About forty thousand years ago I promised to write a post about the hair and makeup I did for my sister's wedding. Here it is! Sorry it took me so long.
My sister Stephanie is a girl who knows exactly what she wants. From early on in the wedding preparations, there were certain things she had a very clear idea of in her mind. For example, the last thing she wanted was a trail of bridesmaids in descending age and height following her down the aisle in identical dresses. In fact, anything too stylised was quickly put on the blacklist. Bouquets were to look hand-picked, groomsmen were to wear their own suits. In short, the vibe was to be sophisticated, but relaxed. Oh, and luxe. Luxe quickly became the watchword of whole affair!
Doing our own hair and makeup was something that definitely fitted into this plan. While neither of us are experts, we both felt our knowledge and skills were up to the task of creating the sort of looks we wanted for the big day. One of the best pieces of bridal beauty advice we read was to resist the temptation to do something wildly different just because it's your wedding. Instead, you should aim to look like the best version of yourself. This suited Steph's vision down to the ground.
The wedding venue was a beautiful Jacobean manor house in Kent which was quite richly decorated. Stephanie chose a colour scheme to compliment that, as you can see from the flowers below.
With these colours in mind, Steph wore an ivory dress with quite a lot of crystals and beading, and decided to go with softly curled hair and a deep pink lip. As the only bridesmaid, my dress was silky, a peachy, champagne colour, and had beaded detail across the shoulders. I went for soft curls too, but kept my makeup very understated. In terms of products, most of what I used is stuff I wear on a day to day basis anyway. I wanted peachy nude lips, subtly defined eyes and glowing, highlighted skin.
Face Products
A wedding is one of those occasions when you really want your makeup to last all day, so I wore my tried and tested Estee Lauder Double Wear foundation over my Ark Skincare primer. Double Wear lasts a good eight hours on me even without a primer, and this combination proved to have some pretty awesome staying power. Not only did it last the whole day, but it stayed looking fresh too, so I really can't recommend this combination enough. I would also recommend the Chanel Perfection Lumiere foundation my sister wore. This also lasted all day with a primer underneath, and gave her complexion a beautiful, satin finish that looked fantastic on the day and even better in her photo album. (Just in case anyone was wondering, yes, it is on my must-try list!)
I concealed under my eyes using Clarins Instant concealer. This is a great little product that combines effective coverage with a lightweight formula, so it doesn't sink into fine lines.
From Left, Clarins Instant Concealer, Estee Lauder Double Wear Foundation
Eye Products
To begin with, I primed my eyes with Urban Decay Anti-Aging Primer Potion. This is such a brilliant product. Not only does it enhance the look and staying power of any shadow you wear over it, it's got firming properties as well. As far as shadows go... well, if I was a "proper" beauty blogger I'd tell you I used Urban Decay or Charlotte Tilbury, but the truth is I used my well-loved Sleek Au Naturel palette! In the photo of the palette below, I used the third shadow from left on the top row all over the lids - you can tell this is my most used shadow as I've hit pan on this one! The brown directly in front of it was blended lightly into my crease, and the furthest shadow on the right on the top row, which has a slight shimmer to it, was used in my inner corners and under the arch of my brows.
I lined my eyes with my L'Oreal Super Liner, but only a thin line to define them, no heavy wing. I also used a black Kohl pencil on my water line, but only the outer half. Finally, I curled my lashes and applied my YSL Volume Effet Faux Cils mascara. (The waterproof version - which I was very glad of during the ceremony as I must confess I did shed a tear or two.)
I defined and shaped my brows with Benefit Brow Zings palette and added a sweep of Benefit Gimme Brow to hold them in place.
From Left, Benefit Brow Zings palette, Benefit Gimme Brow, L'Oreal Super Liner, YSL Volume Effet Faux Cils mascara, Urban Decay Anti-Aging Primer Potion, Sleek Au Naturel eyeshadow palette
Blush and Highlight Products
I lightly swept Estee Lauder Bronze Goddess bronzing powder over my cheeks and temples, just to bring some warmth to my complexion, then applied Mac Peaches blusher to the apples of my cheeks. This is one of my favourite blushers as it's such a lovely, vibrant peach shade. For my highlight, I applied Benefit Watt's Up liberally to my cheekbones, with just a touch on the bridge of my nose and cupid's bow. Then, to lift the look out of the ordinary, I added a dusting of Mac Mineralize Skinfinish Soft and Gentle over the top of the highlight. This gave a fresh-faced, golden glow to the whole look.
