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This weekend I’m proud to introduce you to a rather lovely lady and the talent behind North East make up artistry business, Cordelia & Co. - the fabulous Anna Mason. This gal is a wizard with a blusher brush, on top of the trends and safe as houses to entrust with your wedding day look. Fact.
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Anna also is wholeheartedly behind our little crusade here at Brides Up North to get our readers – yes you! – thinking local. She says: It’s so refreshing to find ideas and suppliers so passionate about the wedding industry and so proudly based in the North. Everything about Brides Up North is ‘real life”, inspiring and approachable, synonymous with the ‘Northern Revolution’ that Julia is trail blazing throughout the wedding industry!
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Let’s meet her.
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How and when did you become a make up artist? What is your background and qualifications?
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I was the artistic black sheep of my business focused family and as a child became addicted to my Gran’s (the original Cordelia!) panstick and rouge! I moved to London when I was 18 to take a Media and Business degree but being in the capital only inspired me to get more makeup creative. For the first few years I cheekily gained experience on fashion shoots and assisted more successful makeup artists despite been totally self taught! In my early 20s I took the plunge and took an IHBC in media and fashion makeup at the London School of Beauty & Makeup. Formal makeup training really raised my standards and I was able to adapt my own style from there. I quickly realized my favourite genre was to be ‘private makeup work’ such as red carpet, corporate events and of course weddings… I loved working on real faces!
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What service do you offer for Brides To Be?
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Cordelia & Co. create beautiful looks with makeup for the bride (or groom!) and members of the wedding party. From a detailed consultation to a informative and fun pre wedding makeup rehearsal right through to creating makeup perfection on their big day. I can be on ‘makeup call’ all day if required, from touch ups to a change of look in the evening!
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I can also offer makeup lessons to help brides become their own makeup artist should they be going away for their wedding. Also makeup master classes for a fun evening in before wedding such as a night with the girls!
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Why should a Bride To Be have her make up professionally applied?
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For a bride that is not confident with makeup but knows she wants to look her most polished and radiant having their makeup professionally applied will be invaluable! Even if she is more than makeup savvy, bridal makeup has to fill a vast criteria such as longevity, photogenic and being lighting friendly. There’s a such a fine balance between looking fantastic in both photographs and real life. A bride will pick up lots of tips and tricks about products, while learning about colours and dispelling any makeup myths!
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Finally, nerves! Even as a makeup artist I chose to have a trusted colleague perform my own wedding day makeup, emotions are running high and hands are shaking! A good makeup artist will bring a sense of calm to the preparations.
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Do you do a make up trial? Why would you recommend this?
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All my packages include a rehearsal which can be performed anytime up to the day. I consider it the most vital stage in my services. It is where all the planning and playing with makeup happens. I also perform an in-depth consultation where I find out as much about the client and their wedding and their expectations. I really do welcome their input and wish to create their idea of makeup perfection.
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What sets your business apart from your competitors?
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I’m a makeup artist but really my business is all about customer service, with a real emphasis on the customer. Communication and reliability and the confidence my customers gain from this are invaluable. From my experiences in London, the beauty world is sometimes considered fickle and unapproachable. I really intend to change this perception with Cordelia & Co. I’m professional, friendly, discreet, and like to think I can do great things with a makeup brush. It truly is a honour to perform such a personal service for a bride and to be within her wedding party circle on such an important day. I always think ‘There is a person behind the face I am painting!’
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Tell us about some of the industry connections you have made and shoots that you have worked on since launching your business?
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I was apprehensive to start up from scratch in the North, but I can honestly say that the regional wedding industry could not have been more welcoming. I have met some fantastic photographers and regularly perform ‘makeover work’ in collaboration with them. Vintage is so popular right now and seems to be the theme behind the majority of my shoots.
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I’m really pleased to have been able to build up a private cliental again, as working with ‘real women’ and meeting their expectations as opposed to models, is where my passion lies.
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What have been your professional highlights to date?
