IN THE EYE OF THE BEHOLDER

Miss Madekwe talks all that beautifies...

2011-03-14T03:23:00.000-07:00

I caught up with my beautiful co-star Ashley Madekwe who is currently shooting in Los Angles for some serious beauty goss..

Eye: Ashley. You have the most beautiful skin I have ever seen, I think in fact it's quite possible u have been dipped in caramel.....do u have any favorite products we could try with perhaps a less sticky residue.....?

ASHLEY: Ohhhhhhh thank you! I used to have quite spotty skin so I try to take really good care of it now. I swear by Shu Umeura's oil cleanser. Nothing else removes my make up like it. I also love Shiseido's day moisture protection creme. Both of these products are very rich in texture but I'd rather be oily and moist then dry!

Eye: Please share with our fellow beauties your biggest beauty NoNos ... I do recall you mentioning a few horror stories in the makeup truck!
ASHLEY: Over plucked eyebrows. Ugh! I think I full, groomed brows frame the face better. Over plucked brows look harsh and are aging. I especially hate the tadpole/sperm shape that some women favor.

Eye: You have portrayed many beautiful women on screen from Bambi in 'Secret Diaries of a Call Girl' to Chloe in the 'Beautiful Life' and most recently Molly in 'Bedlam' -what tips have you picked up along away and what's the one item all your ladies couldn't live without....

ASHLEY:*Every make up artist will tell you to remove your makeup before you go to sleep. It's the oldest trick in the book. It's the first thing I do when I come home at night. I then slather on loads of face creme! All of my characters wear mascara (and individual lashes if I can get away with it!). Mascara is a basic female right!

Eye: let's touch on inner beauty, which u radiate in killer watts, what rituals and mind sets do you embody to keep smiling inside and out.....
ASHLEY:I'm a very honest person. Perhaps too honest! I've found that as I get older I cannot keep they way I feel inside. If something or someone bothers me- I say something about it. Life is too short to keep negative feelings inside. I also like to do Bikram yoga. That 90 minuets of moving meditation keeps me sane. It's a time where I'm not thinking about anything other then the postures that I'm doing.

Watch Ashely in tonight's finale of BEDLAM Skylivng 10pm

VANITY FAIR..GET THE LOOK

2011-02-20T11:22:00.000-08:00

One early morning in a drafty studio in North London Will Young and myself were transformed, from a sleepy eyed coffee clutching pair into 1960s old hollywood screen sirens inspired by Leo and Kate a la revolutionary road....it wasnt easy, the professionals were called in...and here's a little look in their tool box..

Make-UP

Artist - GINI BOGADO

PREP- Sisley hydrating mask,

Nars primer

SK11 under eye pads

SKIN - Mac face and body C3 foundation mixed with dior shimmer

Sisley compact powder

EYES-COLOUR-Christian Dior brown, gold shimmer pallet

LINER- Mac gel pot in black

LEASHES- Temptress blink+go

LIPS-Mac lipstick "cut a caper"

NAILS- Christian dior Nude

HAIR

step one: curl hair using a cone shaped hot rod..

step two: pin curls up onto your head to alllow to cool without loosing their shape..

step three: when cooled brush out curls and hair spray..

step four: get creative and wip hair into a chignon, take all hair over to one side keep lots of volume on top and turn back over its self and pin like you've never pined before...

dadahhh...there you have it you look like Patsy from Absolutely Fabulous!

FINISHED ARTICLE MARCH ISSUE

2011-02-01T05:22:00.000-08:00

SkyLiving's launch party for their new original dark drama 'Bedlam' (click for preview) was a highly anticipated event and a girls gotta look the part, so of course one was have a mini melt down over looking cool, calm and collected whilst oozing high doses of sex and sophistication....well maybe not so much of the latter but you get my drift....
So Sky called in the professionals, I wore a fab dress by VaVaVoom, I was lent an amazing pair of Camilla Skovgaard shoes (I am in love with all her styles) and the wonderful Rebecca Richards was called in for hair and make-up, her powder puffs have buffed many famous noses such as Romola Garai, Fearne Cotton, Edith Bowman and Vanessa Hudgens, with a suitcase full of make-up (too exciting for words) she worked her magic...and two hours later I was preened too perfection and even had time for a sneaky interview.....

