A Makeup & Beauty Blog – Lipglossiping

Let’s kick off the week with another nail polish swatch, again from Leighton Denny‘s new Atmospheric Collection.  Your Planet or Mine? is a beetle’s wing duochrome that displays mostly teal with flashes of vivid purple around the edges.  It scores extra points for providing such good coverage after two coats.

Duochromes are notoriously sheer and after a single coat, I thought this one was heading in the same direction.  Thankfully, the second topping pulled it all together and I was done.

If you love this kind of colour-shifting gorgeousness, you might also want to check out: Ciate Starlet and SpaRitual Health, Wealth and Happiness – both of which, provide similar effects but with enough differences between all three to warrant purchases.  Enabler? Moi?

Leighton Denny’s Atmospheric Collection is available to buy online priced at £11.00

When I think of natural makeup brands, I immediately think of sheer, ethereal colour.  Perhaps a bit of pastel, a lot of dewiness and anything that would normally epitomise a harmonious relationship with all things…. natural.

I wouldn’t especially associate grungy, edgy looks and bold colour.  It’s a common misconception and one that I was pleased to see blown away with Dr. Hauschka’s colaboration alongside Louise Amstrup for her Spring/Summer 2012 salon presentation.

But first, a quick look at the collection…

Beautiful prints and pretty pleats that drape gently and soften the bold, patterns.  The presentation was accompanied with a short video that featured makeup created by makeup artist Ayami Nishimura alongside Dr. Hauschka’s range of skincare and cosmetics.

Lithuanian model Egle Jezepcikaite looks androgynous with slicked back hair and the focus placed heavily on the precision liner.  The lips are toned down and some heavy contouring accentuates the model’s chiselled cheekbones.

The second still from the video displays the same precision liner looking a touch more deconstructed than before, mirrored with a vibrant flash of orange over the lids.  Most interestingly, the orange comes from a lipstick(!) in the range and picks up the warm tones in the Amstrup SS12 collection beautifully.

If you’d like to watch the video yourself, click play on the video below and enjoy having a few misconceptions about natural makeup challenged.

Would you associate these kind of looks with a natural brand?

…for a potential best price of £7.00 inc. shipping.

It’s currently sitting at £10 with free shipping and needs a few more buyers to achieve its full potential.

I went to Boots yesterday to try and get hold of the 17 magnetic polishes but they had nothing out except all the posters promoting it, irritated much?

My links aren’t affiliated or sponsored but I am feeling a little pepped and hopeful that BuyaPowa have gotten something so ‘on trend’ and ‘current’ on site so soon after our feedback.  Keep it up guys!

I think I need me one of these (at £7 hopefully).  How about you?

It’s been a long time since I fell so heavily in love with a nail polish shade.  Zoya Caitlin isn’t even a sparkler.  It doesn’t shift colour and it doesn’t glow in the dark or create funny patterns with the help of a magnet.

Zoya Caitlin is just a beautiful creme that has enough edge to make it different to all my other cremes.  I’m smiling as I write this because I think that half of you are gonna be with me on this and the rest are gonna be like “uh what?”

I won’t build it up any more…

Zoya Caitlin is the duskiest blue I own.  I don’t know how it manages to look so soft yet still be so bold.  It looks like a breath of dusty serenity and I’m completely smitten.  It was released as part of their Spring 2011 Intimates Collection as one half of a duo “french-twist” manicure.  Everywhere I look, I see this described as a purple or a violet.  I just don’t see it.  On me, it’s an out and out cob-webby, deep cornflower.

Uniquely beautiful, I have nothing bad to say about this nail polish.

Zoya Caitlin is available in the UK online at Beauty4Nails-Body priced at £7.99 – I have no personal experience with this website, I bought my bottle from eBay U.S.

Phew, what a mouthful!

Clarins Ombre Minerale 4 Couleurs Eye Quartet in Rosewood is a new release from the French brand and comprises one palette from the new 6-piece eye collection for Autumn/Winter.

The packaging includes a face chart displaying some useful positioning tips for makeup newbies.

