New girls, and guys for that matter, don’t seem to pay as much attention to personal grooming. They do tend to make sure they have tanned or defuzzed (in parts), however they seem to go for the DIY options. I cannot stress enough how important it is to make sure you are streak/blotch/patchy free if you really must use fake tan – I prefer no fake tan personally. Also, never forget the bikini line…Shaving/waxing is fine but allow enough time for redness and pimple to disappear before a shoot. Nothing worse than having to retouch hair growth or blotchy bikini lines. Who really wants to zoom into that area? Then there are the badly shaped eyebrows, stray brow hairs, fine upper lip hair (yes, even the fair girls have face fuzz!) and hair extensions that are applied badly, outgrown too much or generally create way too much hair!

Don’t get me wrong, not all newbies are at fault of the above and nor are all veteran models free from making these mistakes. Sometimes girls have security blankets in the form of extensions and fake tan. My advice to everyone, regardless of if you want to be a model, are a model or just want to look good, is keep it natural. That is not to say you can’t use lash extensions, hair extensions, fake tan, brow powders/pencils, but please please keep it subtle and well done. If you must fake tan, prep the skin properly (exfoliate, moisturise etc) and use a high quality product (or just go to a salon!). You want thick sexy hair like Cheryl Cole? Well get good quality hair and bond which will not be so blatantly obvious it looks as though there is chewing gum stuck to your head. Look after your skin and make sure you eat well and work out, regardless of how awesome your body already is. Health is crucial! If you eat junk constantly (I love a bit of junk occasionally!) and don’t do any form of activity you will feel sluggish, get wobbly and your skin will look crappy. How do you expect to travel, shoot for 8 hours and look hot when you aren’t looking after yourself!

Yes, I have had a little rant, but I really do think it needs to be said that personal grooming, health and fitness and keeping everything looking naturally beautiful will help girls go further in this business! I spend far too much retouching dodgy tans, brows, hair bonds and bikini lines/underarms!

This is for a new project I am working on to educate the nation! You will be filmed being transformed into your look-a-like and then have a photoshoot in the style of the celeb. All footage and images will be used across a variety of social media sites and in press around the project.

So far we have Fake Bake, Crown Brush, Golden Rose UK, Temple Spa Beauty Products and several other fabulous brands supporting the project! It is going to be HUGE!

If you think you look like a celebrity then please email at least one image of yourself and who your look-a-like is to natasha@essexphotostudio.co.uk and should you be successful you will be contacted! There is no age limit and you do not have to be a model.

Good luck x

I have been using their sensitive products and they really are fabulous!
I cleanse with the “be gone” facial cleanser. It is so rich and creamy but also light and doesn’t leave the skin feeling heavy. Your face feels clean but soft and nourished at the same time. You need no more than one pump to to remove the days grime!

I haven’t been using a toner as I find they irritate my skin a little. But I follow with the “be still” moisturiser. Again, you literally need one pump and it covers the whole face! It feels so soft on the skin and really days make your face feel nourished all day long

Once a week I have also been using a moisturising face mask. I cleanse my face as normal and then smother my face in “be calm soothing mask”. I leave it on for around 10 mins and wipe off with a warm flannel. My face feels alive again.

It’s not just my face that suffers though. So I have been using a daily moisturiser all over and twice a week a lovely sugar scrub full of oils and goodness.

My complexion has evened out. It’s gone from having red blotches to a very even tone and even the oily to dry areas have balanced. I haven’t been wearing much makeup and regularly get completed on my skin.

As a makeup artist it is important that you set an example for your clients and I have been raving about Temple Spa to them and even using the mattyfying facial moisturiser on Photoshoots as it acts as a great primer for under makeup!

I’m actually in love with these products and can not wait to try the rest of the ranges!

As I work on several clients in a week it is of the utmost importance that my kit is totally germ-free. The last thing I want is to cross infect a client or model. I have seen it all too many times where a model gets regular eye infections, cold sores or breakouts after a shoot. These problems are often down to poor hygiene.

So, I hear you say, how do we keep our brushes squeaky clean? Simple, clean them! There are several tried and tested methods to clean brushes. I use a couple of different ways. The first being with a professional brush cleaner by Crown Brush. As it is specifically designed for cleaning it really does rid them of all makeup and kill any bacteria. It is SO simple to use!

