Keep skin radiant this winter

Keep skin radiant this winter

Bitter winter winds and central heating can only mean one thing. Dull winter complexions! As the warm summer months seem far away, our skin can look dehydrated and quite frankly ...dull! Healthy, radiant skin is what most of us long for at this time of the year and with a little advice from makeuptagg you will soon be waving goodbye to dull and lifeless skin and saying hello to a new,radiant you!

Nothing can be more important than a good moisturiser. Not only does it offer the perfect base for your makeup, but will rehydrate dry tired skin. 


A complexion brightener  will bring an instant luminous glow to your skin for that extra magical shimmer!


Keep powder based products to an absolute minimum opting for rich, creamy illuminating foundations and cream blush. Not only will they keep your skin looking fresh and nourised but give you a softer look.


Our makeuptagg experts recommend applying a little coloured lip balm just before you finish off with your favourite lipstick.




We all know the importance of keeping our skin hydrated so ensure to drink plenty of water....you will be amazed at the difference as you turn dull winter skin into a radiant year long complexion.

Summer movie must haves

THURSDAY, 4 AUGUST 2011

Summer movie must haves

I have recently been working on the set of one of next years block buster movies. As always I am sworn to secrecy. I can't even tell you what country I am filming in, let alone what style of makeup we are doing. But I can tell you the most used makeup products on the makeup bus.

Giorgio Armani Beauty Luminous Skin Foundation

Mac Set Powder

Nars Cosmetic Blush

Dior 5 Couleurs Designer

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine

WEDNESDAY, 20 APRIL 2011

Why hire a Makeup Artist for your wedding?

In times when money is tight for every one many brides decide to do their own makeup on their wedding day. Weather this be due to budget constrictions or the fear or walking down the aisle looking like a contestant from “Strictly Come Dancing” (no offence meant. The makeup artists do an amazing job on this show) some brides simply don’t think about their hair and makeup until the last moment.

Your wedding day is the most important day of your life and with venue booked, flowers ordered and dress chosen it is time to think about you. When you see a beautiful actress on screen or in print she will have always, without fail, have been through the professional hands of the makeup and hair stylist. It is your wedding day and all eyes are on you and your look will be captured in your photographs forever. If you can’t have star treatment today when can you?

Who wants to spend the morning of their wedding rushing to a salon worrying about time, the traffic or maybe the effects that the elements will have on your newly styled hair and makeup. Or attempting to apply makeup with shaky hands, thanks to those typical pre-wedding nerves.

You wouldn’t dream of leaving it to the last minute to find your perfect dress, yet that is exactly what many women do when it comes to planning their hair and makeup to perfectly compliment their dream dress.

What better way to prepare than to have a professional makeup artist come to your home for a relaxed and unhurried trial session, giving you the chance to try different looks and style (and picking up a few tips and tricks along the way) until the perfect style is found.

I have been a Makeup artist and hairdresser now for 28 years and have worked with some of the most beautiful women on screen and print creating hair and makeup looks from almost every period in history. Having done the makeup and hair for dozens and dozens of brides, I know exactly what products and colours work best for every skin type and colouring and how to choose hair styles that perfectly balance face shape, dress style and fit your personal style.

With all this in mind you would be able to sit back on the morning of your big day, relax and enjoy being pampered knowing you are in the safe hands of a professional with results that will make you look and feel amazing.

MONDAY, 18 APRIL 2011

Vintage wedding style

 I have just finished a trial makeup for a bride-to be in London and the look she has chosen for her hair and makeup is stunning. It balances her 1930's style vintage wedding dress perfectly. Her figure is slim and tall and her long brown hair and big brown eyes lends to  the look perfectly.
Here is some Vintage inspiration.

Marion Davies Vintage

Diane Kruger  Modern

Audrey Hepburn Vintage

Bridal Modern

Marilyn Monroe Vintage

Bridal Modern

Silent movie actress Vintage

Jessica Alba Modern

MONDAY, 11 APRIL 2011

App bug reported!

Over the weekend we've had a couple of reports of our application not downloading the makeup data correctly, this appears to be restricted to users with the new version of the iPhone software. We are looking into this problem and hope to have more information shortly.

