Beauty Crush – Olivia Palermo

Long since been one of my style crushes, she’s fast becoming a beauty crush too. It’s easy to get distracted by her enviable style, glossy hair and super long pins, but Ms Palermo’s got it going on in the make up stakes too!

Pictured here at the Green Auction in New York yesterday with lightly smoked eyes, rose coral lips and cheeks.

What’s more she rocks long hair, short hair, blonde or brunette, I don’t know whether to LOVE her or HATE her!

Brown eyes, mega lashes and pretty pink lips

Perfecting the Minimal Look

And the Bronzed Goddess

Jealous me? Hell yeah!

THIS BLOG HAS NOW MOVED, KEEP READING AT http://beautyandlechicblog.blogspot.com/

 

The LOOK Show 2011

I had a great time yesterday at The LOOK Magazine fashion show, once I fought my way through the crowds at Westfield Stratford City – seriously I’ve never seen so many people in one place!

We were greeted with champagne and a fabulous goodie bag (more on that later) I met some fellow bloggers and industry insiders, which was fab The show itself was a great display of the wonderful British highstreet, as for the beauty it was all polished skin, chizzelled cheeks, bright and bold lips and backcombed hair – 4 of my favourite trends. Sarah Harding modelled, Dionne Bromfield performed and Alicia Dixon, Kelis and Kimberly Wyatt watched on from the front row.

Now for the pics…

Sarah Harding opened the show

Dionne Bromfield rocked the show and looked great – can you believe she’s just 16!

Top Make up looks from the show

Bold lips

Sculpted Cheeks

Best pout ever?

Top Fashion Pics

Pussybows, Leopard print, Floppy hats and more!

One to watch

Some exciting news, Look are launching their own make up range. I picked up some samples in the goodie bag so watch this space for a review.

Mirror, Mirror, on the Wall, Who’s the Fairest of Them All?

Answer…You!

There is such a thing as a magic mirror and it’s heading your way soon.

Shiseido’s magic mirror is the virtual answer to your make up woes. Tied of buying products that aren’t right for you and don’t suit you? Want to try a new look without incurring the costs? The magic mirror can give you a virtual “makeover”in seconds, allowing you to try lots of products and looks without having to apply, or remove any make up.

Image from Dailymail.co.uk

 Whatsmore it updates in real time, so go along with your friends and laugh at each other as you create some crazy and wonderful looks.

 Tour dates

House of Fraser, Oxford St: Now – 18th August 2011

House of Fraser, Meadowhall: 29th August – 17th September

House of Fraser, Manchester: 19th September – 3rd October

Jenners, Edinburgh: 5th October – 19th October

John Lewis, Newcastle: 21st October – 4th November

House of Fraser, Westfield: 9th November – 29th November

House of Fraser, Milton Keynes: 1st December – 24th December

House of Fraser, Oxford Street: 23rd December – 20th January

Harrods: 23rd Janurary – 11th February 2012

New Beauty Crush: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley

Girl of the moment Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, my new beauty, style and general all round girl crush.

When it comes to make up, Rosie knows what suits her and sticks to it – I love the simplicity of her make up. Her signature look centres around sultry smokey eyes and bronzed skin. Despite having the biggest and best lips in the business, Rosie doesn’t play up to them. I’d be tempted to colour in that pout all kinds of fuchsias and reds, but she keeps it simple with hues of nude and browny-pinks.

Here’s how to create the look.

Base

Her base is glowing and dewy. I’d imagine she starts off with a luminous primer like Clarin’s beauty flash balm then adds a subtle base colour, something like Chanel’s Vitalumiere Aqua foundation. With that flawless skin, I doubt she needs concealer, but a couple clicks of a highlighter or under eye concealer like YSL’s touché éclat will correct any dull areas – I think there’s evidence of some in the inner eye area – which works great to open and brighten the eye.

Cheeks

Not one for bright blushers, Rosie opts for bronzer and highlighter instead. Either she’s blessed with the most amazing cheekbones EVER or there’s some clever contouring going on here – I choose to believe it’s the later. Take a multi toned bronzing powder, something like Guerlain’s Terracota Four Seasons and contour the natural lines around your cheeks, forehead and chin. A dab of liquid highlighter on the top of cheek bones would accentuate the tan and draw attention to the chizzled features. Finish with a light dusting of a peachy/pink powder blush to add a touch of colour to apples of the cheeks.

Eyes

Brows are full and combed slightly upwards, which I love. For the smokey eye Rosie opt for gold and bronzey brown eye shadows rather than the standard black and greys. An eye quad or a palette would work best to mix and match for the shade that suits. I have a great one by Frontcover that contains some gorgeous bronzey hues. The intensity of the smokey eye varies – smudge shadow along the lid and up to the crease, if you’re feeling adventurous, take it higher up to the brow bone. Smudge some shimmery brown or bronze under the lower lash line and in the inner eye. Work in a brown or black eye liner.

