Facial hair removal for your wedding day...

Unless its a photo booth 'tash then mostly wedding day Ronnies are a big no-no. Same goes for bushy brows and those random spiky chin hairs that seem to grow overnight from nowhere and have a complete mind of their own!
The best advise for hair removal for your wedding day is not to try anything new close to the date. If you are thinking of changing your preferred type of hair removal I would advise doing it well in advance.
Brows
My preference for brow hair removal is threading or tweezing. Waxing can be harsh on the delicate skin around the eyes and repeated waxing has been linked to sagging skin under the brows. There's also a danger of a reaction or burn if the wax is too hot. Threading, when done by a professional, gives sharp defined lines, removes even the teeniest hair and is very gentle on the skin. Tweezing is a good runner up, again done correctly. Pull gently and in the direction of the hair. A tip I always find useful when tweezing is to colour your brows in your ideal shape first and then remove everything outside of that shape. And remember less is more - remove as little as you can get away with as sometimes over plucked hair won't grow back.
Lips & facial hair
For me, this is where waxing wins out. Threading on the face is terribly sore (I am a bit of a wimp though, you might find it fine!) Facial waxing is quick, sore but over with in one pull and gives a smooth and clean finish.

Men have it so easy when it comes to wedding prep!

Getting the best out of your wedding makeup trial...

Makeup and hair trials are very exciting events in the countdown to the wedding day and its important that you get the very best out of your trial.
When it comes to your makeup, here are my top five tips for having the best trial.

1. Preparation...it really does pay to to spend a little bit of time looking at magazines or Pinterest, just to get an idea of the types of looks you like, or indeed don't like! Here's a link to my Pinterest bridal makeup inspiration looks - feel free to pin some and set up your own! 
2. Communication...its so important to feel comfortable enough to say what you would like - a lot of brides say things like 'I don't mind' or 'whatever you like' but personal tastes vary so much that its so important to be honest. If it helps, jot down a few key points about the areas that are most important to you. Examples might be:
• Must be long lasting
• Love eyeliner flicks
• Want skin to glow 
3. Feedback...I like to always err on the side of caution, beginning with a super natural look and then showing it to my bride. From there we can add more until we get to the 100% perfect look. I tell my brides feedback is so important, no makeup artist will mind if you say you would like to try a stronger lip colour or more blush. Whatever you do, don't leave the trial unhappy. A trial is an opportunity for you and the makeup artist to design the perfect look together so always tell them what you are thinking.
4. Timing...always allow plenty of time for your trial, about an hour and a half - you want to be able to sit down, have a good chat, share some images and ideas and then give time to try a few looks and amendments along the way. Its also a good idea to get your trial done during the day, in similar lighting to the morning of your wedding and while it can be tempting to get a trial when you have a big night out and can get some use of it, remember that makeup for a night out is so different to what you will want for your wedding day.
5. Tan...if you are planning on wearing fake tan on your wedding day then I would definitely recommend wearing it for your trial, even if its just a quick coat. It can change a look totally and mean that different shades of lip and eye colour may suit. 

Enjoy your trial!

Tanning and your wedding day...

Irish brides have a love/hate relationship with tan - we love the glow and the confidence it gives us but we hate the streaks, the unpredictability and the patches! There is nothing scarier than not being sure what colour you might wake up the morning of your wedding so here are my top tips to getting the best glow for your big day!
Less is more...
One of the reason Irish girls love tan so much is that the yellow undertones do wonders for those of us with pink pale skin. We don't really need to be super bronzed to get this effect, a light application of tan will give that lovely effect, neutralise the pink, and give a glow without looking dark. A light coat is also great for upper arms and shoulder areas which are usually on show.
Step away from the spray...
Oddly enough, I've never seen such bad hands, palms, ankles and feet as I do from spray tans. You would think that because you have gone to have a tan applied that you wouldn't need to worry about these danger areas. Unfortunately, spray tan tends to pool on these areas and because you aren't rubbing the tan in, it sits there and you end up with the orange. I feel that the results from a rub-in tan are much more natural, you can control the amount and you can make sure to go easy on the knees, ankles and feet. Use a baby wipe on the palms and between the fingers to ensure steak free hands. My favourites are Lancome Flash Bronzer Leg Gel and Cocoa Brown 1 hour tan. If you are nervous about applying it yourself or don't often tan, ask a friend who is a regular tanner to apply it for you.
Don't forget your face...
Always, always, always apply a light coat of tan to your face. Otherwise its very difficult to get a foundation shade to properly blend in with your tan, especially if its been brought to your neck and there's a line.

Happy Tanning!

