Thursday 3 May 2012

Freelance!


Had the absolute pleasure in doing Miss Ailie's makeup for her wedding day for herself and her stunning bridal party. Clearly, she only hangs out with models... ;)

Products used for the day for Ailie were:
Face & Body Foundation
Moisture Cover concealer
Mineralise powder
Peaches blush
Eyeshadows: Tete a Tint, Texture, Embark and Naked pigment (also used for facial highlight)
Fluidline Blacktrack
False Lash mascara
Fling brow pencil
And shygirl on the lips.

The bridesmaids used the same products, but I adjusted the style according to their own and the features.

Face & Body Foundation and some Sculpt.
Moisture Cover concealer
Careblend powder
Blushbaby blush
Eyeshadows: Vanilla, Naked Lunch, Haux, Emabrk
Blacktrack
Opulash mascara
Syrup lipstick
Naked pigment as highlight
Spiked, lingering and fling brow pencils.








X

MBFWA- Australian Fashion Week

WOW so, WOW. How cool is Australia, right?! Now that Ive been working at the PRO store Ive been lucky enough to be surrounded by some of Australias best makeup artists.. and those that were selected to be apart of MACs Fashion Week Team. Sadly, I wasnt on it this year but Im so proud of the kids that are.. cos they are doing some amazing stuff!!

With MAC doing the makeup for more than half the shows its great to see some really lovely makeup coming out. And lots of it is definately proving to the rest of the world- oz has def got its own style and vibe; whilst still holding their own against the heavy weights.

First show up was ROMANCE WAS BORN and Pauly B and Keira were amazing!! The look was all centered around Marvel Comics involvement with the brand- with their much more wearable collection complimented with flaming neon orange hair and structurely comic-y makeup.
 Key Artist Natasha Severino described the makeup as  "superhero and otherworldly with a sexy modernist twist," .



The team used Fix + Spray and Strobe Cream to prep the skin, Face & Body Foundation teamed with Studio Finish Concealer as the base, with Careblend powder (my fav!) and Prep & Prime Transparent Powder to set. On the eye was simply Cyan Blue Chromographic Pencil and on the lips was a mix of Red & Crimson Lipmix!

Brows were kept clean and brushed up. Pretty much, on trend with the 'Neon' element with very clean and uncompromised skin.

Amazing hey?

At MANNING CARTELL, Key Artist and Lara Bingle's number one man Max May won over the MAC team with his chilled, friendly approach. The makeup is inspired by Frida Kahlo and hot mexican summers. The models channeled the "wet-looking" skin thats trending at the moment with soft washes of colour all over the eye, withe the only structure coming through the brow..

Manning Cartell's glowing fiesta femmes

The MAC products used were Face & Body foundation with no cheek colour, just the Gloss Texture Creme as a highlight. On the eyes was the new Extra Dimension eyeshadows we have out at the moment, in Havana, a pigment pearly highlight in the eye corner and a bit more of the gloss creme.
The lip were knocked of the colour, with the Lip erase balm applied all over to put emphasis on the eyes and brows.

BY JOHNNY had the mac kids raving! Cool edgy makeup teamed with Amber D's awesome keying- the makeup looked brilliant. A really boyish yet non-androgynous biker eye complimented the glowy, clean skin! Cream Colour Base's were the product of the hour- heavily used on the face and eye.



MAC Products Used are Face & Body foundation, Cream Colour Base in Antique Gold on the eyes, played with Steamy eyeshadow. Another highlight was used in the eyes corner and a soft brushed up brow using Clear Gel.

Ill post some more info on other shows over the next few days!

x

Wednesday 2 May 2012

Eye Creams

Why hello! Man, Im so sorry for being a little creep, hiding in the corner.. guess theres been so much more going on in oz than I had planned and with all the settling in.. I just have been raped of all drive for my fav thing in the world and thats this blog!!

So apologies for the halt in production, so to speak.. but after all thats going on with me- Ive been moved to the MAC PRO store on Chapel St which is really rad and then we have moved into our own digs FINALLY so thats been a mission setting up all our stuff again! On top of all that, freelance has been going gang busters! Having lots of fun with many a pretty bride, fiancee and lady with their special day..

With PRO Ive been lucky enough to do my first Logies makeup and my first Miss World contestant.. Ill put some photos up as soon as they come to me!

But! With all this fuss, the reason Im back on is because y'all have been on my back about eye creams!! SOOOO many of my clients ask about them.. is it necessary? are they worth the money? which one does what? what do I need to do with it? So I thought.. let me get onto it and blog about it!!

