FAKE BAKE gets Halloween ready with MUA Rebecca McGuffie: making a Flawless Statement… with a tan!

Remember when the end of October meant throwing on a pointed hat, a bad wig, and dipping your face in what looked like Tippex in order to appear ghostly? Those days have long gone, and we are so glad they have here at Team Fake Bake. The glamour spectrum has swung right the other way now, and you’ll have already seen a whole host of ghoulish looks knocking around social media, featuring the scarily gorgeous.

One thing you never used to be able to do for this night was wear self tan. It just went against the whole fancy dress code. Now? Anything goes. The clue is to look ghoulish, tanned and fabulous all at the same time. This is one night when you really can go to (ghost) town. We decided to catch up with Rebecca McGuffie, and up-and-coming MUA, as we spotted her work and fell in love. Plus, we want the tips. Clever lot we are, aren’t we?

Tell us more about yourself, Rebecca…

I am relatively new on the make-up scene, only just passing my VTCT level 3 in media and make up artistry at the age of 30. I just couldn't find any satisfaction in other jobs so one day I decided to follow my passion. In the last year I've worked on media shoots, fashion shows and I am now working for the Global Production Team within the Global Make-up Academy, working towards becoming a tutor in my local area for children and teenagers. I also do freelance make-up and run my Instagram page @flawless.statement.x showcasing my creative make-up. It has been an amazing journey so far and I can't wait to expand into further opportunities.

Halloween is such a busy time for MUA’s - why do you think it’s captured our beauty imaginations?

 I love Spooky Season! I think it is such a busy and fun time for MUA's because it gives us a chance to play around with our make-up and get creative. It's gone from green face paint, a plastic nose and a bin bag... to being able to create and become whatever you want. If you look on social media platforms around Halloween, the inspiration is unreal! And who doesn't want to look their best at the Halloween ball? All of the crazy requests pour in and you need to be SFX and media make-up ready!

If we wanted to create a look at home, any pointers on how we could do something a little easier to create?

 It is essential to plan, to make sure you have what you need. My must haves are; Stage blood, liquid latex, face paints and a good set of make-up brushes along with my normal make-up products and tools. I always use face charts too, this helps me map out the look. Everything I do is easy easy, it just takes time, patience and practice to get the best results. One of the easiest looks you can do for Halloween is a Vampire, you can keep your face glam, just add fangs and a little drop of blood by the mouth, dress accordingly and you're ready to go!

What do you love about your job?

I love making people happy! There is something about passing them the mirror and saying "Is that okay for you?" and seeing the client’s facial expressions lighting up as they check themselves out. I had a mature client close to tears once after revealing her look. Seeing her walk away with confidence was just something that felt so special to me, as a woman who has struggled with my own self esteem and confidence in the past. This is definitely why I love what I do, but being on set, rushing around, making sure you get it right and meeting deadlines is a rush like no other but to see the outcome, knowing you were a part of that team, whether it's a fashion show, film shoot or photo shoot, is out of this world. Then there is my creative make-up, which is my main passion. I just love to create a temporary piece of art on my face and then washing it away is like make-up poetry and I love it!

Who are your beauty icons?

My beauty icons... I have so many! Marilyn Monroe, Audrey Hepburn, Bridget Bardot, Beyonce, Lady GaGa, Nicki Minaj... I could go on forever! Val Garland as a make-up artist is a huge inspiration to me, which I have learnt a lot from. Years ago I watched the film Gia about an American model Gia Carangi who became the world’s first supermodel in the early 1980's.

Her story is tragic, dying from AIDS, at the young age of 26 at a time when there was little knowledge of the condition, and no medical treatment as there is now. Her career as a model was fast and wonderful and if you look at how beautiful she was and her amazing work as a model with all of the major fashion houses you can see why she is a true beauty icon. Angelina Jolie, who is also one of my beauty icons, plays Gia in the film and gives an outstanding performance. I would definitely recommend the film to anyone who hasn't seen it and has an interest in the beauty and fashion industry.

And finally we are really glad you can create a Halloween look and keep your tan. We know you love Fake Bake - any tips on your fave products?

Yes you can definitely do a Halloween look while keeping your tan on. Take a look around it's 2019... you're not on a horror film set with the director demanding you look like you have just crawled out of a coffin! We want glam, we want sexy... so grab the Fake Bake and get your tan on! Unless you really do want to look like scary Mary... I just love a tan and even if you are a zombie, a witch or a dead cheerleader you can still rock tanned legs. I use Fake Bake’s Coconut Body Polish and Flawless Tanning Serum for face and body with the mitt applicator and my tan is gorgeous every time. Whether I'm doing normal make-up or creative make-up my tan always looks amazing!

