OMG - 4 of my works have been chosen for Italian Vogue

Over the past few weeks myself  and Ange worked with Photographer Mandi Lynn, Designer Kerrie Huges and Hat Maker Liza Foreman working on creating our interpretation of the white Goddess and the Dark Goddess.  Each artist bought there own interpretation and as a collective we created something beautiful.  Our Pictures were submitted to Italian Vogue and 4 of them made the cut woop woop.


On the Dark side shoot, we were lucky enough to have Derek Elvy join us to create some of his interpretation with some amazing hair work.


We are trying to get the best Portrait art but we need votes. Here is the link for our 4 Vogue pics, please scroll through the 4 and vote on each one to help us out.  We will be eternally grateful and it helps us little Kiwis are compete on an international level. :)
http://www.vogue.it/en/photovogue/Portfolio/829a5459-7717-4842-a8e3-d11898b793c1/Image




We created our looks from this amazing piece of poetry

Here is how she is defined:

She represents the Muse, -comes from moon Goddess- a triple Goddess -death, birth and beauty, presides over all acts of generation- physical, intellectual and spiritual.
The Goddess is a lovely slender woman with a hooked nose, deathly pale face, lips as red as rowan berries, startlingly blue eyes, long fair hair. She will transform herself into a sow, mare vixen, weasel, serpent, tiger, mermaid or loathsome hag. Her names and titles are imnunerable. In ghost stories  she is the White Lady, in ancient religions the white Goddess.
The reason why the hairs stand on end , eyes water, skin crawls when one reads a true poem is that a true poem i an invocation of the W G or muse- the ancient power of lust and fright- the female spider whose embrace is death.

Hair and makeup by Hil Cook, Photography by Mandi Lynne, Dress design Kerry Huges, Head gear Liza Foreman

Hair and makeup by Hil Cook, Photography by Mandi Lynne, Dress design Kerry Huges, Hear gear Liza foreman

Makeup Hil Cook, Hair Derek Elvy, Photography Mandi Lynn, Designer Kerry Huges, Hat Liza forman

Hair and makeup by Hil Cook, Photography by Mandi Lynne, Dress design Kerry Huges



Here is a Sneek Peek of whats yet to come, once our good photos are done I will post them but thought I would share a few of my own pics :)

Makeup - Hil Cook, Hair Derek Elvy

Hair and makeup by Hil Cook, Photography by Mandi Lynne, Dress design Kerry Huges

Amazing makeup by Angela Duncan, Hair - Derek Elvy, Photography Mandi Lynn, Head gear Liza Foreman

Hair and makeup by Angela Duncan 

Hair and Makeup by Angela Duncan

http://www.vogue.it/en/photovogue/Portfolio/829a5459-7717-4842-a8e3-d11898b793c1/Image

Hils x

Another one for Italian Vogue

Hair and make up by Hil Cook

Holy Moley, another one in Italian vouge woop woop .... amazing photo by Mandy Lynne, Designer Kerry Huges, Head gear Liza Foreman and hair and makeup Hil Cook :)

Paradise cafe shoot

Thought I would post some more of my ghosts now they have been shown on TV.  Enjoy Hils x

Love interest ghost

Hils airbrushing up Cat burglar ghost

This is on Natalie who works in our team, she was a ghost in the TV show.

Mad scientist ghost

Sailor Ghost

The Entertainer ghost

Director Ghost

Chef Ghost

Hils doing final checks on Allan

Allan Henry being Alonzoe Ghost

Chloe Sea ghost

How to make eye primer

On Wednesday I am doing a shoot for Fishead mag and the look is eye popping bright eye shadow colours. This got me thinking about eye primers to get that intense eye colour, so I thought I would let you into a secret on how to make your own eye primer.  The difference in using a eye primer with your shadow is astounding, it makes the colours look more intense in their shades and gives a real boost to the lasting ability of your shadow.


