Neals Yard Beauty Balm....amazing multi-purpose skin fix all!

I've never really been that fond of Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream - despite having dry skin and being a perfect candidate for it. I loved the smell but I found it greasy and unsuitable to put on the skin - grand for lips and flaky elbows. So I wasn't too excited about trying Neals Yards Beauty Balm but my sister swears by it so figured it was worth a try. And the verdict....its amazing! It can be used in three ways - as a rich exfoliating cleanser, a balancing mask or a deeply nourishing and protecting balm for dry skin. Or you can combine all three steps to recreate an at home facial to decongest and leave your skin glowing.

The balm contains rosehip oil, shea butter, jojoba oil amongst other gorgeous ingredients and is 99.2% organic. It includes a muslin cloth and a handy guide to facial massage to help you get the best out of the balm. I gguarantee if you follow the massage guide with the balm before bed, you'll wake up with younger looking skin!

I picked up mine in London but you can get Neals Yard at fab Limerick store Alchemist Earth.

Five minute face to brighten dull tired skin!

Have to share this with you guys! Said dull tired face would be my own and recently I had literally five minutes to make myself look beautiful (well alive anyways) and I have to say I was most impressed with this product combo!

Prep

Cleanse was as always with Ponds Cold Cream (as you know I'm obsessed) and removed then with a warm facecloth.
This was followed with the new serum from Lancome, Visionnaire (will do a full review on this in a few weeks when I can really get a handle on the results but the blurb reckons its brilliant).

THEN, I popped on the new BB cream from Garnier (again full review to follow but I LOVE it)

Makeup

Base was Illamasqua's Skinbase foundation - I'm mad about this foundation and one of my favourite makeup artists in the UK is using this on her wedding day and she has to have tried every foundation on the market!

Bronze/Contour was Lancomes mineral powder bronzer, Tropiques Minérale which has a lovely sheen to it without being sparkly.

Eyebrows were strong, I used Benefits Browzings.

Eyelids were covered with a cream eyeshadow, Bare Study by MAC.

Lashes were Rimmels Glam'Eyes Day to Night.

For the lips then I used Rimmels Kate Moss lippie in 03.


And that's it, a lovely daytime look, done in minutes, that manages to blur the dehydration lines and give a bright look to the face and open the eyes.

PS Entirely aware that tis a picture of Jenn Aniston on the blog rather than myself but twas that type of radiant skin the look gave (and much nicer to look at than my mug :))

Get the London Look!

Well last weekend in London was fab...even veered off the makeup trail a little - long enough to manage to put together a lovely Autumn wishlist (I know, I know, summer hasn't even arrived! But new season clothes, shoes and makeup have and they make the piles of summer sale stuff look a little stale!).

On Friday, after a lovely brunch in the Wolesley http://www.thewolseley.com/  had a little wander in H&M and fell in love with a burnt orange 60's swing coat.

On Saturday, a trip to Selfridges and a stop at the Sisley counter and their Radiant Glow Express Mask....

Also wandered into giant topshop and tried on the most beautiful Vivienne Westwood shoes ever! So comfortable and in lovely colours.

Gave up after that and went for a glass of vino the the Wonder Bar in Selfridges and watched the expensive handbags go by!

60 second hair saviour!

This week I'm all about a new product from Elvive. Hair is a bit dry and straw like at the moment and I would love to blame the sun but unfortunately its more likely to have been my attacks with the hair dryer/straightener/wand (insert as appropriate!).

So I picked up Elvive Full Restore 5 60 Second Saviour (phew! Is it me or are product names getting longer and longer!) It promises that weak, limp, damaged hair will be restored and replenished and it promises not to weigh down your hair like some intensive treatments do.

And it pretty much does what it says on the tin, it leaves hair a lot softer and shinier - the only thing is I find hair gets greasier a bit quicker than usual. I love that you don't have to wait around for 20 minutes too. Overall, a good purchase and good value. Although I still think I prefer Matrix or Kerastase for hair products you really see a major difference with.

Wonder Pots!

I bought some fab new cream blush's a couple of weeks ago and I absolutley love them! Maybelline's Dream Touch blush comes in four shades (that I could see in Boots) and I bought the Berry, Peach and Apricot ones (see aforementioned addictive Three for Two offer, I am a marketers dream I know!). Peach and Apricot are much of a muchness but the Apricot one also makes a fab highlighter on the brow bone and cheek bone and I have also used the Peach on the eyelids. They are lovely and soft and while maybe not as long lasting as you might need say for bridal, they are a lovely addition to add glow and great for a more natural look. Used them recently in a photoshoot and they looked fab!

