Some behind the scenes snaps from a recent shoot.

Hania after hair and make up for the 1st look.

Hania with a very ethereal make up.

A modern twist on Bardot- model Francielle

 

Beautiful hair and a stronger lip look- Francielle

Arielle with beautiful waves and pin up style make up

These are my behind the scenes snaps, so very amamteurish in comparrison to the actual photographs. I have seen some and they are just beautiful!

I have incorporated some Autumn winter trends into some of the looks which are:
Metallic eyes, strong *pop* of colour on the lips and *feline* eyes .

Three very different girls, different colourings , 4 looks each lots and lots of make up.

Models: Hania, Francielle & Arielle @ PRM Management
Make up- Me
Hair- Natalie Shirlaw
Photographer- Andrea vecchiato

Editorial in Kult Magazine- Jimmy Q.

The Italian magazine Kult is featuring a beautiful editorial story featuring the amazing male model: Jimmy Q.

Grooming/make up- Me
Photographer: Andrea Vecchiato
Stylist: Valentina Tiurbini
Model: Jimmy Q- Select

Recent shoot with Shazad Latif.

Shazad Latif

Honestly......one of the nicest people that I have ever worked with, he had injured his leg playing football and had to walk with a stick and did not complain once.

Hair was kept *natural* and make up was kept to very much a no make up- make up.

Vanity .... hmmmmmm!

Above is a clip from the film the Devil's advocate, we see *Keanu Reeves* rally against the dark forces of the devil Al Pacino (at his overacting best- Scent of a woman anyone?), it is the age old tale of whether the young *good* soul can be corrupted by the temptations put before him to lure him away . It is not a brilliant  film by any stretch but the final frame has always stayed with me...vanity that's how *old Al* gets them vanity.
Some years back when I was in New York my name was throw into the hat for a *reality* series for MTV and they were looking for a make up artist (with a point of difference) to be featured-being English and a bit *alternative* probably was enough and for a split second I have to admit I did get a little glint in my eye at the prospect.....but then I really thought about it, about how I could be edited to look like a total idiot (trust me it would not be difficult), how grotesque I actually look on camera and make up for me is about other people and not necessarily about me, so when I was thinking of all of these things, this scene popped into my head, so I took my name out of that hat and stayed gryffindor :)

If I ever start getting above *myself*, I just remember this film and it totally puts me back in my place! Know your worth, play to your advantages, work hard and believe! Far better than making that Faustian pact.

The word *Make over* and why I despise it.

As a child I liked the colour black I had a passion for (among many things) Old black & white films, cartoons, animals- particularly cats, books, drawing/painting, nature and make up- I was obsessed with make up. Decades later I pretty much like the same things. Make up became my *job/career* and I love, love, love make up, the textures, the colours, the expression, the transformative qualities, but I believe that it should be arbitrary and if you don't like make up and don't wear it, I don't mind and I don't judge! For example the word *Make over* it smacks of a huge *reveal* and if changing your appearance kick starts some positive shifts within than I am all for it! But if it is used to mask deeper issues or used like a sticking plaster than it makes me feel uncomfortable. I don't believe in a standardized/ideal beauty (how very dare I, when I myself certainly don't fit that ideal, so who the hell am I to make someone feel a little bit crappy for not fitting that ideal).
Some people are just born physically *perfect* (by the sometimes impossible standards of this *ideal*), just like some people have faster metabolisms and are naturally thinner. Where does that leave the rest of us.....needing a make over? Pfffft!

Review Estee Lauder Turbolash mascara. Hero or Hype?

Estee Lauder Turbo Lash mascara- £30 9ml shade: Black

This is a mascara that has a wand (once the battery is in place) vibrates- it moves back and forth so it effectively *wiggles* through the lashes. So is this mascara a *hero* or should you not believe the hype?

What they say
Turn it on. The brush does it all.
Auto-powered, vibrating brush gives you:

• Volume, Length, Curl, Separation

All at once. A worldwide first.
ESTÉE LAUDER REINVENTS MASCARA
Now, you can have everything you ever dreamed of for your lashes - all from one mascara.

• It's the world's first "turbo-charged" motion mascara with a vibrating brush. An innovation of design and engineering.
• Auto-powered, patent pending*, and precision-engineered to achieve lash effects you never thought possible.
• IT'S A BEAUTIFUL MACHINE

Turn on the power and the brush does the rest. 

• Feel the buzz, as the gently vibrating LashSonic Brush™ with micro-pulse bristles works its magic, moving rapidly through lashes.
• Continuously separates and saturates lashes with a rapid release gel formula. Finds lashes you didn't even know you had and coats them instantly and perfectly.
• Creates the ideal lash effect - maximum volume, length, curl and separation - all at once.
• The motion brush keeps lashes clump-free. So you can reapply several coats without heavy build-up - even refresh lashes during the day.

My review:
Richly pigmented formulation with a *medium* weight, very long lasting and no issues with smudging or sensitivity. Removes easily with a bi-phase eye make up remover. It is buildable  and because it is not too thick, I found the lashes do not become *overloaded*. Again like quite a few other mascaras with the claim that it *curls* the lashes I did not find at all but I did find that it was equally lengthening and thickening.
The brush.... Well it is a gentle movement, very easy to use and because the wand is a tapered cornrow brush it does *catch* all of the lashes easily. The natural movement of the brush when it is vibrating does mean that it moves with ease from root to tip.

