Make up

My New Year’s Revolution this year has been to be more conscious of the materials and products that I use during my make overs. As a Make Up Artist it’s important to be aware of the ingredients in the products I’m buying for my make up kit. I no longer want to use products on my clients that are full of unnecessary chemicals. For example, I use organic cotton wool and re-useable muslin cloths to remove cleanser.

I always do some online research on brands before I purchase their products, however, I know that you probably don’t have the time to do this… so to speed things up here’s a few ingredients that you should watch out for on the label:

1. Parabens – a preservative that has had some bad press in the past linked to breast cancer. It’s prefixes are ethyl, methyl, butyl, isobutyl or propyl
2. Talc – contains a chemical that is similar to asbestos
3. Fragrance – this term can indicate it contains hundreds of chemicals
4. Alcohol, Isopropyl – it can dry out and irritate your skin
5. Lanolin – when used in cosmetics it can be contaminated with pesticides and insecticides.

If you’d like to start introducing natural cosmetics to your make up bag and you’re not sure where to start, Burts Bees products average 99% natural, Une make up contains no parabens and Urban Decay have 100% vegan palettes.

If you’re suffering from hay fever, it can be hard to keep your make up in place as a result of symptons such as; sneezing, a runny nose and itchy eyes. If you’ve got a special occassion/interview/first date coming up and you need your make up to look flawless, dont panic!

I’ve put together a few product suggestions along with some great techniques you can use to create longevity.

1. Apply an eye base to keep your eye make up in place such as Pixi Eye Bright Primer (£12.50)
2. Stick to neutral/warm tones, purples and pink tones shades will enhance the redness in your eyes
3. Use a creamy or liquid eye shadow as it’s less likely to smudge such as Bobbi Brown Long wear (£16.50)
4. Define your lashes with a Mascara that contains no fibres or fragrance, try No7 Sensitive Eyes(£11.50)
5. Buff Mineral Foundation and powder onto your skin, it won’t slide off and is brilliant for sensitive skin. I use Bare Minerals Original foundation as it contains 100% minerals (£23)
6. Carry a pot of vaseline with you to moisturise dry areas around your nose and help prevent pollen from entering your nostils
7. Pick a bright lipstick to place the focus onto your lips, not your eyes.
8. Take care when removing your make up in the evening, use gentle fragrance free skin care and soothing eye make up remover.

Did you know some experts recommend eating locally produced honey, to help ward off hay fever symptoms? x

I’m delighted to share my news that I will be launching my new Jemma Kidd Yummy Mummy Masterclass@Home next month. The lessons are a great girlie night in where you will learn how to achieve professional make up looks using Jemma Kidd products, plus there’s plenty of make up tips and laughs thrown in, all for just £20 per person. And you can buy Jemma Kidd make up/tools on the night at 10% off shop prices!

Oh and if you fancy hosting your own Masterclass@Home workshop, your ticket will be completely free! Check out the image below for more info and call me on 07847 826 824 if you’d like to book.

With the Royal Wedding two weeks away, i’m was so excited to hear who the lucky Make Up Artist creating her wedding make up look would be. Until ‘Elle Magazine’ published a post yesterday suggesting there are rumours that Kate will be applying her own Wedding make up . Although it’s surprising for a future Princess not to be pampered by a Make Up Artist on her big day. I can understand it as a lot of Brides still want to look like themselves and feel confident applying their own make up.

If you are a soon to be bride creating your on own wedding make up here are my Top 5 Tips;

1. Create your eye make up first to avoid any products spoiling your make up base. Gold’s and Plum’s look beautiful on brides.
2. Check your foundation matches your neck line particularly if you will be using tanning products in the days running up to the wedding.
3. Keep your base as fresh as you can. Pick an illuminating foundation to create a dewy glow and emphasis your cheek bones, brow bone and cubid bow with a radiance highlighter,
4. Set the make up base with a Mineral powder to take away any shine and ensure it’s longlasting.
5. Pick a blusher and lip colour thats slightly brighter than you would normally go for and apply a little more than usual, so that the photos pick up the make up clearly.