Phantom of the opera mask!

Well its not pretty, in fact you are pretty much guaranteed to scare small children with it on, but the Olay Total Effects is really really good (worth looking like a nutter for 15 minutes per week!)

I love that it comes in seven individual packages and the mask is literally a mask with slits for the eyes and nose that you spread over your face and stretch into shape. So no messing around with products, just slap it on and go about your day for about 15 minutes, although I left it on around 30 minutes.

When you take it off you are left with a film of the product which you massage into your skin and let dry before finishing off with your usual moisturiser (you might be able to skip this step if you have an oilier skin). A tip is to squeeze out the mask before you bin it, theres lots of product left on it and I used it as an overnight hand treatment.

So here's what Olay says it will do and my findings as to if it really delivered...

• Line Minimization: Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles

Yep, would have to agree with this claim - it definitely helped with lines around the eyes.

• Nourishing Moisturisation: Intensively hydrates the skin

Skin feels lovely and soft after the treatment and well into the next day.

• Tone enhancement: Balances colour and reduces appearance of age spots

Not sure on this one, I think you might need to use it regularly before you see this effect.

• Gentle exfoliation: Smoothes and evens skin texture

Hmmm not sure on this one, I exfoliated before I put it on.

• Pore Refinement: Minimises the appearance of pores

Yep!

• Brightening: For a radiant, healthy glow.

Yep!

• Spot minimisation: Reduces the appearance of age spots

I'm not too sure how this is different to the earlier point above but again, would need to use it for a bit longer to see if this is true.

All in all a good purchase and works well with a decent exfoliation before hand.

Retro moments in makeup and beauty products

Two major flashbacks this week while strolling through Boots - first up was a trawl through the Rimmel counter to see whats new (great brand, often overlooked but has some good products worth looking into, more to follow!). I was checking out the lipstick shades when my eye was firmly drawn to what looked very much to me like HEATHER SHIMMER! Now those of you in your thirties and above will remember Heather Shimmer very well - in the 90's it was a makeup mainstay, along with panstick, dark lipliner a la Pamela Anderson in the Baywatch days and blue eyeliner inside the eye and without Rimmel and the Body Shop we would have had no makeup at all (BT's being way out of our league and frankly a waste of good vodka money). Well, it isn't called Heather Shimmer this time round and its not exactly the same but it is a really nice nude/pink shade and its very long lasting without being drying so gets the thumbs up from me - Rimmel Lasting Finish in 077 Asia.

Ahh the classic 90's lipline!

The second came in the hair aisle - hands up who remembers Sun In? And who hasn't had a DISASTER with it? Sun In first came to my attention on my very first holiday to Torremolinos! I was armed with Sun In, a tanning oil I bought in a sunbed shop (it was before we became SPF aware!) and some lemons for good measure. If it killed me, my perm and I were coming home from that holiday blonde! And that I did - frizzy, yellow, brassy but definitely blonde! Shortly after, I discovered that highlights were a much safer option. And everyone I know has a similar Sun In story! So I was very surprised to see that John Frieda has brought it back! Well granted he has called it Go Blonder Controlled Lightening Spray Exclusively For Blondes (phew, what a mouthful) but it basically seems to work on the same premise. You spray it in all over or on small sections, and then whack on the heat and bobs your uncle. So yes, a bottle of it went into the basket, just for the purpose of the blog! I will let you know how it goes!

Before!

After!

I'm off to get a bottle of Fuzzy Peach perfume! I heart the 90's!

Golden and Gorgeous!

This weeks product review is the summer offering from Bare Escentuals (Bare Minerals) which is at most BT or Debenhams throughout the country.

Up to queit recently I regulary ignored the Bare Escentuals counter enroute to MAC but I included some in my kit for any sensitive skins. From there I became slightly addicted to their eye colours - its a lovely range, not too expensive, and they have loads of fab natural shades which are very long lasting, perfect for weddings.

