Category: Portfolio

I receive numerous enquires each day through Facebook, Instagram, emails, texts and phone calls. Each of those enquiries usually leads to back and forth conversations. Like a lot of small businesses I am a one woman show and at times just responding to enquires can take up a huge part of my day.
I am a Mum to two beautiful little girls, one of which is with me full time #24/7 #stagefiveclinger. I am very conscious of the time I spend on my phone while I am around my girls, so rather than picking up my phone every three minutes to respond to a message, I allocate a time each day to sit down at my computer and respond to all your enquiries. So if you don’t hear back from me straight away, know that I am most likely wrangling a cute, but very demanding, three year old and I will respond as soon as I can. I always endeavour to reply within 24hrs, so if you haven’t heard back from me please check your junk/others folders, otherwise please message again in case there is a glitch in the matrix.

Thanks so much for all your support x

Emmy’s eyes were prepped using @maccosmeticsaustralia Pro Paint Pot in “Groundwork” and created using the @smashboxcosmetics Covershot Matte Palette in the colours “Deadline”, “Angles”, “ Publisher” and “Werk it”. @erinbiggcosmetics Black Gel Liner on the upper lashline and lower waterline. @modelrocklashes individual lashes applied to the upper lashline. Brows filled using @anastasiabeverlyhills Brow Powder Duo in “Soft Brown” and tamed using @makeup_weapons Brow Balm. Velvety skin achieved by using the @smashboxcosmetics Photo Finish Primer, @meccacosmetica Lit from Within Illuminating Drops, @narsissist Sheer Glow Foundation, finished off with a dusting of @lauramercier Translucent Powder and @hourglasscosmetics Ambient Lighting Powder. Contour, blush and @meccacosmetica Enlightened Highlight on the cheeks. Lip is @maccosmeticsaustralia “Amourous” Lipstick.

Lets talk lipsticks. How do you choose your lip colour? Most women head to the makeup counter and proceed to swipe 79 different shades of lippy on the back of their hand, only to find the one that they end up purchasing doesn’t really look the same as it did on their hand. A super neat trick I learnt many years ago from one of the best makeup educators in the business @raemorrismakeup –  Instead of using the back of your hand (which has nude/neutral undertones), use the tip of your finger, where your fingerprint is, it is pretty close to the colour (blue/red undertone) and texture of your lips. If you don’t get the desired colour in one swipe, choose a different lipstick. You don’t want to be using half a lipstick each time you wear it. Besides, the more lippy you put on, the more lippy that comes off #probsonyourteeth. 

Lara’s eyes were prepped using @maccosmeticsaustralia Pro Paint Pot in “Layin Low” and created using the @toofaced Sweet Peach Palette in colours “Peach Pit”, “Caramelised”, “Georgia”, “Lucious” and “Cobbler”. @erinbiggcosmetics Black Gel Liner on the upper lashline and lower waterline. Brows filled using @anastasiabeverlyhills Brow Powder Duo in “Soft Brown” and tamed using @makeup_weapons Brow Balm. Velvety skin achieved by using the @smashboxcosmetics Photo Finish Primer, @meccacosmetica Lit from Within Illuminating Drops, @narsissist Sheer Glow Foundation, finished off with a dusting of @lauramercier Translucent Powder and @hourglasscosmetics Ambient Lighting Powder. Contour, blush and @meccacosmetica Enlightened Highlight on the cheeks. Lip is @maccosmeticsaustralia “Full Fuchsia” and @lorealaustralia “Intense Plum” Lipstick.

Falyn was a good 10klms out of her comfort zone sitting in my chair. She had never had her makeup done, let alone weerrrk the moves in front of the camera. She was incredibly nervous, but OMG, CHECK. OUT. THIS. BOSS!

My job as a Makeup Artist isn’t just about applying makeup, but making sure my client is comfortable and they leave feeling beautiful and confident within themselves. Those of you that know me personally know that I don’t take myself too seriously #refined#executive#bogan, and I try to make the experience as relaxed as possible. Its really just a solid hour of Dad jokes – or Mum jokes as they are referred to in our house.

Falyn’s eyes were prepped using @maccosmetics Pro Paint Pot in “Layin Low” and created using the @toofaced Born This Way Palette in colours “Truffle”, “Cocoa”, “Maple” and “Nude”, with @maccosmeticsaustralia “Woodwinked” on the mobile lid. @bobbibrownaustralia Black Ink Gel Liner on the upper lashline and lower waterline. Brows filled using @anastasiabeverlyhills Brow Powder Duo in “Soft Brown” and tamed using @makeup_weapons Brow Balm. Velvety skin achieved by using the @smashboxcosmetics Photo Finish Primer, @meccacosmetica Lit from Within Illuminating Drops, @narsissist Sheer Glow Foundation, finished off with a dusting of @lauramercier Translucent Powder and @hourglasscosmetics Ambient Lighting Powder. Contour, blush and @meccacosmetica Enlightened Highlight on the cheeks.

