The Makeup Mole

New Beauty Breakdown! Jennifer Lawrence at the premiere of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, in Cannes

The Makeup Mole — Fri, 24 May 2013 07:44:45 +0000

Makeup by Kay Montano

I said we were spoiled with new Beauty Breakdowns at MM this week, and I wasn’t kidding. Here’s my favourite new actress, the fabulous Jennifer Lawrence in Cannes at the premiere of the new Hunger Games film, Catching Fire. How gorgeous is this lipstick colour?

Jennifer’s hair was by LA/NY hair supremo Mark Townsend (who he works with regularly).

Foundation:

Diego Dalla Palma Lifting Effect Cream Foundation in Natural Beige (Available at M&S Your Beauty)
Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer in SX 08 around her nose

Powder: Jurlique Rose Scented Powder brushed onto the T-zone

Blush: Autograph Pure Colour Powder Blush in Pale Blush (available at M&S Your Beauty)

Eyes:

Pur Eyeshadow trio in Rock Goddess (Available at M&S Your Beauty)
Autograph Quick Dry Liner Pen in Black (Available at M&S Your Beauty)
Mascara – Cover Girl (official sponsor of the Hunger Games) Mascara in Flamed Out

Lips: Autograph Chubby Lip & Cheek in 98 Pink Geranium

New Beauty Breakdown! Nicole Kidman in Cannes, at the Calvin Klein Women in Film party

The Makeup Mole — Tue, 21 May 2013 08:10:20 +0000

Makeup by Kay Montano

Foundation: MyFace MyMix foundation in F2

Powder: Jurlique Rose Powder

Eyes:

Chanel Black Slate (New eyeshadow pencil) blended with a brush
M&S Autograph Quick Dry Eyeliner pen in black
Chanel Le Volume mascara in Black.

Blush: Diego Dalla Palma in Orange Coral blush

Lips: Bobbi Brown Lip Colour in Nude Beige

New Beauty Breakdown! Nicole Kidman in Cannes

The Makeup Mole — Sun, 19 May 2013 08:14:24 +0000

Makeup by Kay Montano

It’s an exciting week at MM HQ – it’s all the red carpet excitement of Cannes! Amazing international makeup artist Kay Montano has been in Cannes all week, looking after her regular clients, Nicole Kidman and Jennifer Lawrence. And in my hot sticky paws today, I have breakdowns.

My favourite look that Nicole has worn this week has been this one at the Opening Ceremony:

Here’s what Kay used:

Foundation: MyFace MyMix foundation in F2

Powder: Jurlique Rose Powder

Blush: Chanel Joues Contraste in Frivole

Eyes:

M&S Your Beauty’s Slate Eyeshadow
Chanel Illusion d’Ombres in Convoitise (gold), and Chanel Illusion d’Ombre in Apparition (navy)
Eyeko Skinny Liquid Eyeliner

Lashes

Diego Dalla Palma GoGo mascara (available at M&S Your Beauty departments in the UK)
Eyelure Individual False Lashes in Medium

Brows: Eyeko Eyebrow Gel

Lips: Bobbi Brown Pink Lily Creamy Matte Lipcolour

Body: MAC Face and Body in C2 plus Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector in Pearl

Also of note was Kay persuaded Nicole to wear Chanel’s gorgeous new nail polish in Lilis, which worked perfectly with her exquisite floral dress and pink heels.

I have more Cannes Beauty Breakdowns from Kay on the way!

In My Kit: Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Powder

The Makeup Mole — Wed, 15 May 2013 03:39:34 +0000

When you’re a makeup artist, every now and then it’s time to give your kit a good clear-out and find room for some of the beautiful new products (and colours, and textures) that have been released recently. I say “clear-out” because if you just keep adding new collections to your standard “can’t do without it” kit, pretty soon you’re overloaded like a pack horse on a trip across the Andes – and that way lies certain injury and then many, many Pilates classes and physio to correct it.

So I’ve just been stockpiling my new goodies for the season until I had a day off and could sort everything out, weeding out the colours from last season and stuff I haven’t been using, and making room for some new lip palettes, some re-organised cream blush palettes, NEW eye colours (Tom Ford anyone?), and le piece de resistance, my new set of Chanel Les Beiges powder.

Let’s just preface that by saying I haven’t carried pressed powder since about 2007. I found it was extra weight in my kit when translucent loose powder would do just as well, and in addition I find most coloured pressed powders tend to cling to the skin and provide an extra layer of coverage that you don’t want. At worst the finish can look heavy and granny, at best they were extra pieces of glass and plastic and powder that I was carrying around in an overloaded kit. So when I got the chance to try the new Chanel Les Beiges Healthy powder, I was a bit dubious since every coloured pressed powder I had so far tried, I hadn’t much liked as they added colour throughout the day when you re-apply on set (there are probably others that don’t but I haven’t tried them).

Les Beiges is bloody fantastique – I like to call it ‘Complexion Perfection’. I have been using it on myself religiously for the last couple of months and it’s bumped every powder I own off the charts. I now have a full set to put in my kit so I will be able to powder, contour and provide VERY soft bronzing to pretty much any client I come across.

