HIL COOK MAKEUP, HAIR and PROSTHETIC ARTIST

HIL COOK MAKEUP, HAIR  and PROSTHETIC ARTIST
Join Hil and her savvy team on their journey behind the scenes in the world on makeup and hair. Mobile on the go EVERYWHERE!

Words of wisdom that our team believe in.

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone elses life.
Don't be trapped by dogma-which is living with the results of other peoples thinking.
Don't let the noise of others opinions drown out your own inner voice.
And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition...they somehow already know what you truly want to become.
Everything elas is secondary."
This is something I picked up somewhere, sometime when I was in much need of such words....I can't tell you the author, because this I have no clue of.....but all kudos to the one who penned these words.


Our team have lived by these words of wisdom. With our passion and drive, it has taken us on wonderful adventures all over the world.
This photo is of our Hil Cook team and Gibson Groups crew, filming this year in Rarotonga for BBC
 TV show Paradise cafe.
Hil  x

Our team raising money for Neo Natals

Some of Wellingtons most elite Jewellery designers, Alison Blain, Tory & co, Hannah Anderson, and Berry's, were showing off their latest collections last night, 10% of all sales was going to Neo Natal trust.
It was a fantastic affair with plenty of bubbles flowing freely, scrumptious tit-bits and fabulous twinkly things for sale as far as the eye could see.

Our Hil Cook team were invited along to showcase our work and give potential Jewellery buyers a chance to try out airbrushing, hair styling, makeup and our fab solution buds.  We worked our little bums off and had a Que of woman nearly out the door wanting to get into one of our chairs.

It was a fantastic event with lots of money made for the Neo Natal trust.  Everyone went home looking glamorous and scoring a fantastic goody bag valued at $80 wow!
Check out our girls below.
Hils x
Fun Fun Fun

 The MC for Neo Natals trying out GHD curls.



Alison Blain and her stunning works
Ange, Nat and Lea hard at it.

Hil Cook wedding work

Makeup Tips For Eyebrows


Eyebrows give a definition to face and grooming them and giving them shape can make your face look cleaner and more beautiful and make your eyes appear larger and more expressive. Eyebrows look best filled in with brow powder or eye shadow. A natural eyebrow look can be achieved by using a brow color applied with a nylon slant edged brush, do soft feather stroke brush movements filling in the brow, then use a clean mascara wand or brow brush to really work over the brow.  This application may need another going over until you have the perfect brow desired.
Here are some useful tips that you can make to make your brows beautiful:

  • Tweeze only the hairs underneath your brows to shape them.
  • Many people have beautifully shaped eyebrows naturally that just need to be defined instead of alteration.
  • Tweezing the brows after the shower is much easier and less painful.
  • To fill in the gaps in the eyebrow shape, use a color that matches the natural colors of your brows or a shade lighter than that.
  • Groom the eyebrows using a clear eyebrow gel and an eyebrow brush. Comb them and pluck stray hairs above the brow line.
  • It is best to stick with natural shape usually and seek professional help for first-time threading.
  • Calculate the arch of the eyebrows by using the ruler. It should start from the side of your nose to the same line on the outer corner of the eye. The high point should be on the outer side of the pupil.
  • Fill the gaps with short strokes of your powder or pencil.
  • Eyebrow color should be approximately two shades darker than your hair colour, so all you bleach blonde's, don't go too dark just because your natural brow is dark!  Bobbi Brown does great brow gels that you can also use to lighten brows temporarily.

WelTec Makeup Artistry students. Judgement day with Hil Cook

Each year I am asked to judge the final exam of WelTec's budding makeup artists which always a huge pleasure. Today I spent most of the day at WelTec judging, and decided I would film the students work to put up on our blog.  We get a lot of people asking about full time makeup artistry course, so here is a little insight to what they get up to...