Last week I stopped by to pick up their primer, one of my new favourites (Prime Time, can't recommend it enough!) and also picked up their summer kit, Golden and Gorgeous. Its great value at 30.00 as you get a really nice brush (great for defining the crease and contouring),  Honey Eyecolour, a really nice base colour with a golden glow (lovely for bringing out blue eye colour), Copper High Shine Eyecolour which is a really nice burnished gold glitter (although with an annoying applicator) and an eyeliner in bronze.

As is often the way with eyeliner pencils, I found the pigment not strong enough, but its a nice soft pencil for day wear.

Its a great way to try the products and very good value for money.

Best product find ever for problem skin!

This blog post really comes from my sister - she's been on a lot of medication lately and its had a major impact on her skin. When I looked at it, it was very similar to the type of angry, under the skin lumps you get during hormonal outbreaks or allergic reactions and she found them to be very sore. We tried the usual treatments - those for oily skin, high end skin brands, masks and exfoliants, and while it helped a little it really wasnt addressing the issue as well as we would like.

We went for a weekend away then a few weeks back to Edinburgh and came across a market just off Princes Street (it was raining, I spied a pie stand :)) and found a stall for organic soaps, called The Caurnie Soap Company. They had a feature on the stand on Nettle soap and how it helps with excema and other skin problems. We both have a touch of excema, my sisters on her arms, mine on my neck and stomach, so we figured for a fiver how could we go wrong.

Initially she tried it on her arms and found the results were brilliant and so fast! The only thing that ever came close to it before was the Bliss body scrub but even then it didnt come any where near the results from the nettle soap (and at over €30 a pop, not cheap!)

Meanwhile, she was getting pretty frustrated with the skin on her face and the breakouts from the medication so chanced using the soap one day to see if it would help. I have to say, I hadnt seen her since Edinburgh and the results were absolutley brilliant. Its almost completley clear (even her boyfriend noticed so it must be good!) and all the redness has gone and she says it doesnt leave her skin tight or dry at all, as regular soap can.

The only concern was how to get more of it, apparently the Body Shop used to stock it but happily you can order it online, it quiet large quantities, and its very reasonable.

So if you are suffering with breakouts, spots or acne, its well worth a try. I'm going to test it on the excema over the next couple of weeks as I've got a pretty bad breakout so will update you with the outcome soon.

http://www.caurnie.com/

0044 141 7761218

Horse Shampoo...the secret to longer locks?

Well now maybe Im a bit slow off the mark on the latest hair product fads but I was sitting in the hairdressers a couple of weeks ago, whinging about my sticky out growing out like Florence Henderson hair and wondering if it was ever going to grow when my colourist told me that I needed to get myself a bottle of horse shampoo. Eyebrow raised quizically I asked for more info and was assured that if I used said horse shampoo my hair would grow quicker. Now, as a grown adult, I am aware that there probably isnt any one product out there that can make my hair grow any quicker and yet I found myself in a chemist/animal perscription place, behind a man actually buying horse antibiotics, clutching a bottle or three of Mane & Tail.

So its been a week and maybe its all in my head (!) but my hair feels stronger...and maybe a fraction longer? I'll give it another three weeks and then be back with a full report. That is if my husband stops neighing at me when I come out of the shower.

DIY Wedding Flowers....would you?

Well I have to say, its something I wouldnt have thought was even remotely possible. The world of flower arranging and in particular wedding floristry is a mystery to me - the closest I have ever come to arranging flowers is getting two bunches of the flower of the week from Aldi and mixing them together! But for a recent wedding, I was asked to do the bride and bridesmaids bouqet. First stop was the Dublin Corportation Flower Market, bright and early as it opens at 6am. I was a little daunted initially and spotted a friendly face at Dave Byrne Flowers (I had novice written all over my face). Armed with a theme from the bride (wild flowers) I strolled up and down the aisles of flowers, pointing at ones I liked to look of, while the very helpful lady advised on what would work and what might be a better alternative. The selection was very extensive and I found everything I wanted. They took the order and advised they would be ready for collection on the morning of the wedding. They also gave some good tips on how to put them together (stand in front of a mirror and see what it looks like from the front rather than looking down at the bouquet).
On the morning of the wedding, myself and the bridesmaid ran in to collect them, they were all boxed up nicely, and we headed back to the house to put them together. Once the two bouquets were done, we had enough left for two big displays for the reception room also.
Picture is of the final results!

So for any brides thinking of DIYing it for flowers, it can be done! Its very reasonable and if you could rope in a few mates the day before, you could even do the table arrangements and church flowers too. I reckon €200/€250 would give you amazing flowers for the entire wedding.