From Left, Mac Peaches blusher, Mac Mineralize Skinfinish in Soft and Gentle, Benefit Watt's Up
Lip Products
I kept this super simple with another of my trusty favourites - Rimmel Nude Delight.
I bet you can see all those products on my face, can't you?! Perhaps not, but hopefully you can see something of the natural glow I was aiming for in the finished result.
Hair
I must admit, my hair looked a little wavier and more polished on the day than it does in these photos. However, they should give you a fairly good idea of the overall finished look - complete with dress! (Sorry I haven't got any full length photos for you, but the dress essentially falls straight down to the floor so you're not missing much. All the detail is in the shoulders!)
I divided my hair into two sections (upper and lower) and worked my way around each section with a large-barreled curling wand. (I used the Babyliss Boutique Salon Soft Waves curling wand.) I took approximately 1.5 to 2 inch sections at a time and alternated the direction of the curl, making sure the sections closest to my face were curled outwards. I ran my fingers through the curls to loosen them a bit, backcombed the crown for a little height and sprayed some Tresseme ultimate hold hairspray pretty liberally all over. The jewelled hair slide I wore was from Accessorize.
As you can see, my hair wasn't too different to how I usually wear it. Sometimes I use straighteners to create a wave on a day to day basis, which doesn't give quite as soft a look as this, but other than that it's pretty much the same. Apart from the hairspray, I didn't use any products, but that's because my hair is bleached, so it's textured enough to hold a curl without help. If you have lovely, healthy, silky hair, you'd probably want to put a texturising product in it before you start curling in order to make the style last the distance.
So there you have it - better late than never!
Did you/would you do your own hair and makeup for your wedding? What's your dream bridal look?
Kate x
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You may have seen beauty products from Maple Holistics floating around the blogosphere in recent months. I was lucky enough to be asked if I'd like to sample some, and after checking out their website I was keen to say yes. Based in the US, Maple Holistics create organic skin and hair care products, and pride themselves on using the purest and highest quality natural ingredients. I picked out the Argan shampoo and conditioner to try, as well as the Lavender Hybrid bubble bath.
When the products first arrived, I wasn't too keen on the packaging, but I changed my mind somewhat once I had arranged them on my bathroom shelf. They actually look quite cute and colourful all lined up together. Besides, it's what's inside the packaging that counts, right?
My hair, as we all know, is bleached. It also stubbornly refuses to hang in any remotely attractive way unless I force it to with straighteners or a curling iron, so it's fair to say my tresses can look a little lacklustre and in need of a serious moisture hit from time to time. The Argan shampoo and conditioner contain a blend of nourishing and moisturising ingredients, designed to "maximise smooth hairness" and deliver shiny, healthy looking hair. I couldn't wait to give them a try.
Because the shampoo is sulphate free, I expected to have a hard time working it into my hair, but in fact it lathered up just like a regular shampoo. Best of both worlds! Both the shampoo and conditioner feel beautifully light, which is good news if you have fine hair like me as there's no need to worry about anything too rich weighing it down and making it appear greasy. After using these, my hair feels soft and gently cleansed. I wouldn't say that it looks significantly healthier or shinier than when I use regular moisturising hair care products, but I still appreciate the fact that these are free from parabens and other nasties, and packed full of gorgeous natural ingredients like almond and avocado oils which are so beneficial to hair and scalp health.
Next up, the Lavender Hybrid bubble bath. Now I love a good bubble bath, especially with aromatherapy products. It's one of my favourite ways to wind down in the evening. I've always loved lavender for its amazing power to calm - I can literally feel myself unwinding as I breathe it in - so I was really excited to try this product. As you can see, it makes beautiful bubbles.
Just like the shampoo and conditioner, the main thing that strikes me when using this product is how light it feels on the skin. The first time I used it, I couldn't really smell the lavender, so after that I used a much more generous amount. I could definitely smell it then, although I think it's meant to be more of a delicate fragrance than a heady one. I imagine a lot of people might prefer that. Personally, I quite like my aromatherapy products to punch me in the face with scent! Even so, I still thoroughly enjoy using this. Palmarosa and clary sage are combined with the lavender so your skin feels clean and hydrated when you step out of the bath.
All in all, I'm impressed with Maple Holistics as a brand and would certainly continue to use these products, as well as experiment with some of their facial skincare. As some one who is allergic to at least one chemical (PPD in hair dye - you can read about my experience here if you're interested) it's great to know that there are companies out there pursuing a more natural way of doing things and creating lovely and effective products as a result. If natural is important to you for whatever reason then you're probably going to love this brand.
Have you tried anything from Maple Holistics? What are your thoughts on natural beauty products?
