Diary of a Fashion Mister

How Fame Met Fortune

2011-12-14T07:48:00.000-08:00

How Fame Met Fortune..

I'm currently dying over LA-based comedienne Fortune Feimster. Unashamedly Rubenesque, and an open and happy lesbian (go Fortune!), it's marvellous that such a talented and merrily self-deprecating woman is getting prime time exposure on a hit comedy show like Chelsea Lately. Having already gained a cult following with her hilarious stand up shows, she has created two comedic characters that are of special note; Darlene Witherspoon, a deliciously grotesque Hooters waitress with some "special" talents (see the video below for details of her full repertpoire), who boasts of often being asked if she is related to A-List actress Reese (love it):

Lastly we have Katina the Pole Dance Instructor "y'all know how Katina roll. What!"

Not only did she help her man Snoop Dog to write the lyrics to "Drop It Like It's Hot", she's also something of a rising fashion star, just check out that "Von Douche" bag:

Some Like It Haute

2011-12-06T08:24:00.000-08:00

Some Like It Haute..

Back in September, I was booked to do a shoot for the fabulous Yoanna Hanchard, Founder and Director of High Fashion Society, a cult online fashion portal and multi-tiered virtual club that sells (and sources) a treasure trove of pre-loved designer clothing and accessories, in addition to offering a variety of styling services.

The theme was "vintage glamour with a twist", with an emphasis on "moody eyes" and "perfect lips".

I'll do a separate post with my memories of the shoot, behind-the-scenes pics and info on the make-up I used to create the two key looks.

For now, here are the pics, I hope you like (just click on them to view the image full size).

The Aquascutum check skirt and yellow quilted Chanel 2.55 purse have been sold..

Louboutin's sell like hot cakes on the website..

This paisley print silk maxi dress from Etro is so Florence Welch (it is available to purchase together with the blue Galliano shoes)..

This vintage Chanel silk scarf and black quilted clutch are currently available..

This black Hermes Birkin bag is no longer available..

This black Celine alligator clutch is still available, together with the blue/black Herve Leger bandage dress..

This Temperley London gown is still available..

This red boucle tweed jacket from Chanel is still available..

Photographer - Kelly Mitchell

Assistant Photographer - Doug

Model - Georgie Hobday @ Profile Model Management

Stylist - Yoanna Hanchard

Assistant Stylist - Zara Hovelsas

Hair - Joel Benjamin

Make-Up - Sebastian Brown

The team shot at Hotel Verta, Battersea, London

www.hotelverta.com

Join High Fashion Society to gain access to a highly covetable array of the finest designer merchandise

www.highfashionsociety.com

Absolutely Fabulous

2011-11-30T11:13:00.001-08:00

Absolutely Fabulous..

I have to admit, I'm one of those people who is terrible at remembering names, but it's rare that I forget a face. So it was with some surprise, that when reading a press release about a splendid new tome entitled Fashion Fabulous London 2012, that I instantly recognised the "sartorial uniqueness" of milliner Tracy Rose.

I often used to see Tracy (pictured above), a tabloid picture editor's dream, adorned with one of her own, larger-than-life, attention-grabbing creations on the London Fashion Week circuit. All I can say, is that this lady makes Donatella Versace look understated.

But, and this is a BIG but, what I, and indeed most people love about London's fashion scene, is that it's a bit bonkers. Tracy, and indeed anybody else, could quite as easily look at my style of dress on any given day and like, or dislike what they see. One of the privileges of living in this uniquely tolerant, omni-cultural and fashion-forward city, is that to an extent, you can wear what you like without most people batting an eye lid.

I may not like Tracy's outfits, but I do see how much Press coverage she has accrued over the years at horse racing events, and boy is she a smart cookie. It's a brave woman who has obscenely-long acrylic nail extensions painted to match the various colours in her outfit. Talons so long they'd give Freddy Krueger size envy.

To be fair, what fun would the races be without all the champagne-sipping, people-watching and outfit scoring?? Lady Gaga, Rihanna, Katy Perry and Nicki Minaj have all adopted ultra-zany ensembles as part and parcel of their cartoonish Pop personae, and they're sitting front row at the couture shows while I type alone in my bedroom. Clearly, someone is having the last laugh, and FYI, it's not me.

Hats off to Tracy, and her husband / co-writer and journalist Russell Rose (pictured above), for their new tome, Fashion Fabulous London 2012 is an accomplished and comprehensive guide to London style. Encompassing everything from the best of the city's markets, quirky independent urban retailers, and high street chains, to the heady glamour of Bond Street's boutiques, the book even advises on the most modish cafes and restaurants. Addresses, telephone numbers and website addresses are all provided. The couple devised a list of their Top 200 destinations, with an additional key serving as an indicator of "wow factor", choice, service and price.

As a fellow fashion insider, I was keen to see whether some of the less obvious shopping destinations I frequent had been documented. Indeed they had been, Aquascutum, Aspinal of London, B Store, Beyond The Valley, Dover Street Market, Harrods, Harry's of London, Jaeger, Kokon to Zai, Liberty, Maison Martin Margiela, River Island, Selfridges, Stephen Webster, Topman, Turnbull & Asser, Unconditional and Zara were all present, not to mention markets such as Brick Lane, Spitalfields, Portobello, Greenwich, East Street and Camden. Even some of my favourite dining spots and watering holes made it into print, with classic haunts such as The Ivy, Claridges, Nobu and the Wolseley all receiving a well-deserved name check.

An Amanda Wakely catwalk shot from the back cover.

A Jil Sander boutique shot from the back cover.

Fashion Fabulous London 2012 is priced at £12.99, available at Waterstone's, Harrods, Selfridges, Oliver Bonas and all major bookstores.

Swagger Jagger

2011-11-13T08:16:00.000-08:00

Swagger Jagger..

Sir Mick Jagger, The Rolling Bones front man (Rolling Stones) and uber icon of music and style has inspired one of my favourite tracks right now.

"Moves Like Jagger" is a definite departure for Maroon 5, with the band's front man Adam Levine admitting the new sound was a commercial risk (but given the amount of air play the song's getting, it's fair to assume the risk paid off).

A genre-defying blend of funk, R&B, pop, rock and dance, the track's music video concept and direction was left in the more than capable hands of Jonas Akerlund.Akerlund's previous music video credits include the Prodigy's "Smack My Bitch Up" and Madonna's "Ray of Light", making him the go-to man for cutting edge and progressive visual imagery.

The track features a Ruben-esque Christina Aguilera, who brings her mega-lung, little-lady-big-sound to the mix. The video itself is a riot to watch, with various Jagger imitators taking to a large stage to strut, prance and rock-out in various 70's style outfits. Levine channels Jagger in a pair of hip-hugging uber skinny black trousers (bare chested naturally), while Aguilera's styling seems to reference Rolling Stones babes Bianca Jagger and Anita Pallenberg in a Biba-esque / Ossie Clark ensemble accessorised with a wide rimmed floppy black felt hat. It's worth mentioning that the majority of the extras look like they escaped from a) Woodstock, b) a 70's Fleetwood Mac concert or c) Cameron Crowe's Almost Famous (one of my all time favourite films). The styling in the latter is superb, with Kate Hudson the epitome of bohemian chic in a series of diaphanous chiffon outfits, punctuated with shag-tastic fur trimmed Afghan coats (Yeah Baby Yeah).

Adam and the artist formerly known as X-Tina doin' their thang

Now, a look at Jagger and friends over the decades:

Marianne Faithful and Mick circa the 60's

Mick and Bianca circa the 70's

Anita Pallenberg and Keith Richards circa the 70's

Andy Warhol and Mick circa the 70's

A Warhol print of Mick circa the 70's

Mick and Jerry Hall circa the late 70's / early 80's

Mick flanked by Keith Richards (who seems to be spoofing his signature posturing and pout)

The iconic Rolling Stones Hot Lips logo

The Rolling Stones Hot Lips logo immortalised in this equally iconic piece of bijoux from uber-jeweller Solange Azagury Partridge (sigh).

The making of Maroon 5's Moves Like Jagger (featuring Christina Aguilera), directed by Jonas Akerlund

The official music video of Maroon 5's Move Like Jagger (featuring Christina Aguilera), directed by Jonas Akerlund

Sweet Like Chocolate

2011-04-19T15:08:00.001-07:00

Sweet Like Chocolate..

There are Easter Eggs and then there are Prestat Easter Eggs. Founded by Antoine Dufour, who created the first truffle in 1895, the uber-luxe traditional confectioner have hatched five fabulously exquisite eggs in time for Easter.

The Easter Parade Collection has been packaged in the most beautiful array of boxes, with illustrations by renowned artist Kitty Arden. The brand's trademark gold and bright pink swirls dominate, with each ribbon wrapped, gold-foiled egg nestling on a luxurious bed of fuchsia tissue.

Cadbury's this is not! And at a mere £25 per egg, this delectable offering effortlessly fuses high style, exceptional quality and, in my opinion, value for money. It's worth purchasing the eggs for the boxes alone, which double as a fabulously chic vessel in which one may house jewellery, trinkets, personal letters and the like. For the collectors amongst you, I'd recommend purchasing all five flavours as an investment (if you can resist indulging in the contents that is).

Pictured at the top, is the Rose & Violet Creme egg. Crafted from the finest dark chocolate (71%) and filled with Prestat's legendary Rose & Violet Cremes (beloved of both my father and my late grandmother), which it has been producing for more than a 100 years.

Billy Tallon, the late Queen Mother's steward, intimated that Her Majesty was a lifelong ardent fan of these particular delights: "They travelled everywhere with her, even aboard the Royal Yacht". It was this very fondness that led Her Majesty to award Prestat her Royal Warrant.

I've tested the Milk Chocolate egg (in the name of journalism naturally), and I have to say it got me through a recent case of bronchitis. House bound for five days, I was feeling terribly under the weather, and this gem was the source of immense gastronomic pleasure. More than just a feast for the palate, the very act of unwrapping the egg, which in the manner of a Russian doll, revealed treasure after treasure, was in fact a complete sensory treat.

Opening the vividly patterned box, revealed a gold foiled egg, wrapped in the prettiest turquoise grosgrain ribbon seen outside of VV Rouleaux. While the exquisitely stylised packaging is a delight in itself, the egg housed two assortments of Ganache truffles, white chocolate and milk chocolate, the final surprise in this chocolate treasure trove.

The Dark Chocolate egg also houses an assortment of Ganache truffles, ideal for ardent fans of traditional rich chocolate. I'd say this is the perfect option for the chocolate purist.

For the modern chocolate fans, the Sea Salt Caramel egg provides something a little bit different, along the lines of Montezuma's and Lindt's chilli chocolate or Lindt's and Green & Black's ginger chocolate.

A new recipe taking chocolate fans by storm, the softest sweet caramel infused with a hint of sea salt fills the finest dark chocolate (71%).

If you prefer your chocolate especially grand (and with an added kick), the Marc de Champagne egg should be your go-to option. Crafted from velvety milk chocolate and packed with Marc de Champagne truffles, this is, without doubt, the perfect option for the man or woman who appears to have it all. Among the most popular truffles sold in Britain, the are ubiquitous at state banquets and first nights, where they are served to monarchs, dignitaries and stars of stage and screen.

All five eggs are crafted from a selection of cocoa beans from Sao Thome, Tanzania and Ghana, all of which are part of Prestat's Trading Fairly ESOKO initiative.

The Prestat Easter Parade Collection eggs are priced at £25 each, available from:

www.prestat.co.uk

www.harrods.com

www.selfridges.com

www.liberty.co.uk

Menage A Trois

2011-04-18T17:21:00.000-07:00

Menage a trois..

Good things come in threes, so the old adage goes. This is certainly the case with Lait Sensoriel Aux 3 Fleurs (Sensory Lotion With 3 Flowers) from Lierac Paris. I've always been a die hard fan of French beauty brands. Darphin, Decleor, Carita, Nuxe and Yon-Ka are all regulars in my bathroom cabinet (now joined happily by Lierac).

For me, moisturising is less of a beauty habit and more of a necessity. Together with regular exfoliation, it is the key to maintaining supple, hydrated skin. Through winter, I tend to favour richer body butters and oils, which I like to massage into my skin after a shower or bath to seal in essential moisture. But through spring and summer, as the weather gets warmer, I tend to swap my richer body and face products for lighter formulations.

I've been using the Lierac Sensory Lotion with 3 Flowers for a few weeks now, and I have to say, its light, easily absorbed and non-greasy texture (together with its heavenly scent), make it an absolute joy to use. London can be terribly humid in the warmer weather, and there's nothing worse than the clingy feeling of one's shirt sticking to one's back after slathering one's self in too rich a body cream. Thankfully, this wonder doesn't leave a greasy film or residue on the skin, it just does what it promises, ie provide lasting hydration.

This is definitely a product I'd recommend, and would be ideal for holidays. The hypnotic exotic floral aroma leaves skin sensually scented, delighting the olfactory senses. On the design front, the product's tube is an aesthetic dream, chic and pleasingly minimalist in design, sporting a floral motif that Gabrielle Chanel no doubt would have approved of. A welcome addition to any bathroom / handbag / suitcase.

