I Beweave...

She has been around for a while now but I have only just had the pleasure of being introduced to Shocantelle Brown.  I will never dress out wigs or weaves again without thinking of her!

A Fabulous Facial

This is the time of year, the transition between Winter and Spring, when most people find their skin starts to suffer.  The sunlight hours are really short, the weather is cold and the central heating is always on max. All of these factors mean that perhaps a little treat is in order.  Whenever anyone asks what I recommend for tired, de-hydrated skin that has broken out I will always say have a Guinot-Hydradermie facial.  It is magical!

So, Yep, this looks a little scary and when I tell you these metal rollers have an electric current running through them don't be alarmed! The facial is a mix of manual massage, personalised plant extract oils and a mid galvanic current.  

It typically lasts about and hour and twenty minutes (of pure unadulterated bliss) and is designed to minimise fine lines, lift and tone the skin, reduce redness, get rid of blemishes and improve radiance.  It is great for all skin types and all ages,  and gives a really noticeable boost no matter what state your skin may be in. 

There are quite a few different steps to this facial, cleansing, oil based massage, exfoliation, and extraction all alongside the electric current processes.  The rollers are designed to oxygenate the skin and encourage any impurities out, with bacteria being killed off using a slightly different electric current (which is totally painless, the only thing I notice is a funny metallic taste in my mouth but apparently thats perfectly normal).  

This facial is a really good one to have before a special occasion as it gives the skin a real radiance boost but thanks to the electricity you rarely suffer any breakouts afterwards, Amazing.  It's not a particularly cheap treatment, I think it averages around £65.00 ($103.00) and it is recommended every time the season changes.  If you fancy treating your skin, or cheering someone up this is a sure fire way to go about it.  I love this treatment and I know you will too.  

If you do have one (lucky you) be sure to let me know what you think of it. 

Setting the tone...Heathers

1) Heathers on DVD, if you haven't seen this film with Winona Ryder and I insist you watch it this weekend for some 80's bad girl brilliance. Available here.

2) Chic 80's inspired interior, with a stunning Yves Klein blue coffee table centrepiece (via unknown, do you?)

3) Fekkai - Extra body mousse, $25.00 (£16.00) for some big hair so you can be in the Heathers gang (if you're brave enough)
4) Turn your iPhone into an old school walkman, Yeah! $10.99 (£7.00)
5) Be as sartorially risky as Veronica Sawyer, get rid of your glasses and rock a monocle from now on! (Or not, this is a just cute necklace found on etsy here).
6) A fresh take on 80's style - Preen Line - Pie Crust chambray skirt £410.00 ($648.00)
7) School hall appropriate manicure by Essie - Picking up the pieces £7.95 ($12.500 approximately.
8) Channel Veronica with this gorgeous bowler hat from ASOS £20.00 ($31.00)
9) For bright yet wearable colour try Revlon's new lip stains - Just Bitten In Flame, these last for hours, don't smudge and give a very sheer coverage. 


Have a great weekend being bad with your gang!

Golden

Make-up Artist Peter Philips referred to the look he created for the Fendi show in Milan as "a game of textures" which it was indeed.  By opposing the strong black kohl liner on the top lash line with shiny gold leaf pressed into the eyelid all the way up and over the brow the models exuded both vintage femininity and super modern strength.  

Gold leaf is such a beautiful yet very very tricky medium to work with.  If you do decide to give something like this a go (perhaps as just a gesture and not all the way up over the brows ok, Ga Ga!), I recommend using eyelash glue that has all but dried on the skin and a very clean soft brush to lift the leaf out of the book or the pot it comes in to apply because that stuff has a life of it's own.  This look requires a very steady hand!

(How gold leaf is traditionally bought)

The product below will give you a gilt effect, not quite as golden and shiny (of course its not actual gold) but really effective all the same.  It's one of the closest things I have found to a pure gold in a make-up specific product, also perfect for body painting and for use in your hair depending on your wild ideas.  Using this is not difficult, time consuming or expensive, and this pot is only £5.00 ($8.50).

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This is the type of thing you can achieve with the Fardel water colour cream, pretty awesome huh?

This is the type of thing you could not achieve with the Fardel water colour cream, although for a purse it is very golden and very make-upy' and equally awesome don't you think? Lulu Guinness is an eccentric accessories designer known for her quirky aesthetic and you can find this here.

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And for the luxe obsessed out there or for anyone who has had a total disaster trying to recreate the Fendi magic on their eyelids, just stick it all over a batch of brownies to make them look a million dollars and eat it! (of course you have to make sure the type of leaf you bought is edible). Mmmmmm.

Brush BFF's...

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I have to tell you all about one of my favourite brushes in the whole world, ever.  I was using it this morning and noticed every time I do, without fail the person I am using it on will say something about how lovely this brush feels on the skin, not to mention the finish it provides. 

I first bought this brush at IMATS (International Make-Up Artist trade show) about five years ago and am still in love.  I have a massive amount of brushes in my kit that I have collected over the years (you will find just a few of them here) but not all of them feel like tools I have to work with, this one I just couldn't do without now.

This is the pointed foundation brush from adesign, which is an Atlanta, Georgia based brush company.  It's really cheap ($32.00 - £20.00) compared to virtually all other professional brush companies (although I'm sure I only paid about $15.00 for mine).  It cleans up a dream and has not shed a single hair since I got it.  Sigh.  This ones a keeper!

