We've Moved!

I hope you've been enjoying reading my blog so far, you may be pleased to know that we've been working on our new blog and intend for it to be improved greatly from here on in! There will be lots of regular posts, videos and updates for you, so please visit us at our new home: cassielomas.com/blog!

Holiday Make-Up!

Following up from great sun protection... Let’s talk about what I know best, make up! I personally wear little or if I’m being totally honest no make up at all on a daily basis, never mind on holiday (my main aim is getting as brown as I possibly can!) but I get asked so many questions about holiday make up… ‘What sort of foundation should I buy? What is the most long lasting in the sun? What has got the best SPF in? Do I put my sun cream on before or after?”

My advice, BB creams. I’ve tried so many BB creams, and this one beats them all. Clarins have combined great coverage, good SPF and suitable for all skin types and offering long-lasting results. This is something you can incorporate into your daily skin care routine or have it as your best friend on holiday.. Perfect for targeting dark, shadowy areas with its “3D radiance” and light-correcting pigments. I’d always advise as little product and coverage as possible in the sun, the more product you put on the more you’ll have to keep touching it up and worrying about it coming off.

My tip for this product is to put some on the back of your hand and use your fingertips to apply as you would a moisturiser in very light layers, starting at the center of the face and working out towards the hairline and jawline.

Top up coverage if needed in certain areas with a bit of concealers... My favourite is studio fix from MAC (Also SPF 35) this gives a really gorgeous dewy finish to the skin so you don’t need to powder, unless you want that matte finish.

Summer Sun Spray

I couldn’t have chosen a better day to blog about SPF and sun cream.. It is absolutely throwing it down in Manchester. I mean rain, thunder, lightening… the works. But never the less, some of you lucky lot may be escaping the rain and jetting off this summer and you’ll want to know what’s great on the shelves to protect your skin. As a mother of 2 myself, I’m always really cautious when the sun eventually comes out... I’m constantly putting sun cream on my little ones. I’ve recently bought Nivea Sun Protect & Refresh (SPF 50)

It’s water resistant, doesn’t stain clothes or have a really strong smell...(thank you Nivea!) Lets face it, putting sun cream on yourself, let alone trying to pin down the little ones is always a chore, so I always opt for a spray applicator. It doesn’t need laborious rubbing in...just spray and go! Or aim whilst they run...and hope for the best.

If you’ve got some extra pennies, or a great one of your kit is the Chanel UV Essentiel sun screen...trust me, no sun will get through this, it’s pretty hard core, and it doesn’t leave that white mask on the skin either before your foundation, as it’s specially designed for the face.

CLMA Open Day!

So, so, SO many exciting things coming up for CLMA! Something for everyone with our new courses coming up in 2014. We are extending our courses from full make up artist training courses to daily workshops in everything from Asian bridal make up to body painting and advanced courses for those already working in the make up, beauty or hairdressing industry.

So spread the word, book your place and come on down to see me on the 31^st August , 12-4pm for a nosey around! It would be great to meet you and introduce you to some of our amazing tutors and graduates so you can decide if you want to become part of the CLMA team.

Daniel Sandler Perfect Canvas for only £2.50!

Here at Cassie Lomas Makeup Academy we're such huge fans of the Daniel Sandler range that when we found out the Perfect Canvas Fluid Foundation was on sale on his website for only £2.50 per bottle, we had to purchase them in every shade!

This product glides onto the skin like velvet and the colour tones are so beautiful and wearable, that they're really easy to work with for makeup artists. If you haven't yet tried them, they're an absolute must and perfect for expanding your kit. Purchase them at the Daniel Sandler website here.

Send us a tweet and tell us what you think @CLMAcademy and don't forget to like our Facebook page to keep up to date!

Water Beau- Submission Magazine!

I absolutely LOVE these new images from a beauty test i've just done with the amazing Charlotte Kibbles, which has just been published on submission magazine online. After working in the industry for nearly 17 years, I still love testing!! It's such a great way to meet amazing models and photographers and collaborate together and create some beautiful images.

Underwater Make Up is something a lot of people worry about..there is so many things that you need to consider as a make up artist when waters involved! So I've put together a few pointers for anyone who's stuck.

Tips for underwater Make Up;

- Oil based products are great as water just runs off them..So when choosing a foundation, oil based ones are great! 

-Minimal products on great skin or heavier cake foundations where needed

-Waterproof mascara is a must!

-Avoid powders, MAC paint pots are great not only for shadows but for contouring and colouring brows.

- Be on hand with tissues to gently pat unwanted drops of water- never wipe!!

- Sunscreens work really well as highlighters for the face

Top Product for this look: MAC Rebel Lipstick.. I then brushed over this with MAC Mineralized SkinFinish in Lightscapade

Top Products for this look: MAC Face and body foundation and Sisley Sheer Peach Lipstick

Top Products for these looks- Illamasqua Hollow Pigment, Clarins Instant Light Complexion perfector 02

https://twitter.com/Charkibbles

http://www.charlottekibbles.co.uk

Summer Brights

Can you believe this weather?!?! We can finally ditch the chunky knitwear and can call it summer! That means get out your bright colours and start experimenting. I'm back at CLMA after a busy few weeks filming a new TV show (I can't wait for you all to see!! I'll keep you updated, I promise!) so I thought I'd make the most out of this weather and show the students a quick summer make up.

