We said we would do smoky right? Well we did lovelies and we’re going to show you how you all can do it too…..

A sexy and sultry take on the peach make-up look, we’ve created a bronze/golden peach eye and lip, a delicate pink cheek and a flawless matt base. A little bit more va va voom than your standard W-day face but aside from perhaps the darker shading eyeshadow we’ve used – every product is still soft, pretty and perfect for alternative bridal beauty.

You Like?

Well then…. here’s what you need:

1. A matt finish no-budge foundation – we rate Christian Dior “forever” liquid
2. A bronze/gold/peach eyeshadow – MAC “Bronze” in THE perfect shade, it’s also lovely and sheeny without being glittery/disco ball.
3. A bronze/peach lip gloss – we used Christian Dior in number 227. It’s Melissa’s favourite.

Other cosmetics in the stash we used:

4. Chanel loose powder in “Peche”
5. RMK Ingenious powder cheeks in MT-02 Light Pink
6. Estee Lauder Disappear concealer
7. Max Factor False Lash effect mascara
8. MAC powerpoint eye pencil in bountiful brown (brown/bronze)
9. MAC Ricepaper eyeshadow ( peachy gold)
10. MAC lipliner in Sublime Culture ( pink/caramel)

Eye Eye Peachy Pie

Start by priming the eyelids, use concealer as before or if you suffer from the oilies Urban Decay make this MAGIC stuff called Primer Potion that doesn’t ruddy move. Really.

Apply a pale gold/peach shimmery eyeshadow, we used MAC ricepaper as a) It’s my favourite b) You can really build up the layers for amazing sheen effects ( we applied softly with a brush first then patted extra on top using fingers)

Next apply the bronze shadow into the crease, we used MAC pencil brush number 219 – this baby rocks for precision/ease of application.

After the crease is complete sweep the shadow into the outer corner of the lid and across the lashline, blend to create a seamless finish with the gold/peach shade.

Remove any shadow fall out with a Q-tip and a tiny amount of make-up remover and then apply your under eye concealer. We used a slightly more heavy duty one than normal as any sultry/smudgy effect can make the appearance of dark shadows more apparent.

Now the fun part – sweep the bronze shadow underneath the bottom lash line up to as far as the tear duct, for extra definition apply a kohl/pencil liner to the upper lash line, don’t worry to much about precision as next you are going to press the bronze shadow over the top and blend thoroughly – it intensifies the colour you see.

Lastly on the shadow front apply a touch of the gold/peach into the inner eye corners to really open them up.

There is one rule for mascara in this look – thick and lots of it. Use a curler and a comb for ultimate baby doll flutter effect.

The Perfect Canvas

Apply a matt medium to heavy coverage foundation using a brush or sponge – whichever you prefer, be sure to dot extra around any red prone areas such as the nose and blend, blend BLEND.

Although we like matt we don’t like dull so for a touch of luminosity we swept Chanel’s loose powder in peche over the entire face using a big fluffy brush ( it also somehow casts a pretty warm glow without looking as obvious as a bronzer – ’tis fabulous)

Blusher is minimal in this look, with such a strong eye and a substantial pout you don’t want to look too “made-up” so a touch of pale pink cheek is all you need.

The Bronzy Peachy Pout

Easy Peasy this, outline the lips in a soft pinky brown liner ( we love MAC cremesticks – so easy to blend) and apply your fruity gloss on top. You can use a lip brush if you prefer but as the colours are so neutral there really is no need, the brush on the Christian Dior gloss we used is actually pretty precise.

And Voila!

With huge thanks to my sister Melissa ( her website is under construction but you can see some of her portfolio/previous work in the photoshoot area)….. for being so patient whilst I made her hold her arm up in funny positions for significantly long periods of time

Let us know if you have bought any of the recommended goodies/re-created this look for the weekend. I am SO doing a peachy bronze eye this evening!

Big We Heart Make-Up Love

Charlotte xxx

P.S This may be very wrong what with being married and all but……if you fancy some man candy Melissa has been working on some seriously hot male models recently. See here . Happy Weekend

This was my favourite line from one of my all time favourite films – True Romance, a Tarantino classic.

Now this post isn’t an excuse to relinquish my teenage Christian Slater crush ( or indeed the secret desire I harbour to don a cow print skirt and bright blue cowboy boots a la Patricia Arquette)….it’s actually to pay homage to the mesmerising current beauty trend which is the juicy peachy lip.

At the weekend my sister Melissa “make-up artist supremo” very kindly paid a visit to the the O’Shea residence so that she could show me how to use my new peachy-hued products to their maximum potential. Armed with my trusty Nikon we also took the opportunity to give you lovelies a step-by-step demonstration so that if you fancied it, you could easily re-create the look at home.

You Like?

The idea was to focus on the peachy pout with a natural luminous skin, a delicate apricot blush and a soft neutral eye with extra-long luscious lashes.

The Essential Kit

1. A peach/pink lipstick – we used Chanel Coco Rouge in “Chintz”
2. A peachy hued gloss – we used Chanel Levres Schintillantes in “Petite Peche”
3. A warm apricot/pinky blush – we used MAC powder blush in “Pinch O Peach”

Other Cosmetics Used to Create This Look:

4. Lancome long-lasting softening concealer in “Beige Pastel”
5. YSL Top Secret Primer
6. Chanel Vitalumiere satin smoothing fluid foundation in ” 20 Clair”
7. L’Oreal Double Extension Mascara in “Blackest Black”
8. Burberry lipliner in “Nude Beige”
9. Nars eyeshadow duo in “All About Eve”

The Eyes

My sister and I always start with the eyes – that way any falling shadow can be swept away without disrupting your base.

