my favourites

I thought I might let you in on a few of my favourite products to enter my makeup kit. Some of these have been sitting in here since the beginning, being replenished each time I run out. And some are brand new finds that I have begun a new love affair with, maybe they will last the test of time, maybe they won't, but for now- these are my stand out's.

Bobbi Brown Skin Mineral Foundation + Face Brush:

I adore this foundation, and use it on myself almost daily. It is perfect if you want a nice buildable sheer coverage, that is soft to the touch. I pair this with my concealer and use the kabuki brush for application, and I am ready to go. Bride's love it when they are after a very natural look, without appearing cakey or too 'made up'. 

Tarte Glamazon Lipstick in "Wild":

What an amazing punch of colour! This long wearing lipstick stays put for hours (Tarte claims over 12hrs, but I would say by then it is more a stain that a lipstick). It is creamy and hydrating which is a rare find in a longwear lipstick, and the colour is the perfect mid shade of red, suiting most skin tones. This one will be with me for years to come.

Nars Blush in "Luster":

My absolute favourite blush. I use this so regularly that I have hit pan on more palettes than I can recall. The photo does not show it too well, but it has the perfect shimmer for a blush, incorporating a small amount of gold and pink, with a base of bronze. It really is a go to for most skin tones. I find that I use this as a bronzer on very fair skinned brides, and as a blush on middle hued skin types, it is very natural and creates a perfect flush of colour. Nars blushes glide on with ease, and are long wearing.

Nars Velvet Gloss Lip Pencil in "More":

A gorgeous nude/terracotta shade perfect for the natural bride, this is definitely a must have in my kit. It is a hybrid between a gloss and a lipstick although with this shade I would say it tends to stray more into balm/lipstick territory as it is not high sheen. These pencils are very hydrating, and super easy to apply, I often recommend my clients buy them themselves for their wedding day for touch up's- the only down side I can think of is that they do tend to run out quicker than a lipstick. 

Bits and Pieces

Life has been overflowing with busyness and whilst I have had every intention of coming to this space, I have had to focus on the important things and not the creative things for a while. 
We have been taking almost daily walks to the beach and enjoying the last of this moody weather before summer hits. We usually stroll along the shoreline and watch the sun go down whilst our dog Valentine goes mad trying to catch the seagulls. 

I have been unpacking a few boxes today and picking through bits and pieces forgotten. I found this photograph of my mother, aged 22 and pregnant with my sister Emily. Isn't she beautiful. My father is next to her, he still stands with his hands behind his back for photo's.