We so enjoyed our meet up with Rebecca and we will be taking her tips on board. And as for perfecting your tanning look, whether you tan at home or go pro, we love this look on TOWIE’s Kelsey by our very own professional wonder, Rox of Rox Tans.

Now we’ve sorted the tricks. Where’s the treats?

All products available at www.fakebake.co.uk

You can follow Rebecca on Insta @flawless.statement.x

You can follow Rox on Insta @rox_tans

FAKE BAKE takes a VIP Dubai detour: our new product launch gets the Kattan seal of approval, too!

Life’s not all glamour, is it? But last week, our fabulous Victoria Halliday, ably  assisted by the equally hard-working Karla Andrews, headed off to the Atlantis Palm in Dubai. And they didn’t go alone! First up, they took with them some precious VIP cargo in the shape of Love Island alumni Laura Anderson, who is now a successful businesswoman and podcaster. Fellow Islander Malin joined her: she’s now a brilliant health advocate. Add into the mix our fave male beauty blogger extraordinaire Jake Jamie and-all round talented entertainer Jake Quickenden. Finally on the guest list were make-up supremo Rachel Leary, and our beloved Josie Gibson, who is smashing it with her TV presenting right now.

Last, but not least, comes our freshly launched Fake Bake x Spectrum Go With The Glow Gift Set. Just be impressed by the beauty of it….

We caught up with Victoria, who is also in charge of Fake Bake’s Global Celebrity and Influencer Outreach, to ask her about the journey. This is what she told us…

“I can’t begin to tell you what a great trip we had. If you followed Fake Bake’s Insta stories, you’ll know there was a fair bit of fun woven into our work, but it didn’t feel too much like work with the constant laughs and good natured fun of our Dubai bunch. I have never been to Dubai before and what can I say? The Atlantis The Palm is an oasis of paradise. We were treated like royalty from the moment we arrived, to the second we left!

Our VIP’s made the trip: as a group of people, they made Dubai a wonderful experience. Over a sumptuous dinner, they got to know our new Fake Bake x Spectrum Go With The Glow Kit, and it was great to get their feedback. We invited this crew as they are genuine fans of Fake Bake. Some we have known for so long, and a few are more new to the brand, but they are all regular Fake Bake enthusiasts.

As well as helping introduce our launch, our intrepid VIPs all got busy getting tanned and setting up some amazing images with us, that show that Fake Bake really is a brand that suits everyone! Each and every one brought their own brand of beauty to the week.

Laura rocks it…

Rachel head-to-toe gorgeous…

Jake takes a break from entertaining to model that pineapple in style…

Our Josie brings a touch of evening glam…

Jake-Jamie brings some casual chic…

Malin walks the body positivity walk…

One thing that struck us during the trip, between the laughs and good times, was how much our guests have run with opportunities and absolutely made the best of them. I know from my work, observing, that being in the public eye isn’t always easy but these guys all bring something positive to the table, and do so with such humour and grace.

Did we let them permanently relax in the sun? No, and we know that this bunch aren’t the type to stay still for long. Our morning starts doing yoga in The Atlantis Aquarium set us all up for each busy day, and Gambaru Fightwear made sure we were all well dressed while we chilled out.

Our VIPs love a bit of fitness so we took them to K08 Fitness, which is just launching in Dubai. Super-fit Sean Clancy put us all through our paces using the K08 Training System - we felt it at the time, and it opened our eyes to new ways of getting fitter and leaner.

Did we survive on lettuce leaves and early nights? No. Life is all about balance! We got a taste of what it feels like to be a super-VIP when the hotel team took us around The Royal Bridge Suite. Our rooms were gorgeous but this was something else! It was so opulent and gorgeous.

The star of the week was definitely our new Fake Bake x Spectrum Go With The Glow Gift Set. It’s a great set as you get a choice of tans: Coconut Serum, Double Shot Espresso, Flawless or Tanning Water. Of course, we’ve added a tanning mitt! To perfect your glow we have also included our legendary Fake Bake Bronzer, and the Spectrum A01 Brush is perfect for seamless application. The set is housed in our gorgeous Marbelous bag with cool rose gold zip. Seriously, it’s a perfect present for any Fake Bake devotee!