The Active Ingredients

Moroccan Argan Oil, rich in Essential Fatty Acids, anti-oxidant Vitamin E, polyphenols and carotenes, conditions the skin and protects against environmental aggressors.

Grapeseed Oil is a potent anti-oxidant, protecting against environmental aggressors. Rich in Essential Fatty Acids, it has a conditioning and restorative effect on the skin. Its lightweight texture makes it a popular carrier oil in aromatherapy massage formulations, as it penetrates easily into the skin.

Sweet Almond Oil is especially rich in Essential Fatty Acids. Another favourite for aromatherapy and facial oil blends, it has a softening and hydrating effect on the skin, while anti-oxidant Vitamin A and Vitamin E protect from environmental damage.

Hazelnut Oil is packed with a host of skin-friendly vitamins, including anti-oxidant Vitamin A and Vitamin E. Highly nutritive, there's nothing like it for soothing and softening the skin.

Gardenias were a favourite with Jazz icon Billie Holliday, she adorned her hair with them, and they became as iconic as her voice. A key note in many a classic perfume, gardenias hale from the tropical forests of southern Japan and are noted for their subtle fragrance and toning and relaxing properties.

The camellia was Gabrielle Chanel's signature flower, and remain as much a Chanel icon as their tweed boucle jackets, quilted leather 2.55 bag, gilt chains and pearls. Originating from China, its Essential Fatty Acid rich oil makes it superbly nourishing, soothing, softening and protecting for the skin. Dual-purpose, it also restores shine, softness and vitality to the hair.

Another staple fragrance note, Jasmine is native to the Indies and Egypt. Rich in anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory flavonols, Jasmine Absolute is a key ingredient in many anti-ageing skin preparations. Delightfully fragrant, it has a relaxing and harmonising effect on the mind and body, while also strengthening and beautifying the hair.

Lierac Sensory Lotion With 3 Flowers - £19.00

www.lookfantastic.com

www.selfridges.com

020 7620 1771

Strictly Confidential

2011-04-13T15:35:00.000-07:00

Strictly Confidential..

Last week I had the immense pleasure of meeting Lisa Eldridge, one of my biggest beauty heroines, at a Chanel make-up and fashion preview. Even more alluring in person (if that's possible) than she is on camera in her oh-so-fabulous make-up tutorials, meeting her literally made my day. If you're not already familiar with her fabulous website/blog, then I highly recommend checking it out (www.lisaeldridge.com)

The big buzz on the Chanel beauty front is the launch of their fabulous new Chanel Make-Up Confidential website (http://chanel-makeup-confidential.chanel.com)

Solely dedicated to Chanel make-up, this online multi-media destination has been created to satiate our appetites for every aspect of Chanel beauty. From interviews with Peter Philips, Creative Director of Chanel Make-Up, to fabulous tutorials from Lisa Eldridge. The content will change regularly, to showcase the very latest launches and news from the brand, ensuring we all have our fingers on the pulse.

I wasn't sure what to wear, it being my maiden voyage into the hallowed corridors above Chanel's New Bond Street boutique. Given the brand's Parisian origins, I thought I'd channel Gallic chic and opted for a vintage Lanvin dress shirt (acquired from my father - thanks dad), an Ungaro waistcoat (catwalk sample), Westwood harem trousers (catwalk sample), limited edition Lacoste shades (press gift) and some Zara plimsolls (picked up before my holiday in Barbados last Summer), accessorised with a chocolate suede Chris&Tibor bag (press gift).

Getting ready was a bit of a crisis, I felt like one of those flustered women in the movies who try on four outfits before settling on the perfect one for their big date (men have wardrobe issues too, even former stylists). So when I settled on the winning look, it was something of a relief. Having found my fashion mojo and with the sun shining gloriously in the sky, I was ready to pop my Chanel cherry.

I was thrilled to see Glamour magazine's Beauty Director Alessandra Steinherr when I arrived. Always brimming with warmth, she gave me a kiss when she saw me, and we had a quick catch up. On noticing my ensemble, she was quick to remark that she wished she'd made more of an effort, but quite frankly when you're as naturally beautiful and effervescent as she is, you could wear a bin bag and still steal peoples' hearts.

Alessandra and I have history, as we worked together in my first magazine role, back when I was a freelancer at Cosmopolitan magazine and she was the magazine's Beauty Director. I sat opposite her on the fashion/beauty desk, and we bonded one day when she asked me where she could source Venetian masks from and I solved her shoot crisis by sharing that Angels Fancy Dress on Shaftesbury Avenue was her go-to destination, and so a friendship was born. Ever since that conversation, we chatted about everything from make-up and skincare to Balenciaga, and it was clear we had much in common. In fact she, along with make-up artist Daniel Sandler, are the two people I credit for inspiring me to move into the beauty world and become a make-up artist, after a two year stint as the Style & Grooming Editor for GT Magazine.

History aside, once we'd caught up (and I'd recovered from super stylist Katie Grand tripping over my foot), I had the opportunity to briefly quiz Lisa about Chanel's Summer 2011 make-up collection, specifically what she loved most, together with application tips. But before we touch on that, she introduced me to the world of Chanel Make-Up Confidential and her genius make-up tutorials for the website (which are exclusive to the website and won't be appearing on her website or You Tube channels).

In one of the videos, she demonstrates how to apply the "better than skin" Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua foundation. This cult product is something I have used on many of my own clients, many of whom have gone on to snap it up, as it is so delightfully sheer in consistency, yet somehow manages to make the skin look flawless without feeling like you're wearing foundation at all. In the second video she creates a fabulous look using the exquisite Ombres Perlees De Chanel 5-colour eye shadow palette, together with other products from the Les Perles De Chanel Spring 2011 collection (including my other die hard favourite, the Black Pearl nail varnish).

Current uber-model Monika Jac Jagaciak, is the face of the Les Perles De Chanel Spring 2011 make-up collection. Peter Philips chose pearls as a theme as one of the things Mademoiselle Chanel loved most about pearls, was their power to really illuminate the face. All of the products in the collection have pearlescent qualities, in various hues and nuances reflecting the variety of natural pearls.

Chanel think of everything, notice the Chanel pearls, flanked by the Chanel Le Vernis in Black Pearl on the left (just seen) and Pearl Drop on the right (just seen). This was the backdrop to Lisa Eldridges' tutorial on how create the new season face using the Les Perles De Chanel Spring 2011 collection.

The three pearlescent nail shades from the Les Perles De Chanel collection, Black Pearl, Pearl Drop and Peche Nacree.

A model from the Chanel SS11 ready to wear show sporting the super chic and edgy Les Perles De Chanel smokey eye. Notice the eyeliner drawn down the hair parting - trend alert!

I'm obsessed with the Ombres Perlees De Chanel eye shadow palette, the creamy consistency of these shades is divine, experiment by layering the colours on top of each other to create multi-tonal, dimensional effects that truly illuminate the eyes like nothing else. The paler shades on the left double as fabulous highlighters for the cheekbones, brow bones, inner corners of the eyes and cupid's bow.

French national treasure and Chanel muse Vanessa Paradis is the face of the Rouge Coco Shine lipstick collection. She wears the Boy shade, a subtle nude pink that is an effortless everyday option. The cocoa butter in this lipstick makes is delightfully nourishing on the lips.

With so many shades to choose from, there really is something for everyone. My personal favourite is Rebelle, a fabulously punchy coral red that will look divine with a tan come summer. If you want to try red lipstick but are scared of a densely pigmented formulation, this is definitely one to try.

Forever innovative, Chanel debuted a photo booth service when launching the Rouge Coco Shine lipsticks. Having purchased the shade(s) of their choice, customers were treated to a fabulously fun photo booth experience. The machine took four shots, I've posted my favourite above. I liked the play on the word "Boy", above my head, which of course was the shade worn by Vanessa Paradis in the campaign, and sported by some of the models on the Chanel ready to wear SS11 runway.

I love that the theme music for the Rouge Coco Shine video on the Chanel Make-Up Confidential website is Boys and Girls by Blur. Again, referencing the Boy lipstick shade from the collection. Chanel are so rock n' roll.

A shot of the Chanel Make-Up Confidential opening page.

The divine Lisa Eldridge, rocking a Chanel cuff.

A shot of Lisa's "How To Do The New Season Face" video.

A shot of Peter Philips' inspired robot Chanel make-up video. Here it is in all its glory if you haven't already caught it on You Tube:

Lisa's Summer 2011 Favourites

Lisa waxed lyrical about the new blush/bronze compacts. She suggests using the three bronzer shades as a contour, blending the blush shade across the apples of the cheeks to enliven the complexion. The compact is available in two shades, one light, one dark.

Light

Dark

The new nail colours in Beige Petale (nude pink), and Lisa's hot tip for summer, Magnolia (canary yellow).

Lisa was incredibly sweet and offered to model the Magnolia shade for me - what a lady!

The Morning Rose nail shade (candy pink), flanked by a new eye shadow duo (loving the metallic khaki green shade).

Register on the Chanel Make-Up Confidential website to be alerted of all Chanel Make-Up news. Just be careful, or like me, your Chanel addiction will spiral out of control. I blame Coco!

http://chanel-makeup-confidential.chanel.com

Bling When You're Winning

2011-04-13T06:19:00.000-07:00

Bling When You're Winning..

I know I posted about Kabuki and myface.cosmetics not so long ago, but the legendary make-up artist (and Artistic Director for myface) has been wizarding up so much Kabuki magic of late, that I couldn't help but be inspired.

Not only is he the official make-up artist for Kylie's incredibly well received Aphrodite tour, he also created three "out of this world" looks for Katy Perry's E.T. music video.

The video is directed by one of my favourite image makers of all time, Floria Sigismondi. Floria has been responsible for a host of memorable music imagery, having directed Christina Aguilera's "Fighter" video, The White Stripes' "Blue Orchid" video (starring possibly my favourite supermodel Karen Elson), not to mention shooting the stunning artwork for the divine Siobhan Donaghy's "Ghosts" album. She also directed last year's cult film The Runaways, about legendary female rocker Joan Jett and the eponymous band, starring Kristen Stewart as Joan.

Sadly, the E.T. video features Kanye West, who despite his musical genius, really ought to be issued with a restraining order when it comes making any sort of public commentary, be it at high profile awards ceremonies or on Twitter. The artist formerly known as "nut job" has kept the world's Press (and no doubt his poor PR team) busy with memorable acts of lunacy, such as storming the stage at the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards to interrupt Taylor Swift's acceptance speech for the award of Best Female Video, to proclaim:

"Yo Taylor, I'm really happy for you, I'm gonna let you finish, but Beyonce had one of the best videos of all time."

Wow Kanye, how gracious of you..

More recently, on the subject of abortion, he ranted on Twitter:

"An abortion can cost a ballin' n*gga up to 50gs maybe a 100. Gold diggin b*tches be getting pregnant on purpose. STRAPUP my n*ggas!"

Hmm, "getting pregnant on purpose"? Is it just me or is contraception as much the responsibility of the male as it is of the female? And as for his use of the "N" word, for an African American, he seems to be painfully unaware of the slave trade origins of that hideous word. I think he ought to spend some time with US Vogue's Andre Leon Talley, a man so cultured and eloquent, he could start his own finishing school for rappers.

Katy Perry is smart, amusing and has a charming coquettish streak a mile wide, so why collaborate with an unsavoury chap like Kanye? Katy, next time the record label suggests you collaborate again, please say no. On the plus side, in the E.T. video, Kanye is seen floating through space. If we're lucky, Katy left him there (without Twitter access).

Mass-censorship of Kanye aside, let's get back to the glory of Kabuki, and his fabulous looks for the E.T. music video.

Pictured above are Kabuki's sketches for the Alien and Faun looks. A quick Google search online led me to some fabulous tips from Kabuki himself on how to re-create these looks at home (though maybe best saved for Halloween or fancy dress parties).

The Faun Look

"Create graphic eyebrows with a flat angle brush (try the Illamasqua Eye Brow Brush) dipped in dark brown powder (try Illamasqua Powder Eye Shadow in Wolf). Fill in the inner brow and extend the line straight out into a thin spike."

"Use myface mymix foundation in medium 01 (also used for the base), applied with a flat brush to perfect the outline and to mask the real brows (try the Illamasqua Foundation Brush)."

"Fill in the lower inside eye with a soft black pencil (try the myface high def eye pencil in black). Blend into the lashes and taper off into points at the inner corners. Line the upper lash line with black liquid liner (try the Illamasqua Precision Ink in Abyss) and extend the line outward to mimic the line of the new brow."

"Use medium and dark brown powder as a shadow (try myface eyetouch/soulful shade trio in a whole latte love), sculpting the eyelid into the inner brow, and blend the lower line down in a graceful curve, following the bridge of the nose. Use myface r&b rouge blusher in sweet escape to soften the edges and the black liquid liner to sharpen the inner point (try the Illamasqua Precision Ink in Abyss). The lashes are curled (try Shu Uemura eyelash curlers), coated with black mascara (try the myface upload lashes mascara in black), with winged false lashes applied to the top lashes (try the "Nicola" lashes from the Eyelure Girls Aloud lash collection)."

