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

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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.

Mascara Review

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

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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

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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

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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) 

Gucci Westma makeup for Revlon

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)

Gucci Westma makeup for Revlon

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)

Gucci Westman makeup for Revlon

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)

Gucci Westman makeup for Revlon

 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

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Jennifer Lawrence makeupMakeup 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:

Foundation Files: Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint

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Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint

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

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Georgia Jagger 21st birthdayMakeup 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.

Georgia Jagger 21st Birthday

From Alex Box’s instagram

News: Alber Elbaz x Lancome

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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

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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…