Makeup artistry students of WelTec over the past term have been working towards their final assessment.  They are given a theme based on the deadly sins. They needed to choose their subject, research it, find inspiration, push boundaries and explore possibilities.  A mood board showing the journey they had taken to get their final result was made, and a photo shoot was organised where the students were required to direct the whole shoot from start to finish to execute the final "Money Shot". This would be the main feature on the board.

My apologies to the students who's work is missing, I accidentally deleted a chunk of footage ahhhhh and I am not that savvy at knowing how to get it back, but well done to all of you who participated.

Hils x


 Introducing WelTec's budding makeup artists mood boards. Enjoy!

Lush Lashes( Semi Permanent lashes) at Girls just wanna have fun expo

I have a lot of my clients asking about semi permanent lashes for their wedding day, so much so that I thought it was time to blog about them.
Lush lashes was bought to NZ by Vanessa O'Reillly, and is now so successful that she has franchise all over NZ.  Just look at the pics above to see why she is so successful, who wouldn't fall in love with lashes like that??

I know first hand about lush lashes as I have been a devout lush lashes wearer for quite some time now, I just feel naked without my lashes and love when I have a 4.30 am start on a film, that I can still look half decent, minus mascara, thanks to those long silky thick lashes ( not my little wee stumpy straight blond numbers).

Anyway, your set of perfectly applied Lush lashes will last you around 6 weeks but if you are wanting to retain the full effect, I would re-schedule an appointment at 4-5 week intervals, this way you will always have the perfect set.

Vanessa applies a Lush Lash to each individual lash of your own, so even up close, they totally look like your own lashes.  People have been astounded when I have told them my lashes are semi permanent lashes and that my own lashes are short thin blond numbers. I never need to wear mascara when I have Lush lashes, which would be unheard of otherwise!!

Today Vanessa and one of her colleagues were at "Girls just wanna have fun" expo, so I snuck down there before my first client and grabbed some pics.  Vanessa is a avid "Hil Cook Solution bud" fan as the solution in our buds is oil free,  Lush lashes special bond can be broken down from oil based cleansers, which is why they prefer Hil Cook Solution buds for a perfect eye makeup cleanser.

To find out more about Lush lashes for your special day, call 0800lushlashes or click on the title above which will direct you to their website.
Hil x

Vanessa O'Reilly ( blond) Owner of Lush Lashes and very talented!

Deep Cleaning Brushes

One of our artists ( leanne Hoare) and I recently went to the "International makeup artistry trade show" (IMATS) in Australia. It was incredibly inspiring with lots to listen and learn about, there were plenty of guest speakers with a wealth of knowledge and an eye popping amount of gorgeous makeup products.
basically we were in a makeup artistry heaven!!

Over the next few weeks I will share with you some of our experiences, pictures, and videos of our Aussie artistry adventure.

The video below, although a little lengthy, is incredibly helpful on how to really care for those much loved brushes that cost us ladies crazy amounts. The gentleman in the video was one of the guest speakers at Imats and a real Character. Check it out, it really teaches you a thing or two.

Hil x

Are you up for a challenge? Hils hubby driving in the Icebreak commercial


The driver in this ad is my Hubby, Rodney Cook.  Just had to add this in! Hil X

New Sample size Solution buds- Great for hotels/ airlines/ clubs

Check out our latest savvy little numbers which have just arrived into the country. Very exciting!

Latest Fishead shoots

I finally have the pictures of our latest Fishead shoot with Antonia Prebble on the front cover and the gorgeous Aphridities girl in the fashion pages. Check these out.



HILS X

Jaxson Cook, my little man made up for his school disco.