Its one massive thing Ive noticed since coming back to oz.. how textured the aussie lass' eye area is. Everyones great with getting on down with face creams, cleansers and serums but not so much the eye creams. And I have to say- this is the one area women should be focusing on the most! You have to remember that the skin in and around the eye is exceptionally delicate.. and with the skin being so thin, fine and soft it has a much different way of acting then the rest of our skin.

With all the sun and all the laughs we have in our life, the expressions we show on our face everyday eventually have a "scarring" effect on the skin (we know these as god damn wrinkles..). So everytime we squint, scowl, laugh or cry.. our skin in a microscopic way is getting a flogging...

So lets talk about the different problems women have with their eyes....

DARK CIRCLES

A massively big problem for most women with yellow based skin is the purple/blue tones under the eye. A really big problem for asians in particular. I have talked in previous posts about how to colour correct these but in this post its how we can combat the issue!!

With those with pink based skin you will find you get redder, more violet tones around the eyes. Whenever these tones are present it will make you look tired and run down- trust me-it happens to all! And when we look tired, it dont help you feel any more awake ;)

Dark circles and redness around the eye are cause by a number of factors- lack of sleep, poor nutritional habits, aging and skin pigmentation. For non-eyecream help the best advice I have is to place a cold compress on the eye like a cold cloth or a pack of frozen vegies.. or for a more "beauty treatment" feel- cold cucumber slices. Anything cold will constrict the blood vessels that have risen to the skin surface and make them less visible (thus removing redness!). Also use sunscreen around the eye to stop the sun increasing the shade of the pigmentation.

Best eye creams for dark cirles are:

CHEAP- Olay Eye regenerating cream (has niacinamide to help reduce discolouration) $25
REASONABLE- Estee Lauder Idealist illuminator $100
SPLURGE- Creme de la mer Eye Balm Intense $270


PUFFINESS
Puffiness is your bodys way of telling you that it cares kids- so dont punish it by hating it- just work out how to tell it that your ok! Your eyes become puffy when the skin feels its under attack (from lack of sleep etc) so fluid then fills the space to "protect" the eye. Your friends in combating this issue, is the good old trusty cold compress- again. But also CAFFEINE!!
 
Caffeine helps constrict the bloody vessels and telling them to chill the hell out!!
 
Best eye creams for puffiness:
 
CHEAP- Garnier Ultra Lift Anti Wrinkle Cream $15
REASONABLE- MAC's Fast Response Eye Cream $55
SPLURGE- Creme de la Mer The Eye Concentrate $350
 
WRINKLES & SAGGING SKIN
 
Oh, come on! Youre definately not the only one! Wrinkles are something we all have to watch kids. Its just gonna happen.. But, it can be slowed down- and that means sunscreen, suncreen, sunscreen!!
We need to keep the hydration and collagen levels in our skin up, so that when we squint or show expression the skin has the capacity to handle such movement!
 
Collagen is SO important for our skin and our bodies! Its the protein that serves a key structural component of connective tissue; the mesh that holds us together and the more collagen the more strength and resilience your skin has!!
 
CHEAP- Liquid Vitamin C (avail at health stores) and suncreen!! $20
REASONABLE- Nutrogena Anti Wrinkle Deep Wrinkle Eye Cream $32
SPLURGE- Lancome Paris Renergie Microlift Eye R.A.R.E. $135
 
 
Added notes... Those with dry skin.. get as much hydration into the skin as you can and go for the topical liquid vitamins on the eye! Vitamin C, E and A!
 
Phew!!
 
Well I hope this is the kind of information you were after ;)
 
YAY! heres to more and more posts from me.
 
Love you all xx
 
 

Sunday 25 March 2012

Cults - Abducted

Saw these guys when they supported The Drums a month or so back at the Forum.
Kinda liked the eclecticness of their sound!

X


Wednesday 21 March 2012

We'll grow old.

In a world of crazy, hectic moments.. seemingly constant and neverending, there are moments of pure and clean simplicity. Be it a glimpse of clear blue skies through the office window; the smell of your neighbours mowed lawn; a song that calms the weariest of days or a uncompromised moment of trusted and natural coversation, ending in laughter- life makes sense again.

Strip it back to basic, real and truthful and the fog begins to clear; your day has new found meaning. This is me everyday, and everyday it takes that one moment for the fog to dissipate and for me to get what I want in this life in a way that I know Im going to enjoy it. ONE moment, ONE smile, ONE idea, ONE hope, ONE song, ONE minute -  in ONE day.