"Create the faun-inspired spots on the forehead and cheekbones with a medium brown concealer, a dry consistency works the best (try the Illamasqua Concealer in CC 320). Start with the larger shapes and work outward to the smaller ones. With a myface high def eye pencil in brown (pictured above), outline the shapes. Use a white pencil (try the Illamasqua Medium Pencil in Elate) to continue the shapes under the outer eyebrow."

If all these written tips leave you confused, why not watch this hilarious You Tube tutorial from AndreasChoice (as posted on Twitter by Katy Perry). I'll post each of her tutorials after every corresponding set of tips from Kabuki:

A shot of a faun-hoofed Katy, hand in hand with her albino alien lover (of the moment male model Shaun Ross) in the closing scene of the video.

These hoof shoes from the late Alexander McQueen's final Darwin show could have been a great accessory choice for the final scene, saving on a lot of CGI expenses (had Lady Gaga's stylist Nicola Formichetti not already used them in her Bad Romance video).

The Alien Look

"Take a bright pink cream foundation (if you can't find one, try a matte lipstick such as Illamasqua's Lipstick in Atomic) and begin to fill in the temples, jaw line, cheekbone to under eye, and in between the inner eyebrow and eye lid. Use a fluffy foundation brush to blend the pink into the white cream (try the Illamasqua Highlighter Brush and white Cream Foundation in CF 100)."

"With a royal blue cream make-up (try the Illamasqua Lipstick in Disciple) define the upper crease of the eyelid and blend outwards and upwards until it wings out the eye in a kind of Egyptian style. Set with powder as you did with the pink (try the pink Illamasqua Powder Eyeshadow in Virus and the blue Illamasqua Powder Eyeshadow in Sadist). Using the same cream, paint a blue border framing the face, making it look like a mask."

"Apply the myface diamonds&pearls blingtone to the upper lid and line the lower water line with white pencil liner (try the Illamasqua Medium Pencil in Elate), extending the line all the way to the edge of the brow. Paint a tapering line of electric blue liquid liner (try mixing the Illamasqua Powder Eyeshadow in Sadist with the Illamasqua Sealing Gel, painting on the with the Illamasqua Angled Eye Liner Brush) under the lower lashes and give it time to dry. Use the myface upload lashes mascara in black on the top and blue mascara on the lower lashes (try the Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Lash Multiplying Volume Mascara in Violet). Apply 3/4 of a false lash to the middle of the lash line (try the Shu Uemura Partial Soft Cross False Eyelashes)."

"Fill in the lips with a dark violet eyeliner pencil and matching lipstick (or just use the Illamasqua Lipstick in Disciple again). Highlight the centre with metallic violet eye shadow, such as the myface blingtone in purple haze)."

Here is the AndreasChoice video tutorial from YouTube:

Loving the Chinese Ming Dynasty style nails.

Why not coordinate the diamonds&pearls blingtone Kabuki used on Katy's eyes for this look with the the corresponding nail colour shade, lil'bling in diamonds&pearls.

Perhaps Lady Deathstrike from X-Men 2 inspired the nail look from the video?

Or maybe they owe their origins to Lo Pan from Big Trouble in Little China?

Katy Perry's stylist for the video Carol Beadle, created the ensembles for the Alien and Tribal looks (the Alien look is pictured above).

She referenced jellyfish and amoebas as inspiration.

The late Alexander McQueen's Darwin collection also paid homage to the beauty of aquatic life.

The Tribal Look

"To create the bold red/orange rectangle around the eyes, I used tape to help mark off straight edges and a broad flat square brush (try the Illamasqua Lipstick in Flare and the Illamasqua Foundation Brush)."

"The eyes are decisively outlined with the myface high def eye pencil in black and black cream eyeliner (try the Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Liner in Black). The inner and outer corners are extended a little and squared off for a digital effect. Large orange Swarovski crystals (try the Sunset Hotfix Rhinestones from amourrocks.com) are used in the centre of the forehead and on the edges of the rectangle around the eyes, like bookends. Lash glue is the best way to apply them (try Duo false eye lash glue). I glued them ahead of time onto a fine orange mesh (try the "Tulor" orange tulle from cheapfabrics.co.uk) and applied it as one piece rather than individually."

"With a flesh coloured pencil (try the Illamasqua Medium Pencil in Hex), lightly sketch a geometric design onto the face. I made stencils ahead of time when I did it on Katy. However, they simply served as a guide; they were all done freehand. Using a light pencil will help cut down on mistakes. Then go over with a navy blue eye pencil (try the Illamasqua Medium Pencil in Please)."

"The lips are nude with a slight lavender tint (try filling in lips with the Illamasqua Medium Pencil in Hex and following with a dot of MAC Lustreglass in Flashmode applied to the centre of lips)."

Here's the AndreasChoice YouTube tutorial for this look:

Here's Madonna sporting a similar look in her "Nothing Really Matters" music video in the late 90's. I call this her Geisha phase, as it is well documented that at the time, she was lobbying to get the lead role in the film adaption of Arthur Golden's best-selling novel Memoirs of a Geisha. The lead role of Sayuri was eventually won by Chinese actress Ziyi Zhang, who was supported by leading Chinese star Gong Li and Malaysian actress Michelle Yeoh. The lack of Japanese actresses cast in lead roles created quite a storm, given that the story is set in Japan, focusing on its legendary Geisha heritage.

The second clothing look stylist Carol Beadle created for the E.T. video, again, inspired by jellyfish and amoebas. Loving the Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon pose.

See the resemblance?

A shot of Katy cosying up to hot albino male model du jour Shaun Ross. Albino models are quite the trend of late, as Illamasqua featured a stunning female albino model in the campaign for their Spring/Summer 2011 Toxic Nature make-up collection.

Shaun doing his thing on the cover of Vogue Africa. This shot reminds me of a famous Diana Vreeland quote. Legend has it, that on first meeting Somali supermodel Iman, she remarked "now that's a neck".

myface.cosmetics

mymix foundation in medium 01 - £12.99

high def eye pencil in black - £6.99

high def eye pencil in brown - £6.99

upload lashes mascara in Black - £10.49

eyetouch/soulful shade trio in a whole latte love - £9.99

r&b rouge blusher in sweet escape - £9.99

blingtone in diamonds and pearls - £9.99

blingtone in purple haze - £9.99

lil'bling in diamonds and pearls - £5.99

www.myfacecosmetics.com

www.boots.com

Girls Aloud by Eyelure

Eyelure Girls Aloud Lashes Nicola - £5.36

www.boots.com

Shu Uemura

Eyelash Curlers - £20

Partial Soft Cross False Eyelashes - £15.50

www.shuuemura.co.uk

Estee Lauder

Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Lash Multiplying Volume Mascara in Violet - £22

www.esteelauder.co.uk

Illamasqua

Eye Brow Brush - £18.50

Powder Eye Shadow in Wolf - £15.50

Foundation Brush - £26

Precision Ink in Abyss - £17

Concealer in CC 320 - £13

Medium Pencil in Elate - £13

Lipstick in Atomic - £15.50

Cream Foundation in CF 100 - £21.50

Lipstick in Disciple - £15.50

Powder Eye Shadow in Virus - £15.50

Powder Eye Shadow in Sadist - £15.50

Sealing Gel - £10.50

Angled Eye Liner Brush - £16.50

Lipstick in Flare - £15.50

Medium Pencil in Hex - £13

Medium Pencil in Please - £13

www.illamasqua.com

MAC

Lustreglass in Flashmode - £12.50

www.maccosmetics.co.uk

Laura Mercier

Laura Mercier Caviar Eye Liner in Black - £18.40

www.beautique.com

Amour Rocks

Sunset Hotfix Rhinestones "SS-30" (144 x 6.5mm stones) - £5.25

www.amourrocks.com

Cheap Fabrics

"Tulor" Orange Tulle - £1.99 per metre

www.cheapfabrics.co.uk

Smooth Operator

2011-03-31T07:41:00.000-07:00

Smooth Operator..

Harrods has been satiating the needs of its discerning clientele for some time with their uber-luxurious By Appointment personal shopping service. Now, courtesy of cult beauty brand NUBO (Pixie Lott and Kylie are fans), the exclusive (and oh-so-clever) Beauty by Appointment concept is bringing personally tailored beauty to you, via the Harrods Beauty Apothecary. For one week each month, those in the know (yourselves included you lucky devils), will be able to select a bespoke NUBO beauty treatment from a capsule menu, catering to every possible skin concern, from boosting radiance and deep cleansing to banishing fine lines and wrinkles.

The menu consists of five exclusive treatments, though these can be combined to create a bespoke, tailor-made service, to satiate your specific needs at the time:

NUBO Oxygen Surge (Ideal for sensitive skin)

A reparative treatment for devitalised, distressed or damaged skin that delivers an instant plumping sensation. A two part facial to plump and heal the skin, using NUBO's innovative oxygen plasma mask (created with NASA technology no less), followed by a treatment to repair and restore damaged or tired skin.

NUBO Cryolift Facial (Ideal for anti-ageing)

A new concept facial to stimulate and reboot the skin's ecosystem. The proven technique of cooling shock therapy kick starts the skin to reduce lines, lift and plump. The heating, then cooling creates an immediate tightening and lifting sensation. This is the perfect treatment for tired or unbalanced skin.

NUBO White Diamond Radiance (Ideal for brightening)

Diamonds are forever in NUBO's new facial to improve uneven pigmentation, skin tone and brightness. Using innovative methods, White Diamond Radiance instantly penetrates deep into the layers of the skin to create unrivalled luminosity that is visible immediately.

NUBO Jet Facial (Ideal for deep cleansing)

NUBO's turbo-powered, deepl cleansing, rapid results facial for young or oily skin types. The combination of unprecedented exfoliation and NUBO's detox mask leaves skin feeling smooth, cleansed and super charged.

NUBO Black Tie Men's Treatment (Exclusively for chaps)

All the facials described above are suitable for men, however, NUBO's Black Tie treatment specifically addresses all the unique characteristics of men's skin: razor irritation, dry and patchy skin. This treatment imparts a calming and soothing sensation on the skin. The perfect treatment for a NUBO man.

Being a friend of the brand, I had the privilege of popping into the Harrods Beauty Apothecary to see what all the hype was about (and boy was I glad I did).

The minute I caught sight of expert facialist Caroline Htchcock, I knew I was in safe hands. Being a make-up artist, I'm a firm believer in living and breathing my work. I'd have alarm bells ringing in my head if my hair stylist had a dodgy barnet, and by the same token, I'd be some what unsettled if my facialist had awful skin. Caroline was the complete antithesis of this, her skin literally glowed as if she had a mega watt light bulb inside her. It's my job to notice things, my friends don't call me "hawk eyes" for nothing, as there's very little that escapes my attention, especially when it comes to one's appearance. Caroline obviously attended the Audrey Hepburn school of beauty as she is immaculate from head to toe, from her perfect LBD and shoes, to her pristine hair, perfect brows, artfully applied make-up, chic dark nails and pore-less skin. Put it this way, if Gabrielle Chanel were alive today, Caroline would be her personal beautician.

I'm normally staunchly against cosmetic surgery (unless it is so good that you can barely tell). On examining Caroline's exquisite features, I couldn't help but notice that she didn't have one line on her forehead. For the sake of honest journalism, I discretely asked her if she's had any botox, to which she intimated that she had (in her forehead), together with a little filler in her cheeks. I don't know who did her work, but whoever they are, I must state for the record that they are the Rembrandt of injectables, because Caroline is a walking masterpiece!

Now before you all start thinking that I'm rude beyond imagination, my query wasn't solely to satiate my own inquisitive nature. NUBO have just launched their hot new Post-Injection Treatment (currently exclusive to the Harrods Beauty Apothecary), which promises accelerated recovery for distressed skin. As I haven't had any botox or fillers, I wanted to know if Caroline had tested the product herself after one of her treatments, and if so, what effect the product had on her down time. She admitted that the localised bruising she experiences after botox usually takes a week to heal, but that applying the Post Injection Treatment in the morning, throughout the day, and last thing at night, reduced her down time from one week to two days (how incredible is that).

She told me that the secret to the product's efficacy was the Vitamin K and Vitamin P content, together with the lacto-peptides, which work in tandem to rapidly soothe irritation and restructure the connective tissue (I knew there was a reason Tatler has been buzzing about this gem of a product). Caroline also shared that the product is ideal to tackle a variety of skin complaints head on, ranging from high colour and rosacea to broken capillaries and acne, working on all fronts to swiftly calm the skin and minimise redness. Given that the NUBO by Appointment facials are a modest £50 for 50 minutes (fully redeemable against NUBO products), I'd suggest snapping up the Post Injection-Treatment, which quite frankly is a bargain at £48!

But I digress - let's get back to my fabulous facial. I have to admit, blogging about all things beauty means I spend an inordinate amount of time in front of a laptop, which not only sucks every drop of moisture from my skin but also leaves me with dark circles (how attractive). Caroline could see that I needed a boost, so she designed a bespoke treatment just for me, combining the Oxygen Surge and Cryo Lift treatments to instantly boost my lacklustre complexion.

