Smoke Gets In Your Eyes

Smoke Gets In Your Eyes..

After a joyous six months as a Colour Coach for The Body Shop, I've moved on to pastures new. As of Monday 16th November 2009 I will be the new Business Manager for Dolce&Gabbana Cosmetics in Selfridges, London. To celebrate the lovely team of people I'll be leaving behind, I've put together one last Body Shop make-up tutorial. The Body Shop is currently riding the wave of the 80's revival. For a limited time, the hero products that the late Dame Anita Roddick favoured back in the 80's are available to purchase in store. Better yet, they're available to purchase for a very modest £3.99 - the price they were in the 80's.

To celebrate the limited re-release of "Anita's Favourites", all Body Shop stores held 80's themed parties. Staff dressed in 80's clothing and sported 80's make-up. A special compilation CD of 80's music was played in all stores and the rest as they say is history! So good was the music in fact that I discovered "Misfit" by Curiosity Killed The Cat - a truly genius track and one that certainly got me in the full 80's swing.

Never being one to miss the opportunity to dress up, I opted for a fusion of New Romantic and Punk - though tempered with a little Noughties subtlety. So on went the leather biker jacket, together with some fierce smokey eyes, nude lips, contoured bronzed cheekbones and a hint of punky fuschia blusher blended high across the cheeks into the hairline.

Smokey eyes never go out of fashion and were the look of choice at the Dsquared2 and Marc Jacobs AW09 shows. I've always been partial to a little glitter, so softened my smokey eye look by blending a glittery emerald green shadow with a peacock green and black shadow for my own personal take on the look.

To create the look, I first primed my skin with the Skin Primer. Blend a pea sized amount over the face and neck to create a flawless canvas for your foundation. Next, blend the Oil Free Foundation SPF 15 (I used Shade 07) over the face and neck with your finger tips. One pump is more than enough to give you perfect coverage. Next, blend a little concealer (I used Shade 05 in the Crayon Concealer) onto any remaining blemishes or imperfections to create a truly flawless matte base - it's the perfect contrast for the metallic eyes. It's worth blending a little concealer over the eye socket up to the brow bone and beneath the lower lashes - it will act as a great primer for your eye make-up, ensuring it lasts well into the evening. Define eyebrows with the Rich Brown Eye Definer (ensure it's sharpened), use short feathery strokes, following the direction of your hair growth for a strong brow - it will frame your eyes perfectly and give a feeling of 80's authenticity.

Using the Black Eye Definer, fill in the eye lid from the lash line to the crease and define the inner rim of the eye and below the lower lashes. Gently smudge with the Line Softener. Using the Eye Shadow Blender Brush, sweep the Soft Black eye shadow over the lids from lash to crease and beneath the lower lashes. Repeat with the Peacock Green shadow and finally with the Velvet Green shadow. Using the Brilliant Blue Metallic Eye Definer, gently draw a little line from the inner corner of the lower lashes to where the lashes start - you want to stop the line just before the middle of the lower lashes, it's just a subtle accent to make the eyes "pop". Finish by curling lashes with the Eye Lash Curler and apply two coats of Black Super Volume Mascara.

Using the Bronzing Brush, sweep the Nature's Minerals Bronzer in Bronzed Ochre beneath the cheekbones up towards the ears. If it helps, look in a mirror and suck your cheeks in - you want to sweep the bronzer along the hollow part of your cheeks for a sculpted effect. Blend a little bronzer across the temples, down the nose, under the chin and beneath the jaw line for an even finish. A little fall out beneath the eyes from eye shadow is normal when using powder eye shadows. To tidy up the under eye area, brush a little Lightening Touch concealer (I used Shade 04) in the inner corner of the eyes and blend beneath the eyes and up towards the hair line. Dab your finger onto the Magenta Glow Colourglide Lipstick and blend in a circular motion high on the cheekbones and blend up into the hair line. Repeat if necessary for greater colour intensity. Lastly, finish by dabbing a dot of the Party Pink Hi-Shine Lip Treatment onto the centre of lips, press lips together and "voila" - you have a sultry, sexy, 80's make-up look with a Noughties twist.

The Make-Up

Skin Primer Matte It - £9.50

Oil Free Foundation SPF 15 (Shade 07) - £11.70

Crayon Concealer (Shade 05) - £8.30

Lightening Touch £11.70

Rich Brown Eye Definer - £7.30

Brow & Lash Gel - £8.80

Black Eye Definer - £7.30

Eye Colour (Soft Black) - £7.80

Eye Colour (Peacock Green) - £7.80

Eye Colour (Velvet Green) - £7.80

Metallic Eye Definer (Brilliant Blue) - £6.00

Super Volume Mascara (Black) - £9.75

Hi-Shine Lip Treatment (Party Pink) - £9.25

Nature's Minerals Bronzer (Bronzed Ochre) - £14.65

Colourglide Lip Colour (Magenta Glow) - £8.00Concealer (Shade 05) - £8.30

The Tools

Line Softener - £7.30

Eyeshadow Blender Brush - £8.30

Eye Lash Curler - £4.85

Bronzing Brush - £14.00

www.thebodyshop.co.uk

Back To Black

Back To Black..

