Up Up And Away

ummmm, it's only taken 3 years for me to put finger to key board and get back on the blogging train,
i guess time passes by, and with 3 children and a full on career painting faces around the world, i just haven't had much time, but with a brand new Mac Book Air at my fingertips there's no more excuse,
I'm writing this new post from my hotel room in Cape Town,
I've just traveled for around 16 hours to get hear, and quite honestly feel like crap, but as is the nature of my business, this is not an option,  so I'm going to give you a few of my favourite top tips, and products that will help get you through a long flight, be it for a holiday or business, even short flights can take their toll, here goes,
1, I ALWAYS check in on line, this gives you the option of choosing your favourite seat, ok not my favourite as that would be right at the front of the plane, but the best you can afford, i love a window seat, as i like to rest my head, and for some reason i feel secure by the window,
2, Clothing,  a cashmere scarf, The White Company do fabulous scarves, they are huge and well worth the cost, and so much nicer on your skin than a plane blanket, i also have a few pairs of there socks that i like to wear during flights http://www.thewhitecompany.com/clothing/nightwear-and-slippers/cashmere-bed-socks/
i always remove my shoes, ballet pumps are great for flying, easy to slip on and off, forget laceup's they take way too long at customs to remove, and I've never understood why women wear heels to fly,  you'd only have to remove them in case of emergency.
3,Makeup & Skin, i prefer to add a little makeup just before landing, but i never leave the house without Clinique CC cream, it leaves a lovely glow, is light on the skin, and evens out skin tone
http://www.clinique.co.uk/product/1599/25255/Makeup/Foundations/NEW-Moisture-Surge-CC-Cream-SPF-30-Hydrating-Colour-Corrector/index.tmpl
Burts Bee's do the most wonderful lip balms, they also have a little tint in them, full of goodness and perfect for brightening up your face, post flight, they are also very hydrating

 i also carry samples of my favourite perfume, don't forget to ask for one when your next making a purchase,
Go easy on the carbs during a flight, I once heard a rumour that they put ''stuff'' into the bread rolls to stop you using the toilet, thats why its important to stay hydrated, to avoid any bloating or constipation !
hand cream is a must for me, flying really dehydrates my skin,
at the moment I'm using Clarins Hand & Nail Cream,
and thats pretty much it, along with a few downloads on my computer, and a stash of magazine, i like a combo of trashy, interior & something a little grown up, like Vogue, or Porter Magazine,

I hope with these few little tips you'll have an enjoyable flight, don't forget cream blusher when you land, great for disguising a pale tired complexion, just dab a little on the apples of your cheeks.

BACK STAGE AT LONDON FASHION WEEK PAM HOGG AW11

Yesterday i headed the makeup team for the Pam Hogg AW11 collection, i had a team of 9 amazing girls working with me, And as much beautiful MUA makeup that a girl could ever dream of. Last season Pam decided to double her models, i wasn't taking any chances this season and extended my team from 6 to 10 ( including my self )
I had no i no idea we would all be squashed into a room the size of a moderate bathroom,
just as well, they were sweet girls, everything was going to plan, models were on time, the atmosphere was chilled, but deep down i knew this was the quiet before the storm ( having worked on Pam's last show) and there was always a catch, no way could we be this lucky and expect such a chilled show...
Everything changed when the lady her self entered back stage, i was met with screams of the makeup not being right, i think one models eyebrows were 1 mm thicker than the models brows i had used in my initial trial, this enraged the designer, and needless to say, things didn't get any better, i have never been so screamed at and humiliated throughout my life, my main priority was to keep my team happy, ( who were all too nervous to leave the makeup room )
one of the very high profile models was sobbing as she had been so humiliated by the designer, i threw my arms around her, wiped away her black inky tears and kissed her on the forehead, i  knew exactly how she was feeling, i too had been humiliated through out the show, there was one point when the designer no longer wanted me to head the team, and appointed one of my assistants, this was humiliating for everyone, but we just got on with what we had to do, and took it professionally not personally,
At one one point my lip brush was hurtled across the room, and I lost count of the amount of times I was told to move and get out of the way, despite having a job to do and models to make up.
At one point I was sticking lashes on a models eyes whilst she was getting dressed, not ideal, but we managed to make it work.
Sadly the whole of the back stage area was turned into an arena of criticism and conflict, the designer didn't enjoy her moment, and pretty much all the team were left feeling deflated.
I've worked with some tricky people in my time, but this for me was a first, to be so shouted at an unappreciated has left me feeling saddened by the whole episode.
give me a tricky photographer or a moody model any day, but what ever you do
NEVER give me Pam Hogg !