How can I tone up quickly before my wedding?

I really liked this Bridal Babe workout from Tone it Up which is a really upbeat sunshine filled workout blog. It was designed by one of the trainers because she is getting married herself and there's both a video plus a printable version of the workout Enjoy!

How to ensure a stress free wedding morning

Here are my top five tips to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible on the morning of the big day!

1. Delegate - don't try and do everything yourself, use your bride privilege and get a bit bossy! One wedding I was at ran so smoothly because the bride had a 'runner' - someone who could go and do those last minute jobs that crop up no matter what. The runner wasn't one of the bridal party so had plenty of time to dedicate to getting everything sorted out, from dropping off mass booklets to collecting flowers to tying ribbons on cars.
2.Clear some space specially for preparation - a table and chair near some natural light for the makeup artist; a chair and a full length mirror near some sockets for the hair stylist; a nice space where your dress is hanging for the photographer to get some 'before shots'
3. Put some music on - get into the mood with a wedding playlist (check out last weeks newsletter for some song suggestions
4. Get layering - use a shower gel and body lotion with the same scent as your wedding perfume to make sure it lasts all day
5. Give yourself plenty of time - start early so you can take a break, have a cuppa and a bacon sandwich, chat with your family and don't get stressed - remember it will all come together!

Help! Getting married in hayfever season!

For those of us who dread summer just as much as we love it, hayfever is just the pits. Streaming puffy red eyes, running nose, sneezing. blotchy skin...the list of effects goes on and not one are ones you want on your wedding day. But if you are getting married in the summer and you suffer from hayfever, the likelihood of you and your makeup artist having to deal with some of these symptoms is pretty high.
So how to best deal with it? They thing about hayfever is it can be different for everyone and its important to treat both the symptoms and your own specific causes. Therefore, the products and routines I've listed are those that work for me, you might find that slight tweaks work better for you.
Eyes
One of the most important things you can do if you have sore eyes is to wash your hands as often as possible and try your absolute hardest not to rub your eyes. Oddly enough, one thing I found to really help was getting lash extensions. I was so mindful of them that I made a trojan effort not to rub them. Next up is eye drops. I continue my search for the perfect drops and recently read this article in Vogue and have since ordered the drops recommended, Rohot if its vogue worthy then I reckon it might do the job!
For dry skin on the eyes, I find a combination of Cliniques Repairware Laser Focus  followed by Double Base Cream really addresses flakey skin. When eyes are red and swollen, old reliables like cold spoons and chamomile tea bags are best.
Nose
There's no point in pretending otherwise, this one is not pretty but I cannot recommend NeilMed Sinus rinse enough. It comes with a bottle and some pre prepared sachets of saline solution which you add to some pre-boiled and cooled to room temp in the bottle and shake. Now the fun part - lean your head over the skin and gentle squeeze the bottle up one nostril and wait for the water to come down the other (yep, lovely!) When you've used half the water, swap to the other nostril. I usually wait a little while and then use a spray of Prevalin. Since using this combo I've noticed a huge improvement in symptoms plus the added benefit of no drowsiness.
Sooth red flaky skin around your nose with Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream.
Skin
Blotchy red skin is a common symptom of hayfever and can appear anywhere on the face and body. The first thing to reach for is an anti-histamine and then cool the skin using a cool compress or a body lotion/face cream which has been chilling in the fridge. When the initial reaction has calmed, and the redness and itchiness has gone, buff away left behind flakes and bumps with an exfoliant. The Aveeno range is very good for skin prone to allergies as it contains soothing oats and oat oil.
Makeup
If you have sore hayfevery eyes on the morning of your wedding don't panic. Follow the steps above and when it comes to makeup, go easy on the eyes and put the focus on amazing glowing skin and a pop of colour on the lips. Use a light covering of concealor on the lids to bring down redness and mascara which is waterproof and designed for sensitive eyes.
Try Clinque High Impact Waterproof Mascara 

How can I drink more water?

