Glow Up!

 

Does anybody else watch Glow Up? 

I flippin' love it!

A quick summary for those who don't: 10 aspiring makeup artists live and work together, completing different challenges to demonstrate their makeup skills to the judges (Val Garland & Dominic Skinner - I'm in love with both of them). The winner is awarded a contract working with some of the world's biggest, best and most well known names in the industry. It's amazing, it's on BBC, you should watch it. 

As part of a training course, I'm enrolled in an online academy where Glow Up is very much followed and discussed. We're encouraged to follow the challenges on the show, submit our own entries within the academy and each week winners and runners up are chosen by the lead MUA. 

The first week was all about creating makeup based on what makes you unique. I submitted a very rushed last minute entry but did enjoy it (and vowed to be more organised going forward!). Having been a midwife for nearly 10 years, it will always be in me, even though I'm stepping away from it for now. I will always be a midwife at heart and created a quick look based on this quote: 

"A midwife must possess the hands of a lady, the eyes of a hawk and the heart of a lion."

We were given two options for week two; the first was based on the final challenge - creating a makeup look about what freedom means to you; the second was based on the "face off" - creating a jewelled lip. 

For my freedom submission I followed a similar theme to the previous week. I've recently left my substantive post as a midwife in the NHS and there's a real feeling of freedom there. I'm free from the shift patterns, the pressure, the nights...I can't say for sure that that chapter is closed forever but for now I'm allowing myself the chance to explore and pursue makeup and it feels wonderful. 

In this look I'm peeling back my professional, natural makeup and allow my creative, colourful self to come to the surface. I really enjoyed this one!

I decided to give a jewelled lip a go too and originally planned to literally do just that...but I got carried away and popped some eyes on too 😂

Tomorrow is Tuesday which is Glow Up day and I'm super excited to take on the next challenge. Seriously, watch it - you'll be hooked! 

Lots of love and sparkly green kisses, 

Clare x