Me, the Make-Up Artist

If you've ever read my blog before, you would know that I am also a make-up artist. I've haven't talked about it much on here before, but I felt my blog just wasn't complete without regular posts about make-up and beauty stuff. After all, it it a part of my life that I really love, so why not share it on here? So here's a little about me...the Make-Up Artist...

I am a professional make-up artist that has worked in the make-up industry for over 21 years (I’d like to say that I started when I was 5, but that would be a lie).I was trained by the brilliant Rick Findlater (Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, King Kong, Last Samurai…to name a few) Starting out working in the film, fashion & tv industries and then went on to run a small make-up academy, with many students going on to successful make-up careers with credits including Star Wars, Matrix, Scooby Doo, House of Wax, Bait, Hercules. I am also very proud to say that one of my students (and good friend), Mark Cleary recently was given an Emmy honour for his work on the Speilberg/Hanks series “The Pacific”. (you can read about that here) Nice one Markey!

Eventually, I decided to “hang up” my brushes for a while to start a family (aka the pickles).

I couldn’t stay away for long and  have had the pleasure to work with hundreds of Brides, bridal parties and  family and friends for their weddings and special, red carpet occasions. The “special occasion” make-up has always been my favourite area of make-up to work in.

So much has changed since I started in make-up, with cosmetic companies getting better and better with their products and formulas, to the styles and looks of the moment changing and bouncing back time and time again. When I first started, Kate Moss was an unknown and no one had even heard of a GHD!! MAC was impossible to buy in Australia and you were lucky if you had a friend or relative going on an o/s trip so they could get you some goodies. Today, it’s as easy as a few clicks and a credit card. Maybe that’s a good thing, because when I first started, I wanted EVERYTHING IN MY KIT and it weighed a tonne, but as time went on and my experience grew, I realised it really was quality over quantity. I still WANT IT ALL today, that hasn’t changed, but now I am much more selective of what goes in.

If you’d like to learn about the tips, tricks and techniques that I have learnt along the way, plus reviews on products that I love (new and classic) then stick around, because I’m going to share them with you.

By the way, a lot of make-up pictures that you'll see on this blog have had some photographic processing (I don't own photoshop but I do use picnik.com to edit stuff), mainly because I don't own any fancy lighting equipment and this program helps me A LOT. My clients are kind enough to let me use their images on this blog and I want them to be reassured that their photos look great..and if this means some tweaking, then so be it! I love playing with the editing, it's just an extension of what I do, you can get some great effects and have a bit of fun with it. For anyone who has a problem with that, then I suggest you might enjoy other blogs that are a little more raw than mine. And if you have a negative comment about my work, then please try to find the courage to leave a comment that identifies who you are and not some anonymous dribble. So in saying that, this IS MY little blog and My little space on the net and I WILL be expressing myself and my work in a way I choose. So there ...lol xx

 All product reviews and suggestions on this blog will be from my own opinions and will not be influenced in anyway by another party. I will give you my honest opinion about what I use and recommend, but they are my opinion and may not suit everyone. No 2 faces are alike, so what looks good on one person will not always suit another. I believe that you, (the reader), should always test products (especially anything that will go on your skin or near your eyes), for sensitivity or allergic reactions. Always do a patch test and follow the manufacturers instructions. If you’re not sure, then don’t use it. All products in my kit are purchased by me, with my own money. If a company sends me a product to try and I review it on this blog, then I’ll let you know. OK?

Please feel free to leave your comments (I LOVE getting them) and also leave any suggestions or questions you might have.  I’ll try my best to answer them quickly.

See you on the red carpet!

{how to} Smokey Eyes & Red Lips

Time for a little festive glamour. Red lips and smokey eyes are a favourite look at the moment, so I thought I'd share with you the steps and products that I use to create the looks below.

If you want to know a little more about me, the Make-Up Artist (click here).