It’s hard to describe, as it’s just not like anything else I have ever tried. It provides a very soft focus finish to the skin yet eliminates any greasy finish or oily look to the skin with a very minimal application. Even if you grab the first brush you can find and really swipe it on, it doesn’t seem to overload and get powdery. You can EVEN (gasp) use the brush that Chanel have provided with it, and swipe it on with that and you get a perfect finish, every time. Also it seems to last hours and just make your skin look exactly the right level of radiance – not dewy or shiny, but perfectly healthy. You can re-apply during the day without the colour building and making you look like something out of Miami Vice, but most days I don’t find it necessary to re-apply.

You can use the deeper colours as a contour. It’s PERFECT as a soft and very natural bronzer for the very fair complected as it’s sort of peachy and not terracotta or orangey-bronze, and it’s not shimmery. I’ve been testing this for ages and ages (easily two months) as I just wanted to make sure that I was right, and it is actually that amazing. I’ve been telling all my clients about it and all I can say is it’s pretty much changed my powder life.

Now I just need to get it in my kit…

Australian readers will be happy to know that Chanel Les Beiges will be on-counter at David Jones, Myer and Chanel boutiques from today.

An Ode to Cream Blush

The Makeup Mole — Wed, 01 May 2013 05:33:07 +0000

When the weather in the Northern hemisphere starts warming up, and the beach (or at least a patch of green grass in the park) starts beckoning, I know it’s time to start switching up my makeup routine. It’s almost instinctive – powders start feeling goopy and heavy, your skin wants lighter products (with sunscreen!) and you don’t feel like spending lots of time getting ready. In summer let’s face it, everyone generally looks better with a flush of healthy colour.

With that in mind, I love cream products as they are fast, portable, can be dabbed on with a finger and let your natural glow come through. For me in summer, it’s all about cream blushes and bronzers. Here are my picks of the season:

Stila Convertible Colour – these are the prettiest flush you will find in a compact. I carry about 8 in my kit on every makeup job, and pat them on to the apple of the cheek either with my fingers, or with a sponge. You can also blend in with a brush, and my favourite for this is the MAC 187 large duofibre blending brush.

Paul & Joe Creamy Cheek in 03 – this is it, this is the one that I’m personally wearing all summer long. Deceptively pale in its sweet Art-deco inspired pink packaging, it can be built to a gorgeous flush of colour with a subtle shimmer that makes you look uber-healthy.

Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge – These come in a gorgeous chunky pot and really can be used on lips and cheeks. I love Calypso Coral for a punchy flush of colour and Summer Tan for a monochromatic bronze effect.

NARS Multiples – yes, every one raves about these because they are amazing. The shimmery bronze-y shades are my favourite, and I mix and match St Barts, South Beach and Palm Beach depending on the models’ skin tone. You can also add Malibu or Riviera on the apples of the cheek (if you felt like taking a walk on the wild side.)

Chanel Bronze Universel – a big, chunky beautiful pot of caramel bronze goodness with a hint of shimmer – just enough to look like skin, that you buff in with a big brush. Such a perfect start to the day as well – dipping into a big pot with the double C’s on top.

Becca – juicy, sweet little pans of blush in punchy, unusual colours like Hyacinth, Turkish Rose and Amaryllis. I keep a good selection on hand at all times, and it is equally sweet on lips. This is a lovely range for the summer months as no-one does flattering, natural, juicy summer colours like an Aussie brand, and this one definitely fits the bill.

These are just a few of my favourite cream blushes – The other lovely thing about cream blushes is you can layer them under your powder blush or bronzer to create a new, more longer lasting blush colour. Because cream blush, like summer, will fade. But the memory of it lingers on.

From the Front Lines – Celebrity Makeup Artist Florrie White for NUDE Skincare

The Makeup Mole — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 00:34:48 +0000

I was very excited to hear that one of my favourite makeup artists (and mentors), Florrie White, is now NUDE Skincare’s brand ambassador. Florrie is an amazing makeup artist and has quite the celebrity clientele, working regularly with Alexa Chung, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Emily Blunt, Rose Byrne and Kate Bosworth – how’s that for a cool crowd of clients?

She has magical hands and would always choose exactly the right blend of skincare to address what her client’s skin required, unfailingly achieving a beautiful, hydrated skin as a base for her lovely makeup. I’m not surprised she is now working with NUDE as they are a wonderful luxury organic skincare brand, and perfect for Florrie’s effortless, cool aesthetic.

Nowadays it feels like every week there is a new “organic” or “natural” skincare range being released as people increasingly are becoming aware of the toxic nature of many products which we put everyday onto our biggest organ, our skin. But as NUDE started back in 2007, they were one of the first to market in this area. Synthesising all natural ingredients to create truly luxurious and effective skincare (and the packaging to match) wasn’t easy, but founder Brian Meehan insisted that they get it exactly right. Cult products from the range include the Perfect Cleansing Oil and the Radiant Day Moisturiser.

I can’t wait to see more of Florrie and NUDE Skincare!

www.nudeskincare.com

Video: Cara Delevingne for YSL Babydoll Mascara

The Makeup Mole — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 05:48:45 +0000

Cara Delevingne is my favourite model at the moment, and it seems I’m not alone. In just one short year she has bagged herself a Burberry contract as well as being the face of Burberry’s new fragrance, covers of British Vogue, I-d and Love magazine (where she looks divine in red lips, naked in the bath), and was considered to be the star model of the last catwalk season. And now she has also bagged a beauty campaign for YSL beauty, for their new Babydoll mascara. We definitely haven’t seen the last of Miss Delevingne.

