Double-Decker Dips

Wow! Talk about a palette that packs a punch. This Bobbi Brown bonanza has it all. A double decker of gorgeousness, many looks - from the subtle to the stunning can be conjured up with these personally picked creamy lip colours and eye shadows from the make-up maestro herself, Bobbi. Flattering to all skin tones, it makes for the perfect Christmas stocking thriller, or if you really want it to be all about you, it's the perfect self gifting treat. Bobbi's tag is #ReadySetGive which I feel could easily be switched to #ReadySetKeep!

Bobbi brown Deluxe Lip & Eye Palette on counter now for £59  

Aerin's perfect palette

Taking a nosey at Aerin Lauder’s Instagram account I can’t help but notice the founder and creative director of her own make-up line has an unrivaled attention to detail. From the way a table is laid, to the position of a chair through to the vases she chooses to display her flowers, it’s well thought out and aspirational. This finely tuned eye is carried through into her cosmetic collection which, although modest in terms of range is very desirable.

My favourite this season has to be Aerin’s Kaleidolight Palette, £40. An over sized palette of five scrummy skin-loving and light enhancing shades, it’s got the mix just right. You can either swirl over a soft brush and let the colours dance over the whole face, or you can individually pick out and apply. Use the lavender for instance to highlight the eye, or the bronze or pink shades to bring a sea breeze glow to the cheeks. It delivers joined up thinking too. The more wearable colours take up more space, whereas lavender is downsized knowing less is more.  However you play it, it’s a perfect palette.

Aerin Kaleidolight Palette available from Harrods, Selfridges and John Lewis.

www.esteelauder.co.uk

Nude but not naked

This time of year the face calls for a splash of January cheer but crucially with shades that are none too garish. Too bright against a pallid complexion and you run the risk of looking like Bozo the clown. Bobbi Brown the queen of understated gorgeousness has got the make-up mix just right (again) this season with her Nude Glow Collection.

Likened to pieces of sparkly jewellery – preferably pink diamonds! That you wear to bring a lightness of being to your look, so does the everyday Nude Glows bring a veil of ultra prettiness and natural shine to your face. My favourites are the limited edition eye palettes. Colour quartets of nude, crystal or bronze pop open sleepy New Year eyes something beautiful with a mix of mattes, soft shimmers and just-enough sparkle. Colour swipe solo or wear layered for a come-hither sexier look. To complement the collection the limited edition Sheer Lip Colors are lightweight and easy breezy to wear for a barely brightened lip, whereas the nail polish in Ballet Pink Glitter adds grown-up cuteness to nails. To bask a fatigued complexion in flattering cosmetic light, the three Brightening Finishing Powders in picks of  Procaine Pearl, Brightening Nudes and Bronze Glow are formulated to give skin a healthy detoxed glow. Wrapped up, this collection is nude but leaves your skin far from looking completely naked.

The Nude Glow Collection is now on counter.

Eye Palette £35

Sheer Lip Color £19

Nail Polish £11

Brightening Finishing Powder £40
www.bobbibrown.co.uk

Bobbi's stocking thrillers

‘Tis the season of the make-up palette. Leading up to Christmas every colour imaginable is pored into a palette. Some not so good, others okay and some brilliant with tonal colours and textures thought out to the nth degree. Bobbi Brown’s Gift Giving Collection are palettes of perfection.

Expertly edited, Bobbi has ensured there’s no colour that goes unused in her palettes. The star player is her Twilight Pink Lip & Eye Palette, £59. A double decker compact that keeps lips and eyes looking glam and gorgeous all season long. Pick ‘n’ mix with 10 eye shades and four super pretty lip shades. Or, you could ditch the lips and chose the £37 Eye Shadow Palettes with an assortment of nude to rich shades in cool and warm tones.  For eyes that literally want to sparkle, check out the Sequin Shimmer Brick Eye Palette, £34.50. Flip it open to reveal 10 perfect non-crepey shimmery sjhades from silver to golden tones. Just beautiful. And, talking of shimmery, her seasonal limited edition Nude Glow Shimmer Brick, £35 gives skin a sheer dusting of luxury gold and bronze shades. Whether you gift or self-gift, there’s little doubt anyone will be left standing alone under the mistletoe! 