EYE:Rebecca, has make-up always been a major part of your life? from pre-teen experiments to a full blown career?

REBECCA:I WAS ALWAYS PLAYING WITH MY MUM'S MAKEUP WHEN I WAS VERY LITTLE AND INFACT ONE OF HER EARLIEST STORIES ABOUT ME WAS WHEN WERE WERE ON HOLIDAY AND I WAS ABOUT 5 - I HAD HER LIPSTICK ON AND WAS WALKING AROUND POUTING ...I EVEN TURNED DOWN AN ICECREAM BECAUSE 'IT WOULD RUIN MY LIPSTICK'!

I ALSO HAD 2 AUNTIES WHO WERE HAIRDRESSERS SO WAS ALWAYS EXPERIMENTING AND LEARNING NEW TRICKS FROM THEM AND PRACTISING ON MY FRIENDS...BARBIES DOLLS ... BROTHER!

EYE:We grew up not far form each other in equally small villages, where Im guessing like me there weren't many people in the 'business", was there a particular turing point where your realized your dreams of becoming a make-up artist could in fact be a reality and be taken seriously as a professional career?

REBECCA:ALTHOUGH I WAS ALWAYS VERY ARTISTIC AT SCHOOL AND WANTED TO BE A HAIRDRESSER OR A FASHION DESIGNER, I DIDN'T ORIGINALLY GO DOWN THAT ROUTE. WHEN I LEFT SCHOOL AT 18, THERE WERE STILL ONLY 4 CHANNELS ON THE TV (HARD TO IMAGINE NOW!). A CAREER IN 'THE ARTS' WAS DEEMED AS 'TOO RISKY...THERE'S NO MONEY OR OPPORTUNITIES' AND I HAD A BRAIN SO I TRUNDLED OFF TO UNIVERSITY TO STUDY BUSINESS AND MARKETING. I THEN ENDED UP IN LONDON AND WORKED IN MARKETING FOR MUSIC AND FILM FOR ABOUT 6/7 YEARS. MAKEUP & HAIR WAS STILL A BIG PART OF MY LIFE AND I WAS FOREVER EXPERIMENTING ON MYSELF OR MY FRIENDS (MANY A DODGY 'LATEST FASHION' HAIR CUT CAN BE FOUND IN OLD PHOTOS!). BECAUSE OF THE NATURE OF MY WORK, I WAS INVOLVED IN LOTS OF PHOTOSHOOTS AND FILMING AND I LOOKED INTO RE-TRAINING IN MAKEUP SEVERAL TIMES, BUT COULD NEVER FIND A WAY TO MAKE IT WORK FINANCIALLY AT THE TIME BECAUSE THERE WERE ONLY FULL TIME DAY COURSES AVAILABLE. IT WASN'T UNTIL I WAS 27 AND WAS LEFT SOME MONEY BY A RELATIVE THAT I DECIDED TO TAKE THE PLUNGE. BY THEN THERE WERE LOTS MORE COURSES AVAILABLE AND INTENSIVE EVENING COURSES TOO. I REALLY WORRIED ABOUT TELLING MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHAT I WANTED TO DO AS I DIDN'T WANT TO LET ANYONE DOWN, BUT EVERYONE WAS SO SUPPORTIVE. I STUDIED WHILST I WORKED AND THEN LOVED IT SO MUCH I QUIT MY MARKETING JOB QUITE SOON AFTERWARDS. THE FILM COMPANY I WORKED FOR AT THE TIME WERE GREAT AND EVERYONE BELIEVED I WOULD GO ON TO GREAT THINGS, AND THEY ARE ACTUALLY NOW ONE OF MY BEST CLIENTS. HAVING THE GUTS TO MAKE SUCH A MASSIVE CHANGE WAS SCARY, BUT I HAVEN'T LOOKED BACK SINCE! I STILL FEEL TODAY THOUGH THAT MY ORIGINAL MARKETING CAREER HAS REALLY HELPED ME TO GET WHERE I AM NOW.

EYE:Your alarm didn't go off, your flatmates drunk all the milk, you cant find any clean underwear and you have an interview your already late for ....what would be your quick fix essential beauty tips for our readers....?

