The Hunger Games Catching Fire preview

 

Tonight I was lucky enough to see The Hunger Games Catching Fire before it's release in the UK tomorrow. And..O...M...G!! It was amazing!! I was utterly engrossed and loved every minute of it. The makeup was outstanding. The fashion creations were drop dead gorgeous and the emotion, oh the emotion. It was so much more moving than the first film. I warn you that you will need tissues. Within 20 minutes of the film started tears were rolling down my cheeks. I've only even seen the first film once and yet I felt I knew the characters' like the back of my hand.

 

I was so absorbed in the film that I almost forgot I had handed my phone over before entering the screen. Yes you read that right. Before we were allowed into screen 3 of our Odeon cinema we had to hand over all recording devices. I thought there were cameras in the screen to be able to see if people were being 'naughty'? It was quite scary to think how much we really rely on our phones, I felt lost. I've never seen a screen empty so fast; people were almost jumping over one another to get there phones back. Then ofcourse they were all standing around seeing what they had missed out on in the virtual world over the last 2hrs 30mins.

 

You may have seen from my Twitter, Facebook and Instagram that I had been re-creating Jennifer Lawrence's red carpet makeup for the occasion. Save to say I didn't wear the wig to the cinema but the makeup turned out lovely. It still amazes me how makeup can transform my whole look. My website is now up and running if you'd like to check it out. Still a few creases to iron out with text, links and pictures but it's getting there. The web address is currently www.whereswendy.co.uk but it will be changing to www.wendyenglandmua.co.uk very soon.

 

Little Mix Jesy Makeup look

 

I finally got around to making my first YouTube video. I decided to recreate Jesy's Little Mix look following Pixiwoos steps on their YouTube. I swapped some of the products for my own and changed a couple of steps. I hope you like watching it as much as I enjoyed making it. It's a simple video with no speaking as I still feel very self-conscious about speaking to a camera. I have a deep voice you see and I think I sound miserable. I'll do one if people ask me to but for now here's my recreation of Pixiwoos Jesy look. You can find a list of all the products I used and links to the sites below.

It took me over half the day to film it, list all the products and upload it from my camera to my computer, edit and finally upload to YouTube. Do people really do this all the time? I found the experience exhausting and much prefer to write blog posts..

 

 

    Face Benefit Porefessional primer MAC face & body in N1 Real Techniques stippling brush e.l.f Complete Coverage Concealer in light L'Oreal Lumi magique highlighting concealer in ivory beige Crownbrush Concealer Brush MUA Undress your Skin highlighter e.l.f angled blush brush Sleek blush in pixie pink MAC Bronzer in Harmony Real Techniques blush brush   Eyes B. Stunning Eye Shimmer in Bittersweet MUA Heaven & Earth & Undressed palettes Crownbrush C139 crease brush e.l.f crease brush Maybelline Brow pencil in soft brown (used as eyeliner) Models Own eyeliner in black Rimmel Scandaleyes retro glam extreme black mascara   Lips Models Own lipliner in red Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick in 880 MUA Out there plumping lipgloss in Candy Pink   If anyone would like me to review any of the products listed please leave a comment and I'll step right to it.  

 oX Wendy Xo

How to HAC

 

 

Last night I posted a before and after shot of my HAC (that's highlight and contour for those of you not in the know) via my Instagram. Many of you asked how I done it and also how I managed to get my brows so thick. I'll do a separate post on my brows. For now I want to focus on HAC-ing.

 

So what is HAC-ing? It's used among many celebrities and applied by their makeup artists. It helps define and accentuate the facial features. Always wanted a slimmer nose? Done! Want higher cheekbones? Easy! Makeup is used to create the illusion of flawless skin. Once you try this you'll be addicted. You will have seen HAC-ing on people like Kim Kardashian and Mila Kunis.

 

 



photos taken from the Daily Mail online

 

This makeup application can take 10 years off you if done right. I've always hated my nose and this technique is like a magic trick for my face. No plastic surgery needed. So the easiest way to show you is with a step by step guide. It takes a lot of practise and I wouldn't expect anyone to wear it on a daily basis. Be warned you will use ALOT of makeup for this look.

 

 

Prep your face with a good primer, I use Smashbox Photo Finish primer (£25)

 

Use any corrective creams you may need and apply your normal foundation. I use MAC Face and Body foundation in N1 (£21.50). I also have to conceal any spots, which I have many of at the moment. Apply highlighter in a 'v' from the corner of your nose to just beyond your eyes. Stay off the side of your nose or you'll make it appear wider. I took mine right up under my eyes as I have terrible baggies. Apply in another 'v' on your forehead and under your mouth. I apply above my lip also to give the appearance of a fuller lip. I mix my own highlighter using L'Oreal Lumi Magique pen (£8) and a very light foundation.

 

Add contour with a dark foundation, 3-4 shades darker than your normal shade. Any darker and you'll be verging on the 'orange' look which isn't flattering and won't blend well. Apply it where ever you want you face to appear slimmer. In my case I want higher cheekbones, smaller chin and nose. Applying it to the outside of the face creates depth.

 

I'm showing you how I've started to blend. The trick is to blend upwards to avoid losing the lines which define your look. 

 

Everything is now blended. It looks slightly darker than my neck due to using colours darker than I normally would to create more definition. I was starting to lose light at this point so finished up my makeup and took the last picture in my conservatory.

 

As you can see my nose looks slimmer and my cheekbones higher. Below is a full product list of the colours used to complete the look.

 

Urban Decay NAKED palette

Benefit They're Real Mascara

Sleek Dip it Eyeliner in black

Sleek Blusher in Pixie Pink

Topshop Lip liner in Fearless

L'Oreal Glam Shine gloss in Fresh Fuchsia

 

 

Halloween Makeup

 

Visit my Webstagram for a short video of the finished makeup http://web.stagram.com/p/578976528829104925_206037415

 

Better late than never but here's what I was upto on Halloween. I didn't have a party to go to and my boyfriend is pretty much anti-halloween so I took to my makeup bag and had a play around to see what I could create. The most popular looks I've seen this year were witches cat, vampires and zombies. What did you become?

 

I was inspired by the broken China Dolls which lots of makeup artists have been doing on Instagram. I love the idea of your face being that fragile. Instead of going glam and slapping on the pink makeup to look like a doll I choose to go a bit darker. It's more Frankinsteins Wife than Hello Dolly but it worked. It wasn't until I had uploaded the images that I could see I hadn't blended the white around my lips but I guess it adds to the look. The top photo was edited using my favourite online tool PicMonkey with the vampire filter. The second photo I used my hand held mirror and placed my camera behind my head (double-jointedness not needed honestly). It almost looks like the mirror is cracked instead of my face.

David Bowie Makeover

 

FACE! How big does my face look in these pictures. A rare chance to see me close up and playing about with makeup. So why David Bowie? He played a big part in my life in my early 20s. I wouldn't leave the house without his music on my ipod. I love his quirky, androgynous look and his eyes entrance me.

Eyebrow cover up makeup

 

 

Scary isn't it? Finally I got around to buying myself some glue to be able to make this look. I have spent weeks watching YouTube on how to do a good cover up and yet kept forgetting to buy the one essential product needed.

 

Cover-ups have always intrigued me but it wasn't something I was ever taught. There were weeks of several failed attempts before I could complete this look successfully enough to write about it for you all. I'm a huge fan of learning new techniques and love playing around with makeup. Watching my brows disappear before my eyes gave me immense joy! I'll give you a brief 'how to' on how I achieved this look so you budding Makeup Artists can have as much fun as I did.