My 50 minutes of fabulousness commenced with Caroline cleansing my face with the Velvet Cleansing Cream, which, just as the name suggests, leaves skin feeling a smooth as velvet, thanks in large part to a nifty line banishing and collagen boosting tri-peptide. Wheatgerm and coconut oils restore optimum elasticity and replenish moisture levels. This cleanser is so divine that I'm using it on a lot of my high end make-up clients in Urban Retreat at Harrods. Actually, the entire NUBO line is so heavenly that I've started to rely on it as frequently as other super-luxe brands in Urban Retreat, such as Creme De La Mer, Sisley, La Prairie, Rodial, Elemis and Omorovicza. One of my clients from Hong Kong was so enamoured with the cleanser when I prepped her skin with it today, that she snapped it up on the spot.

Given my naturally oily skin, I'm a huge fan of twice-weekly exfoliation. If I don't exfoliate regularly, I can guarantee that I'll get breakouts. Similarly, anything relating to microdermabrasion gets my vote, as there's nothing better to instantly brighten the complexion, diminish fine lines, and prep skin for nourishment. Given this information, you can imagine how much I enjoyed the Diamond Peel & Reveal treatment. This uber-luxurious two step, at home microdermabrasion treatment contains micronized diamonds (how chic). I can't stand exfoliators with large grains, which inevitably drag on the skin, causing more harm than good. But the micronized diamond particles in this product duo are so minute, that you get the most satisfying exfoliation.

To date, my favourite microdermabrasion treatment had been one I'd had at The Refinery, but this at home treatment knocks The Refinery's professional treatment out of the park. Once you've massaged The Exfoliator (containing the diamond dust) into the skin for a couple of minutes, you then add The Activator (containing fruit and lactic acid suspended in gel form) for the optimum in skin smoothing and brightening (in minutes). I used this on the aforementioned client from Hong Kong today as her skin was dry, dull and flaky from frequent flying and sun exposure, and I was amazed at how smooth it left her skin. When I cleaned her face after massaging both products into her skin, the cotton pads literally came away a dull grey colour (all the dead skin cells had been removed, paving the way for a host of nourishing NUBO treats).

Once Caroline had sloughed off all my dull dead skin with the Diamond Peel & Reveal, she gave me a little modern "Mummy" treatment, wrapping my face in hot towels infused with peppermint oil, to warm my facial muscles and open my pores.

I have to admit that this part of the treatment was amazing, the heat from the towels was so comforting, it was like being enveloped in a peppermint oil cocoon! Up until this point, I'd been bombarding Caroline with questions, but it was it this point that I finally shut up and started to enjoy the experience.

Having warmed my facial muscles with the hot towels, Caroline then treated me to the most amazing face, scalp, neck and shoulder massage with the NUBO Bien-Etre Serum. This divine holistic oil is infused with juniper essential oil, known for its detoxifying properties, expressed with lemon, lime and vanilla oils, which combine to, as the name suggests, impart feelings of Bien-Etre (well being). The first thing that hits you about this oil is the incredible "green" scent. It is so sharp and invigorating, immediately clearing the mind of any worries or stress.

I'm not known for being especially quiet (the term motor mouth could have been coined for me), but you can see here, that Caroline's massage skills had me on the brink of slumber (why go Buddhist when she can get you to Nirvana in well under 50 minutes). She is resolutely petite, with the physical stature of David, and the strength of Goliath. I couldn't believe how strong her hands were, I felt like a piece of melting putty in her superbly capable hands. Having hit the gym especially heavy that week, my neck and shoulders were as stiff as a board and full of painful knots, but Caroline expertly kneaded away every lump, leaving me in a state of bliss.

There's nothing less satisfying than booking in for a massage, only to have a therapist pussyfoot around from the task at hand, but Caroline approaches massage like a commando, she goes in for the kill, getting the job done line a pro. I'd book in with her again solely on the basis of her massage skills. I find it incredibly hard to switch off as my mind is so over-active, but somehow, she was able to relax me in a way that I've never experienced before. She told me that she also practices Reiki, when customers are receptive to it.

I'm a huge fan of all things holistic and definitely believe in alternative therapies. I can't help thinking that this marvellous woman has magic hands. Whether it was energy flowing from her finger tips, or just exceptional skill, she is far more than just a typical beauty therapist. As she massaged the pressure points on my brow and temples, just as she had done with my neck and shoulders, she intuitively read the areas where I was harbouring tension, as if she were reading braille with her finger tips. With just the right amount of pressure, I felt my energy channels unblocking, releasing all the pent up tension and anxiety I'd been manifesting for goodness knows how long.

Having rendered me almost unconscious with her expert hands, it was time for me to experience NUBO's hot new Cryo Lift Face Mask (launching this summer). Ginger and Peppermint oils combine to stimulate blood flow, simultaneously warming and cooling to invigorate the complexion, as well as the senses. Having placed some cooling cotton pads over my eyes, she smoothed the mask over my skin, and proceeded to massage a high tech device over my face, emitting sonic waves to aid the mask's active ingredients to penetrate deep into the deepest layers of the skin. Though odd at first, the subtle buzzing sensation was strangely soothing. The mask is without doubt stimulating, I could feel a strong tingling sensation all over my face, it was as if my skin had woken up from a deep slumber and had been electrocuted into life.

Once she had removed all traces of the Cryo Lift Mask, it was time to boost my complexion even more with NUBO's Plumping Oxygen Boost. The technology for this groundbreaking serum is derived from NASA research no less. The world renowned aeronautics institute created the technology for this serum, initially to ensure the optimum skin health of astronauts in space. Skin cells rely on oxygen for optimum healthy function, but as there is no oxygen in space, NASA created this oxygen plasma especially for astronauts. NUBO being the cutting edge brand that it is, purchased this technology from the NASA scientists, and formulated it into a cosmetic serum. The first thing you notice when it comes into contact with the skin, is a bracing icy sensation, it's almost as if you can feel it pumping life into your skin. As my skin was already tingling from the peppermint and ginger oils from the Cryo Lift mask, the Plumping Oxygen Boost was especially bracing.

This mask was also accompanied by a crazy gadget, this time, a mini pen that blew a cooling jet of oxygen all over the face. Caroline paid special attention to my under eye area, which was especially dark due to fatigue and a build up of toxins.

To tackle my dark circles and the beginnings of dreaded crow's feet, she smoothed NUBO's Cell Dynamic Eye Focus Cream around my eyes. Beloved of The Daily Mail, Hello! and Instyle magazines, this wonder eye cream tackles every concern that we have about our eyes, from dark circles and lines to sagging skin, thanks to a potent cocktail of Vitamin P (combats broken capillaries), Pro Vitamin C (to instantly brighten shadows), neuro-peptides (has a botox effect on lines), tri-peptides (boost collagen production to plump hollows under the eyes) and tetra-peptides (to further tighten the skin).

To help combat redness from my blemishes and to accelerate the healing of pigmentation from former blemishes (thanks to a terrible habit of squeezing my occasional pimples), Caroline smoothed the Post-Injection Treatment over my skin.

I'd been rushing around attending beauty launches all day, and hadn't drunk as much water as I ought to have done, so you can imagine my lips were rather dry. To combat this, she smoothed the collagen boosting, natural capsicum infused Instant Lip Perfection treatment over my lips, which has a delightfully moist, balmy texture. I regularly use the superbly conditioning and minty Creme De La Mer lip balm to soothe my clients' chapped lips, but I use the NUBO Instant Lip Perfection on clients in search of an instant lip plumping effect. It's great to have options, at the end of the day, I use the products best-suited to my clients' specific needs at the time. It's all about bespoke beauty.

As I had to dash off to another beauty launch later that day, she smoothed a little of the Voile in Shade 5, Tan, over my skin, to act like a tinted moisturiser / primer hybrid, to diffuse fine lines and imperfections. This divinely silky primer is so good that I now use it on all of my make-up clients at Urban Retreat in Harrods. I apply it to my clients' faces after the Cell Dynamic Day Performance SPF 20 (using a foundation brush to apply both, to further enhance penetration and efficacy). I swear by both for creating a perfectly smooth canvas on which to apply flawless, airbrush effect foundation that lasts all day.

The only low point of this treatment, was the fact I had to get off the treatment bed afterwards. Walking to Mayfair to make my next appointment was some what of a challenge, given that Caroline had left me so relaxed that I could have happily gone to bed and not woken until the next morning. On the plus side, my skin was so radiant, I was able to get away with just wearing the Voile (which for the record, is super sheer). I had brought my make-up bag with me but didn't even need to apply my tinted moisturiser and concealer, which just goes to show how dewy and glowy the treatment had left my complexion. I suggest clearing your schedule after your treatment so that you can truly relax and make the best of Caroline's legendary skills.

Velvet Cleansing Cream - £28

Diamond Peel & Reveal - £65

Plumping Oxygen Boost - £80

Cell Dynamic Eye Focus - £180

Post Injection Treatment - £48

Instant Lip Perfection SPF 15 - £38

Voile - £40

NUBO Beauty by Appointment is £50 for 50 minutes, available at Harrods Beauty Apothecary, 8th - 21st May with expert facialist Caroline Hitchcock.

To reserve your place, call the NUBO counter on 0207 730 1234 extension 3285

www.nubobeauty.com

www.harrods.com

www.urbanretreat.co.uk

www.beautique.com

The G Spot

2011-03-25T07:16:00.000-07:00

The G Spot..

I was pretty intrigued when my friend Andre e-mailed me info about Vanessa G's fashion debut. For one, the show venue was the Whitehall Banqueting house (FYI the venue is typically reserved for large-scale media awards ceremonies), so I knew from the get go, that this was to be no run of the mill event. A lot of fashion brands would usually pick a miniscule venue off the beaten track in the depths of Shoreditch to showcase their premier collection.

There was no way anyone in the media was going to miss out on this spectacle. Firstly, the PR's sent out an e-invite, followed by a postal reminder, which in turn was followed by a rather large red perspex invitation, together with two "admit one" perspex cards. My fashion spidey senses were well and truly tingling. Who on earth is Vanessa G and what is this all about?

My attempts to find a website were to no avail (her website has now launched), all I could find were blog articles buzzing about the forthcoming event.

According to her Press bio, Vanessa G (aka Vanessa Gounden, pictured at the top, in one of her own signature floral print trench coats) is a "formidable entrepeneur, with business interests spanning Africa, Europe, and the Asian subcontinent. She is arguably one of the most successful businesswomen in the mining sector on the African continent, and her other interests include Healthcare Services, Financial Services and Lifestyle and Leisure". Already, it's clear to see that this is no ordinary fashion debut, but the plot thickens. On reading the paragraph above, it's easy to assume that this is just another trustafarian or rich divorcee creating a little fashion diversion with which to amuse herself, but her life has not always been one of privilege.

In the late 1800's, Vanessa's grandparents left India for the shores of Africa to work as indentured labourers on the sugarcane plantations of South Africa. Her early childhood memories include helping her family, on their small holding, cutting and preparing roses for sale to the florists in the district.

As the dreaded apartheid state swept Africa in the 1960's, and segregation by race was tragically enforced, Vanessa and her family were removed from their home and livelihood, and forced to reside in a dormitory township with minimal facilities. This hideous chapter in Vanessa's life sparked her political awareness, so it is no wonder that in the years preceding South Africa's first democratic election, Vanessa played a pivotal role in the country's Trade Union agreement, thereafter serving in Nelson Mandela's administration in 1994.

Her experience of working with Mandela galvanized her business acumen, inspiring her to commence her own commercial activities, from the humble surroundings of her bedroom desk (I wonder if Annie Lennox and Aretha Franklin's "Sisters Are Doing It For Themselves was written about Vanessa), it would be a fitting theme tune none the less.

Vanessa's extensive travels exposed her to various forms of art, be it community based or the work of young emerging talent. This, together with her belief that dress sense should reflect one's inner beauty and confidence, led to her venture in the world of fashion.

I don't know about you folks, but am I the only one sensing Hollywood film material here (or at the very least a New York Times best selling book). Calling Frieda Pinto!!

At this point, I have to add that Vanessa walked past me at her launch on Wednesday evening, looking petite and radiant in a pewter coloured sheath. I wasn't sure if it was her at first, but the impossibly tall security guard with the discrete ear piece who was escorting her kind of gave it away! Furthermore, she was resolutely devoid of attitude, flashing me a lovely genuine smile as she passed (and for the record, she looks far more beautiful in person, the Press shot of her does her little justice). Naturally, when she took her turn on stage at the end of her show, my earlier suspicions were put to rest. The lady herself, had in fact glided right past me before her show. How fabulous!

There's something about Vanessa's story that immediately resonated with me. Though I haven't experienced apartheid per se, racism is something that I most definitely lived through for a large part of my childhood and adolescence. My father is Scottish, while my mother is half Ethiopian and half Eritrean (Vanessa and I share the African connection). At the age of five, I relocated with my parents from Oman (my birth place), leaving my international school and settling with my parents in rural Northumberland, attending a private school there. Given that we were literally in the sticks, my mother and I were, without doubt, fishes out of water. It took me a great deal of time before I was able to make friends, with our neighbours calling me a "Paki", not bothering to find out what my ethnic origin actually was. Later, when I was sent to boarding school at 9, I was called a "nigger" on my first day at school. I recall my headmaster telling the boy who'd hurled the insult at me, that it wasn't a very nice thing to say, and that was that.

