I regularly share my knowledge and techniques with budding make-up artists. Here are a few shots from my “Fantasy Make-Up Class”

I did the makeup for a photoshoot a couple of months ago for a really good friend of mine Alice Collins. She is a talented and creative textile artist based in Dublin. She also handmakes a range of unique jewellery and accessories.

These images are of dresses that she made as part of a work of art. It is an attempt to address the emotional and physical trauma suffered by Irish women under the lawless ‘care’ of Dr. Michael Neary in Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda during the 1980s and 90s.

Just incase you don’t know who he is, here is a link to an RTE Article and a brief synopsis from Wikipedia below:

“Michael Neary is a retired Irish consultant obstetrician/gynaecologist. He gained notoriety when it was discovered that he had performed what was considered an inordinate number of cesarean hysterectomies during his time at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda, County Louth. He was suspended by the Irish Medical Council in 1999 pending their investigations, and then struck off the Register of Medical Practitioners in 2003.”

Artist: Alice Collins
Photographer: Edel Kelly @ The Secret Boudoir
Models: Aisling Danahar, Bernadette McLoughlin and Sarah Tapes
Make-up Artist: Emma Farrell @ Makeup

Models: Three O Troupe
Hair: Michelle and Maria
Make-Up: Emma Farrell Make-Up

Some images from The Story of Motown in the Olympia Theatre. These are a couple of images that I took backstage.

http://www.antoinette-dunleavy.com/

http://www.antoinette-dunleavy.com/

Here are some photos that people from the audience took of the show. I found them on facebook:

The Story of Motown

I am really looking forward to doing the Make-Up for the show: “The Story of Motown” in the Olympia tonight. I am sure that it is going to be a fantastic night out and if you haven’t got your tickets already get them now for the bargain price of €25!

I have been doing some research and absolutely love the glamour  and flair of the Motown Musicians. Diana Ross, the Supremes, Gladys Knight, Teena Marie, The Marvelettes, Martha Reeves & The Vandellas all make up this fantastic music genre.

I wrote an article for Beauty Bag recently on Make-Up Secrets that the Pros don’t want you to know. I just thought  would share it here in case you haven’t seen it:

1.) Always start with a good base. It is imperative if you want your Make-Up to last. Primers are great. If you have oily skin make sure that you use a mattifying primer.

2.) Brushes are the key to a great make-up application. If you can’t afford to buy a whole set of brushes, just ensure that you pick up at least a good quality eyeshadow brush. That is the only way that you can achieve the dramatic smokey eye.

3.) White eyeliner on the inner rim of the eye helps to make the eyes look larger and is great if you haven’t had a good night’s sleep.

4.) If you want to get a nice defined eye, but can’t get the hang of tricky liquid eye liner, try and use a pencil eyeliner instead. Roughly draw a line on the eyelid as close to the upper lashline as you can manage. Afterwards you can smudge the line with a brush or finger. Then set this in a matching eyeshadow colour so it lasts all day.

5.) The face isn’t the only thing that needs to be primed before you begin applying your make-up. You can now get primers for your eyeshadow which makes it last and last. Also you can get lip primers, which are especially great for older skin as it helps to prevent lipstick bleeding.

6.) If you find that you are getting oily by the end of the day, get a tissue and pat it on the face to absorb any excess oil. Afterwards use some blotting powder to refresh and mattify your look without making you feel caked in make-up. If you don’t remove the excess oil first you can end up looking very ashen faced.

7.) Contouring is your best friend, you can give your face a beautifully defined look and create bone structure even if you don’t have any.

8.) Always curl your eyelashes, it helps to widen the eyes and make them appear larger. There are great heated eyelash curlers on the market if you can’t figure out the manual ones.

9.) To make your lipstick last all day, you line your lips with your lip liner. Then you fill in the whole lip with the same pencil. After this you apply the first coat of lipstick. Then you use translucent powder to set the colour. Then apply a top coat of lipstick.

10.) Although not technically a make-up product, eyedrops really enhance your make-up look, this makes them bright and clear.

For more advice and professional make-up visit www.emmafarrellmakeup.com

I attended a MAC Trends Masterclass which was hosted in the Brown Thomas headquarters. The masterclass was run by Lesley Keane and Nikki Gillick.

The day started off with a snappy video of all the backstage action in London, Paris, Milan and New York. I love seeing the mayhem and discord before a big show. Leslie fresh from behind the scenes herself was able to regale us with tales and anecdotes. The biggest trend (which I was talking about in a previous post) is definitely bleached eyebrows.

This can be done using the good ‘ol Jolene, usually a staple for the lady bleaching her top lip, you can now use it to stay on trend and brighten up those brows. If you don’t want to commit fully to this look, you can always cheat it by using MAC full coverage foundation and working it into the brows with a mascara wand. Make sure you brush them in all directions ensuring that every side of each hair follicle is covered.

There were a few mentions of this season being a real throwback to the 70s with strong colours and a more rounded eyeshape, following the natural curve of the eyesocket.

I went away from the event inspired.

Here are the finished looks:

Here are some of the MAC Trend Facecharts for Spring Summer:

American Nomad Trend

Dye a Tribe Trend

Pale n Dandy Trend

Underground Society Trend

Model: Aisling Danagher @ Model Mayhem
Photographer: Edel Kelly @ Secret Boudoir
Make-Up: Me @ Emma Farrell Make Up

Wedding Dress Designer: Sarah Foy
Photographer: Edel Kelly
Model: Bernadette McLoughlin
Bridal Make-Up: Emma Farrell

There is one big trend this season that we definitely can’t ignore and that is brows! As a make-up artist, I am constantly harping on to people about the importance of brows and how they help to define and finish off a look.

This season brows are full and barely plucked. They are nude, light, or in some cases blocked out. A nude brow really alters the aesthetic of the face and makes the eyes seem larger and become the main focus of the face.

Another big trend this season is nude and barely there eye colours, we are talking coral pinks, dusty roses, smokey salmon and barely there beige. Think antique over exposed photos, weathered away from years of handling and reminiscing. The look is a much loved, hazy summer holiday.

Giambattista Valli

Chanel

Dior

Like blossoming flowers, there is a wash of colour making it’s way through the beauty industry. Dior had bright oranges and vivid sky blues. Jean Paul Gaultier used the rainbow as a palette, ensuring that there was a brighter alternative to the pale pastels making there way on the runway.

Dior

Jean Paul Gaultier

Lastly I couldn’t talk about Spring/Summer 2010 without mentioning the much raved about Chanel transfers. To be honest, I have seen these for many years in the likes of Claire’s Accessories, so it isn’t really groundbreaking. I won’t be rushing out to get these myself, but I like that a classic brand like Chanel is embracing popular culture and moving with the times.

Chanel Transfers