I was on a plane recently reading the current issue of Marie Claire where they reckoned that there's no need to drink 8 glasses of water as long as you eat plenty of water filled fruit and veg - I was pretty horrified to be honest - nothing has made more of a single difference to my health and skin than drinking plenty of water and I don't know about you but there is no way that I am going to be ingesting enough water melon and cucumber to properly hydrate myself.
Cameron Diaz's book, The Body Book has a whole chapter dedicated to hydration and the wonders it can do for your health called Water is Life. In it she recommends that you fill up a pint glass before you go to bed and leave it next to you so that when you wake up in the morning, the first thing you do is rehydrate. Its a great read and really lays out the facts about nutrition, exercise and how our bodies work.
So I recommend to all my clients that they start to really increase their water intake if its currently low but I am always surprised at how many people literally don't drink ANY. Like not a drop. Liquid for many people comes in the form of tea, coffee and diet coke. So how to go from zero hydration to getting your skin clear, your digestion functionally well and your kidneys and liver to top condition by upping the water intake?
First up, I recommend borrowing Cameron's idea. If you make sure you drink that whole pint of water first thing, before you even get out of bed, you are well on your way to super hydration.
Next up, during the day either keep a bottle on your desk or every hour get up, have a little walk and get some water at the cooler. Cut down to two teas or coffees per day and swap the rest for herbal tea as they count toward your total water intake.
At home, keep some chilled water in the fridge and mix with a squeeze of your favourite fruit for a little flavour (not Mi Wadi!) Try to stop drinking though before it gets too late in the evening, you don't want to have to keep jumping out of bed at night to go to the bathroom.
Finally, remember to keep hydrated when you exercise and try to swap fizzy soft drinks for sparkling water. Your skin will thank you for it!

What makeup should I bring on my honeymoon?

While you are running around making sure all the last minute preparations are done for your big day, you are also probably running around trying to pack for your honeymoon! With all the preparation you've been putting into your skin for the last few weeks and months you are no doubt glowing so honeymoon makeup is all about light textures, multifunctional products that save on space and time so you can spend your time enjoying this amazing trip, not applying makeup!
Before we get into makeup, a word about facial sun care. A lot of people just pop on some of whatever they used on their body but the problem is that body sun creams can be heavy and may clog pores. They are also quiet oily so any makeup you put on over them will just slide off. Equally, some of the newer spray/dry quickly formats are high in alcohol and can dry the skin. Its worth investing in a cream designed specifically for the face.
Try Clinique SPF30 Face Cream or Lancaster Velvet Touch SPF30

Next up, base. Now is the time to forget about heavier coverage and go with a tinted moisturiser or BB cream. Start in the centre panel of the face and work outwards. Follow with a touch of concealor anywhere you need a little bit of extra coverage. This is enough for day, for night add a sweep of bronzer under the cheek bones and a pop of colour on the cheeks.
Try Estee Lauder Double Wear All Day Glow BB SPF30 , Estee Lauder Double Wear Brush On Highlighter, Mac's new Alluring Acquatic Bronzer and Daniel Sandler Water Colour Blush

For eyes, during the day keep it as minimal as possible. If you are fair, tint your lashes before you head away and you won't need to worry about mascara. If you simply can't go out without mascara make sure you pick a water proof formula that won't budge. At night, add one some colour with a pencil shadow or use a multi functional product like Nars The Multiple - can be used on cheeks, eyes and lips and there are gorgeous new matte versions out this spring.
Forget about brow colouring as it will smudge in the heat, instead just brush into shade and set with a gel product.
Try Dior Show Waterproof Mascara, Illamasqua Clear Brow Gel 

For lips, during the day its important to protect as well as give a pop of colour so choose a product that includes SPF. Again I love the easy to use pencil products rather than lipstick as they give great colour but are quick and easy to use.
Try Bourjois Lip Crayon SPF15

Finally, pick up a hydrating facial spray to keep you cool and refresh your base throughout the day and night.
Try La Roche-Posay Thermal Spring Water 

Happy Holidays!

This weeks skin healthy recipe!

Each week I'm going to include a recipe for a healthy meal or snack that will literally feed your face! This weeks is from Susan Jane White a nutritional cook who has a fabulous book out called The Extra Virgin Kitchen with tonnes of fabulous healthy and delicious ideas to transform your kitchen, your skin and your health.
These Quinoa Carrot Cakes are packed with protein and nutrients and are great to take to work for breakfast or snacks.

Why is vintage inspiration so important for wedding makeup?

Vintage inspired wedding makeup doesn't mean fancy dress or looking completely different to the real you, it means looking to the classics of makeup and face design, taking the elements that you love best and that suit you, and incorporate them into your wedding day.
All of key elements of the perfect bridal look owe their origins to makeup designs from each of the decades of the 20th century, seen most strongly in the influence of the 1940's. The classic black liner and red lip combo is requested again and again by brides for its simple elegance and timeless glamour.
Here are some of my favourite looks that have been inspired by vintage but have a modern twist.
1920's

Nothing says roaring 20's glamour like The Great Gatsby and in the movie they stayed away from some of the stronger elements of 1920's makeup to create a more modern look.
Why its perfect for your wedding
The focus is on perfect skin, no need for tan here, its about a flawless base. Eyes are dark in the style of the 20's but softer, more forgiving. Lips are strong too but by using a gloss instead of the typical 20's dark lipstick, it balances perfectly with the eyes.

