For the love of Vivienne

This should absolutely not work. at. all. But it does Oh man, it really, really does.  The hair styling is glorious.

The headpieces are literally a dream come true for an eccentric British country wedding.

And the make-up, wow, the make-up for Vivienne Westwood's SS13 Runway show is a sheer delight to take in. I always love the creativity at her shows but this time round she has blown her previous (incredible) looks out of the water.

In the words of Rachel Zoe. I die.

The Dark Side

When September fashion week approaches here in London it always feels like the end of Summer.  I love Autumn in this city and even more than that  I REALLY love Winter trends.  With a huge stack of September issues on my desk one make-up must that really stands out this season is the dark lip.  

Just like the classic red lip there really is a very dark plum /wine/black cherry-ish shade to suit everyone, it's just a case of putting in a little research in order to find it.

My preference for working this look out like a supermodel is to pick a matte version, matte lipstick is a lot more user friendly in terms of smudging, bleeding and the dreaded lipstick on the teeth scenario.  It also looks incredibly chic and perfectly pulled together.

(all images via pinterest)

Another option is to layer up more of a stain for a slightly softer look.   

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Tom Ford has undoubtedly made the uber luxe make-up market his own, and this lip colour in Black Orchid is a perfect example of how make-up can secure it's position as a key trend in any season.  It is covet worthy perfection which comes at a price £36.00 ($57.00) to be exact.

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And here is literally the exact opposite end of the make-up budget spectrum, a huge brand favourite of mine, Sleek.  Their version of this look is Cherry and costs a mere $4.10 ($6.49) but is by no means any less chic than the pricey heavyweight above.  I always say if you want to experiment with seasonal make-up trends go to Sleek as they are the perfect brand to play around with your look without throwing down a ton of cash.

 Have some fun on the dark side this Fall!

Bad Girls

My go to look to add drama to any occasions is 50's Pin Up and it has been for years.  There is something unbearably gorgeous about a woman dressed up to the nines in the classiest way possible.  Using just a couple of elements from this era you can find a look that suits you.  Its not necessary to go for the hair, the make up and the ball gown all at once.  

Just the eyeliner and perfect red lip with relaxed natural beachy hair is very casual yet looks beautifully groomed.

These Ladies have obviously had their take on the Pin Up looked amped by a make-up artist for the shoot but they do serve as some awesome inspiration don't you think?

If you don't fancy embracing the whole shebang, just try the classic red polish manicure I guarantee you will feel sexier the second your fingertips are dry.

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I am a make-up junkie.  I have products in my kit and in my personal collection ranging from two pound q-tips all the way up to La Prairie and Creme de La Mer, so I definitely sing the praises (or not) of items from a very broad price range.  

That said, sometimes its lovely to splash out on a couple of items that just make you feel like you are pampering yourself.  So in the spirit of the Pin Up girl go and have a test of these at your local beauty department and give yourself a little treat.

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Medal Winning

London is of course all about the Olympics right now.  Forget the opening ceremony that received  mixed reviews, forget the empty seats at all the events debacle, forget the ultra embarrassing flag mix up on day one, its all about the manicures!  

If you look closely beyond the incredible bodies and unparalleled sporting prowess, you may just spot the ladies representing their nations on their nails.  The olympic ring manicure may be a little too literal for my taste, but I love these...

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Butter london have released this awesome Heavy Medal collection, with gold, silver and bronze to choose from.  what a great way to show your support without ramping up the tacky factor!

3 - Dot Liner

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Sometimes you stumble across an image that totally sums up your mood.  This incredible mixed media work called Original Ombre Pink Peach Moon 1 by Adam Collier Noel is so beautiful and serves perfectly to inspire.  I'm very jealous of the lucky duck who snagged this to hang in their home!

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This is so cool (in theory) it is the soon to be released Clarins 3 dot liner.  I have read mixed reviews about how people are using this product.  Some are saying it is for the novice to carry out a winged eyeliner whilst exercising mega caution, as in, drawing the whole line using a series of three dots and then filling in, not good practice and likely to end in an uneven shambles.  The other more realistic and exciting use is to work the product in the series of dots right in between your lashes, really thickening up the look of the lash line.  Then for more depth add your liquid eyeliner (see how to do that really easily here) on top resulting in very sultry eyes...you'd hope!

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Another gorgeous product from upcoming the Autumn/winter 12 collection from Clarins is this limited edition colour accents face and bush palette, perfect for highlighting and contouring and adding a rosy glow to a wide variety of complexions.

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And if it is as sunny where you are as we are in London right now (I am currently shooting at a really hot and sticky location), make some of this incredible Watermelon Agua Fresca.  It is unbelievably refreshing and really delicious, recipe here.  Or you could try these grown-up slushies that look equally as delicious but slightly more fun, recipe here!

Have a chilled day guys!

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.

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!

Little Quirks...

I still adore the pale pink hair trend even though it has been done to the death, it's so pretty and feminine and I really hope it lasts just one more summer.

(image source unknown, do you?)

Oh Man, These Chanel beauty marks are just killer, what a gorgeous splash of rock and roll added to a really dainty eye make-up.

Amazing, another awesome MAC collaboration, this time with Ruffian.  Resulting in some super fierce temporary talons. How gorgeous are the matt black and gold versions?  

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I just love adding something quirky to an everyday look.  Either Pink hair, a beauty mark or a matt black manicure should do the trick this week! 

Some Snapshots

Here are some very mediocre Instagram shots I quickly snapped last week on my make-up truck just after breakfast. A little sneak peek into my daily life at the moment.

{A Continuity File} - {A Variety of Pins}

{Some SFX Sponges} - {A Bunch of Hair Products}

{Some of the Stuff at my Station} - {An SFX Palette}

{The Lid of an SFX Palette} - {One of my Flight Cases}

{A Selection of Skincare Products} - {Some Heated Rollers}

{Cotton Buds for Various Things} - {My Beloved Bobbi Brown Palette}

{I Would be Lost Without These} - {Glorious Loose Powder by Make Up Forever}

Epithet - A Cautionary Tale

Since I have been absent this whole week, I thought I would leave you with a lovely little film that I shot recently.

Be warned the language is very strong and there is some violence so please heed the message at the start of the film if you are easily offended. If not then take a look.



Can you guess who Patrick Stewart is playing a contemporary version of?

Have a great weekend!

Its so quite around here....

Oh, how I'm missing this little corner of the internet right now.  You see the thing is when you are a Make- Up Artist and you are working on a TV show or film your hours are long, like really long.  Normally you arrive at the studio along with the costume department way before most other departments in order to get everything ready for the arrival of the actors.  They come into make-up from 7:00AM before doing anything else.  I like to get onto my make-up truck at around 6:30AM, just before my team arrive so I can get things organised for the day...

This clearly is not my make-up truck (it's The Rockette's getting ready for a show in 1944...Awesome!). However it is equally as chaotic.  More to come as I take you guys through a typical day on set in a Make-Up department.