Wedding Makeup - The Bride FOTD

Back in September I was in California for the wedding of one of my best friends. In the months coming up to the big day she asked if I would do her wedding make up. She explained that she'd done a couple of trial runs at MAC and said she never was that impressed with what they had done and felt I'd done her makeup just as well, if not better, in the past. Of course in the first instance I felt incredibly flattered of her to ask me but on the other hand I felt very nervous about the whole thing! Yes I love makeup and I feel pretty confident these days doing my own makeup and doing my friends' makeup for events or nights out..but this was something so much more important! I am definitely no professional makeup artists and this I would be one of the biggest days of her life...god what if she didn't like what I did!?

Anyway after an initial freak out moment I remembered, this is one of my best friends and I know what she likes and dislikes and she is certainly NO bridezilla so I went back to feeling super honoured and now also excited to be able to be part of her wedding in this way!

Luckily she had a pretty clear vision of the makeup look she wanted for her wedding day; natural, glowing and pretty with a bit of sparkle but making sure she still looked like herself! We used products by MAC cosmetics that she had chosen with a MAC makeup artists during a previous trial run so it was really great to have such clear instructions to go by. I was still a little nervous on the day but in the end it was so much fun to be there to help her get ready, do her makeup and make her feel beautiful on this special day. Not that I really had to do that much because I think she is the most beautiful woman (inside and outside) already!

So now without any further a-do; here comes the gorgeous bride!!!

(No photoshop or editing used....doesn't she have the most amazing eyes?)

Products used for this FOTD:

♥ Face:
MAC Prep + Prime line filler (link)
MAC Prep + Prime Primer (link)
MAC StudioFix Foundation
MUA Bronzed Perfection (as seen here)
MAC Powder Blush - Melba

♥ Eyes:
MAC Saddle eyeshadow (gold orange brown/matte) - all over lid
MAC Downbrown eyeshadow (teddybear brown/veluxe) – blended into crease &lower lash line
MAC Tan Pigment (muted pinky brown bronze) as seen here– applied to middle of lid
MAC Fluidline in Dipdown (flat brown) – applied along lower lash line only
MAC Zoomlash mascara

♥ Lips:
Chanel Rouge Allure Extrait de Gloss in Imaginaire (56) as seen here

The bride was pretty happy with her look I think ;)

Doesn't her hair look amazing? I loved the romantic but fun twisty half up-do!

The above photos were all taken by me on the day. Now below are some official wedding photographs by Stephanie of Creative Photography Inc. It really was such an amazing day that I will remember forever....

Getting ready, walking down the beach 'aisle' and the kiss!

The "I do's" :)

The beach was the perfect backdrop for their Californian wedding!

Some fun group photos after the ceremony!

At the wedding reception. The dress code for the wedding was 'summer chic' so I decided on this fun turquoise dress I got in Paris over a year ago (as seen here). Makeup wise I went for a bronzed golden look using my Estée Lauder Island Oasis eyeshadow palette.

This is probably my favourite photo of the couple; it shows true happiness, love and fun which I hope their marriage will be filled with for the rest of their lives!!

Lulu & Will; I love you both so much and I'm so happy that I was be able to be part of your special day!
Friends forever ♥

What do you think of my first official bridal makeup FOTD? Xoxo

Reflects Antique Gold Glitter Smokey Eye =

A few weekends ago I went out in London and decided to go for some SPARKLE!!! 

♥ Face:

Mix of Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation with MAC Studio Fix Foundation in NC20

Bourjois Healthy Mix Illuminating brush concealer

MAC Sheer Mystery Powder in Light Medium from the new 'Marcel Wanders collection'

Shu Uemura Bronzer in Dark Bronze to contour
MAC Blush in Warm Soul (one of my favourites, review here)

MAC charcoal brown eyeshadow to fill in brows

♥ Eyes:

MAC paintpot in blackground (base)

MAC Copper plate eyeshadow (crease)

Urban Decay Naked 2 palette - Blackout eyeshadow (outer V and lower lash line)

Urban Decay Naked 2 palette - Bootycall eyeshadow (brow bone highlight)

NYX Jumbo Pencil in Milk (tear duct)

MAC Vanilla Pigment (tear duct op top of the white eyeliner)
MAC Glitter - Reflects Antique Gold (applied on the centre of the lid)

MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack (waterline)

L'Oreal Super Liner (upper lash line)
NARS Larger Than Life Volumizing Mascara

MAC Reflects Antique Gold is one of my favourite MAC Pro products! The shade is a beautiful dusty brown gold glitter that looks like diamonds on your lids. This glitter is more fine milled than MAC's regular glitters and therefore manages to look more 'natural' and gives your eyes an elegant 'bling' factor instead of looking like cheap chunky child-like glitter.

You do need a good base to apply the glitter onto to ensure it sticks. I often use use a MAC Paintpot  (Blackground in this look, but you can use any kind of creamy based eyeshadow) on the lid and then gently pat the glitter with my finger op top. Yes there will be some fall out, but hey it's glitter you are working with so that is to be expected.  You can also use this glitter as a eyeliner or all over eyeshadow for a more 'foiled' look if you apply it wet with a mixing medium (like MAC Fix+).

I just adore this glitter! It adds a very sparkly amazing pop to your eyes and a little added pretty WOW factor for a night out :) I used to buy 1/4 teaspoon samples online (via eBay) of the glitter until I managed to order a full sized jar in via a pro MAC store. A little goes a long way so even a small sample will last you ages and I am sure my full sized jar will provide me with a lifetime full of sparkle!

Here I am with my girls at Beach Blanket Babylon sipping cocktails!

(their Pornstar Martini is just delish - they serve it with a shot of Bubbles on the side, need I say more?)