Lupita for Lancome

If you follow this incredibly talented actress on Instgram, you will have seen the sneak peek of the campaign she gave her fans before it kicks off in September this year.  The new face of the beauty powerhouse captioned it by saying, "The secret I never intended to keep".  

The Mexican born, Kenyan actress burst onto the world stage after her stellar performance in 12 Years A Slave. Her comment on her appointment as the brand's ambassador was as follows, "I am truly honoured to join the Maison Lancôme, a brand with such a prestigious history and that I have always loved.  I am particularly proud to represent its unique vision for women and the idea that beauty should not be dictated, but should instead be an expression of a woman's freedom to be herself."

Go Lupita! I suspect we shall we seeing soooo much more from this lady in the future.

Palm Balm - Beauty Hero

I discovered Temple Spa beauty products through my godmother. When I say 'discovered' what I mean really is that I used to help myself liberally to them whenever I was over at her house. She used to bulk buy them in the States and I could never find them over here. All of the products are fantastic and have comedy names ('Get a Grip', 'Stubble Trouble', 'Duvet') but the one that really stopped me in my tracks (and that I demanded from Santa at Christmas) was Palm Balm.  They say it's the best hand cream you'll ever use and I have to say I agree with them. I was a huge fan of Clarins Hand and Nail Treatment for a while but this outperforms even that. A fabulous scent and incredible nourishing without being greasy, it's a winner..especially on those claw-like Winter hands that I suffer from! It's on the pricey side at £18.50 for 100ml but you need the teeniest bit so a tube will last you. My only small compliant would be that it doesn't contain an SPF but hopefully they'll get round to adding one soon. Also if you order direct from the Temple Spa website, there's a 10% off your next order at present!

Found this 50s ad for hand cream and had to include!

Chanel- o!!!

We all love a pop-up..at least I do. That 'Oooh I must get there before it's gone and probably spend a fortune I wouldn't have done otherwise' feeling. What can I say folks? I'm a marketing person's dream However shortly, there will be one that make-up aficionados can get truly excited about. Chanel is opening a (literally) one-of-a-kind store in Covent Garden, with two floors dedicated to beauty. If a touch-up is needed in a hurry, fret not, the Chanel pop-up will be hosting makeover and manicure bars for summer panic moments.  See you there!

Other news! Mari Kasurinen took a My Little Pony and made transformed it from playful to fierce as My Little Karl Lagerfeld.  We should all have one of these around, no?

Smelling of Roses

Of course, if your skin flares up, this is always an option.

I think it's important to buy flowers for yourself, just because you love them and since I've got our lovely flat shipshape, I have been doing it on occasion.  As we've had the most miserable British Summer that I can ever remember, coming home and seeing some lovely blooms in a vase cheers me up no end and it's the same with gorgeous smelling skincare.  Having a bit of luxury in your skincare regime can make a real difference.

As my regular readers know, I'm fond of doing the odd beauty post although I am rather set in my ways when it comes to make-up.  Recently I have been making a real effort to use more natural skincare and find a facial wash that takes off waterproof eyeliner and mascara without making my skin feel that it's been rubbed with a wire brush.  Three favourite finds are ALL from the wonder brand Aromatherapy Associates, a pioneer of natural but still luxurious skincare and one is from Ren, which if you haven't heard of, I can only assume you've been living under a rock.

Aromatherapy Associates' Deep Cleanse Facial Wash is perfect for my combination skin and removes all traces of make-up.  It also didn't leave my face with that horrid tight feeling I sometimes get from using stronger cleansers.  I HAVE to wash my face using water, I've never been a cleansing milk kind of a girl, I just feel that if I don't use water, I simply don't get the job done. This product delivers in spades and smells pleasantly herbally (technical term).

I don't know if I've ever mentioned this before but my doctor father has, in his time, specialised in dermatology.  The importance of moisturising, sun screen and the like were hammered into us from a young age, including rubbing almond oil into our skin when we had had a day in the sun..SO much more effective than many after suns you can buy on the market.  Facial oil on the other hand, I've always been a bit dubious of. Adding oil to combination skin is surely asking for an outbreak?! AA's Refining Facial Oil with lavender, ylang ylang and rose not only smells incredible but helps to bring your skin’s own oils into balance.  The 
renowned healing and repairing properties of lavender and rose come together with balancing ylang ylang and vitamin E and despite being an oil, this product has definitely helped to regulate my temperamental skin.  I would never have tried this in a million years if it hadn't been for a friend's recommendation but I've been using it for a week now and have noticed a difference already.


The next thing I'm going to say may sound bonkers but in partnership with the facial oil, I've been using the Triple Rose Renewing Moisturiser. Before I say anything else, the smell is INCREDIBLE.  Blended with three unique roses from Morocco, Turkey and Bulgaria, it feels like a treat slathering it on every morning. I say slathering, you literally need one pump for your entire face and neck. I've been using the moisturiser every day and combining it with the oil in the evening for an extra boost. The first night I used them together I'd been babysitting for a party girl in Fulham and didn't get home until half two in the morning, THEN I had to be in work the next day. I don't know if it's the roses or some  other magical ingredient but I looked like I'd had eight hours restful sleep as oppose to four and a bit!