Bobbi Brown's Holiday Gift Giving Collection is in stores now or available from www.bobbibrown.co.uk

 

Michael Kors Beauty Collection

Having posted last week about the new fragrances from Michael Kors, I thought I’d do a sequel and follow it up with his new Beauty Collection. And beautiful it is. A go-to list of key products created to achieve fresh bronzed skin, bold nails and kissable lips, it’s a collection that screams effortless style. This is a small edit in comparison to other colour lines, but what you don’t get in quantity, it certainly makes up for in quality. Here’s the lowdown:  

Lips: Colour saturated and beyond luxurious, the three Lip Luster lipstick bullets are twisted up seductively from a gold case. For lips wanting a lighter slick, the three Lip Lacquer glosses in matching shades are great for swiping on-the-go. With names such as Sexy Bombshell and Glam Dame, lips are anything but boring.

Nails: Fingertips instantly look high-end with a brush of classy colour. The six must-wear shades span from pale nudes to deep ebony. Pick one to match your mood.

Bronzers: Resort radiant skin is what every complexion craves and now it’s achievable out of season! Fabulously over sized in chunky gold compacts, the shimmering pigment is milled ultra-fine so it leaves skin looking lightly sun-kissed and sexy. Pick from three shades including Sporty Glow, Sexy Flush and Glam Beam.

Lip Luster lipsticks, £21

Lip Lacquer glosses, £23

Nail Lacquer, £15

Bronze Powder , £34

Michael Kors Beauty Collection is available at selected House of Fraser stores. For stockists call: 0870 034 2566  

Givenchy's hot legs

What makes legs hot? A good wax. Most definitely. Toned thighs. Of course. But like hair, nails or lips, it’s the finishing polish that can make all the difference. 

Pearlescent particles may not be your immediate go-to for highlighting legs, but when it’s Givenchy you know you’re not going to wind up with a cheap or tacky all-out-glitter result. Their Reflet Precieus Satiny Body Enhancer can actually be used on arms, shoulders and décolleté too, but for me, I’ve found this ultra light fluid the colour of  creamy caramel really up-glosses legs. Who needs the South of France when you can walk around with pins looking just as expensive? 
  
Givenchy Reflet Precieux Satiny Body Enhancer, £36

Clinique's shadow play

If Clinique get any more fancy pants with their eyeshadows, they’d have to send a make-up artist to your door! Their newest shadow play really does bring out your inner make-up professional where great colour, know-how and wearablity come in a single sweep or two.

First off, let’s talk about the formula. They definitely have the luxe factor which you can’t help but feel as you glide the applicator across the lid. The colour pops due to their high density pigment, with shades staying true all day. Crinkly eyelids are a beauty worry of the past as a special fusion layering and variable milling technology makes lids appear smoother. I do love a bit of beauty science! Secondly, they’re shut-your-eyes easy to apply thanks to colouring by numbers. Each shade in the duos (two complementary light and dark shades paired) and quads are duly numbered where you can apply as indicated on the diagram printed on the mirror. Spoilt for choice when it comes to on-trend shades - from blues to violets to nudes, eyes will be looking come-hither when launched later this summer.

All About Shadow Singles, £16

All About Shadow Duos, £22

All About Shadow Quads, £28

In-store nationwide from 2^nd August. www.clinique.co.uk

In the navy!

Who would think of navy as the perfect shade to carry off from summer-to-autumn? Always full of surprises, Bobbi Brown introduces her Navy & Nude collection – and just like a Breton tee, it’s a look that’s summery, crisp and fresh.

