Archive for the ‘Beauty News’ Category

I’m exactly a week away from commencing my second quarter of life (yes, I will live to be exactly one hundred) and in a bid to stave off any semblance of maturity, have hit the bottle.

I’ll admit, it seemed pretty late in the day to be getting a dip-dye. The trend’s been around for so long that every man and his dog (within a three mile radius of Dalston) have two, three or even thirty tone hair. However, like most things, it’s taken a year’s worth of subliminal brainwashing to convince me that it’s a greeeeeat idea and so, (finally) here I am.

For those of you unfamiliar with Dalston, it’s probably not the first place that would spring to mind if you were in line for revamp. Unless you wanted a new tattoo – in which case, get yourself to Haggerston pronto! Bleach has been garnering a reputation amongst those-in-the-know as the place to be if you’ve a lust for reinvention.

In the same spot as good old WAH Nails (of which we at CB are HUGE fans), Bleach on Kingsland Road is unquestionably cool. The white space has walls lined with cuttings from only the trendiest mags, together with Polaroids of previous victims clients (Pixie Geldof’s a fan) to make a glorified mood board and provide hours of amusement when you’ve finished your book and are still getting yo’ hay-er did.

I was greeted by Matthew – elbow deep in violet toner but no less charming because of it – who sat me down and left me just enough time to slurp a coffee and  think about bolting make myself comfortable. I was armed with a picture of Abbey Lee Kershaw, the courage of my convictions and, um, not a lot else.

Fast forward almost FOUR HOURS and I look like a shiny new ‘My Little Pony’ with the swishiest pink mane in town. Matthew concentrated the bleach on my lower layers, to create flashes of brighter colour that peek through the more muted top layer. He was also very careful to create a shade that wouldn’t jar with my natural strawberry (*ahem* ginger) tones and left tiny sections au naturel, to highlight the pink tint and give a sun-kissed holiday vibe.

All in all, I feel much better about my imminent birthday (and slightly like a superhero). The only downside is that it need to be very protective of my colour and have stocked up on masses of the brilliant Sachajuan Color Save Shampoo and Conditioner.

For inspiration and prices visit http://bleachlondon.co.uk/ – there are Bleach salons in Dalston and Topshop, Oxford Circus and if the SS’12 catwalks are anything to go by, I would make an appointment asap as this is one trend that refuses to dye a death… verity douglas

Check out how to create the coolest S/S 2012 looks by Cult Beauty expert Chloe Butcher on the How-To Tutorials below.

I know I keep going on about the Jouer Luminizing Moisture Tint, but I’m not the only one. Chloe seems to think the same as me. alexia inge

As usual the designers showing at Paris Fashion Week pulled out all the stops to bring the best fashion and trend setting looks for Spring/Summer. Take a look at cream of the crop…

It wouldn’t quite be Paris if there weren’t some drama thrown in. The usual culprits John Galliano and Jean Paul Gaultier were (understandably for the Galliano label) tame and low key – Vivienne Westwood, Issey Miyake and Viktor&Rolf were the main showstoppers this season.

Westwood gave her girls a haphazard look as inspired by an 18th Century painting, lead makeup artist Val Garland designed a childlike interpretation on the painting, using bright colours of pink, yellow and gold to highlight different elements. Hair was also fashioned with naive styles, messy and knotted in places – five varieties were created and each teased heavily to create wisps at the front of the hair. Meanwhile Issey Miyake was inspired by flowers and passed this look (literally) onto the hair and makeup. Although unwearable, the look at Miyake was very pretty, very girly and very unique – the hair was styled to look like a tulip to accentuate the petal like hair accessories. Viktor&Rolf went hot pink for spring by cutting out hot pink paper into eyeliner shapes and finishing with a coat of hot pink mascara.

You can easily pick and choose parts from the creative looks to make them wearable and friendlier to the normal person. If you fancy trying out the Viktor&Rolf look, Besame Cosmetics Enchanting Lipstick have pinks that can be built up to really raise the rose factor. Take a leaf out of Vivienne Westwood and Issey Miyake’s book and use a gold pigment on the lids and as a makeshift highlighter – Illamasqua Liquid Metal in Surge is perfect for this.

Natural looks have been a key feature at all the fashion weeks this season but Paris managed to take the natural look one step further by making it as minimal as possible. Stella McCartney was all about the fresh and beautiful ‘Stella’ girls – only a pink blush was used on the cheeks and a nude brown on the lids to bring some contouring to the face. Giambastia Valli gave the models a good break between all the heavy makeup – the look was all about the boyish beauty and gorgeous skin. Blusher and contouring was non-existent and only light foundation was used followed by a little powder to mattify the skin.