Four mineral shades that can be used wet or dry.  Two satin shades, a darker eye shadow liner and an iridescent highlighter.  The highlighter is very sheer and provides a sophisticated sparkle rather than any real colour.

Swatched dry without base or primer.  Around two/three swipes each.

The Rosewood palette contains four very wearable, neutral shades that would suit most skintones.  It’s a sheer but buildable palette – something that I’ve come to expect from Clarins.  If you want immediate, intense pigmentation – you’re looking in the wrong place.  If you want something that you can wear to work without fear of overcooking it, this could be just what you need.

You can see from this (rather goofy) FOTD that the palette provides a delicate iridescence.  I think it would really suit anyone who feels they might be a bit too mature for sparkle or metallics but aren’t quite ready to go down the all matte route just yet.  I found the shades to be exceptionally long-lasting though the darkest (and most matte) was not quite as smooth as I would have liked.

Clarins Ombre Minerale 4 Couleurs Eye Quartet in Rosewood is available to buy on counter or online at Clarins.com, priced at £30.00

* press sample

Leighton Denny’s Atmospheric Collection is out of this world.  There, I’ve said the line that has been plaguing me since I first saw the release for it back in the Summer.  It’s been like the elephant in the room and now I’ve shoo-ed it out the front door with a broom, I can get back to what I wanted to do… which was show you!

Purely Platonic is like molten lead on my nails.  It lacks the high shine of a silver or a chrome and it’s neither metallic nor rubberized.  It’s just… melty metal.  That makes better sense in my head than it does on paper the screen – I hope the swatch articulates itself with more clarity than I am able to.

There’s a slight river of frost running through the surface but I wouldn’t in a million years call this polish frosty.  It’s a beautifully edgy polish for Autumn/Winter and would coordinate with most outfits.

Wear was good, application even better – my only complaint is that my brush had a randomly long hair which I snipped.  I know, it’s no biggie but I like to moan about something.

Leighton Denny’s Atmospheric Collection is available to buy online priced at £11.00

* press sample

Yesterday, I talked about the behind-the-scenes atmosphere at Jean-Pierre Braganza’s SS/12 show which took place last Friday at the BFC Show Space in Somerset House.

Today, I want to focus on the look that makeup artist Alex Byrne created with Benefit Cosmetics to complement the designer’s graphical, almost art-deco tailoring.  She wanted a strong look that remained feminine, working with and not against the strength of Braganza’s designs.

are those new brushes I spy?

Alex in deep concentration (where did I put that brush?!)  Faces were kept light with Benefit’s Boi-ing Concealer where needed and a light layer of You Rebel Tinted Moisturiser mixed with Porefessional.

Loose fishtail plaits from the Toni&Guy team accompany the structured styling of the SS/12 collection

Eyes were kept neutral with Benefit Creaseless Cream in Birthday Suit, Browzings in Light and many, many coats of They’re Real mascara as an alternative to false lashes.

Some gentle contouring with Hoola Bronzer

BrowZings to define the top edge of the brow

ChaChaTint painted heavily onto the top of the cheekbone…

…and blended out with Coralista Powder Blush, the picture-perfect slices of cheek colour mimic the graphical edges in Braganza’s designs.

Benefit’s latest release Watt’s Up was used to highlight and define the top edge of the cheekbones…

…and a sneak peek of the new product in question.

Full Finish Lipstick in Mod Squad completes the look.

Jean-Pierre Braganza looking pleased with the entire team’s efforts immediately after the show

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Thanks to Benefit Cosmetics for letting me have a sneak peek to see what goes on behind the flashbulbs at London Fashion Week!

I went on a bit of a Zoya splurge a few weeks ago, admittedly… it was a small one.  Those lovely people at customs and excise weren’t gonna get me.  Not that I object to paying my duty, I just object to Royal Mail’s hostage handling fee.