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As a young makeup wannabe I assisted the phenomenal Laura Mercier during a week of master classes in Harrods. I never get star struck but became all giddy when she shook my hand. It wasn’t just the experience but been able to ask all those makeup questions you’ve had stored in your head since childhood!
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What are your favourite wedding make up looks for 2013?
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Brides are definitely moving away from the ‘bridal look’ of peaches and pinks and the resurgence of vintage only seems to be growing. It really is all about the eyes! Subtly defined with beautiful lashes and immaculate groomed brows. I’m a bit of a brow obsessive and include tidying and shaping in my services.
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What would be your top wedding make up tips for a Bride To Be?
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Look after your skin in the build up to your wedding, taking time to relax, remembering that too much stress will show through in your skin Leave at least a week between a facial and your wedding day, giving your skin time to settle Invest some time in your brows by either committing to grow them out if there over plucked and having then professionally shaped. This really can redefine your face!
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For touch ups, ask an attendant to keep a small mirror, lipstick and blotting paper in their purse. Blotting paper will absorb excess oil that causes shine and is a better alternative to reapplying more powder as over the day this can become cakey.
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Waterproof mascara… of course! And if you do shed a tear remember to ‘dab’ with a tissue don’t wipe!
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What would be your wedding make up no-nos?
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Take it easy on the fake tan! A nice overall glow will look radiant but too much of the bronze and the face and body will be a different shade, this will look terrible in photographs!
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Tide marks, through either blusher applied to harshly or foundation round the jaw line. Blend, blend and blend again!
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Skin draining colours! If you are unsure of what your undertones you have (cool or warm as a rule) seek some professional advice. This really is the key to looking beautifully healthy.
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Always, always have a makeup trial, even if you’ve had makeup professionally applied before. Your own version of the ‘natural’ look could be translated very differently. This is one area not to cut costs on, investing in a trial/trials will guarantee makeup perfection and relieve stress on the big day!
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Whatever your overall look, aim for ‘iconic’ rather than ‘high fashion’ with your makeup. Think Grace Kelly, Elizabeth Taylor (the first few marriages! ) and recently Kate Middleton. All exuded timeless beauty. We’ve all seen wedding pictures from the 70’s and 80’s featuring grease painted blue eye shadow, enough said!
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Who would be your dream client and why?
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I refer to Charlize Theron a lot for inspiration, as she has the most beautiful bone structure. I think it would just be a case of gilding the lilly with Ms Theron! Another dream client would be Joan Collins… really! I just love the lady and I know she has very firm opinions on makeup. She was taught how to do her own makeup by the legendary Whitey Snyder from the silver screen era. But if she ever wanted to update her look, I’d be happy to help!
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Are there any really memorable weddings that you have worked on?
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Back in London I was making up a wedding party in a stately home in Richmond. The lighting in the bedrooms was so poor that myself and the hair stylists had to set up shop in the stairwell as it had the biggest windows! The bride thought it was hilarious and the photographer was inspired and took some amazing pictures of bridesmaids perched on the stair banisters!
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Which weddings or shoots do you have coming up that you are really excited about?
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I’m honoured to be working with a bride who styled my hair for my own wedding seven years ago! We joked on the day that I would have to return the favour and now I am. The wedding is also being held in my home town of Guisborough which is still finding itself on the wedding map, but will provide the perfect backdrop to a real Northern wedding!
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Where are you located and will you travel?
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I’m based in the market town of Guisborough (ancient capital of Cleveland) but I’m happy to travel throughout the North and the rest of UK.
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How can Brides Up North see examples of your work or find out more?
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Visit my website at www.cordeliaandco.com or find me on Facebook at Cordelia & Co. inspired makeup artistry and Twitter @CordeliaAndCo.
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Brides Up North UK Wedding Blog – Images © 2013 supplier by Cordelia & Co. by
GASP Photography, Ian Weldon Photography, John Hesford Photography
Cordelia & Co. is a Brides Up North Featured Supplier and this is a sponsored post
Contact Brides Up North to submit your business as a Featured Supplier
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