Dave Byrne Flowers are on 01 873 4025 or you will find them in the market.

Product Review Clinque Repairware Laser Focus

I have the eyes of an oul wan! Its true. While the rest of my skin is holding up reasonably well, I have full on eye wrinkles. To be fair, its mostly caused by allergies - if its not evil cats making a bee line for me, rubbing themselves off my legs while I sneeze and sniffle, its hayfever. And in the winter, excema hits due to the cold outside and heating systems. All of these make me rub my eyes like a demented person and have all lead to my current wrinkly eye situation.

Not wanting to go down the Botox route, I decided to try out the new Clinque product that claims to reduce wrinkles and general skin problems by up to 63% after 12 weeks.

Well for me, its only been 2 weeks and I have to say I am impressed! The skin around my eyes has definitely improved and Ive been using it on the odd frown line on my forehead too and someone actually asked me if I had had botox at a wedding last weekend! Good sign methinks (either that or I had that bemused too much vino look! )

The only downside is that its a bit drying so I have to make sure to put a fairly strong moisturiser on over it.

Going to keep going until the 12 weeks are up and see if the improvement continues!

While there, I also got their other new product, Even Bette Dark Spot corrector for my mum - review to follow but early signs are looking good!

Laundry Room Fashion and Beauty event!

With thanks to the lovely ladies at La Creme, I headed off to Laundry Rooms in Dublin on Thursday night, the venue where they often film Off the Rails and where they make the fab affordable range of dresses. Not knowing what to expect with the name (convent images came to mind!), I found a beautiful space, packed with gorgeous dresses and with hair, makeup and nail stations available throughout the room, everyone got a chance to try out a new look. 
Spotted at least two dresses I loved and with both at less than €50 theres no excuse not to splash out.
To top off the night, I headed home with a goodie bag full of Kohl, Kerastase, Shu Uemura and Yes to Carrots!

Great night had by all!

Makeup and product heaven in London and Paris!

So I'm back from a great week in London (and a day long pit stop in makeup heaven Sephora in Paris!)

Up first was two days of creating fabulous makeup looks at Illamasqua's flagship store in London. Fab two day's and worked with amazing Illamasqua makeup artists.

While I was there, the launch took place of their new collection - Toxic Nature, the images for the campaign are amazing creations by Alex Box.

Also had to purchase a few of the gorgeous products for my kit - reviews to follow in the next week or two!

Took a quick detour into MAC in Soho for a stock up too!

Next up was a quick Eurostar trip to Paris and a makeup spree in my absolutley favourite store, Sephora. Loving their products, from their own makeup range to products like By Terry. More reviews to follow on the Sephora goodies too!

Eight weeks till the big day!

A client asked me for a guide on getting ready for her big day in eight weeks time so here are my guidelines on getting your skin glowing...fast!

1. The basics - time to get the foundations of a good skincare routine down. I am always amazed at how many people don't 'do' cleansing. Or who only cleanse when they wear makeup. Or my favourite pet hate - swish a wipe around now and again. Cleansing is key - you can spend a fortune on the most expensive moisturiser and it won't do a thing for you if you don't cleanse properly. I prefer cream cleansers - they are kinder to your skin and won't dry and strip all the natural oils. They will also remove eye makeup and mascara without pulling and dragging the delicate eye area. My favourite is an oldie but a goodie - Ponds Cold Creme. If you have an oilier skin or miss the feel of washing, a good tip is to massage the cream well and then run a facecloth under hot water, wring it out and remove the cream with the steaming cloth. For an added extra, add a couple of drops of essential oil to the hot water. Lavendar or rose oil if you have dry skin,  geranium or ylang ylang for an oilier skin.

2. Layering up! Previously we would have run straight from cleansing to moisturising but to really make a difference to your skin you have to start layering products underneath your moisturiser. This is where a serum or treatment really comes into its own. Used before your moisturiser, these are concentrated products and usually a few drops is all you need to see a real difference in your skin. My favourite for radiant skin is Vichy Aqualia Anti Ox. Its a vitamin C treatment that you mix up and store in your fridge. A couple of drops morning and night and in 21 days your skin is fresher and glowing. To really hydrate I love the Clarins facial oils - they also have one for oily or combination skin. Don't be afraid of oils if you have oily skin - they can do wonders!