Coloured mascara is perfect for a quick fix for summer - If you aren't daring enough to wear coloured shadow just change it up with a lick of colour to the lashes to get into the summer vibe instantly. Estee Lauder have brought out the perfect coloured mascaras- they are SO true to colour and I can't get enough of these for summer! The emerald green one is also fabulous. 

This Krylon Palette is amazing, super pigmented and every colour you'd want for summer all in one- perfect! I was also really impressed with this MaxFactor trio eyeshadow (04- Queen Bee) the green is beeeea-utiful. I then went in with Chrome Yellow eyeshadow by MAC and finished by patting a pigment in Rock-It Yellow in the centre of the lid. The key to this, like every smokey eye... is to blend, blend,blend. 

I'd love to see if any of you guys are rocking a summer look- So get out your bright colours and tweet me your looks to @cassielomas! 

Guest Blog- Kay Evans!

Hi everyone!

Thought I’d share with you a quick review of my latest favourite skin care product by Origins in the Dr. Weil range called the ‘Mega Mushroom Skin Relief Soothing Face Cream’.

aving HHaving read plenty of reviews about the Origins range, Dr. Weil’s offered what my skin needed which was relief from dehydration and redness; I tried a sample of the Mega Mushroom cream, and loved it! My skin instantly felt soothed and hydrated. Although it has a thick consistency it absorbs instantly leaving my skin soft, calm, clear and comfortable.

I have relatively normal/ combination skin, but I would not recommend this for oily skin as I think it would leave a greasy residue.

You’ll either love or hate the smell. It’s very earthy / natural but still clean and refreshing.

The Mega Mushroom skin relief retails at £46 for 50ml, and will certainly last you a few months as a little goes a long way.

Thanks for reading! 

 @kay__evans

Guest Blog by Nina Rochford!

By @ninarochford

Beauty on a budget.

Dare I say the dreaded word...'recession'?

A word we're all quite sick of to be frank but the truth is, we're all a bit strapped for cash and generally feeling a bit sorry for ourselves, so here are some of my favourite products and their cheaper contenders.

Ace of base:

Everyone needs a good foundation and Lord knows how difficult it is to find the right one. If you're anything like me and grease up quicker than you can say John Travolta, then you're better off going for an oil controlling, mattefying foundation. I swear by Estée Lauder Double Wear foundation. It's a bit on the pricey side but in my experience, it's definitely worth it. It controls oil & shine and lasts ALL day, which for me, longevity is a BIG deal. I don't know how many times my makeup has slid half way down my face or even changed colour! But not Double Wear, we are the best of friends. It even comes in a Double Wear Light for those of you who prefer a lighter coverage. It's always good to use a primer but for this I'd say it's not an essential (saving money) as it's just that brilliant. Always apply over moisturised skin and remember, less is definitely more. 

SAVE: For the folk who would rather save their pocket money, there are many alternatives and for much less! I'd recommend Revlon ColourStay foundation for combination/oily skin. It has a light texture, matte finish and much like the Double Wear, is oil free, has an SPF and lasts all day. Definitely a good budget foundation.

Thankfully everyone is different and not all of us have oily skin. If you’re in desperate need of some moisture, then say hello to my little friend, YSL Le Teint Touche Eclat foundation (a bit of a mouthful). A lightweight foundation with the same illuminating genius as their infamous concealor. It highlights the skin giving it that dewy glow that everyone craves, also making it perfect for more mature skin types, too. I’d suggest using a primer and apply foundation with a stippling brush to blend into the skin for a flawless and natural looking base. MAC do some great brushes but in-keeping with the theme, try the Real Techniques brushes by Samantha Chapman. They’re more pocket friendly and are just as good....if not better.

 

SAVE:  Avoid the tears & tantrums as there’s always a cheaper option. Bourjois Healthy Mix is a great budget buy. It has a lightweight and buildable coverage that gives a healthy glow at a fraction of the price. Great for dry skin as it gives a moisture boost without being greasy and lasts all day, which I think we’re all agreed is very important.

So there you have it. Happy shopping, and to those of you who are blessed with practically perfect skin, I salute you. 

Clinique Chubby Sticks!

I’m a HUGE fan of Clinique, so anytime they bring a new product out I pretty much know the quality delivers… and these did not disappoint!!

They are so true to colour but without being cakey so they are perfectly wearable for everyday and I would definitely recommend them for brides on their wedding day… no one wants to do the ‘you may now kiss the bride’ and get stuck with lip gloss do they?!? These glide on beautifully and are really moisturizing throughout the day, for either a quick wash of colour or an intense bold lip when you apply a few coats.

They are also available in eye shadows and work as a subtle wash of colour on the lids or as a fantastic eye shadow base. They look equally as good on all skin tones and I cannot rave about these enough, you guys should all check with them out!

You can buy them here;

http://www.clinique.co.uk/product/1603/24146/Makeup/Lip-Glosses/NEW-Chubby-Stick-Intense-Moisturizing-Lip-Colour-Balm/index.tmpl