When I was invited to be part of Charlottes photoshoot for 'Stanley and Maud' Personalised Jewellery, I couldn't be more excited! Its so much fun working with a lovely girly team and of course having beautiful jewellery to browse through and admire.

The feel of this shoot was very relaxed, which fitted perfectly with Lowestoft beach as the backdrop. Makeup was of course done by myself and i wanted to create  flawless glowing skin on all my beautiful models, but also keep the feel of the makeup relaxed to match in with the rest of the shoot. 
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Here is a before and after of one of my lovely models. 

As you can see we created an even flawless base and also a new brow shape. No heavy contouring or strong colours, everything was kept soft and pretty.

I was lucky enough to work with these two beautiful ladies on this shoot..

Charlotte of Stanley and Maud- www.Stanleyandmaud.com
Georgia Rachael - www.georgiarachael.com
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Here are my 5 top tips on how to prepare for your makeup trial...

1- Think about what you want
This may seem obvious but its really important. When you have an idea in your mind about the makeup style that you would like for your wedding day, then finding the right makeup artist for you will become easier. 
​Consider how much makeup you wear on a daily basis to determine how much makeup you will feel comfortable with on your wedding day. If you don't normally wear much makeup then you may be shocked at how that full glam makeup look that you've pinned a thousand times looks on you. Discuss with your MUA how you normally have your makeup, do you like a heavy coverage or more sheer, do you prefer dramatic eyes or a bold lip? Your wedding day is not a time to try something drastically different.

2- Bring photos
Some images on social media these days have been edited too such an extent that skin close up, no longer looks like skin, and this isn't real life. Photos can be a great help but only if you can pin-point exactly what you like about the image i.e. the strong wing liner, the natural coverage, etc. Do remember your MUA is probably meeting you for the first time on your trial, so have no idea how you usually wear your makeup. If there is something that you always do, such as wear a black eyeliner then do say so, as you will want to feel like you on your wedding day. Keep an open mind and don't stress if you can't find any images of makeup that you like, as once you have chosen an MUA who's work you love, then leave it to us to do what we do best! 
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​3- Wear your hair in a similar style to your wedding day.
When you have your makeup trial remember that your makeup will be out of context. No doubt you won't be wearing your wedding dress or having your hairdresser work her magic before you have your trial, so bring any earrings/jewellery or wear your hair in a similar style, all these thing will help you to visualise better how your makeup will look on the day.

4-Prep, Prep, prep!
Schedule appointments for facials in the lead up to your wedding day, get your eyebrows shaped by a professional, drink lots of water and nourish your skin. Give yourself plenty of time, the last thing you want to do is spontaneously book that spray tan you've been thinking about a few days before the wedding and regret it!
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​5- Enjoy!
Remember Makeup on your wedding day isn't going to be your typical 'day at the office' makeup and you may have never had your makeup done professionally before, so do embrace the experience. Try a lip colour that you wouldn't normally wear and have fun. If you and your makeup artist get on well, you should feel comfortable with telling them what you do or don't like about your makeup, which will ensure that after your trial you will feel totally reassured and excited for your wedding day!

Beautiful Bridal makeup starts with good skin. As an MUA I often get asked by my clients for skin care advise, so i have put together Some of my top tips on how you can prep your skin for a flawless makeup application.

1. Hydrate
Increasing your Water intake, aiming for around 2 litres a day is key to keeping your skin healthy. When your skin is hydrated it looks plump, radiant and smooth whereas skin lacking hydration can have texture, like fine lines and wrinkles. 

2. Swap for Green Tea
Drinking Green tea daily has many benefits for the skin, its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties make it great for brightening our complexions and reducing acne. 

3. Don't pick!
This may seem obvious but as a makeup artist i have been asked many times, 'what can I do if i get a spot on the day?' Firstly do not pick, as most breakouts can be covered but not if they are cracked, sore and weeping! I would suggest to dab some benzoyl Peroxide gel directly on the blemish overnight, this will help to dry it out. Redness from blemishes is easily covered so try not to stress.
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4. Exfoliation
Exfoliation is key to flawless makeup application! Removing dead skin cells creates the prefect canvas and whether your skin is oily, dry or sensitive there will be an amazing exfoliation product out there for you that will work with your skin. Exfoliating your skin around twice a week in the months leading up to your wedding day will also help all your other skincare products to be absorbed in to your skin and therefore give you the best benefits from all your other products. 

5- Lip Balm
Don't forget your lips in the lead up to your big day especially if you are opting for a bold lip colour. Apply a lip balm throughout the day to keep lips hydrated and exfoliate your lips also to take away the dead skin- just using your toothbrush for this will work. 

6-Moisturise
moisturising your skin will really help in achieving a bridal glow. Don't forget to  moisturise your body and hands too.

7- Power food
Diet always plays a huge part in our skin and to glow on the outside you have to make sure you are feeding your body well, here are some key foods that will help achieve a bridal glow-
Avocados- Superhydrating superfood when it comes to skin!
Broccoli- full of antioxidants and high in Omega-3
Tomatoes- antioxidant
Eggs- Protein helps repair cells that have suffered free radical damage
walnuts- Rich source of Omega 3 for shiny hair and smooth skin
Berries- Helps to heal and prevent broken capillaries 

I hope you find these skincare tips helpful! read how to prep for your bridal makeup trial here.