This is my little man Jaxson going to the School Disco as a Sea Ghost. He had prosthetics and airbrushing and then rolled his eyes back in his head for effect!
Hils x

Jaxson Singing the Irish song, 6 years old ( 5 when he recorded it)

My Little boy singing, just couldnt resist. Hil x

Fabulous reference about one of our makeup artist's, Natalie Henderson, from Producer Catherine Juniot

Dear Hils and Ange,

Thank you soooo much for sending us Natalie to work on the Eternity shoot this week. It was really great to meet her. She did a fantastic job and we were very fortunate to have her join us. I know that our Make-up Designer, Julia O'Neil, was very happy with her. I really hope that Natalie had a great time on the shoot too. She has a lovely bubbly personally, is great with the actors and is of course very talented at her craft. 

I hope we can all catch up soon. 

xxx Catherine xxx

-- 
Catherine JuniotProducer ~ Business Affairs Advisor ~ Production Manager 
www.inspirefilms.co.nz ~ catherine@inspirefilms.co.nz

Tel: +64 21 887 039

The fabulous @hilcook team are working there magic on the mod... on Twitpic

The fabulous @hilcook team are working there magic on the mod... on Twitpic

An Indian Princess... Visha

This was one of the most exquisite, lavish and colorful weddings I think I have ever worked on.  The bride Visha was astonishingly gorgeous with her exotic Bollywood/ Egyptian look that we went for.

Visha's hair is just a little over shoulder length so we incorporated human hair wefts into her hair to make it reach right down to her waist.  I did tiny horizontal cornrow plaits in the back of her own hair so I could sew in the Human wefts, then did soft curls all the way down her back.  I parted Visha's hair in the center and fixed her beautiful head adornment to a pin curl near her crown, I then set the top in Hot rollers and back combed to create the hight for the quiff Visha wanted.  The sides were braided on either side and joined together at the back where I attached a gorgeous spray of fresh Orchids.

The makeup was inspired by plenty of exotic Bollywood  pictures that Visha had collected up.  It was all about exotic colorful sexy eyes. "Think the Kardashin's" she told me, so I set about creating the perfect flawless airbrushed skin and exotic eyes that looked like jewels.

We even went as far as to apply the Henna to her hands and help her into her fabulous garment that was encrusted in magnificent crystals. The weight of the skirt alone was possibly nearly as heavy as the petit Indian princess herself.  Then came the bling for every part of Visha's body. Boy do the Indian's know how to look feminine, they run rings around the rest of us, I have never seen so much exquisite jewels and sparkle!!  Even the men of her family looked extrodinarly handsome in there suits encrusted with crystals.  I think Visha's husband to be would have been blown away once seeing his gorgeous bride coming towards him.

Thanks to Visha and her family for letting Ange and I into her world for a glorious taste of how her culture celebrates her special day. Oh and the magnificent food Visha's mum made us.

 Hil X















HiL Cook team makeup + hair for La Shika

The Hil Cook makeup and hair team working their magic, with the help of "Hil Cook Solution buds". Beautiful Brides.

Samantha Hannah - Epic Style Guru!! ....Check out this link....

Antonia Prebble

Antonio Prebble



Antonio Prebble on the front cover of Fishead by Hil Cook
/Users/Hil/Pictures/iPhoto Library/Originals/2010/17:10:2010_2/mcw49381.jpeg

Hil Cook Solution Buds ad - Nightclub

Hil Cook Solution Buds

Hil Cook Solution buds are the fast, easy way to touch up or remove your makeup, without needing a bag full of products and wipes. Simply remove the tip, watch the solution flow down into the bud, and replace the tip again. Use the solution end to clean up smudges or remove your makeup completely, use the dry to wipe up any residue.
Hil Cook Solution buds can be purchased through our E-commerce store at www.hilcook.co.nz or go to a pharmacy near you or selected New worlds.

PS. The dance track was Sung by our own Solution bud crew... Hil Cook, Ange Duncan, Geoff Duncan and Rodney Cook. Recorded & written by Geoff Duncan at Triple Star Studio.