Balmain and Valentino also took the minimal look on board, Balmain kept the look barely there by only using a veil of foundation and powder to keep the skin looking polished. Valentino used soft pinks to contour the face and a soft gray for the lids but only to emphasize the natural beauty of the models.

For a lightweight look, even out skin with Alison Raffaele Reality Base Foundation which is a tinted moisturiser with medium coverage to help banish any dark marks. To get the polished finish like the girls at Stella McCartney, lightly dust Jouer Cosmetics Essential Matte Touch over the t-zone and any shiny areas to matte down the skin. Finally, finish the eyes off with a good slick of Stila Cosmetics Major Lash Mascara in Brown on the top lashes only for a little volume and Smith’s Rosebud Salve Mocha Rose Lip Balm for a moisturised lip.

Kenzo had a very 80’s beauty look, with big brows and plenty of brown tones on the lids and lips. The hair was a loose braid with a centre parting which was tucked behind the ears with only a few strands left in the front to sway when the models walked. The braid started almost halfway down the length and then was pulled at to get the casual looseness. Emanuel Ungaro opted for a low pony that was texturised to give the hair some volume, while Nina Ricci kept the ongoing feminine vibe of the brand with a flirty and feminine low tail along with extra volume at the crown.

To create any of these looks, you’ll need a little root boosting – Sachajuan Hair Mousse is a lightweight mousse but will still give you that extra volume if scrunched into towel dried hair. The Ungrao ponytail needed to have a little texture and thickness to it so spritzing the hair with Phillip B Maui Wowie Beach Mist will help achieve the ruffled look. Nina Ricci’s ponytail was sleek and feminine so remember to finish it off with Rahua Finishing Treatment to keep the look flirty.

Red lips are like the LBD of makeup – a classic look that can never really go wrong and this was no exception in Paris. Christian Dior, Yves Saint Laurent and Jean Paul Gaultier all opted for the sophisticated lip. Dior models had a red applied before being blotted to create a fresh pressed quality a-la Betty Draper of Mad Men. YSL opted for a couture lip that relied on precise application of a metallic crimson colour which had a slight textured sheen to it. Finally Gaultier picked a highly pigmented red for the girls, finishing the look off with a clear vinyl gloss for ultimate shine.

Which shade of red usually depends on your skin tone and colouring but luckily we have DuWop Private Red Lipstick which adapts to your own skin tone so you never have to worry about looking too pale. For the Dior look, simply get a tissue and press lips against it a few times to get rid of the excess lipstick to achieve the fresh pressed Mad Men lip. Glaze the lips with KaplanMD Lip 20 Treatment Gloss to give the glossy look for the Gaultier and YSL lips.

Perfectly preened and polished blow dried hair can never go amiss on the runway. Chloe, Sonia Rykiel and Balenciaga all showed just how volumised and near-perfect hair can look with a little love and attention. Chloe girls had their hair washed with a volumising shampoo and conditioner to create the desired clean look, hair was then lightly tonged to get the sexy Chloe girl look. Rykiel was all about the blowdry for the show; hair was first volumised with the hairdryer and then tonged and left to cool. Before the show, the girls had all of the curls unpinned and brushed out so only the ends were left with a slight curl – the most gorgeous and luxe way to wear your hair for Spring/Summer. Finally the Balenciaga models had their hair dried in a smooth and sleek way to give a little bounce when they walked.

The Chloe girls had freshly washed hair before having it styled, the Tara Smith Feed The Root Shampoo and Conditioner are perfect for refreshing hair and giving it the necessary volume. Of course to get these looks you’ll need a hairdryer like EGO Alter Ego Hair Dryer and a barrel brush like Acca Kappa Kotibe Heat Resistant Barrel Brush to properly smooth out the hair.

Before blow drying, use Paul Labrecque Repair Style Hydrating LotionCorioliss Mini SXE Hair Straighteners from mid-length to ends and pin up until they cool. Once cooled, brush out the curls to get the soft effect like the Chloe, Rykiel and Balenciaga girls. Run a little Davines For Wizards No.10 Universal Polishing Coat through the hair to give a shine.

A lot of brands were featuring beautiful hair accessories this season too. Chanel models adorned the classic double C pearls throughout their wet-look elegant chignons while Yves Saint Laurent girls wore pretty ballerina buns with regal armoured gold headpieces around the base. Louis Vutton went girly for S/S with the scrapped back buns being finished off with a pretty sparkly headband or a tiara.