1940's

Dita Von Teese is the master of the 1940's look, her skin is porcelain perfection.
Why its perfect for your wedding
Here the focus is eyes and lips so skin is super smooth and matte. The simple but classic eye flick and red lip will keep eye drawn to the brides best features.

1970's

I love the 1970's Lauren Hutton inspiration for this shot of Hunger Games star Elizabeth Banks.
Why its perfect for your wedding
Skin is bronzed and dewy, perfect for summer weddings and the nude lip keeps the focus on sexy smokey eyes and long fluttery lashes.

How do I get my back in shape for a backless wedding dress?

Backless dresses are a huge trend for bridal and looking at recent wedding fairs and catwalks, looks set to continue for a long time. As a result, a lot of brides-to-be are panicking about getting their backs looking good where previously they would have focussed on arms and stomachs.
The most important thing here is the fit of the dress, anything too tight will create 'back fat'. Once that's taken care of there are lots of things you can do to ensure a toned smooth back in your dress. We'll be covering how to get rid of spots on your back and improve through skincare in the coming weeks but for today lets focus on the exercises.
1. Yoga - even after your very first session you will see an improvement in your posture which will automatically result in a better looking back - getting rid of any rounding or hunching will do wonders. It will also improve your core (many people think of core as their stomach but its actually your back too) and does wonders for your skin too, as an added bonus!
2. Kettle bells - a lot of people think that they will get super bulky from kettlebells but once you don't lift massively heavy weight it will actually tone your entire body and you will really notice an improvement in definition within a few sessions. Do go to a class at least a few times before starting up at home to make sure you get your form right, posture and position are very important with kettlebells.
3. Floor exercises - grab some weights and a fitness ball and try these exercises to really help work both upper and lower backs.

What's on your wedding morning 'Getting ready' soundtrack?

Recently I put together a playlist for my brides to help set the mood for a fabulous day. Sometimes, with all the running around in the weeks beforehand, it can be something that easily gets forgotten but music to get ready to can really make all the difference (Nothing worse than getting ready to the sound of breakfast radio traffic updates!)
Here are some tracks I chose for my 'getting ready' playlist - what would you have on yours?
1. Goin' to the chapel (Dixie Cups)- corny but has to be there!
2. Marry you (Bruno Mars)
3. Perfect Day (Lou Reed)
4. Get me to the church on time (Frank Sinatra)
5. I wanna grow old with you (Adam Sandler, from The Wedding Singer)
6. Young and Beautiful (Lana Del Ray, from The Great Gatsby)
7. As (Stevie Wonder)
8. White Wedding (Billy Idol)
9. Wedding Day (The BeeGees)
10. It had to be you (Harry Connick Jr)

How to treat bumpy blotchy upper arms!

Next to makeup, the most common questions I get asked are around upper arms and in particular red, bumpy skin and how to get rid of it. If you are wearing a strapless dress you are going to want to make sure your arms look their best but don't panic, there are plenty of things you can do to improve things.
The main rule is to treat your upper arm skin the same way you would your face - so cleanse, exfoliate, treat and moisturise, just as per your facial routine.
The difference here is that we are going to exfoliate first, before you even get into the shower. The skin on your body can take a stronger exfoliant so I recommend using yours on dry skin. Spend some time massaging it in using circular motions towards the heart to improve circulation. Then, hop into the shower and rinse off using a mild shower gel.
Next up, treatment - I recommend something with a peel effect (don't panic, peel just means removing dry skin using chemical (fruit acids) rather than manual (scrub) methods. Try Bliss Peel Pads.
Finally, moisturise using a light cream, nothing thick that's likely to clog the pores.
Improving circulation is key so make sure to include arm exercises in your workout routine in the run up to the wedding - not only will it get the blood flowing which will increase oxygen to the skin but it will also give your arms better definition which will immediately improve the look of your arms. We'll be covering the best arm exercises to give you super sleek biceps & triceps in the coming weeks.
The last touch is to fake tan but with a very light touch! Use a formula designed to give just a glow rather than a full on tan and make sure its a very moisturising formula - the undertones of yellow will counteract the red on the arms and help balance out the colour. If tan is not an option, you can use a light dusting of yellow based powder, in a similar way to how you would cover a high colour on the cheeks.
Some products to try:
Body Scrub (to use dry) - Cocoa Brown Tough Stuff
Shower Gel - Bliss Blood Orange & Black Pepper, contains vitamin E and aloe which is healing for skin
Body Cream - Sanctuary Body Lotion
Tan - Lancome Flash Bronzer Leg Gel 

What should I do with my skin the morning of the wedding?

