Uncategorized

Top Tips for Every Bride to be!

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Hi Girls,

So most of my work is Bridal. I love that I get to spend the morning with so many people surrounding by excitement and happiness its such a pleasure. Along the way I’ve seen a lot and gained a few tips that might help some brides to be.

Preperation :

This isn’t just for your skin and your body! Most women once they are engaged will go mad organising, pricing, browsing wedding sites etc. That’s great but I know from experience it can get a little overwhelming can’t it? Your best friend will be your “List” . First off write everything that pops into your head down on that list.

Venue, Date, Flowers, Bridal Party, Dress, Rings, Bridesmaid, Hen party, Honeymoon etc.

Its just a list to get you brainstorming, let’s say to get you started. Now out of that list you start with your most important, which I reckon is the date! Speak to your partner and come up with a date, call any venues your are interested in and ask them if this date is free, there is no point calling in to view a venue and then to be told your date is actually booked out already.

Once the date is booked you can start on all the others. A lot of people use social media to find their ideal suppliers, this is great but I cannot stress enough that you should pick up the phone or visit your suppliers, messages through facebook are great to start but you need to establish a rapport with your supplier, your trusting them to come up trumps on the biggest day of your life.

A lot of suppliers request deposits to hold your date, make sure that you have a paper trail to follow, if your paying a deposit, get receipts and keep note of the total amount and how much you have paid, another good idea is to find out whether they want payment before or on the day, if its on the day, you will want to have each suppliers payment in envelopes with their names and amount clearly marked on it. I had an instance once where I was paid on the day for completing bridal party makeup and the amount was clearly marked on the envelope when I opened it, it was short €100! It was so embarrassing for both myself and the bride, it transpires her dad took money out to pay a supplier and forgot to put it back, so definitely seal those envelopes once the correct amount is inside!

Keep in touch :

Don’t be afraid after booking a supplier to keep in touch, sometimes you might book a supplier a year or two before the big day, there is no harm in keeping in touch with them, if you have any questions or ideas etc. The majority of us are delighted to hear from you and to help in anyway we can.

Don’t take on too much:

I have seen brides work themselves into the ground, be it from making fairy light backdrops to deciding to do their bridal parties makeup themselves. Ladies sometimes it can become too much, and whilst you might relish the idea of making your own 4 tiered cake, let me tell you once the week before the wedding comes, it is all systems go. So please please be sure that you are not taking on too much. You want to enjoy the day and also the build up to it.

The Beauty side:

Now I know we all try and keep our skin as well as we can in the run up to the big day but no matter how much you look after it, or drink 4 litres of water a day, if your stressed your skin will show it.

If you are thinking of getting a spray tan then I recommend you get on for your makeup trial. I have had so many brides that haven’t realised or even thought of it and come to me in their natural skin tone and then say “Oh I will be a lot darker on the day” meaning that your finished look is going to look a lot different when you are 2 or 3 shades darker on your big day, so its always advisable to get your tan trial a day or two before your make up trial.

Lashes: Some ladies aren’t sure if they will want false lashes on the day, a trial is the perfect time to try them out, you can go home and spend the day and evening with these on and decide if you would like them on your big day. Also if you are thinking of getting semi perm faux minx lashes, get these for your trial or hen, I have had some brides who having got them done just days before their wedding, with clumps of them missing, luck job I was able to fill them in, just a note to find a reputable lash extensionist and preferably try them out before your big day.

On the Day Itself:

Ok so the day has arrived, obviously it would be great if you could get the best nights sleep the night before, but come on now, who actually sleeps great before their wedding, I didn’t.

The only good thing is that you literally run on adrenaline no matter how tired you are, you’ve waited for this day all your life so a lack of sleep aint gonna ruin it for you now! A handy thing I saw a bride with was some glucose sweets, by Lucozade. She said they perked her energy up a bit after being up half the night with a small toddler and by god was she zipping around that morning.

Don’t skip breakfast! The last thing you might want is food when your feeling nervous and excited, so instead of a big greasy fry, have some croissants or scones in. You need a bit of fuel in you for the long day ahead.

