Happy Halloween – Gothic Glam Make-up

I love getting dressed up for Halloween. This year, I’m off to Gustav Fring’s funeral (Breaking Bad fans know) as Lydia Rodarte-Quayle.

Lydia

If you’re avoiding the madness and just planning a few spooky cocktails, I have the perfect make-up look for you. I debuted this one at a recent Little Black Dress party. The dress is the Diana and the choker is this season’s New Look – it only cost £12.99 but it gives enough goth to be more than convincing, in my opinion. I only realised afterwards, but it reminds me of Bond girl Severine’s look in Skyfall (topical).

 Severine

Me!

Here’s how to get the make-up look – let’s call it ‘Gothic Glam’:

-Cleanse, tone, serum, moisturise (I love this Vichy range at the moment)

-Use a dewy, fresh foundation like Clarins Skin Illusion – my shade is Honey – all over

-If they get oily, prime your eyelids – like much of the UK population, I like Smashbox primers

-Sweep a warm mid-brown over the entire lid and define with a cooler, darker, more earthy tone. I used Mac eyeshadows in Cork and Brun

-Line your waterline with a black kohl pencil and use black liquid liner into and above the upper lashes

-Curl your lashes and apply lots of volumising black mascara (and lashes if you fancy)

-Define your eyebrows with something a shade or two darker than your natural shade – mine is Lingering by Mac

-Use a peachy/pink blusher to stop the look from looking too flat. I like Orgasm by Nars

-For the lips, I used Mac’s Film Noir, a deep chocolaty shade. If you know you will only wear this once a year (ahem) then maybe use a dark brown eyeliner over the whole lip and follow with a light gloss to stop your pout from getting too dry

-Finish by powdering away any shine from the T-zone

Voila – go and enjoy your Bloody Devil, you earned it…

Here's my face enjoying itself at the Little Black Dress party with mate Saz

And here it is, along with the rest of my body, with the lovely LBD girls

Rainbow Eyes: Inspired by Chanel

Months have passed since the show but I’m still obsessing over this incredible Chanel Spring Summer 2014 catwalk make-up. Decided to have a go myself. I wanted to create something which was a bit more wearable (not hard!) that I could try for a party. Quite enjoyed the nails too; a good way to while away a quiet afternoon. Mmm nail art.  

I used this amazing Sephora palette! 

And a YSL black eyeliner. Got my eyebrows done at Benefit, Carnaby Street before embarking on this one! 

The nails were a few different shades by a few different brands - experiment! 

HQ Hair and Nars

Last Tuesday I popped along to a brill event for HQ Hair and Nars. Along with drinks and nibbles, we were treated to a consultation with David Scheffen, a lovely Nars make-up artist. He taught my friend Sarah (www.orfalseglitter.blogspot.com) how to create an alternative eye for the daytime (she, like me, is guilty of sticking to a sweep of liquid eyeliner) and he showed me how to achieve a glowing variation on my usual look. He used the St Barts Multiple to highlight and contour, Nikel powder to even-out my complexion and Nepal eyeshadow (a warm, dusky pink). The product that really brought my face to life had to be the Orgasm blusher. Perhaps the brand’s best PR-ed product, Orgasm is championed for good reason. Its peachy tone and shimmering flecks make it an unbeatable glow-enhancer. David explained that while he would have loved to show me something brand new, this colour was actually the best choice for my skintone.

You can visit www.hqhair.com to buy Nars products online.

My make-up look

Saz's make-up look

David the make-up artist


Saz being made up!

A Handy Look

Isn't this photo incredible? I was staring at it for about half an hour. I found it in quite a rubbish tourist guide book. She looks a bit like Florence and the Machine,, I really want to have a go at doing this but think I will need a model to do a good job. Any volunteers?!

Professional and Polished

Make early mornings a tiny bit more fun by working on perfecting your beautifully professional office look.

After creating a dewy base by priming (with Boot's Protect and Perfect Intense), moisturising (with Origins' Balenced Diet) and using Mac's Select Foundation, I then defined my eyes with Laura Mercier's Metallic Creme Eye Colour in Gold, lined them with Mac's Liquidlast in Point Black, added a light touch of golden sparkle (I used one from a favourite Dior palette) and then used plenty of Diorshow black mascara. A light slick of Dior's Lip Maximizer provides a brighter, more confident smile.

From bus to boardroom, this is my ultimate 'hardly any make-up, honest' face.