Furthermore, when I was given my first taste of Scottish bonfire night (and the subsequent joke telling around the fire as our marsmallows melted), I was treated to the lovely experience of having quite a few kids from the school take their turn in standing around the fire, and uttering such comical gems as "What do you call two Ethiopians in a body bag? A Kit-Kat", which was soon followed by "How do you get a million Ethiopians to jump off a cliff? Throw a can of baked beans over it". My response was to cry. I didn't hear any children stand up and make jokes about white people, and being the only child of colour at the school, I felt targeted. Oddly enough, we're talking about the late 80's here, at least 20 years after apartheid, yet clearly, racism in Britain was still strong. When I asked my headmaster how it was acceptable for people to say things like this, he turned to me and said "it would be no different if you were fat or ginger". Nice!

Later, in the 90's, when I attended another prominent Scottish school on the outskirts of Edinburgh, my peers would often force me to eat my meals alone, moving along the benches at the dining room tables, proclaiming that there was no space for me (though magically creating space when children of their own ethnicity needed a seat). And so it came to be, that in a dining room filled with over a thousand students and teachers, I would sit at a table alone, crying into my food, wondering what on earth was wrong with me. Progress? I wonder? Thank goodness then for people like Vanessa.

The Advance Press Shots

I've copied a selection of my favourite advance Press shots of her garments below, I feel they represent the essence of Vanessa G.

The sheath dresses were some of the standout winners from the collection. Channelling Hitchcock femme fatale chic (think Grace Kelly and Tippi Hedren), with elements of Erdem and Peter Pilotto (digital prints / draping / sculptural silhouettes), of all the pieces on show, these were the ones that are destined to sell in their droves.

The blouses were also very on point, immaculately tailored in sensual, fluid silk, whether rendered in metallic neutrals or digital florals, they are the perfect addition to any stylish woman's wardrobe. Team with one of Vanessa's knockout high waisted trousers or pencils skirts, or dress them down with a skinny or high waisted 70's flared jean in a dark indigo wash (teamed with skyscraper heels naturally).

What woman could live without her go-to LBD? Putting the "Result" into result dressing, sharply cut, chic numbers like this are simply a wardrobe staple. I especially love the sculpted torso, flattering pleat details and opulent detailing (after all, who says black has to be boring). From cocktails, to dinner, to parties or the red carpet, an LBD will work hard so you don't have to. Black takes statement jewellery especially well, so channel Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's, and go OTT with the bijoux.

The Champagne Reception

The Hors d'oeuvre were insanely delicious, I couldn't keep away from the smoked salmon (with champagne flowing so freely, protein was essential). I especially loved the waitress serving delicacies from an ornate birdcage (doesn't everyone?)

The attention to detail was impressive, note the floral print carpet runner (clearly, red carpets are passe)

The Celebrities

The champagne reception was buzzing with news of the celebrities in attendance. I was rather chuffed that I'd positioned myself in an ideal spot to not only observe everyone in the room, but also to get photos of the celebrity guests as they passed (whom I have to add, were all incredibly gracious and forthcoming about having their photograph taken).

My first (and possibly most exciting) encounter of the night, was with Jade Jagger. What a supremely cool woman, she literally slinked towards me like a seductive panther (with no entourage may I add), and when I asked politely if I could take her picture, she flashed the kind of smile that would literally turn a gay man straight (trust me, she exudes a palpable sexual charisma), and posed without a second thought. She remained within my vicinity for about five minutes, chatting happily away with friends, then flashed me yet another smile as she departed. Love her!

Getting a photo of Emila Fox was a little trickier. I'd spied her minder flanking her all evening (a lovely PR lady, wearing some rather funky geek chic glasses). I'd seen her PR before, helping Emilia navigate the red carpet at the BAFTA's (actresses of Emilia's calibre invariably need protection from over-zealous journalists and paparazzi). So when it happened that the PR and I headed to the cloak room at the same time to get our bags after the show, I politely enquired as to whether she was looking after Emilia that evening, and whether it would be possible for me to take a photograph of her client for my blog. It's amazing how helpful people can be if you ask them something politely. After enquiring what the name of my blog was (and responding "cute" on hearing the name Diary of a Fashion Mister), I was able to follow her to Emilia, the PR worked her magic, and low and behold, her photograph is now on my blog. How glad am I that my grandmother forever drilled into me at a young age that "manners maketh man".

Sophie Ellis Bextor was so shy when I asked her for a photograph. Poor thing, I'd imagine navigating her way down the hall must have been an experience akin to dodging all the beauty sales people spraying perfumes in a department store, yet again, after just a moment's hesitation, she politely obliged, posing for the shot above (thanks again Sophie, it is much appreciated). She looked stunning in this metallic Vanessa G sheath (bonus points for the statement jewellery and neon clutch), punctuated with minimal make-up and a slash of her signature liquid liner (her twinkling feline eyes are divine). Sophie and her husband Richard Jones (of The Feeling) were on the decks at the after show party (at least they were according to the Evening Standard, I didn't stick around as I had four beauty launches to attend the next day and needed my beauty sleep).

It wasn't difficult spotting the Burberry model Poppy Delevigne, with her coltish legs, flowing blonde locks and honeyed skin, she doesn't exactly blend in! Naturally, I zoomed in and asked for a photograph, to which she happily obliged. (FYI she was wearing a Vanessa G pewter sheath (in the same fabric as Sophie's), accessorised with a Burberry Prorsum SS11 leather jacket and ankle boots).

Noelle Reno is one of those girls who are difficult to label without slashes. The model / socialite / Zandra Rhodes business collaborator / professional girlfriend of the uber-rich deserved a photo because she is supremely gorgeous (bonus points for the immaculate make-up / blowdry and nude patent Louboutins, which offset her minutely proportioned digitally printed shift dress to perfection).

What launch would be complete without Henry Conway? He and his father have had a terrible time with the mainstream Press, but for the record, he is a lovely chap with such an effervescent personality. It's no wonder he has party invites coming out of his ears, he'd be a welcome addition to any soiree and was delightful to converse with, all be it briefly. He even went so far as to politely excuse himself when he wanted to disappear outside for some air (what a gent).

Konnie Huq looked lovely in this mustard chiffon blouse and indigo skinny jeans with nude patent platforms and tan leather Mulberry Alexa bag. She did make me giggle though, when I asked her if I could take her photo for my blog, she assumed I wanted a photo WITH her, so there was a brief awkward moment where I had to explain that, although I was definitely a fan of her outfit, the love affair ended there! However, Fashion Mister isn't a meanie, so Konnie gets bonus points for being such a sweetheart.

The other celebrity guests of note, were models Jasmine Guinness and Jade Parfitt, actress Naomie Harris and legendary 80's club promoter Philip Salon (while uber-editors Shelly Vella and Hershey Pascual led the media posse).

The Show

Whoever art directed the show was clearly a genius, as the theatre created by the set and sountrack was phenomenal, the perfect backdrop to the film noire showcase. There was little doubt that the natural world was a huge source of inspiration for the delectable prints and textiles, as the laser projections displayed rivers, forests, iris blooms and the sky (amongst many other wonders of the natural world).

Rivers

Flowers

Azure Skies

Fashion Mister Loved

I loved the feminine draping and sculpted shoulder detail in this digital floral print top. The printed pencil skirt balances the look perfectly.

The craftmanship in the top is more evident in this close up. Heaven! Note the retro beehive (with that of-the-moment frizzy texture), punctuated with Cleopatra eyes (all the more poignant given Elizabeth Taylor's sad death), and the deep pink/red matte lip.

There were some beautifully tailored pieces in the show. On the left, a floral print blouse/trouser combo looks super feminine, while on the right, the pewter 3/4 length jacket, blouse and trouser combo is the sort of thing power women the world over would love to rock up to the boardroom in (if Vanessa G had been around in the 80's, you just know it would have been Sigourney Weaver's go-to wardrobe option in Working Girl).

How cute is this blouse? It's a shame the collection was AW11 as I think a fair few women would want to rock this piece NOW!

This dress is like something out of The Stepford Wives or Valley of the Dolls, I love the retro 50's shape and gorgeous print.

"All right Mr. De Mille, I'm ready for my close up"

Love this shift dress, the sleeve length is infinitely more forgiving than the the cap-sleeved styles on show (which realistically couldn't be worn by many women, other than perhaps Anna Wintour, Victoria Beckham and Mary-Kate Olsen). The draping across the torso and clever use of volume on the hips means that this piece would flatter a more voluptuous figure, while adding curves to a slimmer frame. Genius! Gorgeous print too, just so, so pretty.

This piece would work especially well on the typically pear shaped British woman, the A-line bell shape of the skirt would skim fuller hips, nipping in the waist to create a beautiful silhouette. Note the embellished hosiery (a must-have from the show, I hope they go into production).

Some of the skirts veered dangerously into granny territory (low points were the A-line mid calf length skirts teamed with cropped jackets, far too Driving Miss Daisy for my liking). The printed skirt above however, is borderline sexy and vaguely reminiscent of Maggie Gyllenhaal in Secretary. Hot (in a Prada governess kind of way).

Another sizzling shift dress from the show. I love the exposed zip at the back. It would be a life saver when explaining the Vanessa G credit card bill to your partner. I can imagine women turning to their husbands/lovers and seductively asking mid-argument "darling, could you unzip me". Problem solved!

www.vanessag.co.uk

Lights Camera Action

2011-03-16T18:57:00.000-07:00

Lights, Camera, Action..

Yesterday I, and three other leading British style and beauty bloggers, had the honour of being invited to QVC, courtesy of the uber-successful natural skincare brand Liz Earle. I woke up at 8am and treated myself to a DIY mineral mud face mask and OPI manicure, wanting to look camera ready for the day ahead. The invitation promised us an exclusive behind the scenes tour of the QVC studios, a glimpse of Liz Earle and the resident QVC experts presenting live on TV, a meet and greet opportunity with Liz Earle herself, and personal presenting coaching from resident QVC host, Simon Biagi, and QVC Guest Excellence Trainer, Tina Halvorsen, together with our own QVC screen test. Talk about a once in a lifetime experience!

I was so nervous on my way to QVC headquarters at Marco Polo House in Battersea, a stone's throw from Battersea Power Station, that my hands were sweating. In hindsight, I suppose it was half excitement at the prospect of the day ahead, and half terror of doing a screen test. I really shouldn't have worried so much, as the Liz Earle and QVC teams were the loveliest bunch of people you'd ever care to meet. From the moment I walked into reception, I was received by the female receptionist with such a warm welcome, she even complimented me on my signature fragrance, asking what it was, to which I replied; "Czech & Speake No.88". After a friendly chat about the events that lay ahead, I spotted my friend and fellow blogger Priya Sonn of "www.beautywowza.com" sitting in the reception's seating area. She introduced me to Candida from "www.hellcandy.com", who was sitting beside her, and after we had become better acquainted, Ronke Adeyemi of "themusingsofondolady.blogspot.com" soon joined us and we were all chatting away like old friends.

We were soon met by Andrea Kengelbacher, the in-house PR and Social Media Manager for Liz Earle, together with other members of the Liz Earle and QVC teams, who led us upstairs to the QVC cafe and seating area. Andrea and I have had a friendly e-mail relationship going on for a few months now, but we had never met, so it was lovely to finally meet face to face. One thing I immediately noted about the entire Liz Earle team is that they are not only incredibly warm, they all have amazing skin too! After a little investigating, I found out that when they receive their pay slips each month, they also get a batch of complimentary Liz Earle products (they also get to test out all the new products before they launch, so it's no wonder they are all glowing ambassadors for the brand). They also told me that the Liz Earle headquarters on the The Isle of Wight is a resolutely eco-friendly building. It is powered by geothermal energy, uses rainwater collected from the roof for its conveniences, and even has "smart lighting" that switches off when there is no one in the room. In a recent blog feature about Liz Earle Naturally Active Men's Skincare's 5th Anniversary, I had mentioned that the brand was "green by name and green by nature", and this information only served to highlight that fact. In fact, it was a case of significant milestones all round, as the brand was also celebrating its 15th Anniversary of partnering with QVC.

We were encouraged to take advantage of the hospitality on offer (a yummy selection of pastries and refreshments), and take advantage we did, soon joined by the delightful QVC Guest Excellence Trainer Tina Halvorsen. Though a veteran of television, Tina really seemed to be quite ageless in appearance. She had barely a line on her face, with a smile that melted away all our nerves and eyes that twinkled with warmth and vitality. Her hair and make-up had been done immaculately and she was dressed to the nines, she truly represented all that you'd expect from a seasoned media professional. She introduced herself, asking us all our names and asking us if we'd been to QVC before (none of us had), before whisking us away for a magical, behind the scenes mystery tour of the QVC sets.

First stop was the production crew area, where staff were busy booking models for upcoming segments, there were rows of model cards lining one wall, which reminded me of my years as a stylist and style & grooming editor! Next up was a prep room, where little trollies are loaded with all the products used for each segment. She told us how products like Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish would be pumped in advance, so that when they were demonstrated by the presenters and models live on TV, there would be no embarrassing moments (such as the product not coming out). It's amazing how much detail goes into the production work. They even have sheets of paper with timings allocated to each product, so that the presenters and producers know exactly how much "on air time" each product will get, so the segments run like clockwork. While in this room, we were introduced to QVC hosts Miceal Murphy and Charlie Brook, who were busy prepping for their own upcoming live segments.