REBECCA:QUICK CLEANSE OF THE FACE (COULDN'T LEAVE THE HOUSE WITHOUT A QUICK FACE WASH AND IT WILL HELP TO WAKE YOU UP!) , SLAP ON SOME TINTED MOISTURISER, BRONZER, CREAM BLUSH (ON LIPS AND APPLES OF THE CHEEKS) AND LOTS OF MASCARA (LAYER IT ON) . EITHER SCRAPE YOUR HAIR BACK INTO A TOP NOT KIND OF BUN AND RUN OR GRAB SOME DRY SHAMPOO... PERFECT FOR WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE TIME TO WASH YOUR HAIR!

EYE: Top 3 products?

REBECCA: OOOO....ONLY 3?!! HAVE YOU SEEN THE SIZE OF MY MAKEUP KIT?!

CHANEL - SOLEIL TAN DE CHANEL - MAKEUP BRONZING BASE ..IT'S AMAZING! SO SILKY AND GIVES YOU A BEAUTIFUL HEALTHY GLOW

NARS - ORGASM ILLUMINATOR - A HIGHLIGHTER THAT MAKES TIRED SKIN LOOK RADIANT AND GLOWING

BOBBI BROWN - POT ROUGE FOR LIPS AND CHEEKS - THERE ARE SOME GORGEOUS COLOURS - I LOVE PALE PINK AND CALYPSO CORAL AND THEY ARE GREAT BECAUSE YOU CAN USE THEM ON YOUR CHEEKS AND YOUR LIPS

myself with gorgeous co-star Ashley Madekwe

Bedlam cast: Will Young, ME, Theo James, Ashley Madekwe, Hugo Speer

Will Young, ME, Theo James, Ashley Madekwe, Hugo Speer

BEDLAM - SKYLIVING MONDAY 7TH FEB 10PM......

she said it sisley

2011-01-22T08:18:00.000-08:00

There is a a certain 'je ne sais que' when it comes to the French, beautiful on what seems like a diet of champagne, cigarettes and croissants...or maybe its more to do with fresh oysters, farmer market greens and the unwavering demand for real top quality food....i'll defiantly guess at the latter oh and SISLEY...founded by the d'Ornano family in the seventies, a family affair over 3 generations that is still going strong in the growing world of beauty.

January is not a good month for skin, recovering from the debauchery of December- it is exhausted, dry, greasy, puffy and possibly spotty....so between the shriveled mistletoe and flat champagne..things are pretty dull....well that was until Sisley came into my life, recommend to me by makeup artist Ginni Bogado on a recent Vanity Fair shoot, my skin couldn't thank me enough...

To begin your skin will be crying out for Express Flower Gel hydration mask, it drenches life back into your skin reviving even the most parched of cheeks...I like to keep mine in the fridge for the ultimate cooling, de-puffing experience..!

Now that you can smile again with the youthful vigor of a child, you need to address those bags under your eyes, and low and behold Sisley has the perfect solution 'Eye contour Mask'...which will really does reduce signs of fatigue whilst strengthening the delicate eye area with a whole host of wonderful plant extracts such as Ginko Biloba and Arnica

If your after a little more oopmf the reach for Sisley's Radiant glow express mask, the red clay works wonders performing a gentle deep cleanse, tightening your pores and leaving you purified, matified and beautified!

I know what your thinking...surely something that looks this good will surely be bad for me, well its your lucky day as this fine milled powder, available in 3 nude shades evens out skin tone, absorbs sebum all whilst hydrating and protecting...

This foundation has such a wonderful powdery smell it will have you pining for rusks and Johnson's 'no more tears shampoo'...it goes on like a dream and stays their..I found the beige shade a little pink for myself, so im on a quest to get my perfect shade in this delightful oil free fluid..

To get you started treat yourself to an express Sisley facial exclusive to Selfridges which is redeemable against two Sisley products! So don't morn December its all about 2011 -rejuvenate and hydrate..oh and maybe swing by that lovely french patisserie in soho on your way home...just to get into the spirit of things...viva la france 'n all...she said it Sisley...

SANTA BE A DOLL...

2010-12-20T06:21:00.000-08:00

Oh Santa Dear Santa,
Do be a doll and bring a girl what she needs,
all the potions and lotions,
have her brow break out in beads,
sparkles and marvels and christmas cheer.
come on santa and be a dear...