The morning of your wedding is not time to try anything new, especially not in the way of a treatment or exfoliation product! First things first, you are probably tired and possibly a little dehydrated (pre-wedding bubbles!) so before you even get out of bed, drink an entire pint of water. Next up, treat tired eyes with either cold spoons popped in the fridge first or cold tea bags. Both will revive tired eyes and cool and the spoons will have the added effect of tightening the skin around the eyes.
Follow this with a gentle cleanse and exfoliation with a very mild product such as Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant but only if you have been exfoliating regularly before the wedding and only if you have tried the product before.
Now is the perfect time to massage in a serum or face oil, again use a product you have been using regularly.
Finally, apply a light, radiance boosting moisturiser and allow plenty of time for it to absorb before beginning to apply your makeup.
Some products to try:
Cleanser - Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish
Exfoliator - Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant
Face Oil - Clarins Blue Orchid Face Oil
Moisturiser - Clarins Daily Energiser Cream

Image magazine Business of Beauty awards

I was delighted to attend the Image magazine Business of Beauty awards in the Mansion House yesterday. The purpose of the awards are to recognise those who are excelling in their fields of hair, makeup, nails and beauty treatments as well as awarding those brands and products that really go the extra mile in the beauty stakes.

The Mansion House is a stunning location and even though it was a lunch event, the stars were out, making it feel even more special!

Being greeted on arrival with bubbly was pretty special too!

The host for the afternoon was Darren Kennedy who did a great job announcing the winners and keeping guests entertained as well as handing out some very fabulous spot prizes. Special guest presenters included Yvonne Keating who was sporting a new do with a fabulous fringe and was even teenier and more beautiful in real life.

It was lovely to meet the staff from Image, I'm a big fan and it was especially nice to meet Liz Dwyer as I love her features, recommendations and beauty tips in the magazine and on Xpose.

Some of the product winners were all time faves of mine - MAC won for most innovative brand and it was lovely to meet Leslie from MAC who accepted the award. Seavite won best Irish brand which I was delighted with as an excema sufferer as it was created with us in mind! The speech from the founders wife Kaye was lovely as he has sadly passed away. Finally La Roche Posay was another product winner which again, for those people with skin sensitivities, is a life saver!

Lunch was served after the product awards, courtesy of M&S and it was delicious - the desert was amazing (and zero calories of course!)

Some of the individual winners included Best Hair Colourist, Rebecca Fryday from Alan Keville, Best Nail Technican, Pamela Laird of the Beauty Parlour and Best Wax Therapist Jemma Ellison of Essentials who was seated at our table and was super delighted to have won! My favourite winners were for Best Beauty Salon which was Vanity Rooms - they were so excited to win and I loved their speeches, especially when they thanked their husbands for their patience while they spent their evenings building up their business on twitter and facebook!

Kim O Sullivan from Preen won Best Makeup Artist (here's hoping for next year :)) and Best Hairstylist was Elayne Archbold from Brown Sugar. Collette O Sullivan from Cork flew the flag for Munster winning best Tanning Specialist.

The Xpose team were there filming the event for the show and I met the very lovely Lisa Cannon - I even got a lend of the Xpose mic!

Leaving, I was given a bulging goodie bag which was full of gorgeous products from Seavite, E-spa via a beautiful Glossy Box, Loreal, Vichey and Nivea (plus Percy Pigs from M&S that did not fully survive the train journey home!)

Thank you to all the team at Image for a great day!

Wedding makeup inspiration from the Oscars!

This years Oscars was a wedding makeup inspiration fest simply because all the looks were extremely clean and classic with a focus on flawless skin. Almost all eye makeup was neutral with a defined line, although some like Penelope and Kate went slightly darker using golds and chocolate browns. Brows were well defined and strong. Lips were super pale and delicate, with light pinks, beiges and peaches ruling the red carpet so hats off to Kerry Washington for her gothic nod!
Here are my favourite looks, all gorgeously suitable for bridal!

Skincare guide for Mother of the Bride!