Don’t stress about time. Your suppliers are well used to handling this. Once they have your ceremony times and details of bridal party etc they will look after this for you. Your job is to relax, your makeup artist and hairdresser will schedule your time for you that morning, they know what they are doing, so just go with the flow.

Delegate – Don’t expect people to know what to do, they will want to help but with the house full and people going back and forth it can be easy for things to get lost in translation. If you have small kids, ask someone specifically to keep an eye on them. Ask someone else if they will help out with the breakfast etc. Genuinely people love to help out.

Lastly, try and remember there are no rules, this is your big day, you’ve spent time and money on it and it goes in a blink of an eye. Don’t cry if the florist has forgotten the page boys corsage, no one will notice it! Any little mishaps that happen can be dealt with after the big day, you can of course contact any suppliers if you feel they didn’t deliver and come to some sort of arrangement, enjoy your day as the hours go by so quickly.

And remember the real reason why you’ve worked so hard to pull all this together, which is one I think people loose sight of in amidst the madness. Your marrying the love of your life, you want to enjoy the day but remember so many others are looking forward to witnessing your marriage also. Enjoy every minute of it.

Stacey x

Products that don’t cost the world that I would use in my Pro Kit

I just wanted to do up a quick little mini blog post of products I have that I really adore, that I’m not afraid to use on my brides or clients, because I trust them, I’ve used them, they have wowed me and I have probably bought multiple times.

Usually it is a case of if you buy shite, you buy twice, but there is always a few exceptions to the rule, here’s mine :

Sleek Solstice Palette Highlighter – I’ve used this on everyone, brides etcAs you can see its well loved. I use the lightest on in the inner corner of the eye, under the brow etc. I use the peach and lavender shades as highlight on the face. Usually €13.49, its on sale on http://www.sammccauley.com for €6.49! Bargain. 20180831_170949

Rimmel for Kate Moss Rock N Roll Nude 54 : This is thee most versatile nude I’ve ever used. I use this on brides all the time and its great as it doesn’t cost them a fortune to pick up one for top ups. Its a pinky creamy nude and it lasts well and doesn’t dry out your lips. You can get it loads of places but in Boots its €7.49 20180831_171039

MakeUpGeek Single Shadow Pans : Oh these are one of my true loves when it come’s to eyeshadows. They are super super pigmented and literally as smooth as butter. I’d nearly go as far to say they are better than MAC especially when you counter in price. They have a massive range of shades, my favourite and I must have gone through 10 of them is Dessert Sands ( fab as a transition shade) and Shimma Shimma ( a pinky shimmer fab on the lids). I get mine on http://www.beautybay.com priced between €5.50-5.95 each) 20171127_150515

Rimmel Wake Me Up Foundation : I will wear this any day I’m not wearing tan which is usually weekdays except Friday especially days where I’m doing school runs. It hasn’t a great shade range, which is why I haven’t bothered to try a darker shade, but it literally does wake me up, well my skin up when I apply it in the mornings. Its light , smells lovely, has a slight iridescence to it and blends perfectly into my skin, so I look alive and kicking doing the school run, ~~most mornings .~~ I buy mine in http://www.sammccauley.com when they have 3 for 2, so I always get this and my Kate Moss lippie! Result. €11.50

Kiko Ever Lasting Colour Lip liner : I swear, I have MAC pencils that I’ve abandoned since I got this liner, I got it on hols, in shade 420 Rosy Brown, and its come everywhere with me since. Its retractable so no paring! Great shade range, and if you sign up to http://www.kikocosmetics.com , click on Ireland and sign up for their newsletter you get €5 off your first order over €30. This brand is serious quality for great prices. Lip liner is €4.95

Revolution Conceal & Correct Concealer: I am loving this concealer, it gives good coverage and doesn’t budge beneath my eyes or disappear into any lines. It has loads of shades, and I think I might buy the darker one, to maybe use as a contour. I get mine in Sam McCauleys but they are everywhere at the minute. €4.99 20180831_171234

Kiko Invisible Touch Face Fixing Powder: I usually get a little bit scared of powders on my own face, makes me feel a bit furry or something, like a peach haha! This is great, it leaves a soft matte finish which is lovely and light and colourless so sets any makeup great. Its cute the way its packaged with a little puff also. €12.95

Ok ladies, that’s all I have in my bag of tricks tonight, did I say something about a little mini blog post? Mmmm I’ve been ages doing this, I may get my blogging skills looked at. If you have any questions about any of these, give me a shout on my Snap/ Insta or Facebook , Stacey ❤

Becoming a Makeup Artist

When I started doing makeup back in 2013, I really hadn’t a clue where to go or start. I knew I wanted to do makeup but I hadn’t the experience or the proper skills to do it professionally.