The Victoriana look is something I very rarely go for. So is wearing dresses and ankle boots without tights, especially when the weather starts to get a little cooler. But look what happened the other day!
Dress* - Shein, Bag - Topshop, Boots and Sunglasses - H&M
We've had some gorgeous sunshine in Doncaster lately, and the temperatures haven't been too bad at all for the time of year, so I took the opportunity to wear this dress sans layers. As I said, this just isn't a style I usually gravitate towards, but there's so much of it about at the moment that I decided to step out of my comfort zone and give it a whirl. Turns out I actually love it, and now I want a Victoriana blouse too!
This dress is so feminine and so much fun to wear, and it's pretty versatile too. I can definitely see it with some heeled over the knee boots and maybe a faux fur gilet once it's cooler.
I'm also pleasantly surprised at how nicely this fringed Topshop bag has transitioned from Summer to Autumn. I didn't think I'd get much wear out of it, but it looks like I'm going to find it useful for at least another season. It adds a seventies edge to the dress which I really like. The seventies trend is another one that's grown on me a lot recently. I wasn't too keen on it at first - I did the seventies in the nineties already! - but the shops keep bringing out all these pretty things and I'm starting to fall for it all over again.
I'm also pleasantly surprised at how nicely this fringed Topshop bag has transitioned from Summer to Autumn. I didn't think I'd get much wear out of it, but it looks like I'm going to find it useful for at least another season. It adds a seventies edge to the dress which I really like. The seventies trend is another one that's grown on me a lot recently. I wasn't too keen on it at first - I did the seventies in the nineties already! - but the shops keep bringing out all these pretty things and I'm starting to fall for it all over again.
Check me out walking in the cycle lane. Such a rebel.
Which trends will you be rocking this Autumn?
Kate x
*Gifted Item
Grab a cuppa, put your feet up and flick through a magazine. Is there a nicer way to spend a rainy Sunday afternoon? I've loved magazines since I was a teenager and I probably always will. Back in the day, of course, they were pretty much the only way for a fashion and beauty addict like myself to get some inspiration, but even after discovering the wonderful world of blogs and YouTube, I still appreciate the glossies as much as I always did.
Grazia has always been one of my favourites.
For a start, it's weekly, which is great if you're impatient like me. Receiving a weekly magazine on subscription is such a treat - it's like a mini Christmas every week! My copy of Grazia arrives on a Tuesday and I usually save it for the weekend. Unless I'm going on a train journey during the week, in which case it makes the perfect travel companion, along with a bag of peanut M&Ms wheatgrass juice.
For me, the best part of any magazine is the fashion and styling tips, and Grazia has plenty of that going on. I love the Fashion Charts section at the beginning of each issue, and always find at least one piece to drool over. In this issue, it's the black dress at number 11. Imagine how gorgeous that would look at a Christmas party, maybe with some strappy silver sandals.
Or how about this velvet one in the bottom right-hand corner? I love this too and think it would look amazing with berry lips and nails. It's from Oasis, which isn't a shop I often visit, so thanks to Grazia I now have a reason to pop in! I'm also eyeing up that embellished clutch...
Fashion might be my first love, but beauty comes a close second, and Grazia's beauty section definitely doesn't disappoint. In fact, I often find magazines more "manageable" than the blogosphere when it comes to getting my head around the endless stream of new products that always seem to be coming out. I don't think anything can beat a good, honest blogger review, but a lot of the time, magazines help me narrow down what I want to look out for. Does anyone else feel this way? I'd love to know!
And I do like a little bit of celeb gossip too, I'm not going to lie! (Side note - how amazing does Taylor Swift look here?!)
There are always a few recipes too, to inspire your inner domestic goddess. In my perfect world, I'd save these, add them to my repertoire, and cook them up during the week. (In the real world, my husband cooks dinner, which actually isn't a bad arrangement, now I come to think about it.)
Finally, there's a little bit of home inspo, and the horoscopes, which I must confess, I do enjoy. So long as it's good news, of course. ;-)
I've been receiving Grazia from Magazine.co.uk as one of their official bloggers, and I'll be posting some articles to their blog in the near future. The first one will probably be a make-up look inspired by a feature in the beauty section, so make sure you pop over there to read it! In the meantime, if you're in the market for a new magazine subscription or feel like gifting one to somebody for Christmas (brilliant gift idea by the way!) then do check out Magazine.co.uk. It's super easy to subscribe and they have pretty much every magazine under the sun. If Grazia takes your fancy, now is the perfect time to go for it, as Magazine.co.uk are currently offering a free Orla Kiely travel pouch worth £49 with every subscription.
