Daisy by Marc Jacobs: Petite Flowers on the Go

Don’t you love those little tester perfumes you score at the beauty counter? I do. I collect them, because I love being able to have a spritz handy if I need one and there’s no way I’m carrying around a 100ml bottle of my favourite perfume. I tried that… the lid came off… and let’s just say my bag smelled very nice but that didn’t make up for the lump I felt in my throat as I realised my £60 bottle of Viktor & Rolf Flower Bomb had literally wasted itself throughout my bag.

The problem is, there’s just never quite enough in those little testers and before I know it, I’m heading back to the counter only to be told that they’ve “run out”. Embarrassing! I guess I’m becoming a regular customer for the good free stuff. Not any more! Marc Jacobs is set to launch his Daisy fragrance (definitely in my top 5 list of favourite perfumes) in a new, fresh way come the 4th of April. I give you the irresistable and totally portable, Petite flowers on the go.

With a wink to the original daisy bottle, these portable posies are encased with chic rubber petals to ensure the glass capsule is safe in the centre and with a lid that fits so super snug that you actually have to give a good yank to pull it off, you won’t be having any accidents in your clutch.

The original Daisy, classic with it’s sparkling floral bouquet of wild strawberry, violet leaves, ruby grapefruit, gardenia, musk, white woods and vanilla infusion,  pops in white; while Daisy Eau So Fresh, with it’s bright, elegant fruity fragrance charms in pink.

These are limited editions, so grab a bouquet while their still in season!

£25 – www.daisymarcjacobs.co.uk 

My Love Affair With Decleor

I have a confession to make. I’ve been cheating on all of my other products with Decleor… in fact… it’s become my main love over the past month. It all started when I found their Aromessence Essential Balm in the beauty cupboard. Now, I know a lot about the brand Decleor and the amazing concotions they create, but I must admit I am always wary of products that cost an arm and a leg. For some reason, I’m determined to find something that will offer the same results for half the price. That said, I just don’t think I could find a product to match the quality of Decleor for the price at which they sell.  In fact, I would put this brand up there with Crème de la Mer and Carita.

You know I’m a sucker for oils, but I’m always on the look out for something else that will quench the thirst of my skin yet not make it greasy. The beauty of this particular balm is the way it dissolves into the skin quickly. I despise beauty balms that sit on the surface of my skin for hours after I apply it. After a few days of applying Decleor’s balm on my face, I noticed that my skin was calm, balanced and softer. I couldn’t very well stop there, so off to the beauty cupboard I went to find more…

I couldn’t go past something that was called Hydra-Floral Anti-Pollution Flower Nectar Moisturising Cream. It claims to provide a continuous “drip-feed” hydration, reinforced by the technology of aquaporins, true “water channels” and is combined with an anti-pollution plant active ingredient to protect the skin against harsh environmental elements.

Lately I have been using this as my daily moisturiser and my skin feels like cashmere, which could be due to the Néroli Essential Oil or maybe the Hazelnut Plant Oil or perhaps the Mint and Orange Blossom Floral Waters, Shea Butter, Plant Squalane or Provitamine B5 contained in it.

At night time I have been using their Excellence De L’Age Sublime Regenerating Cream. Although they recommend to apply it in the morning, I wash my face too many times during the day to justify slapping on a £94.50 cream time and time again. Instead, I like to apply it just before bed so that it can sink in for a good 8 hours. It combines a Phyto-Age Complex with a cocktail of 4 Essential Oils to act directly on wrinkles, loss of firmness and pigmentation irregularities. When it comes to anti-aging creams, I tend to focus on my neck and décolletage – the areas we seem to forget, but show signs of aging much earlier than the face.

I also like to follow a very simple rule which is to use an eye cream separate to my daily moisturiser. I apply eye creams twice a day to keep clear of puffiness, dark circles and fine lines. The Excellence De L’Age Regenerating Eye and Lip Cream has cemented itself as a favourite of mine. For years now I have been applying ant-wrinkle eye creams to not only my eyes, but the areas on my forehead where I might one day get frown lines (of which I don’t have any yet- thank god!) and the areas around my mouth, mainly my cupid’s bow, to keep fine lines at bay. This magical little cream not only states that I’m meant to use it exactly how I’ve been using other eye creams for the past few year; but also contains Aurone Extract which has a lipo-filling effect, meaning the areas you apply it to will be getting a concentrated dose of firming agents. Sounds better to me than needles!

