Boom, Bang and Sparkle

It is Bonfire Night this week. when I used to go to Battersea Park Fireworks display every year as a child (and teenager) I used to literally squeal with excitement. This year is no different. Some things never change.

In the meantime, I am getting in to the mood with some beautiful Jasmine incense sticks that my friend bought for me from the Far East and the gorgeous Ylang-Ylang Incensa shower gel by Bodhi. Dark, woody and lingering. Incense always reminds me of that wonderful blue-grey smoke that you get from fireworks against the black sky.

For a bit of Sparkle, I love Nars Cream Eyeshadow in Mousson, which is a sublte khaki green with silver flecks. For extra intensity and following Mikey Castillo's rule of mixing cool shades with warm shades, I might add a smudge of Givenchy's Sheer Gold Magic Khol pencil.

Nars Cream Eyeshadow in Mousson, £16.00
Givenchy Magic Khol in Sheer Gold, £13.00
Ylang-Ylang Incensa Bath and Shower Therapy, £22.50

Le Métier de Beauté

You know your makeup must look good if more than one person comments on it (including your boyfriend).

This week I had the pleasure of meeting Mikey Castillo, Director of Makeup and one half of beauty-brand magnifique, Le Métier de Beauté to launch their new counter at Selfridges. I have never walked away from such a lesson brimming with more tips than I could remember. My beauty brain was working overtime. I have also never been so impressed at the thought and care that had been put in to each product, I mean, who consults one of the engineers of Montblanc when making a new eyeliner. Le Métier de Beauté, that's who.

I found three tips that will be make up the first of my beauty commandments from now on:

ONE: If you want the appearance of full, thick black lashes, there is one vital step that you simply cannot miss: line the top of the inside of your eye. "The bald patch of your eye," as Mikey called it. It works to give the appearance of thicker lashes immediately.

TWO: You should apply your blush to the top of the apples of your cheeks and not sweep across. Children blush much higher on their cheeks than adults, so it will appear much more youthful to apply the blush about an inch away from your eye on the cheek. And whaddya know, it works.

THREE: When applying eyeshadow, always balance cool and warm tones. Applying just brown on its own will make the eye look flat and uninteresting. Applying brown with a blue on top will give it a three-dimensional feel and make your eyes pop. Mikey applied four different shades on my eyes, including a fluorescent orange, but whaddya know, it works. 

Each tip will bring your makeup to life and you will be guaranteed more than one compliment. 

Le Métier de Beauté is available at Liberty and Selfridges.