Today I am super, super excited as Kay Montano’s new makeup blog is live! Filled with gorgeous How To videos, interviews with cream of the crop experts as well as A-list celebs, breakdowns of her superstar clientele and proper Tips and Tricks (not the usual run of the mill ones we’ve all seen a zillion times before), plus a peek into her gorgeous archive. Oh and did I mention pics of real beauty icons (like Catherine Denevue?) This is a proper glimpse into a top makeup artist’s brain, one who has been there, done that and got the t-shirt to prove it. And yes, she does talk about what products she REALLY uses – and I know it’s all true as I know what’s in her kit!

Get on board the world’s newest and best beauty blog! www.kaymontano.com

Kelly Cutrone, star of MTV’s The Hills and The City, and now with her own show, Kell on Earth, will be signing copies of her memoir at the Illamasqua flagship store at 20 Beak St, London, W1, on Monday the 18th October between 5 and 6.30 pm.

Kelly’s pull-no-punches New York bestselling memoir, “If You Have to Cry, Go Outside (And Other Things Your Mother Never Told You)” combines personal and professional anecdotes that share her stories for success whilst remaining true to yourself. All profits from the book sales at the signing will go to the S.O.P.H.I.E charity, to benefit the Sophie Lancaster foundation.

Kelly will also be working on some exciting upcoming projects in the US with Illamasqua and their US retail partner Sephora. Watch this space!

Peter Phillips shows us how it’s done at Chanel – backstage footage of him creating the incredible deep green/black smoky eye at Paris Fashion Week last week. J’adore!

Yes, you heard that right – YSL’s miracle concealer wand is now cheaper – but only in Australia. It is now down in price from AUSD $78 to $55, in order to bring it into line with European and US prices for Touche Eclat.

That is exciting news not just for Touche Eclat afficianados but also for luxury cosmetics in Australia, as I hope it heralds a shift where we don’t pay quite such exorbitant amounts for makeup in Australia. I nearly passed out the first time I bought makeup back in Sydney – $78 for a blush (which is about £47). Much more expensive than the UK. This doesn’t stop Australian women from being some of the biggest cosmetics consumers on the planet, so I think it’s wonderful that YSL in Australia have recognised this discrepancy in pricing and moved to rectify it. Nasty dark eye circles rejoice and begone!

And whilst I’m at it, it has been brought to my attention that YSL now have a new shade, Number 8, which is a lemon coloured Touche Eclat. This is exciting as it really is the shade that was missing from the range (and for which I have been substituting Clinique Airbrush in my kit instead for a number of years). Number 8 was created for the Asian market so I’m not sure if it’s available in Europe, however it now means that Touche Eclat is a much more comprehensive concealer range covering pretty much everyone – darker skintones, Asian skintones, and of course, Caucasian (I usually mix number 2 and 3 for most of my fair complected clients.)

www.yslbeautyus.com

This week has been the start of the global fashion circus that rolls around the world from New York, then to London, then Milan and onto Paris before all the fashion crew get a 6 month rest, until it all starts up again.

I’ve been diligently keeping an eye on the trends coming out of New York, and right from the word go it’s been a surprising season beauty-wise, as it’s all about colour. New York is known for the usually “tasteful” (read “tame”) makeup and hair that struts down its runways. It is generally the most conservative of all the Fashion Weeks, but this week has been a showstopper in more ways than one. Rust red eyes, 70’s disco full makeup, fluoro pink lips, gold-grey lips and gold lashes, it’s all happening! And thank god, there has barely been a beige face in sight.

As always MAC are the go-to brand for the shows, (although NARS and Shiseido are making a few incursions onto the runways, which is nice to see). Here are some of my top picks so far from the shows – these are the looks that will be inspiring you in the season to come. Get ready to crack out the fun stuff ladies, it’s a makeup-fest!

Click on the pictures to download the Mac Face Charts

Radiant newlywed supermodel Miranda Kerr speaks exclusively with the Makeup Mole about her gorgeous new line of organic products, KORA, and, well, love, actually. Read it here

Alex Box's beauty shoot - Japanese Vogue

Most of you will no doubt know by now that makeup master Alex Box is in Sydney this week for the launch of her makeup brand, Illamasqua, at the upcoming Myer show. It’s been a pretty action-packed few days but yesterday’s Hair and Makeup trial for the show was an amazing experience – the glitter came out and Alex put her brushes and the full Illamasqua palette to work.

A very rare opportunity has come up as part of this visit – Alex will be conducting Master Classes this Saturday, 31^st of July at the Myer store in Sydney, so if you want to learn makeup from one of the world’s best makeup artists, this is your chance. The cost is $95, redeemable in Illamasqua product, and after yesterday’s makeup fun-fest I can tell you I have a wish-list as long as my right arm! I found out today there are only a couple of spaces left, so for bookings call 1800 661 210.