“Navy is for everyone,” says Lori Woodhouse, Bobbi Brown’s education executive who talked me through the look at the launch. “The intensity is super matte and dense, and when used with a nude shadow brings warmth to the eye.” The limited edition Navy & Nude Eye Palette really is top drawer – opening to reveal two shelves of 8 shades ranging from ivory, a beige shimmer wash, a rich navy and a blazing star sparkle which Lori says hides texture on the eyelid if you’re not good at blending. Advising to apply from the lightest to the darkest shade when layering, and finishing off with a smattering of sparkle, Lori created the look on the model above. Here you can see how a classically cool, soft smoky eye can totally work for a summer day look.

My other two must-wears from the collection is the limited edition Brightening Brick which is super pretty, super mistake proof and really does give cheeks a pearlised, happy radiance. And I love the reverse thinking of the Navy Nail Polish. So different from the usual pinks, corals and apricots normally spied on finger to toe tips in summer. Looking modern and sexy with lightly tanned skin, it’s become my pedicure polish of choice.

Bobbi Brown’s Navy & Nude Collection is on counter in July.

Navy & Nude Eye Palette, £48

Brightening Brick, £40.00

Nail Polish, £11.00

www.bobbibrown.co.uk

D&G put the sizzle into Sicily

I double heart the Love in Taormina summer make-up collection from Dolce&Gabbana for lots of reasons. One, because the colours are just too delicious, two, the whole fabulous collection has been envisaged by one of the most creative and nicest make-up artists, Pat McGrath, three, have you ever seen a more beautiful nail collection? And lastly, one of my best holiday destinations has been Taormina.

 

Having visited this beautiful high lying village in Sicily, I can tell you it’s glossy, romantic and steeped in glamorous history. It’s where Elizabeth Taylor broke a guitar over Richard Burton’s head! DH Lawrence admired the views towards Mount Etna and Tennessee Williams sipped fancy pants cocktails at the Caffe Wunderbar – be prepared to drop a few euros here!

But getting back to the collection, it’s been inspired by the native flowers of Sicily which are passionate in their brightness, heart stopping in their prettiness and can’t help but seduce with their delicate and pungent scents. Love in Taormina captures all of these qualities with their ultra-vivid pigments that are a mix of glossy and matte textures, adding a sunny radiance to any skintone. Nails are undoubtedly the standout stars with 5 rich, high voltage shades. They really do throw up a beauty dilemma in which one to pick, but which ever one; they’re all complemented with a seductive and full coloured lip along with a shimmering pale pink or purple eye that effortlessly attracts and reflects the light. Cheeks are flushed with gentle warmth from apricot to a pinky brown. Your passport to happy sun-drenched beauty days,  D&G have certainly put the sizzle into Sicily! 

Love in Taormina is available from July.

Nails price at £18, Lipsticks, £23, Eyeshadow Colour Quad, £38 and Cheek Colour, £30.

Stockists Harrods and www.harrods.com

Benefit boxes clever

Those San Fran Benefit gals have done it again. Yep, they’ve launched their All-Star Kits of  instant beauty boxes that make it goof proof to brighten, fake or bronze your look. Do The Bright Thing, Primping With The Stars and The Bronze Champions are retro designed boxes that open like a book and contain cutsey sized products that deliver one of the three total looks. Aside from fabulous products, the added value is the tips and tricks book attached to the inside lid. Flip open, and you have your very own make-up artist giving slick picks on how to make the most of these diddy beautifiers.  Benefit with benefits!

All-Star Kits are available from the 18^th May priced at £26.50

www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk

  

Sweet and creamy cheeks

Oooh! I have been waiting for these for sooo long! French cosmetic house, Bourjois launched their first baked powder blush nearly 150 years ago, and although I love the dinky little pots and the pinch-your-cheek shades, personally I prefer to use a cream on my cheeks. So imagine my delight and subsequent whooping when Bourjois launched their Cream Blush. Whooping because although I have many cream blushes, I am always searching for the next one that will give my cheeks that extra glowy-ness.

Cream Blush is a brand new generation of flush and blush. A cream slash powder technology, it feels weightless on the fingertips, and when blended instantly transforms into a  velvety, silky powder. There’s really no need for over-worked blending as it quickly gives the effect of a second skin – albeit a better one! The good-for-your-skin formula is enriched with poppy, apricot and mango extracts, where the over-all cheeky radiance is one of a subtly enhanced complexion. Think summery fresh and naturally sweet. The staying power is good too. I applied in the morning and colour stayed trued until the end of the day.