Pros:

• Buildable mascara that does not look *clumpy*
• A wand that does all of the *wiggling* for you
• I did not experience any *falling or smudging* of mascara- it stayed pristine.
• Subtly lengthening & thickening
• Great colour payoff, a rich black shade.
• Long lasting- does not dry up quickly
• No irritation or sensitivity

Cons:

• I cannot say that it *held curl or enhanced curl* in my lashes more than any other mascara
• Not a budget price but great quality
• I did not purchase another for my kit as I use disposable mascara wands and the wand really is fabulous and I would recommend for personal use only so that you get maximum benefit from the formulation and the wand.
• Only currently available in 1 shade.

Verdict: Believe the hype, I love this mascara and would definitely purchase again for myself.

Recent shoot hair and make up..80's Versace inspired.

Versace's boys were always beautiful and flawless. This was the aesthetic for a recent shoot hair was kept very simple, skin flawless and bone structure completely chiselled.

Photographer: Andrea Vecchiato
Model: Scott- Storm
Stylist: Ling Zhu
Hair & make up: myself.

Beautiful location..............Anstey Hall.

One of the sumptuous bedrooms

Beautiful details.

Venetian Palazzo inspired main hall

Beautiful grounds.

Antique Bottles in the bathroom

Just a behind the scenes shot of one the hair and make up looks with an Instax- Photographer- Alexandra Cameron

Anstey Hall in Cambridgeshire was a beautiful location I was shooting at recently, so many gorgeous aspects to this stately house.

Happy 8th Birthday..........Where has the time gone??????

8years ago.....

2 short years ago.

5 short years ago

At 10.26pm May 6th 2005 my life changed forever......I gave birth to my son. 8 years later and I honestly can say that I am so proud of my son and I am so proud to be his mother. He is such a cool cat!
Just about to turn 8 he is 4ft 5 and takes a size 3 shoe (I am 5ft 2)......definitely takes after his father for height and build, he has my colouring but the *magic* all him :) xxxx

He still loves a parka- all is well in the world :)

Michelle Roques Oneil Therapie Himalayan Detox salts.....Blissful & WIMH!

I subscribe to...What is in my handbag, if you don't and you are:
1: A beauty obsessive
2: Love interviews with quirky and interesting people.
3: Of a disposition where you love seeing what people carry in their handbags and especially the make up/skincare
If you answered yes to any of the above then I strongly recommend you get with the plan and sign up.

So, I saw that there was an opportunity on WIMH to sample some Michelle Roques Oneil bath salts, I entered and was literally thrilled when I was sent a sachet to try.
I do love baths, when I am ill, aching, in need of some extra *treatment* for my skin I run myself a bath and normally add essential oils in a prescriptive manner along with salts. I have different blends for different *malaise* also many years ago I used to share a flat with a woman who was a little bat shizz crazy but you don't find that out until AFTER you move in (sorry for the digression) but she would bathe at the end of every day to literally wash off the negativity of the day and I do think that there is definitely something in that, literally washing away a tough day so you get the picture...... I really, really appreciated being able to try the Therapie Haimalayan Detox salts.

The package with a 20% discount

How to and inci listing.

Absolutely nothing to do with this but...my girl cat Lou Lou in the bath.

Michelle Roques Oneil is to aromatherapy what Roja Dove is to fragrance an *expert & true artisan* and Michelle has spent some 3 years developing the Therapie line and it truly shows.

About:The 1st ingredient is the Himalayan salt

"The Himalayan pink salts and pure crystal powders are of exceptional quality. Between them, they contain an astonishing 86+ minerals, each one having a profound, soothing and stabilizing effect on the body. 
Our crystal powders are hand made with love from ground gemstones and crystal essences and are added to specific formulations to intensify their potency."

The smell was incredible and it was a *spa* experience at-home! I made the sachet stretch over 2 baths and it was beautiful, the salts definitely helped wash away the aches and pains of the day coupled with the amazing aroma it really was a gorgeous experience. I will definitely be purchasing.

I will leave the final words to the master:

"Designed to balance pH levels and positive/negative ions, these beautiful bath salts are made with therapeutic Himalayan pink mineral salts and essential oils, dusted with powdered amethyst. Helping to dissolve accumulated physical and emotional toxins, these fabulous ingredients combine to create a soothing, uplifting - and truly aromatherapeutic - bathing experience.

Liberating geranium and detoxifying lemongrass combine with refreshing rosewood  to increase confidence and courage, while purifying and comforting juniper and soothing lavender help to unblock stagnant emotional and physical energy."

* I entered a sample sendout on the WIMH website, but I will be purchasing.

http://www.roquesoneil.com/therapie-himalayan-detox-salts

https://www.whatsinmyhandbag.com/

Behind the scenes from yesterday.......

A behind the scenes snap from yesterday's shoot. The beautiful Pia. The eyes were defined and quite *feline*, lips were peachy nude and skin was *flawless*.

Recent hair and make up work.

                      Photographer: Andrea Vecchiato   Hair/make up: Me  Model: Jack V