Makeup and Beauty

Enhancing Natural Beauty: The Art of Soft Glam Makeup

Thu, 23 Oct 2025 11:43:54 GMT

When it comes to makeup, less is often more — and that’s exactly the philosophy behind my signature natural and soft glam makeup looks. As a makeup artist based in Colchester, I specialise in creating timeless, radiant beauty that enhances your best features without masking who you are.

Whether it’s your wedding day, a special event, or simply a moment to feel your best, my approach focuses on flawless, glowing skin, softly defined eyes, and a fresh, polished finish that looks just as beautiful in person as it does in photographs.

My Approach to Natural Makeup

Natural makeup isn’t about doing less — it’s about doing it right. Every face is unique, and my goal is to bring out your natural beauty with carefully selected products and techniques that work in harmony with your skin tone, texture, and style.

I focus on:

Healthy, luminous skin that looks fresh and hydrated

Soft, seamless blending for that “barely-there” glow

Enhancing your features, not masking them

Long-lasting finishes that stay comfortable and beautiful all day

My clients love the confidence that comes with looking like the best version of themselves — never overdone, always effortlessly elegant.

Luxury Brands, Professional Results

I believe that great results come from great products. That’s why I use only high-end, skin-loving brands such as Charlotte Tilbury, Bobbi Brown, and Estée Lauder in my kit.

Charlotte Tilbury for radiant, glowing skin and timeless Hollywood-inspired glamour

Estée Lauder for reliable, long-wearing coverage that feels light and looks flawless

Bobbi Brown for natural tones, skin-true foundations, and fresh finishes

These brands help me achieve that signature “soft glam” — dewy, elegant, and picture-perfect without being heavy or cakey.

Soft Glam for Every Occasion

The “soft glam” look is all about balance — softly defined eyes, naturally flushed cheeks, and glowing skin that complements every outfit and occasion.

It’s a look that suits everyone, regardless of age or skin type, and can be tailored from subtle daytime elegance to a slightly more enhanced evening style.

From bridal makeup to special occasion makeup across Essex and Suffolk, my clients often say the best compliment they receive is “you look amazing — and so natural!”

Bridal Makeup Artist in Colchester and Suffolk

As an experienced bridal makeup artist, I understand how important your wedding day is. You want to look radiant, confident, and timeless — not just in person, but in every photograph you’ll treasure for years to come.

My bridal makeup service includes:

A detailed consultation and trial to find your perfect look

Expert product selection for your skin type and tone

A calm, professional presence on the day

Long-lasting, photo-ready results

Whether you’re getting married in Colchester, Suffolk, or beyond, I’ll ensure your look reflects you — naturally beautiful and effortlessly elegant.

Why Choose Melanie Rose Makeup

With years of experience and a passion for natural beauty, my goal is simple: to help you feel confident in your own skin.

From brides seeking a timeless look to women wanting to refresh their everyday style, I create soft, natural glam that enhances, not hides.

If you’re looking for a bridal makeup artist in Colchester or Suffolk, I’d love to help you achieve your perfect look.

Book Your Natural Makeup Experience

Ready to embrace your best natural self?

✨ Book your appointment or bridal consultation today.

Let’s create a look that’s you — only elevated.

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How to achieve glowing skin without looking greasy

Tue, 28 Apr 2020 00:00:00 GMT

For a while now I have seen quite a few makeup artists and influencers work hard to perfect the look of glowing, ‘lit-from-within’ skin on both themselves and their models. Whilst, this can create the look of eternal youth, I can’t help notice that some people just look sweaty and well, a tad on the greasy side! Which begs the question… how glow can you go?

Perfecting the right amount of highlight can really separate the ‘I just came back from a 10 day yoga retreat in Thailand’ from the ‘I’ve just been sat in traffic for the last hour in 30 degree heat and I could scream’ look. So how much is too much? I’ve taken a look at some of my favourite products for various skin types, as well as provide some helpful tips on how to apply just the right amount of highlight.

First things first, in order to find a highlighter which works for you, it is important to determine which skin type you have. For example, if you have dry skin, you should be looking for a liquid or cream highlighter as this will gently moisturise the skin and will help to achieve that dewy glow. If you have oily skin, I would opt for a powder based highlighter, as this will soak up some of the moisture in your skin, but won’t leave it looking dry either!

Once you have established your skin texture, you then have a better idea of what you should be aiming for. Purchasing cosmetics can be quite pricey, so you want to make sure you have a product that suits your skin.

