This post is 3 in a 5-part series. Missed the rest? Start at the beginning with part 1. In the previous post in this series, I explained the problem with most beauty ‘advice’…and gave my favourite source of unbiased product recommendations: online product review database ‘Beautypedia’. How did you feel after your first browse through Beautypedia?  Disappointed?  Shocked?  Pleased?  Relieved? In this post I’ll show you the best way to find and master your most flattering makeup colours and techniques. We’ll also discover why most in-store or party-plan ‘makeup consultations’ are a waste of time and money. The second step to becoming your own beauty expert: Discover and master your personal best makeup colours and techniques. You need advice based on what suits your unique features and challenges – not merely trends or what suits your best friend or sister.  Only then can you can be confident you’re wearing some of your best makeup colours and application techniques that work for you, rather than being swept up in trends which change every season. Have you ever had your personal colours or ‘colour season’ analysed? Colours (and people) fall into two categories.  Most of us suit either warm OR cool colours, but […]

I never say I’m booked for your makeup myself, then send someone else on the day. Unlike some business horror stories you might have heard, if you book one of my Lillybeth team for your makeup, you know who you’re going to get on the day!  It’s important to me you know what to expect from your makeup on your wedding day, and you know who will be serving you. Why do I mention this?  Because this is how a local photographer used to do business. 🙁  And I didn’t like it. A couple of years ago in Tauranga there were many surprised and upset brides who had a different photographer turn up on their wedding day with no warning, who they’d never met and possibly not seen the work of.  These couples were adamant they’d booked the owner himself as it was confirmed in their contract and through face-to-face communications.  They’d tell me this after I’d warned them it might be one of his team who shows on the day, but more often than not, my fears for them were realised when a different (though smiling) face showed up at the door and the brides nerves would increase because […]

Back in 2009 as a eager, new makeup artist, I hounded Denny at the Creative Tauranga office to involve me in the makeup backstage at Tarnished Frocks and Divas at Baycourt Theatre.  ‘Divas Through The Decades’ was the third production of this bi-annual show that sees local women aged 40+ modelling revamped, retro fashion in a catwalk/music/theatre mash up. I was blown away by how gorgeous and fit the women were – many of whom had never modelled before!  The backstage experience was filled with fast-paced changes of out-there makeup and hair and costume, with the directors even cutting chunks out of the script for the second night as the first show was way too long…and each two years the TFAD shows have gotten bolder, more ambitious, more theatrical and technology-savvy. Here are a few images from my subsequent ‘TFAD’ experience. In early 2010 they held a small fundraising fashion show – Out of the Closet– at La De Da Boutique in Tauranga.  I did quick makeup and used some strange coloured plastic lashes on the models.  Hey, I was experimenting.  😉  The makeup was just a quickie to vamp up the models own makeup they were already wearing.  Here’s […]

Want some help to plan your New Zealand wedding? If you’re planning a wedding you might love my FREE WEDDING EBOOK and email mini-series.  I wrote it the eBook and emails for New Zealand brides and couples planning their wedding day OR international couples having a “Kiwi wedding”.  It’s a free subscription.  Bride-to-be’s all over the world are loving it!  It’s a free download it here. In the eBook you’ll find some bonus interactive worksheets to help you inject your authentic personality into your special day. You’ll also get a short email mini-series of even more insanely-good tips and advice to avoid the common mistakes couples make in planning their wedding day. Get yours here! SaveSave SaveSave SaveSave

Most people make the mistake of thinking design is what it looks like. People think it’s this veneer – that the designers are handed this box and told, ‘Make it look good!’ That’s not what we think design is. It’s not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.