skip to main |
skip to sidebar
I have decided that mascaras are like men and basically fall in to two main categories.
The first is the mascara that gives you big love and big lashes. This is the one that comes all guns blazing, makes your eyes look about ten times bigger than they are and you wonder how you ever lived without this product or have ever been happy with any other mascara before. This is the equivalent of the rough and ready bad-boy man who is as addictive as he is cocky. Much like this mascara that just screams 'I-know-I'm-your-beauty-golden-ticket-baby'. For some reason, this mascara also finishes quicker than any other mascara you've ever used too, perhaps because of the ferocious new style of application that it begs for. But, one day, you'll wake up and find it has run out and run dry, much like that type of man who has also always 'runs out'. And then, the worst thing, is you'll find it has also been discontinued and the search for the best mascara is resurrected.
Then, the other type of mascara is a kind and gentle sort. It will not change your world, but it does look after your lashes, gently coating each one for understated definition. Like that lovely geek in your social circle, or at school or at work who you know will treat you right. But, for some reason, like this type of man, you can never remain faithful to this type of mascara and will always keep searching for that golden-ticket mascara that will give you the big lashes you once had on the side.
From left:
Givenchy, Phenomen'eyes, £19.50 (Baaaad-boy)
Estee Lauder, Double-Wear Zero Smudge Lengthening Mascara, £17.50 (Kind and Sweet)
bareMinerals, Flawless Definition Volumising, £15.00 (Playa-bad and bargainlicious)
bareMinerals, Flaless Definition, £15.00 (Couldn't be nicer if it tried and infused with minerals!)
Recently, I have really been paying attention to my nails. Reading a novel by a New Yorker and reading several articles about New York's powerful women, plus my all-round obsession with New York in general has led me to be much more careful about my grooming habits, but namely my nails in particular. I wonder what New York would have made of my blue, leopard-print, diamante-encrusted nails courtesy of WAH nails? Am I too sexy for New York? Or am I simply too 'badass' as WAH Nails' slogan suggests?
http://wah-nails.com/
So yesterday evening, I spent the most fascinating time in the most fascinating place, learning about the most fascinating product. The Powder Puff Girls boutique in Marshall street was celebrating the launch of Paul and Jo's new makeup collection. What a delight that was. I felt like i had been transported in to a parallel retro universe where they served me pink champagne in equally pink-flower decorated tea-cups and saucers and my where my makeup was applied by the most beautifully porcelain-skinned living-doll of a makeup artist that has ever walked the streets of Soho.
As if that wasn't delightful enough, I also found out that the designer of Paul and Joe is just as inspired and obsessed about cats as I am. (My friends recently bought me a porcelain cat as a consolation prize for not having a real one on my birthday). Paul and Joe's new lipstick bullets are shaped like cat heads. I entertained myself for ages playing hide and seek with its little pointy-eared head. My friend who brought me probably thought I was nuts.
Either way, Paul and Joe's makeup, which has so far eluded my attention really grabbed me. Pretty palletes with some of the sparkliest gold an silver shades in all this land and some gorgeous-smelling skincare made with love (and Japanese know-how). Beautiful.
http://boutique.thepowderpuffgirls.com/services.html
Tomorrow, i board a flight to Athens. Summer holiday has truly arrived for me.
One of my favourite things about travelling is going through the Duty Free beauty aisle. I spritz on perfume, my favourite at the moment is Givenchy Angle Demon. I find that perfume really calms me down and reassured me throughout the flight, as I am a bundle of nerves when I fly.
On the beach, I will be channeling a retro beauty and be trying some bright lipsticks, which is not something I usually dabble in. But, with colour on my face, and my hair white-blonde from the sun, a slick of lipstick will be a striking contrast. Pictures to follow...
Sometimes, pearly tones simply epitomise the feel of summer.
Having scoured countless vintage shops in Paris and becoming very inspired by the old-school French style, I decided to pare down my makeup. I am going for classic ethereal chic and romantic. Illamasqua's Liquid Metal series is ideal to dab on anywhere for a pop of sheen. Whether it is a subtle sparkle on the eyelids or as a highlighter on the cheekbones, bridge of the nose or lips. I have the gold version, which also smells of delicious vanilla that I sometimes mix with a lipbalm for a golden shimmer.
For low-maintenance beauty, good enough for city or beach, MAC's Liquidlast Liners do not budge without a slick of makeup remover. These babies are durable and pack a big punch when it comes to colour. I love the light egg-shell yellow and baby pink, Visionnaire, both of which glide on sheer and remind me of the four beautiful blondes in Virgin Suicides by Sofia Coppola. Pale eyes, nude lips and bambi lashes. Summer ready.
Illamasqua Liquid Metal, £17
MAC Liquidlast Eye Liner, £13.50
This weekend, i paid a visit to Paris. I was so excited to visit French pharmacies. I love everything about them. Starting with their blinking lights outside (some are pretty ornate and intense) down to the obscure little French brands that they stock inside. I could visit hundreds and not get bored, that might have to be a little side-project visit for another time, but my boyfriend would only let me visit a few. His wails were hard to reason with.
With this visit, I treated myself to some beautiful and traditional French soap. I love the smell of freshly milled French soap, like fresh laundered linen that has been dried in open fields. Yum! It also gives that squeaky clean feeling to the skin.
If you are a nail-painting junkie like me, then you need to invest in some hard-duty but also caring nail-varnish remover. I found one in France with rose extract, which has a tinge of rose to the smell. Conditioned nails: check. The cherry on this rosey cake is the packaging, which reminded me of my grandmother in Russia.
I also bought some runny honey, because this is a staple for beauty inside and out. It.works.wonders.
Summer summer summer time, oh summer time. The weather is hot and every public building and transport vehicle feels like stepping in to a mini sauna. But not one that is actually good for you. Or your skin. I have been thinking a lot lately about what I put on my skin and have been inspired by flowers, plants and my weekly visits for Colombia Road flower market. I decided to go au naturel. I am also a sucker for beautiful scents and the way they can uplift your mood. My Cowshed room sprays genuinely make me happy/relaxed/relaxed and happy, depending on the time of day I spray them. So it's no surprise that I go for the same pick me up qualities in my skincare.
My first investment is a eco, hard-duty face wash. I always double-rinse my face of all make up every evening and need a face wash that will get rid of all traces of my day's wear. I decided to try Evolve, an eco-smart skin care range. The Daily Detox Facial Wash was both gentle and effective. It features African superfood moringa seeds, which purify skin and reveal a brighter complexion. Nice wake up call for skin in the mornings and super-thorough cleansing in the evenings.
For an additional perk-up, I am loving Nude's Deep Cleansing Mask, which is made from kaolin clay to draw out any impurities, but is non-drying. Hallelujah. Plus, as a bonus, the little beads in the mask act like a gentle scrub when you wash off the mask. Double-duty, double-beauty, double-results.
Finally, to rid my body of any harmful toxins and start from the inside, I am taking a course of Nude's Detox capsules, which contain Liquorice and ginger that support the digestive system and aim to reduce water retention and increase energy.In other words, I am not carrying around a food baby after a big meal.
