A promise

Today's post is not a picture post but more a few thoughts and a promise to all my future bridal bookings out there.

Today I have heard of two make-up artists and hairstylists cancelling on their brides. One I heard of today cancelled this week and the bride gets married Saturday! 

I can honestly say it would have to be very extreme circumstances for me to not honour a booking or have a back-up plan for the bride. It brings me back to a few years ago now, where I managed on the way to a big wedding, trap two of my fingers on my left hand in the car door. Luckily it was my left hand I suppose. I didn't even hesitate- I ran into the petrol station where I had managed to do this, begged the very scared man behind the counter for bandages- wrapped my fingers really tight and on I went to the job. There was no question I wasn't going to make it (had it been my right hand it would have been more difficult, but I would have tried my best!) I worked on 6 lovely ladies for this wedding- I think through pure adrenaline I made it through!

For most brides, hair and make-up is extremely important to get right. The blasé attitude of some "artists" shocks me. To cancel on someone and then not even try to help them find replacements is really unforgivable.

So here's a promise to you all that I will always endeavor to honour my bookings and where circumstances were impossible, I would do everything in my power to get a replacement artist in place.

A spotlight on...

This Works

I love love love This Works. I've been a fan of them for a couple of years now, but it's been in the last year that I've really gone crazy for them! They are a natural beauty and skincare brand and their products are to die for!

Here are a few of my highlights; 

Clean Skin 5 in 1 Cleanser

This cleanser makes your skin look and feel amazing. It contains Rosewater, Olive & Almond Oils and Wild Water Mint. My skin always feels fresh but not tight, looks healthy and slightly glowy after using this. It's great for someone like me who wears full make-up every day and it's excellent for sensitive skin as it is very gentle- it even removes my mascara with a couple of wipes with a dampened cotton pad.










Deep Sleep Pillow Spray

I've previously talked about this lovely product on my blog, but it is just so good I have to mention it again- it's been particularly useful recently as both myself and my husband have had very restless nights sleep- with either one of us unable to drift off easily. It contains Lavender, Vetivert and Wild Camomile. It's unlike a simple lavender spray, the vetivert in there really brings another layer of earthiness. 

It's currently out of stock on their website but I urge you to give it a go if you have trouble sleeping. If you want a double hit, I would recommend their "Sleep" Mini solutions kit, which comes with a mini pillow spray and a rollerball of "Breathe In"

 Enjoy Multi-Tasking Lotion

This is just a fantastic multipurpose moisturiser to use all over. It has a beautiful scent and leaves the skin moisturised without being greasy. I have used it on my face but would probably stick to using it on my body as I do prefer to use a face specific moisturiser. 

It smells of Rose and Tuberose and I am a sucker for a rose scented body cream- especially one like this which smells fresh and vibrant rather than that older lady perfume smell!

It also contains old favourites Shea Butter and Aloe Vera to moisturise and sooth the skin. As you can see in the picture it is currently free* with purchases over £40. Considering it's worth £25 it's a real bonus!

If my words above don't convince you, then you should also know that This Works products are free from phthalates, sulphates, synthetic colours and frangrances, parabens, GMO's, mineral oils, petrolatum and propylene glycol. They are also made without tests on animals, or use animal by-products or hormones so a great product for vegetarians, vegans or anyone with a conscience really ;)

New favourite products & HD Brows take 3

So I've just been tonight for my third HD Brows treatment tonight and these are the results. Below you can see with and without eye make-up. I think there's a real marked improvement since my last post in terms of the even shaping on both the brows. As you can see the shape is starting to look more symmetrical. I naturally have one eye-brow that sits higher than the other, but Camilla has been working on my shape so that it is less obvious.

Make-Up (in this photo above)

Lancome Photogenic Lumessence

My absolute new favourite foundation from Lancome in Shade 01. I love the finish this gives in my skin; radiant and picture perfect, it gives a medium coverage and little goes a long way. Give it a try if you're looking for something new!

MAC Pro Longwear Concealer

I swore for years to not use MAC, I didn't agree with it's ethics and I still think a lot of their products are highly over-rated. However I was at Auckland airport in December at 11.30pm waiting for a very delayed flight to Hong Kong. The only make-up counter that was open was MAC and I was desperate for a decent concealer. I use shade NW 20. I actually love the way this blends and I use it everywhere I need a bit of extra coverage! Again a little goes a very long way. Not saying I'm totally converted, but I'm warming to MAC slightly ;)

Benefit Thrrrob Blusher & Givenchy Le Prisme Blush Bucolique

I layer the two together to give a warm pink glow- Benefit Thrrrob is a subtle baby pink that warms the skin and the Givenchy blusher just gives that gentle pop of fuschia pink.

Illamasqua Liquid Metal - Electrum

I used this as a primer over my eyelids. It's a deep metallic gold which provides a great base for my bronze smoky eye. Gorgeous colour!

MUA Professional- Undressed Eyeshadow palette

I used various shades of smoky bronze blended up and out from my lash line to create this smoky look, finishing with a wash of nude highlight over the top. This palette is my every day go to- from nudes to shimmering bronzes, matte brown's and gun metal greys- it has a great choice. 

Kiko Kajal Khol Pencil no. 100

An inky black pencil with a very similar texture to the arabic khol- I used inside the upper eyelid to define the lashes 

Kiko Super Colour Eyeliner in Shade 110

A metallic purple liner which I've just used to line right along the lashline- super long lasting and very easy to apply

Pixi Eye Bright Liner

A must have for any make-up bag- peachy nude liner you use to line the inside of your lower lashline- gives you a bright eyed look even when terribly hungover!

Lancome Hypnose Star Mascara

When I first tried this, I wasn't sold as I thought it was quite a thick formula and I don't normally go for those types of mascara, however the more I have used it, the more I love the look and shape it gives my lashes- builds volume at the roots and coats the lashes from root to tip in a very deep black colour. (I know I sound like a mascara advert but this really does what it says!)

Lancome Juicy Tube

I used shade number 15 in Cerise for a touch of glossy pink

Other products you can't necessarily see are Kiehls Lip Balm #1- the best for my dry and cracked lips in winter. Hydrates them instantly and keeps them feeling soft all day.

Also a fantastic serum recommended to me by my wonderful friend and beauty guru- Amanda Bell. 

Sophyto Tocotrienol Super Skin Concentrate. I've been using this for a couple of weeks now and I already see a difference in my skin. I use it every night before bed and my skin looks so much healthier when I wake up!