3. Next up - moisturiser! A lot of women stress out about buying the right moisturiser but for me, if you have the serum/oil/treatment right, then the moisturiser is really about sealing this is, keeping the skin hydrated and protected. I love the Vichy range again for this, they have great products for both oily and dry skins as well as mature and younger skins. Also really like Dr. Haushka and Origins and Olay has a great range, although I think they have become a bit expensive.

4. Weekly facials - a lot of women panic when they hear facials and think its something only beauticans and spa's can do. While spa treatments are lovely and the massages are really relaxing, its not enough to have to odd treatment and expect to see a massive difference in your skin (plus they can be expensive!). You have to give yourself a facial every single week - but its not hard and it doesnt take hours. You have the basics happening already in the skincare routine above. Just a couple of extra's and you have a really good facial routine. I usually do this while a bath is running as the room is lovely and steamy plus  you get all the added benefits of relaxation (we hold a lot of stress in our faces so you will be suprised at how much better your skin is just by relaxing!). First up cleansing - use your usual cleanser but spend a minute more than usual massaging it in. Cleanse, rinse and then repeat. A double cleanse will get rid of the weeks grime and dead skin cells. Next, exfoliate. You have two choices here - the scrubby grainy type or the fruit acid type. The first works on friction, literally buffing off the dead skin, the second works on chemical reactions, the fruit acid 'eating' off dead skin. I like both options so I use Origins Never a Dull Moment scrub which has the grainy bits and papaya for the fruit acid part. Also like the Elemis Papaya Enzyeme Peel. Go easy on the exfoliating, the product will do the work so theres no need to scrub hard, you'll end up doing more harm than good. Once thats complete, rinse and its time for massage. Using a facial oil (see above for my favourites or make your own with a carrier oil plus your favourite essential oils, Boots have a good range) and spend about five minutes slowly massaging your face. Begin at the neck and work your way up - theres no wrong way, just go slow and be gentle and avoid the eye area.
Next up its mask time. I have tried literally tonnes of them and I keep coming back to two favourites. If I'm in a hurry, Bliss Triple Oxygen mask and if I'm going to be sitting in the bath for a while, Dermologica's Multivitamin Power Recovery Masque.
Lastly, once you have rinsed off your mask, pop on your treatment/oil/serum and your moisturiser as normal. And you're done!

5. Supplements - there are a lot of skin, hair and nail supplements available and they are good but they are also pricey. I recommend Starflower Oil & Vitamin E. Its brilliant for moisturising the skin from the inside out and I always notice a difference when  I take it, even my nails seem to grow faster and are stronger.

6. Food - a lot of women start cutting down on food when they are getting ready for their wedding or a big event - I recommend the opposite! Start looking at what you can ADD to every meal, not what you can cut down on. Can you add more protein (the building blocks of good skin, hair and nails) and can you add more fruit and veg. I hate veg so its always a challenge for me but I try to sneak in salad leaves or juice veg with fruit so I can't taste it or have a soup before my dinner or lunch.

7. Caffeine - it seems to suck the life out of skin, there's a grey tinge to skin when people over do the coffee, tea and coke. Try and swap a couple for herbal tea's and you will see a difference and it will help your hydration levels.

8. Which brings me to my next step - water! Everyone thinks they drink loads of water because they have a cup of it on their desks at work or a bottle in their handbags but I would bet most people aren't drinking nearly enough, especially if you also drink hydration sapping coffee, tea, coke or wine! I usually set myself a goal, say to drink two litres before a certain time - so you could get a two litre bottle in the morning and try to have it finished before work ends.

9. Don't be tempted by sunbeds - I know we all would love that tanned glow but I have seen a lot of brides come the wedding morning with cold sores brought on by the sunbed use, sun spots that need covering, burns on their backs and general blotchiness. And thats before we get into the general dangers of sunbed use.

10. Exercise - nothing mad, even a short walk with the dog will get oxygen into your skin and get it glowing like nothing else! Yoga and pilates are also brilliant for getting oxygen to your skin.

And thats it - if you can manage to stick to the above for eight weeks, you will see the difference in your skin. And just a final note, the above products work for me and my clients - I recommend everyone always checks labels for anything they might be allergic to and asks for a sample or to try the product before buying...just in case!
 

Oscars makeup!