November has arrived and you need look no further than Amy Winehouse for inspiration. I’m not suggesting you tie a scarf around your head and invite Pete Doherty over for a booze up. You should however, consider going back to black. If the prospect of wearing black head-to-toe brings you out in a cold sweat, fear not. It may indeed be the preferred colour of undertakers, nuns, goths and Halloween enthusiasts but it can also look incredibly dapper when approached in the right way. There’s a reason historical designers such as Coco Chanel, Cristobal Balenciaga, Christian Dior and Yves Saint Laurent often featured black in their collections. It’s the same reason A-List stars such as George Clooney, Daniel Craig and Brad Pitt opt for a black tux when they want to create a paparazzi storm on the red carpet. When cut, fabric, silhouette and texture are considered, a black ensemble can go from being sombre and dull to sexy and powerful. Unlike wearing colour, it’s a failsafe option. To make an impact, go for a unique design detail and razor-sharp tailoring. Mix textures to create visual interest. Combining different textiles such as wool, brushed cotton, cotton jersey and patent leather will add depth to a look.

I’ve hand-picked five key pieces from My-wardrobe.com that will have you reveling in your dark side:

1.McQ Alexander McQueen Black Asymmetrical Zip Wool Blouson - £390

This edgy jacket is proof that men’s fashion can be just as interesting as women’s. A future wardrobe classic, the asymmetrical zip creates a Winter-friendly funnel neck. When unzipped, the lapel falls on one side for a more casual take.

2. B-Store Black Jersey Collarless Balham Shirt - £95

Cotton jersey is superb for Winter layering. Thin enough to be worn under a snug jumper and jacket, it’s also breathable and soft on the skin. Layer a white vest or T-Shirt under this shirt and unbutton the top two-to-three buttons for a look that’s pure Johnny Depp.

3. Day Birger et Mikkelsen Tapered Brushed Cotton Chino - £89

These trousers are so fashion forward that they’ll earn you instant style credentials. The low-rise waist band and tapered leg are the rocker approach to dressing for dinner. Less width in your trouser hem means more of your shoes will be on show so it’s a great chance to flash your footwear.

4. D&G Dolce&Gabbana Black Patent Leather Lace-Up Shoe - £270

There’s smart shoes and then there’s smart black shoes that are so suave that they’ll make your feet the talking point of any party. It’s often said that one of the first things women notice about men are their shoes (or appalling choice of). These beauties will earn you bonus points with the ladies - guaranteed.

5. Vivienne Westwood Black Abstract Orb Scarf - £80

Inject a little anarchy into your attire with this graphic print scarf. Well-chosen accessories can elevate your look from simple to superb in seconds.

www.my-wardrobe.com

Burn Baby Burn

Burn Baby Burn..

I had the chance to catch up with Gill Sinclair, co-founder of victoriahealth.com at the recent Monty PR press day at Liberty. She saw me lurking beside the glittering display of candles from the A-List's favourite brand Votivo. Votivo candles are loved by the likes of Madonna and P Diddy (ie the uber-rich and uber-famous). Loved for their ability to scent a room exquisitely, there's a new Christmas Collection to lust after as the nights grow longer. Actually, who needs the excuse of long nights and cold weather? These beauties are worth splashing out on simply because they smell divine and will make you the envy of Martha Stewarts the world over. Votivo candles were previously only available to buy in the UK via Liberty, however, victoriahealth.com have snapped them up, so get clicking! Gill confided that most of her candle deliveries end up being squirelled off to her own home. If Gill Sinclair is burning Votivo candles then you know they're a winner - this woman is like a walking beauty bible. Her favourites from the new Christmas Collection are the Red Currant and Christmas Sage candles. Consider going native with the Christmas Sage candles - Native American Indians burn sage sticks to clear their homes of negative energy. I can't vouch for whether this works on annoying in-laws and relatives but you can always try! Alternatively, have a very berry Christmas with the Red Currant candles. They're a gorgeous festive red and also double as the perfect gift.

Votivo Christmas Candles are £34 and available from www.victoriahealth.com

Boxing Clever

Boxing Clever..

