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....

Most Memorable: Helen and Alice

Helen and Alice's wedding in 2011 is one of my most memorable because it coincided with my 30th Birthday and for the loveliest atmosphere on a wedding morning.
Helen and Alice got ready for their big day together in their room at the Bingham in Richmond and I felt so privileged to be part of the preparations.
Friends and family keenly knocked to say hello and see how things were going and they ordered up food. Most sweetly though, as I arrived in the room - there was a little cake with a candle in it for me!

Both Helen and Alice were totally relaxed about their looks and were keen on looking quite glam - which I really think they did.

Thanks ladies, for allowing me to be part of such a gorgeous day!

Photography by Fiona Saunders

Fetcham Park - the launch

Many a lengthy blog post has been written in the past few weeks about this beautiful new venue in Surrey which has just set sail into the busy world of weddings. On October 30th 2011, with thanks to Laura Caudery, Penny of Tigerlily Weddings and Miss Bush Bridal I had the great pleasure of working on the make up for the catwalk show.

© efcphotography

The Sirens Collection: Ten highly styled, alluring and probably pretty dangerous brides floated down the grand staircase after a busy morning in make up, swift fittings and hair styling by Leo Bancroft and his Surrey salon team.

©efcphotography

The theme of the Sirens was that of light and dark, the hypnotic Siren's song saw the models float down the dramatic Fetcham staircase. The first set of Sirens were a dream with soft, dewy make up, touches of silver and highlighting. My first model, Kathryn wore a gentle feline flick of eyeliner, wet look skin on her fabulously prominent cheek bones and a sweep of silver glitter from the inner corners of her eyes. I used a neutral gloss to carry on the wet look. Penny wanted the Sirens to look as though they had just emerged from the water...

©efcphotography

My second model a sultry Siren, Ellie was designed to appear more dramatic but not deathly. Alluring still, but with a darker edge.

Ellie has the most amazing doll's face I gave her gorgeous lush eyelashes and a bold but well blended sweep of black across her eyelids. Her lips were stained a matt pink - all focus on the eyes. Ellie sported one the most talked about hairstyles which was topped off with a sparkling twine creation by Gayle of Bloomin'gayles.

©efcphotography

Many thanks to my fellow make up girls, Mariam, Rebecca, Ariane and Rachel for all the product gossip and huge good luck and congratulations to Laura and Parallel Venues. Here's to many more brides making their grand entrance following the Siren's song.

©efcphotography

©efcphotography

©efcphotography

©Mark Bothwell

©Mark Bothwell

Product Placement: lip stains

I'm a big fan of the subtle, bee stung look of a lip stain. A touch of colour without the bold thickness of a lipstick or the added texture of a gloss.
It's entirely possible to wear bold eyes AND a lip stain without looking like you've overdone it.(Eyes or lips, people)
I just think there's something gorgeously natural looking about them and luckily you can now get a wide range of shades.


First and foremost though, a lip stain will only do nice things if you have looked after your skin. Colder temperatures are already taking their toll on my skin and I find I have to keep topping up the moisture already in the past few weeks. If you have dry chapped lips, deal with the condition of those first.

For lip conditioning I always choose Carmex. Soothing, healing, moisturising and lip tingling! If you leave on a good layer before you go to sleep and then give your lips a scrub in the morning it'll help get rid of dry skin (as well as general daily use).


For lip stains, the best trusted ones I know of are by Benefit: Benetint and Posietint. Paint on, well pigmented and quite durable.

 Benetint is very cherry red and you can layer up to make the colour stronger.

Posie Tint is quite a bright pink and the texture is thicker than Benetint.

Benefit also do a tinted lip balm, but for these purposes I find that too shiney. I'm all about that matt look.

My new novel lip stains are these: Maybelline Colour Sensational Lip Stains

They're a stain in pen/brush form - a huge range of colours and they all smell really fruity and delicious.

I tend to grab one on the way out the door to and quickly brush over the outer lip line as it gives a bit of colour without looking like you've tried!

Top up with some non shiney lip balm to avoid that dry tight feeling that used to come with Lipcote - who remembers that? Would love to know if anyone still uses it to seal their lipstick....

making up is not hard to do

In March 2011 I roped Photographer Anna Rosell into what I imagined to be a very low key make over session for a group of local women. This is a most impressive collection of ladies. Be they linguist, doctor, artist, teacher, event planner, musician, editor....they all had in common the job of Mother/Wife/Extremely Busy Person. 
In a space of approximately 6 hours in a cute shabby lounge-type venue, we well and truly made over 10 women. 
While they waited for their time in the chair, they drank wine, ordered chips and caught up with each other.
Some brought their young children along and everyone was at ease.
My lasting impression of this intensive session warms my make up artist cockles.
I asked them to arrive wearing no make up and I could see that for some, this was a foreign concept and they felt a little exposed.
I hope that as they stood up and saw how I chose to make them up, that they enjoyed their reflection. Judging by the facebook profile picture changeover that followed - I have no doubt that they loved their pictures! 
Here are a few of the results - a pleasure, ladies.

So proof enough that a makeover shoot is not something to be saved for a soft lit studio and a strategically placed feather boa...

Make over sessions are available for individuals and groups, to find out more, drop me an email at info@carolannearmstrong.com

Many thanks to Anna for her fabulous images.

Daylight and the importance thereof

Ladies, all the ladies:
I want to urge you to look at your face in daylight. 
I want you to get that foundation tester, dispense on to the back of your hand and test it on your jawline. 
I don't like to point fingers but this is a problem which even the foxiest of the Barrymores has not evaded.

You very much need your foundation to disappear on your face. 
It should match your skin tone and serve to even it out. 
Foundation was not designed to give your face a tan, nor give you a faux Sophie Ellis-Bextor porcelain complexion.
There are so many amazing products now and the technology is such that powder is a rarely required substance, in my experience.
I understand the t-zone shine of doom, I know it of old.
If you too apply your base and then worry that your nose and chin will betray you later - get yourself some MAC blot films. 
I promise you they will absorb the oil and leave your make up.

£10.50 from MAC

If not for you, then please, do it for me!

MUA & bridesmaid - episode 1.

Here you'll find my school friend Sarah. She asked me to be her bridesmaid, bossed me about for the best part of a year, bought me a lovely frock and put lots of trust in me to do her make up on her very special day. 

This is a girl who is blessed with never wearing any make up and still looks smashing. Sarah even let me take control of her eyebrows, something which I never thought possible - but weddings are extraordinary times.

Our other very good friend, Alex was also bridesmaid and it was my first experience of dual duties. There was a SCHEDULE to be followed on the morning of the wedding and how we laugh now about the 15 mins I was allocated to do my own make up...

 

Pleased as punch to be able to contribute something so important to a friend's wedding....and the hen night...

Lots of love Mrs McDonald xxx

all photography ©bigTimages

Well, everyone else is doing it!

I'm venturing into the world of the blog, previously avoided due to grumblings of 'not having the time' and feelings that surely noone on earth would read it, it dawns on me that I need somewhere to put all the lovely pictures I have piled up on this here shiney notebook. Excuse me while I try to work this all out, I'm a dab hand with a brush but technologically simple.....