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About lessons
Make-up lessons are one of my favourite things to do; I love putting makeup on people and giving little tips and hints on how to do things better or recommending a product to them. I pride myself on being down to earth and being a realist; I’m not one for spending buckets on lotions and potions, but I like to find the stuff that works and recommend things I’ve tried and liked or that I think is good value for money. I like a good bargain!! That said, you really do get what you pay for; you're instantly going to tell the difference in quality in certain products, be it skincare or make-up.
(by Luna Photography)
READ MORE »Make-up Lessons - Christmas offer!
So I know it’s a bit early to talk about Christmas but the time has come, and I’m feeling festive already! Maybe it’s the Christmas adverts on TV or mince pies in the shops or the fact that Baileys in on offer EVERYWHERE! Either way, I’m feeling jolly and in the festive spirit (okay, maybe that IS the Baileys...!) so from NOW until CHRISTMAS EVE at 11.59pm, my 1-2-1 make-up lessons are going to be reduced from £65.00 to £50.00!
READ MORE »Amber's review
I have a lot of transgender clients, providing monthly makeovers for nights out to my one-to-one makeup lessons in order to learn how to apply make-up. There's not much I love more than hearing back from clients and getting photos of their make-up and practice runs.
READ MORE »Amanda's review
Teaching clients really makes me happy! I've taught all over basic make-up tips and more specialised lessons for a specific look, and each of my clients has been a superb student.
READ MORE »Make-up Shelf Life - pt 2
After my little rant a few weeks ago about mascara shelf life, I figured I'd do a little guide on the shelf life of other products that are likely to be in your make-up bag.
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Eyeshadow magic trick
On a night out or important occasion, I bet each of you have done this...
READ MORE »Make-up Shelf Life - pt 1
There are a bazillion (yes, that's a word!) of articles for the shelf life of make-up but I don't think people really realise why it's so important.
READ MORE »Make Up Brands In My Kit
When clients get in touch about booking me for wedding makeup, I'm often asked what's in my makeup kit and what products I use. Once you've come to my studio in Hockley in the city centre of Nottingham, you'll soon see the extent of my kit!
READ MORE »Cleaning your make-up brushes
Cleaning brushes is a make-up artists never-ending task. It just goes on and on and on – and when you’ve got weddings back to back, it sometimes feels like you’re in a never-ending cycle of cleaning them. I’ve often dreamt about cleaning them or having not cleaned them and then panicking, and then I’ve woken up exhausted!
READ MORE »Christmas Beauty Gift Ideas 2024
We are all feeling the cost of living the last 18-24 months, and no more so than at Christmas! So I'm back again with my Christmas Gift guide for all beauty lovers, but breaking it down into price guides and aiming more at the great stocking fillers.
READ MORE »What Ms Moo has been up to
Oh, my poor blog; how I’ve neglected you!
I made a resolution to blog every week back in 2016 and I kept to it! I achieved 52 blogs in 52 weeks… and then I trickled into 2017 and hardly blogged at all. Six times in fact!
READ MORE »The Best Red Lipsticks
With Valentine's Day looming ahead, all I've noticed on TV recently is red lipsticks so I figured I'd write about some of my favourites!
READ MORE »Five Things You Don't Know About Me
Getting to know me! I know that I have been around a long flippin' time in the make-up world, but I figured I'd let you into some bits and pieces about me!
READ MORE »Bridal Eyes
Introducing the first-ever eyeshadow palette from award-winning Nottingham makeup artist Ms Moo Make Up; Bridal Eyes!
Bridal Eyes is a vegan and cruelty-free eyeshadow palette designed with ALL skin tones in mind. It has 9 highly pigmented colours in a range of matte, shimmer, and metallic eyeshadows in some of the most popular shades used by Ms Moo Make Up.
The square palette is lined with synthetic leather with a cardboard outer sleeve. There’s a mirror in the lid of the palette, with the Ms Moo logo in silver holographic foil.
