Wedding makeup inspiration from the catwalk and red carpet!

This week I thought I would feature some of my favourite makeup looks which are perfect for bridal from events and catwalk shows over the past couple of weeks - Cate at the Golden Globes, Julia and Michelle at the SAG awards, Keira at the Jack Ryan premier and Cara at Chanel (ok maybe not strictly a wearable bridal look but amazing all the same!)  

The skincare gadget worth shelling out for!

Sometimes it really is worth making an investment in your skin - spending a bit of money, particularly if you have problem skin, can really be worth it in the long run, especially if you combine it with the other tips I'll be covering about eating right and exercise. To make sure you are spending your money wisely, I will be featuring skin care buys I think that are worth splashing the cash on.
My recommendation for this week is a gadget rather than a cream - the Clarisonic. For anyone who hasn't heard of it, its basically a brush for your face which pulsates sonically at a rate of 300 oscillations per second. And why would you want that done to your face? Well it removes dead skin, dirt, cleans pores and removes oil like nothing else can. If you have problem skin at all, particularly issues with spots and oiliness I really think this is well worth the investment. To use it you need to remove your makeup first and then apply cleaner to the brush, dampen your skin and gently move it around your face in slow circular motions. It takes about a minute and works very well with gel like cleansers, for example with the Clinique liquid soap we covered in a previous newsletter. The results are just brilliant - it cleans six time better than manual cleansing, skin is incredibly soft and products are better absorbed afterwards. For the first couple of weeks after you start using it you might find that your skin breaks out as it gets a good deep down cleanse and all the impurities are removed but you should see a real improvement in clarity and tone after that initial phase. Clarisonic is available from Brown Thomas and costs 149 euros.

Keeping your makeup on all day!

One of the hardest things for people to get a handle on is how to make their makeup last the day. So many of us put makeup on before work only to catch a glimpse of ourselves mid morning to see shiny faces, visible redness, flaky mascara and non existent lipstick. Making your makeup last all day is really the holy grail and its easy to make the mistake of buying long lasting products with the hope that they might do what they say on the tin!

Its my experience that a lot of long lasting makeup is incredibly drying and flakes off in patches, particularly long lasting lip colours. The exception to this rule is Estee Lauders double wear range, long lasting has not meant a compromise on comfort and appearance here.

The real key to long lasting makeup is preparation and application. The better prepared your skin, lips and lids are, the better your products will adhere. Cleansing, light exfoliation and moisturising will mean your makeup with sit beautifully and last longer.

Next up is layering - making your foundation last all day doesn't mean applying tonnes of it but it does mean layering your products lightly. Start with primer and once applied, give it a few minutes to settle before applying foundation. With foundation, apply all over the face lightly then again let it settle. Go back and apply a very light second layer, sometimes just using what is left on the brush, where its needed - usually the nose and cheeks. Next up, conceal, lightly using a teeny brush, only where really needed. Then, powder to set (I love MAC prep and prime transparent finishing powder) Finally spray with a fixing spray to finish.

Its pretty much the same process for lips and lids - use a priming product, then your colour, then set with a light dusting of finishing powder.

Arg! Only two weeks till your big day and your skin needs help?

While last week we looked at your plan if you have a year to go, there's no need to panic if you only have weeks to your big day and you've just been too busy to focus on your skin care routine. First up, if your wedding day is approaching I don't recommend any major facial treatments. Facials are designed to be deep cleansing and can include strong exfoliations which can result in breakouts as the toxins are released or a little redness.
Instead, focus on at home treatments that are designed to nourish and get your skin glowing. First up, get cleansing. I meet a lot of brides who tell me that the only use cleanser at night or when they wear makeup but removing makeup is not really the sole function of cleansing. Cleansing removes the dead skin cells and general dirt and debris your face picks up throughout the day, especially if you have a commute or live in an urban area. It also prepares your skin for the products to follow, putting moisturiser on uncleansed skin really is a waste as it won't be able to get to work! My favourites for taking off makeup are Liz Earles hot cloth cleanser  or if you are on a budget Ponds Cold Cream and a warm face cloth works well too. I usually use these at night and in the mornings I prefer a refreshing facial wash and I can't recommend Clinique Liquid Facial Soap enough! Follow with Clinique Clarifying lotion to continue the exfoliation process - chat to the consultant at the counter for the correct one for your specific skin type.
My next tip is to add a serum to your skincare regime - even just a week or two of regular use and you will notice a difference. In the morning try Vichy Idealia life serum and at night Estee Lauders Advanced Night Repair serum.
Last week I spoke about exfoliation and as its so close to the wedding I recommend sticking to the mild side of things with Dermalogica's Daily Microfoliant (check out last weeks newsletter for more info) or another favourite of mine which is Origins Never a Dull Moment. It has a stronger scrub to it than the Daily Microfoliant so be careful if your wedding is in a few days, test it out, but it gives a fabulous glow and the fruit enzymes really eat away at that dead skin.
Finally my last tip if your big day is approaching is to try really hard to get a decent amount of sleep - stick to a sensible time to head to bed each night and keep a notebook by the bed to jot down any last minute reminders so you don't spend the night worrying about them.