A Tale of Two Cleansers – Shu Uemura Unmasked and Sisley’s Eau Efficace Gentle Makeup Remover

The Makeup Mole — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 05:28:12 +0000

Although it’s been hectic of late as I’m now beauty writing for two magazines and juggling blogging and makeup (and moving house, UGH UGH UGH) I have also found time to test out not one but two new cleansers. Even better I use one in the morning and one in the evening, although both of them could easily do double duty. It takes awhile for me to test things as I like to make sure they work – some products are great the first couple of times you use them and then for some reason aren’t good with repeated usage, and I like products that are consistently good, time after time.

First off the Shu Unmasked, which I like to use in the morning. I’ve been a long-time sporadic user of the classic (and now iconic) Shu cleansing oil, first released in 1967. Its basic principle (which can sound counter-intuitive) is that it takes oil to dissolve makeup and oil effectively. The new Unmasked oil not only comes in an industrial size (450 ml), it has a gorgeous hand drawn mask on the bottle which never fails to cheer me up on my bathroom window sill.

But it’s what’s inside that I like – the oil is super light weight and silky, and I find lighter than the regular Shu Skin Purifier facial oil or the Aesop Fabulous Face Oil that I also use and like. I wasn’t expecting to find anything radically different when I started testing the Unmasked, but it really leaves my skin feeling hydrated for hours afterwards – considering my face is pretty much permanently dry, not matter how much Astalift and Liz Earle Superskin I pile onto it, that is no mean feat. So I was very pleasantly surprised as I find many cleansers are just too drying. And since my skin is more hydrated, I then feel my skin looks less shiny later in the day (which is always a good thing. I’m sick of looking like you could hang me from the ceiling of Studio 54 and dance to disco).

And now to my second cleansing discovery! Sisley – oooh Sisley. This is a new brand on my radar of late and I have loved everything I have tried. The products feel luxurious – which they should, as they are expensive. They are also based on plant essences which I find very non-irritating. The Sisley Eau Efficace has, quite frankly, done the unthinkable – it has bumped my Crealine water out of my daily beauty routine. (Although I still use it for work). The Sisley does the job just as effectively, but I feel a little less harshly.

Also I love Sisley’s pump packaging – it’s the ultimate in no hassle for the evenings when you just CAN’T BE BOTHERED to tip a bottle of Crealine onto a cotton pad (that’s really lazy isn’t it? It’s hardly taxing). But you just press your cotton pad down onto the pump and hey presto, two swipes around the old visage and you’re done, fresh as a daisy and ready for bed.

One caveat – as I can no longer wear eye makeup (let’s all pause for a requiem there as it really is so sad, but my eyes are just still too sensitive. That’s a topic for a later post) I haven’t tried to take off hardcore mascara, or eyeliner, or big beauty looks with the Sisley. But for day to day cleansing I can totally vouch for it. Plus the big bottle lasts for ages.

So there you have it. I now have enough beautiful cleansers that make my skin look and feel amazing to last me for… well until it’s time to start testing out more new goodies.

Video: Dior Gloss Addict with Daphne Groeneveld

The Makeup Mole — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 03:04:26 +0000

I had some nice comments on the blog lately that reminded me how good the Dior Addict lipstick range is. This made me think about Dior Addict, which led me to my slight obsession with Dutch model and out-of-this-world gorgeous gal, Daphne Groeneveld. Here’s her very cute new ad for the brand spanking new Dior Gloss Addict. Another product on my list of things to check out at the makeup counters…

www.dior.com

In My Kit: Revlon Super Lustrous Lipsticks

The Makeup Mole — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 03:26:44 +0000

Revlon you naughty minx you – you just keep on bringing out new and lovely products I have to find room for in my kit.

I’ve only recently had a kit clean out and made space for your Just Bitten lip stains and the Lip Butters (pretty much all of them), and now you have revamped your Super Lustrous lipsticks, and I’ll be needing space for those as well!

These are gorgeous. They are moisturizing, go on like a dream and are nice and pigmented. For those of you who think you need to buy NARS or Chanel or Dior to get a great lipstick, think again. These are right up there with the more expensive ones. I also like the comprehensive shade selection, which runs the gamut from bright fuchsia to amazing reds to early 60’s pinks (that will be coming out to play in an upcoming beauty shoot) and rich wines and berries, perfect for the cooler weather.

The lipsticks come in 48 colours,in Australia and with lovely actress Emma Stone (my new girl crush) as the spokesmodel, I’m totally sold. Although I am cross that they have just bought out ANOTHER range of fab lipsticks called Colorstay Ultimate Suede that I have yet to try but word from the blogosphere is they are ace. At this rate I’m going to need a Segway just to carry my lipsticks!

www.revlon.com

Video: The Burberry Prorsum Autumn/Winter 2013 show

The Makeup Mole — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 01:48:01 +0000

Jourdan! Edie! Cara! Karlie! I love this behind the scenes video of all of the ‘Burberry Girls Model Brigade’ getting ready for their turn on the catwalk at Burberry’s most recent show. The beauty collection is called ‘Trench Kisses’ and features new Kajal eye pencils, new lippies and glosses as well as some heavenly nail polish colours (I’m lusting after the polish from the show, appropriately called “Oxblood”).