Under the accessories at Vuitton, Chanel and YSL, the hair looked natural and product free – aside from the wet-look chignon at Chanel. To make sure your bun stays in perfect place, run a little Sachajuan Spray Wax through the hair before putting it up. The spray wax will just give the hair a little more grip and staying power so you don’t lose the shape before the day ends. Cate Sewell

My sister Alexia Inge and her business partner Jessica DeLuca Moore have been shortlisted by Red Magazine for their Red Hot Women Awards in the Internet category. The Judging panel (pictured below) includes respected luminaries such as Sarah Brown, Lorna Clarke, Mirian Gonzalez Durantez, Anya Hindmarch MBE and Gillian Tett, ladies who know their stuff.

I am scandalously proud of them both, not only for having been proposed for this award and in such esteemed company, but for the nature of their work.

They have worked tirelessly to create a beauty sanctuary that is available to everyone, anytime, anywhere in the world. By opening the box of tricks that the Cult Beauty Expert Panel have laboured hard to learn, Lex and Jess have brought insight and honesty to our advertising-weary world. We now have a choice to either listen to marketing dictators who use fear to incite us to buy products that are modelled on Photoshopped fourteen year olds, or listen to the people on the inside with years of experience under their belts, showcasing beauty products that actually work for whatever concern you have.

There is a revolution happening – driven mostly online and by social networking – whereby consumers are understanding and focusing the power of voting with their purses. Anita Roddick of The Body Shop said “Business is the most powerful force for good, for social change and improvement in the quality of life”.

I am of course extremely biased being related to one nominee and great friends with the other, so I would like to add a little balance to this post by also mentioning some of the others shortlisted whom I think are also thoroughly deserving. 

Emily Johnston – editor & creator, Fashion Foie Gras, Sarah Curran – Founder & CEO, My-wardrobe.com, Helena Morrissey – Founder, 30% Club, Jane Cunningham – editor & creator, BritishBeautyBlogger, Sarah Burton – Creative director, Alexander McQueen, Claire Watt-Smith – Founder, BoBelle…good luck! olivia inge

Today sees the launch of The Body Shop’s new perfume campaign – White Musk Libertine, for which I am the Brand Ambassador. This job was all the more exciting because they wanted someone to encapsulate the idea of a 21st Century Libertine and thought of me!

I hasten to underline the 21st Century part and ask you not to confuse me with the 2nd Earl of Rochester for I am no more a debauched, immoral, lecherous, or wanton womaniser than Kate Middleton.

I am a free thinker, I follow my own inclinations and (generally) walk to the beat of my own drum. I encourage my friends to believe in the ability to better their lives, to be sexy in a chic, individualistic manner and above all to think freely without bias. I think this is what being a 21st Century Libertine is all about and this is why I loved the whole idea behind this scent. The Body Shop have focused on encapsulating this feeling of adventure and confidence by decorating your Vampire hot spots with their idea of how a Libertine might smell. And it’s a darn sight better than what I imagine was the scent of the rampant Earl…

The perfume itself is a sensual, sweet scent, a play on their first “White Musk”, which first launched in 1981 and which quickly became a Cult classic, now selling 2.5 bottles per minute. The Body Shop enlisted the Nobel Prize winning fragrance house Firmenich to design this fragrance. Dr Vincent Schaller used 65% rare musk which features in the top, middle and base notes, something that is unique to this perfume.

They’ve added floral notes of Sharry Baby Orchid and subtly sweetened it with Turkish delight and Chantilly Cream, whilst retaining their well-known code of honour by using cruelty free musk (a first back in 1981) and Organic Community Fair Trade sugar-cane alcohol. 30ml Eau de Parfum – £12, the 60ml Eau de Toilette – £14.

Here is a little video we made of me running around town being a Libertine minx to celebrate the launch. olivia inge

Milan Fashion Week always contains some delicious designer delights from fashion royalty like Prada to Gucci to Dolce & Gabbana, hosting some of the pivotal trends of the season. Like most beauty lovers, we looked at all the shows with hawk eyes to pick out the key make up trends for S/S 2012.

Fresh, Bronzed Skin

Minimalist, bronzed skin was another firm favourite in Milan. Missoni, Moschino Cheap & Chic and C’N’C Costume Natioanl presented the best fresh-faced looks with glowing, bronzed skin. Moschino Cheap & Chic paired the clean base with colour blocked eyes while Missoni opted for a slighty sweaty and disheveled take on the look; skin was made even dewier before walking the runway with a quick spritz of finishing spray. C’N’C Costume National contoured cheeks to give the models razor sharp cheekbones and highlighted all of the high points of the face to create luminous bronzed skin.

For a cheat’s golden glow, use Omorovicza Sunkiss SPF15 or Korres Watermelon Lightweight Tinted Moisturiser to even out skin and give a nice bronzed appearance. To contour the face, suck in your cheeks and dust Jouer Cosmetics Replenish & Protect Hydrating Bronzer Powder in the shallows and on all points where the sun would hit (nose, temples and chin) for a natural sunkissed look. Highlight cheekbones, brow bones and cupid’s bow with the organic RMS Living Luminizer to add a light catching glow.

