A while ago I was asked to partake in a special Bodypainting event called Naked Canvas which was organised by Beth Marshall and Claire O’Keeffe as part of the Bray Summer Festival.

It was a great day, joining fellow artists in making beautiful creations on the human body. There were so many talented people, it was fantastic.

I was assisted by the lovely Caoimhe Arrigan on the day. We used Kryolan waterbased bodypaints.

Model: Lauren Walsh
Bodypainter: Emma Farrell
Bodypainting Assistant: Caoimhe Arrigan
Festival: Bray Summer Festival
Organisers: Beth Marshal and Claire O’Keefe
Photographer: Emma and Aine Richardson

Photographer: Darren Purcell of Visionary Photography
Model: Bubblegum Harley
Make-Up: Emma Farrell of Emma Farrell Dublin Bodypainting

I was asked to do a high profile quiz event in Clontarf Castle last Thursday.  The event was in aid of the charity “To Russia With Love” to raise much needed funds.

Here are some behind the scenes photographs, some professional shots will follow soon. The model was David Mulqueen a personal trainer/director from The Edge Clontarf, a personal training facility based in Clontarf. I am no expert, but I think he might be good at his job if his abs are anything to go by.

Bodypainting: Emma Farrell Bodypainter
Model: David Mulqueen

I am doing a full bodypainting on Monday for the LA Make-Up Academy. I did a little test run today, here are the images:

This is a photoshoot which was supposed to be entitled broken down mechanics…I did the bodypaint as planned, but ended up getting carried away with some colours afterwards. In the end these photographs ended up looking even better than the planned shoot. This is what I love about creativity, there are no rules and sometimes the best things happen by accident.

Make Up: me
Photography: Edel Kelly
Model: Sarah Tapes

Worked with the wonderful Edel Kenny again doing some more Burlesque Test Shots. The shots are to promote her new studio that will be opening in the New Year called Venus Boudoir Photography.

The studio will be based in George’s Street and will be an opportunity for real women to book their own professional photoshoot, with Make-Up & Hair provided by me! There will be an array of wonderful lingerie and and burlesque props for them to have fun with. Also Edel has set up the studio with Boudoir furniture and set. It will make for a really unique experience. I will post more information about it soon.

In the meantime the photos:

Flawless Skin

Before you even start I recommend you use a primer, a good one is Smashbox Matt Primer. With the onslaught of hormones and nights out, young skin, can often be prone to outbreaks. The best quality and priced concealer out there has to be the Rimmel Clear Stick. For extra stubborn spots, keep layering the concealer and powder inbetween layers.

Rimmel Clearstick

It is always best to invest in a good foundation as this will be the base for make-up and if you spend extra here, it will be sure to last the whole night. I would recommend Estee Lauder Doublewear Foundation. This full coverage foundation is non-transferable, which translates as NON-MOVEABLE, no need for touch ups However I would recommend you use a good make-up remover to take it off.

Estee Lauder Doublewear

Rimmel also do a great clarifying powder that like the concealer also helps to fight off blemishes and further breakouts whilst setting your make-up.

Eyes

Dramatic eyes are a must for your debs make-up look. Why not go for a sultry smokey eye, dark colours will make your eyes pop for the photographs. For an alternative to the smokey look, why not try some dramatic eyeliner with some falsh eyelashes. Girls Aloud and Eyelure have brought out a fantastic range .  Make sure to put on lashings of Mascara no matter what look you decide to go for…its like the frame on a good picture, helps to focus the viewers eye!

Girls Aloud Lashes

Lips

If eyes aren’t what you like to define you can still have alot of fun with lips. There are some gorgeous reds out there at the moment, especially from Armani and Chanel. They know how to do classic colours to perfection. Really well defined lips are seriously in vogue. Sometimes lippy can be a bit of a nuisance, because you have to keep topping it up, make sure to use a long lasting one like the Max Factor Lip Finity and that won’t be an issue.

Max Factor Lip Finity

Powder, Contour and Blush

The camera likes to make things look a bit flat, so to combat this you should always contour. Make the best of your bone structure. Using a Matt bronzer do a C-Shape from the forehead down to the centre of the cheaks. If you are having trouble finding where to place it, just suck in your cheeks. This is a very subtle effect…not to be confused with the early 90s blusher craze! Make sure to blend well. Then to add a flush of colour to your cheeks, smile and place blusher on to the apples of your cheeks, blending using light circular motions.

