Annabel Hornsby Hair and Make-Up Artist

It’s on everyone’s lips (literally) with the excitement of the jubilee celebrations coming up and the big ‘cake off’ on GMTV recently. Don’t know about you but I’m quite partial to a slice of cake with my afternoon cuppa. And as luck would have it I am working with the lovely Rachel Allen on her new book … you guessed it, ‘CAKE’! We shot the stills for the book on location a few weeks ago and I will be doing her hair and makeup for the filming part, when we are on location in Winchester in a couple of weeks. So excited. I will keep you posted on twitter…

BRIDES

glamorous spring bride at Chewton Glen...

Wedding season has started in earnest and I’m now fully booked for 2012 (few spaces for those winter wedding brides!). Myself and my assistant will be attending to brides wedding hair and makeup needs across Dorset, Salisbury, Hampshire and London. Styles popular this year are soft vintage up do’s, and of course the half-up, half-down in homage to Kate and Pippa Middleton’s style last year. Fresh flowers incorporated into the brides hair makes for such a romantic, country feel and compliments most hair styles but my tip is to keep the flowers small and understated.

lovely hair accessory made by the bride herself..

Rock My Wedding have featured 2 of my brides in the last few months. Checkout the links below!

http://www.rockmywedding.co.uk/the-perfect-match/

http://www.rockmywedding.co.uk/bring-me-sunshine/

Exquisite Bridal Couture (www.exquisitebrides.co.uk) and myself are getting together in the next few weeks to do a shoot to showcase some lovely new dress designers she has in stock and I will be creating some glamorous Hollywood hairstyles. We will be posting pictures on Facebook!

a smokey eye for my gorgeous July Tuscany bride Alex

TUTORIALS

As you know I am passionate about teaching people the art of makeup application and some of the tricks of the trade. The most common frustration that most of my clients have is the minefield of products that face them when they go to a makeup counter and the costly mistakes they have made i.e. foundation colour too dark or to heavy, eye shadows that are fine for a glamorous party but no good for every day quick makeup. I was chuffed to receive an email from a client who had gone away and used the skills I had taught her with the essential products she needed.

“Hi Annabel,I just wanted to say thank you for my really informative make up session! I enjoyed it very much indeed and learnt loads. I used all my new techniques (and products) both nights I went out and received so many compliments it was amazing!! You are brilliant! Thanks so much!!Best regards, Pearl” (Dorset)

MAKEUP BAG ESSENTIALS

If you have the following 5 key items in your bag you can create a quick, healthy looking complexion that makes you feel and look awake even if you did just get up 30 minutes ago!

eyelash curlers
under eye concealer (try Clinique airbrush concealer)
mascara (high street brands like maybelline are great)
cream blusher (try Bobby Brown pot rouge as you can use it on your cheeks and lips!)
Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream

keeping it simple with a ballet bun for this August 2012 bride..

lastly…..

some of you who have been following me on twitter may have seen the odd picture thrown in of my little buddy Saba.. for those of you who have yet to meet my little 4 legged hairy friend.. here are some piccies you may have missed!

Congrats to the Queen! 60 years on the throne… now where’s that slice of CAKE!

AMHx

squeezed into the bathroom applying makeup to a bridesmaid!

A new blog for the New Year – although I just checked the calender and today is the 1st February already!

There is no better way to get you out of the winter doldrums than by drooling over the ice cream colour palettes of this spring’s collections. The makeup on the catwalks focused on pinks, sky blues, peaches and apricots – like the best candy store in town.

With Wedding season fast upon me for 2012 I will be going for a fresh natural look on my brides. I will be creating dewy skin and mixing pinks and peaches to give the cheeks that pop of colour. I’m a real believer of brides looking natural, but still polished and confident. Let the ‘inner glow’ shine through!

BROWS! BROWS! BROWS! I can’t stress enough how important it is to have well groomed brows, it not only frames the eyes and face but completes and compliments the overall makeup. The trend this year is to have them fuller and more defined. Check out www.hdbrows.com.

BELLA’s tips!

- keep hydrated for healthy looking skin, especially when our heating is up full blast to keep out the cold – it can dry out the skin.

- keep lips in good condition so that lipstick or gloss sits nicely on those lips. I actually use my toothbrush to exfoliate them after i’ve brushed my teeth at night! But Elizabeth Arden 8 hour cream does the job just as well or do both!

- for long lasting makeup use a good primer. There are lots to chose from on the highstreet but I really like Laura Mercier ‘hydrating primer’ (www.spacenk.com)

BELLA’s favourite products at the moment!

- Bobby Brown pot rouge – mix pinks and peaches to get a lovely pop on those cheeks

- YSL waterproof mascara in a plum or brown – it creates a slightly softer look than black and I use that a lot with my bridal makeup

- Nars lip gloss – can’t leave the house without ‘Chihuahua’! (www.spacenk.com)

- Laura Mercier’s ’secret camouflage’ or BB creamy concealers, you’ll be amazed how much more awake you will look in the morning if you use a concealer under the eye.

NEW products I like!

Anyone seen the new nail varnishes on www.topshop.com? Iced Lilac and Celestial are fabulous.. bring on the spring and those daffodils!

'celestial' www.topshop.com

Finally…

The fashion colours for this spring remind me of Swizzles Matlow love hearts (www.lovehearts.com). OOOh now there’s an idea with Valentines Day around the corner.. hmmm. However more urgent matters await me as I’m currently finding myself wanting to dial the number of my colourist and go blonde again!! (yes blonde is back in fashion). If you’re daring enough to make the dramatic change then go and see Brooke at (www.fourlondon.com), I think they are the best hair colour specialists in Mayfair, London.

'love hearts'

There is so much more to write but I am dashing out the door to meet a bride and discuss her look for her up and coming wedding at Chewton Glen (www.chewtonglen.com). Watch this space as next time I will be writing about my 5 steps to quick easy makeup and the products I recommend plus a whole lot more!

Until then… Bellax

CAKE! CAKE! CAKE!

Welcome to my very first BLOG!