Always make sure you have no moisturiser on your lids as this will prevent the make-up from adhering properly and you'll end up with that yucky creasing. I don't know about you, but I have enough creases in my life without creating new ones...lol. I like to use a wet wipe or cotton pad with a little toner on it to swipe over my lids...and then let it dry.

1. Blend a primer or eye base over the lid and blend it up towards the brow. I like MAC paint pot in Painterly.

2. On the lids, pat on a light, silvery eyeshadow. Through the crease and outer corner and using a small brush, pat on a deeper shade and blend a little to soften the edges. I like Revlon Colourstay Eyeshadow Quad in Sandstorm or Sterling Rose.

3 & 4. Pat on the lid/inner corner some loose dust in a shimmery silver or beige with a fluffy eyeshadow brush. I like Gorgeous Cosmetics shimmer dust in Suede & this eye shadow brush from Make-Up and Glow (online store)

5. Take an eyeliner pencil and smudge it along the top and bottom lashline. If you like you can apply it to the waterline too (inner lashline). I like iINK Liquid eyeliner pencil in carbon black by Gorgeous Cosmetics. In 21 years of being a make-up artist I have NEVER found anything like this...it's AMAZING!!!!

6. You can curl the lashes first and then apply 2 coats of black mascara (I use waterproof for bridal events...for obvious reasons). I like Maybelline Great Lash Mascara Waterproof in very black.

7&8. Apply strip lashes or 4-5 individual flares to the outer corner of the lashline using black lash glue (my fave). I like MAC lashes and Duo Adhesive from here or here.

9. Shape your brows by using little hair like strokes with a good brow pencil in a similar colour to you eyebrows. I like Gorgeous Cosmetics Nouveaux Brow pencil.

In case your wondering, I always do the eyes first and the rest of the face second. I find that if I get fallout or smudges (and I often do), then it's easier to clean up the skin before the foundation is applied. it just keeps everything fresher.

For the face.

1. Apply a primer all over, except for the eyes of course. I like Face of Australia primer.

2. Apply your foundation with a brush or sponge to achieve the coverage you need. I like Graftobian HD foundation pots. from Make-Up & Glow.

3. Using a small brush, apply concealer where required (if needed at all). I like Ben Nye concealers.

4. Apply loose powder with a big fluffy brush to "set" the foundation. I like Derma Colour fixing powder (waterproof) Your foundy's going nowhere one you apply this!!! Trust.

5. Now apply a little blush on the apples of the cheeks and some bronzer in the hollow of the cheekbone, blending up toward the temple. Less is more and it's much easier to add that to remove! I like Nars duo blush in Orgasm/laguna.

For the lips

Line your lips with a red lip pencil and apply a shimmery lips gloss in clear or a favourite red tone.
I like NYX lip pencils, Rimmel lipgloss (from Kmart or Priceline) in Forever Yours and Dior Addict lipgloss (which I used on the bridesmaids and I don't think you can get the exact same colour anymore...boo), but the Rimmel one was a close match.

Edit: I've just found the name and number of the Dior gloss it's called 

Christian Dior Addict Ultra Gloss #851 A Relish of Berries. 

Hair by the fabulous ladies at Hair Meleo.
Go "like" them on Facebook and tell them I said "Hi"

Finally, set your make-up with a mist of MAC Fix+ and you're good to go.

What make-up do you recommend for this festive season? I'd love for you to share in the comments.

see you on the red carpet!

{recipe} 3pickles Christmas Cocktail

Looking for a quick, simple, delicious cocktail (or even mocktail) for Christmas time?

Like watermelon & raspberries? 

Bit o' lime? 

Bit o' fizzy?

Bit o' Vodka??

alrighty then.....

 3pickles Christmas Cocktail

in a blender add :
1/4 watermelon
1 cup raspberries...fresh or frozen
1 cup ice
1/2 cup Schweppes Lime Juice Cordial

now blitz it!

strain into a large jug

add vodka

pour into cocktail glasses

top up with chilled Schweppes Soda Water

enjoy !

linking to