A client recently told me that she was taught to colour match foundation to the back of her hand, which I thought was a really bizarre concept. I mean, unless you are spending your days modelling the latest Tiffany & Co catalogue, your hand isn’t really near your face #donttouchyourface, so why would you colour match to it? I remember as a teenager being taught to colour match to your jawline – nope, we don’t do that now either. It turns out your neck is one of the palest parts of your body, thanks to your noggin shading it from the sun. You want your face and body to be the same colour, so we match your foundation to your chest area. Another way to check that you are all over this matchy matchy business is to turn your head to the side and rest your chin on your shoulder. Step back and have a look in the mirror – your forehead, chin, shoulder and arm should all be the same colour. Of course this theory all goes out the window if you have a cracking farmers tan like me.

How were you taught to colour match?

Claire’s eyes were prepped using @maccosmeticsaustralia Pro Paint Pot in “Groundwork” and created using the @toofaced Born This Way Palette in colours “Truffle”, “Cocoa” and “Nude”, with @maccosmeticsaustralia “Bronze Frost” on the mobile lid. @bobbibrownaustralia Black Ink Gel Liner on the upper lashline and lower waterline, mascara and @modelrocklashes individual lashes. Brows filled using @anastasiabeverlyhills Brow Powder Duo in “Soft Brown” and tamed using @makeup_weapons Brow Balm. Velvety skin achieved by using the @smashboxcosmetics Photo Finish Primer, @meccacosmetica Lit from Within Illuminating Drops, @narsissist Sheer Glow Foundation, finished off with a dusting of @hourglasscosmetics Veil Translucent Powder and Ambient Lighting Powder. Contour, blush and @meccacosmetica Enlightened Highlight on the cheeks. Lip is @maccosmeticsaustralia “Cream in your Coffee” Lipstick.

I was recently asked why I only post professional edited images on my socials and not quick snaps off my phone. There are a number of reasons I use professional images, the first and main reason is because my dodgy Sony Ericcsson from 1986 takes the crappest photos of all time, but it’s a great tool to actually call people with. I understand it’s a novel concept to use a camera to take a photo these days.

Secondly, I have a background in photography and graphic design, so to be able to combine all three brings me an immense amount of joy and pleasure. I would imagine it’s similar to the kind of pleasure you would feel if you were to have all three Hemsworths lined up in front of you.

And thirdly, I like it. I love that it looks professional, it’s the OCD in me.

I take all my portrait images myself, and also edit them myself, but I would like point out that I NEVER edit my makeup. I find the images that come straight out of the camera are flat and do not represent the actual colours in real life. I mainly edit the lighting and tweek the colours.

Emily’s eyes were slightly contoured using the @toofaced Born This Way palette in the colour “nude”. Natural lashes were curled with mascara applied. @maccosmeticsaustralia kohl liner in “Fascinating” applied to the lower waterline. Brows filled using @anastasiabeverlyhills Brow Powder Duo in “Soft Brown” and tamed using @makeup_weapons Brow Balm. Velvety skin achieved by using the @smashboxcosmetics Photo Finish Primer, @meccacosmetica Lit from Within Illuminating Drops, @narsissist Sheer Glow Foundation, finished off with a dusting of @hourglasscosmetics Ambient Lighting Palette. Contour, blush and @meccacosmetica Enlightened Highlight on the cheeks. Lip is @maccosmeticsaustralia “Full Fuchsia” Lipstick.

Ever since the beginning of time, aka: when I first moved out of home, my Mum would collect newspaper/magazine clippings of articles that she felt would be of interest to me. She would always send them to me, no matter where I lived in the world – she even posted them to me when I lived in London.

Last week she rocked up for babysitting duties with the standard handful of clippings. She showed me a makeup look, and I’m not sure what she saw, but she did that thing she does with her nose when she doesn’t like something. What I saw was a perfect wing, yeah it was electric blue, not a look you’d slap on to head down to Coles, but it was a superb application.

If you want it, I can do it. My makeup style is definitely ‘natural’, I love ‘barely there’ foundation, soft dewy skin and subtle eye makeup that enhances your natural beauty. But I’ve got skills I keep hidden away for special occasions, like tormenting my Mother, so if you’re feeling inclined to hit the local with an electric blue wing, I’m up for it.