Grumbles aside, I was pleased to receive my little Zoya beauties and I’m looking forward to showing them.  It’s an expensive brand to buy in the UK and not one too readily available from sellers I trust on eBay either.  Shipping was quite slow (about 3 weeks), I’ll keep looking for a supplier I like for these I think.  In the meantime, meet Yara from Zoya’s Fall Smoke & Mirrors Collection.

Ain’t she purdy?

Yara is an olive green with distinct leanings toward army greens.  The gold sparkles thankfully don’t get hidden too well in the depths of the murk and shine through beautifully!

I don’t wear too many greens but I’m delighted to include this one in my collection.  Texture was great on this, I was done in two coats.

Zoya Yara is available to buy online in the UK from NailCareClub and is priced at £9.98 not inc. postage of £3.50.  I paid £6.50 inc. postage from eBay U.S.  Yeah.  I’ll stick with eBay thanks.

EDIT: It’s also here for £7.99 w/free shipping.

I was generously invited backstage on opening day at London Fashion Week with Benefit Cosmetics who were sponsoring the makeup for the Jean-Pierre Braganza show.

I’ll be doing a separate post this week on the makeup the models wore down the runway to complement his SS/12 collection but I wanted to share some backstage shots showing just how much effort and how many people go into making these fashion spectaculars run smoothly.

Remember, this is just hair and makeup.

Makeup Artist Alex Byrne (and is that Benefit Hoola I see?)

How many hair stylists does it take to… *insert punchline here*

don’t forget the nails!

Backstage is hot, cramped, riotous and full of tension.  It’s not a place for shrinking violets and if you want to spectate, you need to be aware of your surroundings so you can get out of the way, quickly.  All eyes are keenly trained on the clock, instructions are given and taken without questioning and there’s a tangible sense of working together to get a million different jobs done.

3 o’ clock.  It’s show time.

Come back tomorrow to see how makeup artist Alex Byrne interpreted a look to complement Jean-Pierre Braganza’s graphical Spring/Summer collection.

They say that ‘the devil is in the detail’ and frankly, there’s nothing quite like paying attention to these finer points than when you’ve got the world’s media breathing down your neck.

So much works goes on behind the catwalks at Fashion Week that us mere mortals would never even consider, and it’s some of these less obvious details that are getting plenty of attention this year!

What’s the first thing you notice when you enter a room, the one thing that can instantly add or detract from its appeal?  Scent.

Which is why we’re all supposed to be baking cookies and brewing coffee like demon baristas when it comes time to sell our homes.  It’s all in the name of adding atmosphere to your surroundings and show designers are understandably, certainly up for a bit of that.

Show scenting is big news this year and across the Atlantic, Victoria Beckham chose to scent her Spring/Summer 2012 presentation at New York City Library with a sea of Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin and Grapefruit Candles.

Moving closer to home, the British fragrance company will also be scenting the British Fashion Council Tents throughout London Fashion Week with Jo Malone Orange Blossom as well as Erin O’Connor’s Model Sanctuary with Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin and Grapefruit.

One of London’s most established fragrance houses, Penhaligon’s will also be working hard to make the capital smell delicious as they get to work with Meadham Kirchhoff to scent their Spring/Summer 2012 collection for the fifth season together.

The design duo have chosen the fruity floral Artemisia as a celebration of all things feminine.  Described as a tumble of green apples and nectarines, washed with jasmine tea and sprinkled with a luxurious medley of violet, cyclamen and lily petals.

The scent will be used to fragrance the invitations and the venue, whilst each model will receive a liberal spritz just before heading down the catwalk.

Finally, lest we forget, London Fashion Week isn’t just there for scenting, it’s for showcasing and what better place to launch a new perfume than off the back of your Spring/Summer 2012 ready-to-wear collection?

Verónica Moncho Lobo launched her first fragrance Verónica last Friday alongside the showcase of her latest SS/12 collection.  The fresh, floral scent employs a bouquet of jasmine and cyclamen at the heart of the perfume.

The fashion designer coupled these spring and winter florals to evoke memories of  her childhood in Argentina.  Classic base notes of sandalwood and white musk promise to add a timeless touch to the fragrance.