Its pretty daunting that every where you turn there seems to be courses offering to make you a QUALIFIED MUA IN 3 MONTHS!! Or some even in 2 days….. How do you know where to go or which one to choose and which one to give your hard earned money away to.

First off, I had no interest in the beautician side of things, I didn’t want to wax or do facials etc, I just purely wanted to do makeup. I hadn’t much time as having two small kids and helping my husband run his construction company I hadn’t the option of enrolling to a full time course, plus living in South Kildare I hadn’t many options course wise only to travel to Dublin where there are loads of courses.

I chose to do a 2 week intensive course in LA College of Creative Arts in Dublin. It was over €1500 and that included a set of makeup brushes and a start off kit . Looking back these were your average white label products but I had literally nothing, apart from my personal makeup so it was a start.

If I am honest apart from learning about hygiene and skin types and makeup formulas i.e which products suit which skin type, I didn’t learn a whole lot, obviously 2 weeks isn’t a lot of time and although we practised on our models, it just wasn’t enough time to become a “Professional Makeup Artist”.

after I finished the course, I still hadn’t a clue how I was going to become a MUA. Looking at all the talented makeup artists out there, I really started to despair. Here I was late 20’s and only pursuing something I loved at this stage in my life. Another hindrance was living in the countryside and Carlow town being my closest shopping / business area, there wasn’t a lot of makeup counters willing to take on a trainee or if they were the pay was dismal.

In college, we had a little competition to win some makeup that I was desperate to win, they wanted us to come up with an online presence, a name for blogging and facebook that we could use to start off our makeup careers. Again I was stumped, I tried to think of a name, StaceyDoyle Makeup, Makeup by Stacey, on and on, no I couldn’t think of anything. At that time I was following “The Makeup Fairy” and I said right the dead line is nearly up for this competition and I really need that prize, so was born the fairly in- original The Face Fairy! Anyways, I won the competition and I was thrilled, and never really gave much more thought to my “new” online brand name.

I started to do makeup on friends and family and slowly started to build up a kit. There is so many brands out there at the minute it can be hard to figure out what to use. So I will tell you what the absolute musts are to have in your kit if you want to start charging for makeup, see below.

makeupessentials

I hope this has helped anyone who is thinking of becoming a makeup artist. All I can add is, practice, practice, practice. Don’t be afraid to go outside your comfort zone, try new things and get a feel for what you really love. And most of all don’t be afraid to ask questions. The majority of people are willing to help if they can.

I’m here if anyone needs to ask anything!

Stacey x

My first Blog! I’ve bit the bullet

Okay I’ve been threatening to do this for a long time….

Why has it taken me so long, simply because I felt why would anyone want to read my blog? Then I realised that a blog isn’t simply for others it’s also for yourself.

I like to read lots of different content on the web, from beauty to cooking to travel to parenting so I hope there is room to squeeze another blogger in there aka Me!

Lets start with a bit about myself…

I am 33 years old, mother of two, originally from Limerick City but living in South Kildare. I am a Makeup artist mostly doing bridal and I also help run my husbands construction company. Most of you are probably thinking ” Why on earth would you add a blog to all that” Well I love to give tips, share advice, make people laugh and I have seen lately that so many bloggers/ influencers have been lured to the dark side i.e their content seems more about making money and advertising than actually offering hand on heart reviews and advice.

Well I have never been paid/ sent a product before and I most certainly would not recommend anything I do not personally love or have used.

Anyways like I said I have no experience in blogging, this is my very first post so I am now going to hit that publish button. I hope I will enjoy this as much as I think and hope I will.

Stacey x