Now to achieve that ‘lit-from-within’ glow, you may want to start by using a highlighting primer or moisturiser on the skin first, or by mixing it into the foundation. This is a popular technique used by many MUA’s and one that works very well, but don’t go overkill and apply loads of the product on your face or in your foundation. Too much product will make it hard for the foundation to stay put and it can make your face look greasy. I recommend one or two pumps if you are applying it directly to your face. If mixing it with your foundation, add one pump highlight and two pumps foundation.

Illuminating primer is great if you have dry skin, and great for make-up longevity. A lot of bridal makeup artists use this, as it provides a healthy glow, and also helps makeup stay put all day. Some of my favourites, include:

Becca Backlight Primer

Non-greasy, elegant finish

Bobbi Brown Extra Illuminating Moisturiser Balm

Subtle yet moisturising - and packed with vitamins!

Mac Strobe Cream

Dewy finish but non-greasy

Laura Mercier Pure Canvas Illuminating Primer

Moisturing and light reflecting

Once the base has been applied, time to move onto the highlighting. Now, to get optimum glow without looking like your face is melting, remember to apply a small amount and gradually buff out onto the skin. If using powder highlight, tap the powder from the brush before applying it directly to the face. Apply the highlight to the top of the cheekbones, then using a small brush add across the brow bones, inner corner of the eyes and Cupid's Bow (centre of the top lip). Remember, don’t go brushing or dabbing your whole face sparingly with product, just stick to the areas that would naturally catch the light.

If you have dry skin and opting for a cream or liquid based highlighter, you can afford to apply slightly more than those with oily or combination skin. This is because the product will help to moisturise your skin, rather than sit there and potentially slide off after a while.

If you have combination to oily skin, be sure to mattify the t-zone and any other shiny areas, before applying either a powder or cream highlight.

If you are prone to breakouts or acne, my advice would be to step away from powder highlighter. The reason being, because it can accentuate your pores more than if you weren’t wearing highlighter. I would recommend using a liquid or cream based highlight (preferably oil free), so that the product can help smooth over the surface of your skin and give the illusion of a clearer complexion.

If you have applied a illuminating moisturiser/primer beforehand, you shouldn’t need to add too much highlight to the top of the cheek bones as your face should already be brighter from the base. Adding substantial highlight to an already glowing face seems like a good idea, but when you’re in direct light, it can look greasy… and no one wants that!

Depending on your skin type, here is a list of some of my favourite brands for both dry and combination skin types:

For dry and sensitive skin:

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector

Glossier Haloscope Highlighter

Frank Body Illuminator

Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Highlight

For oily to combination skin types:

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighter

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick

Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Beauty Light Wand

Mac Mineralize Skinfinish

Choosing the right foundation for you

Sun, 17 Mar 2019 22:04:23 GMT

Nowadays, we are spoiled for choice when it comes to foundation. So much so, that it is difficult to know which is the most suitable one for our skin type. Many of my clients ask me for advice on this, so I thought it would be a good idea to write a blog on it.

For younger skin, we can afford to go for a more moderate to full coverage foundation. This is because it sits well and covers any blemishes or redness in the skin. For those with oily to combination skin, I would recommend using an oil free and matte foundation. This will hide any unwanted shine on the face, but at the same time, adequately cover any uneven skin tone or blemish. Some of my favourite full cover foundations include:

Estee Lauder Double Wear

Clinique Even Better Makeup

Clinique Stay Matte oil-free

Loreal True Match foundation

Revlon Colorstay

If you have dry or sensitive skin, I would recommend wearing a lighter foundation. When wearing thick foundation on dry skin, it doesn't always sit well and can tend to look cakey. For this reason, I would suggest wearing a tinted moisturiser or a light foundation mixed with a primer. This gives dry skin a more fresh and dewy look. Some of my favourite light foundations are:

Charlotte Tilbury's Light Wonder foundation

Clinique Supermoisture makeup

Estee Lauder Double Wear Light

Great tinted moisturisers include:

Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser

Clinique Moisture Surge Tinted Moisturiser

Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser

If you are looking to have a more dewy look to the skin, then I would recommend using a BB cream as these often contain antioxidants or vitamins to replace the sebum which is lost in the skin. BB creams are amazing at giving you glowy, fresh and youthful skin, whilst giving you SPF protection. CC creams are also very good for this and work very well to reduce redness and pigmentation in the skin. If you are prone to breakouts or acne, I would recommend using a CC cream because it is lighter than a BB cream and covers spots and redness better. Some of my favourite BB and CC creams include:

Clinique Moisture Surge CC Cream

Estee Lauder Double Wear All-Day Glow BB Cream

Mac Prep and Prime BB cream

Loreal Nude Magique CC cream

Body Shop All-in-ine Natural BB Cream

Christmas Vintage Makeup

Fri, 01 Dec 2017 00:00:00 GMT

To all those getting glammed up for Christmas and New Year's parties, why not try something more vintage chic? A bold red lip teamed with black eyeliner, strip lashes and grey eyeshadow. To add some sparkle, pat some glitter on the lid. For example, Stila Magnificent Metals in Rose Gold. Don't forget to add some shimmer in the corners of the eyes to really open them up!