WEDNESDAY, 6 APRIL 2011

Wedding season

It's wedding season and my diary is starting to fill with dates and locations from elegant English houses to wistfully stunning vintage tea parties.
Each bride is unique yet one thing that seems to be the same for each is the desire to look and feel the best she possibly can.

Not every one has the budget for a professional makeup artist on the day but there is plenty of great advise, features and tutorials at Makeuptagg.

THURSDAY, 24 MARCH 2011

Iconic Beauty- Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor in 1954. 'That girl has true glamour,' said Richard Burton. 'If I retired tomorrow, I'd be forgotten in five years, but she would go on forever.'

WEDNESDAY, 23 MARCH 2011

Is Your Makeup Past It's Sell By Date

HOW DO I KNOW IF I NEED NEW MAKEUP?

THE PHRASES "SELL BY DATE" AND "SHELF LIFE" WOULD MAKE MOST PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THE CONTENTS OF THEIR FRIDGE NOT THEIR MAKEUP BAG.

YOU WON'T FIND A USE BY DATE STAMPED ON THE BOTTOM OF YOUR FOUNDATION AND IT MAY LOOK AND SMELL FINE BUT BE CAREFUL IT MAY BE HARBOURING GERMS WHICH CAN CAUSE SENSITIVITY RESULTING IN BREAKOUTS OR EVEN INFECTION.

DON'T PANIC! Most cosmetics don't breed bacteria easily as they are packed with preservatives.So how do you know when to bin it? It does, of course, depend on the ingredients.

Here are some guidelines for cosmetic product shelf life:

Oil Free foundation	1 year
Moisturizing/cream/compact foundation	18 months
Concealor	1 year
Powder Loose + Pressed	2 years
Blush Cream + Powder	2 years
Eyeshadow cream + Powder	2 years
Eyeliner	2 years (sharpen pencils regularly and if you get an eye infection bin it!)
Mascara	6 months tops ( this is the worst culprit for harboring germs). Never share your mascara with anyone, and if you get an infection or a stye replace it.

Of course we all need to economize, so to avoid throwing out half used products that don't suit you, download Makeuptagg from the iTunes App store and follow our personalized makeup choices. Along with these product shelf life guidelines, your makeup bag will be organised, extremely flattering and germ free.

The above are guidlelines, always follow the manufacturer's recommendations. The FDA has no set requirements for cosmetic use by dates in the USA. Each manufacturer has its own rules. In the EU, this is regulated byEuropean legislation.

THURSDAY, 17 MARCH 2011

What Lipstick Colour Suits You?

Many women assume they can't wear red lipstick but thats not true. You just need to find the right one. The same goes for any other lip colour. If you wear the right tone it will enhance your complexion and make your eyes appear brighter. The first step is to know your skin tone.

To find out if you are a warm or cool skin tone there are a few simple tricks. 

Take a look at the colour of the veins beneath your skin, on the under side of your wrist. If they appear blue you have a cool skin tone. If they appear green you have a warm skin tone. If they are bluey/green you are in the mixed category. 

Alternatively hold a piece of white paper next to your face and look in the mirror. If you notice pink/blue tones in your skin you are in the cool category. If you notice yellow/golden tones in your skin you are in the warm category. If you notice a mixture you are in the mixed category. Remember just because you have an olive or dark skin colour this doesn't necessarily mean you have a warm skin tone and if you have a fair or beige skin colour your skin tone is not automatically cool. 

Use our find your phenotype tool on the Makeuptagg iPhone app for a more accurate conclusion.

TUESDAY, 15 MARCH 2011

How much do you spend on makeup?

As a jobbing Makeup Artist my yearly makeup budget can often be the same as the cost of a small family car. I decided to do a little digging into how much the average woman spendson makeup.

The average spend in a life time on makeup alone is £9000

This breaks down as the following:

1. Mascara         £2,291
2. Foundation    £950
3. Lip Balm       £500
4. Eye Liner      £500
5. Concealer      £500
6. Lipstick         £1,077
7. Blusher         £500
8. Eyeshadow   £1670
9. Powder         £500
10. Lip gloss     £500

MONDAY, 14 MARCH 2011

How To Look After Makeup Brushes

After a long days filming I have often used dozens of brushes and have to clean them repeatedly. For every day use you don't need expensive brush cleaners to keep your makeup brushes looking and feeling like new. Wash them regularly in a mild shampoo then use a small amount of conditioner to keep the bristles soft . Lay them out flat and re shape the bristles if necessary. Then allow to air dry.