When talking about skin care and makeup for Mother of the Bride there really are no set 'rules' anymore. Happily the days of frumpy frocks and matching eyeshadow are gone and MOB's are classic, stylish and contemporary.
Skincare
Poor Mums tend to neglect their skin as they are running around taking care of everyone and making sure everything goes as smoothly as possible on the big day but taking care of skin is extremley important. Time spent on a good regime in the months coming up to the wedding will mean makeup glides on and stays on.
The regime is really the same as that for the bride, its just the products that change. So cleansing is hugely important, whether you wear makeup or not. Cleansing is also about removing debris and dead skin and is the foundation for all the products to come. Next up is exfoliation but I recommend avoiding any abrasive scrub type exfoliants and instead going for 'peel' enzyeme based products. The word peel conjours up images of leaving a layer of skin on the pillow but it just means removing the dead skin layer and revealing fresh new skin. I recommend Ole Henricksen 3 Step Mini Peel system.
Next up is treatment and one of the key concerns I get asked about for MOB's is pigmentation. Now is the time to apply a treatment to address this, some of them are really effective and can help even out the skin tone. I love Cliniques Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector.
Masks for MOB's are all about tightening and firming - not cheap but SK-II's Facial Treatment masks are amazing (Cate Blanchett swears by them!)
Don't neglect the eye area and again I love Clinique Ant-Gravity Firming Eye Lift.
I do recommend both a day cream and night cream - Vicheys LiftActiv is great.
Makeup for Mums next week :)

My favourite Irish skincare and makeup brands!

Its great to see so many fabulous Irish skincare and makeup brands and I thought, seeing as we are heading towards St Patricks weekend and celebrating all things Irish, I would share my favourites.
Pixy is a range of natural, affordable bath and body goodies that are really reasonable but are packed full of skincare goodies like Shea Butter and Vitamin E. I love the Limebody Scrub Cubes which smell amazing and really get every last bit of fake tan off and the Softening Body Oil. Well worth checking out!
Buff makeup comes from the people behind Hession Hair in Dublin and I really love their capsule range in particular their HD foundation. It gives great coverage and is extremely long lasting.
Human + Kind is a another great Irish brand which I love for their All in One Family Remedy cream which is basically the most amazing all purpose cream that you can use on everything from excema to sunburn. I love their pared down, minimalist approach to skincare and their products are multi tasking, back to basics classics.

My current favourite lipsticks!

Those of you who know me will know that I'm not mad about lipgloss, your hair sticks to it, the colour doesn't last, its gloopy and it always seems to stick in the corners of peoples mouths - not a fan! But lipstick, lipstick I love. Possibly its the grá I have for vintage, classic looks but I'm delighted that lipsticks are huge again on the catwalks, in magazines and at our counters. Here are some of my favourites!
Illamasqua lipstick in Brink - Illamasqua make beautiful matte lipsticks that last and last and this one is that perfect peachy pink that literally suits everyone and is my go-to nude.
Lancome Rouge In Love in Rose Boudoir - lovely hydrating lipstick that lasts a decent amount of time for a moisturing product and it has a brilliant range of shades - lipstick but very natural and not too heavy, perfect if you are making the transition from lipgloss.
MAC Ruby Woo - its a classic, red, dramatic, suits most skin tones and makes a statement. All time favourite!

Vintage skincare classics still going strong!

Vintage is so popular at the moment but who would have thought our love for all things classic has extended into our bathroom cabinets. A quick stock take of my own staples revealed a love of some skincare products that have been around for years and still doing an amazing job. Here are some of my favourites!
Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour cream - recently I have come to depend on this more and more, both in my kit and personally. I have really dry skin, especially on my eyelids and I find its a great protector and healer for excema. I also use it on lips and flaky skin when doing makeup, leaving it to absorb for a few minutes while I work on another area of the face. Eight Hour Cream was originally created in 1930, to sooth the bruises of Miss Ardens hourses. A friend used it on her son's scraped knee and it healed in only eight hours which is where the name came from! Recently I visited the counter to pick it up and was given a sample of the new Eight Hour Nighttime Miracle Moisture which I have since bought because I love it so much. Any of you out there with dry skin will love this and its not too expensive, around 35 euros.
Clinque Dramatically Different Moisturiser - first launched in 1968, DDM is an iconic product, part of Cliniques famous 3 step system. Its a lightweight formula and one I love for oilier skins or as a preparation underneath makeup. It relaunched late last year with more hydration and a streghtening complex but its still the same great allrounder that is perfect for photoshoots and weddings as it absorbs so quickly and lets me get onto applying makeup.
Ponds Cold Cream - I've used this since I was a teenager, my mother uses it and so did her mother. The precursor to more expensive products like Eve Lom and Liz Earle, its the original product for getting every scrap of makeup off and for leaving your skin clean but not dried out. I always remove it with a hot face cloth as otherwise I feel its left a bit of a residue but its one I go back to time and time again, particularly if my skin is playing up. Working on a photoshoot where the looks are dramatic its the perfect way to get the models back to fresh skin. Its been around since 1907!
Shiseido Eudermine Revitalising Essence was first sold in 1897 in Japan as a 'softening lotion' similar to what we would know as a toner, in response to lead posioning as a lot of the white makeup used in Japan at the time contained lead. Today its still sold and is fabulous after cleanser, delivering moisture and really helps if you are looking to create a dewy makeup look.