Do you read magazines? Which is your favourite?
Kate x
Ever since Rosie Huntington-Whiteley rode that magic carpet - and we all know how much I love RHW - I've been a big fan of Marks and Spencer's advertising campaigns. Come Christmas time, when everyone else is eagerly anticipating the John Lewis offering, I'll be looking out for good old M&S. Why? Because as well as eye-catching imagery, cool music and slick production, they showcase their products like no one else. I'm a fashion blogger. Clothes get me excited. And Marks and Spencer's ads always seem to display the best of their collections in such an enticing way.
Their current Autumn campaign, "The Art of", is definitely no exception. Have you seen any of the ads on TV? The sheep with the exploding coat? You must remember that! Well, I for one have been loving them. For a start, the catchy beats of "Uptown Funk" never fail to lift my mood, and then there's the stunning, quirky visuals, combining beautiful shots of the clothes with images that nod to their craftsmanship and sustainable sourcing, qualities of which M&S is justifiably proud.
Faux fur seems to be having a moment right now, and one of my favourite ads from the current campaign has got to be this one.
How gorgeous is the white jacket at the end? And the aviator jacket with the shearling collar! I even love the way they've layered the leopard print coat over a simple black polo neck, and I normally wouldn't be attracted to a coat like that at all. After seeing this, I'm definitely keen to pop into my local branch and explore their faux fur range.
Fashion aside, I also applaud M&S for using an older model in this ad - something that I've seen them do before. People sometimes think of them as an old-fashioned company, but they're pretty switched on when it comes to representing a diverse cross-section of women in their advertising.
Oh, and shoutout to the woolly dog, too. There should definitely be more of those on TV!
Marks and Spencer's aim with this campaign was to carry across the arresting style of their recent food ads to their fashion, and I think they've succeeded. They're often more praised for their food than their clothes, but they really do some great clothes, and one thing you can rely on with M&S is good quality. I for one will be checking them out as I build my winter wardrobe - especially the coats!
What do you think of this ad campaign? And will you be wearing faux fur this winter?
Kate x
What do you think of this ad campaign? And will you be wearing faux fur this winter?
Kate x
*This post is sponsored by Marks and Spencer, but all opinions, as always, are my own
I'm completely in love with this maxi shirt dress from Asos. If you read my Making a Statement post, this is the second dress I found when browsing Rosie's shop. Since then, I've actually seen Sammi from Beautycrush wearing it as well, so it's clearly a blogger favourite! It somehow manages to be both elegant and effortless at the same time, and attracts a lot of compliments. It was definitely the dress I enjoyed wearing most on holiday.
Dress - Asos, Sandals - Accessorize
This particular little corner of Mallorca is very special to me and I have so many precious childhood memories from here. It's the perfect place for me to reflect on my life, the choices I have made and the things that are really important to me, and every time I visit, I end up leaving feeling more in touch with myself. This time, I did a lot of thinking about my blog. I've always been someone who needs a creative outlet in life, but I never expected that my little piece of the internet would come to be as important to me as it is. While my family means everything to me and I take pride in my work, my blog is who I am. Does that make sense? I'm sure it must do to all you fellow creatives! Even if I don't post as often as I'd like to, I'm always thinking about it, and I can't imagine ever giving it up. I'd feel like there was something vital missing from my life.
Anyway, enough philosophy! The resolve I made was that no matter how busy life gets, I need to always make time for this blog. Remind me of that next time I don't post for weeks due to work commitments!
Do you make resolutions on holiday? And what do you think of this dress?
Kate x
When it comes to choosing nail varnish for a summer holiday, I tend to stick to brights - hot pink, coral or orange being my favourite shades. This year, however, I didn't go away till late September, and I found myself in a much more transitional frame of mind.
All the nail colours I've been drooling over on social media recently seem to be by Essie, so that's the brand I went for when treating myself to a new polish for my holiday. This shade's called In Stitches, and I love it. It's a super flattering brownish pink - just colourful enough for the Spanish sunshine, and pretty perfect for Autumn back home too.
Application is great, as is the staying power. If there was a world record for chipping nail varnish in the fastest possible time, I'd probably be a contender, but this seems to have lasted very well, especially considering that I didn't bother to take a base or top coat away with me.
In other nail-related news, I've been experimenting with long, almond-shaped talons, which is highly unusual for me. I like the look, but it's kind of difficult to type and apply cream eye shadow with my fingers now, so we'll see how long they last!
It's been a while since I last had an Essie polish and I'd forgotten how much I like them! So I'm in the market now for a few more. Any recommendations? Let me know your favourite Essie shades.
Kate x
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