Thanks everyone for bearing with me whilst I was in London and travelling the last few weeks – I know my posting has been quite sporadic but I’ll make it up to you all I promise. I have bags full of delicious new London swag to tell you about.
Whilst I was away I snapped up favourite British brands like MyFace, Barry M, Burberry, TopShop and Illamasqua. I also spoke to Kay Montano who had some of her own top recs to tell me about from Chanel, Kevyn Aucoin, Astalift, NARS, Shiseido and Eyeko (more on those later).
And after being inspired by my favourite city in the world – from shopping at Harvey Nicks (the shoe department is a verrrry dangerous place, let me tell you) and dining at Shoreditch House and even getting back into the studio with Kay, I feel re-inspired and re-invigorated.
I have new mascaras and moisturisers to try, nail colours to test and interviews coming up. So settle back, buckle up and prepare for the onslaught of new goodies.
Seeing as I’m half-dead with jetlag (does getting up to look after a child at 1.30am qualify as jetlag? I think it does) and I have a suitcase full of yummy new goodies to unpack, normal MM blogging will resume next week. But in the meantime, having been dazzled last week all over again with international makeup artist Kay Montano’s brilliance, here’s her latest lovely fresh face tutorial perfect for those beautiful summer days that are just around the corner in the Northern hemisphere. For those of us awaiting winter Down Under it’s a great way to eke a few more days out of that fading tan. Enjoy.
Seeing as I’m in France (and unable to indulge in any of the unbelievably delicious forms of gluten that this country is famous for – which as you can imagine is seriously depressing), I thought I should focus on one of it’s other famous exports – Chanel. Here is Chanel Beauty’s Creative Director, master makeup artist, Peter Phillips, talking about their new foundation, Perfection Lumiere. As I have loved pretty much every foundation Chanel have released in the last ten years, I see no reason why this one would be an exception. I’m also thrilled it comes in a lot of new, deeper shades – Chanel is now more global than ever!
Apologies for the lack of posting last week – I was travelling, then subsuming myself in London arts, culture, shopping and friends, and then I’ll confess – in a chocolate and lasagne coma over the Easter Long weekend. And thus, I am emerging from my bunny hole ready to tell you about all my new inspirations from being in London. The trend I’m really into? Candy colours. Colour saturated hues like a riot in a macaron shop that makes me think of Ladurée gateaux on acid.
Think a 5 year old painting Easter eggs. Think Dylan’s Candy Bar in New York – pastel, saccharine shades that look good enough to eat, or to decorate a kindergarten. Sweet enough to hurt your teeth, the new sherbert bright shades are making me feel re-invigorated to shop for makeup again. For inspiration, I used Sofia Coppola’s beautiful interpretation of Marie Antoinette’s life in her film of the same name, with Bow Wow Wow’s I Want Candy to get you in the mood:
Here is what I love, and what I’ll be buying:
Illamasqua does colour like no bodies’ business, and this year is no exception with their Human Fundamentalism collection. I’m planning to hit their Beak St London store and snap up their Fundamental eye palette with its mint green, canary yellow, pop heather and ecru shadow shade to get this colour party started. Then I’ll add that to their divine cream pigments in Emerge (matte peach), Dab (lilac) and Bedaub (matte seafoam green) that are the basis of my pastel makeup kit.
Bourjois have me in a sugary spin with their Sweet Paris collection which is right up my alley this season. I particularly like their new Metallic Eyeliners, which come in lovely neutrals but also gorgeous blues and greens. They have a gorgeous nailpolish in pink, and an even lovelier one in violet. For blush I’ll be reaching for Bourjois Little Round Pot Blush in Rose Frisson no 54 (I’ve long been a fan of their tiny blushes as they come in pretty, wearable shades and give just the right wash of color, plus they are so light in your kit! Just like a sweet themselves.)
Chanel’s Collection Harmonie de Printemps has a gorgeous blush called Blush Horizon de Chanel with pinks and peaches in stripes that all blend together for a bit of deliciousness. I’ll also be needing the Chanel Single Eyeshadow in Tiger Lily (a burst of fizzy orange), Lip gloss in Bagatelle (yummy pink) and Rouge Coco lipstick in Paradis (pure pink).
Bobbi Brown has reformulated her Pot Rouges (always a perennial MM fave), and Calypso Coral is my pick to get your sweet side showing this Spring. Clinique has new Chubby Stick Moisturising Lip Balms that are definitely heading for my handbag (I do love a hybrid lipstick/balm) – Chunky Cherry and Woppin’ Watermelon are my juicy shades of choice. In my kit for a ladylike lip finish will be Clinique’s Almost Lipstick in Flirty Honey, a soft sheer pink that perfects and hydrates lips at the same time.
Lancome have new eyeshadow quartets , Les Yeux Doux and I’ll be reaching for the pinky version, Rose Romance. Christian Dior DiorShow Liner in Turquoise is a must-have on my makeup list as it’s a beautiful straight up turquoise, exactly what you want to take you into summer. Couple this with their new Swimming Pool eyeshadow quint that’s all turquoise, lilac and pale blue loveliness and you’ll have eyes like Dylan’s Candy Bar in no time.
NARS won’t be missing out on the colour-fest with their new Larger Than Life lipgloss getting the MM seal of approval, specifically hot pink Coeur Sucree. Gaiety blush from NARS – yet another blush you didn’t know you needed until you see it – is on my Must Haves list, as is Diamond Life, shimmering lilac nailpolish.
And floating on a sea of sugar, chocolate and sweetly vibrant shades I’ll be heading into Spring.