Modern Pulled Back Hair

The main focus on the runway was definitely the makeup, so hair was pulled back in a modern and stylish way to really showcase the looks. Dolce & Gabbana had a Sophia Loren inspired French twist to give a classic sexy style, while Bottega Veneta opted for a messy wet-look chignon to help accentuate a relaxed, poolside vibe. Fendi and Jil Sander girls sported a similar tucked under look, Fendi opted for a backcombed deluxe version while Sander picked a slicked backed style.

The perfect styling product to create the messy D&G and Bottega Veneta looks comes in the form of Sachajuan Ocean Mist; a formulation somewhere between hairspray and sea salt spray that gives hair a (just had a rumble in the jungle) texture and grip for the style to stay in place.

Tara Smith Rock On Hard Hold Styling Gel is your number one tool for creating the Jil Sander slicked back look, make sure to tame any fly-aways at the back of the head by smothing through with a small comb that has been spritzed with the gel. The Fendi backcombed deluxe requires a lot of backcombing and a bit of mousse to give the hair a helping hand; Davines For Wizards No3 Universal Body Mousse is perfect for giving the hair some body without making it too sticky to work with.

Natural Pouts

A natural lip can never go amiss, Marni, Blumarine and Etro were just some of the designers who sported the natural lip. Etro twisted the natural look by adding a caramel tint to the lips, while Blumarine opted for playful soft pink. Marni girls had barely there tones to allow their unusual eye look and birds nest hair to shine through.

Pop a little bit of  BECCA Sheer Tint Lip Colour in Estella to perfect the natural look with little effort.

The Luxe Look

It wouldn’t be Milan if there wasn’t some high-maintenance luxury thrown in for good measure. Versace kept it glamorous and gorgeous as usual with the essential Versace blowdry and flawless makeup. Salvatore Ferragamo had a look inspired by Jerry Hall on holiday in the 80’s – sexy, glam and expensive! Hair was swept to one side and given a luxe wave while makeup featured slick gold across the lids for the ultimate luxury look.

To re-create the Ferragamo waves, wrap hair around straighteners with a curved edge like the Corioliss C2 Hair Straighteners to make large soft waves all down the hair. Remember to part your hair above your temple to get sweeping hair across the front for full on Jerry Hall. Keep the waves in place all day with a light spray of Sachajuan Hairspray Medium Hold to keep your hair frizz free and in place.

The volumising blowdry can come straight from the runway to your hair with just some simple tools. Roughly dry hair with EGO Alter Ego Hair Dryer, when hair is nearly dry grab a large barrel brush like Acca Kappa Kotibe Boar Bristle Barrel Brush. Start on the bottom layer, wrap your hair around the brush and roll it up inwardly to your roots. Using the hairdryer nozzle, work your way down the hair shaft to create a smooth texture to hair and also creating volume at the roots. Continue throughout the hair until you have done every strand. Finish off with Sachajuan Shine Serum to create a supermodel shine.

Rocker Smokey Eye

Smudgy dark eyes are always a key look; sultry yet edgy. DSquared2 girls had sparkly, messy eyes inspired by festival makeup while Moschino opted for smudgy black eyes with black liner and shadow blended together for the extra smudge effect. Pucci had Gypsy inspiration mixed with a little 80’s Madonna to create a dramatic bronzed eye with black liner to give it a bit of an edge. A nice touch to the Pucci makeup was the bronze lip balm that was used – a nice pop of colour yet still moisturising for the models’ lips. Just Cavalli diffused the rocker look with a navy lash line and glittery lids to channel a boho rocker.

The makeup artists at Moschino felt the girls needed a little wake up so they massaged oil into the skin before makeup application to get rid of any puffiness and bring the skin back to life. Work de Mamiel Summer Facial Oil into the skin first thing in the morning to rejuvenate and freshen up your complexion.

The eyes need plenty of black liner and shadow along with lots of finger smudging to get the rocker look. The essential kit for this includes Stila Cosmetics Smudge Pot and the Balm Shady Lady Palette to get the right mixture of shadow and liner smudging. The lashes also need to be carbon black; Peter Thomas Roth Mascara To Die For is perfect for getting the blackest lashes – add a little oomph with Eylure Tokyo Lash to get a bigger flutter.

Cate Sewell

As the fashion parade move onto Milan, lets have a look at some homegrown beauty trends. London and New York shared a lot of similarities in the beauty stakes, but London took first place with its cool British edge.