Finally the shower gel of dreams. It's won heaps of awards so I'm not saying anything new but Ren's Morrocan Rose Body Wash is, like the Independent on Sunday rather poetically described it, "makes you feel like you are standing in a rose garden in the rain." If you couple this with...yes..another oil..their Rose Otto Ultra Body Oil to be precise..it is like having a wonderful aromatherapy spa experience without having to venture outside into the ghastly weather and let's be honest, that's something we could all do without at the moment.

An eccentric English rose.

Seeing the Light!

Major news on the beauty circuit: YSL’s Touche Eclat is now available in seven shades. Having only been available in shades 1, 2 and 3 until now, the additional four shades will be available exclusively at Selfridges from today! You can read more about this wondrous development on Musings of a Makeup Artist and but suffice to say, this is pretty exciting news.

The must have pen of make-up artists, Touche Éclat illuminates and highlights complexions with every brushstroke; it’s the perfect balance of coverage and radiance from this secret formula and it stops me looking like Dracula's daughter every morning by magically vanishing dark circles.  I've also discovered that a thin swipe down the middle of my nose, gives the illusion of it being narrower than it actually is! 

Having originally launched in 1992, the distinctive gold pen is as popular as ever with one sold EVERY 10 seconds.  Until now it's only ever been available in three shades. However with an additional six shades the wonder concealer will offer the perfect match for any skin tone plus, according to the YSL product blurb, "the ability to sculpt and redefine facial contours."

Coincidentally, I’m down to my last click of Touche Eclat (shade no 3) – my only criticism of this product is you never know it’s going to run out – but I can’t eke out what’s on the brush until payday.  I've tried before..with a dab of oil free moisturiser and it simply doesn't blooming work! I can't live without and I also love the appearance of that swanky gold pen in my make up bag.  What do you think of Touche Eclat? Do you find the existing three shades limiting or have you found an equally good product from another (cheaper?) brand?

..in the eye of the Beholder

Kate was pretty certain she'd smudged her lippy in the taxi

BEAUTY, aaah the quest for us all to look on peak form at all times.  It doesn't end with our outer togs but also with our face and bods as well.  Naturally inner beauty is the most important thing but finding the perfect shampoo/ mascara/ lipgloss etc can not only work wonders in the self confidence stakes but having a core group of products that you can rely on can transform flapping about into a swift, fool proof beauty routine.  Illustrated with some pictures by the fabulous Mario Testino.

Today is about fooling everyone..or rather make up! What products could you not live without?

I am going to share the contents of my make up bag with you..starting with the bag itself, Prada black nylon, 16 x 9 x 5 cm

Clinique anti blemish solutions clearing concealer, shade no 1. 
This stuff is wonderful and I have been using it for over ten years.  It used to be called Treat the Spot concealer and I had a minor breakdown when I thought they'd stopped making it but fortunately it was just being repackaged. Pretty heavy duty and ideal for covering up the odd blemish.

YSL Touche Eclat.
Needs no introduction.  The one thing to stop me looking like Dracula's daughter when the dark circles show..or even when they don't. I occasionally swipe it down the middle of my nose too for a little extra coverage.

Nars Bronzer in Laguna ( I also have it in Casino for when I have a bit more colour in my face)
I essentially use this as foundation as it almost matches my skin tone when applied correctly and I'm not a foundation fan. A quick sweep across the forehead, cheeks, nose and chin, making sure it's properly blended in, keeps me glowing all year round.

Nars Blusher in Orgasm
Beautiful peachy colour,shot through with gold shimmer, looks flattering on everyone. Great for brightening up the face.

Guerlain Terracota Bronzer
I've had this soooo long that the shade I use has rubbed off the back so I can't tell you! It's really moisturising despite being a powder and has an SPF in it, plus it's quite matte so good for the Summer when I use it all over. For the colder months, I occasionally use it a more dramatic blusher than Orgasm as it's a warmer, slightly darker shade.

Mac Waterproof eye-liner in Graph black.
If my make up bag was going up in flames and I had to burn my fingers pulling one thing out, it would be this. It's perfect, it doesn't move.  You can layer it on for extra drama, apply flicks, smudge it and it's in a handy stick not like fiddly liquid. A WONDER product.  I bulk buy it at airports too because I couldn't bare to be without it.

DiorShow Mascara in BlackOut (Waterproof)
Apply exactly the same description as above- an essential, lasts all day, can put on as much or as little as you need.  Also a good one to buy in airports!

Nars Eye shadow in Biarritz
The perfect neutral cream.  Applied with a brush that is meant to be a concealer brush picked up in desperation from a pharmacy in NYC and does the job admirably.

Kiehls Lip Gloss in Golden Berry
Nearly the same colour as my lips when applied with a light swipe and perfect all year round. I am on the hunt for a more sophisticated nude for evening wear though so any suggestions send 'em my way!  I am much more a dramatic eyes than lips girl as you can probably tell.

Mac Pressed Blot Powder in Medium Dark
Not strictly a make up bag item as I transfer it between whatever bag I'm using that day as I HATE having a shiny forehead/ nose and with the blessing of olive skin (easy ability to tan) can come excess shine at times! Available in heaps of shade and perfect, if like me, you are foundation shy. Another absolute essential.

Gemma Ward from French Vogue 2005. This picture freaks me out a little.

The man himself, demonstrating the many uses of eyeliner.