All you need to do is soak the tips, I repeat THE TIPS, of the brush on the solution for 10-15 mins and then rub onto a kitchen towels (really handy as it is absorbent and doesn’t shred) you should start to see the makeup coming off the brush. You can then rinse them with warm water and wipe over again to ensure all makeup is removed. I like to “shampoo” mine. I say shampoo it is usually an antibacterial hand wash or similar. Then thoroughly rinse until the water runs clear.

To allow the brushes to dry shake out any excess fluid and reshape then lay out over night to dry naturally. I leave mine with the brush part hanging off the edge of a dressing table (on top of a clean towel). This will allow the bristles to take their natural shape and by morning they will be all soft and fluffy again.

Also, if I have a few models/clients to makeup at any one time I use the spray crown brush cleaner in between models. I spritz it on the brush and then wipe off the makeup with paper towels or cotton pads. This makes sure that the brushes are hygienic for the next person.

As a precaution I also carry surgical spirit in a travel spritzer. It instantly kills any bacteria and is great for spraying on all eye shadows and pallet make ups. It is also a great hand sanitizer! If its good enough for doctors then it is good enough for me!

Keep hygienic folks!

Xxx

I am a professional photographer and make-up artist with my own studio in Essex, www.essexphotostudio.co.uk

I have worked with a number of top models and celebrities and shoot so some of the largest publications in the UK. However, life wasnt always a creative one. My background is in the corporate world of investment banks. The city life was a fabuous one, but an very exhausting one.

6 Years ago I took the leap into make-up and embarked upon a professional course. I have always been a girly girl and LOVED being creative ith make-up so it seemed like the perfect career for me. Whilst working with several photographers throughout Essex, London and Kent, it became clear that Essex was lacking in high end photo studios. Most were very small, meaning shots were restricted for photographers, didnt have a seperate area for dressing and as many photographers are freelance they dont often own a studio and tend to hire studio space. So 2 years ago, after a lot of thought, I decided to give photographers something new! That is when Essex Photo Studio was born. It took 3 months to get the space ready for shoots! It was the biggest challenge I had taken on. But it was the best thing I have ever done.

Seeing all the creativity that came out of shoots at the studio I began to fall in love with the concept of photography and my wonderful hubby got me my first camera. That wasn’t even 2 years ago and now I am working with some of the industries most fabulous people! I feel blessed every day!

When choosing a make-up look i always advise brides to look at a mixture of magazines and find models or real women with similar colouring to their own. There isn’t much point telling the make-up artist that you want to look like the model in the picture if she has olive skin, dark hair and dark eyes and you are an english rose complexion with blonde hair and blue eyes. Yes you can take a little inspiration from the the look, but it will look totally different on you.

When thinking about your wedding make-up look at your face in detail and decide what you think would be best enhanced or what you would like to cover or distract from. Most brides want “perfect skin”. An even skin tone can most certainly be achieved to help give that flawless look, one thing that make-up can not change is the skin texture. I advice my brides to take great care of the skin everyday and especially in the run up to the wedding.

In order to achieve the polished look:

• ensure you get a good quality foundation to match your skin tone perfectly. It should look totally natural, even your tone out and not look like obvious make-up.
• if you have blemishes, dark circles or anything you wish to cover up, opt for a good concealer that exactly matched your foundation. Check the concealer as some are created especially for spot overage and other for under-eye circles. Highlighting concealers are fantastic for under the eye area, but don’t use them on spots!
• to enhance your eyes use a soft eyeliner, smudge the liner with a smudger brush or cotton bud to give a softer look. You want to try to avoid harsh lines around the eyes. If you don’t want to use and eyeliner a deep brown or soft charcoal black eyeshadow can look amazing when smudged under the lower lash.
• try to use 2-3 different colours for the same colour palette for eyeshadow. Starting with the lighter colour on the inner corner of the eyelid, the medium shade from the inner edge of your iris (the colour part of your eye) and then create a C or backward C (depending on the eye) on the outer corner. Going one third of the way into the eyelid, in the socket and along the lash line. BLEND BLEND BLEND, the colours should appear seamless.
• opt for natural shades to help keep the look soft.
• Use a soft peachy-pink blusher to give a naturally flushed look.
• Pinky browns are great for lips, natural but a hit of colour without looking too obvious.

Hollywood starlet glamour is huge in bridal make-up at the moment, think Marilyn Monroe’s sexy pout and alluring eyes.