Plaits were used on a variety of catwalks in London but Danielle Scutt and Ashish did it best, putting a slight twist on the everyday style. Scutt toughened up the soft makeup with an armor-tight French plait, while Ashish went whimsical with a windswept braid, pink glitter on the lids and sharpened it with black lipstick. French plaits are difficult to do to yourself, but using the Davines Texturiser beforehand helps keep the sections in place while you twist them together. It really helps hold the messed up, tousled style too without looking too grunge.

The essence of cool at LFW is always Christopher Kane and Burberry, classic styling and always effortless. This year both ofthe top designers focused on a youthful and pretty look with velvety skin. Burberry opted for a tulip pink lip while Kane had a natural taupe on the lids and a pink stain on the lips.

The perfect foundation for the natural looking makeup is Perricone MD’s No Foundation Foundation, a lightweight coverage that also makes your skin to glow through naturally. To keep the skin velvety like the Burberry models, dust on some 3 Custom Color Translucent Face Powder to mattify.

Meanwhile at Giles, the girls were made to look like they’d all been enjoying a little tipple before the show. Cheeks were wine flushed and the lips were ‘red wine’ stained with the rest of the look kept simple – gorgeous! Erdem also sported a red lip this season in the form of a bright red lipstick to ‘show that the Erdem girl is wearing her heart on her mouth instead of her sleeve.’

Stain the lips and cheeks with Besame Cosmetics Enriched Lip Glaze in Cherry Red by dabbing and blending with fingers to create a light colour. Then blot the glaze onto lips to create the stain. To be an Erdem girl, pick up the 3 Custom Color Century in Red Palette to create the perfect red (in fact you can completely hedge your lipstick bets with this palette!).

Worn in looks are always a must in London; no one does the grunge look quite like the British. Roksanda Ilinic and Holly Fulton lead the way for the grunge revival but made it a little more polished and worn in. Ilnic took its main influence from Kate Moss in the 90s for a polished ‘day-old’ look while Fulton made the models into ‘trashy lush girls’ with worn in eyes and feathered brows.

Holly Fulton was all about smudged smokey eyes, it couldn’t be easier to recreate this look with the Stila Smudge Pot in Black – use your fingers to apply it all around your eye and then blend it out. The Ilnic eyes featured a good dose of eyeliner too, the Balm Pick Up Liners are perfect for defining the eyes and creating the little feline flick.

It wouldn’t be Fashion Week without a few unique hairstyles – the most fun of the looks came from Mulberry while Topshop Unique went all Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra. The extra large Bardot-inspired beehives at Mulberry were modernized with candy coloured extensions – go big or go home! Meanwhile Topshop Unique covered the front of the models’ Alexander Wang style hair with gold leaf to create the ethereal look as influenced by Liz Taylor’s version of Cleopatra.

The Mulberry beehive involves a lot of backcombing (and a little help from extensions) to create the gigantic look; prep hair with the Davines Texturiser then after styling set with Davines For Wizards No7 Crystal Fixactive Lacquer.

Eyes were the main focus at Fashion Week, the easiest of facial features to accentuate and create a whole variety of looks with. Unconditional created dramatic bronzy eyes, Vivienne Westwood Red Label changed her models into neo-neon nymphs while Marios Schwab opted for fuzzy feline eyes.

To get the dramatic bronzy eye, layer the lid with Illamasqua Liquid Metal in Enrapture and smoke it out around the edges with some of their Pure Pigment in Fervent. Create the feline eyes from Schwab with the Prestige Cosmetics Liquid Eyeliner in Black to get a precise line on the top and bottom lashes.

Cate Sewell

I just received Gwyneth Paltrow’s latest GOOP newsletter to find that her make up artist created her flawless complexion look for the EMMY’s using the brilliant Beautyblender make up sponge (can you spot it’s brilliant pinkness in the backstage pics above?). I’m addicted to mine and it makes almost any foundation look good. For the foundation to stay looking good, that’s down to the brand you choose.

Face Atelier Ultra Foundation is the one Madonna makes everyone use for her tours as it doesn’t even budge through one of her dance routines and they are TOUGH. alexia inge

New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2012 was full of flattering, wearable trends with which to adorn our faces this coming Spring. To help you get ahead of the fashion pack, we’ve picked out the products you need to achieve these looks so it couldn’t be easier to get the New York look now.

Apricot was THE cheek colour of choice at the top shows in NY, including Marc by Marc Jacobs, Preen and Carolina Herrera. This fruity hint of colour suits every skin tone and warms the complexion with a lovely sun-blushed look. To get the subtle hint of health, apply Illamasqua’s Powder Blusher in Lover to the apple of your cheeks with fingers. Then use a soft brush like BECCA Soft Contour Brush to blend the blusher or use a cheek tint like theBalm Stianiac in Homecoming Queen for drier skins.

