love how smoldery she looks, almost a throw back to the 90s glamazonian Supermodels!  Definitely a smokey eye variation for the more daring! 

There you go, two variations of the smokey eye and if you give me chance, I can probably come up with another 10 more! Which would you go for yourself? As always comments and questions are very welcomed!  

 
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