FOTD: Blue Lips...

J'adore Felder Felder's AW11 catwalk look. So I thought I'd give it a crack myself using Illamasqua's Disciple. I *almost* wore this to work and ina brief moment of bashfulness decided against it. Self doubt is the biggest crime against beauty. I wonder how many awesome looks have been smeared off on a tissue over the last century? I'll try again soon and as far as blue lipstick goes, this is bold but incredibly chic.

PEEK: Gold lips sink, er, pirate ships

Thom Browne S/S 11, kinda loving the lips. I long for the day when absolutely bonkers lipstick is totally normal. For a less severe version, use a dark lipcolour with a smidgen of Illamasqua's Liquid Metal Solstice (£17.50) or Sleek's Molten Metal (£7) on the centre of the bottom lip. Keep eyelids nude, with lashings of mascara!

QUICKTEST: Illamasqua Nail Varnishes in Radium and Gamma, Dior Rock Coat

Boys and girls of every age, wouldn't you like to see something strange?
Come with us and you will see, this, our town of Halloween.....

I'm the queen of the dark, but even I'm hating on these spooky colours, especially together - eek! The green would look incredible with OPI's Shatter Topcoat (it's a black topcoat that crackles fyi.)Almost like a greeny leopard print - tres psychobilly!

It's nonsensical, but I'll wear anything going colour-wise on my face (I used to shave and draw my eyebrows on in bright blue FFS) but I feel like a child if I wear really bright nail varnish. Hence why - in a bid to appear more grown up - I'll be passing these on to a pal.




Next up is Dior's Rock Coat. Should that be RAWWWWKKKKK COOOAAATTTTTTTAH!
Actually, I'm not sure it deserves the fan fare, because it yielded less than impressive results. This top coat is supposed to add a dark veil over your existing nail color - essentially reinventing the existing shade - but didn't deliver. I'll try it again on something less matte and keep you posted. Is the whole concept a little too much effort? I feel like Dior should concentrate on coming up with an amazeballs limited edition palette or make-up jewel that I just HAVE to have.

PEEK: Illamasqua Precision Ink in Glister

It's one of the newbies from the Toxic Nature collection - it's all kinds of beautiful and really lovely on dark skin. I lined my upper lids in black liner (clinique) and used Glister above that line. A pale colour on the middle of the lid really opens up eyes up. Next time you watch Gossip Girl, look at Blake Lively's make-up. She's got quite small eyes, but the way they apply shadow, right in the middle of her lid, makes them look much bigger. Not that you're looking at her eyes with 1- those follicles, 2- those boobs 3- those legs!

FIRSTLOOK: Illamasqua Toxic Nature...

It's Illamasqua Toxic Nature show and tell time!


So what is Toxic Nature all about you ask? 'We scoured the abandoned toxic wastelands of the world to create an eclectic selection of corrupted hues for the eyes, lips, nails, face and body. Flitting effortlessly from poisonous pastel to hazardous neon, this cataclysmic mix of brave new tones take your look to the outer limits of nature's palette.'

Below: One of the make-up looks from the collection.


ABOVE L-R:
Precision Ink in Glister- blended and in a line - Really beautiful pink colour, quite unlike anything else out there, and very striking - probably more so on dark skin.
Cream Pigment in Emerge - bright matte peach, making it a lovely summer shade. Think it would be beautiful with a dark green shadow in the crease.
Cream Pigment in Dab- Less keen on this colour, just never think lilac suits anyone - sorry!
Cream Pigment in Delirium - kinda blah on me, might be better on lighter skintones?




ABOVE Nail Varnish in Purity. Incredible colour, afraid to say that even with super strong Sally Hansen topcoat it chipped after one day. I've found that all Illamasqua varnishes do this, such a shame because the colours are exquisite!



What I did with Delirium...

OVERALL THOUGHTS:
It's hard to do summer make-up without going for the usual boring pastels or yet another bronzer. Well played to Illamasqua for trying something different (well, it is what they do best.) There are some really unique colours in the collection, but what I think might be difficult is actually making a daytime 'look' out of them. I'm looking forward to playing and experimenting with them, and will post/report back.

REVIEW: My week in beauty

ONE
My favourite beauty moment of the week was my 'make-under' by Bobbi Brown! Got to sample their new creamy concealer and corrector, and some of the lovely new lipsticks. Just look at that pink, how brilliant is that? Being BB it's also really moisturising! (Excuse my mental flyaway hair)



TWO
Loving Jennifer A's new grown out bob.Takes years off her and it's so much more relaxed!


THREE
Illamasqua unveiled their new Toxic Nature line...



FOUR
The new Tom Ford Neroli Portofino Collection, with lots of lovely bath goodies. I HEART TF, Black Orchid is one of my scents and I just love the pacakaging - totally luxe. Selfridges from 28 March. Pic and info from Telegraph beauty.

HAUL: Show and tell...

Actually more to show than to tell really.

I'm still fairly miserable truth be told, not even make-up can fix it. What would fix it you ask? Hmm...a hug or a new comic book maybe. I'm a simple (READ:geeky) girl.




Illamasqua Liquid Metal in Resolute - Generally a huge fan of the liquid metals, but this shade almost verges on blah. Personally none of the metals match up to Solstice (their original gold liquid metal) in texture and utter showmanship - it's so striking. Although Resolute a pretty enough colour, it's not special enough. Sorry, it's just not.