Bath-time lovelies...get fabulous skin & hair while relaxing!

I love baths - in fact I turned one of our bedrooms into a bathroom, just so I could fit the biggest bath I could find! The great thing about baths is not just the relaxation aspect...glass of wine, magazine...bliss! but its also a brilliant opportunity to get some products doing ALL the hard work for your skin and hair while you sit back and do as little as possible.
If you usually find time to fit in a weekly bath then its the perfect time to incorporate your wedding countdown preparations!
First up, hair. Before you get into the bath, wash your hair with a nourishing shampoo and apply a treatment. Wrap your hair in a warm damp towel and leave it to absorb while you are in the bath. I love Kerastase Elixir Ultime or the more budget friendly new Pantene Age Defy.
Next up, exfoliate face and body - for face, see my previous recommendations on exfoliators and for body try a home made scrub of coconut oil and sea salt or Sanctuary Hot Sugar Scrub.
Into the bath and I prefer oil type bath products to foamy ones which I think strip your skin and leave you with red blotchy patches. I love Jo Malone and Rituals. Two great bath treatments are also Epsom salts if you suffer from water retention or muscle pain and oats, if you have very dry skin - just pop some organic jumbo oats into a muslin cloth, tie with a hair band and attach to the tap while you are running the bath - it really soothes dry patches and takes down redness. On your face, pop on a facial oil and mask, again you'll find lots of recommended products in previous posts.
After a relaxing soak, if you have used oil, you probably won't need a body moisturiser. If you do need one, go rich and creamy, especially if you are just getting into PJ's afterwards. Bliss Lemon and Sage is gorgeous as are all the Body Shop Body Butters.
Rinse your hair and you are done! I recommend leaving application of fake tan until the next day as your skin will be very warm from the bath and you will have used some very rich heavy products - applied the next day, tan should glide on perfectly!

My favourite wedding inspiration sites!

You will probably have noticed by now that I like to include some lovely wedding inspiration sites to give you some new ideas and to see how other people are putting their own individual stamp on their big day so I thought I would list some of my favourites and you can check them out and see what inspires you too!
1. Love My Dress
2. Rock n roll Bride
3. One Fab Day
4. Style Me Pretty
5. Boho Weddings

Get your face mask on!

Face masks are often neglected or else misunderstood - there's a feeling that somehow slapping on a mask with two slices of cucumber over your eyes will somehow transform your skin. Instead think of masks as the desert in your facial treatment. Cleansing is your starter, exfoliation and massage with oil or serums are your main course and a mask is your desert. Hopefully by the time you get to the mask stage you have deep down cleaned and removed all the dead skin and debris, massaged in a treatment suitable for your skin concern and now you want to give your skin a bit of a treat. Sometimes masks are just that! They smell nice, they are a bit relaxing, but they don't really do a whole lot!
When it comes to masks, these are my favourites that really do actually show some results as well as being a nice end to a skin care routine.
1. Sisley Black Rose Cream Mask - not cheap but a very rich and luxurious cream that drier skins will love.
2. Bliss Triple Oxygen instant energising mask - an unusual mask in that its a foam and its a bit itchy as the foam settles on your skin but its very brightening, great for dull or oilier skin or for a boost for post holiday skin.
3. Dermalogica Multivitamin Power Recovery Mask - a really good allrounder, good for dehydrated skins but also great for dull skin and for soothing skin after sun burn or a strong treatment.

How to achieve this soft, vintage inspired look!