Do you have a favourite fragrance that you’d scent your show with?

OCCO is one of those brands that had been on my radar for many, many months but was continually superseded by other products more demanding of my attention when presented with the opportunity to purchase.

With close inspirational links to the Dalmation Coast and Adriatic Sea, you might be surprised to learn that the products are formulated within the UK and are the brainchild of ex-Spa Director at Molton Brown, Anna Doyle.

I decided that I wanted a new candle for the bedroom last week whilst mooching around John Lewis. I wanted something with enough spice to be warming without being full-on “boudoir”. Not that there’s anything wrong with full-on boudoir, but I’ll save that headiness for when the weather is cooler.

I couldn’t find anything that tugged at my sleeve harder than this beauty from OCCO’s Raiyia range. The styling is a little retro with concentric circles and a 70s mustard theme but the scent is thoroughly modern. The 210g candle promises to contain a minimum of 95% natural ingredients and 100% natural fragrances.

A spicy citrus with Bergamot, Petitgrain (<3) and Nutmeg ensures that this walks the olfactory line between Summer and Autumn quite beautifully. It fills the room confidently without being blousey or demanding, I think that it would work well in most home environments as both a relaxing, and at the same time, uplifting scent.

I do wish the packaging were a little more luxe for the price (£35) but I can’t fault the quality of the candle which burns both evenly and cleanly. If I remember correctly, this is the candle that Danni Minogue tweeted a picture of as her favourite for burning in her X-Factor dressing room last year.

Now that I’ve finally taken the plunge into the OCCO family, I will keep the range in mind and return to investigate some of the other fragrances available. Most importantly, I may have to be quick about it — the range was heavily discounted, I’m wondering if it perhaps won’t be around for much longer.

OCCO Raiyia No6 Citrus Spice Candle is priced at £35 for 210g and available online at Occo or reduced both online and instore at John Lewis.

Last night, London’s iconic Battersea Power Station played host to an electrifying party held in honour of Kate Moss’ 10-year partnership with Rimmel.  Kate arrived at the venue in true supermodel fashion, by helicopter.  Dressed in a vintage black dress and wearing her personally designed Rimmel London Lipstick Collection By Kate in Red (shade no. 1 – her personal favourite), she worked the classic ensemble with her signature, effortless style.

(Photo by Dave M. Benett/Getty Images)

She was joined by celebrity guests including: Poppy Delevingne, Sadie Frost, Jasmine Guiness, Cara Delevingne, Erin O’Connor and Camilla Rutherford.  The party guests sipped at bespoke Rimmel cocktails named after blockbuster products including Extra Wow (Gin, lemon, apple and elderflower), Glam Eyes (Vodka, blackberry and violet) and Max Gloss (Mango, lime, ginger beer) whilst watching the large screen coverage of Kate’s dramatic helicopter entrance and live tweets from the VIP guests throughout the evening.

(Photo by Dave M. Benett/Getty Images)

(Photo by Dave M. Benett/Getty Images)

Steve Mormoris, Senior Vice-President, Global Marketing for Coty Beauty commented: “We’re delighted to be celebrating 10 years of Kate Moss and Rimmel, marking the occasion with the launch of Kate’s first personally designed collection for the brand. Kate truly epitomises the London Look: her unique style and spirit is emulated across the world.”

As much as I wish I could have attended, I had a date with my daughter and not even La Moss could persuade me away from that.  Still, I am very sorry to have missed my girl-crush Shingai Shoniwa (from the Noisettes) wow the guests with her performance and by all accounts, Solange Knowle’s beautiful hair very nearly stole the limelight completely.

(Photo by Dave M. Benett/Getty Images)

On the inspiration behind her new lip collection with Rimmel London, Kate said: “The inspiration was for classic shades that I have always worn and had in my handbag. There is always a small selection of shades I always go back to and I wanted this range to reflect that as they will never go out of style.”

The new 7 piece collection of classic lip colours is exclusively available from Boots until the 28th September before a nationwide roll-out.  Lipsticks are priced at £5.49 each.