Being my first post as a makeup blogger, I thought what better place to start than the basic’s! For flawless makeup application, a makeup artist can need a little help from you  - the bride!

When the skin is maintained in good condition, hydrated and well cared for, makeup application is a joy for any makeup artist.  Even the best makeup artist is not a magician, but we do have some great inside tips and secrets that help us and you look your absolute best for any special occasion!

Skin-wise there are many factors we have to contend with – with our Irish weather, winter heating and sitting by the fire, to air conditioned offices, and talking walks on our beautiful but somewhat breezy Irish shore lines, our skin can take a real battering. Normally we don’t even notice until we’re going out or have to look at ourselves in the mirror, up close and personal…….oh, and then you notice the lines, crow’s feet, even age spots…need I go on….. so there are many external factors that hinder our skin care routines. Not only that, but we all have different skin types, from oily to dry and sensitive – there’s just so much to think about!

You may not know it, but oily skin types are very lucky as the oil content will keep them looking more youthful for much longer than the rest of us! For now we’ll look at dry/dehydrated skin types – don’t panic though, I’ll discuss skincare for oily skins in a separate post.  So how do the rest of us combat the simple things, like skin dehydration, dry patches and dark circles – these are skin problems that are easily remedied with a few small steps.

No1: Drink H2O – WATER!!! Its kinda obvious but drinking water will not only rehydrate your insides, but it also hydrates the skin.  Its important to help the transport of vitamins and minerals to all parts of the body, plus it also removes toxins that can cause though dreaded dark circles! Cell regeneration will in turn be fast and effective and hydrated skin will look plump and youthful and will have a glow, unlike that of sluggish poor circulated skin tone.

No2: Skin Care Routine – Twice a Day Cleanse, Tone & Moisturise.  Again some of you pro-skin maintainers may laugh at such an obvious tip, but being a makeup artist, the first thing I ask a person on inspecting their skin before makeup application, is about their skin care routine.  At least 3-4 out of every 10 brides, do not moisture and a cleanse is a quick wash with their shampoo in their morning shower!  Generally someone with this type of routine will be very dry skined, and lines and furrows are very evident with this type of poor skin care regime.  Not only that but they may have a tendency to high skin colouring and sensitivity.  Makeup will sit and clump in dry patches….not at all attractive, and most clients will say that makeup never sits right for them or that their skin feels irritated! Again, this will be a job for a makeup artist, even with the best products and kit. So get your skin care routine up to speed girls! CLEANSE, TONE & MOISTURISE…..not all skin types need toning as some toners contain alcohol which will strip the skin (so keep this in mind when purchasing).  Go to any good skin care specialist for a consultation.  Most counters will do this for free and the result is that you’ll buy the correct combination of products that suit your individual skins needs.  A good brand that I would also ask clients to look into is ‘La Roche Posay’  - great on sensitive skin types especially, and even for some skin conditions – be sure to check skin conditions with your GP before purchasing products as even a small ingredient can cause some conditions to really flare up!

No 3: EXFOLIATE!!!! I cant reiterate how good a once a week exfoliation is for your skin! Buy a product that is a facial exfoliant – not a body scrub (too abrasive for the fine skin on your beautiful faces!), pop it in your shower tray (so you’ll not forget), and once a week give yourself a mini-facial – treat your skin!!!  The shower is an ideal place to exfoliate for all you gals on the go – WHY??? Not only will you have no excuse to forget to exfoliate, but your skin will be nicely prepped due to the steam of your shower. Using a small amount and in circular motions, exfoliate the skin, paying particular attention to area’s pron to dryness eg around the nose, between the brows, sides of cheeks.  Your pores will be enlarged and open with the steam, blood flow to the skin will increase thus increasing cell renewal and removal of toxins (dark circles) and this is due to the the circular massage movements you’re creating when exfoliating.  In turn dead skin will be removed and washed down your shower plug hole! Remember, don’t over do it…we don’t want you coming out with carpet burns…also an unattractive look! Woohoo, almost there now!

No 4: Mositurising with an SPF!  As we get that little bit older, we begin to notice the little crow’s feet turning into large gorges on our faces – how to combat this….be sure to use a moisturiser with an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) – even in our wintery days, you can get sun damage whilst out for a quick walk! I would recommend wearing a moisturiser with an SPF of at least 15 in winter.  Even your teenagers, starting them off with a good skin care routine is one thing they’ll thank you for when they’re all old and less wrinkly than the rest of their friends! I myself use Trilogy Daily Defence Moisturiser with SPF 15 in winter as its a wonderfully luxurious moisturiser in the cold and protects me against unseen sun rays etc.  In summer, I generally go for a lighter moisturiser with an SPF of 30, and on holidays or in the sun, I go all out on a sun screen! Makeup can be applied just as you would normally – there is one slight down fall to moisturisers with SPF – some come off a bit greasy and even sweaty….try and test a few and you’ll get the right one for you! Rome wasn’t built in a day girls!

Remember, all these tips are free and recession proof and can be done by you, DIY style from the comfort of your own home!  Added tips that you can also look into are:

• re-hydration masks (very nice after exfoliation)
• eating your fruits & veggies for that healthy glow and of course
• and…lets not forget exercise!!!! Nothing gets those juices flowing by getting your legs out in the cold and building up a sweat! That deserves a nice hot shower to de-stress and unwind (not too hot mind as this dries out your skin and hair)!

Now, I think its time for my hot chocolate and a good episode of Grey’s Anatomy!

Happy re-hydrating girlies – Kerry X