The highlights of Spring Summer 2013 trends from London Fashion Week.

ISSA SS 2013 Statement *hot pink lip*& winged eye

ISSA SS 2013 Statement *juicy red lip* & Winged eye

Holly Fulton SS13 Colour clash lip & boho hair

Holly Fulton SS13 bright lip with artfully dishevelled hair

Pringle of Scotland SS13- sleek, swept hair, bold lip and cats eye liner

Temperley SS13 dewy skin, nude lips and defined liner

Matthew Williamson Resort SS13- Nude skin & lips, contouring and defined line under eyes.

All of these looks are so wearable and there are definitely elements that would work for *everyone*. Lots of fresh skin and no matte finish, minimum blusher, but definite contouring, if you are going to invest in new Spring Summer products to update your make up kit make it a liquid liner and a *Hot Lip* GORGEOUS!

Autumn winter make up trend looks- nude and smokey.

Nude- Autumn winter look

Nude Look:

Think soft, delicate and ethereal, not bland and boring.
Skin is prepped and flawless with a hint of peachy/apricot creme blush on cheeks. Focus on the eyes, with a colourwash across the lids and a little crystal highlighter placed in the inner corner of the eye. 2 coats of mascara. Lips are lined and filled in with pencil then a slick of tinted colour with *treatment* to keep lips soft and supple in a honeyed nude shade complete the look.

Used:
Base-Foundation- Dior -Forever- foundation in shade 31
Concealer- Sisley in shade #3
Eyes:
Shadow-Morococo +  Diamonds & Pearls blingtone- myface
Mascara: Mac Plush Lash

Cheeks:
Blusher-Becca Creme Blush-Terracotta

 Lips:

Liner- Medium tone/beige shade lip pencil-myface
Colour: Pixi-Tinted Brilliance Balm in shade Baby Bare.

Smokey -Autumn Winter Look

Smokey Look:
Eyes are the focus with defined, sultry smokey-ness. A strong smokey eye can be a little *draining*, to counteract this, add a very sheer hint of bronze across the complexion to add a little warmth and choose a warm terracotta blush but use it very sparingly. Lips can be kept very muted or a little *spiced* up.

Base:
Warmed up with a drop of Sisley- Sunglow mixed into the *base*
Foundation-Dior- Forever Shade 31
Concealer- Dior Skinflash #3 (to brighten)

Cheeks: Blusher-NARS powder blush: Liberte

Eyes: 

Eye pencil: Use a black pencil on upper lid and on the edge of the lower lid (taken half way across the lower lid) Pencil- Bella Pierre-Black- blend out with cotton bud so there are no *harsh lines*

Shadow: Illamasqua Obsidianacross the lid and taken to the crease of the eye and then blended up gently. Highlighter in the inner corner of the eye: Illamasqua-Slink

Mascara- Mac Plush Lash  

Get the Look.....Kate Moss Milan fashion week.

Just click through to the article- the link is below, myself and the amazing hairdresser Ben Cooke share with you how to achieve the vintage look Kate Moss wore at Milan Fashion week.

http://style.uk.msn.com/beauty/get-the-look-kate-moss-vintage-glamour

Simple things that make me happy.

Breakfast in Bed
A perfect morning coffee
Being kissed or cuddled by my child (both even better)
The way my son starts the day on 100% percent energy from the moment he opens his eyes
Hearing the purr of your cats (probably because they realise you didn't expire in your sleep and can therefore feed them)
Swapping coat or bag and finding money you did not know you had in a pocket (bonus)
Receiving or observing a random act of kindness from a stranger
Getting food from somewhere like Pret or Eat and being told the coffee is on the house (yay)
Hearing a track you have not heard forever and it meant something to you
Smelling a fragrance on someone that has happy memories for you
My work and the work of other people
Hearing good news and sharing good news
Conversations that can be inane but turn out to be profound
Teaching & learning
 Cartoons
Wishes coming true
So much more but this is for starters..............

Hope springs eternal xxx

Bourjois Volume Clubbing Black Jack Mascara review

This was an impulse buy and just for me, not my kit, I was looking for a new mascara just to try and decided to try something with a lower price point. I am so glad I did try it as I have been very impressed with the staying power and the volumising properties of this mascara for a price point of around £6 it is excellent value.

Pros:
Long lasting and does not *drop*
Thickening and definitely creates *fuller lashes*
Holds the *shape* of lashes all day
Great brush that is tapered to catch even shorter inner lashes
Excellent intense pigment

Cons:
Meant to have *golden flecks* to me personally they are not noticeable
A rich formulation, so you may have to wipe a tissue over the brush to take off the excess if you have fine lashes.
Lashes feel a little dry after using

So this is not going to become my favourite mascara of all time but..............for £5.99 this is a pretty solid buy for just a great *practical* every day mascara.

Perfect products to give a fresh bronzed look in 5 minutes.

Mid August and we have *Summer weather* not just for 1 day but for a few days in succession. The lack of summer weather has not affected my equilibrium personally too much because I have been indoors teaching/writing/shooting so shizam...........Bye Summer. But I have been using a few key products to give my skin a healthy glow and just a soft barely there in my normal 5 minutes. Yes, this is a 5 minute face that needs no brushes (just clean hands) and will give you a fresh, healthy glow.
Consists of:

•  Primer used sparing across face to give the foundation longevity
• Base applied to areas where needed starting from T-zone working outwards
• Concealer/illuminator used under eyes (mixed with a little drop of foundation), sides of the nose and a little on the chin.
• Tinted Gel- soft bronze, used as a cheek gel on the apples of the cheeks, a little across the lid and as a little stain on the lips.
• Mascara- 2 full coats- zig-zagging through the lashes and then concentrating on the outer corner of lashes for extra definition.
• Lip gloss, a slick of gloss across lips that already have a little of the bronze gel applied as a stain.