For me these fabulous tartan themed palettes from MAC conjure up images of chestnuts and roaring fires after long higland walks with strapping Gerard Butler types in muddy boots

and kilts...ahem..anyway... they are the perfect stocking filler for any girl in pursuit of a little Scottish romance... in stores and online

It seems there is a little competition in the air as NARS have there own little limited edition christmas cracker to rival MAC with a slightly more Eastern flavor, that have one wondering again of another land and in this case i cant help but see myself as a 'maiko' a Japanese dancing girl preparing in the wings of the kabuki theatre painting my lips with the precision and delicacy only achieved with this elegant lip wand...the BENTO BOX for me ticks every box.

Ellis Faas will give you the perfect party look with her winter glow set, the mascara is luscious, the lip delectable and the eye shimmer is sensational.....

A Champagne candle... need i say more? and yes its French..c'est fantastic!...EAU DE CAMPANGE CANDEL from Sisley...buy it, light it -just don't be tempted to drink it...

Who can resist this exquisite packaging from Dior, not to mention their to die for shades that will have you unwittingly giving smoldering eyes to Uncle Lionel on boxing day...

$68

The smell of pine for me is the ultimate sign thats it's Christmas, so nowyou can fool all your guests into thinking your perfectly decorated Christmas tree is in fact real!...Diptyque is my favorite, it lasts for hours, creates a beautiful festive glow, and you don't even have to light it to benefit from the wonderful woodsy smell...!! avail online and in select stores

Despite the over load of sugar and booze Clarisonic will have you glowing like the T-Total angel on top of your Christmas tree... prices start at $149 avail on line and select stores

As a huge fan of Temptu's tempary tatoos you can imagine my elf like excitement when i discovered these wonderful white tattoos that come in a variety of festive shapes..my favorite being the snow flakes...oh and by the way if you hadn't noticed, yes, I am competing with my Christmas tree this year...available at sephora and online $15.00

My biggest beauty obsession this year has been my nails, the 3week manicure that is set under a UV light has changed my life... avail at Urban Retreat , nails inc or O.P.I to name a few, but if you fancy pumping it up over the holidays try O.P.I's black shatter top coat -it"shatters" leaving your base shinning through for an amazing "leopard" print look.

Organic, enviably stylish 'VAMP a NY' perfume by Honore des Pres is the ultimate gif for any skinny jean beauty looking for the finishing touch to her "do I know you?" look.... avail online and at spacenk and other select stores..

And finally it just wouldn't be Christmas with out a box of the most "melt" in your mouth delicious handmade chocolates and in my opinion the best there is..mmmmmmm....visit their store in Notting hill or concession stand in Selfridges or alternatively order online....prices from £2.50

DETOX MARKET....

2010-12-04T04:57:00.000-08:00

It was the perfect day for beauty when Parisian Chic met Californian Cool. Never has there been a more perfect match; the Parisian sophistication lightened by the sunny mentality of Californians where the immaculate and simplistic approach to beauty that all well-heeled Parisians are born with is playfully roughed up around the edges by the effortless flip-flop attired and sunkissed Angelenos. So entre vous the Detox Market, a beauty haven amongst the bustling beach bike traffic and the insane queue for a double macchiato at ‘Intelligentsia’ the only place a respectable (and deep-pocketed) hipster would sip their latte.

On walking into the Detox Market you are instantly hit with a sense of cool clam that only those from The Continent truly possess but paired with the beautiful clean lines and airy spacious floor flooded with light you know you're officially California dreamin’.

Greeting me was Parisian beauty Fanny who owns and runs the market with her brother. Her sophisticated accent will have you feeling like a fabulous wanton Goddess in seconds and a millions miles away from remotely un-glam…..
For me, though, it should simply be called “Heaven” or “Cloud 9” as that's exactly where I was as I milled around taking in all that is organic, healthy, friendly and infused with love… everything from chocolate to olive oil to tea to shampoo to preservative-free facial creams kept in cute little fridges, yes I was a very happy bunny and I even cried a little when it was time to leave…

I cooed over and brought home...

I love les carrottes by Honore Des Pres, seriously you smell like a carrot, which makes me smile and it really is surprising how good you smell!...there is something wonderfully quirky about this 100% organic perfume line from the uber trendy packaging fit for any city slicker to their pure all-natural scent that captures the unusual, the chaotic and the beauty of New York. Olivia Giacobetti is the genius behind my new favorite smells including 'Love Coco" which coconutty yummyness is a must for the cold season ahead..