http://www.decleor.co.uk/ www.strawberrynet.com

Aromessence Essential Balm – £32.50/ $37AUD

Hydra-Floral Anti-Pollution Flower Nectar Moisturising Cream – £39.80/ $58.50AUD

Excellence De L’Age Sublime Regenerating Cream – £94.50/ $139.50AUD

Excellence De L’Age Regenerating Eye and Lip Cream – £53.50/ $70.50AUD

Paris Fashion Week Fall 2012 Backstage Beauty

Christian Dior

“It’s a luxe and slightly minimalist feeling at Dior this season,” explained makeup maestro Pat McGrath of the look she created for the Christian Dior show. Mink shadow was dusted on and around the eyes with a hint of gold on the inner corners and lids, while cheeks were given a touch of warmth and lips were left barely there. Hairstylist Orlando Pita meanwhile, accented the elegant look perfectly with side parted, low ponytails.

 

Yohji Yamomoto

The drama was amped up backstage at Yohji Yamomoto where models’ mouths were firmly on focus.  A budding almost flower-like effect was created by painting their lips black, leaving a blood red centre, while the cupids bow was given a touch of gold. Eyes matched accordingly with the inner corners splashed with pinkish red eye shadow and a shimmer of gold. Hairstylist Eugene Souleiman and his team swept up half the models’ tresses into chic chignons, with the other half having their hair straightened and a swath of red or blue strands added into tresses.

 

Viktor & Rolf

Over at Viktor & Rolf models were given luscious, sleek waves on each side of their heads by hairstylist Luigi Murenu, while the lengths of their hair hung straight, “So we have a sense of hardness and softness at the same time,” he explained. Models’ lips were slicked with a fuchsia-burgundy hue, eyelids got a sweep of light gray shadow and skin was kept pale with a tinge of pink highlights for a look makeup artist Pat McGrath describe as ‘Gothic Elegance’.

 

Lanvin

It was glamour galore at Lanvin with wide, black winged eyes, raspberry coloured mouths and tresses tucked behind ears. “The hair is very simple,” hairstylist Guido Palau said, “So there is a real naturalness to it.” Palau shampooed models’ hair and applied Redken Extreme Anti-Snap leave-in conditioner before allowing each models’ hair to fall into its natural part. Simply stunning.

 

Sonia Rykiel

“Everything is a bit degradé, a little bit worn off,” said makeup artist, Dick Page. Shiseido products such as the blue-black cream eye shadow the models sported, were coated with grease to melt the colour somewhat and give it shine just before girls stepped out onto the catwalk. On lips, Page used Makeup Lacquer Rouge in Nocturn, which was then diffused with dabs of foundation, while lashes were given a bit of mascara and black liner was swept across the inside of eyes. Meanwhile, hairstylist Guido Palau accessorised wet – stringy looking hair with a black band covering the models’ forehead and ears. Very Apres Ski.

 

Jean Paul Gaultier

Makeup artist, Stephane Marais referenced ‘glam women going out in the Eighties’ when he created the beauty look backstage for Jean Paul Gaultier. ‘They have no fear. They can assume anything. They feel chic’, he said about the somewhat androgynous appearance. A black liquid liner followed by grease paint was slicked onto eyelids and then using a small brush, Marais spread the colour out, making it look worn and destroyed. Models hair was then sprayed a few inches from the middle part down by Guido Palau for a grungey tough look.

 

Stella McCartney

It was all about ‘neat and clean’ at the Stella McCartney show. Models had their hair pulled back off their faces into chignons and finished with a spray of Wella Professionals Ocean Spritz Beach Texture Hairspray, making it quite textured and raw. Makeup artist Pat McGrath kept skin au naturale with groomed brows and applied a coat of Cover Girl Lashblast 24 Hour Mascara in black to eyelashes, followed by a blue pigment gel.

 

Chanel

 Backstage at the Chanel show, Peter Philips painstainkingly measured the perfect brow height to create dazzling crystal face appliques, while Sam McKnight made sure each individual hair on the models’ super sharp ponytails was running in sleek, straight lines. “It’s all about creating a uniform model army today,” Peter said.

Milan Fashion Week Fall 2012 Backstage Beauty

Fendi 

With a simple brushstoke, make-up guru Peter Phillips created a feathered look worthy of angel teamed with a thin line of Chanel’s Stylo Yeux Waterproof Eyeliner across the top of the lashes. ‘Medusa’ plaits were whipped up by Sam McKnight backstage with double row twisted rope plaits sitting angelically around the head like a halo whilst low pigtails, spilt into several rope strands gave it a style McKnight described as ‘dark, Nordic’.