For some added va-va-voom, a small kitten flick created with a gel or liquid liner looks very sexy. Finish with lashings of mascara.

Lips

Let’s face it, lips like that don’t need much dressing up. A smudge of Vaseline and they’re good to go! They’re generally kept natural, I really don’t think she wears much lipstick – maybe just a hint of sheer colour, something like a nude or dirty rose. She’s more a lipbalm kinda girl.

 WORD OF WARNING: Trying to recreate the look of one of the best looking women in the World, may lead to self esteem issues!

Beauty Crushes from Glamour Awards 2011

With lots of lovely ladies on show at last nights’ glamour awards, it’s tough choosing the top “totty”.

Stealing the show in a figure hugging black dress, Kim Kardashian smouldered sexy appeal. Ok, the eyelashes look a bit too spidery but other than that I give the make up top marks. Flawless and natural… no sign of jet lag. I love the pale lips and matching cheeks, and applaud her for not overdoing the bronzer. She’s apparently a big fan of Nars’ Turkish delight lipgloss, which I suspect she’s wearing here.

 

Biggest transformation of the night award goes to Jessie J, who ditched the grunge look for a feminine one. Out with the black bob and neon make up and in with wavy extensions and false lashes. The strong eyebrows and big lashes were balanced perfectly with nude lips and soft cheeks. Love the new look Jessie… don’t do it like a dude!

 

Girl of the moment and my new beauty crush Rosie Huntington-Whiteley looked nothing less than HOT! Looking stunning in a satin Stella McCartney gown, she opted for a slique, bronzed look. Soft dewy skin, golden smokey eyes and bare lips… let’s face it, with those lips she doesn’t need anything else!

Eau de Princess

Want to smell like a Princess?

Apparently Miss Middleton’s scent of choice for her big day was White Gardenia Petals by Illuminum, a little-known British brand.

The scent is described as ‘fragrant as a vase of white flowers quivering in the breeze by an open window, this is a delicate and nuanced scent.’ Umm, sounds nice BUT doesn’t the bottle look extremely masculine, I’d expect to see it on William’s bedside table, not Kate’s.

Available at Harrods £70 for a 50ml bottle.  Get in quick, they’ll fly off the shelves now.

Hot Make up Trends from the Met Ball 2011

It’s probably the fashion event of the year, one reserved for the celebrity elite. The Costume Institute Gala Benefit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, known as the met ball,  went bigger, better and brighter as it paid homage to the late, great Alexander McQueen. Most people ask “Who you’re wearing?”, but I want I’m more concerned with “What’s on your face?”

Here are my top trends and beauty queens…

Notice me Lips

Definitely the trend d’jour and showing no signs of fading any time soon were bright lips. They were all at it from Rihanna, Frida Pinto, Dianne Kruger, Nicole Richie… the list goes on. You’d think they were handing out the lippy on the door!

Nicole Richie looked like a 50s screen siren in Jason Wu, rocking scarlet lips.

Jennifer Lopez was one red-hot latino lady with chilli red lips

 Emma Stone wearing Lanvin, dazzles with on trend hot pink lips

 

Rihanna with hot lips and hot hair

Pretty Nude

When I say Nude, I’m not talking about Rihanna’s dress. Rebelling against the bright lip trend, these ladies looked beautiful and classy with the natural, nude and glossy look.

Despite wearing a dress she couldn’t walk in Beyonce’s make up look sizzled… How can someone look sooo fine with an inch of roots and a bog standard bun? LOVE the nude lips.

 Gwyneth Palthrow teamed her Stella McCartney gown with a feminine, natural face.

Emma Roberts allowed her natural beauty to shine through.

Bronzed beauties

There’s a fine line between bronzed beauty and orange overload, but these screen goddesses got it just right. 

Eva Mendez glowing in Stella McCartney.

Isabel Lucas every inche a Grecian goddess with a tanned complexion to match (not to mention bang on trend with the hair accessories).

With a parade of beautiful ladies it’s difficult to choose a favourite, but for me Blake Lively stole to the beauty show.

Kate Middleton’s Royal Wedding Make-Up

Or should that be Kate Windsor?

Well the wedding’s almost over (sobs) but worry not, we still have the dress, the hair and the make up to obsess about.

Staying true to her “commoner” roots, Kate decided to do her own make up on the day. It was a brave and commendable decision, but with 2 billion eyes watching me and a queue of celebrity make up artists clambering for the job, I’m not sure I would have turned down a helping hand. So how did she do?

Now before I upset anyone, I’ll start by saying the girl’s gorgeous and would have looked amazing in a bin bag. The dress was stunning and the hair, in my opinion, was just right – classy, feminine and understated, and that Cartier tiara was to die for BUT I was a tad disappointed by the make up.