With spring around the corner, designers were opting to use earthy tones as the main palette for make up. Dusty shades of rust, sand and ochre were seen at DKNY, Diane von Furstenberg while Derek Lam opted for yellow on lids and lips to convey a sense of heat and sunshine on the models. Stila’s In the Light Shadow Palette is perfect for these kind of looks.

Get the Lam yellow look by mixing a little yellow toned concealer with a clear lip gloss like Belmacz Glow Gold Leaf Lipgloss in Moonstone and dab a shear layer for a hint or build it up to get full on sunshine lips. For a more neutral look apply RMS Beauty Mineral Cream Eye Shadow in Seduce for the perfect rust inspired eye.

This is not for everyone, but one of the key looks for hair featured plenty of fine tooth combing and strong hold gel. Models walked the runway for Victoria Beckham and Alexander Wang with the slicked back look, making sure all the focus was on the face.

To create this 90′s, slick look at home, use Tara Smith Rock On Hard Styling Gel to secure your hair behind the ears or to create the Alexander Wang look, run some gel through wet hair from roots to half way down the shaft, then finish with Davines For Wizards No1 Finest Oil Non-Oil to get the wet-gel style without the frizz.

One of the more outrageous hair looks featured candy coloured tresses. Narcisco Rodrigeuz and Thakoon lead the candy pack by dying the models hair backstage at the show – but don’t worry, after every girl had walked the runway the stylists backstage deep conditioned and restored the girls back to a more normal colour.

Although not a daily way to wear your hair – maybe some inspiration for Halloween!

The Blonds and Marc Jacobs paved the way at NYFW for bold and dramatic eyes. The Blonds saw eyes paying homage to sixties sex symbols with over-the-top feline flicks and a sixties cut crease. Whilst Marc Jacobs opted for major lashes and plenty of liquid liner to make the focus totally on the eyes – the rest of the face was kept bare with only a hint of nude on the lips – DuWop make a Nude Lipstick that alters slightly to suit your skin tone and so works for everyone.

To get the feline flicks (maybe a little toned down for daily wear) use Illamasqua Precision Ink or for a more controlled tip use the T. LeClerc Liquid Eyeliner Pen.

Glowing skin is always a must on runways and is brought back every season much to the natural make up lovers delight. Models in the Phillip Lim, Oscar de la Renta and Mandy Coon shows were prepped and made to glow – makeup artists were told to aim for a ‘sweaty’ dewy look like the girls had just been for a quick jog.

To get your own dewy, natural look use Jouer Cosmetics Luminizing Moisture Tint to brighten your face without the fuss of foundation. Pop a little RMS Living Luminizer on the top of your cheekbones and brow bone to highlight your face.

The ponytails were out in full swing again this season, with the likes of Charlotte Ronson, Herve Leger and Reed Krakoff sporting the look down the runway. Herve Leger opted for a fashion forward semi-plaited and over-exaggerated side parting pony while Reed Krakoff went with a low slung, loose pony.

To get the Leger tail, you’ll need plenty of hairspray – we suggest Davines No9 Structure Mist Hairspray and the Tara Smith Top Coat Glosser for a lovely shine finish. To get the loose casualness of the Krakoff ponytail then try some salt spray to rough it up like Phillip B Maui Wowie Beach Mist.

A bun is always a runway staple across the world as it allows for the clothes and makeup to be the main focal point. Sophie Theallet and Bibhu Mohapatra took the chic hairstyle and showcased the many different styles the simple bun can hold. Theallet had the quirky après-swim bun while Mohapatra opted for the classic ballerina bun.

To achieve this look, you’ll need lots of patience and plenty of hair spray. The best tools to get you to bun perfection are Rahua Hairspray and Tara Smith Top Coat Glosser.

Cate Sewell

We heart Stila, an ultimate cult make up brand, it’s great to have it back in circulation again. Olivia met up with one of Stila’s pro make up artists, Jenn Flannagan, to find out more about their no-brainer, cult classics.

Jenn kicked off creating a beautiful base with the Protect & Correct Foundation, then brought some colour to Olivia’s rather hungover palor with the Convertable Colour Cream Blush, finishing and setting it with their Custom Colour Powder Blush. To define her eyes Jenn first primed them with a smudge from the Prime Pot and delineated the shape with the Smudge Pot in Brown and the Forever Your Curl Mascara. The look was then finished with the beautifully enduring Lip Glaze. alexia inge

Since we launched this a couple of weeks ago we have had trouble keeping Jouer in stock. People are loving the interlocking practicality of this make up, we will defiinitely be expanding the range in the next few months and will keep you posted.