Next up RAHUA(ra-wa), a nut oil found deep in the Amazon rainforest has been used for generations by women from the Quechua-Shuar tribe keeping their manes thick and full of luster, and now the secret is out and now we can all hope to achieve Amazonian beauty...

I was not disappointed, my hair went from wrong to right, 100% organic, free of synthetics, parabens and sulfates. My hair felt strong and restored and was super shiny...I am itching to try their finishing treatment and their rahua elixir ....and then I shall be ready to take on any Amazon warrior princess....soowwaahhhh!

Odacite It doesn't get any purer than this, no toxicity, no parabens, no fragrance and absolutely no preservatives made fresh for you. Kept in the fridge until they find a new home in your bathroom cabinet, the products last six months at room temperature... capturing the eye of Vogue, Elle, Instyle this French line of beauty has encapsulated the true essence of organic skin care, the results were immediate; I felt the difference on my skin and have never felt so clean, so hydrated and most of all so at peace.....there is nothing for your skin to argue with...nothing.

TAZA organic stone ground chocolate... gluten, dairy and soy free and ground with authentic Mexican stone mills instead of the commonly used steel refiners, thus minimal

processing. The cacao bean "keeping the bean in the bar...the flavours are raw and authentic. A few favorites: 'Guajillo Chili', 'Yerba Mate' and 'Salted Almond'....if you aren't already leaping off your sofa to order a kilo of this well-wrapped rustic chocolate you will be when you hear that they have taken the 'Direct Trade Pledge' meaning that they work directly with cacao growers, exclusively with certified organic farmers and support only farms with fair humane work practices.....so seriously there is nothing to stop you.....leap my friends, leap!

So if you find yourself in Los Angeles be sure to call in at the Detox Market and peruse all the goodies soaking up the California sun and European charm....

fly by the seat of your pants

2010-11-24T16:46:00.000-08:00

I have a kind of love hate relationship with trans Atlantic journeys, I love how it is suddenly completely acceptable to sit and stare at the tv in some kind vegetated state watching movies you would never pay to see, I hate of being served 'food' that has been reheated and drugged with preservatives to prevent the ecoil hitting ones system whilst still air borne, I love knowing that despite waking up in London ill be going to sleep in Los Angeles, I hate knowing that the oxygen is turned waaay down-making my head ache with drowsiness and my skin crawl with bacteria...I love my steps I take in preventing my new reality from becoming some sort of jet laaged nightmare where you have aged a 100 years, ache form head to toe and will not be participating in any holiday romances and not by choice......

Take notes beauties:

STEP ONE... amidst the chaos of packing finding your passport apply "Bliss triple oxygen instant energizing mask"...Instyle's best beauty buy of 2010...its a miracle worker...it replicated their inspa treatment, which im a huge fan of and was so happy when they bottled the stuff!! It delivers oxygen into the skin brightening, refreshing with serious antioxidants and vitamin C...

STEP TWO...i pack a little goodie bag full of health snacks for in the departure lounge and on board to avoid astronomical priced crappy food that well is just miserable....To avoid the bloat but fill the hole I opt for Rye bread with raw almond spread or goats cheese along with some raw carrots to munch...and for on board I LOVE health bars in particular...GREENS I love their chocolate energy bars packed full of superfoods..avail online or at health food stores...also I love The Food Doctor ..basically make sure there are organic, raw, no sugar and preferable cold pressed..yummy!!

STEP THREE....A Homeopathic remedy for Jet lag is essential to feeling good and helping your body to adjust...take through out your journey.. I love "No Jet Lag" avail at wholefoods and online-also love Boiron's remedies widely avail and if you can't get a blend I highly recommend Arnica as it stops the body from feeling sore and achy.

STRETCH!!!!..Get up move around, do some yoga...yes I'm that girl!!!!

AVOID Caffeine all day and on board it dehydrates and doesn't allow you to nod off...

AVOID Alcohol- kill joy i know but that sleep deprived dehydrated headache will only get worse.

SLEEP...try and get 4 hrs sleep....take a homeopathic remedy to help lull you....and try to lie back not curl up into some body crunching position that will be a stiff reminder of your time in the air..