What a genius idea – cult UK makeup brand Illamasqua has come up with a way for you to clear out your old makeup and embrace the extraordinary.

Bring in your old makeup (that can be in any condition, including smashed, broken or just plain out of fashion), and replace with fresh, spanking new Illamasqua products at 25% off! There is no limit to how many pieces you can bring in and it’s 25% off ANY Illamasqua product – so if that isn’t a good excuse to go and refresh your makeup bag, I don’t know what is. My current favourite is their Liquid Metals palette.

This offer runs from the 17^th to the 31^st July at the following counters in the UK – Selfridges Oxford St, Trafford Centre, Birmingham Bullring, Fenwick Newcastle, BT2 Grafton St Dublin, Debenhams Glasgow, Belfast and Cardiff.

Unfortunately it doesn’t run on their online shop, but to whet your appetite go to www.illamasqua.com

Kylie wears MyFace Blingtones

Kylie Minogue looked predictably gorgeous at the AmFAR Gala benefit in New York recently. Her makeup artist, Kabuki (a makeup star in his own right who has painted the faces of Lady Gaga, Gwen Stefani and Madonna, amongst others) gave her shimmering sexy eyes with Myface Blingtones, a Makeup Mole favourite!

He blended Blingtones in Black Ice over her lid, Spice-y in the socket, and Diamonds and Pearls to highlight the inner eye corner and under the browbone. So next time you want to twinkle like a little star…

MyFace Cosmetics can be purchased at Boots nationwide and www.myfacecosmetics.com

So when you’re not painting the toes of supermodels or the world’s biggest fashion editors, or shooting major campaigns with the world’s coolest photographers, what’s a girl to do? Well if you’re the hottest manicurist in London, AKA Sophy Robson, the Nail Queen, you do nail tutorials on YouTube. Nailheads rejoice! Here’s Sophy’s first video tutorial, the Rainbow Nail. When she does it, it looks easy, although I’m not sure when I try it it’s going to look quite that good…

Great excitement at MM HQ! Illamasqua, the incredible UK makeup brand with an almost evangelical cult following in the UK and US (where they sell nationwide through Sephora) is launching in Australia in June. It caused a sensation when it launched in the UK last year with its theatrical grade pigment, amazing range of foundation shades (from pure white to dark chocolate), and its extraordinary aesthetic make it beloved of makeup heads everywhere.

Having worked with Alex Box, the brand’s Creative Director, for a number of years I can attest to the fact that no-one does avant-garde better than Alex (even, and I’m going to whisper here, because it’s heresy) Pat McGrath. Just witness some of the work from her best selling makeup book, The Makeup Artist, full of the most incredible and creative makeups. But Alex also does incredibly beautiful straight makeup as well. Last time when I worked with her in Paris, at Karl Lagerfeld’s studio for Numero magazine, she had Freja Beha, one of my favourite models and a Chanel muse, looking incredible in nothing but gleaming skin, contour and graphic eyeliner (and couture darling – needless to say!)

Alex’s creative approach to makeup infuses the whole brand – quality pigments in unique colours and finishes, an artistic sensibility and the idea that difference should be celebrated, diversity is wonderful and everyone should be able to express themselves with makeup – all ideas that I can fully get behind.

I for one can’t wait until it hits stores Australia-wide. It will be on counter in Myer as of the 21^st of June. To whet your appetite, have a look at www.illamasqua.com, which is a dangerous site as they also ship internationally for those of you who just can’t wait!

So I was already eager to get my hands on the new NARS Love Devotion lippie, but it’s now a definite Must-Have after seeing how gorge Blake Lively looked at this week’s Met Ball in New York. Well played madam, well played indeed.

All for Eve is a new brand (launched last November), to benefit ovarian cancer. It was created by George Hammer after his sister-in-law Nadia died of ovarian cancer, and even though it is a new brand to the market place it is already being recognized for its excellent products by scooping last week’s CEW Awards.

The principal behind the brand is that one expert in their field shall be asked to create an item in each category, making a timeless, iconic product, and the proceeds will go to fund ovarian and gynecological cancer research and awareness.

London’s hottest manicurist Sophy Robson, has been asked to create the nail polish which will be launched in London on the 26^th April. Sophy says “I am so happy to be involved with such an inspiring enterprise as the All For Eve project. It will be exciting to see what is achieved for the Eve Appeal with the help of the other fantastic names involved. I chose a classic, iconic red as it is a timeless statement colour for nails, and symbolises a strong, stylish woman.”

The initial capsule collection includes a red lipstick designed by Daniel Sandler, spa products by Urban Retreat, a Swarowski Crystal nail file and Sophy’s ‘Eve Red’ nailpolish.