Check out Jouer Cosmetics here >>

I think I’m hooked, I had this Balayage done at the end of May and it’s holding up really well. When Jack does each streak he feathers it to a tiny point just by your skull so when it does grow out it naturally graduates so there isn’t a sharp change in colour.

My fine, easily damaged hair is happier because I only have to have it dyed every 4 months or so to maintain the look. If you are remotely blond in origin I would recommend this treatment above any other highlighting technique. If you are based in London, make an appointment with Jack Howard. Half a head is £130, a full one is £190 and worth every penny.

I’ve also just started using a very exciting haircare range from Sweden, which is upping the good-hair-day average, more to follow on that as we’ll launch it in a few weeks time. alexia inge

You know when the genetic lineage of a child is so cool that the polarity is reversed, creating a bratty nerd? In reference to Ab-Fab I call it Saffy Syndrome and I know it’s mean but there’s something just a teeny bit satisfying about it for us mere mortals.

Frances Bean appears to have avoided this completely, she has a look in her eye that indicates a maturity way beyond her 19 years, but I can imagine the education she received from her mother Courtney Love has been somewhat unconventional. Heidi Slimane just published these beautiful pics he took of a very grown up looking FB (with some extensive inking). Her look brilliant reflects the more Gothic feel we are heading into for Autumn Winter trending too. Ms Cobain you are our latest Beauty Smoothie… alexia inge

Love her or hate her no-one can argue that Margaret Thatcher is a true icon of the last century. I’m a bit of a woolly liberal, but when it comes to female role models she sure as hell beats Brittney and the cast of The Only Way is Essex!

Maggie’s having a moment and I don’t think this is going to pass any day soon there’s just too much fashion collateral there. With her biopic coming out in January 2012, starring Meryl Streep, I think this brilliant creation of Terry Richardson’s (see Georgia May Jagger above) is the first of many fashion and beauty shoots and references to the helmet-haired harridan.

Here is the first taster of the film, can’t bloody wait. alexia inge

Meryl Streep as Margaret Thatcher

We’ve discovered a killer new cult beauty range you’re going to love, called Jouer Cosmetics.

We all know our make up drawer is basically our beauty wardrobe. There are a few key items we use every day that are effortlessly flattering, the other 70% just balance dust.

Imagine a complete cosmetics line comprised only of key items, products that not only beautify the surface of your skin, but also contain high-end skin care ingredients to protect and nourish it. Add sleek, interlocking packaging with which to build a portable make up pallet of personal favourites and you have the cult make up obsession of 2011.

Then you see the packaging! All of the sleek Jouer Compacts slot and click together, so you can create a portable make up pallet of your own personal favourites. Even the lipgloss slots in. It’s overfilled-handbag-proof and takes up much less room than a make up bag.

Known as the ‘It’ brand in the States for providing a cool but practical take on make up. Jouer launched as a Henri Bendel New York exclusive in August 2008 and quickly rose to cult status, especially with the US beauty bloggers. “Being an avid traveler, I noticed that so many other cosmetic items are not practical. I’m giving women a smarter, more effortless way to take their favorite makeup with them when they’re on the go.” Christina Zilber, founder

Cult favourites from the range:

Luminizing Moisture Tint £16-£29

This best selling product that has had the US bloggers in a spin from day one. This tinted moisturiser evens out imperfections and fades the appearance of fine lines with its light-diffusing, multi-mineral formula. SPF 20 protects from UVA and UVB rays (broad spectrum physical block) while Ginseng and Gingko Biloba Leaf Extract deliver antioxidants to skin, promoting a healthy complexion. It’s oil-free, hypoallergenic, fragrance-free and water Resistant.

Moisturizing Lip Gloss £16

The most moisturising lip gloss on the planet! Irresistibly sheer shades (in Mirage, Tender, Glisten) loaded with Vitamins A, C & E, Shea Butter, Jojoba Oil and Pomegranate Seed Oil to moisturise, soothe, nourish, rejuvenate and protect, keeping lips smooth and hydrated. Available in a signature vial that connects to any Jouer custom palette.

Tint in Petal £16

Beautifully bendable and sheer, Jouer’s cheek and lip Tint compact is designed to complement all skin tones. With easy fingertip application, this multi-use tint can be worn on cheeks as a blush or on lips for a flush of seriously flattering colour.

Age Repairing Perfector £26

This compact, mineral cream foundation sets with a beautiful powder finish. It enhances and evens out your complexion, while fighting and repairing the signs of aging and stress. The luxurious formulation of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory powers of Vitamin E, Arnica Oil, and Japanese Tea Extract revive skin’s firmness and tone. Conceals the appearance of redness and other blemishes without the sensation of feeling heavy.

