We made it to the MOON! Thanks Google :)

Click the caption and check out the amazing  personal video that google sent the Hil Cook team for Christmas!

Hils x

Check this AMAZING personal video sent to me by Google!

Wow this is the most EPIC personal video, sent to me from Gooogle Adwordsfor Christmas. I am totally blown away !!!!

http://www.youtube.com/adwords10?hl=en-us&forcelang=false&x=0dcc58dbbc5841338a6ee44d0519621f

Mr Celebrity X reveled - Stephen Fleming hosts a fabulous 1920s party with his lovely wife

Well here is people, the big reveal...  Stephen Fleming and his wife, kindly said they would allow us to put their pics on our blog after Ange and I made them up for their 1920's party at their gorgeous home. Check out below.
The mo was knotted by Ange that afternoon out of Yac hair and looked very authentic.

Hils x

Stunning reference for our lovely artist Lea

Hi Lea

Thank you so much for making me look stunning for my wedding day!  You made the experience relaxed and fun and special.  I can tell that you love what you do for a job.  I appreciate the attention to detail and also the fact that you stayed to make sure I looked my best in my dress and that everything was just as it should be before I headed off out the door.  

I left like a beautiful version of myself when I left my parents house to go and marry my man.  The hair and makeup was perfect and you ensured that it complemented my-not-so-traditional dress - and you brought together a complete look for me.  I was completely delighted.  Also, the hair and makeup felt really natural - and it was easy to wear and made me feel so confident on the day!   Even at the end of the night after lots of dancing and wine - the hair and makeup looked fresh and perfect.

My Mum's makeup was beautiful too and I know she had lots of lovely comments on Saturday.

When we get the professional photos through I'll send you through a few pics!  Meantime I have attached a couple of guest taken pics - just so you can see how handsome my new husband looked given you heard a lot about him!

Thanks again Lea.  I won't hesitate recommending you to others and I only wish I had a ball or some amazing event to go to so I could get you back to do my makeup!

Thank you for being part of the day - it was fun having you with us for the morning.

Lucy and her new Hubby

Lucyxx  

How to create a 1920's look

We have just been booked by a Kiwi celebrity to make him and his lovely wife step into the Flapper world of the 20's tomorrow night.  They are hosting a fabulous party and want to look just the part, Celebrity X knew just the team to do it!
Mr Celebrity X will be wearing a pencil thin mustache lovingly knotted up by Ange today and having the true 20s slick hair style. Mrs Celebrity X will be having the whole works yay, what fun.

I thought I would share with you, how to create a 1920s look for anyone one else interested in vintage makeups and hair.

In the "Roaring Twenties," short, bobbed hair, heavily lined eyes and tiny dark lips were an indication that a woman was modern and liberated. Whether you are attending a costume party or you wish to modernize the look as your own, there are ways to make the 1920s face yours.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

         Pancake or cream foundation

         Makeup sponge

         Dark eyebrow pencil

         Eye makeup primer

         Gray/brown-based eyeshadow ( matt tones)

         Black kohl eyeliner or gel liner

         Black mascara

         Lashes

         Blush with touches of red in it

         Waxy dark-red lip liner and lipstick thats matt

1
Apply a foundation in your skin tone that gives your complexion a creamy, perfect look. If your skin is naturally porcelain- or alabaster-toned, play it up.

2
Darken and turn your eyebrows slightly downward with an eyebrow pencil or eyeliner that is darker than your brow color. This works best if your brows are on the thin side. If not, cover your brows with a 1920s-style hat or with fringe chopped straight across as part of a bob cut.

3
Smooth on your usual eye makeup primer, then apply a dark grey/brown-based eyeshadow from lash line to crease.

4
Use a black kohl eyeliner on both top and bottom lash lines.

5
Color your top and bottom lashes with blackest black mascara.

6
Rub blush into the apples of your cheeks, and blend away the hard edges. Make sure the color is still evident, as though you just walked in from the cold.

7
Apply pale pancake foundation or concealer over clean and exfoliated lips. With a waxy dark-red lip liner, exaggerate the cupid's bow on your top lip. Draw your lower lip as slightly plumper than it really is by extending slightly on the bottom. Draw both upper and bottom lips as shorter on the sides.

8
Fill the new lip shape in with pencil before layering matching lipstick over it. When you are through, your lips should not be as wide as they really are, giving the illusion that you have them puckered and ready for a kiss.

9.If you are going to go the whole hog right down to nails, they were painted leaving the half moon and tip out.  Paint in between with a deep dark red.