From Left to right: Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua, Sisley Stretch mascara in Black, Dior lipgloss in #432, Sisley Sun Glow Gel, Laura Mercier Primer and Dior Skin Flash.

Mavala- Liberty- Love this peachy nude shade on nails.

Images of Autumn Winter trend make up- My Work.

Perfected skin and a red lip- lip stick blended with lip balm to create a sheerer lip.

Fresh faced beauty with a soft berry lip ad a berry cheek.

Smoked up eye, warm complexion and nude lips.

Purples on the eyes- huge A/W colour story.

Perfect skin and defined eyes

Inspired by Molly Ringwald in the film Pretty in Pink- very smokey eyes-heavy lining on upper and lower lid with very glossy lips.

Best Oils hair, face and Body.................

I love oil, love it I tell you *bizarre fervour and glazed look in the eye*. I use it as a cleanser, a moisturiser, a hair/scalp treatment, in my bath and as a body moisturiser.
Oil dissolves oil. Your skin naturally lubricates itself with oil, oil also heals, protects, and moisturises your skin so that it may function properly.
 Yes I am obsessed with oils somewhat, but that means that I am a bit of an oil aficionado and here are my all time favourites............................

Favourite cleansing oil:

Nude Skincare- Cleansing Oil 100ml £24

This is so gentle but very effective, contains Omega 3 rich oils and Vitamin E, a light aroma of Gardenia and Jasmine, it turns into a soft milk and dissolves make up beautifully- excellent for all skin types and no mineral oils.

Favourite oil to remove strong/waterproof eye make up:

Moa- The Green Balm- 50ml £9.95

Ok technically not an eye make up remover and technically not an oil, but it melts away even the most stubborn eye makeup/pigment and it is solidified oil mixed with a little yarrow with a little beeswax, safe to use around the eyes and just amazing how it *lifts* heavy make up (from the whole face like a cleansing balm).

Favourite Anti ageing oil :

Sophyto-Tocotrienol Super Skin Concentrate-30ml £36

Rich in Alpha, beta, delta, gamma and Vitamin E oils , it repairs environmentally stressed skin. It contains amazing ingredients like: rosehip, pomegranate, raspberry and cranberry, it is perfect to give your skin a youthful radiant, healthier look. It disappears so easily into the skin and leaves a very *comfortable* feel.



Favourite treatment oil *night* or dry skin treat :

Nude Skincare- ProGenius I think 30ml and around £60

Packed with nourishing oils, 2/3 drops leaves the skin smooth, soft and hydrated skin, it  can even be added to your foundation 1 or 2 drops to give your skin a beautiful glow. Contains Apricot, Almond, Macadamia, Damascus Rose and Omega 3,6,7 & 9 oils. A fantastic *booster* for skin in need of a little TLC.

Favourite treatment oil/combination skins:

Dr Hauschka Normalizing Day oil- 30ml £22.95

This is the oil that is suitable for combination/oily/blemish prone skin. It is a lighter weight oil and leaves zero residue. It is packed with ingredients that soothe, will over time prevent excess oiliness, are anti-inflammatory and healing: Kidney Vetch, Carrot root, St John's Wort, Calendula, Apricot Kernel, sweet almond but please note peanut also.

Favourite Scalp/hair oil:

KantaKrupa oil 100ml £32.50

This is an oil that is used as a pre-wash for hair and scalp, it soothes an irritated scalp, nourishes hair and can be left on as an over night treatment. I even use this as a protective pre-swimming treatment. It washes easily out of the hair and leaves hair softer and shinier than just shampoo and conditioner, enriched with rosemary and jasmine in a coconut oil base, it is blissful.

Favourite Body oil:

Pure Fiji Body oil- 235ml £26.50

 This is a moisturising body oil that can be used a couple of drops in the bath water too. There is a whole selection of natural aromas from orange blossom, white ginger lily, frangipani etc etc. Made on the island of Fiji they use natural and raw ingredients sourced from the island. It is a beautiful texture that leaves body skin with a soft touch and delicate sheen. The aromas are just divine too not cloying, just delicately scented.

Colour crush..............Berry Lips!

Berry, rich, succulent and ultimately juicy

Berry lips can look absolutely amazing with very pared down make up or even bronze as a colour wash on eyes and a hint on the cheeks.

The perfect universally flattering *berry* lip. Line lip with a precise line, fill the lip in with the liner. Apply the lipstick across the entire lip, blot with a tissue, re-apply the lip colour and add a slick of gloss for an amazing shine and vamp-ish finish.

My favourite berry lip duo: Paul & Joe lip lacquer-002 with Pixi Lip & line in Bare Berry (AW 2012)

The Pixi lip & line is actually a duo in a very flattering berry shade that will suit all skin tones. It is a precision liner and lipstick in 1 stick. The Paul & Joe Gloss was a limited edition but you can still get hold of it on ebay. It is such a classic berry shot with a fleck of gold that make the lips look fuller and just gorgeous.

Lip colour, lip line and the gloss-swatches

Berry is the perfect shade to take your make up into Autumn. It can be impactful without being too intense- win win xxx