Age Repairing Brightener £25

An illuminating eye-stick that instantly brightens the eye area, reducing the appearance of dark circles and fine lines. This rich, emollient brightener moisturises, increases skin’s immunity and fights free radicals with a concentrated anti-oxident complex, Orchid Complex, Camellia Oil, and Vitamins A, B & E.

View Jouer Cosmetics

There are changes afoot at Cult Beauty.

This week we are moving our warehouse to London. This will enable us to offer some exciting new services in the future, but as you can imagine this is going to be a mammoth task.

We do everything we can to appear like a swan – providing a beautiful, effortless-looking service to everyone, while under the water we paddle like mad, but this reorganisation might temporarily slow down our delivery times in some cases.

If you have any questions about your order or how the move might effect your ordering of a particular product please call 08456 529 521 or email Customer Service.

The founder of MV Organics, Sharon McGlinchey, recently popped into the C.B. office on a quick visit from Australia and we all took the chance to quiz her about the range (more to follow from Olivia Inge there). The more I learn about MV, the more I adore the range and all who sail in her.

Old fashioned – in a good way – in both its thinking and small-batch quality of production, they represent a gold standard of natural skincare. There’s a cleanser utopia for sensitive skin called Gentle Cream Cleanser, less irritating than finding a twenty in an old jacket. But the product that wins Multitasking Master is the Jojoba Oil. People write into us all the time asking for a make up remover that won’t irritate, whilst actually getting the make up off. Eyes right >>

Take two cotton pads, wet them in hot water and squeeze them out so there is no excess moisture. Open the pad out again, draw a line (about 3 drops) of Jojoba oil across the centre and hold the pad against your eye. Let the oil sink into the surface make up and then gently wipe it all off. This not only melts your make up and cleans the area, Jojoba has one of the closest chemical make ups to your skin’s own sebum, it moisturises and protects the area too.

MV Organic Skincare prices range from £26 for the Pure Jojoba Oil to £72 for the travel Essentials. The way your skin blooms and the aromatic experience, especially with steam cleansing is sublime. Be warned, MV Organics is addictive. alexia inge

MAC do cane it with constant new range releases, something I’m afraid I have a default suspicion of with beauty companies imagining that such a huge focus on marketing could mean less focus is happening around product quality. This is not always the case though.

I’m loving the Semi Precious Collection from MAC this summer, great jewel pigments, presented well, that really enhance and luminise your skin. The campaign imagery is of course amazing and the colours look sumptuously beautiful on tanned skin for summer. This is definitely a range to check out. alexia inge

Available in stores nationwide from today.

Payot is one of those underground, secret brands that French women use to achieve that ‘effortless beauty’ for which they are so well known. This Parisian spa range was founded in 1927 by beauty visionary, Dr. Nadia Payot – the first to combine the knowledge of physicians, herbalists, beauticians… and physiologists into product development.

Unusually for the fast-moving world of skin care, many of her formulas were so spot on, they remain unchanged today – how many products do you know that have received over 80 years of successful consumer trials?

Pate Grise Overnight Spot treatment, £15

This magic-wand of a spot treatment banishes breakouts by simultaneously slowing down oil production & accelerating the blemish’s life-cycle, so it matures & disappears faster (pictured right).

Special 5 Blemish Drying & Purifying Gel, £15

A double-action drying & purifying gel with salicylic acid, Tea Tree oil & Sulphur, which speed up the healing process of spots after Pate Grise has drawn out the impurities.

AOX Complete Rejuvenating Care, £140

An anti-oxidant packed, anti-ageing daily moisturiser (pictured left), brilliant if you are experiencing accelerated ageing caused by a high stress lifestyle in a polluted environment.

Deep Wrinkle Filler, £50

Do you ever wish you could smooth and fill the lines on your face like a sculptor modeling wet clay? This not only instantly fills lines, it works long-term to smooth them out.

Rides Relax, Wrinkle Corrector, £80

A great way to kick off an anti-wrinkle campaign! This Botox-like serum (pictured right) relaxes skin contractions that crease it & stimulates collagen synthesis to plump & firm the area.

Masque Clarifiant, Clarifying Mask, £25

This gentle, clarifying French Clay mask absorbs excess oils, extracts impurities & deep-cleanses pores, shrinking them without drying out your skin.

Get a FREE GIFT Travel Wash Bag full of samples of their cult products with every Payot order.

I just saw this and couldn’t help but love it. Simple and brilliant.. A website dedicated to collecting photographs along an inspired theme:

A selection of images taken at the exact scene of old family pictures, matched up exactly to the modern environment in which it was taken. You can’t help but smile. A brilliant idea! Have a look on Dearphotograph and if you like the idea, do add one. alexia inge

http://dearphotograph.com/