After chatting briefly with Miceal and Charlie, we were introduced to two resident chefs who were busy prepping food for the kitchen segments. It all looked delicious and very tempting, but alas we had to move on, as next up was an exclusive look at a live segment with QVC host Debbie Greenwood, who was presenting a slot on Bearpaw Boots (similar to Uggs). She was channelling Pocahaontas in a rather fetching black wedge boot with fringing (the Bearpaw Sundown Tassel Wedge Boot), and within minutes of saying hello to us, she literally had to grab her handbag on the edge of the set and run to another set for a different segment (this really gave us an insight into how crazy the pace can be). Ever the professional, she breezed off set as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Once Debbie had dashed off to her next segment, we were ushered through to watch Liz Earle hosting a live segment, with one of her gorgeous in-house models demonstrating the Cleanse & Polish ritual. It's really quite remarkable that these models will literally cleanse and polish their skin all day, yet their skin never looks red or raw, quite the opposite, they seem to age backwards, as if by magic, literally glowing from within like a human light bulb (as good a reason to snap up the product as any I'd say). We even got to stand inside the producer's room and watch her talk to the hosts via their ear pieces, orchestrating live calls from Liz Earle customers. One caller admitted to having been an avid fan of the Liz Earle range for 15 years. 15 years! How amazing is that? Talk about brand loyalty. She said that after trying Liz Earle, there wasn't any other skincare regime she would use, and even talked to Liz about a recent segment she'd watched, where Liz had extolled the benefits of mixing Cleanse & Polish with the Brightening Treatment Mask, for a DIY at home illuminating treatment with a difference (the camphor oil in the Brightening Treatment causes blood to rush to the surface of the skin, imparting an instant glow). Last stop on the tour were two of the "at home" sets, designed in a similar vein to traditional living rooms, used to showcase home wares and electrical goods such as cameras. After our enlightening whistle stop tour, Tina led us back to the QVC cafe and seating area, where Simon got to know us all a little better, with Liz Earle herself joining us straight after her live segment, for a personal meet and greet and photo opportunity.

Here's a lovely shot of myself and the other bloggers in the QVC cafe seating area, joined by QVC host Simon Biagi. Pictured left to right is: Candida, Ronke, Priya, me and Simon.

The team had laid out a gorgeous continental breakfast spread for us, with bespoke Liz Earle mini chocolate muffins on sticks, shaped like mushrooms, coated in icing rendered in the signature Liz Earle duck egg blue, with a miniature blue rose on top. We were also treated to tea, coffee, pastries, juice, mineral water, fruit smoothies and champagne. I'd already had poached eggs for breakfast, as I'd wanted to fuel up for the morning ahead (kick off was 10:30am), so I stuck to the delicious fruit smoothies and mineral water. I was asked to do the honours and open the champagne, and as lovely a gesture as it was, I rarely drink alcohol (especially with the prospect of being filmed in a couple of hours). Similarly, the notion of eating pastries left me with dread, as tempting as they were, as I was concerned that I'd end up with flakes of pain au chocolat and croissants between my teeth (not a good look for photos, let alone TV). Watching one of the stunning in-house Liz Earle models doing the Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish routine live on the plasma screen didn't help with my nervous anticipation, she made it all seem so effortless.

I couldn't help but act like a complete tourist while we were sat upstairs. The team kindly allowed me to take as many snaps as I liked, so I was busy clicking away with my digital camera. The scale of the QVC building is just spectacular. The first thing that struck me about the architecture was the amount of natural light, courtesy of the glass atrium. It really is a magnificent structure, it made you feel so small. In terms of ambience, all the natural day light really boosted your mood, there was such a sense of optimism.

The QVC motto: "Engage, Enrich, Embrace", truly communicates everything that Tina taught us about the QVC presenting style. Both she and Simon explained that the primary demographic of the TV channel is older women who watch in the comfort of their homes, so it is paramount that the hosts have a warm manner, just like a friend. Simon even added that to many of the viewers, the hosts really are like friends, as the viewers will watch them for hours, day in and day out, as if the hosts were sitting with them in their own living rooms, having a cosy chat. The enrich part refers to the sharing of knowledge and expertise. All of the hosts are seasoned in their craft and areas of expertise, whether they come from media or performing backgrounds. Embrace refers to the warmth with which they deliver their commentary, it's all about relating to the viewers on a personal level, hence Simon teaching us the importance of approaching hosting as if you were talking to a friend.

Liz Earle, apparently Britain's best kept beauty secret (not anymore, the secret's out!)

The moment I got to meet Liz Earle herself. Just like her team, she glowed with health, definitely the perfect poster girl for her own brand. Being something of a style hawk, I couldn't help but notice her tiny Balenciaga purse, the zips, tassels and distressed leather were a dead give away. Throughout the day, my own attire was a source of much amusement, as I'd inadvertently co-ordinated my navy Jaeger London suit with Liz's navy jersey shift dress and heels! My Oxford blue Turnbull & Asser shirt also seemed to tone in with the duck egg blue of the Liz Earle banner we posed in front of (it must have been subliminal).

After the meet and greet with Liz, it was time for us to pair up and go to another studio for our very own QVC screen tests. Candida was first up, followed by Priya. Ronke and I chatted away merrily with Simon and Andrea, talking about everything from our media backgrounds to garra rufa fish pedicures! Once Candida and Priya were done, it was time for Ronke and I to hit the studio ourselves, with Ronke doing her segment first, followed by yours truly. It was great being last up, as I had the opportunity to watch Ronke do it all first. I listened carefully to the advice Simon gave her, soaking it all up like a sponge. Once Ronke had worked her TV magic, it was my turn to have my 15 minutes of fame (ok, so maybe it was more like 5, but you can humour me). Andrea and her colleague from Liz Earle kindly agreed to photograph me in action, hence the great action shots. Here, you can see me being wired up with my microphone by the very adept camera man. Simon made me feel so comfortable. I was super nervous at first, but he encouraged me to think of the conversation we had upstairs in the cafe, and to pretend the camera wasn't there, as if he and I were just having a cosy chat. He told me to smile, and to let my natural personality and experience shine through, which put me in the right frame of mind to tackle the daunting task at hand.

Once the camera man had slipped the mic pack inside the inner pocket of my suit jacket, and had clipped the microphone to my jacket lapel, he set to work placing the ear piece inside my right ear, so that I could receive instruction from Tina while I did my screen test.

Going back to the aforementioned colour co-ordination, my lavender Falke cashmere socks matched the Liz Earle banners in the background. I hadn't even noticed but it made the Liz Earle girls chuckle!

It's a good thing I'd had the opportunity to watch the Liz Earle in-house model doing a demo of the Cleanse & Polish earlier, as when it was my turn, I'd picked up the little tricks of the trade (I was also grateful I'd taken the initiative to give myself a manicure prior to arriving at QVC, so my hands looked good for the close up shots). Lisa was talking to me via my ear piece while I was doing my hosting, telling me that I had a lovely smile, and to smile more, which seems odd at first, but it all links back to the QVC motto: "Engage, Enrich, Embrace".

Here you can see Simon and I in the camera monitor, this is the view the camera crew get when they do the filming.

Here's me, flashing a genuine smile at the end of the screen test, you can see Tina on set, giving me the thumbs up for my performance. I felt so relieved that I'd done a good job, with Simon jokingly asking me; "are you sure you've never done this before". Both he and Tina were so kind about my debut turn as a QVC guest host, with Tina saying that I had a trustworthy manner about me that would resonate with the viewers at home. She was impressed by my beauty knowledge (maybe it was my tips on facial massage and microcirculation, I knew the beauty geek in me would be a good thing one day). She added that I was funny and that something about me shone on camera. I don't say this to blow my own trumpet, in truth I was extremely flattered by the praise, especially as both Simon and Tina are both highly respected experts in their field, so to be acknowledged by professionals of their calibre, truly warmed my heart, and made me feel like the decade I've spent honing my own knowledge and expertise has been worthwhile. I was honoured when Tina said they'd be delighted to have me back as a guest host at some point (and I really hope she meant it, because for me it would be a lifelong dream come true).

And here's my QVC screen test, I hope you all enjoy it as much as I did. I want to thank the entire Liz Earle and QVC teams for their overwhelming warmth and hospitality. With a special mention for Andrea Kengelbacher, who gave me this once in a lifetime opportunity, and last but not least, to the lovely Simon Biagi and Tina Halvorsen, for being the best coaches a chap could have wished for. I hope I have the privilege of working with you all again. For me, it would be an honour.

Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser - £13.25

www.lizearle.com

www.qvcuk.com

Let's Hear It For The Boys

2011-03-14T16:00:00.000-07:00

Let's Hear It For The Boys..

Just as the females of our species suffer with "the curse" of menstruation, us men folk have our own fair share of involuntary bloodletting in the form of our daily shave. As a chap who has been shaving since the age of twelve (I swear I'm part werewolf), I've had my fair share of "man pain". Ingrown hairs, razor rash, nicks and grazes, I've suffered them all, and as a result, I've spent most of my adolescence and adult life in search of the world's best grooming products.

As a former style & grooming editor, and in my current role of prominent British expert on the aforementioned subjects, I'm privileged to trial the best of the world's grooming products. By no means a brand snob, I believe wholeheartedly in journalistic integrity, which is why I personally test every product that graces these pages. If it doesn't do what it says on the tin, I don't write about it. End of.

Naturally, every chap is different, we have different skin types and therefore one man's pleasure is another man's poison. I'm as fastidious about the food I put in my body as I am about the products I put on my skin, which is why, given the choice, I'd always choose natural brands over mass market synthetic offerings. The overriding reason being, through my journalistic research, I've learned about the side effects of potentially hazardous chemicals such as parabens (preservatives) and SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate - a mass market foaming agent).

I appreciate that certain brands harp on about these subjects, not through a genuine desire to protect their consumers, but to jump on the "green" bandwagon and market themselves for commercial gain. However, I'm a fan of Liz Earle, because they don't blow their own trumpet, neither do they make false promises. The products I have tried have been brilliant (the men's Cleanse & Polish sorted out my pimple prone skin), feel great and smell nice to boot. When push comes to shove, surely this is all that any bloke wants from their grooming products? Fair enough, if like me, you are eco friendly, with a leaning towards holistic skincare, then yes, the brand's values will also mirror your own, which is definitely an added bonus, but when you cut to the chase, a brand's mission statement is pointless if their products don't actually work.

On the journalistic integrity front, has every single Liz Earle product I've tried genuinely blown my socks off? The honest answer is no. I do have an issue with the men's Face Scrub, reason being, I think the exfoliating pumice grains are too large and scratchy (but I will, in a polite manner, raise this with Liz when I meet her tomorrow). But no one is perfect, I certainly know I'm not. I'd like to think my friends and family love me despite my faults, and by the same token, my brand loyalty has in no way been lessened by this particular experience. The good things about cosmetic formulas, is that they can be altered. Is the keyboard mightier than the sword? Well, I'll keep you posted on that one, but given my open and honest relationship with the brand, and my considerable experience within the field of men's grooming, I've every reason to believe they'll take my opinion on board.

And while I'm on the subject of campaigning for my fellow men, it's time we said; "let's hear it for the boys", because Liz Earle Naturally Active Men's Skincare is celebrating its 5th Birthday (Happy Birthday)! In honour of this momentous occasion, I want to pay tribute to two products from the range that have quite honestly revolutionised my daily shaving routine. Having grown sick of mass market shave gels and foams that reek of gym locker rooms heavy with the stench of cheap deodorant, and formulas so packed with synthetic chemicals, you could clean drains with them (probably), I was more than a little chuffed when some natural alternatives came my way. A lot of mass market shaving formulas rely on menthol for a quick burst of freshness to mask the inherent burning sensation that goes hand in hand with the daily ritual of stripping off the top layers of your face. What they often lack however, are certified, lovingly formulated naturally active ingredients, that have a clinically proven history of not only soothing skin during and post shave, but also nurturing the skin with nutrients afterwards. If you care about your consumer, they're going to repay you tenfold with brand loyalty, and that's where Liz Earle wins. They do their research, don't place financial gain above the needs of their customers, and respect the planet (and the fluffy animals too). Granted, I'm no Rambo, but I defy any man to not feel at least a little warm and fuzzy inside at the thought of all that.

Sensitive Shave Cream

Having reviewed my fair share of traditional barbering and shaving services (at The Refinery and Gentlemen's Tonic to name just two), I'm resolutely in favour of hot towels prior to a wet shave. The Sensitive Shave Cream + Hot Cloth Kit is only £1.30 more expensive than the same product in the range without the hot cloth (I refer you back to my comments about not fleecing your customers). Granted, shaving after a hot shower or bath will also soften your stubble in a similar manner, but opt for the hot cloth and you'll give your pores (and your senses) and unparalleled sensory treat. If you've never tried it, I suggest you shell out the wallet friendly £11.50 and give it a try (at that price you can afford to experiment).