And there you have it, just like you have stepped out of the 20's,  I will let you know how it goes :)
Hils x

Fun eye makeups to try

Changing your eye makeup can change your overall look dramatically, and there is no shortage of fabulous eye makeup products to experiment with! Try one of these fun ideas to change up your look:

• A glamorous cat eye look is both sexy and polished. It's sweeping eyeliner really draws attention to the eye and makes eyes appear larger.
• Bright eye makeup is a hot trend, and one that is easier for most women to pull off than they think. Try a bright shade, such as turquoise or yellow, on your upper lid, and keep the rest of your makeup fresh and bright -- but on the natural side -- to balance the eyes.
• For a fun, funky eye makeup look, try using two different eye makeup colors on the top an bottom of the eye.
• Spice up a smoky eye in a fresh new way with the addition of a metallic of shimmer eyeliner. Or, use a colored shadow for your smoky eye look, such as blue or purple, instead of the standard black or grey.

Fun purple smokey eyes to try instead of the standard charcoals 

Rave review from Kathleen (Bridesmaid for Kerrin Eckersly)

Hey Hil & Ange

I just wanted to send a quick note to say a big thank you for all of your hard work on Kerrin's wedding day.   Not only did you make us all look amazing but you were so friendly and easy to get along with, it really added to the days enjoyment.
Ange, thanks so much for helping do up Kerrin's dress, as you may have sensed I was having a few issues getting help with that and you were a life saver. 
All the best with Janine's wedding this weekend, I can't wait to see some photos of how she, Hiria and Rowan look.
Take care and if ever I hear of someone in need of makeup or hair in Wellington I will send them your way.

Kind wishes
Kathleen 

Winner of HER Regional Businesswoman of the Year awards for 2010. Best new business

 'Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.' and I agree.


I want to shout my thanks out loud. I want everyone to know and hear how much the support of Ange, Lea & Nat means to me. But more than that, I want them to know. 


Ange you are there for me 200%. You share your support, friendship, passion,expertise and your time unstintingly and I am eternally grateful. without your time and energy, we would not have this business.  Our days tend to be frantic- always rushing around, I so appreciate the time and the extra mile you take to make our business be what it is!!

Lea and Nat, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for believing in our team and going the extra mile for us, even when i cant pay you!

Thanks girls for being amazing artists, for being my friends. Thanks for being there for me and thanks for caring about me. Thanks for everything you do for me.... 

You don't need to, but I am glad you do :)


I going to quote something Mother Teresa  once said in an Easter service I went to in Calcutta...

We cannot do great things on this Earth,

Only small things with great love.

Thanks for making a difference girls !

Hils x

Lea, Ange, Hil, Nat

Our beautiful bride Ann and her stunning bridesmaids.

Hair and makeup by Hil Cook and Leanne Hoare

Ange shines for the Womama shoot

Hi Hil


Ange, as you know is brilliant - she made me look 20 years younger - no mean feet. We would love to work with her for all future shoots if she is available.
Next shoot will be early June.

Regards  
                                          
Heidi Holbrook          
Director
WOMAMA LTD   

Our lovely Ange ( without the dreads)

A simple way to make your eyes pop with one tool !!!

I have the best tip to get some real eye brightening going on in your eyes and trust me, it is a girls best kept secret.  I have a picture below which really makes it easy to see where to highlight to get these fantastic results.  If you don't have the famous YSL Touch Eclat eye brightener, try this method out with a cream or  powder eyeshadow, in a very light tone with a shimmer.  The results are remarkable!

I would love to see before and after pics if you try it out, and I am sure our readers would too. Send them to hil@hilcook.co.nz and i will post them on :)

Enjoy.  Hils x

Christina Hoey's wedding day. Hair & makeup by Hil and Ange

Today was a lovely day getting stunning bride Christina Hoey,  her 3 bridesmaids and her mum ready for a fabulous sunny Sunday wedding.
Ange and I were at Christina's mother n law's house at the crack of dawn, getting the gorgeous bridal party ready in hair and makeup.  Everything went without a hitch and was a nice calm day.