Hil Cook Solution Buds demo



 

So there has been quite a lot of hype with Solution buds in Sunday Mag, New Idea and Cleo, and I see a lot of you have searched for them and come to our blog.  If you click on the title above it will take you directly to our E-commerce store.
If you dont want to buy on line, then go to your local Radius store nation wide or in the Welly area, go to pretty much any chemist or New world .
Check out our 3 second video above that shows you how these little gems work.  Be warned .... they are VERY ADDICTIVE!

La Shika Bridal fashion show. The Hil Cook team will be doing all the models hair and makeup

For all those brides to be, La Shika bridal will be a show not to miss.  Spot prizes and goody bags, lush dresses and fab hair and makeup.  Check it out at the Museum hotel on October 20th.

Aftershock: Behind the Scenes

Gibson Group whom we love and adore... check out behind the scenes with some of our gnarly wounds.

BROKEN EYE-SHADOWS, BLUSH & POWDERS... HAVE I GOT THE BEST TIP EVER!!!


Have you ever had a favorite eyeshadow or your best bronzer break into a thousand little bits and then small bits of powder makes it way all through your makeup bag?? How irritating is it when you buy a new Mac shadow and find its smashed only weeks later, most of you would throw this pot of mess out but I must stop you right there!  I have the tip of all tips to repair your pot of crushed shadow.
* Get yourself a small bottle of Isoproplyl ( 99% alcohol) from the chemist, it will literally cost you around a fiver.
* Crush up all the left over shadow into a fine mill of powder in its pot.
* Add a small amount of Isoproplyl to the crushed up powder and mix until it is slightly runnier than the consistency of toothpaste.
* give the bottom of the pot a few taps to get rid of unwanted air bubbles and leave to set
* Isopropyl will dissipate and by the next day you will have you shadow, blush or powder back in its original cake form, good as new.

Try it , it really works!!!

Goodness: The Solution

Goodness: The Solution: "Hil Cook: Shes a local girl with an International career as a film and television make up artist and now to add to her impressive list o..."

NEW TIP TO HAVE FUN WITH!



 ok.....so I've been trying out this new thing lately. Someone once said "There is nothing new under the sun", and that may well be the case, SO if you have been doing this wee trick for ages, I'm sorry!
HOWEVER if you haven't I hope you have fun playing!

BLUSH, I know that we are not big on "rules" but if in doubt, a look that always works is matching the tone of your blusher with the same tone on your lips.  BUT.....lets be wild and crazy and take that a little bit further.....

Have you ever tried taking your blush colour
and using this for your  eye contour colour or....
on top of your contour colour. Blending it slightly up towards the brow.
Its a beautiful warm look that can bring everything together and really
make your eyes popo!! (like that word!!)

Give this look a crack and send us in some of your "successful" photos, using this technique.

Can't wait to see the results.

ange x

PS: Any further questions email angeduncan@gmail.com

 The deep plum colour carried through.                                                      Touch of peach.

2 DAYS ON AN INDIAN SHOOT


INDIA COMES TO NZ

2 days of lippy, powder, shimmer, curls, dancing, laughter, southerlies and plenty of head bobbling. What a fab shoot!
Indian crew from Lemon Yellow Sun landed in Wellywood a few days ago to shoot a 2 day commercial for Monte Carlo clothing.  The crew were mint people and a whole lot of laughs to work with. The weather played its impeccable part of keeping up the '4 seasons in one day' scenario, not only did we get wind burnt, drenched and are arses frozen off, we also got a touch of sunburn just to top off our days.

We had 3 international models arrive for the shoot, a gorgeous lady by the name of Marcella whom shone like a star and nothing was a problem.  She had literally got off a plane from Brazil , got thrown into our fabulous makeup Maui van, stripped of most of her clothes and was made to stand in the sea in a southerly and look happy about it ahhhhh . She was an absolute Storm trooper!
Then there was Faranz, a very professional, popular male model from Iran and Carolina, another beautiful but slightly more on the diva-rish side, Brazilian model.