Good skin,,,its not all about products!

This week I wanted to focus on 'non product' related skincare. Its all too easy to run into the department store and fling hundreds of euros at a counter to try to improve skin problems only to come out and find that it really hasn't made things any better for you. While there is no doubt that there are some very effective products out there, we really can do a lot to improve our skin by starting on the inside rather than the outside.
As well as recommending products and skin care regimes I will also cover area's such as diet, exercise and general wellbeing because I can definitely testify as to the changes they can make on your face! As with the products I recommend, these are things that work for me or for my clients so they might work for you too!
This week I'm talking yoga and one person specifically, Mandy Ingber. Now I have to be honest and say that I entirely only bought her DVD because of the Jennifer Anniston connection! I have tried yoga lots of times, from regular to the gruelling hot yoga but it never was something I really enjoyed - until I started this DVD.
Yoga is one of the best exercises you can do for your skin, it gets the blood flowing and increases oxygenation to the head through downward bends which means your skin will glow afterwards as if you have just had a facial. Mandy's version of yoga is a mix of the traditional yoga stretches and more conventional toning so you have the added benefit of seeing great results in your body as well as your face.
Her delivery is fun and personable, you can really relate to her and she really works on the mind connection too so without realising it, you've completed a meditation practise too!
Finally she also has a book called the 28 Days to the Ultimate Mind Body makeover which I put on my Christmas list this year and can't wait to start!

My favourite BB creams

BB creams are now well established as a major product in our makeup routines and I am a huge fan - both personally and in my kit. On a personal note, I like a lighter coverage in my every day makeup and BB creams are perfect as they cover a lot of the skincare elements, sun protection and some coverage. For work, I use them as a primer and base before foundation.
My two favourites are MAC's BB Cream Compact which is a matte-ish product but still illuminates the skin with fantastic SPF of 30. I also love Cliniques BB Cream, SPF 30 again but also an anti-ageing product so great for a drier or more mature skin.

Wedding skin prep...one year to go!

Lots of very well organised brides are booking for 2015 which is super organised but its important not to think that you can't start your skincare preparation already. The longer you can give your skin to get it into the best condition the better (although if you have less time don't panic, I'll be covering last minute skincare next week!) So if you have a year or so to go here is my guide to your preparations.
Every month
Get a facial - in a salon if budget allows, at-home if not. I will be covering everything you need to do a salon worthy facial at home over the coming weeks. I recommend Decleor for drier skins and Dermologica for skin prone to break outs.
Every week 
Do an at-home mini facial - cleanse, exfoliate and apply a mask.
Every day
Start your day with a cleansing juice, drink lots of water throughout the day and do some form of exercise - its not all about products, great skin really does begin from within!

A beginners guide to exfoliating....

I really can’t say enough about exfoliating – it is such an important skincare step and one that lots of people don’t bother with. Regular exfoliation, twice a week, means your serum and moisturiser are absorbed and your makeup sits better. It removes dead skin cells ensuring your skin looks glowing and fresh. If you are new to exfoliation I suggest starting with Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant which is a poswer that you mix into a paste with water and apply to damp skin in circular motions. It’s mild enough to use often and really brightens the skin. You can pick it up for 39.50 from millies.ie

Contouring Love!

This week I'm loving Tom Fords gorgeous contouring kit Shade & Illuminate. Its not cheap at 67 euros in Brown Thomas but it gives the most natural definition and highlighting in a cream rather than powder finish. To use, suck in your cheekbones and pat a little of the contour product onto the hollow, dotting up toward the ear and then blend with your fingers or a makeup sponge. Follow with the highlight cream across the top of the cheek bone. You can also use it to highlight the brow bone and the inner corners of the eye. Set with powder to make sure it lasts all day!