Burberry Beauty Creative Director Wendy Rowe was working her magic on the model’s faces and hair maestro and all round lovely, lovely guy Neil Moodie was on hair. Dream Teams were made of this…

In My Kit: Clinique High Impact Extreme Volume Mascara OR No More Trash Lash

The Makeup Mole — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 05:13:04 +0000

Let’s talk about lashes shall we? Or more specifically, how to get gorgeous lashes. I haven’t tried an amazing new mascara for awhile. I’ve tested out a few, but they’ve all been
Meh
Next
Gloop city
Nothing to write home about
And I’m certainly not going to waste valuable blog time on those.

What I can tell you is the only one I have tried of late that I actually like, is Clinique’s new High Impact Extreme Volume mascara (or HIEV for short). It does not disappoint. Clinique are justly famed for their mascaras, and this new one is no exception.

It has a lovely big brush to allow you to coat the lashes quickly and easily. It’s got quite a thin formula which I like as you can do multiple coats and build it, and it doesn’t get crunchy. Thus you can go from au naturel in the day to va va voom in the evening with the same product. It won’t give what I call Trash Lash, where your lashes all start to stick together in unattractive, cheap and nasty looking clumps.

Sometimes when shooting beauty or editorial I do love a big, beautiful clumpy Trash Lash, as modeled by the inimitable Anjelica Huston here. However for real life, this is a lash that looks like you had too many drinks the night before and just couldn’t get it together at the bathroom mirror the next day. Sometimes this is so, in which case I hope you had fun, but sometimes it’s your mascara making life harder than it is. Clinique’s HIEV quite simply won’t let this happen. Unless you want to channel Angelica in all her 70’s Trash Lash fabulousness.

www.clinique.com.au

Video – Chanel’s Glitter Blink

The Makeup Mole — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 23:08:33 +0000

Sorry for not posting much lately. I’ve been on a major deadline for the new magazine I’m now beauty writing for, and with makeup and beauty writing my dance card has been pretty full.

I did see this lovely video at the weekend though – another beauty stand out from the shows last season was Peter Phillips’ silver glitter eye at Chanel. Beautiful, big chunky glitter on the lash line and liberally sprinkled into lashes is fashion magic of the finest kind. Get your pixie dust on!

Sidenote – the new Chanel cream blushes out later this year look TO DIE FOR. As in, I may need to book my funeral and prepare my wake because those have just stilled my beating heart.
www.chanel.com

Video: Pat McGrath Backstage at Dolce and Gabbana Fall 2013

The Makeup Mole — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 22:53:02 +0000

Look I have to be honest – I’ve not been very excited by the hair and makeup trends coming down the runways during this last season – and since the shows are now in their final week in Paris, there aren’t that many chances for my socks to be rocked off by some amazing inspiring new looks. It’s all a bit ‘Meh’ so far. The notable exceptions for me have been:

the punk eye at Versace (thanks Pat McGrath)
the 40′s sepia eye at Rochas (Lucia Pieroni referencing Lee Miller, be still my beating heart)
Gucci Westman’s work at ODLR and Antonio Berardi – that lush red mouth, yes please!
Diane Kendal made last season’s navy eye feel even fresher thanks to glitter and super bright pigment at Thakoon and Jason Wu, respectively.
Dolce and Gabbana’s show, with makeup by Pat McGrath that was inspired by Sophia Loren and Byzantine art. This translated as rich wine lips, a heavy flick of cat eyeliner and beautiful, matte skin – which I think is the main takeaway from the shows. Ladies, get your powder puffs ready – it’s going to be a matte-tastic year.

Here’s Pat McGrath in action at the Dolce show, talking through the look:

New beauty Breakdown! New York Fashion Week – Oscar de la Renta Fall 2013

The Makeup Mole — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 10:34:15 +0000

So every year the highlight of the New York leg of the global Fashion weeks is invariably the work of Diane Kendal, and Gucci Westman. Two of my favourite makeup artists they consistently delight with amazing interpretations of the key trends that women will be wearing in the coming months, and making it look polished, effortless and cool. No easy task considering the drama of working backstage before a show!

One of the stand out shows for me this season has been Oscar de la Renta, lead by Gucci Westman for Revlon, where she is Global Creative director. Ever since she has been at the helm I’ve watched Revlon as a brand blossom into an increasing array of covetable, beautiful new products and shades that are also affordable, something that in the current economic times we can all appreciate! I keep Revlon products in my kit and also use them on myself, which I think is a great test of their adaptability.

On to the look at ODLR! This season there were not one but four distinct makeup looks. Gucci Westman said:

“Each of the four looks represents a different type of girl: gypsy, sophisticate, urban chic and East Asian jet setter. The one common thread is purity. I created a look that hLog Outighlights the innate beauty of the face from the eyes to the lip to clear, shiny skin.”

