Help cosmetic brand Benefit raise money for Refuge & LGFB charity sunday 8th May 2016.

Two amazing charities who directly help and support women in vulnerable circumstances.  As a very long-term volunteer with the Look Good Feel Better charity I’ve met and worked with many people who categorically say it helped them to full recovery. Including a top oncologist who herself was diagnosed with breast cancer and after attending LGFB workshop realized that the after care is as important as the treatment.  It’s about the whole person when you’re in recovery and these workshops have real positive psychological impact on all the women involved including the volunteers. In the past I’ve helped raise £20,00 for the LGFB charity at the Royal Opera House with Jamie Coombes, Dior’s international make-up artist. It meant a lot to me to volunteer my professional skills and it was a lot of fun.

So now its your turn to help Benefit raise money and the profile and of these two charities that directly helps women in very difficult circumstances. Whether it’s domestic violence or helping those recovering to full health after being diagnosed with cancer.

There are three ways of getting involved. Either make a donation if you cant be there, book a brow wax at one of their 140 + stores (where you will receive a free Gimme Brow worth £18.50), or join the march on Sunday 8th May 2016 in London with a donation of £10 and receive £20 worth of make-up goodies. Bring your mums, sisters, cousins, friends, family anyone who cares as much as you do about other women’s lives who need our moral and financial support.

Here’s the route online…Bold is Beautiful... You can donate here and find out further info about the campaign. This is the second year it’s running.

The start/finish is in Cavendish Square behind John Lewis in Oxford Street, London W1.  Denise Van Outen will be heading the campaign and they’re hoping for at least 1000 people attending the walk.

For me these two charities do make a real difference to women’s lives here in the UK..  Bold is Beautiful.…10am registration the walk will be in two waves 11am & 11.45am further details online Benefit March sunday May 8th 2016..…hope to see you there..

Reasons to love Eco Tools Complexion Collection Make-up brushes.

I’ve been meaning to write about these brushes for ages. I’ve had the pleasure of working with these Eco Tools make-up brushes from the Complexion Collection range on lots of occasions. They’re a permanent part of my make-up brush line up. Here’s some of the amazing benefits you’ll get from these brushes.

1. Firstly they are synthetic so completely bacteria free.  I’ve heard of serious staphylococcus infections through real hair make-up brushes infecting broken skin after sharing dirty brushes with friends.
2. These brushes are easy to wash and very quick to dry.
3. No malting hair so preventing any getting stuck to the face.
4. These brushes offer a sturdy and directional application whether you’re using cream or powder, great for contouring, blusher and eye shadow and good for body painting.

Further info on Eco Tools and available to buy online here at Boots UK  

Australian brand Nude by Nature’s answer to natural mineral make-up.

The name NudebyNature conjures up thoughts of  the outdoors and reflects the concept of this beauty brand.  I understand from my newly discovered extended family ( who happen to be make-up artists) and live close to Melbourne Australia, say the brand widely advertised on infomercials. That’s an advertizing term i hadn’t ever heard before.  However i had the chance to try these products for myself at the event with journos Rebecca Barnes and Karen Heath at the London Launch in the Charlotte Street Hotel.  I have to say i  liked the consistency of the liquid foundation as it smooths over the skin so easily and naturally.

I met the Global Brand Ambassador & fellow make-up artist Clint Dowdell where we exchanged some friendly banter.  This make-up range is easy going for those of you looking for a simple choice while enhancing the skins complexion. The description of each product below is true to expectation which is refreshing.  There are no harmful ingredients or parabens and the foundations are available in mineral and liquid consistency.

The range includes a line up of eco friendly synthetic brushes. This makes them bacteria free, soft to touch, easy to wash and dry. There’s something for everyone here and works for the lightest of skin tones to the darkest.

Brush Set, £50 with pouch.

Individual brushes range from £16 to £25.

Radiant Loose Powder Foundation, 10g, £25, Flawless Pressed Powder Foundation, 10g, £25, Luminous Sheer Liquid Foundation, 30ml, £25.


Perfecting Concealer, 5.9ml, £20, Matte Pressed Bronzer, 10g, £22, Natural Glow Loose Bronzer, 10g, £18.
Mattifying Pressed Setting Powder, 10g, £22, middle Perfecting Primer, left 30ml, £22, Cashmere Pressed Blush, £22.
Translucent Loose Finishing Powder, 10g, £22,  Sheer Light Illuminator, 30ml, £18, Sheer Light Illuminator, 30ml, £18.
Prices start at £18 click on the link  Feelunique.com to find out further details.

100% Vegan & Cruelty free Nanshy Make-up Brushes.

I’ve had the chance to try out these brushes and really enjoyed working with them. They are soft, hold the colour well and offer a reasonable amount of control on the skin. The added bonus is that they are cruelty free and have the backing of Peta.org which means for sure they are 100% vegan. I would highly recommend these brushes if you’re starting out as a newly trained make-up artist and need a good set of brushes to get you going.  They offer many other products in the range including brush rolls and other great make-up brushes for your kit. Being Synthetic they rarely shed hair, unable to absorb pigments so bacteria free, easy to wash and dry very quickly.  The line up of brushes above are  The new 12 piece Masterful Collection £49.95.  This is the link to their site and recommend you take a look around.

Nanshy make-up brushes.