The jewel in the crown of this visit were some loved-in words from Mona Kattan, one of the three infamous Kattan sisters who, headed by Huda, have created a worldwide beauty empire. Mona told us that Fake Bake was the first tan she ever tried and she still loves it…

“Fake Bake - it’s honestly one of the best brands ever!”

Mona Kattan

From left to right: Alya, Hudda and Mona Kattan

We are so proud that Mona took time out to recommend what we do. The Hudda brand is empowering women and people in the Middle Eastern area and now the world over, and to have the Kattan seal of approval was a huge honour.

We ended our trip with a fantastic meet-up with Fake Bake legend Sandra Vaughan, and it was great to talk with like-minded people about how we feel about all things Fake Bake. The brand is moving on apace and we have so many projects in the pipeline.

I can’t tell you what a rewarding trip we had: Dubai is such a welcoming place and all of our VIPs made it extra-special. I have to give a special mention to Karla here. A trip like this takes a lot of work and coordination and I couldn’t have done it without her.

Dubai certainly left a positive impression on me, and it’s really somewhere I would love to return to. And it is certainly becoming a beauty destination in its own right. Fake Bake has found yet another great home.”

With that we let our Vic go and unpack while we tried out our new Gift Sets. Let’s just say, if you are currently in the midst of non-Dubai sunny climes, the products are a welcome break in their own right.

We are definitely putting it on our festive lists. And a trip to Dubai, obvs. Just putting it out there in the Universe, people. It would be rude not to, right?

Fake Bake x Spectrum Go With The Glow Gift Set is available from www.fakebake.co.uk while stocks last

Many thanks to everyone at @atlantisthepalm for the spectacular stay

You can catch up with all of our VIPs on their Insta feeds:

@josiegibson85

@rachleary

@lauraanderson1x

@missmalinsara

@jakejamie

@jakequickenden14

You can follow KO8 on Insta ko8_fitness ko8_dubai seanclancy_ko8

Follow Gambaru on Insta @gambarufightwear

FAKE BAKE celebrates 25 seasons of TOWIE - a silver jubilee for telly’s golden people….

Ten years ago, Team Fake Bake were having a sit down, as we’d just watched our first episode of TOWIE. We had heard rumours that a new reality juggernaut was approaching, and when it hit, we were locked in immediately. It was the first show of its type in the UK, and before long was soon joined by others that we also know and love.

But TOWIE was an absolute original and still is. It is has turned many of its cast members into household names, but at the time, when it was fresh and new, Fake Bake jumped straight in and got tanning everyone in sight. The country went Essex mad, and suddenly, everyone wanted to know more. From the dramas with the royal family of Essex, the Wrights, add in the Brights, and the stage was set for a decade’s worth of storylines.

Original Essex superstar Amy Childs got her own spot in Vogue. Even the ultimate fashion bible wanted in on the action…

Fake Bake faves Sam and Billie Faiers have gone on to great heights with ITVBe’s The Mummy Diaries.

Lydia and Debbie became superstars due to their warmth and were part of what made TOWIE great…

We’ve looked back on some of our favourite TOWIE scenarios - one thing we love about the show is that we literally relate.

In no particular order we’ve picked 10 of our We’ve All Been There TOWIE moments….

The ‘revenge is a dish best served with a tan’ moment: Lucy takes over Marbs

Cast your mind back. Lucy had split up with Mario, again! The gang were out in Marbs, where Lucy and Mario had gotten engaged the year before. Mario was partying up a storm. Lucy was nowhere to be seen. And then, right in the middle of a beauty pageant (as you do!) in strolls the gorgeous Luce, with new hair, a gorge LV tote and a whole new attitude. Every jaw hit the floor. Unmissable.

(Mario is now totally happy and a new dad and Lucy is due to have a baby with fiance Ryan Thomas!)

The ‘thanks for ruining my birthday and my holiday’ moment: Megan confronts Pete

These two had all the makings of a classic TOWIE couple and Pete had just showered Megs with birthday gifts, including a killer watch. And along comes a string of texts and, well, the new power couple lost their sparkle. We’ve all had moments like this one, and even though it’s a reality show, this was one totally genuine scene.

(Pete is still part of the cast and we love his mellowing charm. Megan is now wowing us every Saturday on Celebrity X Factor!)

The ‘stop trying to put me in the corner’ moment: Lauren’s pool party push

The show’s first ever pool party and first ever almost break up lives on. After a series of brewing trouble between teenage sweethearts Mark and Lauren, after a day of sitting indoors whilst her fella was off mixing with every gorgeous girl in the county, Lauren got dressed up, showed up, and pushed him right in the water. Feisty and funny.