REVLON PRODUCTS TO GET THE LOOKS

LOOK 1
Dark Eyes (Gypsy)

FACE:

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Chocoliscious, $21.95
Revlon ColorBurst Lip Butter in Red Velvet, $21.95 (on cheek)
Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Suede Lipstick in Backstage, $25.95 (on cheek)

EYES:

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Shine City (for lids), $21.95
Revlon Luxurious Color Eyeliner in Black Velvet, $23.95
Revlon PhotoReady 3D Volume Mascara in Black, $23.95
Revlon Limited Edition Eye Shadow Palette in Midnight Express from the Autumn/Winter ’13 Collection by Gucci Westman, $19.95 (Available May)

LIPS:

Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Suede Lipstick in Backstage, $25.95
Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Adore, $17.95

LOOK 2
Bright Lips (Urban Chic)

FACE:

Revlon PhotoReady Crème Blush in Flushed, $26.95

EYES:

Revlon ColorStay 16 Hour Eye Shadow Quad in Attitude, $25.95

LIPS:

Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Suede Lipstick in It Girl, $9.99

LOOK 3
Bold Red Lip (East Asian Jet Setter)

FACE:

Revlon Nearly Naked Makeup, $9.99

EYES:

Revlon Luxurious Color Eyeliner in Black Velvet, $23.95
Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner in Brown, $23.95

LIPS: (depending on model)

Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Suede Lipstick in Trendsetter, $25.95
Revlon ColorStay Ultimate Suede Lipstick in Finale, 25.95
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Cherries in the Snow, $21.95
Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Cherry Blossom, $21.95 (Available April)

LOOK 4
Nude Shine (Sophisticate)

FACE:

Revlon Nearly Naked Makeup, $9.99

EYES:

Revlon ColorStay Eyeliner in Brown, $23.95

LIPS:

Revlon ColorStay Lipliner in Nude, $22.95
Super Lustrous Lipgloss in Nude Lustre, $21.95

New Beauty Breakdown! Jennifer Lawrence and her BAFTA makeup

The Makeup Mole — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 02:47:38 +0000

Makeup by Kay Montano

So I have a total girl crush on American actress Jennifer Lawrence – how beautiful does she look here? My favourite makeup artist, Kay Montano and awesome London hairdresser, Johnnie Sapong, was Jennifer’s glam squad at the BAFTAS this week.

Kay has done a detailed breakdown of what she used on Jennifer on her website, Her post is so gorgeous (with lots of details about blending and how-to), that I thought I would send you straight to her fabulous website to read it. Here’s the link:

http://www.kaymontano.com/2013/02/11/jennifer-lawrence-bafta-make-up/

Video: Kay Montano Making Eyes for Eyeko

The Makeup Mole — Mon, 04 Feb 2013 07:35:25 +0000

Love this super-cute film by international makeup artist Kay Montano for Eyeko. It’s making me want wear lots of kitty eyeliner!

Foundation Files: Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint

The Makeup Mole — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 03:05:24 +0000

I’ve fallen in love with a new brand! Well actually it’s not a new brand, it’s been around for awhile. It’s called Jouer, and it’s a gorgeous natural cosmetics range from LA.

I’d been wanting to check it out since it started, (which is quite a long time as it launched in 2008!) but I never seemed to find myself near a counter in the US. And then I discovered it’s stocked by the genius website Cult Beauty. Cult Beauty is my favourite online beauty destination as it has all the MM picks such as Ellis Faas, Japonesque, Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, Rodin Olio Lusso, Prtty Peaushun, Stila, Sunday Riley, Priti NYC, RMS cosmetics – I could just go on, and on and on. Seriously it’s like an online treasure trove of the fabulous and hard to find.

I was in the market for a new tinted moisturiser, and this one fits perfectly with my “Green for 2013” ethos, as I pare down my personal beauty bag and find gentler, less chemical alternatives, The Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint oil-free formula is hypo-allergenic and fragrance-free and boasts Gingko Biloba, Vitamin E and Ginseng to deliver antioxidants to the skin.

I love it – it smoothes away redness (key for me as my skin gets lovely and red each morning and needs a severe talking to, in order to sort it out). It’s quite rare for me to use tinted moisturisers anymore as generally they don’t do enough of what I need them to. Yet I don’t want to commit on a daily basis to a full-on foundation, if you know what I mean.

But this guy – well it has optical reflections so it seems to bathe your skin in tiny little candles, and it’s super moisturizing yet has an oil-free finish. I’m not sure how they pull that trick off, but it’s perfect for my awesome dehydrated yet oily skin (thanks God – just what every girl wishes for).

In typical tinted moisturiser style it only comes in five shades, which tend to favour the fairer-complected (for my darker complected readers I encourage you as always to check out the foundation ranges of Laura Mercier, Bobbi Brown and Becca).

And if you’re a bit of a Sweaty Betty – aren’t we all, from time to time? I discovered it also comes also in a Matte version, which would be ideal for the summer months when your glow becomes an oil slick you could see from space.

I’m planning to “jouer” a lot more with “Jouer”.

www.cultbeauty.co.uk

Christine Zilber, Founder & Director of Jouer talks about the brand

From the Front Lines: Georgia May Jagger as a Dragon Princess

The Makeup Mole — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 04:38:04 +0000

Makeup by Alex Box

When I saw this in the papers at the weekend, I couldn’t resist – Georgia May Jagger looking like an otherworldly creature (literally), as a dragon princess at her 21st birthday. Makeup by the uber-talented Alex Box using Illamasqua, and hair by James Rowe. Dragon princesses never looked so good.