The new blushes have the same rose fragrance as the original Little Round Pot Blush, although the little round pot has lost some of its roundness! Now lightweight and slim, it slips comfortably into your purse , where you can use the integral mirror to subtly build up colour during the day.  It’s simply a pot of radiant loveliness and a must-try buy!

Cream blush comes in four shades including Nude Velvet, Healthy Glow, Rose Tender and Sweet Cherry.

Priced at £7.99 each, they are launching 8^th May in Selfridges and from the 15^th May can be found in Boots, Superdrug and Asos.com

South America here we come!

SUMMER BRONZING COMPACT

We are still wearing beanie hats. We are still wearing gloves. But it doesn’t mean our faces have to look frozen in time! Cheat the weather and add a spot of spring time loveliness to your make-up bag.

Clarins aren’t feeling the cold, not not one bit of it. Their The Splendours collection is a riot of hot gorgeous colour inspired by South America. Driven by a heady mix of bronzes, golds and gem like jewels, together they deliver a passionate warmth and glow to the face.

INSTANT SMOOTH CRYSTAL LIP BALM

The two standout products for me are the Limited Edition Summer Bronzing Compact embossed with a South American inspired motif. Soft browns and terracottas make up the palette, and once swirled across the face – pay attention to cheekbones, temples and the tip of the nose for a genuine sun kissed feel, looks au natural and pretty. The added fragrance gives a fleeting taste of summer too. My second picking is their Limited Edition Instant Smooth Crystal Lip Balms. Very Andy Warhol, their pop art appearance is edgy, but they are one of the easiest lip balms to work with. Ultra smooth they practically glide on all by themselves. Lips are treated to an explosion of subtle colour whilst keeping them super hydrated and lip smacking comfortable. In fact, they’re so fool-proof to use, you don’t even need a mirror to apply.  Now, if that isn’t enough to melt your cold cosmetic heart, I don’t know what is!

Clarins Summer Bronzing Compact, £30

Clarins Instant Smooth Crystal Lip Balm is available in four shades at £18 each.

The collection is available from April.

Pretty Powerful Bobbi

Love the strong sisterhood sentiment behind Bobbi Brown’s The Pretty Powerful Campaign for Women & Girls. Launching on International Women’s Day – diary date March 9^th, Pretty Powerful Pot Rouge will put their support behind organisations that empower women and girls with the confidence and resources to be their best.

“Pretty Powerful symbolises my belief that all women are pretty,” says make-up artist Bobbi Brown, and with the right tools, are empowered to a higher level of pretty.” And to me that totally sums up the power of make-up – making good what you naturally have, and playing out the confidence it cannot help but give you. Of course Bobbi realises that make-up alone cannot even the playing field for women and girls across the globe, but believes that together, those who create, apply, buy and wear make-up can. This campaign aims to helps women ‘be who they are’ and will raise funds to support programs that provide them with education, job skills and work experience. Here in the UK, the initiative will support Dress for Success, a non-profit organisation that promotes women’s economic independence through career development and job retention.  

As for the Pot Rouge it’s a keeper, a real make-up bag staple. The colour is a make-anyone-pretty pink, popping both cheeks with a flush of stained colour and giving lips a kissable soft finish. It’s a win win buy!

The Pretty Powerful Pot Rouge will be available at all Bobbi Brown Studios and the full price minus VAT of £18 will be donated to Dress For Success London.

www.dressforsuccess.org.uk

www.bobbibrown.co.uk

Benefit goes undercover

EVEN A SUPER SLEUTH CAN'T DETECT FAKE UP!

The trouble with concealer is it can highlight what you’re trying to disguise. More often than not it’s either because of the shade, or less obviously the texture – many can actually be quite drying on the skin, ending up looking cakey. Not with Benefit’s new Fake Up which goes totally incognito.