If you struggle to get the perfect winged eyeliner, why not buy some make-up tape and apply it parallel to your eyebrows. Then prime the eyelids, add eyeshadow and black winged eyeliner. Once finished, gently remove the tape to leave a flawless clean finish.

To highlight your face, pat either cream or powder highlighter on the top of your cheeks, Cupid's bow and a bit at the top of your nose. This will give the ilusion of glowing healthy skin, even in the height of cold winter!

In order to keep your make-up looking fresh and sparkly all night long, spritz your face with some setting spray after make-up application. My favourites are Urban Decay All Nighter Setting Spray and Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist .

Autumnal Makeup

Sun, 01 Oct 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Style your makeup to the season

I always think Autumn is a fun time to play around with a mixture of colours, which you wouldn't normally use during the summer. I tend to match my makeup with the colours and tones of the autumnal landscape. Which in my opinion is one of the most pretty times of the year.

Packing away my tinted moisturiser and BB cream, I now opt for a more thicker coverage. Especially as my skin is not as glowing and tanned as it was during the summer! As it starts to get colder, you can sometimes see changes in your skin as it adapts to the climate. Mine tends to go a bit blotchy in some areas, and I randomly seem to get darker circles around this time. Therefore, I tend to opt for a slightly thicker coverage such as MAKE UP FOR EVER ULTRA HD foundation or Bobbi Brown Skin stick foundation. These products give me a nice even coverage, without looking too cakey. On days when I would prefer to have a more dewy look, I will go for the stick foundation or something more creamy like Nars Sheer Glow.

The most fun part to autumnal makeup, are the colours you can play around with on your eyes and lips! At the moment, I am using Bobbi Brown's Camel eyeshadow on my lids, topped off with a black sweeping flick from the inner corner of the eye to the outer corner. I then put on lashings of Clinique's High Impact Mascara.

For the cheeks, I have been using my staple Filmstar Bronze and Glow by Charlotte Tilbury to contour my face and add a bit of warmth. I then add a bit of creamy Pot Rouge in Pale Pink by Bobbi Brown. You've probably noticed I have a bit of a Bobbi Brown obsession at the moment!!

Last but definitely not least, the lips! Now lately, I have been using Lip Velvet in Oxblood by Burberry - it is slightly expensive but the colour is so lovely and it glides on like a dream! My other favourites have been Velvet Teddy by Mac and Bobbi Brown's Crushed Lip colour in Bare.

Don't be afraid to be more experimental with your colours. Try deep reds, dusty pinks and golden beige tones. You'll look amazing!

Sun's out...time to get your glow on!

Thu, 25 May 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Need ideas for summer makeup? No problem.

Apologies for the late blog post, it has been a hectic few months and I have been meaning to write one sooner. However, I am so glad I waited because there have been some really interesting products on the market recently, which I have been so excited to try and tell you about!

Everything from glossy eyelid shadows to creamy cheek blush pots. They all work in combination to achieve that Hollywood Glow we all strive to have!

As we approach the summer months, it is important that we change our foundation coverage to adopt the seasonal changes in humidity and light. By this, I mean that it is worth opting for a lesser coverage during the warmer months. Not only will this appear more natural under the sun's rays, but it will let your skin breath and won't clog up your pores as much. So ladies, if you are used to wearing a medium to full coverage foundation, why not switch to a CC cream or tinted moisturiser which is weightless but with moderate coverage. I am prone to the occasional breakout, especially during the time of the month, so I always like something that is going to even out my skin tone but without looking too much.

As it has started to get warmer, I am using Charlotte Tilbury's Light Wonder every day. Similar to a CC cream, it is light and airy, yet adequately covers spots and gives me an even skin tone. I have to say, it is one of my all time favourites. For a while I was wearing Laura Mercier Oil Free Tinted Moisturiser, which I loved because it gave me a really dewy glow, but unfortunately I had to stop wearing it because it was causing me to break out in spots each time. This would probably be ideal for someone with dry to sensitive skin, as it is very creamy but light coverage at the same time.

