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Red Carpet Beauty: The Ins & Outs With Bryony Blake

Since graduating makeup school, Bryony Blake has worked as an MUA on some of the biggest shows around – from The X Factor, to Strictly Come Dancing and This Morning. It's only right we'd come to her for advice (and secret tips) on how the big names get red carpet-ready. Show us how it's done, Bryony.

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You’ve had a lot of practice creating red carpet makeup looks. How do you get ready for a big event?

I think skin prep is vital for any makeup look. I always make sure the skin has what it needs, plus it give people a moment of calm when you're applying beautiful products to the face.

For the red carpet it's really important to work as a team, so making sure the stylist, hairdresser, MUA and celebrity are all on the same page is a must.

Who’s your favourite celebrity you’ve worked with and why?

I couldn’t possibly answer that question: I’ve only worked with lovely people! For me it’s about the vibe. You want to have fun while you work, and you want whoever you are making up to feel their very best. I always laugh with Oti Mabuse and Amanda Holden, it never feels like work when you're with those two.

Name three of your favourite beauty hacks you swear by.

If you smudge your mascara, don’t try to clean it up straight away – this will leave a big hole in your base, and just smudge and make it worse. Wait for it to dry and use a clean spooly (the end of an eyebrow brush that looks like a mascara wand) and gently scratch the dry mascara away. It will come off so easily and won’t ruin your makeup.

If you are using a pot like a gel liner or cream shadow, always turn it upside down on your table as it will stop the air getting to it and drying out.

For any product that’s drying out, mix a small amount of Skin Food by Weleda into it. It brings it straight back to life.

Tell us one of your beauty secrets for incredible makeup?

For me it’s about confidence and feeling amazing. If you don’t wear a lot of makeup and then you suddenly put on loads because you're going to a party and you feel like you should be wearing a lot more than usual, don’t. You must not let the makeup wear you. Maybe go for a different lipstick or eyeliner colour, but don’t pick a makeup look you’ve seen someone else wearing and try to recreate it if its miles away from what you normally wear. It won’t ever look the same and you’ll end up really stressed and not happy. Go with confidence and whatever makes you feel your best.