This look is very simple to create, it is almost the same as the above look however you need to create a flicked line with liquid eyeliner (or a cake liner or pencil or the new felt tip style liners, whichever you find easiest) and apply red lipstick, not forgetting the lipliner to prevent bleeding.

It may take a few practices to get the eyeliner right, but it is worth it. Keep the rest of your make-up very fresh and natural looking, making sure emphasis is on the lips and the subtle flick of liner.

As the days get shorter and the weather turns colder along comes another trend in make-up. Summer 2010 saw pretty pastel eyes, natural looking dewy foundation and pink, pink, pink and more pink for lips. However, Autumn/winter has taken a turn to the dark side, with winged smokey eyes in blacks, burnt golds and oranges and dark berry and even black lips. The classic red lip is still very much “in” as is the traditional smokey eye.

To create the perfect winter look always start with a fantastic complexion. Skin should appear as flawless as possible without looking too fake or as though foundation has been caked on. Cover any dark circles and blemishes with a good foundation and concealer and set with a translucent or colour free powder.

If you wish to create a Gold, burnt orange and dark-brown/black smokey eye as seen at Christian Dior then:

1. start with a very light, bright yellow gold and sweep from the inner corner of the eye over the whole lid area.
2. Get a bronze/burnt orange shade and start from the inner third of the eyes, around the point where your iris is then sweep all over the eyelid, above the socket line and continue up to just above the socket line and onto the brow bone.
3. Sweep the colour out at the corners and in a soft fine line under the eye
4. Next take a deep-brown/black to contour the outer corners and outer third of the eye. Then take under the eye and stopping two thirds of the way inwards
5. Blend blend blend to ensure there are no harsh lines and that all 3 colours merge beautifully, giving a soft, smokey effect.
6. Finish by lining the inner rims of the eye for added impact and add a few coats of mascara

If you are opting for a bold lip, either the traditional red lip or something deeper then its best to opt for natural eyes and cheeks.

1. Prep the lips to ensure they are smooth. Use a lip exfoliator, or a toothbrush, to scrub away any dead skin and then apply lip balm (vaseline is great too!)
2. Ensure there is no lip balm left on the lips as it will prevent lip colour staying put.
3. To give a modern and more subtle twist to the red lip opt for a lip stain. apply the stain with a brush, your fingers or a cotton bud and press lips together to help set and dry.
4. For the ultimate starlet red lip, start with a red lipliner and line the whole lip and fill in with the liner. Blot with a tissue. Applying liner to the whole lip area helps keep lipstick in place and should the lipstick come off you will be left with a great lip stain.
5. Fill in lips with a matching red lipstick, you can choose any finish you like. Use a lip brush for ultimate precision.
6. Blot lips with tissue and reapply lipstick for added stay put power.
7. An old Hollywood trick for extra staying power is to separate a 2 ply tissue, so you have one very fine sheet, hold against your lips and then press translucent powder through the tissue with a make-up brush.

False lashes are huge in the make-up world once again. People are opting for a variety of styles and application methods, from DIY individual and strip lashes to full on eyelash extensions. There is good reason for the trend too. They help open up the eye, enhance them and can also help change the shape if applied the right way.

To apply false lashes;

1. Before applying any type of lash ensure the eyelids are clean and oil free. The glue wont adhere if there is any oil on the skin. Make-up free cleansed eyelids are best.
2. Choose your lash type and lengths. lashes come in various styles and forms. From very natural looking individual eyelashes and strip lashes to this heavy “natural” lashes to wild and crazy colourful lashes. The choice is yours.
3. Measure the lashes against your own eye, they are often too wide for most eyes, and trim accordingly – taking away a little at a time.
4. Once the size is perfect, apply glue. There are 2 methods for this: Applying directly to the lash or applying to a palette/back of a clean hand and dragging the lash through. Once the glue is applied allow it to go slightly tacky as this allows for a better grip.
5. Begin applying as close to the natural lash line as possible. Start at the inner corner and press gently to the outer corner. Some people find using fingers a little cumbersome, so feel free to use tweezers to hold in place and a cotton bud to press.
6. If you are using individual lashes start at the outer corner with the longer lashes and work inwards placing shorter ones closer to the inner corner. You will only need a few lashes to achieve a natural look.
7. Once the lashes are in place you can apply a small amount of mascara to blend your natural lash to the false eyelashes.
8. Blend the false eyelash line with your natural lash line using an eyeliner in a matching colour.
9. Finish the rest of your make-up look.