Press concealer gently into dark shadows to disguise ( never ever rub), extend a small amount of the product to your eyelid as this will act as an adhesive base and prevent creasing.

Sweep a neutral gold/peach shadow onto the entire lid up to the socket line, if you would like a shinier/more pigmented look, carefully press the powder onto the lid with your fingertip.

The Longest Lashes

The trick to an extra long flutter is to use a fibre enriched base – these fibres cling to the end of your lash thus creating the wide-eyed bambi look.

Start by curling your lashes and then apply the base to your entire lash taking care to take the product right up to the tip. Afterwards apply a tiny amount of the base just to the tips again – remove any obvious white blobs with an eyelash comb.

Next apply the glossy black top coat, apply as many as you like – we just used one to keep the look “au naturel” and not take away emphasis from the lips.

The Luminous Base

Apply a primer to the entire face, we used YSL top secret which takes away redness and smooths the appearance of open pores. This was swept on using the applicator brush and then blended using a separate foundation brush.

Apply an illuminating foundation, 5 ten pence piece amounts is all you need, one on each cheek, the nose, the forehead and the chin, ensure the product is blended right up to the hairline and neck – the key is seamless!

Sweep a soft warm apricot blush onto the apples of the cheek and take upwards towards the hairline, add an extra application to the apples for a “pop” of colour if you really want to GLOW….

NB: We didn’t use a powder but if you suffer with the oilies a light application of loose translucent over the T-Zone should prevent excess shine.

The Sexiest Fruity Lips

Outline the lips with a barely-there pencil ( with a glossy look like this one a pencil will increase longevity)

Apply your lipstick straight from the tube – blend the lipliner into the colour with a lipbrush if there are any tell-tale signs of the outline.

Next the super shiny fruity finish, sweep the gloss across the entire lip then apply an extra amount into the centre of the bottom lip area to REALLY increase pout potential.

Et Voila!

Hope you like it

Any questions/ queries on application or products just drop us a comment.

Coming up later in the week – a sexy smoky bronze, gold and peachy eye teamed with a natural lip. ‘Tis gorgeous.

Big Tasting Peachy Love

Charlotte xxx

So a little while back I mentioned the luscious and luminous make-up that the model was sporting on our “Hats Of To You Pet” post and how if anyone was interested we would try and re-create it.

Now I don’t pretend to be a qualified make-up artist but I do have a genuine passion for the power of cosmetics, have been applying them to myself for over 15 years, been asked to do friends faces on hundreds of occassions and have a zillion “How To” books….. Oh and my sister is a professional make-up artist so I’ve picked up some handy tips and tricks off her along the way.

I can’t promise an exact replica – I have no way of knowing what products were used but we have had a bl*ody good go and my very kind friend and “model” Victoria looks particularly lovely, even if I do say so myself

Victoria before – looking pretty and “au naturel”

Victoria after – looking super pretty and still reasonably natural…

What we used:

1) Christian Dior Skin Flash Primer
2) Chanel Vitalumiere foundation
3) L’Oreal Touche Magique concealer
4) MAC eyeshadows in “Patina” and “Nylon”
5) Lancome Artliner ( liquid eyeliner) in brown
6) MAC blushers in “Well dressed” and “Pink Swoon”
7) Bobbi Brown lipliner in “Pale Pink”
8 ) Max Factor “False Lash” Mascara
9) MAC lipglass in “Wonderstruck”
10) The Body Shop clear brow gel
11) MAC strobe lotion

After priming all over with an illuminiser ( CD skin flash) dot the MAC strobe lotion on the cheekbones and across the bridge of the nose taking care to blend seamlessly into the skin.

Next dot foundation onto the cheeks, forehead, nose and chin – you can then use a foundation brush, sponge or fingers to apply, whatever you feel most comfortable with. I used fingers taking care to blend in downwards strokes.

For instant redness/shadow coverage I used L’Oreal touche Magique taking it right up to the lash line and on the eye lid as a base for eyeshadow.

Next apply a taupe/nude eyeshadow to the entire eyelid, I used MAC “patina” which is a creaseproof piece of neutral perfection that has a satisfying sheen. Instantly creates that “polished” look and takes half a second to swipe because of its divine silkiness ( um yes I have much love for this particular item… as you can probably tell)

After much outcry from the public Lancome have re-introduced the artliner – Hooray! I used the brown shade which is less obvious than black but still gives a subtle definition. If you struggle with liquid liner give this one a try – it is the easiest to control I have ever used.

To highlight and give eyes that whole “dewy” eye effect sweep a pale champagne/gold shadow under the lower lash line and in the inner corners of the eye, I used “Nylon” which is pretty universal in its greatness. I use it on just about everyone.

If you have really straight lashes use curlers to lift and really open up the eye, I didn’t on this occasion as I find this Max Factor mascara applied with an upward motion holds the lashes in place and seperates like nothing else.

Sweep a beige/pink blush from the apples of the cheeks up towards your temples and finish with a “pop” of a brighter hue just on the apples ( Pink Swoon works on virtually all skin tones)….this somehow gives an incredibly youthful boost and is apparently make-up artist Bobbi Browns favourite trick. And who can argue with Madam Brown?

Outline the lips with a pale pink almost “fleshy” coloured liner, I filled in the entire lip area for staying power and increased pout potential. I then topped with a brighter shiny melon/pink gloss for a sexy lustre.

Don’t forget to tidy brows – if you don’t have time for major pluckage a clear gel will make them appear groomed.

Et Voila!

You Like?

Would you like more of the same?

Let us know and I’ll see what “looks” we can create.

Big Glow Getting Love

Charlotte xxx