Ingredients

What differentiates this shave cream from all the others on the market? Well, for a start, there are no potential carcinogens or toxic nasties, just a host of naturally active ingredients that make for a super smooth shave, and smell great to boot. I don't know about you, but I'm like one of the Seven Dwarfs first thing in the morning (Grumpy). The uplifting and mood stabilising aroma of lavender, lemon, geranium, palmarosa and clary sage are the holistic equivalent of Prozac, turning my frown upside down, no matter how little sleep I've had (and admittedly, my preference for writing in the peace of the night means I rarely clock the recommended eight hours). Eucalyptus and peppermint oils are like a piercing ray of sunshine through the dark clouds of my morning brain fog, invigorating my senses far more effectively than the hideous caffeine habit I ditched at Christmas (and without the jitters, dehydration and irritability). Add to this the humectant properties of glycerin (it attracts moisture to the skin), and the moisturising and cell-renewing properties of D-panthenol (pro-vitamin B5), and you have all you'd need in a shaving product and a lot, lot more.

After-Shaving Moisturiser

Before I extol the virtues of this post shave treat, I'll share a little story about one of my moisturiser misdemeanours. Back when I was a style and grooming editor, mass market skincare giant L'Oreal were launching their Men Expert range. Yet with all their money and research capabilities, they managed to come up with the shockingly hideous Hydra Energetic Turbo Booster Moisturiser (still on the market, horror of horrors). I'm not the type of guy who makes a huge show of talking about "football n' birds" in the gym locker room (ok, so I'm gay and prefer tennis and yoga to football). But even if I was the quintessential alpha male, what kind of company is naive enough to market a face cream by naming it like a Formula 1 super car. Athleticism and stupidity are not mutually exclusive, and by resorting to those tactics, I feel they've hampered the evolution of the male grooming industry. More to the point, this product was the colour of Sunny Delight, that day glow orange 90's phenomenon of a beverage reviled by dentists, doctors and mothers alike. Quite probably linked to a mass increase in ADD amongst our nation's children, it was packed with colourants, preservatives and E Numbers. When the dreaded L'Oreal face cream dared to cross my editorial desk, one peek at the colour of the product (let alone its ridiculous name), was enough to raise serious question marks. Did I really want to slather my face in something that looked like the freaky guy from the Tango adverts? Hell no! Unsurprisingly, it was so heavily scented (in the Lynx vein), that it made my eyes water. It professed to be invigorating, when really, all it did was bring tears to my eyes (for all the wrong reasons).

The Liz Earle moisturiser is a simple white cream, in a simple pebble coloured bottle. No Lynx effect odour, no tears, just pleasantly comfortable, smooth and hydrated skin. It doesn't need male models, or an international multimedia marketing campaign, nor does it require futuristic packaging or a name akin to something you'd find under your car bonnet. It doesn't pander to underlying insecurities about our masculinity, it just WORKS.

Ingredients

Packed full of Vitamin E derived from avocado, wheatgerm oil and tocopherol, this cream not only moisturises (again, the humectant glycerin and pro-vitamin B5 join the skin protecting arsenal), their inherent antioxidant properties shield the skin from the damaging effects of solar radiation, free radicals and environmental aggressors (a must for city dwellers like me). GLA rich borage oil further enhances the skin soothing properties with a rich dose of essential fatty acids, self-heal extract tackles little nicks and razor burn, while lavender, clary sage and cedarwood essential oils lend it a satisfyingly masculine scent (no turbo boosters here).

Liz Earle's Top Shaving Tips..

To ensure you all get the closest, smoothest, carnage-free shave possible, Liz Earle has even thrown in some expert tips to ensure your morning shave is second-to-none (I told you she cares):

For the best possible shave, soak your hot cloth in the hottest water you can possibly stand, remove excess water and place over the beard, pressing into all the contours of your face. Leave the cloth covering your face for 30 seconds to soften hairs and open pores.
Feel the direction in which your hair grows - as a general rule this is the direction you should shave.
Use one shot of Sensitive Shave Cream and rub vigourously over your beard to help lift hairs away from your skin.
Using a sharp multi-lade razor, shave in the direction your hairs grow, using light, slow stroked to avoid grazing or nicking the skin. Whilst shaving, use your other hand to gently stretch the skin to create a flat surface for your razor blade to glide over easily.
Regularly rinse and gently tap your razor on the skin to remove hair and cream build-up.
Smooth hands over your beard to check for stray hairs and re-shave any areas you missed.
Splash your face several times with cold water to rinse and refresh the skin. Pat with a clean soft towel, leaving skin slightly damp. Do not rub as this may cause irritation.
Follow with After-Shaving Moisturiser to soothe your face. This light, easily-absorbed formula will lock in moisture, leaving skin soft, smooth and nourished.

Sensitive Shave Cream + Hot Cloth Kit - £11.50

After-Shaving Moisturiser - £16.85

www.lizearle.com

Coco For Chanel

2011-03-13T18:32:00.000-07:00

Coco For Chanel..

My impossibly chic moles at Chanel have shared some terribly exciting news regarding the new Coco Mademoiselle advertising film, directed by Joe Wright and starring leading British actress and Hollywood beauty Keira Knightley (the face of the fragrance since 2007). The fragrance currently holds the title of the UK's best selling fragrance (well you wouldn't expect anything less from Chanel would you?)

Photographer Andrew Cooper is responsible for the alluring shot of Miss Knightley (pictured above) taken from the filming of the hot new advert. Chanel have sent me an exclusive teaser of the film to share with you all. Hopefully, it will satiate your appetites until the full film debuts on www.chanel.com from Monday 21st March 2011 (in all its 3 minutes and 20 seconds glory).

As if all this weren't exciting enough, the brand have created a suitably tantalising and forward-thinking event to be held at Selfridges, London, to celebrate the launch of the fragrance. From Tuesday 22nd March - Wednesday 6th Apri 2011, a giant sized Coco Mademoiselle fragrance bottle will be housed in the world-famous Selfridges Beauty Hall (the largest luxury department store beauty-dedicated space in Europe). Measuring 5.5 metres high, 4.5 metres wide and 2.5 metres deep, the bottle will house a miniature cinema room, showcasing the new Coco Mademoiselle advertising film, together with a short "making of" film, showcasing exclusive, never seen before, behind the scenes footage.

This unique Chanel cinema will invite customers into the enchanting world of Coco Mademoiselle, replicating the decor featured in the advert (including the beautiful De Gournay hand painted gold wallpaper). Selfridges customers will then be invited on an interactive journey, navigating between the cinema, the Chanel Make-up Studio and the Chanel Fragrance Boutique, receiving luxury tokens in exchange for answering questions about the legendary Gabrielle Chanel. The token will include a luxurious Chanel music box (I'm imagining it's going to be Chanel 2.55 handbags at dawn - better get swotting up on Gabrielle folks!)

If all this weren't enough to give you the Chanel shakes, the site will retail an exclusive 200ml Coco Mademoiselle Eau de Parfum (complete with exclusive gift wrapping service, naturally).

I don't know about you, but I can barely contain myself. Is it any wonder I'm perpetually COCO for CHANEL??

www.chanel.com

www.selfridges.com

Going To See A Man About A Dog

2011-03-10T11:46:00.000-08:00

Going To See A Man About A Dog..

Hailing from Leigh-on-Sea in Essex, Lee Stafford's passion for hair was sparked at home, where he used to cut and style the hair of his friends and family, in the comfort of his mum's living room. Naturally intuitive, he displayed a precocious flair for pinpointing which cut and style would best enhance their features and compliment their unique personalities. From there, he went on to work in London's trendy Kings Road, then overseas in the US, before returning home to Leigh-on-Sea to further hone his craft and expertise.

1998 was a pivotal moment in his career, when he won the title of Men's British Hairdresser of the Year, paving the way for him to open his second salon, in London's Soho. This was the catalyst for the public electing him to join the This Morning breakfast TV program as part of their elite team of stylists, bringing his artistic flair to the attention of the masses. In 2001 he launched his eponymous women's hair care brand, and in 2002 he was honoured with what is possibly his greatest achievement to date, the title of Most Influential Hairdresser of the Year.

The accolades don't stop there (you might want to take a deep breath for this), The Fellowship of Hairdressers named him The Best British Hairdresser of 2004. He won Best Salon Design in the 2005 British Hairdressing Business Awards. 2006 was a double-whammy, he was named as Celebrity Hairdresser of the Year by the National Hairdressing Federation and Hairdresser of the Year in the Hair Magazine Awards. And he's done all this while juggling high-end editorials for leading publications such as; Harpers and Queen, The Sunday Times Style, Elle, Tatler and Vogue.

When he wasn't stacking up the trophy cabinet, he was busy with TV projects, such as BBC 3's Celebrity Scissor Hands and The Weakest Link Celebrity Special.

He has a host of celebrity clients to boot, but ever the gentleman, he won't kiss and tell (kudos to him), saying:

"I dislike name dropping. I'm committed to creating a good look for any client, whether A-List, B-List or shopping-list. I care about what I do, not who I do".

When I was invited to meet him this morning for the exclusive Press launch of his hot new product line, "Lee Stafford ArganOil from Morocco", at London's trendy Sanderson Hotel, he was as down to earth as his quote suggests. The select group of guests were a cross section of bloggers and leading editors, and he treated us all with warmth, humility and respect. Whether it was calmly answering a barrage of probing questions that would have had the Dragons Den entrepeneurs squirming in their seats, or staying behind at then end of the breakfast to answer further questions and pose for photographs, he did it all with warmth and good grace.

As a child, my grandmother always told me "manners maketh man", so he's definitely a winner in my book. His humble attitude reminds me of the famous poem "If" by Rudyard Kipling, specifically the line; "If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch". I honestly couldn't describe him more succinctly than that, he is the very embodiment of those words.

Rich in antioxidant and conditioning Vitamin E and nourishing essential fatty acids, Argan Oil (native to Morocco) is derived from the kernel of the Argan Tree, extracted via a cold-pressing technique. Lee's unique formula fuses this precious oil with Dimethicone, a fabulous conditioner for hair and the scalp, that also gives the product a super-silky texture. Lee's top tip is to rub a couple of drops of the oil between your hands, applying to wet or dry hair. For best results he suggests massaging it in after shampooing but before applying conditioner, as this is when the hair shaft is open, allowing the product to really penetrate and do its job. This product is ideally suited to colour-treated and processed hair. It's also a must for older women, as the hair loses its condition with age and needs extra TLC.

Lee gave us an exclusive preview of his new liquid-to-powder Dry Shampoo spray for brunettes, available in two shades, explaining that regular dry shampoo, given its white colour, takes longer to blend seamlessly into brunette hair. Always seeking the best in haircare solutions for his clients, he wanted to bring colour-specific Dry Shampoos to the market, as they blend into hair instantly, where as a traditional dry shampoo needs to be carefully blended (not particularly practical if you're in a rush). The Mid Brown shade is pictured above. Dry shampoos are great for reviving greasy locks, and for adding essential volume to finer hair, while the directional matte finish (Lee's top tip for future hair trends), is going to be the "next big thing".

Pictured above, the Dark shade.

My placemat, with Lee's motto, "Have fun, look wicked, smell beautiful" underneath (well, I did try my best).

The stunning roses, peonies and scented candles were all colour coordinated to match the packaging of Lee's new product line, definitely helping on the "smell beautiful" front.

Not your cookie cutter Press event, that's for sure.

Make mine a (fruit) kebab please mate.

Me with the charming Mr Stafford at the end of the breakfast.

They say every dog has its day. I couldn't think of a chap more deserving of their success than Mr Stafford.

Nourishing Miracle Oil - £11.99

Dry Shampoo Mid Brown - £5.49

Dry Shampoo Dark - £5.49

www.boots.com

www.leestafford.com

Who Wants To Live Forever

2011-03-09T17:41:00.000-08:00

Who Wants To Live Forever..

Mankind's quest for eternal youth is nothing new. From the tales of Cleopatra bathing in asses' milk to preserve the beauty and youth of her skin, to Queen Elizabeth of Hungary commissioning her own cure-all and elixir of youth, the "Queen of Hungary's Water", a botanical astringent that, according to legend, had men half her age at their knees in adoration. The first alcohol-based perfume to be recorded in Europe, it preceded Eau de Cologne, and is said to date back to the late 14th Century.

Today, in the age of Photoshop, botox and fillers, you'd be forgiven for thinking that ageing is some sort of crime, punishable by house arrest and social exclusion. If only people were secure enough in their own skin to grow old gracefully. Hollywood icons such as the late Paul Newman and Lauren Bacall (thankfully still with us), are proof that advancing in years doesn't necessarily herald the coming of Armageddon.

Many beauty brands, advertising agencies and marketeers are to blame for consumers' mass insecurity. How on earth are we supposed to feel good about ourselves when the majority of celebrities and models in beauty campaigns are either barely older than a foetus, or Photoshopped within an inch of their lives. It makes me yearn for the golden era of Hollywood. In those days, there was no computer wizardry, just artful make-up, masterful lighting and genius photography. The stars of yesteryear knew how to rock what they had. Whether is was Marlene Dietrich and her sphinx-like cheekbones, Bette Davis with those hypnotic eyes, or Marilyn Monroe with her killer curves, it was their prerogative to maximise their innate charisma, and goodness did they do it well.

