One of my favourite parts of makeup is the transformation process – I love working with faces and with some very simple steps watch the face take shape and come alive! I love creating simple natural looks, which even tough require everything from primer and concealer to brows and lips, can really transform a face and make someone feel and look a million dollars! These five looks are all about natural beaut perfect for every day but most importantly they would be perfect for any Bridal Look! The demonstrate how simple makeup steps can make a woman’s face look absolutely beautiful! Enjoy. Aoifex

Bobbi Brown always insisted that one of the main elements of a beautiful makeup is blush! If applied correctly it finishes off a makeup beautifully and brings life to the face. I love how this look is finished perfectly with Desert Rose Blush and Pink Glisten on the lips!

This is a very natural look but I love how simple things from the correct under-eye concealer to the right powder, eyebrow definition and blusher can brighten and lift the face!

This Look is all about the skin – Foundation should only be used to even out skin tone as you can see on Daniella above she has great skin to start with but the foundation used simply evened out the discouloration around her nose and cheeks and gave her a gorgeous dewy finish. The most important thing with this look is you can still see her skin and gorgeous freckles! Add a pop of colour to the cheeks and a natural lip colour for a natural every day look – gorgeous!

Eyeliner is one of my favourite things – gorgeous strong eyeliner on the top lid to really open your eyes. This look was created by sweeping Bobbi Brown’s Bone eyeshadow all over the lid then Slate eyeshadow was applied from the lashline to just above the crease of the eye finished off with a line of Black Ink Gel Eyeliner!

And finally – a very simple ‘elegant’ look which can be worn by any age. Gabriella in the picture above is only 18yrs of age but by keeping the eyes very simple but with definition the lip stain on the lips gives the look a very glamorous feel. This look would be perfect for a glamorous Christmas Wedding!!

Image Credits: Bobbi Brown Cosmetics www.bobbibrowncosmetics.com

It’s that time of the year again when I enter myself into the WeddingsOnline Supplier Awards. This is the second year the Awards have been running and last year I was shortlisted in the top 5 Bridal Makeup Artists of the Year so this year I’d like to think I could go a little further! The Awards are a recognition of each suppliers contribution to the Industry and in particular our contribution to WeddingsOnline Bride&Grooms getting married.

I have been a supplier on WeddingsOnline for a number of years and find it is a great resource for finding Suppliers and Vendors for your Wedding day supported by a Forum driven by brides. A large percentage of my bridal bookings are through WeddingsOnline therefore I aim to provide the best service possible to my brides from their first contact with me right through to the morning of their wedding. It is the most special day of your life and investing in the right supplier who invests in your day is also so important!

If you are planning your wedding and have yet to experience WeddingsOnline – check it out www.weddingsonline.ie

I have been regularly adding my recent bride photos to my Facebook page but thought it might be a nice idea to do a short post here with some pictures from my recent brides and a little about Bridal Makeup.

For me as a bridal makeup artist the most important thing when doing a clients bridal look is keeping it fresh,natural and timeless with with plenty of definition!  Alot of clients look for the ‘natural’ look on their wedding day which is perfect but ‘natural’ should be more than you are used to wearing on an every day occasion. You want your makeup to shine through in your wedding photography, so with the right look for you and the right amount of definition you will look your most beautiful on your Wedding day! Here are just a few examples of my most recent brides.

These photos recently appeared on The Bridal Lounge blog of a photoshoot we did last month at the beautiful Lisnavagh House in Co.Carlow. The theme of the shoot was 1930’s Vintage Glamour to provide lots of gorgeous vintage ideas for couples planning their Wedding – everything from dresses,cars, cakes and furs! Annabel Rose  kindly supplied the dresses for the shoot which were a mix of different vintage Jenny Packham gowns. Hair and makeup had a subtle touch of 1930’s Vintage which would also translate well for any modern bridal looks! The hair was created by Christine Murphy from The Powder Room Girls and makeup by myself!!

To view more gorgeous photos from this shoot click here.

Thank you to Emily at Lisnavagh for allowing us to use her gorgeous home for our shoot. Lisnavagh are now taking bookings for 2011 Weddings! Check out their website www.lisnavagh.com for more information.

A big thank you to Rachel and the girls at B Magazine/Weddingsonline for being a contributor to this Shoot and for helping us to make it happen!! Look forward to working with you again soon.

Photo Credits: Photography: Brosnan Photographic

I recently worked on the wedding of the gorgeous Cara & Nick who got married at the Newman University Church last August. Cara looked stunning in her vintage wedding dress from The Vintage Wedding Dress Company in London complimented with hair by Kate at Dylan Bradshaw and makeup by myself. Larry McMahon photographed their wedding

Cara’s flowers were from Appassionata Flowers – they also made beautiful flower halo’s for Cara’s young flower girls which looked so gorgeous on them.

The reception took place at this amazing venue The Royal College of Physicians on Kildare Street! A really beautiful and elegant wedding! How beautiful is their Macroon Wedding Cake!!

Image Credits: Photography – Larry McMahon

Last July myself and Deirdre at The Bridal Lounge worked on this gorgeous Inspiration shoot at The Fern Cafe in Avoca which we hope  inspire Irish brides with some lovely Vintage chic ideas for their wedding reception. We were so lucky to work once again with the brilliant Christina Brosnan of Brosnan Photographic   who took some great shots! The dresses used in the shoot were supplied by the girsl at White Orchid Bridal Boutique complimented with gorgeous hair & makeup.

For more Inspiration please visit The Bridal Lounge

Thank you to the staff at Avoca for allowing us to use the Fern Cafe!

Credits: Photography: Brosnan Photographic ; Wedding Dresses: White Orchid ; Hair: Michelle Grimes from COM Hair Salon Temple Bar ; Makeup: Aoife Callaghan; Stationery: Farrell and Chase ; Model: Kamilla from Compton Models

I recently worked on a shoot for Heidi Higgins www.heidihiggins.com who has just launched her new Autumn/Winter Collection. I had never heard of Heidi before meeting her and was more than impressed with her designs – beautiful fabrics and styles suitable for most ages and occasion. Heidi has opened her own boutique in Portlaoise and has different stockists around the country. Check out her website for more information.

The shoot was photographed by German Collins www.germancollins.com and styled by Sinead Flanagan and was featured in the Sunday Independent Life Magazine last Sunday!

Image Credits: Photography; German Collins www.germancollins.com, Designer; Heidi Higgins www.heidihiggins.com, Hair Alfredo Barchetta. Makeup Aoife Callaghan www.aoifecallaghan.com, Styling Sinead Flanagan, Model Laoise Quinn from Morgan The Agency www.morgantheagency.com

For a timeless and sophisticated Makeup look add a little colour with a bright red lipstick. Perfect for all skin tones or hair colours there is a red lipstick for everyone. I love this look teamed with fresh dewy skin and simple eyes! I’ve chosen some of the best examples of Red lips on the red carpet! Enjoyx

Its a lovely sunday morning and I am taking some time out from work today but before I do I just wanted to share this gorgeous picture with you. Straight from one of my favourite sites The Wedding Chicks www.weddingchicks.com. So adorable!!

Hi All!  I wanted to let everyone know that I am now hiring out Makeup Artist Chairs and also a professional makeup artist kit for trainee makeup artists or brides/bridesmaids looking to do their own makeup on the morning of their wedding. The Makeup Chairs are perfect for transporting to different locations and the kit is a fully professional kit. For more information on rental fees and availability contact me directly: aoifecal@hotmail.com or Ph: 086 4062215

Aoife Callaghan Makeup Artist: www.aoifecallaghan.com