(Mark’s career has gone inter-stellar and he’s happily married to actress Michelle Keegan. Lauren is reality TV royalty!)

The ‘I had the evidence all along’ moment: Kate brings out the voice notes

Back in the day, evidence was rare. This moment taught us all that evidence is everywhere. And what a talking point online evidence has been this week...

(Kate is now Mrs. Ferdinand. What a love story…..)

The ‘making a first entrance’ moment: Chloe Lewis in head-to-toe white

Possibly the most elegant cast member of the last decade, Chloe Lewis walked into TOWIE with a swish of glossy hair, and everyone stood taller. On a break at the time from long term boyfriend Jake Hall, Chloe immediately grabbed everyone’s attention and certainly made her mark. A class act in every way.

(Jake is now a successful fashion designer and dad and Chloe is about to become a mum for the first time!)

The ‘it really is over’ moment: Jess takes back her power

Our absolute fave Jess absolutely killed it when she confronted then boyfriend Ricky, and walked away with her head held high, and not a tear in sight. Royalty for a reason.

(We still love working with Jess and she’s growing her business empire as we write!)

The ‘get me back big gesture’ moment: Charlie goes in for Ferne

This is a classic TOWIE moment. A romance hits the rocks, and then one of the half steps forward to win back the other. It doesn’t always mean a dazzling future, but it makes for great telly.

(Ferne now has her own ITVBe series and remains as funny and spirited as ever….)

The ‘show him what he’s missing out on’ moment: Gemma candies Arg

Nobody dishes up drama like the GC and in this moment she delivered her now legendary line and stuck up for wronged women everywhere.

(What can we say about Gemma? She is seriously taking over the world…)

The ‘never fall out with your mum again’ moment: Lydia and Debbie make up

Arg’s devotion to Lydia’s mum, Debbie, was a long running theme in TOWIE and we loved their regular catch ups, but after Lydia and Debs had a little tiff over it, their only one during years together on the show, the two were reunited with lots of tears. A quick reminder that mums come first, and a lesson in unconditional love.

(Debbie continues to foster after officially becoming Mrs. Bright, and Lydia is about to welcome her first child into the world. Awwww!)

The ‘stealing the limelight from everyone in the room’ moment: Nanny Pat

We could not in all faith talk about great TOWIE moments without mentioning the legendary Nanny Pat. She first arrived on the scene holding that infamous sausage plait, and was the voice of reason right up until her last episode. Brilliant fun, and a shoulder for everyone to cry on, we miss her. At her 80th Birthday party, she stole the show, as she always did. A lesson in why a great nanna is priceless.

And throughout these 25 seasons we’ve been kept busy tanning the great and the good of Essex. And we are keeping up our great work…

Our gal Eloise, a.k.a. The Tan Expert has been creating her usual, flawless looks and Fake Bake Darker has been her tanning weapon of choice…

On the very beautiful Shelby

On the gorgeous and glowing Clelia

On the fabulously chic Jess

And one of our other best ‘Elite’ tanners, Roxanne of Rox Tans, is always on hand to create bespoke glows for those in the beauty know. Also a Fake Bake Darker fan, she always creates a spectacular skin finish….

On fiercely stunning Georgia

We are absolutely loving this season so far. While the newbies like Chloe B are settling in properly, and more experienced cast members bring us familiar doses of reality every Sunday, we always wonder - can they bring more drama? The answer is, they always do. And rumours are sparking everywhere as to who might turn up next year, when the show marks a true decade on our screens, and we hope the team at ITVBe go all out to bring back our favourite faces.

TOWIE has come a long way from vajazzling but it’s the everyday stories of relationships and friendships and family that have us tuning in every single episode. And, of course, this is a county where it doesn’t matter what’s going on in your life, you’ve got to turn up suitably attired and glamorously presented.

Whatever the weather, a tan is an absolute requirement. Anything else? Well, it’s more than muggy, mate.

To find out more about Fake Bake go to www.fakebake.co.uk

Image of Amy Childs courtesy of British Vogue

All stills courtesy of ITVBe and ITV2

You can follow The Tan Expert on Insta @thetanexpert

You can follow Rox Tans on Insta @rox_tans

The Only Way Is Essex is on every Sunday evening on ITVBe

FAKE BAKE talks new looks and ending Ibiza season with Lewis Capaldi - our super stylist Jess Walsh is back….