Then you are done! Easy Peazy! If you find this all a bit too much, you could always get your make-up done by a professional… Give me a shout: Emma 0863274449 for my rates

Photograph by Lili Forberg

Good Skin

The best foundation to any bridal make-up is fresh healthy skin. Beauty takes time and preparation. At the very least six months before your big day you should adopt a skin plan to get yourself in order for the big day. A monthly facial from a reputable beauty salon is advisable. However leave at least four weeks before the wedding for the final visit to ensure that you have no post facial breakouts that linger around for the wedding day. If you are on a budget then why not have your own facial routine. This can be done easily using products from your local store. Click here for some recipes. A good facial routine should include cleansing, toning, exfoliation and rehydration. I love nothing more than relaxing in a nice bubble bath with a home made facial and cucumbers on my eyes.

Avoid too much sun as dry flaky skin is a definite no no. If you do want to have that healthy glow, opt rather for a skin friendly fake tan. Make sure that you try the fake tan out at least once before the big day as you don’t want to walk down the aisle looking tangoed. You should get it applied around 24 hours before hand so that you can have a shower and let it fade to a more natural colour, also you don’t want to have any accidental staining of the big white dress! Don’t wax or shave before getting it done, I have had many brides that have done this and ended up with lots of fake tan trapped in their hair follicles. It has been a rather funny situation to be putting more make-up and bronzer on peoples legs than their face!

Hair

There are two types of hair that concern us on our wedding day, there is the type we want to be nice, glossy and styled and then there is the hair that we don’t want to see or feel! For the hair on your head, make sure to condition it well, trim, touch up any roots and grow it to the desired length. Its definitely best to have a hair trial before hand…you don’t want any surprises! Then for the underarms, legs and bikini line, waxing is best. The last thing that you want to be caring about on your wedding day/honeymoon is unwanted hair. Make sure to wax a few months before hand, this will make the hair lighter and also ensure that you don’t have any allergic reactions to the product.

Body

There are many things that we can do to get the dream body for our wedding. A healthy diet and a good exercise regime are the best options. Hire a personal trainer if you find it hard to get motivated or join a group like weight watchers..I have found it easy to lose some of my “extra insulation” with them as you are still allowed the naughty treats. You can also aid this with body treatments in your local spa eg wraps and anti-cellulite treatments. Avoid alcohol and bread a couple of days before, so that you aren’t bloated for the wedding day. Surgery is an extreme measure and not one that we would advise, afterall, your hubby to be is marrying you for YOU just the way you are!

Nails

Your hands and nails will receive tons of attention with guests and photographers alike wanting to have a close inspection. Get a good nailcare routine going well in advance of the big day. Use a hand cream daily and a home weekly manicure will keep them in good nick. Artificial nails can be a great option for nail biters, but they require regular maintenance. I quite like the gel nails that are cured with a UV lamp, they are quite pretty and not as harsh as the old acrylics on your natural nail. I feel a simple french polish is a beautiful option for the day of the wedding.

Foot Care

Be sure to not forget about those tootsies! A pedicure a couple of days before the wedding is a must, especially if you are wearing open toe shoes. You will be on your feet for most of the day, so make sure that your shoes fit comfortably. Try breaking them in, by wearing them around the house a few days leading up to the wedding. Don’t forget your gel insoles!! Also consider bringing a back up pair of soft flat shoes which you can leave in your hotel room for later when you just cant take the heals any longer!

Teeth

Consider teeth whitening if it is something that concerns you. There are plenty of good home kits on the market. Or I have found the new Whitening Mouth Washes to be superb at getting them a couple of shades lighter if that’s all you need. Just ensure that you avoid red wine, coffee and smoking afterwards as teeth that have been bleached are more prone to staining.

Scent

I have been told that you never forget the perfume you wear for your wedding day. It is essential that you get the choice right because that smell will always bring you straight back to your special day…and you want it to be for all the right reasons. Make sure that you have worn it before the day, so that you know it definitely suits you, fragrances change with time on the skin. Don’t go for anything that is too strong or really different from what you usually where. Make it last on the day by using the ancillary products that come in the perfume range, these could be shower gels or body lotions.

NB: Don’t Panic, the main thing is that you pamper yourself and don’t get too worked up before the wedding. It is supposed to be the best day of your life.