I had the pleasure last week, of doing some Bridal/wedding make-up training for a budding Make-up artist, Emma Knight.  Emma came all the way from Suffolk to train with me and apparently has been a fan of my work for the past 2 years!  Emma has trained with the fantastic Pixiwoo and wanted more of a specialised make-up training in the art of Bridal/wedding make-up.  It was a full day!  We started at 9.30 am and after discussing the aims and objectives of the day we set to work!  I first did a demo on Bridal make-up on a model and then Emma did the same afterwards – I gave lots of encouragement and advice along the way.  We finished at 3.30 p.m.

After lunch I had a mature model booked in and I demonstrated Mother-of-the-Bride make-up and then Emma again, did the same after me.  After this I gave her a run-down on all of my most-used products and lots of tips too!  Emma was very eager to learn and I was very impressed with her willingness to learn.  When Emma arrived back home she wrote the following about me – “I have just returned from a ‘Bridal Bootcamp’ with the amazing Tina Brocklebank, who has really put me through my paces. Tina has over 23 years experience in this industry so there is nothing she does not know about Bridal make-up. Tina is also a Bobbi Brown guru.  Thank you so much I had a great day and learned A LOT!  I really can’t thank you enough, you made everything seem so straight forward and have given me the confidence boost that I really needed.”

If you would like some Bridal/wedding make-up artist training, please contact me for further details and I can cater it for your level of skill and requirements.

Mature makeup/Mother of the Bride. Mrs Johnson.

Busy day today, writing for my August column for the Journal magazine.  I have decided to write about mature ladies and make-up.  I do lots of make-up lessons and I love being able to help mature ladies with looking their best.  After being trained by Bobbi Brown I fully understood the method of how to make older ladies look amazing using the right tools and products.

Its all about “making you look like you…but better”.  Sounds cheesy I know, but it is so true.  You don’t have to apply  a lot of make-up just the right make-up! and you will look amazing.

I love using Bobbi Brown make-up still to this day, on myself and on my clients, since I worked for them over 15 years ago now!  It is just so easy to use and helps you look your best with minimal effort.

The photo shows Mrs Johnson on her daughters’ wedding day and Mrs Johnson was nervous to have her make-up done, (this is normal for me!  I am used to people thinking I am going to make them look too made-up as they have had bad experiences maybe…but no, its about using the right make-up.)  There is a stigma still attached to being a “Make-up artist”, and I have strived over the years to be the best I could possibly be…and always learning. I think to be a great make-up artist you have to be able to understand art and be able to adapt to anything make-up wise, from teenage make-up, to covering up tattoos or even body painting…it is a highly skilled job, (without blowing my own trumpet!) but it does take years…and I am still learning after 23 years!  I like to use the Bobbi Brown method of application, she calls it the “Make-up facelift”, and it works everytime.  My clients are always thrilled with the results!

The beautiful Desiree, (see before and after make-up photo.)  Desiree wanted a very dramatic bridal make-up so I used the Louise Young smoky eyes palette and Bobbi Brown make-up, then I finished with using some false eyelashes.

Bobbi Brown goodies

As a Make-up artist I am constantly updating my make-up kit and keeping up with the trends and changes in new ingredients.  I thought I would give the new Bobbi Brown compact Long-wear foundations a try.  I must say they are fantastic from my point of view, as they are more portable and compact, easier to use and apply. After trying the product on myself I must say, this product is a winner for me and I will certainly be buying more!  It just looks like skin when you put it on with the dry sponge, that comes with it.  This is really good if you have oily skin, not so good if you have dry skin as it is oil-free, however, it stays on all day and you can build up the coverage you want.

I also bought some Bobbi Brown tinted moisturiser as with Prom make-ups coming up, teens have good, young skin and just don’t need a lot of foundation usually, so a nice sheer base always works well.

I also bought some Bobbi Brown high shimmer lip glosses, (I love Bare sparkle), its a very sparkly, nude gloss, beautiful for Brides.  To add to my collection of blushers I bought the Coral shimmer blush from Bobbi Brown and also some Face oil and the Repair balm which is amazing too, if you have very dry skin.

I am looking forward to doing a wedding tomorrow in Barnetby.  The Bride is after a very dramatic look, (think Beyoncé.)  So I can’t wait to be doing a smoky eye and lots of false lashes!

I am also very impressed with the Maybelline Colour Tattoo cream gel eyeshadows, I was watching the amazing Charlotte Tilbury on one of her tutorials and she was using one, I bought 4 as they are gorgeous! and have 24 hour staying power! (but who wants it to stay on for 24 hours?!)

I am looking forward to writing my next article for the Journal magazine, for my regular column.  This time I am going to write about Mature ladies make-up, as I love doing make-up for mature ladies, they just always look so wonderful!  So keep your eyes peeled for some top tips about mature make-up. x

Tina Brocklebank

Just thought I would write a quick post about products I love to use on myself -

Bobbi Brown moisturising balm SPF 25, Becca skin perfector, Illamasqua highlighter in Gleam, Anastasia Brow wizz,  Bobbi Brown cream eyeshadows and gel liner,  Max Factor mascara, Bobbi Brown bronzer and blush, Bobbi Brown lip pencil, lip colour and lip gloss.