Going undercover to cover-up you would have to be a super beauty sleuth to detect once on the skin. In fact you would have to be Sherlock Holmes! The clues are there. It’s a crease control formula, has a hydrating ring that gives immediate, six hour long moisturization, and the thing I love most, it looks like a lipstick. So, when you’re make-up bag falls open it doesn’t look like your flawless complexion relies on a concealer to cover up blemishes. Elementary my dear Benefit!

Fake Up is hits counter in April priced at £18.50.

 Available in three shades: light, medium and deep.

No7 does ballet

NO7 POINTES TO PRETTY

Boots reveal that a quarter of UK women are planning on trying a new look this year. This may sound easy peasy, but really how many of us are stuck in a Groundhog Day beauty rut? We may admire and appreciate the newest colours and trends, but wearing them is a whole other matter.

EXCUSE MY CRUMBLED APPEARANCE!

If there’s one make-up artist that inspires us to move on from beige eyeshadow it’s Lisa Eldridge, an artist that adopts trends and makes them utterly wearable. Her tutorials are followed closely and by many on her website as the step-by-steps are goof proof. Her insider tips second to none. As No7’s Creative Director you know with each season this brand will introduce an on-trend make-up story masterminded by Lisa.

NAILS GO PRETTY

This Spring No7 aims to pirouette into our make-up bags. Their Limited Edition Ballerina Beauty Collection is full of super pretty pink and tawny shades that can't help but bring the skin to life. Lisa’s two breakout stars are the Ballerina Beauty Blush Palette (excuse the slightly crumbled appearance) which gives a wash of light-up-your-skin glow, and a new nail hue cutely called Tip Toes from their Stay Perfect Nail range. A shimmering nude which catches the light. The collection infuses  Lisa's two loves - 60’s make-up and the prettiness of ballet complete with up-dos, she's  she’s created a look that’s both beautiful and directional.  “It’s all about feminine glamour,” says Lisa. “I just love the dewy complexion paired with subtle lips which contrasts against 60’s fluttering lashes. Ta Dah indeed!

Ballerina Beauty Blush Palette, £12
Tip Toes Nail Polish, £6
Both are Limited Edition and available until 19th March whilst stocks last

Clarins blooms for spring

THE IRIS. A FLOWER OF INTENSE BEAUTY

Just had to do a short and sweet post on Clarins two star products for their gorgeous spring colours inspired by the beauty of the Iris flower.

The Limited Edition Face & Blush Powder, £30 (below) has the Iris imprinted on the trio of complexion enlivening shades to give skin a spring glow and even tone. A silky-smooth compact, simply whirl a soft brush over to pick up all shades and dust over the face. The Light-Optimizing + Complex reduces the intensity of lines and imperfections for a flawless finish.

The Limited Edition Eye Quartet Mineral Palette, £30 (above) is a line up of four shimmering mineral eye shades. The Iris is a 'showy' flower and this reflects in the shades of an intense plum, white highlighter, nutmeg brown and a deep black liner. Smudge, blend and shade for a bewitching eye.

In store now or online at www.clarins.co.uk

Your new luxury essentials

PRETTY BRONZE ILLUMINATING POWDER

I’ve been aware of the Aerin Essentials Collection since it launched last year, but haven’t experienced it up close and personal until recently. Let’s just say, there’s something to be said about delayed gratification! The granddaughter of make-up royalty, Estee Lauder, Aerin has been working in the family ‘firm’ since 1992 and has used her knowledge and experience of luxury cosmetics to create her very own self penned brand, Aerin.

ROSE HAND AND BODY CREAM

Aerin’s Essentials Collection maybe a capsule range, but looks and performs anything but limited. Designed to be the products we just can’t do without, the skillfully edited range includes a Pretty bronze Illuminating Powder, £34 that whips up an Aerin like just-been-weekending-at-the Hamptons beach blush look, Multi Color for Lips and Cheeks in Natural £30 that breezily washes both with radiant colour, Fresh Skin Compact Makeup £37, that masquerades not only as a buildable foundation, but a concealer too, and the delightful Rose Hand and Body Cream £36. For the make-up pros amongst you, there’s the five Brush Essentials for spot-on application too.