A couple of weeks ago I was lucky enough to be involved in a fabulous fashion shoot in The Old Convent in Tipperary. Its a beautiful venue and if you or anyone you know is a major foodie then check it out - eight course tasting menu, beautiful bedrooms, amazing location and the best hosts!
Fashion on the day was a mix of bridal, custom made and high street, all with a vintage theme. Vintage bridal was supplied by the very lovely Donna of Lilac Rose who runs a beautiful boutique in Limerick city. Her dresses are stunning and I can't wait to share the images with you. If any of you haven't yet picked up your dream dress then you have to visit Lilac Rose. We also had some stunning head pieces and vintage bridal brooch bouquets from Ruffled Ruby - they are really beautiful and such a unique and stunning alternative to traditional bouquets.
Custom made vintage tea dresses were supplied by Maggie Molloy - Maggie designs and creates beautiful dresses with the most amazing vintage fabrics - perfect for spring and summer weddings, summer holidays and events.
The high street this year is so influenced by vintage and we featured some fabulous 1950's themed looks from Zara and Pennys.
The stunning hair looks were created by Sarah Hickey, she's a fabulous freelance hair stylist and really gets that vintage vibe that's so popular right now.
And most importantly we had not one but two very talented photographers, Kevin Murphy and Jody Neville who are both the most fun to work with and always produce fabulous shots!
From a makeup perspective, I wanted to nod to vintage but still keep the looks clean and contemporary and my main focus was on the skin - creating that perfect base.
So I thought I would share this image of Katriona from Lockdown agency and chat through the products and techniques to create this look!
As this look was all about base base base this is where a lot of time was spent. On cleansed and moisturised skin, I applied Charlotte Tilburys magic cream as primer. This was followed by MAC's BB cream to give the perfect canvas and then MAC Face and Body focussing mostly on the centre panel of the face. I concealed using MACs pro concealor palette using the tiniest brush and only applying exactly where needed.
Contouring was with Tom Ford contour and highlight applied with a brush in the hollows of the cheek and underneath the cheekbone and blended with a sponge.
Blush was Chanel cream blush applied with the finger tips and blended lightly.
At this stage I set with a very light application of MAC prep and prime powder, avoiding the highlighted areas on top of the cheek bones, nose and top of lips.
I used the Charlotte Tilbury eye palette The Sophisticate to highlight and contour the eye and black liner by Clinque. Eyebrows were defined using the Crownbrush eyebrow powder.
Lips were a mix of two colours in the Crownbrush lip palette, red all over with a touch of orange shimmer shade in the centre to highlight and plump.

Sorting your eyebrows for your wedding day!

One of the biggest concerns brides have in the run up to the wedding day is how to get their eyebrows in good condition, particularly if they have over plucked or had a bad shaping experience in the past.
My first piece of advice is to take 8 weeks to let them grow out. Resist the tweezer and see how much growth you can encourage. There are some serums and lotions you can get to help growth along - the jury is out on how useful they really are but some have better results than others. Try Rapid Brow or Prevage Clinical Lash and Brow Enhancing Serum. 
Next up is to find a really good salon to get your shaping done. I strongly recommend threading. preferably by someone who has been doing it for a long time and ideally someone you have a recommendation for. If you are in the Limerick area you have to try Nesha's Threading Bar in Catherine Street - she is amazing and really listens to what you want and its over quickly and easily.
I'm not a big fan of waxing as I think its too harsh and pulls the delicate skin around the eye and can cause sagging eventually.
Now that you have the shape you want, its all about maintenance and making any small tweaks that might be needed using brow powder. I much prefer powder to pencil as I feel it looks more natural but make sure you pick a shade that works. A good idea is a brow palette which allows you to experiment and find the most suitable shade for you. It also means you can use more than one shade as very few brows are the exact same colour all the way through (avoid solid black scary brows at all costs!)
Try the Crownbrush brow palette. 

Feed your skin!

Feeding your skin is just as important as putting products on the outside and one of the best ways to do this is through juicing. Years ago I bought a really fancy bells n whistles juicer, skipped down to the local market and bought about fifty euros of fruit n veg, used the machine once and then realised there was a LOT of preparation and cleaning up in order to produce one glass of juice. There and then I went back to cartons and gave the juicer to a friend.
In the last few years though I've become a lot more health and nutrition concious and realised that throwing the odd mushroom into pasta sauce really wasn't cutting it when it came to getting my five a day. I really don't like the taste of many vegetables, especially green ones (the best ones of course) so I decided to venture back to juicing.
The great thing about green juices is that you don't need to have a fancy machine, a regular blender will do just fine. I now alternative between a green juice or a fruit smoothie every morning and I can't recommend them enough. You get piles of energy, brighter skin and eyes and the benefit of way more veg than you would probably eat in a conventional way.
Here's my favourite for clearing skin - don't let the picture put you off - it really does taste good and think of the great work its doing for you on the inside.

• Pop some green leaves into the blender - ideally spinach and kale 
• Add a glass of water & ice if you have it 
• Blend until smooth
• Add some chopped cucumber and broccoli 
• Blend again 
• Add a chopped green pear and apple
• Add some chopped pineapple
• Finally the juice of a lime and orange
• Blend again and serve

This should make enough for two servings so you can keep the second one in the fridge for the following day.
Happy juicing!

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!)