READ MORE »New Year New Skincare Regime
New year, new me! Hahaha! If you're anything like me then that phrase will make you laugh hard. I'm still the same old Sali who can't be bothered to wear makeup on a daily basis haha!
But it's the new year, and if you're looking to take up something new (or give up something) then I'd wholly recommend a new skincare regime where you promise to look after your skin. Here's some tips to get you going.
READ MORE »Christmas Gifts For Make Up Lovers
Here we are; the Christmas season is upon us and it's time for some of my top makeup picks of the year! Perfect for any makeup lover in your life, or if you're looking to update your own makeup bag for a festive party. Feel free to ask in my Facebook group if you've any questions about products, or you can contact me directly.
READ MORE »Wedding Make Up Interview with: Louise
Louise and Luke got married in Elvaston Castle in September 2019. You might have already seen some photos from their wedding day on my blog here, and you'll also recognise Louise from my interview with her as Kickass Gatherings. She very kindly answered my interview questions and so I wanted to share them here, and more images from her gorgeous day! One of the smiliest brides ever, and she also had my lovely vintgae hair pal Sarah from Pin Up Curl on styling duties.
READ MORE »Favourite Nude Eyeshadow Palettes
During my 1-2-1 makeup lessons, I'm often asked about my favourite nude eyeshadow palettes. A staple for versitility, no matter your makeup style, nude eyeshadow palettes will have something for everyone. Matte eyeshadows have have a flat finish, which is great for achieving a natural look. More shimmery or metallica eyeshadows are more radiant and glam. I love a mix of the two, but I'd certainly lean more towards shimmery eyeshadows; probably because I'm a bit of a magpie! Here are some of my favourites nude eyeshadow palettes.
READ MORE »Eyeliner Recommendations
It's just a flick... one little, tiny eyeliner flick...
SO WHY IS IT SO DIFFICULT TO MAKE THEM EVEN AND POINT THE SAME WAY?!
(photo by Ed Godden Photography, one of my recommended suppliers)
READ MORE »MAC and me
"Do you use MAC make-up?"
It’s a question I get asked a lot as to what make-up brands I keep in my kit. When a potential client enquires, I go through a few names (the big brands and the smaller ones) but there’s noticeably one missing which would often be in other make-up artists’ kits. As I then say that I don't use their products before I've had a chance to explain I feel it sometimes goes against me as I then have to justify why I don’t.
My illamasqua must haves
Illamasqua is a makeup artists best friend. I constantly bang on about them in my 1-2-1 lessons and at my bridal trials when clients ask who they are or why have they heard of them in stores. As they've announced a 20% off sale over Easter, I thought I'd guide you through some of my all-time favourite products that will enhance any makeup kit tenfold. Strap in!
Do's and Don'ts for your Wedding Make Up
I've been doing wedding makeup for twelve years now (I surprised myself when I looked back at my diaries for it!) and have seen so many different weddings with so many different traditions. More and more of my couples are looking to set their own traditions for their weddings, and I'm 100% here for it! I'm particularly looking forward to celebrants being able to legally marry people, and all of my couples based in England being able to get married outdoors without restrictions. Those in Wales and Scotland can get married wherever they want; how cool is that!
Wedding makeup doesn't have to be anything other than unique to you. There are no rules to follow, but I do like to impart such guidance as below. But remember, you're the boss and you get to choose what you take away from them.
What Make Up Brands I Use
Everyone should experience luxury when having their makeup done! After all, it's a special occasion and you deserve to feel truly fabulous, from a wedding day to a day out on the town! That said, I don't think that any animals should be harmed for us to feel this good.
It's why I've been a cruelty-free makeup artist now for over 10 years. That means I won't support brands that sell in countries where animal testing is required for their products to be sold. No products in my kit have been tested on animals, and a very large portion of it is vegan too - which means that there are no animal derived ingredients used either.
Sadly there's a lot of brands out there that do still test on animals - Nars, MAC, Dior, Bobbi Brown, Benefit, L'Oreal, Estee Lauder, Elizabeth Arden, Elemis, Clinique, and Armarni, to name a few.