Illamasqua Shadow in Daemon - This replaces my old stargazer red eyeshadow (had it for 10 years-argh!) which is the trusty staple of every teen goth. Daemon is a lovely dark matte red, brilliant for theatrical work and that corpsey look around the eyes. Also is you pat it over red lipstick you'll get a really velvety matte look. Smooch-tastic!

Lancome French Touch Lipstick in 306 - I fell for the bullet style exterior, but now I feel cheated by it's beauty. Nothing wrong with this shade per se it's just not very exiting. Bottom line, it's a good choice if you're new to dark shades or want a more natural glossy finish. This is one i'm donating to my mother!

Chantecaille Lasting Eyeshadow in Titanium - Chantecaille are one of those luxe brands I adore - without any firm ground to base my adoration on. The powders are beautifully milled, granted. Aside from that, the colours are average and the prices extortionate this here shadow is £22 of your shiny earth pounds when MAC's shadows are just over a tenner!

Illamasqua Disciple Lipstick - J'Adore! A rich blue/black that I shall be rocking with nude eyes and sharply defined brows, plus the old *Dalston topknot. I want to desperately wear this into central London to scare the normal people.

*The Dalston topknot is the nonchalant messy bun worn especially high up on the head almost nearing the forehead, see below. You can call a Dalston girl a mile off (I'm not saying that's a good thing fyi, merely an observation. I'm not a Dalston girl hater - every scene has it's look!)

TUTORIAL:glossy black eyes

I'm a beauty virgin when it comes to eye gloss. Even though it's a look I absolutely adore editorially. So last week I finally gave it a go with mixed ( but overall decent) results. Tutorial below, along with some lessons that I learned the hard way!





1. First apply black kohl all over the lid and using a blending brush work the colour into the lid and crease. Repeat until it's fairly thick and sooty. Then apply your mascara, curl your lashes, add you falsies etc.
2. Keep the brows undefined and lighten with concealer. Bleach them if you're really brave! The reason to keep them so pale/ out of focus is that strong editorial looks are all about proportion - it's just too much having perfect skin, brows, lips and contouring. The texture of the eye's is the focus, everything else has to be toned down.


3. Using a little bit of concealer, or a very sheer foundation (MAC or MUFE Face and Body) dab any problem areas and set with fine translucent powder (MAC blot powder.) The skin has to be sheer, so add illuminator to cheers and cupids bow (Illamasqua Gleam Cream.)
3. Using a gloss (MAC mixing medium gloss or La Metier de Beaute Magic Cream) dab onto centre of the eyelid only. For a bluey green petrol-esque gleam take the medium and mix in with a dark metallic blue shadow before applying. Use any colour you want really, but keep it dark.


4. Very little blush (Bobbi Brown Pale Pink) and a neutral matte lipstick (Edward Bess)


The result, after a few hours of partying with my girls on Soho! This is Eloise AKA The Circus Cat who blogged for me below BTW!

CAUTION:
-Glossy eyes are high maintenance. You'll need to be on it with the upkeep. Er, so don't get trashed.
- It smudges something chronic, DO NOT TOUCH YOUR EYES THEN TOUCH YOUR FACE. You'll look like a mechanic or Kenickie from Grease - bad times.
- Take your gloss with you for touch-ups.
- Lip gloss on eyes doesn't work - it's not thick enough and is too sticky. Get one of the products above.
- In hindsight, the lashes are too much, just go for lots of mascara and kohl. Keep it really cool and basic - it needs to be thrown together, and never too perfect.

PEEK: Haute at Shoreditch with Illamasqua

Here are some pics from HAUTE 2.0 at Concrete in Shoreditch, in association with Illamasqua. I stole Imelda May's hairstyle - but i'll give it back promise!






My friend Ellie aka The Circus Cat. She's one to watch in the styling/make-up artist world!

The Haute/Illamasqua clientele in all their beautiful glory.

TUTORIAL: Orangey fun!

Super speedy picture-only tutorial. 2011 is the year of change for me - so - gone is my routine smokey eye and here is COLOUR. For some reason I seem to have it in my head that in order to create definition on the eyes colours must be dark; it's just not the case. So welcome 2011 and may the colour continue!

2010: My year in beauty....

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HAUL: Illamasqua goodies

I went to an Asia Glam event at Illamasqua. There are pictures from the night, but I look horiffic so I won't bore holes where your eyes used to be by posting them. So, Illamasqua are trying to tap the Asian market, which is pretty clever of them considering how much we like our make-up and er, shopping. (Maybe that's just the Asian girls I know ;)

It was my first time at the Beak street flagship store and all I can say is that apart from the amazing products, the black and white striped latex curtains are AMAZING. I have to have them!


Powdered Metal in Erzule and Precision Ink Eye Liner in Alchemy



They're both incredible products. The powdered metal makes a gloriously rich highlighter, especially for darker skins. It's just the right tone to reflect light beautifully without looking unatural. For £22 it's a huge pot and is well worth it!

I was keen to try both the Precision Ink eye liners after reading so much about them. Are they any better than other eye liners? I've tried every one going, and for my money MAC fluidline and Guerlain liquid liners are ace. So after trying the Illamasqua black liquid liner, I'd say no as it didn't seem any different to me. The liner in Alchemy, a bright glittery gold however, is amazing. Alchemy is budge-proof once it's on and looks incredible in the inner corners of the eye. My only gripe is that it's a bit overpriced at £16.50.

HALLO: Danse Macabre make-up

At last, at last! The promised Halloween pics and don't we look creeepy. I used a mix of mac, MUFE, Illamasqua and Kryolan on myself, the military dead girl aka Louise and the day of the dead chick aka Cara.