My inspiration lately has abandoned my thoughts, but stripping things back and clearing my thoughts will bring me back. Even listening to the beautiful song below, accompanied by a really lovely video has helped. Im a sensory girl. Get me some tunes, on a sunny day in a natural setting and I'm pretty much set for life.

But for now, until that moment surprises me- I believe I have some stripping to do....

Enjoy x



Tuesday 13 March 2012

missed this shit.

Wow, this has been crazy! Since leaving our wee little flat in London in October last year it has been go go go. FINALLY we are in our own place in Melbourne! Internet connected yesterday and I can finally get back into what I love most- researching and expressing my passion for beauty, fashion and art.

So! Apologies for the delay and let this be the last time I break from blogging!

So, if you have been wandering what I have been up to in my little makeup world- check my tumblr page out.. I post all my own looks from counter and also some of my freelance work.

Enjoy xx

http://hilaryholmes.tumblr.com/

Sunday 22 January 2012

Rainbow L.O.V.E








Its taken me a couple of months to stumble on these images from November's ELLE Brazil, but worth the wait ;) Perfect.

FACE & BODY

In a world of beauty products, piled high from counter to counter, no decision is easy. And I relate the task of hunting for a new foundation like going jeans shopping- post a 4kg gain... head spinningly confusing and nothing seems to fit.

But lucky me, I have had to learn  what are the questions you should ask, but more importantly what questions the ARTIST should ask. Here are some below...

1. What type of skin have you got? (dry, oily, dry-normal, oily-normal, dry-oily tzone)
2. How would you like the foundation to look? (dewy, matte or inbetween)
3. What kind of coverage are you after? (full, medium, sheer)
4. What are you currently using and what do you want to change about how it acts?

These questions will mean when you come to the decision of what foundation to choose, you know you have chosen one that fits you. Too many times do I see clients coming in confidently saying "My friend uses Studio Fix Fluid and she looks amazing. I want it!" Well, Im sorry to burst the bubble in which you had hoped that upon application, you too shall look like your model-looking, perfect skinned girlfriend.. but it doesnt work that way!

You may have completely different skin to your friend and so what looks good on her- not so much on you, unfortunately! She may answer the above questions very differently remember.

But! The purpose of this post was to RAVE about one particular foundation, which could solve your confused state of mind and knock out all the above questions... leading you to ask only this-
 "What shade of MAC's Face & Body foundation am I?"

Face & Body is the staple foundation in my kit. I use it on all skins, for all different effects, all different events and for all different ages. It doesnt complain (go cakey or make pores more visible), it's buildable, looks AMAZING on everyone and can give you a dewy effect or with a sweep of powder post application- can be turned matte.

So, next time you march forth to find your new saving grace, the product that hides your Monday-itis or covers your stressed out chin (you know the ones girls- hormonal pimples..ugh.) makes sure you set your sights for a MAC PRO store and beeline towards Face and Body. You'll love me, but maybe your hot friend wont. Now that she'll be wanting the skin your in.



X

First Aid Kit



Nice tunes from this swedish group..

X

Saturday 21 January 2012

Fast forward.

If your like me and surround yourself with trends, fashion shows and stylised peeps you may have a tendancy to be kinda over everyone looking different.. and all end up looking the same.

I LOVE trends but its overwhelming..Its easy to lose your own sense of style and in a place like Melbourne where everyone climbs over "being cool" you either have to forget all about trends or just do your own thing. I think thats the one big thing I miss about London; the guys there wore a style because the felt like it represented them, looked good on them and individualised them.

So, if you want to know how to impress a makeup artist, set yourself away from the rest and give yourself a look which not many would wear...heres a list of some ideas...

- MATTE BROWN LIPS


Donna Karen S/S12: in fact, this entire look- keyed by Charlotte Tilbury, is incredible...

- A PERFECTLY ARCHED, BOLD BROW.. CLEAN AND SHARP



- NATURAL WET/DEWY SKIN



Alexander Wang

- LASHES


Rooney Mara at the Golden Globes 2012.

X

Sunday 15 January 2012

Lashes, through my eyes..

It seems like the rest of the world may be slowly coming aroud to MACs way of thinking! Its all about the lashes. I have to be honest, I wasnt that big a fan when I first started working on counter.. purely because Im more of an artist who loves to create on others, not necessarily on myself. Im kind of a natural girl. But of course, when you start having to wear so many looks, day in day out, you tend to get a little addicted to certain finishes a product may give.

And thats where lashes come into play. I think they seem daunting for most people, especially when you have to apply them yourself.. but get shown once and you know the score. It may take practice, but the look will make you want to perfect. Once on- WOW!