Happy Bank Holiday! x x

With the Royal Wedding two weeks away, i’m was so excited to hear who the lucky Make Up Artist creating her wedding make up look would be. Until ‘Elle Magazine’ published a post yesterday suggesting there are rumours that Kate will be applying her own Wedding make up . Although it’s surprising for a future Princess not to be pampered by a Make Up Artist on her big day. I can understand it as a lot of Brides still want to look like themselves.

If you are a soon to be bride creating your on own wedding make up here are my top 5 tips;

1. Create your eye make up first to avoid any products spoiling your make up base. Gold’s and Plum’s look beautiful on brides.
2. Check your foundation matches your neck line particularly if you will be using tanning products in the days running up to the wedding.
3. Keep your base as fresh as you can. Pick an illuminating foundation to create a dewy glow and emphasis your cheek bones, brow bone and cubid bow with a radiance highlighter,
4. Set the make up base with a Mineral powder to take away any shine and ensure it’s longlasting.
5. Pick a blusher and lip colour thats slightly darker than you would normally go for and apply a little more than usual so that the photos pick up the make up clearly.

Rihanna’s make up artist always creates stunning make up looks. It’s not as easy to find make up artist tips for black skin tones so here are my simple top 5 make tips.

1. Pick a water based/mineral foundation that matches your skintone to even out pigmentation marks, test the shade on your jaw line before buying one. Check if it is too light/dark in summer/winter

2. Go for bright peach or red blushers, as they will suit your skin tone perfectly.

3. Plums, bronze and green eye shadows look great with brown eyes (avoid cool shades) and define your eyes with black eyeliner.

4. Choose deep lip colours especially mauves, reds and corals.

5.  Finish with a gold highlighter to enhance your cheek bones.

Enjoy and let me know any products that you would recommend, thanks! x

I love experimenting with eye make up. At the momenet I have been using metallic eyeshadow to create glam evening looks. Bold metallic shades look amazing, as they are really striking. If you dont’t feel brave enough to apply a block of a metallic shade across the whole of your eyelid, start by placing a small amount in the corner of your eye. This is the darkest part so it will give the illusion of brighter eyes.

Have a go this weekend and let me know how you get on! x

P.s If you haven’t bought a metallic eyshadow before. Bare Minerals High Shine eye colours (£15) look great.
My favourite colour is ‘Electric’

Wonder Woman is a Superheroine created for All Stars Comics in (December 1941). She’s a feminist Amazon role model who has super speed and staminia.  She last appeared on our TV screens in 1979 and is making an over due come back as she has inspired a brand new M.A.C make up collection. Here are just a few of the treats you can get hold of; giant Mineralize Skinfinish, extra large Powder Blush and Oversized Lipgloss.

I’ve been admiring the packaging, it’s beautful. I’m sure the range will fly off the shelves when it is launched this Thursday 17th February exclusively to Selfridges.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Don’t worry guys i’m sure Captain America will return….

 
Let me know if you have a make up primer that you love! x

I’ve been fitting in some extra sessions at the gym before christmas, as I really want to wear my favourite dress this party season! So I thought I’d let you know a few of my top tips to help you create a quick make up look that will look great and last until the end of your work-out session. Ready, lets go…

1. Buff Bare Minerals SPF 15 Foundation into your skin until you are happy with the coverage, follow with Mineral Veil to keep the foundation fresh and long lasting. It will also allow your skin to breath while you sweat and won’t come off all over your towel. 2. Dust a small amount of bronzer to contour your features where your face naturally catches the sun, forehead, nose and cheeks. Your skin will get a natural rosy glow as you work out so skip your usual blusher
3. Apply a natural eyeshadow onto your brow bone to brighten your eyes
4. Go for a coat of waterproof mascara, which shouldn’t run or smudge
5. Finally finish with a touch of vaseline to hydrate your lips

Follow these 5 tips and you’ll finish your work-out sweaty, but with flawless make up still in place. After all, you never know who might be checking you out!