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Lipstick Queen as a lipstick brand is superb. I love the fun aspect of the brand, clever use of words and description by designer Poppy King plus her clever use of lipstick colours in matt, gloss and sheer textures. This season it is all about “strong lipsticks” whether it be in a bright orange, cerise pink, deep crimson reds. You may ask how can I wear such strong colours? Welcome to Lipstick Queen Chinatown Glossy Pencils. The packaging is inspired by Roman Polanski’s Chinatown movie. The pencils come in an array of shades with a jumbo sized pencil sharpener. My favourite colour...


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Over the last year I have been trying to decided what brand image to create for myself Jo Leversuch the founder, creator and director of Make-Up by Jo Ltd. I get asked on many occasions could customers book me for a private one to one make-up lesson and would I send them gift vouchers to the receiver of the gift.    This got my “grey cells” working and started to think about the type of gift vouchers to send out to represent my style and personality. In my life I have come across talented people and wanted to go back to some traditional designs for my business cards and gift vouchers. ...


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What a wonderful surprise I received the other day in the post ….. the brand new Aromatherapy Associates De Stress Massage and Body Oil. As a make-up artist I am standing on my feet for long hours, lugging my large make-up kit on locations shoots, lifting, bending and usually have aching muscles by the end of the day. In my spare time I like to practice Tai Chi and Pilates and I knew this oil was going to be perfect to unwind those aching muscles. I was eager to start trying this product and wanted to write this blog to let you know of all the benefits to the De Stress Massage and Body...


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A few weeks ago I had a phone call out the blue from Jen and Hils who were getting married in April 2014 at Middleton Lodge as they wanted to have their make-up applied on their wedding day. I had met Jen and her partner Hils the year prior at a wedding fayre at Middleton Lodge. In April 2014 the law had changed for same sex couples and now they had the chance to change from civil ceremony wedding to actually getting married on their wedding day. I am not sure but I think Jen and Hils were the first same sex couple to get married in North Yorkshire on 9th April 2014. Due to the time scale...


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I have been following Charlotte Tilbury for many years in the world of make-up and was so thrilled to see her bring out her own make-up range last year at Selfridges London. A quick dash to London to make some purchases (I prefer to buy direct so I can try the make-up on rather than order online).  Although Charlotte Tilbury website is so easy to use plus the website is full of brilliant ideas and advice throughout. Today my blog is on the Luxury Quad Eye Shadow Palette  Sumptuous, so easy to use with 8 palettes to choose from. The difficulty will be trying to decide which one you like...


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During the month of January I spent two days on location at a photo shoot with a team of photographers and videographer from CCAD ( Cleveland Art and Design) at Hartlepool. I was prepped beforehand regarding the looks that CCAD were trying to achieve for the Degree Guide. During the course of the two days we were in and around the campus at Hartlepool, on the beach and the famous HMS Trincomalee ship to find the right location for each image to suit the clothing.  All the clothing was designed by previous students from CCAD. All our  images can be seen in the Degree Guide and my work is shown...


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Wow, where do you begin choosing a foundation ? There are so many to choose from on the market from light, medium, matt, sheer, satin coverage but one of the foundations I always go back to, particulary for photoshoots for magazine, editorial, beauty shots is the Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation. Everytime I see Holly Hagan we talked endlessly about how fabulous the Illamasqua Skin Base foundation is….here's some of my latest work with Holly. My main reasons are: Extensive range of colours to suit all skin types Easy to apply with either fingertips or with a foundation brush to give...


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Once a month I meet up with the famous Holly Hagan from the hit MTV Geordie Shore series, which is airing Series 7 very soon. The photoshoot is to showcase Holly's latest collection with The Fashion Bible. This particular day we were shooting on location with photographer Jade Turnbull at the Ebony Champagne and Cocktail Bar in Durham. I have chosen some behind the scene images so you can see me applying all Illamasqua make-up on Holly before the shoot begins. Listed below are the products used on the day. Illamasqua Satin Primer Illamasqua Skin Base Foundation to highlight...


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What an amazing opportunity I had in February the chance to work as part of a make-up team headed up by Amanda Bell at London Fashion Week for Fashion Designer Emaliomada. The brief for the make-up was neutral skin foundation, brows to be defined with a straight masculine feel and lashings of reds, oranges and golds for the eyes with a final touch of nude lips. The location One Mayfair London. The images I have selected are behind the scene with me working with my gorgeous model   Full Credits to: All the images were taken by duo team by Carro Wynyard Fashion designer Emaliomada Here...


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I get requests all the time from brides who love the “smoky eye look” and clients who are having private make-up lessons often remark how they love the smoky eyes but struggle with what products to use. Last year I came across the Laura Mercier Caviar Stick Eye Colour for my own make-up bag , my favourite colour being Plum. These sticks are one of the easiest products to create smouldering smoky eyes and they are available in numerous different colours. The Caviar sticks are ultra creamy, long lasting, transfer and crease resistant, perfect for long lasting effect.  They can be purchased...


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