The crew were top people and really showed us all about fast turn around TV!!! They also showed us when there is a need to cut back on budget, get rid of continuity 1st ahhhhh. Outrageous I hear you say and I couldn't agree with you more, but it sure was a giggle when things disappear and reappear through different angles of the scenes being shot.  Certainly it made for an easier day although I wouldn't want to be in the editors shoes at the other end.

All in all,it was yet another wonderful job, a crazy adventure, new fun mates and a lot of laughs... oh and did I mention a lot of head bobbling! Loved it.

PS we were explained that the head bobbling means they are happy , not sad, between yes and no, maybe or not sure. In general i guess you could say fence sitting?

TRIPLE STAR STUDIOS recording for our viral behind the scenes



Sound producer Geoff Duncan. Click on the title to check out his webiste.

OUR FAVE LOOK OF THE WEEK!

Ange and I hooked up for coffee in Petone  yesterday at Cafe Tart and discovered this lovely lady Sarah-Jane.  It was Sarah-Jane's second day on the job but she made fab coffee and graciously let us take her pic..
We LOVE Sarah-Jane's look so have added her as our "LOOK OF THE WEEK"


Q: WHERE IS YOUR LOOK INSPIRED FROM

A: Blyth dolls
___________________

Q: FAVE COFFEE HANG OUT

A: Lala cafe in Wellington
____________________

Q: FAVE BRAND OF MAKEUP

A: Mac pigments
____________________

Q: FAVE QUOTE

A: Choice

Check out our new Artwork

Mary Adams is our savvy designer and just look at this little gem she designed.  New art work for posters and adds, Nice!
We are also about to embark on our first Viral Campaign shoot this weekend.  We have the Epic cameraman Simon Baumfield  as our DOP whom would normally cost us thousands, luckily for us he is doing it for love! Yay. We also have two of the lead actors from BBC tv show "Paradise cafe" as our leading ladies, Georgia Fabish & lara Custance, again all for love.  Along with these gems, are our own gems, Ange, Lea & Nat  who are always there to slog on with the makeups, hair do's and the fab acting skills they will be pulling out on Sundays shoot, all in the name of Solution Buds.


Big thanks to everyone that has supported us in our Solution bud venture and believing in us.
We really appreciate it.

Hil X

Single Ladies Pregnant Red Head

Check us out on Radio Chicks website Jay Jay Feeney !!! click on the title and enter the competition

HOT NEW PRODUCT!

 
I discovered HIL COOK SOLUTION BUDS this week and wondered why it has taken so long for someone to think of this idea and make them.

HIL COOK SOLUTION BUDS are cotton buds filled with makeup remover so you can correct little makeup smudges caused by mascara and eye shadow.


Creator Hil Cook is a hair and makeup artist who has worked all around the world with celebrity clients like Kylie Minogue and Cate Blanchett. She now specialises in Wedding Hair & Makeup, Fashion & Commercial shoots, and Film & TV work.

There are 20 solution filled eye makeup remover/corrector buds in a pack, containing Vitamin E and Aloe Vera.
Look under your eyes, do you have mascara smudge or shadow fall out?? 
Here’s where solution buds come in!

Take out a bud
Twist the top off
Watch the solution fall into the bud below
Once the solution has fallen into the bud, place dry end back on
Using the solution bud, wipe the damage away, use the dry end to   wipe residue away.

YOU ARE READY TO FACE THE WORLD AGAIN

HIL COOK SOLUTION BUDS are available in Radius pharmacies and on Hil Cook’s website www.hilcook.co.nz
RRP $12.99

Win one of these packs
Enter below by Sunday 1st August


My latest dead arm job!