Ok so I just got back from The Annroy Gallery, a stylish component of the legendary photographer Rankin's new development in Kentish Town. I was at the launch of Alex Box The Make Up Artist - a photographic collaboration between Rankin and international make-up artist Alex Box. Alex has worked with the likes of Alexander McQueen, Karl Lagerfeld, Gareth Pugh and Stella McCartney and is creative director of the hot new make-up brand Illamasqua. It was definitely an A-List fashion affair with guests including super stylists Karen Binns and Johnny Blue Eyes, leading designer Gareth Pugh, supermodels Erin O' Connor and Anouck Lepere, Dazed & Confused editor Jefferson Hack and presenter George Lamb. Most importantly, the photos themselves were truly inspirational. One of my favourite shots on show was a series of portraits of a female model, in the style of Leigh Bowery. Her make-up morphs from totally white in the first shot to black in the last. However, it's the series of images in between that are truly remarkable. Using the model in the way a painter would use a canvas, Alex had layered pigments, textures and colours in such a way as to create an avant garde 3D living sculpture. Elsewhere, the lines between art and photography were blurred further still, with some portraits featuring intricate illustrations applied on top of the image in post production. Digital photography has paved the way for a new generation of image makers, with the latest technology allowing artists to push the boundaries of creativity. If you're an art fan you have to see this exhibition. It is beyond inspirational. If you can't get to the exhibition, all is not lost. Alex Box the book is available to purchase via the link below.

Alex Box is published by Turnaround (£50) and the exhibition runs at the Annroy Gallery, Kentish Town from 23 October - 22 November.

http://www.turnaround-uk.com/alex-box

In The Pink

In The Pink..

Six years ago my mother was experiencing tenderness in her right breast. Fearing the worst, she tried in vain to book an appointment for a breast screening at Guy's & St Thomas' hospital via her GP. She endured a lengthy wait - so lengthy in fact that she decided to seek private attention at the Lister hospital. There, her worst fears were confirmed. Not only did she have breast cancer (she had a cancerous growth 4cm in diameter), the nature of her cancer was particularly aggressive. Thanks to the swift excision of the lump and the chemotherapy and radiotherapy she received at the Royal Marsden hospital, my mother was given a second chance of life. My mother handled her illness with tremendous grace and dignity. Though her treatment left her perpetually fatigued and robbed her of all her hair (including her eyebrows and eyelashes), she never once complained. Having my mother in my life means the world to me and I'll be forever in debt to all the wonderful medical staff who tended to her in her darkest hours. It's therefore with great pride, that I draw attention to the Breast Cancer Campaign and their collaboration with clothing retailer Damart. Feisty Strictly Come Dancing star Kristina Rihanoff models this year's ultra-cute (and cosy) limited edition pink cami with over the knee socks from Damart. The cami is available in sizes 8 to 24 and is priced at just £14. The socks retail for £10, with £3.40 being donated to the cause from ever item sold. Women all over the world continue to battle breast cancer. It's for this reason that I urge you all to help Breast Cancer Awareness by snapping up the fabulous limited edition cami and socks. They'd make an ideal Christmas gift for friends and family, so splash out and do your bit to safeguard the lives of women the world over.

To order your limited edition pink cami and socks, please visit www.damart.co.uk or call 0871 882 1111.

Sui Dreams Are Made Of This

Sui Dreams Are Made Of This..

Move over Mukluk. This Autumn/Winter a new footwear star is born. Say hello to the Shakoha boot, the creative offspring of Marcia Kilgore, founder of Bliss, Soap & Glory and FitFlop and the designer Anna Sui, New York's reigning queen of boho-luxe. Available exclusively from Net-a-porter.com in black, chocolate and teal, these darlings will ensure your tootsies are suitably toasty this winter. Supermodel Agyness Deyn adores Sui's designs, hailing her as "the queen of rock n' roll", while Cameron Diaz and Renee Zellweger are ardent fans of the FitFlop. Given the track record of these two prolific creatives, it's probably safe to say that the studded suede, shearling lined Shakoha boot will swiftly win its very own legion of devotees. Not only does it effortlessly fuse style and comfort - it improves your posture and tones your legs. They've certainly found a fan in me - the black pair have Ian B written all over them. Fusing two huge trends for AW09, black and studs, they're an easy way to inject a little rock n' roll into your wardrobe.

www.net-a-porter.com

Land of Soap & Glory

Land of Soap & Glory..

When it comes to skincare, the world has its leaders and its followers. Marcia Kilgore, the founder of Bliss, the FitFlop and now Soap & Glory, is most definitely the former. Having brought her own style of humour and irreverence to the world via her catchy soundbites (she writes all the copy for the product packaging herself), she has re-invigorated the cosmetics industry, which at times, can be prone to taking itself far too seriously. Soap & Glory was born from Marcia's desire to make highly effective skincare and beauty products available to the mass market - but without the hefty price tags and ridiculous claims of other brands. This October sees the launch of Soap & Glory For Men, building on the considerable success of the Soap & Glory women's range. The latter has spawned a series of cult products, including body butter and a face serum (beauty editors and journalists e-mail Marcia constantly to request more samples of this age-defying wrinkle buster). Every product in the men's range retails for under £5, which is incredible value given the premium grade ingredients and painstaking research that goes into developing and producing these super-effective products. I've reviewed the range on my new You Tube "guru" channel. To hear my personal thoughts on this fantastic men's range and for prices and stockist information, just watch the video below: