this weekend’s look

I’ve sort of fallen in love with this look from the Clements Ribiero A/W 12 show. As far at catwalk beauty looks go, I’m not often sold. With cropped hair and a kit of well-used make-up staples, ironically I don’t ever stray too far from my signature look prefering instead to hoard huge stocks of wacky make-up in the spare room for those ‘just in case’ moments (aka fancy dress parties). This, however, is look I’m coveting hard. With some stealth kirby gripping I might even be able to pull of the headband too. As I just LOVE to repeat, the very talented and be-tattooed Mr James Pecis once told me that with my floppy fringe I might even be able to work that iconic milkmaid plait from the Narcisso Rodriguez perfume ad (that I am reserving for my wedding day when, miraculously, I will suddenly have long hair, obvs) with the right degree of expertise. So pulling on a jersey band and backcombing the crown for this should be a doddle. I’m not sure Sam McKnight, who created the look for Pantene Pro-V would put it quite that way…
The press release says he applied Pantene Classic Ultra Strong Mousse to wet hair, focusing on the top and sides of the head, before drying backwards with a round bristle brush. Followed by a little backcombing and teasing out of just the right amount of tendrils for a beautifully unhinged look (a concept anyone battling London’s current tirade of wind and rain is sure to appreciate).

Regarding lips, I already own a hot matte pink I think might work – the girls-love-it-boys-hate-it Nars Lipstick in Schiap, £17.50, but Illamasqua’s new shade Eurydice, £15.50, or Neon Pink from Bobbi Brown’s new Neon & Nude collection (on counter this month I think but can’t see online as yet) could both be contenders. As for skin, play it down, step away from the bronzer and if you’re going the whole hog run a little pressed powder through your brows to tone them down so your lips remain the main focus. Dare you.

Images courtesy of www.saschabreuer.com & vogel note

life after lip balm

Just a quickie today because a) I’m struggling to keep my eyes open and b) it’s Friday! So, I present to you a pair of patent strawberry lips courtesy of moustacheod snapper Terry Richardson and a little, some might say controversial, lip care advice from Notting Hill’s finest facialist (to the likes of Sienna Miller and more…) Una Brennan.

If, like me, you have seventeen lip balms and ointments secreted amongst various carrying vessels and drawers about your house because on a cold day, your lips resemble those of Gillian Anderson’s Miss Haversham in the recent BBC adaptation, this’ll make the hairs on the back of your neck bristle. However, if you’ve got the metal to give it a go you could save a fortune in balms and beeswax, not to mention the new found space in your handbag.

The lip commandments, according to Una…

“Use lip cream instead of lip balm for 3 weeks, morning and night, and NOTHING on your lips during the day.

Every 3 nights brush gently in circular motions with a soft bristle tooth brush.  Your lips will become drier even cracked throughout the 3 weeks, avoid licking them (!!!! How?).

By 3 weeks you will have weaned yourself off your lip balm addiction and your pout will return to its natural plumpness.  Dry lips will be a thing of the past so it is well worth persevering.”

 

being bobbi

A few weeks ago I came across this Q&A with Bobbi Brown in November’s Vanity Fair (Johnny Depp cover) and ripped the page out to remind me to write about it….and promptly lost it in my somewhat disorganised office. Luckily, Bobbi herself has posted the interview here, so you can also have a read. I think she comes across pretty well. The part about how she got into the business is really inspirational for budding make-up artists and I love to think of her at home donning her clogs for a reality check, though I can’t quite imagine how her kids felt when she danced on stage with Flo Rida. ‘Yes mum, you may be a cosmetic behemoth and the artistic genius behind the no-make-up make-up look (as a concept, selling slap to people who want to look like they’re wearing none is pretty clever, right?) but that doesn’t mean you can bust moves like Beyonce’. We’ve all been there….

I also wanted to post a picture of Bobbi’s new 1991 lip palette launching to celebrate 20 successful years in the beauty business. Back then I was only eleven and what I knew about lipstick could be written on the base of a dewberry lipbalm, Bobbi, on the other hand, was already launching her first range of iconic lipsticks. I challenge any girl not to find a flattering shade amongst this crack kit of colours, ten original brown-based (in Bobbi’s opinion the most universally flattering tone for all skin types) lip colours along with ten new statement shades for the power pout generation. As palettes go, I’m not a huge fan, there’s always a colour/formula you just don’t get on with that sits collecting dust reminding you of the wasted expense, but I think Bobbi’s might just convert me.