Finally....drink water before during and after your flight...but on landing I add a little bit of magic, making my water 'wetter' and allowing for maximum absorption helping my body to recover.."energetixs ReHydration tinture" is amazing you really feel the difference and see the difference in your face...avail at major health stores..

To adjust really try to fit in with your new time zone, change your watch immediately, eat at meal times and try to stay up and rise at a normal hour....

There you have it....who needs to travel Upper!!!!

AESOP

2010-11-11T05:06:00.000-08:00

‘As far as we can discern, the sole purpose of human existence is to kindle a light in the darkness of mere being.’ Carl Jung

'You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.' Mae West

Some how I feel safe in the hands of those quoting from the likes of Mae West and Carl Jung, the poetic philosophical approach to beauty definitely agrees with my constitution.

Skin Aesop, Lip Mac Odyssey, Scarf Ted Baker, Coat Urban Outfitters

Australian founded line "AESOP" named after an ancient Greek story teller mostly famous for his moralistic fables, is a botanical based skin care line that for me ticks all the boxes....beautifully packaged, completely free of any nastiest including perfumes and silicone each product is an absolute smell-sensation....

It was the perfect Sunday, the sun was shinning, the air smelt of bonfire-welling up sentimental thoughts of mittens and sparklers and lets be honest I was a happy girl as now my November RayBand purchase was completely justified in my mind....but just as I thought my day couldn't get any better as the sun was setting on Notting Hill, I had just finished a 3 month intense shoot and I had spent a constructive afternoon gossiping with my sister over cappuccinos at electric house, I stumbled into Aesop possibly the cutest shop on Westbourne Grove filled to the brim with old world apothecary charm.....the rows of brown glass bottles are enough to satisfy any hipster's bathroom cabinet...or mantelpiece as I personally can't get enough of their packaging!

The staff were very friendly and knowledgeable-we discussed what would be the best products for my skin, which is combination and can clog easily....after what seem like hours of deliberating I opted for:

Mandarin Facial Hydrating Cream, (60ml £23.00)a daily moisturizing cream for normal to oily and combination skin types, I am very happy with this product- it is matt and fresh, the Mandarin Orange feels like sunshine in a jar...the hazel base to this product combined with the citrus gives the cream an antibacterial quality that feels non greasy and is easily absorbed...

With the harsh winter chill in the air and central heating blasting I decided my skin needed a double whammy and as advised I doubled up my hydration by firstly applying Oil Free Facial Hydrating Serum (100ml £33.00) which for very oily skin is perfect for wearing alone as the the clear aloe vera based hydrating gel is completely oil free and clean feeling....this product for me is a winner not only because of the to-die-for smell of ylang ylang, which takes me right back to a trip I took to Thailand visiting every spa possible, but the non sticky serum package full of anti-oxidants left my skin plump with hydration.

The Aesop Primrose Facial Cleansing Masque (120ml£25.00)

"This clarifying masque should be used weekly, or more often on oily skins, and is an excellent refresher for clogged or abused skin. The superb base of French Clay and concentrated Vitamin E is enhanced with softening and anti- oxidant plant actives and is wonderfully balancing on patchy skin. Follow with three drops of Damascan Rose Facial Treatment." Aesop.

Probably my favorite product, it was my first product in this line and it was given to me by a fellow actress who said it was an absolute life saver, as you can imagine an actresses skin is constantly subjected to hot lights, make-up, long hours and on Bedlam seriously dusty grimy sets!...this masque has been my loyal companion over the last 3 months and have used it up to 3 times a week to absorb away the days grime...

The lovely lady in the Aesop shop gave me a bunch of samples to try and I will definitely be going back for more.. the B triple C Balancing Gel a little pricey at £58.00..but this powerful gel is a potent cocktail of vitamins C and B and anit-oxidants that hydrates and balances skin tone and calms inflammation. Their Parsley seed anti-oxidant eye serum infused with lavender stem and blue chamomile is de-puffing and be-bagging like a dream....

I can hear the words of our Ancient Greek story teller Aesop echoing in my ears...

"Once upon a time there was a girl, in search of perfect skin, she searched high and low through valley and fold until one day, like a sailor staring at the cloudy night sky, a star broke through and showed her the way...."

...Aesop shine on and lead the way....

giveaway....