Purrr...

If pretty packaging is your thing, then feast your eyes on this little selection of kitsch delights! Paul & Joe is a fabulous French fashion label with a history dating back 17 years, and this is their beauty range.  The Spring/Summer 2012 collection is cat crazy!

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Oh Gosh, the lipsticks...the lipsticks.  Not only are the prints on the packaging inspiring but the cuteness of the cat shaped colour itself is enough for me to show them off but never share!  These will definitely escape being chopped up and pressed into a palette.

Popping

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This creamy, vibrant pout polish from youthful brand Sleek make up is so delicious (enriched with jojoba, sweet almond oil, avocado and SPF 15) I urge you to pick out one of their many colours and indulge it is fantastic.  Oh and it only costs £4.30 ($6.80) so what's not to love?

Have a great weekend!

Celestial Garden

Shu Uemura is an innovative Japanese company and is the first ever make-up brand I worked for straight after training at London College of Fashion, I loved the brand then and I still love it now.  Celestial Garden is their 134th mode collection and it contains a couple of really exciting gems!

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These cream blushers are completely gorgeous, perfect colours to really liven up your complexion and with a super interesting packaging concept.  These will set you back £20.00 ($32.00).

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Check out the lipstick buddies to the blushers.  There is one to suit almost every skin tone, they are spot on trend for spring and are also £20.00 ($32.00) each.  

Shu Uemura is such a playful brand who produce not only a spectacular product range but also some very serious kit.  Their brushes in my opinion are some of the best in the world, I still have brushes in my kit from them that are probably ten years old.  Definitely worth the initial outlay!

Pucker Up

Happy Valentines Day

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Very sexy Chanel - Rouge Allure, Extrait de gloss £23.50 ($37.00)

NYFW Beauty

For all the shows that are so perfect and together...   

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...There is always the madness behind the scenes.

Cracking Up

It is so cold in London right now, and one thing I find always happens in the freezing weather is that my hands start to suffer.  Hand cream is something everyone should have with them at all times, guys included!  You see the skin on our hands contains no sebaceous glands (sorry for throwing the word sebaceous in there without warning) this means they don't get oily and is one of the reasons our hands are one of the first places our skin shows signs of age.  So lets talk hand creams.

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Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm - I love Aesop products, their natural goodness and the simplicity of their design I find most appealing.  This particular tube is filled with more of a balm than a cream.  It is greaseless and really acts as a barrier against  the elements with lots of healing properties if the cold has already got the better of you. £18.00 (28.00)

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Unusually rich-but not greasy at all hand cream spf10 - Kiehl's products can do no wrong in my eyes really (except be way more expensive here in Europe than in the USA!). This again is a great all rounder and one that I would recommend to the guy's.  It is scentless, with very unassuming packaging, it is not greasy and it has spf10 in it, perfect for protecting your hands from sun damage! £10.00 ($16.00)

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Lavender Hand Cream, Jurlique - This is my favourite hand cream.  It melts into your skin a dream and it smells like lavender, obviously, which is so soothing.  The formulation is so light and the calming effect is has on your skin lasts for ages. £17.00 ($26.00)

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Almond Coconut milk Hand creme, Laura Mercier - If you have ever used any of the Laura Mercier skincare or body products you will know that they smell out of this world.  There is no way you will be able to use the cream in the vicinity of another human being without them asking what that incredible smell is.  Reason alone to shell out for this luxurious treat.  Oh, its a very lovely hand cream too! £13.00 ($20.50)

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If you would rather a really practical, good value, product then the conditioning hand cream from Vaseline will rise to the challenge with far less showmanship than its more expensive competitors.  A really good everyday, deeply moisturising product with a price tag of only £2.99 ($5.00).

I hope you all have a lovely cosy weekend, whatever the weather where you are!

Hidden Gem

Body painting is not something I have ever been particularly fond of.  However, when it is done properly and I mean REALLY properly it can conjure up extremely provocative results.  Peruvian photographer Cecilia Paredes has clearly collaborated with a master of this art for her collection of self portraits.

Incredible make-up work don't you think?

Setting the tone...Grey Skies

1) Carnaby Street - London in it's heyday during fabulous swinging sixties. (image source unknown)

2) Grey but definitely not gloomy interior inspiration from Elle decoration.  I love the dark ceiling.

3) Killer heels from the intimidatingly talented Alexander Wang £485.00 ($770.00) from here.

4) Bargain brilliant nail polish in Grey, only £2.99 ($4.75) from Barry M.  These polishes are superb.

5) This mascara will give you lashes for days! one of my 'go to' products in my kit, Diorshow New look £23.00 ($38.00)

6) Foil printed jumper, shiny enough to brighten up even the greyest day (you'd hope!), £45.00 from Miss Selfridge

7) Bobbi Brown always makes the most wearable palettes and this one is no exception. Smoking.

8) Dark and Moody towels from Anthropologie £6.00 ($9.50) - £28.00 ($45.00)

9) These have been around for a while but I will never get over how gorgeous they are, A Picture of Dorian Gray - Oscar Wilde, 

    cover illustration by Coralie Bickford-Smith, available here, Suitably sombre for a currently very grey London Town!