There's no need for animal testing in this day and age. You can absolutely have luxury products that are cruelty-free! I will always endeaver to go above and beyond to make sure the items in my kit will deliver impeccable results.
So here's a few brands that I keep in my kit that you can be assured also have good ethics!
READ MORE »2015 - that's a wrap!
2015 has been incredible for Ms Moo and for me personally. I've tried to tot up my top 5 moments/achievements of the year for both!
READ MORE »Vogue Italia and me
It was back in January 2015 that Rozalind Williams contacted me about her idea for a shoot. She wanted to shoot portraits of a model with tense hands clutching onto items such as broken teacups, ripped up letters and scrunched up love letters. It was to be softly lit, warm tones with a romantic feel. She'd arranged for Ash Millman to be our model for the day, having fallen in love with her Cupid's bow and hair colour. And honestly, how couldn't you?!
READ MORE »Wedding make-up review
Morning lovelies! I'm currently on holiday in Malta so I'm not around right now so here's a review from one of my lovely brides in 2014/2015. I don't know who it was as it was an anonymous review from a bride who voted me to win Best Make-Up Artist in the East Midlands at the Wedding Industry Awards!
READ MORE »Lizzie's wedding day
I've known Lizzie for quite a while as I work for the same company as her, and I'd done her make-up a few times for Flashes and Lashes' shoots. She emailed me in September 2014 to ask about wedding availability for August 2015 as she wanted to check if some of her favourite suppliers were available before she booked the venue... how honoured am I?!
READ MORE »My favourite makeup primers
Primers are a great part of my makeup kit, and I love telling people in my 1-2-1 lessons how they work and what they are all for. I have a range of my primers in my kit because I need to be prepared for all skin eventualities so you certainly won't need all of these.
READ MORE »Dry skin and make-up
There was once a girl with dry skin who thought she’d never find a foundation to ever make her skin look good. She searched for that wonder product for all her years, and never did her one true foundation come to being. Sad, the felt she’d never get good foundation coverage until she met her fairy make-up godmother who gave her some skincare advice...
READ MORE »Top 6 picks for the Illamasqua sale
As you know if you're a reader of my blog or have ever had a 1-2-1 make-up lesson with me, I adore Illamasqua products. They are cruelty-free, have a background in stage make-up (so their stuff stays put!), they have an extensive vegan collection and they actively encourage individuality - you want a deep sea blue and green lipstick? They've got it! Every year, Illamasqua have a January sale and I held out as long as I can because now I know that they'll keep adding things as the month goes on. I hopped over on Friday to have a browse through... Go. Go now. There are some AMAZING bargains!
READ MORE »jayerockett.com
I got to know Jaye through Twitter, as a blogger with a witty tongue and kind heart. She writes passionately and loves make-up; why wouldn't I love her?! We spoke about her dissertation piece in which she had to produce a magazine, and she asked if I'd write an article for it. I really enjoyed writing it so I've copied it below but you can see all things Jaye related on her blog here. (p.s. she does some AWESOME sale posts every now and then, keep your peepers out!)
READ MORE »2016 - that's a wrap!
I can remember starting this blog in late 2015 and writing up my review of the year and wondering how I was ever going to get to write a blog each week - well I've done it! I've managed 51 blogs in 52 weeks which is astounding for me; and there's more to come! I did a list back in August 2016 of everything I've done this year, so I've managed to add on the other months to compile the below list. Are you ready?!
READ MORE »Behind the scenes with Moo
In September 2020 I'll have been full-time self-employed for three years, and what a rollercoaster it's been!
I've done more one-to-one makeup lessons than ever, been a part of many more wedding mornings that I can remember, and done makeup for lots of exciting projects. I also won an award (Freelance Make Up Specialist of the Year 2018 at the English Hair and Beauty Awards!), and have JUST last week found out I'm a finalist for Bridal Makeup Specialist of the Year 2020 and the Make Up Awards.
I'll have been doing weddings for a decade this year, and 2020 has been shaping up so beautifully.
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