Basically just squirt in the equal amounts of liquid foundation, concealer and moisturiser (preferably a body butter or thick consistency moisturiser) in a small container from Plastic box and stir. Add more foundation to make it darker, more moisturiser to lighten it up. 
This also works well as a tinted moisturiser if you make it in a bigger quantities and don't add the concealer. Keep adding to your mix until you have the consistency and amount that you need. Rub a tiny bit onto your eyelid and up to your brow bone and leave to dry before applying eyeshadow. Your eyeshadow  will stay on noticeably longer after using this!! 

Also great if your short on money 


Enjoy, Hils x

Hils work made it into Italian Vogue!!!!!!!!

HOLY BEAVER MY WORK MADE ITALIAN VOGUE AHHHHHHHHH. THAT IS THE HIGHEST ACHIEVEMENT EVER! I HAVE DIED AND GONE TO HEAVEN.

Lovely to work together ladies, we did it!!!!
Thanks to Mandi lynn- photographer, Kerri Huges Artist & designer, Liza Foreman- Head gear and fab hats and especially Ange Duncan from Hil Cook Makeup. Woop Woop ahhhh... Party time!!!

Hair and makeup by Hil Cook :)

Hils x

Savvy little 70's lady

Thought I would show you this little 70's number that was done for BBC/ Gibson group production, 'Paradise Cafe' series 2. The actress played a very cute 70's cat burglar in the TV show which was just shown on TV today.

Hair and makeup by Hil Cook

I also wanted to share with you, Ange's lovely weeping blister rash she made on our lovely actress Georgia, who played lead actress Natasha on Paradise cafe

Hair makeup and special FX by Ange Duncan

Teenagers beware, you too could look like this if you dont wash your face he he!

Hils x

A beautiful letter to Natalie.

All of our team likes to support our local community so Ange came up with the idea to help the people that sometimes get forgotten.  Those chosen... the volunteers at the Te Omanga Hospice, those  people who work relentlessly helping terminally ill patients, making life that little bit better for people in need and their families and friends.  The Hil Cook team decided to do a Pamper day for the volunteers that dedicate their time to others so we thought a little TLC was in need to be given back.  The team spent the best part of the morning doing make overs, hair cuts, manicures, hand massages, hair styles and generally making Te Omanga helpers feel good.

I thought I would share with you a beautiful letter that one grateful volunteers sent to Natalie, our youngest team player.


Natalie
 When I read this I had to share it, what a pleasure it was meeting
you today, you are an inspiration.
 I wish you well for the future hope you have a very special Birthday
on Saturday.

"In helping others, we shall help ourselves 
for whatever good we give out completes the circle and                  comes back to us."


Regards Betty

Just a sneak peak of the White Goddess shoot today. Creating Vogue Images.

Ange and I did the most amazing shoot today for an epic clothing artist, Kerrie Huges. The White Goddess shoot inspiration came from a beautiful piece of poetry that Kerrie loved, she interpreted the words into the most stunningly intricate detailed garments I have ever seen.  I wont put all the pics up as I will wait until I have the pro shots instead of mine, but here is a sneaky peak.

 Kerrie's work has been seen at London Fashion Week, in the pages of British Vogue and Tatler magazines, and Daryl Hannah used to be a regular client. Yet since her return to New Zealand in 2001 after 12 years in Britain, the modest and self-effacing designer has shunned publicity....

The intricate handwork is a Hughes trademark; her garments are impossible to mass produce due to the labour-intensive processes involved in their creation..... resume is something most fashion designers would kill for. She trained at St Martin's School of Art (London) following her first job working for British designer Zandra Rhodes. In the 1990s her designs were coveted by actresses like  Daryl Hannah and snapped up by stylists for television series Friends and Absolutely Fabulous.

In 1995 the Victoria & Albert Museum commissioned her to design a garment for its permanent collection and participate in the exhibition, Cutting Edge. Her designs have been sold at Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Henri Bendel, Saks and Nordstrom in America, and Browns, Liberty and Harvey Nichols in London. Other clients have included Cher, Annie Lennox, Paula Yates, Tracey Ullmann, Helena Bonham Carter, Charlotte Church and shock rocker Marilyn Manson.

Hair and makeup by Hil Cook

My ghosts off Paradise cafe #2 TV series. Filmed in Raro :)

Thought I would share with you some of my prosthetic ghosts that were made for Paradise cafe 2.
 A fantastic BBC/ Gibson Group TV show filmed in Rarotonga ( and a bit in Welly).  Best job ever!!!

