BEAUTY students went head-to-head at a make-up competition.

Colchester Institute students painted the faces of friends using the theme Step Back in Time.

All the participants are on their way to completing their level 2 VRQ beauty therapy qualification.

They chose a period in time and pitched their ideas on “mood boards” – collages of inspirational images and colour schemes.

In just one hour and 45 minutes they had to create their finished look make-up, hair and nails on a model.

Rules stated one element of their costume needed to be recycled in some way.

Their efforts were judged by make-up artist Louise Young, Salon Services’ Jakki Dolloway and Sarah Harris from Elite Hair and Beauty.

Organiser Rachel Green said: “It was really good and the students enjoyed it.

“There were a lot of different looks.

“They also held a fashion show afterwards where some of their friends came along to model.”

The best mood board category was won by Kathy Smith.

Hayley Morgan won first place for make-up, followed by runners-up Sophie Hutchinson and Christine Gilson.