Another light coverage foundation I have tried and tested this month is the Rimmel Wake Me Up. Although, I have used this on some of my clients before, I had never used it on myself. I have to say, I wasn't a fan. Although it balanced out my skin tone nicely, it did not give me sufficient coverage and by the end of the day, it had completely worn off. Needless to say, I know a lot of people who love this foundation, so maybe it just didn't have the sticking power for my skin!

I am a big fan of Mac Prep and Prime BB Beauty Balm (SPF 35). It covers redness and spots, whilst giving the skin that dewiness. The only downside to it for me was that it had a strong smell to it!

Moving on to Eyes! So, like me you have probably seen lots celebrity makeup artists raving about glossy lids. There seems to be a lot more products on the market now, which is good news for those who strive to achieve that super model look! After seeing Lisa Eldridge trying out the new Lid Tint by Jillian Dempsey, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it and try it out myself. Unfortunately, they only stock this in the US, so it meant that I had to pay slightly more for it and wait for it to be shipped over to the UK. When I finally tested it, I have to say I wasn't so impressed. Although the colour was lovely and made my eyes stand out, the consistency was so sheer that it had worn off completely after a couple of hours. I also found that it collected in the creases of my eye lids very quickly, which meant that I had to keep smudging it out with my finger. Not ideal when you are on the move all day! Sadly, I won't be recommending this product as I think it is so expensive for what it is.

I have to say, I always seem to go back to Maybelline's Color Tattoo 24Hr cream eyeshadow. It is affordable, lasts for a long time and comes in some really flattering shades. My favourites being Gold Shimmer and Barely Beige. I would definitely recommend these if you want to give your eyes some shimmer!

Last but not least, I have been been so excited about the new Eye Gloss range by Bobbi Brown. I bought the one in Nude and I really like it. Although, it felt a bit strange at first because it was sticky to touch, it definitely helps to give you a fresh faced look. It is also the most 'model-like' eye-gloss I have tried so far. I definitely think I would wear this more during the summer months than winter, just because it is sheer and dewy.

Finally, you can't achieve that summer glow, without those sun kissed dewy cheeks. I think the best way to get that youthful, fresh face look is to wear cream blush and highlighter, particularly if you have mature skin. I know they aren't for everyone, but there is no denying that cream blush gives skin a hydrated and healthy texture, which a lot of powder blushes fail to do. Also, if you have dry skin, this is a great way to add some colour and moisture to your face. At the moment I am using Bobbi Brown's Cheek Glow Palette in Pink Flush and Opal. I absolutely love it! It gives me a really pretty pink glow and the highlighter literally brightens my face. You can afford to layer it a bit, as it is so sheer and glides on perfectly. So you don't need to worry about looking like a clown! I like to dap the highlighter at the top of my cheek bones and in the corners of my eyes.

The Bobbi Brown Cheek Palette is quite expensive, so if you are looking for a drug store alternative, I would choose Max Factor Miracle Touch Creamy Blush or Bourjois's Cream Blush.

If you guys have any recommendations of similar products that you love using or would like me to try out anything else, shoot me an email and I will get back to you!

Most popular colours to wear this spring

Mon, 20 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

Finally, my favourite time of the year is here...spring! As the daffodils and tulips flourish in the glorious sun, we can also expect to see a trend of new seasonal eyeshadow colours and pinky blush tones this spring and early summer.

Whilst admiring the latest fashion show in London, I noticed that one of the popular looks of the moment are metallic eyeshadows. Metallic and gold coloured eyeshadows were worn by various names on the catwalk, such as Ralph & Russo and Viktor & Rolf. Whilst these can come across as being rather cool on the eye, they often look more effective when warmed up with a peach based colour. We seemed to have moved away from the fully covered glitter eyelids, a popular look around December and January. Nevertheless, it is still very popular to have a shimmer to the eye, which can be achieved with the various metallic and Rose Gold tones on offer at the moment. A personal tip of mine is to add vaseline or Elizabeth Arden's 8 Hour Cream on top of eyeshadow, just to give it that extra gloss.

Undoubtedly, the on-trend look for lips this spring is bright coloured peach and pink tones. Popular lip colours on the catwalk were varying pink and taupe tones. These colours go especially well when wearing minimal eye makeup and highlighted cheeks, as it causes the lips to stand out.