WEDNESDAY, 2 MARCH 2011

Smokey Eyes

After seeing fiery red lips taking center stage at the BAFTA's and the Brits, it was smokeyeyes that were trending at this years Oscar ceremony.

There are many interpretations of the smokey eye makeup but the essence of it is a  smudged, dark or intense colour around the entire eye to create a sexy and sultry, unstructured look. The level of intensity can be as subtle or  bold as you wish to be.

Luxury- Laura Mercier Custom Compact

Mid Range -Christian Dior 5 Colours Designer

Budget- NYX cosmetics 10 Colour Eye Shadow palette 

The key for the perfect smokey eye is BLEND BLEND BLEND! or you could just end up looking like you've gone 10 rounds with  Ricky Hatton.

Stick with a nude lip colour for the perfect balance.

SUNDAY, 20 FEBRUARY 2011

BAFTA winner

 This is the time of year when we see all the award ceremonies within a few months of each other. With the glitziest still to come. I wanted to take this opportunity to say a huge congratulations to Paul Gooch for winning the Best Makeup  BAFTA for his work on Alice in Wonderland. A massive amount of talent has gone into the makeup and hair on this movie.  Lizzie Yanni Giorgio was also nominated for her makeup and hair on Made in Dagenham.

Keep skin radiant this winter

Bitter winter winds and central heating can only mean one thing. Dull winter complexions! As the warm summer months seem far away, our skin can look dehydrated and quite frankly ...dull! Healthy, radiant skin is what most of us long for at this time of the year and with a little advice from makeuptagg you will soon be waving goodbye to dull and lifeless skin and saying hello to a new,radiant you!

Nothing can be more important than a good moisturiser. Not only does it offer the perfect base for your makeup, but will rehydrate dry tired skin. 


A complexion brightener  will bring an instant luminous glow to your skin for that extra magical shimmer!


Keep powder based products to an absolute minimum opting for rich, creamy illuminating foundations and cream blush. Not only will they keep your skin looking fresh and nourised but give you a softer look.


Our makeuptagg experts recommend applying a little coloured lip balm just before you finish off with your favourite lipstick.




We all know the importance of keeping our skin hydrated so ensure to drink plenty of water....you will be amazed at the difference as you turn dull winter skin into a radiant year long complexion.

THURSDAY, 4 AUGUST 2011

Summer movie must haves

I have recently been working on the set of one of next years block buster movies. As always I am sworn to secrecy. I can't even tell you what country I am filming in, let alone what style of makeup we are doing. But I can tell you the most used makeup products on the makeup bus.

Giorgio Armani Beauty Luminous Skin Foundation

Mac Set Powder

Nars Cosmetic Blush

Dior 5 Couleurs Designer

Chanel Rouge Coco Shine

WEDNESDAY, 20 APRIL 2011

Why hire a Makeup Artist for your wedding?

In times when money is tight for every one many brides decide to do their own makeup on their wedding day. Weather this be due to budget constrictions or the fear or walking down the aisle looking like a contestant from “Strictly Come Dancing” (no offence meant. The makeup artists do an amazing job on this show) some brides simply don’t think about their hair and makeup until the last moment.

Your wedding day is the most important day of your life and with venue booked, flowers ordered and dress chosen it is time to think about you. When you see a beautiful actress on screen or in print she will have always, without fail, have been through the professional hands of the makeup and hair stylist. It is your wedding day and all eyes are on you and your look will be captured in your photographs forever. If you can’t have star treatment today when can you?

Who wants to spend the morning of their wedding rushing to a salon worrying about time, the traffic or maybe the effects that the elements will have on your newly styled hair and makeup. Or attempting to apply makeup with shaky hands, thanks to those typical pre-wedding nerves.

You wouldn’t dream of leaving it to the last minute to find your perfect dress, yet that is exactly what many women do when it comes to planning their hair and makeup to perfectly compliment their dream dress.

