Before I started to write this, I had to cast my mind back over the past couple of weeks: what had I been doing? Why have I been absent for so long? And – more pertinently – which products have I discovered?
I’ll answer the first two quickly because I know you want to get to the meat of the matter: during days I’m still working as Acting Beauty Editor at InStyle, and have therefore been writing and filming and generally being busy on their behalf. Throw in the odd freelance commitment alongside, and that ties up most my time – hence my having to write this at 10pm while hubs is catching up on The Replacement (SO good).
The above video looks pretty glamorous and it was indeed quite a special 24 hours (thanks again Babyliss for taking me out there – though on a side note I’d like to here add that this video and post isn’t sponsored by them), but they ain’t all like that – I’m mostly at a desk writing, on the floor arranging products, or dashing through London from meeting to meeting. Essentially: grafting, as I imagine you do all day too. And, if you’re anything like me, you’ll understand why finding great products has been hugely important, because time to apply them is condensed and they have to perform all day.
On the make-up, two new discoveries have shone, and both are to account for my not looking exhausted in the extreme in the above picture. 1) Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Mascara. Holy moley is this mascara brilliant. I whip it on during my commute (yes, I’m one of those people), and in about two stops on the tube I can coat my lashes sufficiently for them to be chunky but also fluttery, and blacker than black. 2) Pink lipstick. Anything bright in the realm of fuchsia lights up a face, though I’m partial to the Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Volupte Shine in shade 32, as pictured below and above, on me.
I’ve become a bit of a perfume hound of late for its mood-elevating powers and am currently mostly bouncing between Annick Goutal L’Ile au The (think tea spliced with citrus notes), Sisley Izia (fizzy and refreshing and floral and heavenly), and Creed Virgin Island Water (smells like coconuts and holidays – like a distant island. I’d like to be on an island. Job done).
I’ve been a bit lazy on the nail front as I tend to chip them too often while at work for it to be worth the effort, but I did get a bit lacquer happy when the new Smith and Cult landed on my desk. Above is a pic of it on – it’s called Exit the Void and you can buy it here. The only other polish I’ve been bothering with is the Chanel long wear Les Vernis polishes – but then regular readers probably expected that…
Aside from washing and drying my hair as normal (at the moment with an Elemental Herbology shampoo and conditioner, followed by a few squirts of L’Oreal Techni Art Pli to help give it some movement and Colour Wow Blow Dry Speed Dry Spray to hurry the drying process along), I’m not doing anything especially thrilling as I simply don’t have time. In fact, my only real discovery since last posting is the Ouai Dry Shampoo Foam, which has just launched here and is really quite innovative. I’ve written a longer piece on it for InStyle (click here to read), but in essence it’s a dry shampoo that doesn’t leave any chalkiness and that’s also brilliant at adding volume and texture as you massage it into roots. Clever stuff.
Other notes pertaining to beauty and all things appearance? 1) I love the above brogues. They’re from Office and they were cheap as chips and make me feel like every day is the first day of school, in a good way. 2) I’ve discovered Rubis tweezers, and they’re excellent – very precise, very grabby. 3) Elemis are cooking up wonderful things – a new SPF and a great aromatherapy range. I’ll keep you posted.
PHEW. I’m going to go and catch some of The Replacement (we’re behind so no spoilers please!), so will leave you with these snaps from backstage at LFW… //
ASHLEY WILLIAMS // Make-up artist Isamaya Ffrench, Hairstylist Alex Brownsell, nails WAH London
J. W. ANDERSON // Make-up artist Mark Carrasquillo, Hairstylist Anthony Turner
GARETH PUGH // Make-up artist Val Garland, Hairstylist John Vial, Manicurist Marian Newman
GARETH PUGH // Make-up artist Val Garland, Hairstylist John Vial, Manicurist Marian Newman
GARETH PUGH // Make-up artist Val Garland, Hairstylist John Vial, Manicurist Marian Newman
PREEN // Make-up artist Val Garland, Hairstylist Eugene Souleiman, Manicurist Marian Newman
PREEN // Make-up artist Val Garland, Hairstylist Eugene Souleiman, Manicurist Marian Newman
PREEN // Make-up artist Val Garland, Hairstylist Eugene Souleiman, Manicurist Marian Newman
PREEN // Me with make-up artist Val Garland, Hairstylist Eugene Souleiman, Manicurist Marian Newman
PREEN // Make-up artist Val Garland, Hairstylist Eugene Souleiman, Manicurist Marian Newman
TOPSHOP UNIQUE // Make-up artist Lynsey Alexander, Hairstylist Duffy, Manicurist Jenny Longworth
TOPSHOP UNIQUE // Model Lottie Moss, Make-up artist Lynsey Alexander, Hairstylist Duffy, Manicurist Jenny Longworth
TEMPERLEY LONDON // Make-up artist Val Garland, Hairstylist Antonio Corral Calero
TEMPERLEY LONDON // Model Arizona Muse, Make-up artist Val Garland, Hairstylist Antonio Corral Calero
ERDEM // Make-up artist Val Garland, Hairstylist Anthony Turner, Manicures by Nails Inc
ERDEM // Model Erin O’Connor, Make-up artist Val Garland, Hairstylist Anthony Turner, Manicures by Nails Inc
2 Comments
Pink lipstick! Yes!!! I’m getting nostalgic about mac’s Girl About Town, but love YSL rouge volupte- the colour really suits you Madeleine!
Ooh I love Girl About Town! Thank you X