For cheeks, there seems to be a growing trend to wear blusher on the higher points of the cheeks and close to the temples. I am not too sure whether this is mainly trending amongst editorial looks, or whether this will catch on to the wider population. Personally, I don't like this look as I prefer to wear my blusher on the apples of my cheeks. Nevertheless, I have seen some beautiful looks where this has looked incredibly effective.

5 wedding day makeup tips you should know before your big day arrives!

Fri, 10 Mar 2017 00:00:00 GMT

It is hard enough trying to plan everything and make sure it all goes to plan on your wedding, so the last thing you want to worry about it your makeup and beauty regime on the day. For this reason, I have put together 5 tips all brides and bridesmaids should avoid on the big day.

1) Avoid any new looks on your wedding day

If you are having your hair and makeup professionally done for your wedding, you probably won't need to worry about this too much. This is because the makeup/hair artist should do a trial makeup run leading up to the wedding. The makeup artist will try out a few looks and together, you will choose which look you feel the most happy and comfortable with.

However, if you are doing your own makeup on your wedding day, be sure not to try anything too funky or outlandish. Unless, that is what you are going for! The reason being speaks for itself... you want to be able to feel comfortable and confident with how you look, and trying something new could have its repercussions. I knew a friend that decided to do their own makeup for their wedding, and on the day she decided to use frosty blue tones on her eyelids (we can look back now and have a giggle about it). Needless to say, it wasn't a great look and the blue toned eyeshadow clashed with her natural blue eyes. The look also appeared a little dated - rather 80's-esque. After she applied her makeup, she immediately disliked her choice of eye colour and decided to start again. This set her back a little bit, and then the panic well and truly kicked in! All the while the clock was ticking and her fiancé was patiently waiting at the alter.

Nevertheless, once she had reapplied her makeup and put together all the finishing touches, she looked absolutely amazing. She made it to the alter, albeit, 15 minutes late and the rest is history!

2) Apply makeup which compliments the time of day you are getting married

Being a makeup artist, I often get requests to apply dark tones and false lash strips to the eyelids. This is fine, but not always suitable for a day wedding (particularly in the morning). This is all due to light and how it falls on your face. Around midday, the light is the strongest and will expose makeup a lot more so than if you were under artificial light. For this reason, it is best to wear more natural colours and tones around the eyes and cheeks, as it will be more forgiving in daylight.

For evening weddings or special occasions, I can afford to use bolder eyeshadows and thicker false eyelashes due to the way the light falls on the face.

3) Avoid tinted moisturiser, BB or CC creams on your wedding day

Tinted moisturisers, BB/CC creams often contain a higher portion of SPF and more oily elements than a foundation. This means, that they will produce more shine on the skin than a normal foundation. Which in turn, could lead to the skin looking shiny and this will be picked up on the camera. Not a great look in your wedding photos! Nowadays, there are a number of amazing photo-friendly foundations which are very popular amongst makeup artists. Some of my favourites are; Make Up For Ever HD, Revlon Colorstay Foundation, Laura Mercier Silk Creme Foundation and Mac Face and Body Foundation.

4) Make sure you moisturise and exfoliate your skin beforehand

In general, it is important to prep and prime the skin as it enables dead skin cells to be removed and maintains good sebum production in the skin. It can allow for the skin to look healthier and more youthful, which is what we all want! Leading up to your wedding, you are more likely to break out in spots or possibly have drier skin because you are stressed and anxious. Your skin is like a mirror, it will reflect how you feel inside. This is why it is so important that you take care of it even more in the days leading up to your special day. Be sure to thoroughly cleanse with micellar water and makeup pads, as well as with warm water and gentle exfoliator. Then, use a toner which is suited to your skin type. If you already suffer from dry or sensitive skin, refrain from using a strong toner with a lot of astringent in it. Then apply a suitable moisturiser and gently massage it into your skin. Make sure you do this at least two weeks before your wedding. Also, don't forget to drink lots of water, as this keeps the skin plump and hydrated.

5) Take a few makeup essentials in your bag... or ask someone to bring them!

When my sister got married, I suggested she take a compact pressed powder, lip balm and lipstick. She wasn't going to take anything at first, I think she was too busy worrying about other stuff (understandably so!) but as it is such a long day, you may want to do some small little touch ups before photos. In the end, our mum put these small items in her bag as my sister didn't have anywhere to put them. The next day, she thanked me for suggesting it, as she was frequently applying lip balm. Like me, when she gets nervous, she tends to lick her lips. Which in turn, leads to dry and flakey lips. Although you couldn't tell, I think she appreciated having the little touch-ups to her makeup throughout the course of the day.