From Alex Box’s instagram

News: Alber Elbaz x Lancome

The Makeup Mole — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 00:35:31 +0000

So imagine my excitement when I found out that Lancome is going to be collaborating with one of my favourite designers, Alber Elbaz for Lanvin! I can only imagine how gorgeous this collaboration will be.

Having worked for the house of Lanvin in Paris on one of their first men’s advertising campaigns (super hairstylist James Rowe was doing hair, and I was doing grooming), I have a very soft spot in my heart for Alber Elbaz’s elegant and refined version of womanhood.

“Alber Elbaz is, without a doubt, one of the world’s most influential fashion designers. But beyond that, he is also the most talented, explains Youcef S. Nabi, Lancôme President. His sense of luxury, his vision of femininity and that hint of audacity resonate perfectly with the new values of the Maison Lancôme. We are extremely proud and happy that, with us, he is set to channel his universe into the world of make-up for the very first time.”

The new Alber Elbaz for Lancome collection will be unveiled worldwide on June 15th, 2013, and I for one, can’t wait.

In the meantime here’s a fab backstage video, an oldie but a goodie from 2009, of the Lanvin Autumn/Winter show. This still looks amazing with Guido’s blunt cut long bobs and Pat McGrath’s shiny metallic black-rimmed eyes. I also love the interview with Alber where he talks about loving your differences, and being sick of uniformity and the clone-like nature of modern fashion. Still relevant, four years on.

Video: MAC SS13 Fashion Week – Key Trends with Alex Box

The Makeup Mole — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 23:15:24 +0000

Let’s get this year started right with a lovely video from the amazing makeup artist Alex Box, who I used to assist in London and Paris. I love this video of her as it shows her extraordinary talent as a painter of faces and presents her as the calm and gorgeous presence that she is. I love being on her team for shows as even under the greatest pressure she never seems anything but unflappable, and is always kind and happy to explain the fine points of a makeup. In fact I’m lucky in that everyone I have assisted has been like that! Watch the magic unfold…

Right Now: Dr Hauschka Sandalwood & Lavender Body Milk

The Makeup Mole — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 22:35:11 +0000

Happy New Year! I love having a fresh start – and let me tell you, 2013 is only a few days old and already it’s looking like it’s going to be a good one.

I’m not going to talk about New Year’s Resolutions and all that business, although I have a few, “ahem” improvements that I’ll be making – namely, being less of a makeup pack rat and getting more into organic products. So I thought I’d use my first post of the year to tell you about one of my favourite new natural finds, which is Dr Hauschka’s beautiful new Sandalwood and Lavender Bodymilk. This is the loveliest body moisturiser I have tried in ages. I’m usually pretty loyal to standard old Nivea or Kieh’s Crème de Corps (the Rolls Royce of body moisturisers), but I’m telling you, Dr Hauschka’s might just be taking that crown. I love not only what’s in it (ie no nasties, and lots of good moisturising oils), but the packaging as well. It’s a beautiful glass bottle with a pump that actually works, so using it is enjoyable (unlike tipping bottles of moisturiser everywhere – not mentioning any brand names!)

Having had something of a health epiphany in 2012 I’m now keen to find more gentle and non-toxic alternatives to some of my every day makeup and beauty staples. But they need to function AND be as fun to use as their more chemical cohorts, so this year I’m planning to explore some more organic brands, and I’m happy to report there is lots of gorgeous, non-toxic and chemical-free products out there. I want my outsides to be as healthy as my insides!

The Dr Hauschka Bodymilk a mix of macadamia nut, apricot kernel and avocado oils with wood sorrel and lemon balm to heal parched skin. And, as its name suggests it has sandalwood and lavender oil so it smells divine, and it melts into the skin leaving it non-sticky, non-greasy (even in pretty hot weather as I’ve been testing it through summer. My legs get a delicious lizard like appearance without daily slatherings of some sort of body unguent), and it even, as an added bonus, makes the skin look sort of sheeny and expensive. Unfortunately it can’t make you thinner – but that’s what those New Year’s resolutions are for.

www.drhauschka.com

Right Now: Burberry Complete Eye Palette In Mocha

The Makeup Mole — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 05:15:16 +0000

OK it’s official. Burberry can do no wrong in my eyes. They have new eye quads that are, in a word, divine. Buttery soft, smooth and the colour combinations are just perfection.

It comes housed in a sleek gunmetal case which I am THRILLED to say, is lighter than the single eyeshadows I own. Because if I had one gripe with Burberry Beauty, it was the weight of their beautiful products. For the lady at home carrying a lippy and a blush they would be OK (still heavy, but just about manageable). But if you’re a makeup artist and you have a stack of those bad boys you want to carry, it’s just death. And then you have to choose which ones to take on a job. And then it’s MORE death because they’re all so lovely, and you can’t choose. And then you have to hack them up with a pallet knife which makes you want to stick the palette knife in your eye because it’s so sacrilegious to hack up those gorgeous Burberry eyeshadows to put in teeny plastic cases so you can carry them all. Can you tell I’ve been there? More than once?

So now the packaging feels lighter, and Burberry have given you not one, but FOUR lovely shades to choose from. I have Mocha, which is rich, yummy golden browns (you know, the browns that are surprising hard to find in other ranges? Yeah, those). There is a cream, a golden brown, a nutmeg/caramel colour and a rich brown that’s perfect for lining eyes. These babies can go natural and nothing, or very, very glamorous. What I love about the Burberry shadows is they are matte but they still have a sheen to them, so they don’t look flat on the eye.