Check out the pics below.  Apologies for the camera work, today I forgot my camera and only had my dinosaur cell ph.  Hil

Christina wears Richard Kavanagh tong curls  in her naturally straight hair

Ann smiths wedding today- Hair and makeup by Hil and Lea

Today Lea and I did a lovely bride, Ann Smith and her gorgeous bridesmaids.  They were all such lovely girls and all looked amazing!!!  A+  in fact.
Ann wanted everyone to look soft and and effortless with the hairdos, just imagining you could pull out a hair pin and it would tumble down their backs. Reality is, they could have been spun around on the "Dancing with the stars" dance floor, and that hair would have held, but it sure looked soft, effortless and girly.  In fact we even added hair extensions to our gorgeous brunette bridesmaid who had quite short hair, but it was undetectable once Lea had worked her magic!

The bridesmaids had a touch of silver in the inner corner of their eyes to tie in their silver shoes, then smouldering vintage rose colours on the lid and teamed with peacock greens in the contour. Outer corner single lashes were the flavor of the day and a vintage rose lip. Result... STUNNING

Ann looked like a Gorgeous petite princess in her beautiful gown. She was absolutely breathtaking. We did Ann's beautiful Burmese eyes in soft vintage roses, smokey purples and silvers along with several single lashes applied to her outer eye for the doe eyed effect.  Check out the end results below.

New Fishead shoot pics- Hair and Makeup by Hil Cook & Angela Duncan

Whats happened for the week...

Well another flat out week with bridal trials, shoots and Balls.  Our French powder room has seen all manner of beauties this week, I cant show you the bridal trials as we don't want any grooms snooping around seeing how hot their ladies are going to look, but i will show you a few of our latest pictures.

We had most of our team alternating freelance work for Bobbi Brown this week as they are flat out with Christmas, then racing back to our studio to fit in trials and shoots.  Oh the joys of the silly season!

Kerrin Erskey. The latest bride

Matisse Rendal  - Gorgeous for her 1st School ball

Magdelena, Latest Voon Clothing shoot

Gorgeous hair and makeup by Ange for some fun drama with this sister of the bride

Homemade Cat litter mask for all skin types! For real... try this one!

We got this recipe off a TV show a while back. The beauty expert (Diane Irons, the author of several beauty books) swore cat litter is made of the same ingredients as special clays found in $100 spa facials. Our team tried this and loved it.

Ingredients:


1 bag cat litter (must be marked '100 Percent Natural Clay')
Water
Drops of your favorite essential oil

Preparation:

Mix in a couple tablespoons of the cat litter with water and drops of oil (we find the oil helps make the experience somehow less kitty litter-ish)

Apply mask to face

Wash off after 15 minutes.

"At

To be honest I was pretty doubtful about this mask but I decided to bite the bullet and give it a try. Its easy to make, the smell isn’t bad and the end result is AMAZING!!! It worked better then most of the expensive over the counter clay masks Ive bought at Kirks even!!. I will definatley use this again and again!

 A+++ 5 stars 

Finalist for HER Wellington Businesswoman of the Year 2010' Awards

I am truly stunned!! This evening I have just been rung to be told that I have made it to the finals in 
HER Wellington  Businesswoman of the Year 2010' Awards. 

I had been told that I would hear who were finalists on Sunday the 21st which was yesterday, so I figured that our business had not made the top but were very lucky to be nominated.   But this evening I got the phone call saying they were very sorry for the late call, but the caliber had been so high that it had taken longer than they thought it would.  We are in the Top 4 for a new business!!!!

All I can say is that if it weren't for my amazing team and Ange who has stuck by my me through thick and thin, we would never be going for this award.  Thanks team, I LOVE YOU GIRLS X
Hils x

Another Fantastic reference for one of our team, Natalie.

Hi There Hil

I wanted to email a BIG thank you to Natalie who did a wonderful job on my hair and makeup for my 30^th on the 13^th.

I had one happy boyfriend who walked in and was like OH MY GOD – So that was perfection!!!

She just did a wonderful job of making me look and feel stunning.

So please pass my thanks to her.

But again thank you so much  - what a great way to get ready for a big event!! Totally using your services again and recommending you guys

Very professional.

Thanks

Sorrel

Fish head shoot. Latest Mag out now! Hair and makeup by Hil Cook and Ange Duncan

Ange and I did the most fantastic shoot at the Trentham races for the latest Fishead mag. We did both hair and makeup, Samantha Hannah was doing her normal fantastic stuff with styling, as was Tim watson with his amazing photography.  Great fun day! Check pics below. Hils x

Hil x

A Sneek peak of whats to come ( and our work). Fishead Out Monday

Issue 5 of Fishead - Wellington's Magazine is out on the Shelves on Monday.
For all fashionista's here's a couple of sneaky pics from the Editorial!