What better way to prepare than to have a professional makeup artist come to your home for a relaxed and unhurried trial session, giving you the chance to try different looks and style (and picking up a few tips and tricks along the way) until the perfect style is found.

I have been a Makeup artist and hairdresser now for 28 years and have worked with some of the most beautiful women on screen and print creating hair and makeup looks from almost every period in history. Having done the makeup and hair for dozens and dozens of brides, I know exactly what products and colours work best for every skin type and colouring and how to choose hair styles that perfectly balance face shape, dress style and fit your personal style.

With all this in mind you would be able to sit back on the morning of your big day, relax and enjoy being pampered knowing you are in the safe hands of a professional with results that will make you look and feel amazing.

MONDAY, 18 APRIL 2011

Vintage wedding style

 I have just finished a trial makeup for a bride-to be in London and the look she has chosen for her hair and makeup is stunning. It balances her 1930's style vintage wedding dress perfectly. Her figure is slim and tall and her long brown hair and big brown eyes lends to  the look perfectly.
Here is some Vintage inspiration.

Marion Davies Vintage

Diane Kruger  Modern

Audrey Hepburn Vintage

Bridal Modern

Marilyn Monroe Vintage

Bridal Modern

Silent movie actress Vintage

Jessica Alba Modern

MONDAY, 11 APRIL 2011

App bug reported!

Over the weekend we've had a couple of reports of our application not downloading the makeup data correctly, this appears to be restricted to users with the new version of the iPhone software. We are looking into this problem and hope to have more information shortly.

WEDNESDAY, 6 APRIL 2011

Wedding season

It's wedding season and my diary is starting to fill with dates and locations from elegant English houses to wistfully stunning vintage tea parties.
Each bride is unique yet one thing that seems to be the same for each is the desire to look and feel the best she possibly can.

Not every one has the budget for a professional makeup artist on the day but there is plenty of great advise, features and tutorials at Makeuptagg.

THURSDAY, 24 MARCH 2011

Iconic Beauty- Elizabeth Taylor

Elizabeth Taylor in 1954. 'That girl has true glamour,' said Richard Burton. 'If I retired tomorrow, I'd be forgotten in five years, but she would go on forever.'

WEDNESDAY, 23 MARCH 2011

Is Your Makeup Past It's Sell By Date

HOW DO I KNOW IF I NEED NEW MAKEUP?

THE PHRASES "SELL BY DATE" AND "SHELF LIFE" WOULD MAKE MOST PEOPLE THINK ABOUT THE CONTENTS OF THEIR FRIDGE NOT THEIR MAKEUP BAG.

YOU WON'T FIND A USE BY DATE STAMPED ON THE BOTTOM OF YOUR FOUNDATION AND IT MAY LOOK AND SMELL FINE BUT BE CAREFUL IT MAY BE HARBOURING GERMS WHICH CAN CAUSE SENSITIVITY RESULTING IN BREAKOUTS OR EVEN INFECTION.

DON'T PANIC! Most cosmetics don't breed bacteria easily as they are packed with preservatives.So how do you know when to bin it? It does, of course, depend on the ingredients.

Here are some guidelines for cosmetic product shelf life:

Oil Free foundation	1 year
Moisturizing/cream/compact foundation	18 months
Concealor	1 year
Powder Loose + Pressed	2 years
Blush Cream + Powder	2 years
Eyeshadow cream + Powder	2 years
Eyeliner	2 years (sharpen pencils regularly and if you get an eye infection bin it!)
Mascara	6 months tops ( this is the worst culprit for harboring germs). Never share your mascara with anyone, and if you get an infection or a stye replace it.

Of course we all need to economize, so to avoid throwing out half used products that don't suit you, download Makeuptagg from the iTunes App store and follow our personalized makeup choices. Along with these product shelf life guidelines, your makeup bag will be organised, extremely flattering and germ free.

The above are guidlelines, always follow the manufacturer's recommendations. The FDA has no set requirements for cosmetic use by dates in the USA. Each manufacturer has its own rules. In the EU, this is regulated byEuropean legislation.

THURSDAY, 17 MARCH 2011

What Lipstick Colour Suits You?