 

Gucci

Inspired by the red-headed muses of 19^th Century oil painter Rossetti, Gucci’s romantic goths had a bleach treatment on their brows followed by a dose of power pout courtesy of Pat McGrath.  Pat used Cover Girl Queen Collection Lipcolor in Fine Wine to create the deep, dark red shade and then dabbed in the centre from the same collection, Hot. 

Prada

Magna style Japanese cartoons inspired the hair at Prada.  Muiccia Prada described the models as ‘virtual dolls, virtual princesses’ and here’s why – the two-tone dip dye hair, created by the one and only Guido Palau, came in three different shades, red, black and white, depending on the natural shade of the model’s own hair.  Weaving waist-length extensions Guido explained ‘there’s a computer-generated quality to it, a pop of fakeness’. Pat McGrath created a theatrical eye with purple, black and orange eyeshadows that fanned out from lash lines to bleached-out brows, which were colored in shades of orange cream shadow. For emphasis, Cover Girl Smoky Shadow Blast in Onyx Smoke lined upper eyelids, and white eyeliner was worked across lower lids, while lips were kept natural.

 

 

Versace

Models channelled a pin up – slash – rock n roll vibe for the Fall 2012 Versace collection. Pat McGrath used CoverGirl products to create ‘three layers of black’, and defined eyes with Liquidline Blast Eyeliner, filled in with Smoke Shadow Blast in Smoke and black cream shadow and set with shimmering onyx eye shadow all finished off with 24 hour Lash Blast Mascara on the top and bottom lashes to create the perfect smoky eye effect. Lips and cheeks were kept simple while eyebrows were bleached to remove the colour and made a shade lighter than the models’ natural hair colour. “Donatella wanted the girls to look super cool and modern, but still bring out that Versace rock ‘n’ roll girl,” said hairstylist Guido Palau who fitted the models with fake blunt fringes that hit mid-forehead. “The whole thing is a lot less blown-out than we’re used to seeing here”. 

 

Dolce and Gabbanna

Makeup artist Pat McGrath, used Dolce & Gabbana Make Up to bring ‘light to the face’, creating a look inspired by religious iconography of the Virgin Mary. Flat, matte neutral tones from the Smooth Eye Colour Quad in Desert were swept over eyelids with the gold shade from the Golds quad, Luminous Cheek Colour in Delight was applied to the cheeks and Classic Cream Lipstick in Petal was dabbed on the centre of the models’ lips while Mandorala was put on the top lip for a creamy finish. Now that’s what we call a high maintenance lip!

Hairstylist Guido Palau was at it again creating a simple look to accommodate the elegant jewelled and embroidered headpieces and accessories by parting the models hair in the centre and gathering over the ears in a low loosely twisted soft knot. Redken Body Full Volume Amplifier was sprayed onto damp hair and blow-dried with fingers, adding slight texture and grip for the stunning hair accessories.

 

DSquared2

If you needed proof that Lana Del Rey is set to take over the world, you’d only need look so far as to the past few weeks of fashion week. She not only had the amazing honour of having a Mulberry bag named after her in London, she also inspired the beauty behind DSqaured2’s fall show in Milan. Makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury created the high school prom look by applying a thick slick of MAC’s Blacktrack Fluidline Eye-Liner Gel on the top of lids in a feline-eye shape, crowned by a double set of lashes. Black eyeliner was teased out on bottom lids and brows were made thicker and arched.

Hairstylist Sam McKnight used Pantene Pro-V Volume Mousse and Extra Strong Mousse on damp hair before it was blown dry and then heavily back combed to create two styles; a volumized crown with flat sides and a pinned-back beehive to echo “girl bands from the Fifties and Sixties, like The Shirelles and the early days of The Supremes with a touch of Lana Del Rey.” 

London Fashion Week Fall 2012 Backstage Beauty

Corrie Nielsen

Over at Corrie Nielsen, Craig Taylor for Bumble & Bumble created a super-sleek modern updo on perfect contrast to all things Victorian, rolling the lengths of hair over a sponge and securing it in equestrian hairnets.  Paired with flawless milky skin and a brown/red lip colour-matched to a kilt in the collection, it was a match made in heaven.  Oh and let’s not forget the A.M.A.Z.I.N.G  face lace from Phyllis Cohen which launched at www.face-lace.com  It made for the prefect finishing touch.