Hil x

Working with Celebs

Today I had the fun job of making up fantastic Actors, Nick Frost and Simon Pegg. This hilarious duo are over from England to promote there latest movie 'Paul' which graces out screens starting April 14th.
They were so fun to make up and a very easy pair to hang with.  Love these types of jobs!

They were very kind to happily have a photo taken with me so i thought I would share it.:)

Hils x

How to make your own lipgloss

I have had a whole bunch of emails asking for more makeup tips and yesterdays post I told you about primer, but what I didnt tell you is that you can get it for a mere cost of $9 dollars in the Supermarket. WHAT A BARGIN!!

Anyway today I am going to tell you how to make your own lipgloss on a shoe string budget.

What you need...


. Cheap lippie from the $2 shop
. Vaseline
. Small metal bowl or metal tablespoon
. Straighteners  (does not need to be GHD's, can be any sort)
. Small container with lid (recycled) or from Plastic box store
. Fruit tea (optional)


Step one: Cut about 1cm of cheap lippie and place it in a small metal bowl or metal tablespoon.
Step two: Add approx one teaspoon of Vaseline into the small metal bowl or tablespoon.
Step three: Place metal bowl or spoon with ingredients in it on your hot straightener plates (can be done on stove if no straighteners) and once melted, give it a good stir together.
Step four: To make gloss scented, brew fruit teas like Raspberry zinger and add a small amount of the hot fruit scented water to your mix. Stir well

Step five: Pour the mix into your small container without the lid on, put it in the freezer for around 15 mins until set. Add lid and your done.

 WOOP WOOP Your very own Lipgloss

Hot tips!!!!
you can add 1-2 drops of food colouring instead of lippie for that bee-stung balm look or you can crush up any eyeshadow or blush shimmer to add a sparkle.
Flavours like Vanilla essence may be added also, but make sure it has been warmed up when mixing together.

Strapped for cash for birthday pressies, this is the nicest gift for a friend and really made with love!

Tune in for more tips tomorrow
Hils x

Face primer on a budget - Hot tip!!!!!!

Face Primer on a budget ...


A lot of us these days are on a budget right? Heck, most of us are on a budget all the time and cant spend a fortune on all the higher end brands of makeup for certain necessities like a  foundation primer. Luckily I have found an item, which is not limited to, but have noticed works the best and that is to me a Godsend!!!! For those of you makeup junkies who may not have the means to go out and spend 40 - 80+ dollars for a bottle of face primer which we might end up using a lot of the time, Aveeno baby daily moisture lotion is definitely the way to go!!!!!

First of all, what is a face primer or foundation primer????

A face primer is a cream or lotion that is applied before a foundation is applied. Why? because it gives a nice even slick finished canvas for the product to set on, it will contain ingredients that fill in tiny lines and pores, and it provides a long lasting wear for your makeup products. Most face primers on the market today will read in the ingredients Dimethicone as one of the main ingredients, Dimethicone is a skin protectant which is a silicon based polymer and is a key ingredient to reduce pores and give that slick finish.

Aveeno baby daily moisturiser is gentle enough for newborn delicate skin and contains the magic ingredient to work miracles at a fraction of the cost of high end brands. This completely delivers like any high end face primer and to be honest I don't think you can notice one is better than the other (except for price). Try it and see for yourselves.                

Most of all our eyeshadow primers and bases have the main ingredient Dimethicone, This is why when I stumbled upon this as a beauty item other than a child's lotion I was intrigued, the main ingredient is Dimethicone! You can pick this product up at any of your local Countdowns, Farmers or Chemist for very little cost. It makes skin feel very supple and smooth and makes a perfect base canvas.

It works very well to give foundation 'something to hold onto' and keep it there. Because it is silicone based it actually gives just a bit of dewy glow. I was surprised to see how well foundation looked over Aveeno baby lotion and found no creasing up into fine lines or congregating into the pores even after a whole day.                      