So, I think when you ask yourself what lashes would suit me, I get that its really daunting having to choose.. So lemme break it down for you. Always adjust the density of the lash to suit your own.

If you have naturally long lashes, which are quite fine- then go for a pair that are long and thick (to add volume throughout the lash), if you have no lashes or very fine/short ones, dont go too crazy, they need to look naturally pretty remember! If you have thick but short lashes, add a bit of length to improve the overall look of the lash..

Now onto eye shapes!

If you have small eyes:

You have to be careful.. if you have a heavy brow- you need to make sure the lashes arent too long, otherwise they will hit your hair line! Go for a pair that are not too winged and not too long. Make sure they are slightly longer towards the outer corner though, this will pull the eyeshape outwards.
Good to use:
Natural: #32
Smokey: #4
Dramatic: #3 or # 2


#3's

If you have round eyes;

Like me, if you have round eyes, you want to manipulate their shape so they look more almond. So go for a pair that wing out. My favourites are:
Natural: #4 or #20 for a slight flick at the ends..
Sexy: #36 or #12
Dramatic: #44


Miss Piggy gets her own MAC Cosmetics collection

#36's

If you have Almond eyes:

Well firstly, I hate you. haha! When it comes to makeup- your eyes can work any look and any lash!
So go for gold.. its all about the look you want to create.
Natural: #7s are one of MACs most popular lash. They look weird on the plastic, but on theyre great.
Smokey: #36
Dramatic: #12


# 7's


If you have Asian Eyes:

I have so many asian clients that come in, wanting a beautiful lash but find it hard not knowing what will best suit them. The best lashes to go for are the shorter ones, so they dont hit too high on the brow. MAC lashes #31, #32 or #7s!


#31s

And then, after all is said and done and you still seem to be stuck- pop into MAC!

X

GOLDEN GLOBES

Really interesting red carpet for the 2012 Golden Globes. A mixed bag of colour and shades, styling and hair & makeup.

Makeup seemed to be nude/natural vs soft smokey eyes.. Very much still supporting the trends which are about.

Some of my favs:



Love the Nina Ricci dress, clean sleek hair accompanying the busy dress and the makeup- stunning. Not trying to compete with such a statement dress.. the skin is beautifully porcelain with very little cheek colour; the eyes have strength through the lashes but not too over done; and of course how could such a beautiful look be complete without a strong, but subtle brow. LOVE.



I love Clare Danes' tailored monochromatic dress, teamed with a lovely smokey eye and stain of berry red gloss on the lips. I maybe wouldnt have gone for that particular choice of lip colour.. but beautiful nonetheless.



Sophia Vergara showed off the curves that made her so famous, in, what style of dress seemed most popular at this years awards. All works well, and Im happy she went with simple straight hair and again a soft smokey eye and a softer pink berry on the lip.



Nicole Richie shows us how to wear metallics right. A really sexy neckline, shown off perfectly with her long (god bless extensions) hair, beautiful accessories and the makeup.. well... hawt.

My favourite out of the lot, with a really sexy twist on the smokey eye. Really allowing the eyeliner to dominate the look, comapred to most who let the eyeshadow do the talking. Working this look with gorgeously bronzed, contoured skin makes it all work- without it all looking too much.

X

Sorry friends..

Hello gorgeous people,

Sincere apologies for my absence! I can say with ease that December was a manic month for the MAC crew at Myer Melbourne. Full on hours + all of what you would expect with summer socialising madness! That plus plenty of freelance.. I have been a busy woman!

Good news on a MAC front, I was given the role of Product Specialist- which is amazing! Im in charge of inspiring the team, updating everyone regarding new collections, products etc and organising on counter trends, themes and styling... Just my kind of job! Couldnt be more excited.

Also, if you have the time and the funds ;).. please run as fast as you can to a counter to grab some items from the Gareth Pugh collection (extremely limited stock produced, so get in on the day!)  and also the Iris Apfel collection which is coming out in Feb has AMAZING lip colours. All bright, and different textures (some mattes etc), a collection which suits Australian trends.






The packaging for the Pugh collection is AMAZING! So much different from what we have ever had. Heavy metals, leather, patents..

I have set alot aside for myself- cant wait to buy it!!

Iris Apfel : the queen responsible for massive fashion movements (jeans being one..)


Iris Apfel Collection lipsticks...O.M.G


Iris Apfel's Makeup Line For MAC: FIRST LOOK
So, heres so an amazing 2012! I have alot of goals that I want to reach and I cant wait to achieve them. Hope you enjoy a year of many posts from me,  H I L A R Y H O L M E S !!

Love xx