CREATOR, AERIN LAUDER

Aerin definitely has the ‘ooh’ factor. Compacts come in soft pink suede, drawstring pouches, the compacts themselves are dressing table desirable, and the hand cream is now a permanent fixture on my desk. No tucking away in the drawer for this tube as the pink floral design deserves to be admired.  These Essentials are to stay in the range, but look out for her additional seasonal launches for more cosmetic collectables this spring. 

Aerin Essentials Collection available from selected John Lewis, Harrods and Selfridges

Dior's new beautifier

In an ideal beauty world, skin would look fresh as a daisy, pretty as a pink gerbera and radiant as a rose. In otherwords the Kew Garden of complexions! Diorskin Nude BB Crème comes pretty close to all three blooms.

Described as a dream match between skincare and make-up, I’ve been using this BB Crème for the best part of two weeks now, and for me it’s a notch above other BB contenders. There’s a couple of reasons for this. Number one, the texture is incredibly light, leaving skin feeling comfortably plump and cushioned, and number two, its go-to rosy glow tint with sheer, soft focus pigments. Once applied, its gives the effect of an inner dimmer switch being turned up. Skin literally looks like it’s basked in soft light thanks to the perfect ratio between transparency and glow. Both lightly concealing and revealing – which is a pretty hard juggling act, it’s a BB with beauty brains, living up to the hype as the new generation beautifier. Go try!

Diorskin Nude BB Crème available in light, fair and medium. Retails at £30.00

Benefit's make-up hat-trick

THE COVER GIRL PERFECT BRIGHTENING STICK

Benefit adds some bling to their collection – in terms of packaging at least, and scores a make-up hat-trick with their newest isn’t-that-clever lip and cheek trio called Fine One One.  The thing with Benefit is you know you’re buying into something quirky, but always something that adds to your beauty arsenal too. This fashion forward, sheer brightening stick was used at the Matthew Williamson SS13 show, and has the habit of putting a little bit of pretty on every girl's face.

THREE COLOURS GORGEOUS

So, how to use? Simply twirl up and you’ll spy three complementing shades: soft coral, sheer watermelon and pink champagne. Swipe from the apples of your cheek up towards your temples and Viola! Instant cheekbones with highlight (pink champagne, the lighter shade) and a sweet flush all in one hit.  Because of the slight variation of colours, that slightly sculptured look is achieved that Kim Kardashian and Victoria Beckham pull off so well. For lips, I would say application is slightly awkward as the bullet isn’t ergonomically lip shaped, but nevertheless it gives lips a just-bitten cute pop. Benefit sure makes it another fine day for making us feel beautiful.

Benefit Fine One One, £23.50 available February

Eye spy Chubby Stick Shadows

Eye candy all wrapped up

We’ve had Clinique Chubby Sticks for lips,  we now have the sequel: Chubby Stick Shadow Tint For Eyes. But unlike some sequels which are never as good as the original, you can be sure these will be a make-up blockbuster. Like the lips, their crayon like appeal makes them easy peasy to use in terms of fuss free application. Simply glide and swipe your way to loveliness!

Pencil Power!

Their freshness not only lies in their formula – Jenna Menard, Clinique’s Global Colour Arist reveals you can use the stick to apply shadow directly on the lid in just one sweep, but their layer-ability too. With 12 hyper-wearable, creamy dreamy shades from nudes to pink to violets and blues, the key is to scribble and play with complementing shades. For a wide eyed look, Jenna suggests applying Lavish Lilac as an all over wash on top and along the bottom lash line, and then use Fuller Fudge as a wide eyeliner close to the top lash line. The possibilities are endless. “The key is to blend the edges of the colours with a shadow brush before the make-up sets,” says Jenna. Keep your eye out for them when they hit stores from the 15^th February.

Clinique Chubby Stick Shadow Tint For Eyes, £16

www.clinique.co.uk