 

PPQ

PPQ’s collection was supremely cinematic and the beauty look was no exception. Hair Hero and Tigi Global Creative Director Nick Irwin sculpted 50’s-esque, vampy, cool young things with deep side parts and brushed-out tonging that followed the hairline in a look that was groomed but lived in. Makeup by Katie Hughes was matte, low key, yet fabulous with the sweet touch of a love heart on the apple of cheeks.  “All that these beauties need to go out is a sexy red lip – they’re already gorgeous,” she said. Meanwhile skin finishing expert James Read showcased a flawless, porcelain tan using the brand new tanning brand LDN Skins that had the beauty journos cooing.

 

Aquascutum

In the busy backstage area at Aquascutum a beauty team of make up maestro Lucia Pieroni and hair hero Anthony Turner produced a 20-strong team of sultry, strong army girls.  Makeup was uber-luxe and super refined.  Geometric, square edged black liner made for a look that was cool and modern, while lips were left nude with MAC’s Fall Trend Lip Palette – Nougat and Classic Nude – patted onto model’s lips.  Hair stylist Anthony Turner worked to produce luxurious, youthful hair that had just enough volume to the roots and sleek, flat sides.

 

Mochino Cheap and Chic

The vibe at Moschino Chic and Cheap was fun, eclectic and somewhat of a makeup mashup inspired by super cool London school girls.  Session stylist Sam McKnight added dusty-rose twisted hair-bands to 60’s beehives, while makeup maestro Val Garland produced pretty, polished beauties. After applying the dusty rose MAC Vivid Pink Paintstick to mouths, a forefinger was used to pat copious quantities of MAC Pink Glitter onto mouths for a fabulous, 3D look.  “I’m bored of iridescent, perlescent products.  Instead I’m in love with full on glitter, matte skin and anything and everything in dusty rose,” said Val.

 

Sleepy Hollow Trend

The major trend noticeable at London Fashion week was the ‘sleepy hollow’ look created with a brown smoky eye. Over at Issa, the look was teamed with a Russian Doll/Bond Girl vibe, while at Giles, Lucia Pieroni blended MAC’s  Groundwork Paint Pot and Harvest cream eye shadow and applied them all around and under the eye, leaving rest of the face bare. To create a velvety eye over at Burberry, makeup arist Wendy Rowe used Burberry Beauty’s Dark Sable and Mulberry eye shadows for a soft, aged effect. Absolutely smokin’.

 

Beauty Worthy of an Oscar

While most people were studying the gowns, we were busy ‘ooh-ing’ and ‘ahh-ing’ over the biggest and best beauty looks that hit the red carpet at the 2012 Oscar awards. Ballerina buns, bold bangs and nude lips were all the rage this time round, so allow us to introduce you to our favourite looks from the evening…

Several stars looked absolutely erm, banging with fabulously face-framing fringes. Anna Faris and Rose Byrne channelled each other in more ways than one with almost identical dresses and matching cropped do’s as well.  Both accented their cute bobs with sleek fringes; the only differences being Rose’s off-centre part and brunette hue. Rooney Mara balanced the severity of her short, blunt fringe perfectly, by combining the ballerina bun trend with a feminine fresh face and touch of red lippie, while Ellie Kemper kept things luxe and ladylike, by pulling back her hair, leaving her glossy, heavy bangs to do that talking.

The stars brought out the big buns on the red carpet with both tight, tidy ballerina knots and soft, tousled tresses taking to the red carpet. Tina Fey and Shailene Woodley both pumped up the volume with supersize knots sitting high on the crown of their heads, while Jennifer Lopez added a touch of turban chic to hers with large interwoven sections making up the finished “do”. Emma Stone, meanwhile, opted for an oh-so-sweet side-swept plaited twist that complimented her makeup beautifully.

Although the trademark bold red lips were still out in some force, a la Angelina Jolie, the biggest beauty trend of the night was the nude lip with Sandra Bullock, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jessica Chastain, Kristen Wiig, Natalie Portman and Penelope Cruz all choosing a barely-there look. Natalie Portman exuded an ethereal radiance with a glamorous look reminiscent of Grace Kelly created by makeup artist, Eileen Kastner-Delago. Portman’s lips were given a light red stain, which Kastner-Delago built with a few shades of Dior red lipstick.  “It’s a mix of reds, very 1950s, but not too strong,” said the makeup artist, who massaged the color into Portman’s lips, blotted, then reapplied to build layers of color that would look more natural and also last throughout the evening. Makeup artist, Angela Levin called upon Chanel products to create Sandra Bullock’s fresh faced look by applying a sumptuous amount of Chanel Rouge Coco Lip Colour in Mademoiselle topped with Chanel Glossimer in Braise.  Beautifully does it.