To see the full editorial, fashion & beauty news plus page turning articles on the Wellington crafters, Wairarapa wines and more grab yourself a copy of the magazine on Monday!

Jane & Nina from Kirsty Bunny Model Management - Jane wears Starfish Dress, Gold belts worn as necklaces from Bauble, Red gloves from Bijoux Moda, Crochetta hat from Bijoux Moda, Nude Shoes from Ultra; Nina wears Kuku bow dress, Crochetta pink hat from Kirks, Nude raffia wedges from Ultra, Black Crystal necklace & Cocktail ring from Bauble. 

Hair and makeup by Hil Cook and Angela Duncan from Hil Cook makeup artists, Styling by Samantha Hannah, Photography TimWatson

 

 

 

Our Beautiful Polish bride

After a week of full on work for the team and killing my lungs airbrushing at Weta, we finally have the day off tomorrow Yippppeeeee.  But not before showing you the beautiful bride of the day, Magdalena all the way from Poland.  She was an absolutely charming and stunning bride and a pleasure to work with.
I gave her Richard kavanagher curls and twisted it up softly on one side with fresh Fresia's.

Magadalena the beautiful bride

The lovely bridesmaid

Project Born Trailer

This is the trailer of some the body art  Nat and I worked on over the past couple of days at Weta Workshop.   Hopefully I will get some pics to post up soon. Hil x

We worked at Weta's body art show "BORN"

Today was an amazing day that Nat and I had, back in my old stomping ground, Weta Workshop.
It was great to see all the old faces again, just like de ja vue only everyone is older and has kids now.

Nat and I worked on Weta's body art show, "BORN", which is raising money for Neo natals, a charity that I am quite passionate about being a mum.  We spent the whole day air brushing amazing creatures that would be rithing around in weather balloons, representing a birthing sac. Our airbrushed creatures would be covered in KY jelly and goop and eventually be born from their membrane sac in front of the audience, after being inside the opaque sac for around 5 mins.

I couldn't take any pics as we signed our lives away, but we did take a pic of us outside Weta at the end of the day.

Tomorrow we get to do it all over again. Yay.  I love my job!
Hils x

Do and Don't Makeup tips for the day

Do

Get the right tools for the job. Investing in some good quality brushes, sponges and applicators will mean you get the most out of the make up you buy.

Get advice from a professional. If you’re not sure what makeup suits you, a one-off session with a beautician or make-up artist could open up great new ideas and colours to try, or simply help you to streamline your daily technique.

Go for long-lasting options. Look for long-lasting mascaras, lip colours and foundations – modern formulas are designed to stay put all day, and save you hassle of constant retouching.

Keep it light. Nothing looks more clumsy than thick, caked-on makeup, clumpy mascara and greasy smears of lipstick. It’s quicker in the end if you work gradually, too: you can always add a bit more as needed, but if you’ve started by piling too much on, you’ll have to cleanse it all off and start again from scratch.

Focus on one feature. For a subtle look concentrate on one of your face’s finest assets and then add just a hint of cosmetic support elsewhere. For example, smoky, emphatic eyes should be teamed with barely-there lip colour, while a glossy, come-hither pout needs little more than a quick flick of mascara for company. Go too heavy on making up all your features at once and it can be overwhelming.

Don’t

Overdo shimmer. What makes an impact on a cleverly lit magazine cover will look tacky in normal conditions, even in the evening. Take care if choosing a metallic eyeshadow that it doesn’t make your lids look crepe-y, and remember that superglossed lips can look great, but overdone lips might also be sticky.

Be afraid to experiment. Even if you’ve never considered blue eyeshadow, or you just don’t ‘do’ red lipstick, there’s no harm in re-evaluating your assumptions every now and then. A touch of vibrant colour – just a touch, mind – can lift your face and your mood, while switching from a brown/beige palette to something soft and pink – or vice versa – might take you in a whole new direction.

Forget blusher. It’s easy to focus on eyes and mouth because they’re the first things you notice when you look in the mirror, but judicial use of a subtle blusher on the apples of your cheeks works wonders to banish tiredness, winter blues and even the odd late night.

Hang on to outdated techniques. Dark lipliner was once considered essential to stop colour ‘bleeding’ round the edges, but hard outlines have no place on a modern face. The same goes for bands of blusher underneath your cheekbones.

Leave home without concealer. It’s not just for eyebags and spots, either – dab it lightly over any blotchy area before you put foundation on, to even out your skin tone.

Hil x