Well actually, just the eyes. For bridal make up, I thought they were a touch too dark. Many make up artists won’t use eyeliner on brides, or bridemaids for that matter. It can shrink the eyes, especially when applied to the bottom lash line, and look severe. Fortunately the rest of the look, like Kate, was pretty and feminine. She has apparently been taking make up lessons from Arabella Preston before the wedding.

Here’s how to get the look.

Skin

Natural and simple, I applaud Kate not for overdoing the tan, like sister and maid of honour Pippa. Create a flawless base with a sheer foundation or tinted moisturiser, I’d suggest a mineral based foundation for a natural glow. Set with a subtle dusting of powder. For the cheeks, choose a rosy pink powder blush to create a flushed look, blending from the apple of the cheek up to the hairline. Kate was spotted stocking up on Bobbi Brown products the week before the wedding.

Eyes

Kate opted for a  smokey eye, slightly heavy on the liner. Start with a neutral base colour all over the lids, then sweep a smokey brown along, and below the socket line. Line the upper and lower lash line with a black kohl pencil (for a less dramatic look try brown or grey) and finish with a natural and glossy mascara. Rumour has it Kate used Lancome’s Hypnose, which I LOVE and it great for creating Volume, and for me, is more of an evening mascara.

Brows

The eyebrows look darkened. To create the look, first comb them in to place with an eyebrow brush, then fill in any gaps with a dark brown pencil or brown powder. Something like Benefit’s Brow zings would work a treat.

Lips

Lips were kept simple, allowing her natural smile to shine through. Complete the look with a nude/pinky gloss.

Nails

Apparently manicurist Marina Sandova, from the Jo Hansford salon, popped into Clarence House yesterday to give her a classic nude manicure using Bourjois Rose Lounge, £5.99, topped with a subtle shimmer in Essie’s Allure, £9.95.

Overall, a job well done. Now I just can’t wait to see the evening outfit,and make up of course.

I’d love to hear your thoughts on Kate’s look.

Life’s a Peach

I love PEACH, three words I never expected to say. For most of my life I’ve hated peach, dismissing it as dull, boring, safe, simply BLAH! I can trace this hatred back to my childhood when everything was peach coloured… clothes, curtains, bridesmaid dresses, loo roll!

However, this all changed recently with the launch of Mac’s Wonder Woman Collection. I bought, well nearly the whole collection, but my favourite product by a clear country mile was the Power Blush in Mighty Aphrodite – we have been inseparable for months now. It’s a warm peach coral blush with a slight gold pearl, but isn’t glittery. The shade really suits me and it’s a welcome break from pink. I find the colour adds a perfect glow and accentuates my colouring.

I’ve now gone crazy for peaches, corals and beige. Here’s my pick of the (peach) pops.

When I can bear to drag myself away from my mighty Aphrodite and fancy a cream blush, Mac’s new cremeblend in Something Special – a light coral shade, also does the job, but isn’t as kick ass as my Mighty Aphrodite blush. See my previous post for a full review. TOP  TIP – It’s much better layered over a highlighter or cream base.

For lips I heart Revlon’s Super Lustrous Lipgloss  in Peach Petal £6.99. My love affair with lipglosses goes way back, and these silky smooth glosses are up there with the best. It’s a perfect milky creamy gloss. The gorgeous texture, glides on and isn’t too sticky.

Mac Cremesheen lipstick in Shy Girl, a creamy, neutral, coral-beige.  As it’s a creamsheen it’s soft, moisturising and slightly sheer. It’s a lovely day time colour and layers perfectly under the Revlon gloss.

With summer just starting I think my love affair with peach has only just begun. Someone stop me if I start looking like a peach melba.

Coming soon: 17 Miami Pop Summer Collection

When it comes to the weather I’m typically British. The first sign of some sun and I’m digging out the flip flops, searching for summer dresses and getting excited over summery make up.  With summer just around the corner, I’m getting hot under the collar about upcoming collections. I’ve already blogged about Mac’s surf baby, next on my lust list is 17’s uber cool Miami Pop collection.

Inspired by Miami’s Ocean Drive, this is all about bronzed skin and a pop of bright colour.

Bright, tropical, summery and aptly named Miami Pop, the new upcoming limited edition summer range from 17 mixes neon metallic bronze tones with on trend brights and vivid neons.

The range includes vinyl nail polishes, a volumising mascara which promises to give you thick ‘wow’ lashes and a weightless ‘skin adapting’ SPF15 foundation, but for me, the jewel in the crown is the Miami Pop Bronzer, a gold, baked bronzer with a marbled shimmer.

It’s fun, it’s bright, it just screams summer. Available at Boots from 17^th June 11 £2.99-£6.49