If there was one major impact I could make in my lifetime, and one momentous legacy I could leave behind, it would be to impart the wealth of knowledge I've acquired in the eleven years of working in the fashion and beauty industry, to empower people to not only make the best of themselves, but to also embrace the unique and special traits that make us all beautiful. God knows I'm not perfect, who is? But with a little savoir faire, we can all learn how to not only take care of what we've been blessed with, but to also fake what we weren't.

Frankly, the quest for eternal youth is futile. The honest truth is that you are going to age. You will get wrinkles and your skin will sag, it's inevitable and it will happen to us all. But it's not all doom and gloom, it's quite likely that as your age increases, so too will your wisdom. I will be 30 this year, and if there was one message I could have given to my 18 year old self, it would be "don't spend so much time worrying about what other people think". Confidence isn't a tangible quality, but it's one of the greatest aphrodisiacs I know, and tends to make an individual innately attractive. In the Western world, it's almost like we want to age backwards. When I think of the iconic films I watched, growing up as a child, there are some poignant perspectives regarding the lengths people will go to in the quest to stop the hands of time.

One case in point is the devilishly dark comedy "Death Becomes Her" starring Meryl Streep, Goldie Hawn, Isabella Rossellini and Bruce Willis. Set in Hollywood (how fitting), the plot focuses on love rivals Streep and Hawn, who are tempted by Rossellini to part with vast amounts of money in exchange for an elixir that promises eternal youth. Both Hawn and Streep think that by rewinding the years, they will succeed in winning the object of their mutual affection, Willis. Of course, neither gets what they want. Willis dies, leaving them both as macabre warring caricatures , who by the end of the film, are literally falling apart at the seams.

Joi de vivre coupled with a litte je ne sais quoi, are the keys to being happy. Good health is also paramount. I'm a firm believer in the old adage that "beauty on the outside starts on the inside". Don't waste your time chasing something that doesn't exist. Take moderate exercise, eat healthily, sleep well and for god's sake have fun. I've reached an age where people in my life are starting to drop like flies. I lost both my paternal grandparents when I was 13, and in the years since, I've lost more relatives, most recently an uncle who died earlier this week. It makes me think of this wise poem:

Dance as if no one were watching,

Sing as if no one were listening,

Love as if you've never been hurt,

Live every day as if it were your last.

My musings on life aside, I'm also a firm believer in a solid skincare regime. As with all things in life, fastidiousness is the key to success. Moisturising once in a blue moon is not going to bestow you with youthful looking skin. By the same token, there's no point thinking that going to the gym once a month will give you the body of a Greek god.

Last week, I was invited to attend a breakfast, courtesy of L'Occitane, the quintessentially French brand hailing from my favourite region of France, Provence. The table was bedecked with romarin (or rosemary as we call it here). It's funny how our olfactory senses can take us back in time, like a portal to specific times and places in our lives. In this instance, I was transported to a particularly special family holiday in Provence (vacances en famille en Provence), goodness, even my GCSE French is coming back, zut alors! My father has always been obsessed with French culture, and like father like son, there's no doubt that I've inherited his ardour. On this holiday, he introduced me to Peter Mayle's 1989 best-selling autobiographical novel, "A Year In Provence".

We had hired a large rustic villa with a swimming pool, surrounded by rambling terraced orchards, framed by rolling green hills that went on as far as the eyes could see. I recall the heady scent of lemon blossoms carried on the mistral (a strong, cold regional wind, usually accompanied by clear and fresh weather). If heaven on earth truly exists, I think this was possibly the closest I've come to experiencing it. During our stay there were two special moments that I attribute to sparking my passion for rustic beauty products and aromatherapy. The first was a memorable pilgrimage to Grasse, to view the true home of perfume and essential oil distilleries. On this occasion, I have a vivid memory of being amazed by the lavender fields, spreading out over the rugged terrain like a giant floral blanket.

The other occasion, on one of our many exploratory car journeys, I cried out in excitement when I spied wild rosemary growing abundantly by the sides of a country road. I insisted on my father stopping the car so I could get out and pick some. I could smell the characteristic invigorating "green" scent of the herb long before I'd even approached the bushes, it was unlike the English rosemary we had in the herb garden at home, in fact it was unlike any rosemary I'd ever smelled before. Needless to say, I picked enough of it to cook with several meals during our stay (and enough to take back home). We even managed to scent our olive oil with it, and my most resounding memory was that even on our return to England, though the rosemary had dried, its scent was no less potent.

With this in mind, it's no wonder that I was immediately taken with L'Occitane's Precious Cream. With its rustic, inky majorelle blue glass jar, delightfully rich and creamy texture, and host of natural ingredients that remind me of that fateful holiday, a love affair was born.

The Ingredients

Grape seed oil is high in antioxidants, offering superior protection from free radical damage and environmental aggressors. It is also lightweight, delivering supreme hydration without greasiness.

Immortelle, a plant characterised by its magnificent clusters of golden, sun like flowers, blooms every June. In 2004, L'Occitane planted the first large-scale organic immortelle plantation in Corsica, harvesting the blooms by hand in the traditional way. Mediterranean medicine has long extolled the virtues of this wondrous plant, with its innate anti-bruising, anti-inflammatory and healing properties (it is 100 times more powerful than arnica). The flowers never wilt, even after they have been picked (hence the name). The essential oil derived from the flowers, is the signature ingredient around which the formula for this range has been built. It stimulates microcirculation and enhances cell renewal.

Once touted as "the King's cure-all", evening primrose oil has been praised for centuries for its healing powers. They key to its miraculous properties lies in the seed, which contains the essential fatty acid GLA (gamma linolenic acid). Often prescribed to women who suffer from particularly bad premenstrual syndrome, research indicates that it not only alleviates the symptoms of PMS, but also restore the youthfulness of skin and hair, together with boosting overall well-being.

Reputed as the ultimate skin hydrator, starflower oil is derived from the seed of the borage plant. The richest known source of GLA, the oil restores moisture and smoothness to dry and ageing skin, and many believe it to be the key to retaining youthful, radiant skin later in life.

Sunflower oil and sunflower seed extract are rich in antioxidant Vitamin E, providing protection from the ageing effects of free radical damage. A superior emollient, it not only retains moisture levels in the skin, it also helps to reinforce the skin's natural protective barrier.

Herbalox-O is an antioxidant derived from rosemary leaf extract, which is traditionally used in folk medicine, rather than the more widely used rosemary essential oil. It also acts a superb natural preservative in oil blends, so not only will the rosemary leaf extract prevent the ageing effects of free radical damage, it will also prolong the longevity of the other active oils in the cream itself.

Precious Cream - £38

www.loccitane.co.uk

Talkin' About My Regeneration

2011-03-09T05:56:00.000-08:00

Talkin' About My Regeneration..

I'm a total sucker for anti-ageing creams (actually, if I'm honest, I'm a sucker for anti-ageing everything). I'm a firm believer in the old adage "prevention is better than the cure". Being resolutely anti cosmetic surgery (with the exception of instances such as surgical reconstruction for individuals who genuinely need it). Anyone who tuned in to Channel 4's hard-hitting documentary series "Beauty and The Beast: Ugly Face of Beauty" will know what I'm talking about. How can we justify so many plastic surgeons performing medically unnecessary procedures on the emotionally and psychologically vulnerable, when there are so many people in the world who are living with disfigurement, either through birth, or through tragic accidents. If it was a case of having to decide between changing the life of a car-crash survivor and inflating the lips of an insecure yummy mummy, I know which one I'd choose.

My mother instilled in me at a young age, the importance of a good skincare regimen, wisdom I in turn, extol the virtues of through my writing. For me to have any integrity in my craft, it's of paramount importance to practice what I preach. As such, I cleanse and moisturise religiously, cleansing twice at night, once to remove environmental pollution and make-up, and a second time to clean my pores. On the days when even good skincare isn't enough, I rely on the artful (and subtle) application of sheer illuminating foundation, concealer and bronzer (my cosmetic holy trinity), to fake the glowing skin I wish I had. I'd much rather fake it, than turn to botox and fillers (who wants a frozen chipmunk face). Eyelash curlers and clear mascara are another favourite, to cheat the wide awake doe-eyed look, when in reality I've been up all night writing features.

My fastidiousness is obviously working. I'm hitting the big "THREE ZERO" this year, and on the rare occasions I try to purchase wine for special occasions, I'm more often than not, asked for ID. Even yesterday morning, at a slap up pancake breakfast at Cecconi's in Mayfair, Sasha Wilkins (aka Liberty London Girl) was sat opposite me, while the author of Beauty And The Dirt was on my right. At the end of the meal, Beauty And The Dirt (a woman perhaps in her early 40's at most), turned to me and said; "it was a pleasure meeting you young man". Though in hindsight, the comment was a little patronising, I choose to take it as a compliment, and it only serves to reinforce the fact that it pays to look after your skin.

So naturally, when I was sent a sample of Bakel Oxyregen Regenerating Oxygenating Cream For Aged Skin (pictured above), the beauty geek in me was itching to give it a whirl. Oxygenating treatments have been on my beauty radar for years. When Marcia Kilgore's Bliss Spa launched in London back in 2001, their signature Triple Oxygen Facial soon had A-List stars such as Madonna clamouring for an appointment (the treatment itself was launched in 1996). Bakel Oxyregen promises to oxygenate skin at home (which, quite frankly, is far more convenient).

The cream has a pump dispenser, which I absolutely love, as it prevents waste and is also infinitely more hygienic than dipping your fingers in a pot. As a professional make-up artist, hygiene is of paramount importance. Celebrities such as Alexandra Burke have come to me to make them look like the most glorious versions of themselves, not to walk away with an eye infection! The cream itself is divine, the texture is rich without feeling sticky, heavy or greasy. I have oily skin, especially on the T-Zone, so normally I would opt for lighter lotions, gels or emulsions, but this didn't make my face feel oily at all, just beautifully hydrated, comforted and plump.

I also adore the fact that the product can be used on the delicate eye area, negating the need for an additional eye treatment. It is designed for "aged skin", but I found it to be equally efficacious on mine, and I'm 29. I do think that the late 20's is a good time to upgrade to a beefier moisturiser. I'd rather not wait for the deep wrinkles to set in, again, prevention is better than the cure. The original Creme de la Mer cream is something I'd only use on longhaul flights or at night, however, I found Bakel Oxyregen to be far lighter on the skin, without compromising on the hydration front. As with all cleansers, serums and moisturisers, I always advocate taking at least 3-5 minutes to massage the product into the neck, behind the neck and ears, then working up the face in firm circular motions, ending at the forehead and temples. Facial massage will always boost the efficacy of any skincare product, by increasing blood flow (and oxygen) to the skin. It will also provide an instant boost, relaxing the facial muscles and imparting a youthful glow.

Given the economically strained times, a lot of people not only have less disposable income, they are also working twice as hard, which is why we all need products like this, that work just as hard as we do (if not harder). Why bother with a zillion products for your "basic" skincare regimen, when you can have a serum, moisturiser and eye cream, all in one simple product (and one that actually does what it says on the tin). The packaging is lightweight to boot, meaning you could carry it around with you in your handbag / manbag / professional make-up case, without requiring the services of an osteopath.

Being the holistic whore that I am, I revel in the fact that this wonder product is devoid of synthetic fragrance, silicones, colourants, PPG, preservatives, PEG, alcohol, sulfates and petroleum derivatives. London is toxic enough, the last thing I'd want to do is to smother my skin with all of those nasties. It contains 10 active ingredients and "zero useless substances" (these are my kind of statistics).

Meet The Maker

Dr Raffaella Gregoris (pictured above) is the founder of Bakel. An Italian researcher, specialising in skincare chemistry at the University of Milan, she has a Master's degree in skincare chemistry and cosmetology from the prestigious University of Bologna. She could easily be the poster girl for her own brand, given the remarkably smooth appearance of her own skin (bellissima).

The Ingredients

Saccharomyces Lysate (an oxidising yeast) is the premium ingredient, stimulating cellular oxygenation and skin regeneration, leaving skin perky and plumped. Tocopherol (Vitamin E) nourishes and provides antioxidant protection from free radicals while Pentylene Glycol and Xanthan Gum boost water retention and condition the skin's texture, making it smoother.

Witch Hazel is most commonly used as an astringent, brilliant for soothing redness and irritation as well as for treating blemishes and minor nicks and grazes. An antioxidant, it prevents cellular damage from exposure to free radicals and environmental aggressors, whilst also helping moisture retention by reinforcing the natural barrier function of the skin.

Jojoba nut oil is rich in fatty acids, essential for maintaining smooth, plump and youthful looking skin.

Cetearyl Olivate and Sorbitan Olivate, derived from olive oil, are natural emulsifiers, boosting moisture and skin elasticity.

Avocado oil is a powerful antioxidant, rich in Vitamins A, B and D, protecting against the ageing effects of free radicals and solar radiation. With a higher penetration rate than olive or almond oil, it is more readily absorbed into the deeper layers of the skin.

Roman Camomile is known for its soothing properties, ideally suited for the nourishment of even the most sensitive of skins.

Bakel Oxyregen - £85

Available exclusively from Space NK