Products will be launched on the 26^th of April, with products selling immediately through the website, www.allforeve.co.uk, before launching in UK retailers such as Harrods, Fortnum & Mason, Fenwicks, Selfridges and Harvey Nichols, from May.

These came out a couple of months ago, but I’ve only just tested them now. I didn’t think it was possible to be any more in love with the Bobbi Brown Eye Brighteners (which really are the miracle cure to banishing dark under eye circles), and yet with the new packaging, clearly I am.

The product is so good that even with the old style pot I would lug all four of them on every job, swearing when the annoying lid would slip and half the goopy Eyebright would be brightening the ends of my fingers/back of my hand/the brush/my clothes instead of my client’s face, and then I’d smear it all over my towel trying to clean it up in order to get on with my job. Did I mention I hated those pots?

But their eye bag reducing capabilities were such I always used them, and then somewhere an angel on Bobbi Brown’s shoulder told her that the pot packaging was crap, and she should think of something else. And she did. A genius wand, like the Touche Eclat concealer pens, that looks chic, delivers just the right amount of product and can even be thrown in your handbag – thrown, I tell you! For on the go touchups. Because Bobbi is nice like that. She knows what women want. And it comes in more shades than before – eight instead of four, in fact. So all the ladies of the skintone spectrum are covered. Which makes me and my kit, very happy.

www.bobbibrowncosmetics.com

So one of the bonuses about doing the shows (apart from major adrenaline surges, not having time to eat, living on caffeine, seeing all your makeup artist and hair mates and working with the most amazing clothes on the planet), is getting to see the new makeup goodies before anyone else. And let me tell you, MAC are not going to disappoint in their upcoming collections.

The one that has me going is the aptly named Art Supplies (be still my beating heart!) They have shiny grease eyeshadow crayons in a jumbo pen – yes, a jumbo pen! – that can be used as an eyeliner or a shadow and the colors are gorge – shiny pewter, deep aubergine, shimmering navy, lovely jade green and of course, the archetypal black. They go on like a dream, have a beautiful sheen to them and aren’t as greasy as a paintstick, so they are easier to handle. Yum, yum, yum, want, want, want!

And the other thing I got excited about is these jumbo lip crayons that are coming out (very, very similar in style to CoverGirl’s Outlast Lip stain markers, but I guess great ideas are ripe for the nicking…) – they give a gorgeous base to a lip and last for ages, so you can chuck them in your handbag and never have a lipstick-less look again! Art Supplies will be out in April 2010.

Here is a link to an excellent makeup blog, www.temptalia.com that has all the details about upcoming collections and is a must for MAC lovers. Ch-ch-ch-eck it out.

The new Chanel Rouge Coco lipsticks are gorgeous. They are Peter Philips’ first collection of Chanel lipsticks for the house since he was appointed Global Creative Director in 2008. The lip color is hydrating and extremely creamy, so it’s easy to apply – even to winter chapped lips, and after having a lovely play with them at the launch I have discovered which colors are my favourite. My picks are Paris for a bright red, Lune Rousse for a reddish stain, and Beige Felin for a nude.

The launch yesterday was a grand success with a Nigella Lawson three course lunch at the Chanel store in Brompton Cross, and a phenomenal turn out from London’s most glamorous women (to be expected really, at a Chanel launch!) Yasmin Le Bon was looking as gorgeous as ever, as were fellow supermodels Jade Parfitt (who is as nice as she is beautiful), Erin O’Connor and Jasmine Guinness who can wear red lipstick better than anyone.

There was a photo booth to take happy snaps in (which brought back memories from my childhood, although of a rather less glamorous location – Sydney train stations!) and since it came with the most flattering lighting on the planet AND a wind machine and an endless supply of Chanel accessories to try on, you can imagine it was pretty popular.

The Rouge Coco lipsticks will be on counter March 5^th, and there are 30 delicious shades to choose from.

Look what I found today – check out this dude. It’s a tiny duofibre brush for blending eyes (and concealer or foundation, if it so tickled your fancy). This is possibly more of a thrill for makeup artists, since we’re like that, getting very excited about new and innovative additions to our brush collections, but believe me when I tell you this is ace.

Duofibre brushes are fairly new to the market, only being around for the last few years, but they are amazing for polishing and blending. Most makeup artists I know carry at least one in their kit (usually MAC 187, which is the larger one and MAC 188 which is smaller) as they are fabulous for buffing foundation, or for sheering out cream blush. This is the first time I’ve seen a duofibre for the eyes, and it’s gone from being something I’ve never heard of, to something I feel I can’t live without.

If you love a blended eyeshadow, this is the new guy in your life.