Give it a try, if not for a primer, for a moisturiser because it's so nice to skin and has worked wonders for sensitive baby skins! 

Hils

Latest fashion shoot for THRIVE ... The most wearable collection ever!

I had the pleasure of doing the hair and makeup for Thrive's latest collection, and next seasons garments.
Thrive is a fantastic edgy Kiwi clothing design label and I suggest if you have not visited them on line yet, or been to their fab store in Martinborough, you should certainly check them out.
Photographer Tim Watson from Studio 62 and I, both agreed that it was one of the most wearable collections we have ever worked with. I was dribbling over everything!
Our gorgeous modle Sophie from Kirsty bunny Management was a complete dream to work with, one of my extra special favorites :) you can see why!!
I will show you this seasons collection but you will have to wait  just a wee bit longer for the next seasons edgy looks. Enjoy
                                                                    Hils x

Another Stunning bride, Chloe

Just though I would share with you this gorgeous photograph by Kate Mcpherson of beautiful bride Chloe.
She wanted to look fresh, natural and effortless.  I used smoulderey taupes on her eyes, a fresh Bobbi brown base, vintage rosebud coloured lips and a soft hit of rose bush. End result... STUNNING!

Thanks to kate for sending us the pic.  Hils x

Types, Textures and Choices (Oh My!)... Lippies

Types, Textures and Choices (Oh my!)

A woman’s lipstick color and finish is indicative of how she wants to be perceived. Sheer formulas convey a feeling of ease and approachability. Shimmering and iridescent finishes represent an effervescent or playful attitude. Matte or cream lipsticks in bright or vibrant colors demand attention. The same finishes in rich colors evoke a feeling of confidence and power—have you ever met a woman with rich, deep red lips who didn’t appear confident?  High shine/glossy lips exude a heightened level of sexuality because they simulate the look of lips that have just been licked. 

When you mix any of these finishes together, you create a different, more complex personification. For example: A woman with richly colored, high-gloss lips is sending a powerful message—she’s strong, sexy and in control.

Penny, my Audrey Hepburn bride

Just wanted to show you some amazing pictures of Penny which talented photographer, Jenny Siasoi, from fine line Photography took.  My bride Penny,  went for the Audrey Hepburn look for the day with a stunningly detailed french roll. Check the pics...

Punk is the new black

PUNK IS THE NEW BLACK  

By Kevin Murphy

 

Hi everyone,

Here is the latest shoot I did for Vogue in which you can see that Punk is everywhere this season. Now it’s a glamorous punk, or you could say a punk on a trust fund. 
When researching for the shoot I tried to find images of girls from that period and I was drawn to Debbie Harry from BLONDIE and I had to ask myself “what would Debbie Do???” 



In the late seventies, there were not a lot of products available and punk was about rebellion. I had just made a new product called BODY.BUILDER which is a mousse. Robert Lobetta and I had talked and he stated what was old is new again, so I decided to lay mousse into the hair and blow it out with little skill so I could achieve a fluffy texture to the ends. I tried not to try too hard and focused on getting volume at the roots only. 



Using a ROLL.BRUSH I lifted up the roots at the sides to create the flicked over look. The BODY.BUILDER gave me lots of control over the hair but kept the finish soft enough for me to mould the shape. I then BACK COMBED the roots of the hair (to achieve the shape) and then followed through and BACK BRUSHED the ends and the mid-lengths to achieve the texture. 



Of course SESSION.SPRAY played a big part in the style and I went mad with the spray. Why? Because that is what Debbie would have done!  
I kept on using my SMOOTHING.BRUSH during the day to release texture on the ends so they looked soft - this kept the fullness in the ends of the hair. I had to hide some of the hair to give it a layered look so a lot of the hair was hidden from view with clips. This gave the front of the head more volume. 



Its was so good to be able to do something strong and soft at the same time, and using old methods to create something modern. Who knew that my new best friends would be a can of mousse, a ROLL.BRUSH and tons of spray. 
Since discovering BODY.BUILDER, its all I reach for. BODY.BUILDER’s weightless qualities allow me to create so much more than I had ever expected so I hope you like it. 

Bye for now and regards,

Kevin xx