The eye quads are called the Compete Eye Palette and come in 6 different shade variations, ranging from Plum Pink to Smokey Grey. I for one will be needing more of these new lightweight! Burberry goodies.

And here’s a video which has very little to do with Burberry, except it’s the Burberry model, Cara Delevigne, rollerskating in an elf hat. Shot by Angelo Pennetta for Love magazine, I thought it was super cute. And it’s Christmas, and who doesn’t love rollerskating elves at Christmas? Especially ones as pretty as Cara Delevigne.

www.burberry.com

Video: Marilyn & Chanel no. 5

The Makeup Mole — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 03:44:27 +0000

I was blown away by this beautiful video of Marilyn Monroe and her relationship with Chanel No. 5. As far as I know it is one of the first genuine celebrity endorsements of a product, and certainly one of the most successful. That is quite extraordinary to think of in this age of Krass Kommercialisation, where every celebrity has a raft of brands that they get paid to promote on television, advertising and now also social media.

Not so Marilyn and Chanel No 5. She honestly loved it, and it was the perfume that was famously the only thing she wore in bed. Now on the 50th anniversary of her death, two icons together in an extraordinary piece of lost audio footage that explains why the most beautiful woman in the world loved the world’s best-selling perfume.

New Beauty Breakdown! Salma Hayek at the British Fashion Awards

The Makeup Mole — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 22:57:25 +0000

Last week was the British Fashion Awards in London (held at the beautifully refurbished Savoy Hotel), and actress Salma Hayek was presenting an award to Stella McCartney, who won Fashion Designer of the Year. Her go-to red carpet makeup artist is Kay Montano, who sent me the following breakdown of what she used. I love Salma in that hot pink lip!

Face

Nuance foundation in Medium-Deep Warm.
Ben Nye under eye concealer in Mellow Orange Medium.
Jurlique Rose Silk Finishing Powder brushed onto the T Zone.
Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder to accentuate cheekbones.
Bare Minerals HotRocks Blusher at M+S Your Beauty.

Eyes

Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow in Shell lightly brushed over entire lid.
Chanel Brown Eye Pencil smudged into a cat shape from inner to beyond
outer corner followed by a fine line of Autograph Ultimate Wear Gel
Eyeliner.
Black Magic Mascara by Eyeko
Diego Dalla Palma Colour Eyebrow Fixer from M+S Your Beauty.

Lips

Diego Dalla Palma lipstick in Baby Pink

Right Now: Simply Irresistible – Tom Ford’s Fall 2012 collection

The Makeup Mole — Thu, 29 Nov 2012 00:53:26 +0000

I hate you Tom Ford – you keep creating gorgeous new products that I just feel I can’t live without. How is that even possible when I have a whole room full of makeup, and yet, each season you come out with yet another slew of beautiful goodies that I can’t get out of my head.

Case in point – the new Fall 2012 collection. Exhibit A – the Emerald Lust eyequad. Since I’ve been getting back into brights in a big way, would I like a beautiful teal and emerald quad? Oh yes alright then, I would – especially as I think the Tom Ford eyeshadow quads are amongst the best out there in shade selection, pigment pay off and blendability. And you also have a gorgeous plummy brown quad do you? Oh, you don’t say. Throw that in the bag too then. I also like that the eyeshadows have matte shades and also amazing fine gaugue glitter shadows in the same quad. SO good for evening makeup!

And what’s that new cream eyeshadow? You know I think his cream eyeshadows are amongst the best on the market. And it’s in a deep ruby wine shade that’s perfect as a base for a sultry smoky eye? It would be just rude not to have that too.

Not to mention there’s also a beautiful vivid pink blush (appropriately called Narcissist, since I think when you’re wearing this blush you can’t take your eyes off yourself), and the lipstick in Aphrodisiac, a bright fuchsia rose.

In fact this whole collection (and the stunning campaign images with makeup by super makeup artist, Charlotte Tilbury) have had me thinking non-stop about the high-octane glamour of Robert Palmer’s videos – who can forget his ultimate Guy Bourdin-esque femme fatales?

When I was a little girl I thought I would one day magically morph into these other-worldly beauties – little did I know that beauty in the 80’s involved kilos of cosmetics, multiple cans of hairspray and Giorgip Saint Angelo bandage dresses, as well as a whole bottle of Dior Poison perfume (also little did I know it would take a full body transformation, an extra three feet in height and the desire to look like you were permanently walking around in a Helmut Newton photograph, but I digress).*

But you know what? This season no one told Tom Ford that and with this delicious new Fall collection, I might just have a shot ait it.

*air guitar playing optional

Video: Bruce Weber’s “A New Fashioned Christmas” for Selfridges

The Makeup Mole — Tue, 27 Nov 2012 06:11:13 +0000

Only my favourite photographer, Bruce Weber, could make Christmas seem even more magical than it already is. Falling snow, London taxi cabs, ballet dancers, puppies, ponies, boxers – well I wish my Christmas could be like that. Sadly handsome pugilists and horse-drawn carriages are in short supply at my house at Christmas. Note to self – must rectify this by December 25th!