Sorry to those of you who are hanging on for RTE coverage tonight but here's a quick peek at what was happening makeup wise at the Oscars. Tends to be a dull event makeup wise, lots of super safe natural looks but a brave few embraced a slightly more exciting look!

Biggest trend of the night was the red lip... some paired with a smokey eye, some with a simple eyeline flick and some with the dodgiest false lashes I've ever seen (Hayden!)

Next up, the neutral posse....(I think there's a neutral look under Nicoles fringe!)

And then the brave few who rocked a smokey eye...

And finally...a couple who looked uniquely themselves...love both these looks...

Bit slow off the mark....

...I am when it comes to the whole mineral makeup revolution. One experience a few years ago which left me with a talc covered face and flakey dry patches was enough to put me off for life. Until, back in Chanel (again, I know, more on that later) I had to pay at the Bare Minerals counter and while waiting for my card to shout at me about over expenditure on makeup, I started browsing. My eye fell on their eye makeup range, lovely natural shades, perfect for weddings and natural looks. So I chanced my card even further and one week in I have to say I'm a convert. At around €15 each, they are middle of the road cost wise and they mix really well, blend nicely and last a long time. The earthy tones really pick up eye shades beautifully and all in all would have to say I recommend!

In love with Chanel's Lift Lumiere Foundation!

Having a wander in BT's last Sunday I hovered at the Chanel counter with a view towards having a look at their newest offering Vitalumiere Aqua - another foundation promising ultra light coverage while still being skin perfecting. And well it might be, if you haven't a thing to cover. I know its the current trend in all the colour houses, to produce a nearly not there foundation, but I already have my fav's when it comes to tinted moisturiser (Clinque and Stila if you can find it)

Instead I went with the Lift Lumiere - and its fantastic. Coverage is excellent so you don't need much, skin looks flawless but not cakey and it lasts! Its very moisturising, perfect for drier skins, but doesnt look shiney.

A week in and I can only say good things about this one - its going in the kit!

Not cheap, at €50, but a good investment purchase, especially if you are on the hunt for a really good foundation and are fed up of making expensive mistakes.

Five out of five!

Best budget buy so far!

I loved the Organix Self Heating Coconut hair oil treatment - LOVED IT! I often find that hair treatments just don't live up to the promises they make and I struggle to spend €30+ on the likes of Kerastase so I was delighted to find a product, under a tenner, that really makes a difference.

The directions tell you to rub a little of the product between your hands and then apply to your hair about five minutes before your shower. Instead, I applied it at night before bed, leaving it overnight and washing it out the next morning. It smells beautiful and if you take the time to massage into your scalp before spreading it out through your hair, you'll really feel it getting to work.

Next morning after washing, my hair was much softer than usual and behaving its half-curly, half-straight self a lot more than usual!

Five out of five for this one and going straight into my favourites! Also recommending it for those of you on the wedding countdown...

Foundation Review: Max Factor Xperience Weightless Foundation

I've been using the new Max Factor foundation for two weeks now and its a decidedly lacklustre response I'm afraid. Its very much a tinted moisturiser rather than a foundation (hence the weightless I guess, but I have to say I have yet to come across a foundation that actually was noticeably heavy - to me, its more about a natural v a caked look!) It is natural but it doesn't last as long as I would like. I really needed to use concealor every day to cover the usual (bags, sags, lines, lumps) as the coverage just wasn't what I would like.

But my biggest bug bear would have to be the one I constantly come across when using so called cheaper foundations - after about a week the odd blackhead and blocked pore starts to appear - and I don't usually get spots at all.

Final rating for Max Factors Xperience Foundation - two out of five!

The Black Swan

There had to be a quick post on the amazing makeup for the black swan - film blew me away yesterday - can't wait to watch it again, if only for the sublime transformation from the frail and fragile white swan to the dark compelling twin. Makeup artists Margie Durand and Judy Chin have created an alluring, sexy, amazing look with inspiration from 1920's vamp looks - all courtesy of MAC products!

Check out the Q&A from MAC with the artists themselves!

Q: How does a makeup artist prepare to work on a film? Do you receive guidance from the director or collaborate with the costume designer/art director/key hair stylist on the makeup look?

Margie:When I begin working on a film I speak to the director and all of the creative team if possible.  The directors inspiration and vision really drives the process and I try to deliver that vision in makeup.