What a lovely job I have.  This is my latest dead arm I have created for an up coming Doco. I will keep you posted for when it is about to be released.  It rotted right off the body! NICE   Hil x
                   

Hil Cook solution buds demo

A photo shoot with Penny from Inspire photography

I had one of my most favorite photographers, Penny from Inspire photography, do my own photo shoot today.  Its all a bit weird being in front of the camera, when I am usually working behind it, but Penny made me feel relaxed, shes fun to work with and made me look natural instead of a stunned mullet!
The shoot is for a article coming up in the Wairarapa Times Age on our Solution buds, so it needed to be a slick pic, not one of my digi specials.  I reckon Penny pulled it off nicely, she captured my quirk factor, the product and made me look relaxed, all at the same time.  Now thats what I call a Miracle worker!!!
 Thanks Penny you are a star. Check out the pics for yourself!
Click on the title and check out INSPIRE PHOTOGRAPHY'S WEBSITE. They are FAB!

Jody Bell made us this awesome video on youtube

http://www.facebook.com/l/47625Oq25jA5OUuMPBn3oVppLVg;www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLWO91xd7eM

Click the title and check out her website, she can make your nether regions twinkle !!
Hil x

Jay Jay Fenney from the EDGE


Hi Hil
Thanks for sending me your new Solution Buds. GREAT IDEA!!
Jay-Jay xox


Jay-Jay Feeney
www.radiochick.co.nz

Hil Cook Solution buds on "GIRLS LOCKER ROOM" WITH POLLY FROM ZM

HIL Cook 'SOLUTION BUDS' CHECK US OUT ON THE PODCAST BELOW, POLLY FROM ZM TALKED ABOUT US IN THE "GIRLS LOCKER ROOM" drag to 10.10 mins to hear after clicking link below to get onto 12/7/10 podcast!

Low cost ideas for makeup!



Beauty does not have to cost a fortune – so we have put together some low budget beauty solutions that will help both you, and the bank balance look and feel great.

Makeup

         Head to the $2 shop for brushes and tools. Most dollar stores have a great range of makeup brushes and tools that will do the trick. Don't forget to check the brushes in the art section too as you can often find some great brush shapes here too - especially thin tipped brushes that are great for lining the eye.
         While you are at the $2 shop - grab some flash lashes - they can be cut up and applied individually to the outer corner of the eye which looks AMAZING. 

         Dark eyeshadow makes an excellent eyeliner. Just wet a thin-tipped brush, dip it into the eyeshadow and line your upper lid. This is a great tip for those who like the liquid eyeliner look by struggle to apply it.

         Whilst lengthening mascaras are good, they are also more expensive. Curl you eyelashes and dust them with translucent face powder, then apply mascara, this will help to thicken and lengthen the lashes. 

         Natural looking flushed cheeks are very trendy right now - and are normally created with a gel or cream products. Lipsticks are excellent substitute products for creating this look. Just apply some to the apple of your cheek and blend out towards the cheekbones.

         If you buy any new makeup, make it a loose powder, neutral coloured, highlighter (soft gold or peach) as this is a great multi-tasking product. Use it all over your face when you need a boost, on the top of your cheekbones and under your brows, down the centre of your nose to make it look thinner, inner corner of your eyes to make you peepers bright, the top of your cupids bow for a natural trout pout and mix it in your your foundation to create a luminous look, with a clear lip gloss on your lips, and on your body for some shimmer at night.
         Hold a makeup trade event with your friends. Someone's trash may be your treasure, and you may find the perfect home for the bright green eyeshadow you own but don't wear.  To sterilize makeup, whip into your local chemist and buy yourself an small bottle of isopropyl alcohol (100%  alcohol and approx $5.00) put it into a small spray or mist bottle from the $2 shop and spray the products.  This will kill any unwanted germs that could that could transfer to eyes and evaporates in no time.  Good as a bought one!!

         Now everyone can look like the models you ooh and ahhh over in those glossy mags, minus the expensive price tag on the makeup products.

        The best thing at the end of the day when you have finished looking glam, grab out your pack of wipes and Hil Cook solution buds and remove that gorgeous   look, keeping your skin fresh and happy for the next day!

Hil x