I would just like to apologise to anyone who has sent me an email over the past 10 days and has not received a response. I was unaware that problems with my website hosting had prevented my emails coming through to me. It is resolved now and I have received all the emails this morning so I will respond to them all by the end of the day.

I am so sorry for the delay in replying to your enquiries, but I hope everyone has been enjoying the glorious sunshine!

Sarah x

On Saturday I did the wedding makeup for Caroline, her mum and two bridesmaids at Plum Park Hotel near Towcester. It was a lovely relaxed morning for the girls - lots of pampering, Haribo eating and champagne drinking! Congratulations Caroline!

It was the first time I’d visited Plum Park and it seems like such a lovely wedding venue. It’s set away from the main road surrounded by fields, and the view from the bedroom that the girls were getting ready in was fantastic.

In other news, I’ve started using the Boots No7 Protect and Pefect serum, so I’ll let you know how I get on!

I just want to say a massive thank you to the Hair Gallery in Rugby for hosting an amazing Wedding Open Day on Sunday. The day was a great success and it was lovely to meet the team at the Hair Gallery and all the brides that came to make the most of the advice and free booze that was on offer!
For more information about the Hair Gallery, please visit their website.

Don’t forget, I’ll also be exhibiting tomorrow evening (Thursday, 4th April) from 4pm until 10pm at the Granville @ Barford, Warwickshire. It will be the perfect opportunity to meet me for a chat about your wedding and your requirements if you’re thinking about booking me.

I might also treat you to some marshmallows if you show up

One of my brides has been featured in April 2008’s Wedding Ideas Magazine! Have a look at pages 172-175 for Joanne & Neil.

Joanne’s beauty tip;

“If you’re not used to wearing very much make-up day-to-day then I would definitely recommend having it done professionally on the day. Not only will it look better than you could have done yourself, but it will also take the strain away when you’re getting ready.”

Over the next couple of weeks I’ll be exhibiting at a couple of fayres and will be featured in a few wedding publications, so keep your eyes peeled!

Sunday, 30th March 12pm-4pm - The Hair Gallery, Rugby

The Hair Gallery in Rugby are hosting a relaxed Wedding Open Day. You will be able to chat to Louise and her team and get inspiration for your jewellery, lingerie, wine and champagne, and of course, your make-up! For more information, please visit The Hair Gallery

Thursday, 3rd April 4pm-10pm - The Granville in Barford, Warwickshire

This fayre will be on from 4pm onwards so you can pop along after work to meet potential suppliers and be inspired for your wedding day… and as it’s a pub you can stop for a drink afterwards! You can visit The Granville @ Barford’s website for more information and it will be great to see you there.

Over the past couple of weeks I’ve been busy doing lots of make-up lessons and trials, but I’ve also had the pleasure of doing make-up for two weddings. On 15th March, Rony got married in the most beautiful red dress at the Lime Trees Hotel in Northampton and on 22nd March Gemma got married at the Woodside in Kenilworth with pretty snow falling on and off throughout the day. Congratulations Gemma and Rony x

I made it my New Year’s Resolution this year to start weeding out those products in my kit that aren’t cruelty free. And it’s proving to be harder than I thought it would be to create an Animal Friendly professional kit.

So many make-up companies still fund testing on animals, which seems incredible when, according to PETA, there are more reliable, alternative methods of testing available.

The following is taken from a PETA factsheet at Caring Consumer.

Besides saving countless animal lives, alternatives to animal tests are efficient and reliable. Unlike crude, archaic animal tests, non-animal methods usually take less time to complete, cost only a fraction of what the animal experiments they replace cost, and are not plagued with species differences that make extrapolation difficult or impossible. Effective, affordable, and humane research methods include studies of human populations, volunteers, and patients, as well as sophisticated in vitro, genomic, and computer-modeling techniques.

Forward-thinking companies are exploring modern alternatives. For example, Pharmagene Laboratories, based in Royston, England, is the first company to use only human tissues and sophisticated computer technologies in the process of drug development and testing. With tools from molecular biology, biochemistry, and analytical pharmacology, Pharmagene conducts extensive studies of human genes and how drugs affect those genes or the proteins they make. While some companies have used animal tissues for this purpose, Pharmagene scientists believe that the discovery process is much more efficient with human tissues. “If you have information on human genes, what’s the point of going back to animals?” says Pharmagene cofounder Gordon Baxter.

Fortunately I do have products from ’safe’ companies such as Urban Decay, Smashbox, Face Atelier and Make Up For Ever but there are so many other brands in my kit that make fantastic products but need to go.

I’m having the most trouble with mascaras. Waterproof mascaras cause enough trouble as it is, but trying to find a good cruelty free one seems impossible. If anyone has any ideas I’d love to know!

But I’ll keep going until I can eventually say my kit is Animal Friendly. It will take time, but I’ll get there and it will be worth it.

I would love to hear from anyone with advice or any other feedback on animal friendly products, so please feel welcome to leave a comment below.

Thanks,

Sarah

February was jam packed with make-up trials for weddings this year. It’s been fantastic to meet all the brides to be who I have previously only chatted to over the phone or on email. It has quietened now so I can finally catch up with my accounts, paper work… all the boring stuff

It was a brilliant start to March doing Kath’s wedding make-up at Dodmoor House near Weedon, Northants on Saturday. It’s such a beautiful venue, the sun was shining (again!) and Kath was looking gorgeous. Congratulations Kath!

Due to popular demand I have introduced two new wedding and special occasion services.

The first one being a complete personal assistant service on the wedding morning. After applying your make-up I will be available to help you get dressed, pack your hand bag, make phone calls, organise the bridal party, make drinks, help you and your dress into your car and lock up your house… whatever you need help with! This service will be available for an extra £25 (for upto 45 minutes) and will ensure that the morning runs smoothly and stress free.

The second new service is the Evening Make-up Service where I can return to you to create a different look for your party and/or provide a ‘freshen up’ service for you and your guests. Usually the freshen up service is offered in the ladies’ Powder Room or in a room provided by your venue. This service is calculated based on your individual requirements, so please get in touch if you would like a quote. It’s definitely a service that will impress your guests!

Today I did the makeup for Jennie and three of her bridesmaids in Flore, Northants. Jennie was getting married at the local church and is having her reception at Fawsley Hall.

The sun is shining and I hope she is having the most amazing day.

Congratulations Jennie!