There we were. Having a Monday morning catch up at work when spotted our friend, stylist Jess Walsh, on her Insta stories. Yes, she was in Pikes in Ibiza. Yes, we were jealous. (Come on, we are human!) And there she is, on the karaoke with Lewis Capaldi. Now, here at Team Fake Bake we like to think we have met some pretty famous people between us. But this was a major first, so we decided to have a catch up with the queen of accessorising.

So Jess you had an amazing season - what was Ibiza like?

There is nothing better than sun, sea, music and fashion (with some lovely food and drink, of course!) for your health and well-being! I had the pleasure of shooting and styling within the grounds of the Wi-Ki-Woo hotel and I was lucky enough to meet up with Victoria and some of the Fake Bake team there, and it was so nice to spend some time chatting tanning trends, and hearing about your own trip there.

Wi-Ki-Woo is totally Instagrammable and you always see famous faces - Ferne McCann was shooting there and I also caught up with Love Island’s India Reynolds, who I have styled before - she’s just gorgeous!

Pikes was an amazing last minute night out - it really is quite something and has a lot of rock heritage attached to it: a fave of Freddie Mercury, and the home of many iconic pop videos. My friend and I decided to have what we thought would be quiet one - until I met Lewis Capaldi in the bath! Just to be clear, there is a bathroom themed room at Pikes! I couldn’t believe it was him at first - until he shared his karaoke mic with me. I haven’t got the best voice in the world, but I have been told I look like I can sing - it’s like fashion, if you have some confidence you can carry it off. Singing Valerie as a duo was a highlight, and we did a few Christmas songs as well. You’ve got to haven’t you? He was a really amazing guy, and I’ll definitely sing a few tunes in his honour when Christmas comes around….

Another great night was at STK which was a really party place for me and the teams I was working with - our models loved it!

And to add a bit of extra fun I got a VIP pass to Bongo’s Bingo and won 50 Euros. I’m just glad it wasn’t a vacuum cleaner….

I never got tired of watching the sunset, even if it was on the beach having a quiet night with a bottle of water and good friends. Of course, you can have a great night at Mambo’s, but when you are working, it’s great to just chill and get ready for the next big shoot.

We noticed you’ve been really busy styling since we last spoke. How’s it going?

I have been working in the North West a lot for brands like Boohoo and Misspap which I love, as they are familiar to me as labels both myself and my friends wear - we all love some affordable fashion! I have just signed on to do some freelance work for brands like Next - I love a fresh challenge. I loved being in Ibiza working on shoots and collaborations but most of them involved bikinis. It was all super-glam but I did miss my accessories - it’s good to be back!

Any tips for the new season - we’d love your thoughts on style, life… and tanning!

One thing I remembered over the summer is that fashion often borrows elements from the past - I had loads of chats with my nan about this who flew over to Ibiza to see me! She’s 70 and I took her to Ocean B with me - no-one batted an eyelid!

No matter what trends are appearing you have to go with what makes you feel and look good - wear it with confidence. I noticed a lot of yellow, beige and tumeric shades over the summer, and they are carrying through to this season. I have just styled the Lavish Alice collection for A/W and it’s lush - classic black, purples, pinks and blues are such rich tones.

The 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s are all referenced this season and the shoulder is back - the bigger, the better! These were everywhere on the catwalks, especially at Saint Laurent, and it’s a look that has filtered down. Silk blouses are everywhere, and florals and checks are back, too, and go for a new, small, structured bag.

For nights out, when showing a little skin is always in, I always rely on my Fake Bake Tanning Water, which Victoria and the team introduced me to over the summer. I’m always on the go and as it’s super light and easy to apply, it gives me a gorgeous glow with no fuss.

I have had an amazing year so far this year, and have so many exciting plans for next year. I saw an interview with Dame Helen Mirren recently and her life advice not only do you have to see an opportunity - you have to recognise it, too! So if I get a sense that something is positive then I go for it. I don’t think summer gets any better than salmon and fizz at STK, but this year’s highlight has to be my quirky night out with Lewis, doing karaoke in the coolest setting on the island…

Until next time…..

After our lovely chat with Jess, we all felt enthusiastic and positive - she has that effect on you, plus she knows every way to tie a silk scarf that has ever been invented. Having been introduced not just to Jess but also to her mum, Jacqui, and her legendary nan, we can see that style is in the genes, too.

I Met Lewis Capaldi In The Bath.

It’s a headline that writes itself really, isn’t it?

Fake Bake Tanning Water is available at www.fakebake.co.uk

All other images courtesy of Jess Walsh

You can follow Jess on Insta @styledbyjw