Judy:As I read the script, I try to envision the characters, taking into account their background (age, personal history, affluence, profession). As I see the plot develop in the story, I make note of how these events might affect their appearance.  When I’m designing the looks for a film, it’s very important to consider the director’s visual style and tastes. Occasionally, I get to collaborate with the costume or production designers. I always try to find out how the actors will be dressed, as that can have a significant influence on the makeup look.  While our designs are often created independently at first, I find that the hair stylist and I work very closely to be sure that our looks fit together and bring the characters to life.

Q: How long does it typically take for you to prepare to start working on a movie like Black Swan?

Judy:I spend a lot of time drawing and doing practical makeup tests. Depending on actor availability and camera tests, it could take three to four weeks of preparation.

Q: How does a makeup design contribute to building a movie character?

Judy:What I’ve always loved about makeup design is its contribution to the actor’s performance. Makeup helps to create the character visually. I feel that I’ve done my job well when an actor can walk onto the set feeling like the embodiment of the character that he or he is portraying.

Q: Can you give a step by step explanation as to how the Black Swan look was created as well as the products that were used?

Margie:We applied a pale ivory foundation with a white cream highlight on the forehead and cheekbones. To create the swan eyes, we used M·A·C Chromaline in Black Black.  Using M·A·C Pigment in Silver combined with Mixing Medium, we applied feathery brushstrokes over the Black Swan’s eyes. The lips were lined with M·A·C Lip Pencil in Vino and topped with M·A·C lipstick in Dubonnet. We then lined the under eye with a thin line using M·A·C Chromaline in Red.

Q: Does the makeup have any relation to the makeup in the traditional version of the Swan Lake ballet?

Judy:Not really. The ensemble dancers wear what might be considered a traditional theatrical eye makeup, but our rendition is more dramatic.  It’s practically an opera makeup.  Besides that, the only other relation might be that we did portray the Black Swan as a sinister dark foil to the more angelic and innocent Swan Queen.

Q: The ballerinas’ performance makeup in the movie is especially dramatic and visually arresting.  What inspired the dark romantic makeup look?

Judy:The look was inspired by the story, and by the director, Darren Aronofsky. I felt that he was looking for something dramatic and visually striking, so all of the intensity was focused in the eyes. Margie Durand realized that there were elements of our beautiful set design that should play a role in our makeup. Thus, the delicate silver branches that played across the swan’s faces came to be.  The ensemble swans and the Swan Queen are delicate and romantic with a soft pink lip color, whereas the Black Swan is dark, sharp, and, angular.

Q: A ballerina has an incredibly active job, and in Black Swan, the characters wear both body and face makeup. What products did you use in the film that you were certain would hold up to the lights, movement and perspiration?

Judy:We used pancake makeup with a spray sealant to ensure that it wouldn’t rub off on the costumes. We also used M·A·C Paint Pots, M·A·C Powerpoint Eye Pencils, and M·A·C Pigments.  In addition, we applied some alcohol based pigments that are virtually water proof and rub proof.

Q: What challenges did you face when designing and applying the makeup?

Margie:It was a challenge to makeup the Black Swan as the White Swan and then switch back to Black Swan during the long filming days.  Both makeups had to be retouched because of the strenuous dancing for the
close-up shots.

Judy:It would have been a huge problem if any of the makeup rubbed off onto the costumes, so we had to do many tests before we came up with the right combination of products – especially for the hands. The only other challenge was conveying to our team the application techniques, as it really was an operatic style of makeup. The shaping of the eyes and painting the whole eye in cake makeup is unusual for modern makeup artists. Most people are a bit intimidated by pancake makeup and they dismiss it as “old fashioned,” but it can be really beautiful if done properly. In the end, the whole team worked really hard and did a stunning job.

Q: Did you use any products in a non-traditional way?

Judy:We mixed the M·A·C Pigment in Silver with a sealant to create a waterproof liquid. We then used this metallic liquid to paint our delicate silver branches across the little swan faces.

Q: Black Swan makeup tutorials have popped up all over the Internet.  Why do you think makeup fans are fascinated with this look, even before the film’s release?

Judy:What’s not to be fascinated with? The look is intense, alluring, and sexy with a bit of danger mixed in. Frankly, I’m flattered and pleased that there has been this much interest in the Black Swan makeup.

Q: How can the everyday woman translate the dramatic Black Swan makeup into an evening look?