Many women assume they can't wear red lipstick but thats not true. You just need to find the right one. The same goes for any other lip colour. If you wear the right tone it will enhance your complexion and make your eyes appear brighter. The first step is to know your skin tone.

To find out if you are a warm or cool skin tone there are a few simple tricks. 

Take a look at the colour of the veins beneath your skin, on the under side of your wrist. If they appear blue you have a cool skin tone. If they appear green you have a warm skin tone. If they are bluey/green you are in the mixed category. 

Alternatively hold a piece of white paper next to your face and look in the mirror. If you notice pink/blue tones in your skin you are in the cool category. If you notice yellow/golden tones in your skin you are in the warm category. If you notice a mixture you are in the mixed category. Remember just because you have an olive or dark skin colour this doesn't necessarily mean you have a warm skin tone and if you have a fair or beige skin colour your skin tone is not automatically cool. 

Use our find your phenotype tool on the Makeuptagg iPhone app for a more accurate conclusion.

TUESDAY, 15 MARCH 2011

How much do you spend on makeup?

As a jobbing Makeup Artist my yearly makeup budget can often be the same as the cost of a small family car. I decided to do a little digging into how much the average woman spendson makeup.

The average spend in a life time on makeup alone is £9000

This breaks down as the following:

1. Mascara         £2,291
2. Foundation    £950
3. Lip Balm       £500
4. Eye Liner      £500
5. Concealer      £500
6. Lipstick         £1,077
7. Blusher         £500
8. Eyeshadow   £1670
9. Powder         £500
10. Lip gloss     £500

MONDAY, 14 MARCH 2011

How To Look After Makeup Brushes

After a long days filming I have often used dozens of brushes and have to clean them repeatedly. For every day use you don't need expensive brush cleaners to keep your makeup brushes looking and feeling like new. Wash them regularly in a mild shampoo then use a small amount of conditioner to keep the bristles soft . Lay them out flat and re shape the bristles if necessary. Then allow to air dry.

WEDNESDAY, 2 MARCH 2011

Smokey Eyes

After seeing fiery red lips taking center stage at the BAFTA's and the Brits, it was smokeyeyes that were trending at this years Oscar ceremony.

There are many interpretations of the smokey eye makeup but the essence of it is a  smudged, dark or intense colour around the entire eye to create a sexy and sultry, unstructured look. The level of intensity can be as subtle or  bold as you wish to be.

Luxury- Laura Mercier Custom Compact

Mid Range -Christian Dior 5 Colours Designer

Budget- NYX cosmetics 10 Colour Eye Shadow palette 

The key for the perfect smokey eye is BLEND BLEND BLEND! or you could just end up looking like you've gone 10 rounds with  Ricky Hatton.

Stick with a nude lip colour for the perfect balance.

SUNDAY, 20 FEBRUARY 2011

BAFTA winner

 This is the time of year when we see all the award ceremonies within a few months of each other. With the glitziest still to come. I wanted to take this opportunity to say a huge congratulations to Paul Gooch for winning the Best Makeup  BAFTA for his work on Alice in Wonderland. A massive amount of talent has gone into the makeup and hair on this movie.  Lizzie Yanni Giorgio was also nominated for her makeup and hair on Made in Dagenham.

Keep skin radiant this winter

Bitter winter winds and central heating can only mean one thing. Dull winter complexions! As the warm summer months seem far away, our skin can look dehydrated and quite frankly ...dull! Healthy, radiant skin is what most of us long for at this time of the year and with a little advice from makeuptagg you will soon be waving goodbye to dull and lifeless skin and saying hello to a new,radiant you!

Nothing can be more important than a good moisturiser. Not only does it offer the perfect base for your makeup, but will rehydrate dry tired skin. 


A complexion brightener  will bring an instant luminous glow to your skin for that extra magical shimmer!


Keep powder based products to an absolute minimum opting for rich, creamy illuminating foundations and cream blush. Not only will they keep your skin looking fresh and nourised but give you a softer look.


Our makeuptagg experts recommend applying a little coloured lip balm just before you finish off with your favourite lipstick.




We all know the importance of keeping our skin hydrated so ensure to drink plenty of water....you will be amazed at the difference as you turn dull winter skin into a radiant year long complexion.