(I’m predicting a shit tonne of newspapers on my doorstep after this little dig. Luv ya Mum, and your bloody newspapers). 

Lara’s eyes were slightly contoured using the @toofaced Born This Way palette in the colour “nude”. Mini wing applied using @inglot_australia Duraline to transform a dry powder shadow into a liquid liner. Brows filled using @anastasiabeverlyhills Brow Powder Duo in “Soft Brown” and tamed using @makeup_weapons Brow Balm. Velvety skin achieved by using the @smashboxcosmetics Photo Finish Primer, @meccacosmetica Lit from Within Illuminating Drops, @narsissist Sheer Glow Foundation, finished off with a dusting of @lauramercier Translucent Powder. Contour, blush and @meccacosmetica Enlightened Highlight on the cheeks. Lip is cult favourite @maccosmeticsaustralia “Velvet Teddy” Lipstick. 

I love using contrasting colours on the eyes, it really intensifies the colour and makes them pop. For hazel eyes that’s colours like dusty pink, burgundy, aubergine, and even purple. But the brief for this shoot was raw+emotional. I debated whether I should pull it all the way back to a barely there makeup, but I could see so much potential in Ella’s facial structure and eyes. So instead I decided to use complimentary colours on Ella’s hazel eyes, basically the colours of her eyes – brown, amber, rust and green all blended together in this beautiful smoky eye. I paired back on her gorgeous porcelain skin, leaving it raw and fresh, just adding a bit of colour on her cheeks, letting those sweet freckles shine through. What a beauty! 

Ella’s eyes were created using the @toofaced Sweet Peach Palette in colours “Tempting”, ”Charmed Im sure”, “Puree”, “Bless her Heart”, “Bellini” and “Caramelised”. Eyes prepped using @maccosmeticsaustralia Pro Paint Pot in “Painterly”. @bobbibrownaustralia Black Ink Gel Liner on the upper lashline and @maccosmeticsaustralia “Teddy” kohl liner on the lower waterline, mascara and @modelrocklashes indi lashes on the upper lashline. Brows filled using @anastasiabeverlyhills Brow Powder Duo in “Soft Brown” and tamed using @makeup_weapons Brow Balm. Velvety skin achieved by using the @smashboxcosmetics Photo Finish Primer, @meccacosmetica Lit from Within Illuminating Drops, @narsissist Sheer Glow Foundation, finished off with a dusting of @lauramercier Translucent Powder and @hourglasscosmetics Ambient Lighting Powder. Contour, blush and @meccacosmetica Enlightened Highlight on the cheeks. Lip is @maccosmeticsaustralia cult favourite “Velvet Teddy”.

The Rona pandemic has hit my little business hard. I’ve had all my bookings over a five month period either cancel or postpone. I decided to use the down time to have a good look through my portfolio and found there were quite a few gaps – looks that I haven’t demonstrated. My style is definitely “natural”, I believe makeup should enhance your features, not completely change how you look. However, if you aren’t demonstrating that you have the skills to achieve other looks, then people assume you can’t do it. So I’ve taken this opportunity to mix up my portfolio a bit to demonstrate a few different looks.
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Lips tend to be forgotten a lot of the time, they’re usually applied last, and in a rush. I loooooooove this classic look, the bare eye takes a back seat to let the bold lip do the talking. I remember @deltagoodrem wore this look on The Voice a few seasons back and my old man, being a connoisseur of all things makeup, reaaaaaalllly didn’t like it. And he wouldn’t let it go. What do you think? Maybe it’s a look you either love or hate?
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The eyes were softly contoured in using @maccosmeticsaustralia “Soft Brown” shadow and a light sweeping of mascara on Lara’s natural lashes. Brows shaped using @anastasiabeverlyhills Brow Palette and tamed using @makeup_weapons Brow Balm. Velvety skin achieved by using the @smashboxcosmetics Photo Finish Primer, @meccacosmetica Lit from Within Illuminating Drops, @narsissist Sheer Glow Foundation, finished off with a dusting of @lauramercier Translucent Powder. Contour, blush and @meccacosmetica “Enlightened” highlight on the cheeks. Lip is slaying courtesy of @maccosmeticsaustralia “Russian Red” mixed with a touch of @maccosmeticsaustralia “Full Fushcia”. Applied using @crownbrushaustralia

Eyes created by blending @maccosmeticsaustralia neutral browns in the eye socket and a dusty khaki over the lid. Slick wing using @bobbibrownaustralia black gel liner along the upper and lower lashes and waterline. A @maccosmeticsaustralia rose pink lip, blushing cheeks with a soft contour and highlight.