Judy:There are a lot of aspects to this makeup that are standard elements for a classic beauty makeup. The highlights and contours along the cheekbones, nose, jaw line, and the pout of the mouth can all be adapted to a contemporary makeup. I also think one could incorporate the dramatic eyeliner – the angles and the intensity - into a very seductive, catlike smoky eye.

Margie:Think 1920’s vamp makeup: create the smoky Black Swan eyes with slender, silver eye liner applied under black wingtip liner and add thin wisps of silver liner over the eyelid, too. Rim the waterline with black liner and top it off with full, feathery false eyelashes. Apply a very matte foundation with contoured cheekbones and a hint of shimmery blush on apple of cheeks. Lips can be matte or glossy in dark eggplant, wine and even black colours!

Q: What other films have you worked on?

Margie:Sex and The City: The Movie, Cadillac Records, Across The Universe, Requiem for A Dream, I Shot Andy Warhol

Judy:The Unbelievable Truth, Ghost Dog, Requiem for a Dream, Frida, House of Sand and Fog, Broken Flowers, The Fountain, Blood Diamond, Across the Universe, Synecdoche New York, All Good Things, The Wrestler,Sex and The City: The Movie, Sex and The City 2, Dream Houseand The Tempest.

Q: Have you ever worked on a fashion show?  If so, what are the differences between the creation of a movie makeup and the look for a fashion show? Is the creative process similar or different?

Margie:The creation process is similar; the differences are huge. In film, the makeup needs to be recreated more than once, whereas in fashion on a runway, it is created for one day or one show. In film, there is continuity of passage of time from minutes to days to years, and the character’s look has to adjust for this, sometimes all on the same shooting day. In film, the makeup needs to enhance the actors’ performances and become part of their characters, contributing to beauty, injury, aging, etc.

Q: How did you get into the film industry and how many years have you been working with makeup on film sets?

Margie:I began working on music videos in the late 1980’s and I have been a makeup artist for 22 years.

Judy:I’ve been working in the film industry for 22 years, as well. I got started by working on any project I could get my hands on that required a makeup artist. I worked on low budget films, no budget films and music videos. Some of those projects were extremely difficult because they were so small that they often never even considered what a difference a good makeup department could have made. That said, I always managed to enjoy my work, be innovative, and enjoy the creative process with the actors. I was lucky to meet some wonderful crews early on, and they inspired me to persevere. It totally paid off.

Q: What is the one M·A·C product that you cannot go on set without? Why?

Margie:I use so many M·A·C products on every job, but the Blot Powders are a must for whatever seems to be going on with my makeup at any given moment!

Judy: That’s a really difficult question, but I guess I would have to say a Powerpoint Eye Pencil. I think I could make up anyone with just one Powerpoint Eye Pencil. Or at lease enhance their features

Better late than never....

Well broadband issues have finally been sorted so, a little late, I'm finally getting started on my blog for 2011! My plan was to review new products each week and let you know my thoughts on them as theres nothing worse than expensive makeup and beauty purchases that end up hidden at the back of the bathroom cabinet or are downgraded to foot cream (like a recent face cream purchase that brought me out in spots!)

As its the last week of January I figured I would be budget savvy and hit Boots rather than Brown Thomas and see what I could find. First point is that budget friendly makeup is not that budget at all - several of the foundations I picked up were between €15 and €20! In the end I settled on the new Max Factor Xperience Weightless foundation (€14.99 but there was €3 off). I'm a huge fan of natural, dewy skin and I have often found cheaper foundations to be a bit on the cakey side so interested to see how this one pans out. I'll be using this over the next week and will update on how it performed.



Next up was Organix Self Heating Coconut Oil hair treatment, €9.00 - I'm trying to grow my hair (Carey Mulligan and her pixie hair cut are to blame!) so always looking for a product that will strenghten and nourish my hair (which has seen more than its fair share of colours and even a perm or two - giving away my age!) so looking forward to seeing what this has to offer.





Finally - the nice people at Boots gave me a voucher for no 7. Have to say straight off I am always massively disappointed with these vouchers - not a big fan at all of no 7 but in the budgety frame of mind I figured it would be a shame to waste it so the only thing I could think that I needed was an exfoliater. So I bought the Radiane Revealed Exfoliator which claims to have natural fruit acids and which came in at less than €3 after the voucher.

Reviews this time next week along with the selection of next weeks products!