Make-up is a magical tool. It can totally transform a face, tired eyes can become bright and lively, blemishes can disappear, faces can look thinner and more chiselled and people can get a huge confidence boost from having a make-over. What I wonder is, why are too many women scared of make-up?

Are they worried they will look like a drag artist? like they have been punched in the eye? like they have been tangoed? I have asked several women who have contacted me about bridal make-up, beauty tips, make-overs and make-up lessons and have found that they simply dont understand make-up and what it can do. They feel that all foundation is heavy and will make them look and feel as though they are wearing a mask, that eyeshadow will make them look as though they have done 12 rounds with David Haye and that lipstick will make them look like a hooker. The reason a lot of them feel like this is because of the way their mothers or grandmothers wore make-up. There was a time when thick blusher AND heavy eyes AND full on lips was en vogue, but not in the noughties.

When approached by a woman with these type of concerns I ask her what she feels is her best feature, what she dislikes, what she would like to accentuate, how much time she is willing to spend on her make-up each day and then I talk her through the best application techniques, colours and products for her. Each woman is very different in all of these aspects. What works for one lady won’t necessarily work for another.  Here are a few of the basic tips that I give to my clients depending on which feature they wish to accentuate.

There are several different eye shapes, just as there are face shapes, body shapes, lip shapes etc, depending on what shape eye you have depends on how you should wear your make-up. Eye colour, skin colour and hair colour also affects the eye shadow you are able to pull off. As this is for basic tips I will stick to a neutral palette, which tends to suit almost everyone. This is the basic application that works for almost all eyes. There will always be some exceptions to the rule and I will cover these in individual blogs and tutorials over the coming weeks.

Choose 3 colours, from the same colour palette, you can often buy trio shadows which make choosing the right colours much easier.

1. Sweep the lightest colour over the whole lid area, from the lashes to the brow bone.
2. Apply the second shade, the slightly darker one, from the centre of the lid to the outer edge and blend blend blend, so that you can not see a solid line between the 2 colours.
3. Apply the darker shade to the outer corner of your eyelid in the shape of a C/backwards C. Blend it along the lash line and into the crease, you can even take it along the lower lash line if you wish. But so stick to the outer third of the eye and do not extend too far out, past the brow.
4. Apply eyeliner from the same point as the 2nd eyeshadow and keep as close to the lash line as possible for a natural look. Use a cotton bud/Q-tip to smudge the eyeliner slightly so that it doesn’t look as harsh.
5. Apply mascara as required.
6. If you are feeling brave or want a little more of a dramatic look you can try this technique with more colourful shadows and even add a highlighter to the inner corner of the eye and on the brow bone.

Those who are not make-up artists or who haven’t worked closely with a make-up artist may not have any idea about Yaby. It is a very well kept new industry secret.

Yaby was created by a professional make-up artist, Liz Yu, when she was trying to condense her kit into a small, yet extremely effective and efficient workable kit. Many professional cosmetics come in full size bottles and containers, meaning that make-up artists have to lug heavy products or decanter the products into smaller pots. It also manes that make-up artists often have products go “off” as they haven’t used them all. Therefore they waste time depotting and also waste unused product and money on a colour they very rarely use.

Yaby is fantastic as it is very cost effective, especially for such a highly pigmented professional product. All products come in small pans, tubes or palette, meaning you are less likely to have any waste. Liquid foundations come in small tubes, which aren’t completely full, allowing the user to create a custom blend directly in the tube. the fact the pans and tubes are smaller means you use far less space in your kit. All Yaby products are packed full of pigment and you only need the smallest amount to make an impact.

I LOVE the cream foundations and concealers. They come in small pans that can be placed into a freestyle palette (either one of Yabys or the Z Palette) and you only need the smallest amount to cover blemishes and even out skin tone. I also adore the eyeshadows. They are rich in colour, soft, easy to blend and look amazing on camera and in real life. If you use them with a damp brush the colour pops and looks phenomenal!

As Yaby is a Canadian invention, it isnt widely available here in the UK. However, you can purchase the majority of the products from www.themakeupartistboutique.com and if you are an industry professional email them and you will be able to get a fantastic 20% discount!!