Video: NARS Andy Warhol Holiday 2012

The Makeup Mole — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 23:32:23 +0000

I just love NARS’ new take on a screen test at Andy Warhol’s iconic Factory in New York. The whole collection is a perfect collaboration between art and beauty – NARS has done it again! The gift coffrets are beautifully packaged and are great selections of products (the Debbie Harry palette and Edie set are high on my wish list). This is cosmetics collaboration at its finest.
narscosmetics.com

The Interview: Manicurist Anatole Rainey

The Makeup Mole — Thu, 22 Nov 2012 03:24:49 +0000

Lana del Rey for Vogue Japan

After a year-long hiatus, The Interview is finally back! With my makeup work being really busy I got a bit slack with the longer posts that required me to be, you know, organized. But I’m thrilled to offer you my new Interview with suoerstar manicurist, Anatole Rainey. I used to see Anatole on jobs on a regular basis and always found him dapper, charming and entertaining – I was always happy to see his name on the call sheet! Then one day on a Burberry campaign shoot we whiled away quite a few hours in the upstairs of an amazing old house in London, chatting about everything under the sun. One of the things we talked about was social media, and I was delighted a couple of weeks ago to find him now on Twitter. (Follow him @anatoleNR)

In a long and varied career Anatole has worked with many of the world’s major photographers, including Patrick Demarchelier, Mario Sorrenti, Annie Liebovitz, Emma Summerton, Dan Jackson, Michael Thompson, Miles Aldridge and Mert and Marcus amongst others. He is also known for his work with celebrities including Cate Blanchett, Keira Knightley, Gwyneth Paltrow, Brad Pitt and Kate Moss.

Graciously despite running between London and Paris and shooting the campaign advertising for next year, he found time to send me this:

1. What have you been working on lately?

Ever since the shows finished in September I’ve been immersed in what they call ‘campaign season’, shooting all the Spring Summer ‘13 advertising. It’s been full-on but fun!

2. Favourite nails job ever?

I loved doing a classic YSL nail on Mariacarla Boscono for the SS12 YSL campaign: fairly long, round, and a deep red. The fact that the shoot was also with a dream of a team meant that it was one of the most enjoyable jobs in recent memory.

3. Top 5 products?

Essie nudes; Pillow Talk is my current fave.
YSL Reds
NailTek Files – they almost get better with age
Deborah Lippman cuticle oil; I love that it comes in a dropper, and that the oils are all natural.
Sisley Sisleya Anti-Age hand cream – the best, period.

4. Favourite photographers to work with?

I like the fact that every set is so different; its one of the things that keeps the job interesting.

5. How did you get started in the business?

I started by carrying my pregnant manicurist friend’s case to work when I was bumming around Paris after university unsure about my next step; she gradually got me to start doing the models’ toes the bigger she got, and eventually taught me everything I know and started putting me on jobs. From there the seeds of ambition were planted, and a job became a career.

6. How is it different to when you started?

I started just before digital photography became the norm, so that’s easily the biggest change. Being able to instantly see everything in such detail is amazing, and good discipline when it comes to nails.

7. Looks you are loving for the current season?

At Topshop A/W12 we tried to bring back the French manicure – a look that hasn’t been in for a while. With all the heavy military-inspired clothes of the collection it looked really fresh and cool though, and I’m still feeling it through to next season.

8. Nail icons who are always inspiring?

My mentor, Yuna Park, happens to be inspiring not only in life but also for nails. I also love the work of Sophie Harris-Greenslade of The Illustrated Nail, but the most inspiring people are the girls on the street or on the Tube who wear all these fun looks for real.

9. What do you love doing in your spare time?

Switching on Radio 3 and spending an afternoon cooking and baking is my favourite way to relax, but I also like to draw, read, and be sporty.

Anatole is represented by Premier in London and B Agency in Paris and you can view his portfolio here.

Guinevere for Miu Miu by David Sims

In My Kit: TopShop lipstick in Idol

The Makeup Mole — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 03:36:16 +0000

So by now you guys know I lurve me some TopShop makeup. I think the pigments are great, the colours are so on-trend they could get into any bar they wanted and the packaging is light-weight and very cute. In fact I wish I could grow an extra me so I could have another kit just packed with TopShop (and Burberry. And Tom Ford. And some new Dior. And NARS as I just can’t carry all my NARS deliciousness. And Hourglass. And Kevyn Aucoin. Oh who am I kidding I wish I had a Segway I could cart all the new season collections around on!) But I can’t, so on my last trip to London I opted to top up (ha ha) my lips collection at TopShop. They do the best statement lip colours you see. And this season is no exception – the statement lip isn’t going anywhere.

My current fave is TopShop lipstick in Idol. A blue-based bright pink it’s a bit quirky, and it’s bright without being retina searing. It’s actually quite wearable for those of you out there who haven’t tested out a statement lip (and if you haven’t, you really must – it’s such a quick and easy way to completely update your look.)

I love the pay-off of the TopShop lipsticks and plan on expanding my collection in the VERY near future, if their new A/W Makeup collection is anything to go by – check out their amazing Beauty Creative Director, Hannah Murray in action in her new tutorial ‘Dark Side of Nude’. TopShop Wicked lip colour is next on my list.

www.topshop.com