A Lipstick & A Legend

A perfect red has been created in homage to the late, great photographer Helmut Newton taking inspiration from his imagery, highlighting the power and iconicity of the red lip.  It is a collaboration between Author Periel Aschenbrand, The Lipstick Queen Poppy King and the most striking of all supermodels Jenny Shimizu.

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Helmut Red has been released in support of children at risk of HIV and is available in a limited run at House of Exposure for $25.00. Awesome colour, incredible shoot.  Get em' while they're hot people!

Pattern Perfect

Summer has (tentativley) arrived in London and for some reason the sunshine always draws me to vibrant colours and really busy patterns,  accessories, make-up, soft furnishings, whatever, I want them now and they gotta be bright!  These are a few things that have found their way home with me recently.

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I had to have this awesome scarf from French label Sandro £220.00 ($341.00) it is perfect for wrapping hair up at work during the summer months, paired with simple jeans and a plain t-shirt, it really seems to make a regular outfit just a teeny bit wow! 

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Make-up should always be kept to a minimum when the sun comes out, otherwise by the end of the day it will be down by your knees (not pretty!).  A careful skincare routine, a slick of mascara and a blotted down jolt of colour on the lips works a dream this time of year.  Roman holiday from NARS is definitely a seasonal favourite for me. Here for £16.00 ($24.00)

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A recent discovery in my most frequented store in London, Liberty, (if you have never been and you are ever in London please stop by here for the most beautifully curated selection of gorgeousness this town has to offer!) are these fabulous cosmetics and wash bags hand made by Alexandra Mann,  each one is unique and lined with wipe clean laundry bag fabric making them super functional.  I can't recommend these enough, they would also make great gifts don't you think?

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Calypso by Dior is just the right fruity shade of red for this time of year.  A bright manicure is another great way to add a pop of colour to a work wardrobe or a casual outfit without looking overly done.

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Whilst i'm crushing on bright prints and bold colours, I stumbled across this guy on Etsy for the home, absolutely gorgeous. 

I hope wherever you guys are you are having a sunny day.

Y yeS L

This is a definite, 'why did this take so long' moment.  Finally Yves Saint Laurent have applied the incredible light reflecting properties of the make-up powerhouse Touche Eclat and created - Le Teint Touche Eclat Foundation.  Yay!

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With a fantastic launch range of twenty two different shades most people will find a tone suitable for their completion.

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Not everyone is as keen on the original Touche Eclat as I am, however I always have the full range in my kit as I love the result it achieves.  So, I am really excited to add this new foundation to my kit and see how it works on camera.  I'm sensing a competitor for the Chanel Vitalumiere range (and it's around £4.00 cheaper!).

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Have you tried this yet?  Let me know what you think!

I heart NYC

Besides the incredible amount of creativity it contains, including this which is a mind blowing must see...

The endlessly inspiring fashion and street art...

The most super fun form of public transport...

And the most enjoyable way ever to spend a weekend, here and here...

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I never fail to uncover some major make-up gems that find their way to the very top of my beauty routine or my set bag and here are a few worth trying out.

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Sensual Skin Enhancer (silly name) from the late, great Kevyn Aucoin is truly the wonder base product I have been searching for,  It is a super creamy multiple product working as a foundation, a blemish concealer and an under eye highlighter providing astounding results.  I find you get the best out of it if you work it into your skin with your fingers, it comes in sixteen shades and is available here in the UK for £36.00 and here in the US for about $56.00.  It's a tiny pot but it goes a very long way and is perfect for a little enhancement as opposed to a full coverage base.

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Doctors Dermalogic Formula - DDF, Ultra lite oil free moisturising dew (long name) is exactly what is says on the label, it's super light but seems to keep my skin hydrated all day and make-up can be applied almost straight after using it. If you have sensitive skin and are searching for a great summer moisturiser give this a go.  Available here for $40.00

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Finally Fresh Cannabis Santal (controversial name, ha!) is absolutely delicious,  it is marketed as a mens fragrance however I found it to be sexy and sultry and seemingly perfect for NYC.  With top notes of Bergamot and Brazilian Orange, heart notes of Cannabis Accord (no it doesn't smell anything like that) and rose and base notes of Chocolate, Vetiver and Vanilla it is simply delicious.

I always find New York City a constant source of inspiration and this time round was certainly no exception.

Cartoon Cuties...

Oh Gosh, some serious sweet...

Snap, Print

A fashion icon...The Polaroid.

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(Helmut newton, world gem flash 1997)

Every now and then a little something comes along that really rocks my world.  Today I found out that this has happened...

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As an MUA polaroid cameras have a special place in my heart.  Before digital cameras (can you imagine?!) a polaroid camera was an on-set staple in the make-up department, we used them to snap a quick continuity shot of our actors in situ.  This was always the perfect way to take a continuity shot as you instantly had a visual reference for the scene you were currently filming.

This is a combination of instant print and digital and I am in love!  On my recent trip to NYC I decided to tote around my FUJI Instax Mini instead of my SLR (Nikon D3000) and I was able capture the city in a whole new light in a way that only an instant print can.

I don't think this little camera will replace a compact digital in my set bag for work, but it is certainly going to be a welcome addition to any social occasion as it feels like an exciting new generation of an old classic.

What do you shoot on?

A Colourful Concept

Having disappeared for what seems like forever, totally consumed with a new comedy, photo shoots, The Queen's Jubilee and a whirlwind trip to New York City, I'm back.  Thank you so much to everyone who kept checking in during my absence your support means the world to 56 to Rivington. 

I have so much to report that I hardly know where to begin but I thought I would kick this summer weekend off with a really bright USA discovery.  Sephora has collaborated with Pantone (Genius!) to create the most vibrant palettes I have seen in a long time.

Having checked these guys out in person I can confirm that the palette is huge (it claims to be able to 'slip' into your handbag but I'm not so sure about that!) and the pigment in the product is rich and blendable, inspired by nature, with a really great variety of colour and tone to create anything from a sultry smokey eye to girly ombre shadow and even a striking neon eyeliner.  This is the perfect product for make up junkies and people who are experimenting with their look alike as it covers all colour bases!

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Not only have they collaborated on palettes but they have also come up with some pretty awesome hard wear too.  These brushes are super soft natural bristle brushes housed in a case that matches the shadow palette (which incidentally are both very slimline).  I really hope this collaboration continues with more collections coming out each season because with a partnership like this one the possibilities are endless.

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Both of these products are really reasonably priced with the palette being $55.00 (£35.20) and the brush set $38.00 (£24.30).  If you are near a Sephora go and have a look, although that place is dangerous I never leave without spending a fortune.

Have a vibrant weekend guys!