ALL MAKEUP USED WAS BY MUA ( MAKUP ACADEMY ) AVAILABLE AT SUPERDRUG.

LIFE THROUGH A ( CONTACT ) LENS

Spring fresh eyes

It’s time to come out from hiding under that duvet and ditch the winter warmers as Spring has arrived. That fresh-faced look awaits you, with iridescent golden glows and spectacular eye makeup being seen all over the Spring 2011 catwalks. Bold technicolour hues are the shades of the season which calls for a dramatic overhaul to most of our daily routines. In order to exude confidence whilst showing off your new look it’s important to make sure you choose the makeup that’s right for you.

But sometimes for contact lens wearers, getting that new look isn’t as straightforward as you’d hope. Warmer weather, higher pollen counts and a quandary over how best to apply your new Spring makeup without irritating your eyes can all present problems. Help is on hand from the team at GetLenses.co.uk with a series of top tips for makeup application for lenses wearers.

1.       Know when to put your lenses in: With a strong prescription you’ll need to put your lenses in before applying your make up to see what you’re doing. But as a general rule, apply your overall make up first, put your lenses in, then apply mascara and eye liner

2.       Stop the smudges with waterproof eye liner and mascara

3.       Hypo-allergenic will always be kinder to your eyes. www.getlenses.co.uk offers a range of eye care cosmetics (http://www.getlenses.co.uk/solutions-eye-care/eye-care-cosmetics.html). These products are ultra-gentle, formulated uniquely with non-ionic tensio-active ingredients, with a pH identical to tears and suited to even the most sensitive eyes and particularly for contact lens wearers. Mascara and eye liners coming soon

4.       Cream v powder: A cream will always go on more easily and be better than a powder if you’re wearing contact lenses as the particles go everywhere. Even the smallest amount of powder dust can cause severe irritation if it gets under the lens

5.       Careful how you take it off: First step, take out your lenses. Make up removers with alcohol in them are a no-go, choose something kinder to your eyes and opt for lint-free not cotton wool pads as the fibrous material can be really abrasive for the eye. Alternatively, consider using optical sterile wipes (either Supranettes or Lid Care wipes) – although designed for special eye conditions, they are now widely used by many lens wearers.  Pay closer attention to removing make up and lenses if it’s late at night and you’re tired. Pay just as much attention to cleaning your lenses as you do to your face. If they’re reusable and you’ve been wearing heavy makeup, be sure to give them an extra rub, rinse and thorough soak over night

So, feel confident this Spring with the new technicolour and dazzling hues, even when wearing your contact lenses. http://www.getlenses.co.uk/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_content=&utm_term=get lenses co UK&utm_adused=5481910532utm_campaign=101

PLUS SIZE

LOOK.....this is my niece, she is a size 14,  just goes to show, CURVES ARE SEXY....

oh and whilst we are on the family matter, here is Rudy my dog, star of February issue of Cosmopolitan.

Lingerie

Arhhhh so many different ways to shoot a Bra, here i have examples of  two lingerie shoots that i did hair and makeup on, one was photographed by a woman, the other by a man, always interesting to see how the photographer is going to make the magic happen. Both have a very different feel as does the hair and make up,
i'm loving them both.

SADDLE UP AND RIDE YOUR PONY

They say never work with kids or animals, apart from when the animal is Prophet, Shelly Vella's very own thoroughbred
here he is in all his glory gracing the fashion pages of Cosmopolitan Magazine

LUCKY SHOT

One of my favorite pictures is this one that was taken by my husband in our back garden, we had set up to do a beauty shoot. Our model Lenka was 16 years old, from Russia and traveling alone, I managed to make her laugh, and it was that moment that makes this picture so special. I did invite her round for a BBQ the following weekend as I felt sorry for her being alone and away from her family, needless to say, she never showed up.....