Product Placement: Weleda Skin Food

We need the moisture people. It's cold weather, dry lips central. 
Can I recommend Skin Food by Weleda. It's incredibly rich and concentrated, yet leaves no greasiness behind. It's all natural too and some people close to me think it smells a bit like gin and tonic....in a good way!
Use it anywhere you like, it really does feel nourishing and like you're giving your skin a drink.

I have thoroughly tried and tested this and have also stocked up, practically a lifetime supply. Here's why I really, really love it though: It's such a good all round product it also makes a perfect base/lip primer for lipstick. It acts like a a matt yet moisturising barrier and stops that dry lip feeling you can get with lipstick.

RRP is £8.95 but it's currently on sale (£6.95 delivered) at www.naturisimo.com

Enjoy!

finding your look

I sit down with a new face, a clean canvas. I look at it and undoubtedly start to imagine where I would put make up. I can't really help it and apologies if you've been in my company and you spot me scanning your face. It's a willingness to enhance.

Make up trends change all the time and we're constantly presented with which new looks we should be adopting for the season. 'Wet look eyelids' was one of my personal favourites. Go on, ladies of the world. Smear your face with stuff so you look a bit sweaty....in an odd bit of your face.

(Of course Marion Cotillard looks hot. She looks hot in general and she's not on her way to Sainsbury's)

There are some looks which are classic and typically beautiful. The 40's red lip, the 50's/60's eyeliner. Whenever an actress gets on the red carpet for the Oscars with a 'Golden Age of Glamour' look, she will be praised. It's like a fail safe. These looks are more popular now for bridal make up with the mainstream adoption of 'vintage styles' and while they may be a passing trend, with the right dress it will always ooze glamour.

Of course this isn't going to look great on everybody. The three ladies above have been looked kindly upon by the plump lip fairy. They've got something to work with.

If you are thin of lip, you probably won't be choosing to focus all the attention on that area. You have to look for your strongest feature and focus on that. (Obviously some people have it all. Case in point: Miss Johansson can pull off just about anything.)

If you want to wear makeup, I think you should be wearing what suits you. Just as you may or may not have entered the world of skinny jeans. After all, make up is meant to make us look nice.

While classic bridal is often viewed as the embarrassing cousin of the make up world, I think that being able to create a look which is all round flattering, enhancing and subtle is something quite special. 

We don't typically have the luxury of whipping out a statement lip or some extravagant eyelashes for the 'wow factor'. We have to make that one person look wonderful, by gently enhancing her features.

©Andrew Nicholls

©Dominique Bader

Often nowadays, if a bride is looking for something more than 'natural' then she asks for a smokey eye.

I have a book of magazine cuttings which I carry with me and ask ladies to identify looks she loves.

These two are popular time and time again:

It's safe to say, most women look good with a smouldering eye and a natural moisturised lip. The eyeshadow can be any combination of shades, from black to chocolate brown, from olive green to smokey bronze depending on your colouring. For current brides, this is a good choice because you get the dramatic eye and your lips are safe for all the kissing, so less worry about touch ups.

Everyone has their daily make up which they revert to. If I'm going out in the evening I'll almost always do a big smokey eye. For more done up daytime, I'll do a bold lip.

 

Have you found a look which works best for you?

Press Cuttings

In December 2011 I have some of my work featured on Love My Dress as one of the highlights of the year. The 1940's inspiration shoot was dreamt up by me and orchestrated by some wonderfully talented people who were knocking about ;)

The same shoot was used by Wedding Flowers Magazine.

Anna Rosell Photography

I was very happy to see some of my work on the cover of Your Surrey Wedding Magazine

More images from this can be seen in a feature on wedding hair accessories in Your Kent Wedding magazine

efc photography

Looking forward to what else we have in store for 2012!

Cx

Most Memorable 2011

As it's just about the end of 2011, I wanted to write up one of my most memorable weddings: Nicola, her two bridesmaids and her lovely Mum.

a picture sent by Nicola before her trial

In September I had the great pleasure of joining the preparations for Nicola's wedding at Notley Abbey. I remember it fondly for the following reasons: A gorgeous venue, a lovely family and a wonderful, warm hearted bride.

Nicola wore a Jenny Packham dress, her naturally curly hair was swept loosely to one side and she looked sensational. Nicola's look was soft smokey eyes using MAC 'Folie' and 'Carbon' shadows, lashes and flawless skin. She also bagged a Bobbi Brown gloss in 'petal' to top up throughout the day.

As I left past the rows of white chairs lined up for an outdoor ceremony, I felt sad not to be staying for the whole thing!
Thanks for having me,
Cx

 Simon Fazackarley Photography

Christmas Gifts - cosmetics OBVS

Righto, have been unable to avoid the lovely gifts sets/ offers available at the counters and online, so here are but a few I have taken advantage of and also still plan to.

Benefit are currently offering the free gift 'Sugar Bomb' which is a really nice multi shade bronzer/blusher with a spend of £60. Not difficult.

Bobbi Brown have a free gift offer on a spend of £75. Their little make up sets are gorgeous and their lip glosses are some of my favourites ('Buff' features in the free gift)

SpaceNK Have a limited edition Nars nail polish set with very glam shades for £25. Mmmmmm, look at the gold.

And here is a ruddy limited edition Shu Uemura make up brush set. I love Christmas for these little gift sets of brushes! Do it now, it will make such a difference to the application of your make up.

If you want to invest in a highly recommended mascara, John Lewis have a gift set on offer which, for the same price as a single mascara (£18-20) "Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes" you receive two free Lancome gifts.

Ohhh I could go on....but I won't, I have shopping to do!

Merry Christmas

Cx

Fallen Stars

It really isn't often enough that a person is let loose with glitter (unless you work on Strictly Come Dancing I suppose). Luckily for me I was given just such a brief a couple of weeks ago.
Glitter, silver, gold and all round general sparkle inspired, amongst other things, by Mr Bowie, Clare Danes in 'Stardust' and the gilded walls of the sumptuous surroundings....
Working with Sharon Roberts, Amy of Miss Bush Bridal and three great models, we did something a little different for the guests at the Weddings in Surrey 'tweet up', held at Fetcham Park.

all images by EFC Photography

Product Placement: Mascara

In this here age of false lash frenzy (I'm looking at you, Cheryl Cole) there is this assumption from lots of brides that they are a necessity.

They are often quite pleasantly surprised though by what a good mascara and a patient application can do. 


Here are my trusted choices starting with most affordable:


Loreal Telescopic (£11) is pretty amazing in my book - I had a theory that it was due to the wand alone ( a fine rubber number) but I will now concede that there's a lot to be said for the black stuff. It's a sleek, lengthening mascara - no clumping. 

Dior Show Iconic Mascara (£18.99) is my next choice. This one's gone more 'thickening' to offer and gives a more dramatic result. This is is bit of an evening choice though - a very rich product. You can see by the difference in the thickness of the wand that it's going to apply differently to the Loreal.

Last up, brace yourselves...Lancome Hypnose Doll Eyes, (£20.50)

It's got a bit of both of the above. It lengthens and thickens, but does so sparingly. It has that beautiful tapered wand which means you can get to the corners  and also use the wider part of the wand to add volume. The black stuff is smooth and applies softly. Depending on the requirement, I will sometimes swap in the Loreal Telescopic wand dipped in the Lancome product. (I really love that wand)

Santa, take note, I want one in my stocking....