2010-11-05T11:15:00.000-07:00

Inspired by the lovely Ashley Madekwe I have decided to do a lipstick give away for all you Jean wearing Queens....here is your chance to win your very own perfect everyday shade as a talked about favorite in my "Read my Lips" post- the creamy, long lasting, effortless and easy to wear shade could find its self in your makeup bag...'JEAN QUEEN' by the Lipstick Queen...
See below the snaps of me (Jean Queen lips ofcorse) and leave a comment and your email and ill pick the winner at random and get your lippy sent out to you!!

In the words of Elton John...

Going Dutch..

2010-10-29T10:36:00.000-07:00

photo terry richards
vogue.

The Netherlands, the mystical flat land that brought us Dutch pancakes, clogs, tulips, grolsch beer, real life sexpot-milkmaid 'Lara Stone' oh and not to mention this season most rocking hair do...as my co-star Ms Madekwe calls it "the sexy Heidi"...but I'm most excited about the latest thing to come out of Amsterdam, let me introduce you, my beauties to fellow beauty "ELLIS FAAS"...renowned make-up artist throughout the Netherlands, she has created her own line that has at last hit the Uk like a blot of lighting, available at Liberties of London and online.

This wonderful makeup range, shining so beautifully in its bullet like packaging-which not only makes for easy application but its so compact and easy to travel with especially when slotted into her perfectly designer holder...so goodbye to the messy make-up bag caked in powder and Kohl liner and hello to the super sleek beauty case of the future, it holds everything from your foundation, to concealer, to eye shadow, to liner, to your mascara and a sneaky powder concealed in the lid....it's genius and if you fill the holder with products you receive it for free...bonus!

But lets talk about the product, in no way does this line rely on its fancy pants packaging to do the talking....

The concept behind the line, which by the way is free of any nastiest and mixed with botanical oils and is completely non-comedogenic, is that it is based on the colours that naturally occur in every human body, from her shade of foundations to lip colours to her eye shimmers, and this is by no means limiting, quite the opposite, her eyes shadows range from the palest lilacs, to the deepest greens and her lip colours are out of this world and miraculously every shade suits all, it may not be to your taste but i grantee it will suit you, her signature red lip is the colour of blood (avail in 3 finishes creamy, milky and glazed) as gruesome as that may sound it is truly amazing- it is the perfect red for the palest red heads to the darkest skin tones...

Her foundations or should I say "skin veils" blend like nothing I've ever witnessed not too pink not too sallow, just perfect....

Faas's eye shadows are gorgeous and come in different finishes creamy, milky and light...

So ladies please 'Go Dutch', and with the money you save treat your self to a little 'Ellis Faas'

ELLIS FAAS makeup
ASHLEY MADEKWE hair

READ MY LIPS....

2010-10-19T05:52:00.001-07:00

to kiss, to smile, to pucker, to pout,

its what us ladies are all about.

to love, to tease, bring 'em to their knees,

to smile, to shine, to touch yours with mine,

whatever the weather,

whatever the shade,

don your lippy girls

and you've got it made.

The only question being; with whom, with what and how will it

feel......well lippy lovers let me shed some shade...

Lipstick for me is liking taking a step back into time to a more glamous era, one where cigarette holders and elbow gloves were perfectly expectable, where the men had mustache combs and brill cream and for us ladies suspender belts were an everyday item....ahh good old days..but lets not get too glassy eyed the new wave of lipstick craze is taking over every pout in the country, Lancome has brought out a limited-edition lippy with a parisian inspired casing showing the sexy latticework of fishnet stockings and the effile tower..ohlala...fittingly named 'French Touch' and I'm in love with the cheekly named 'Cherry Kikki'..how very Moulin Rouge of moi.

'Tom Ford will you marry me?" the words on every girls TF painted lips, is there anything he hasn't given us? the fragrance, the sunglasses, the clothes (well, we're waiting for the high st range) the movie that had us all donning heavy framed glasses and strip lashes not to mention the eye candy spectacle that is the suited and booted Mr Ford himself....and now lipstick, seems appropriate as most women upon meeting him probably get down on their knees to kiss his feet......Ashley Madekwe my fellow co star on Bedlam has her character Molly rocking out the most wonderful 'True Coral' shade....she is obsessed and as she should be as against her caramel skin its blindingly beautiful....

For me and coincidently my character 'Kate' on Bedlam, ive gone old school with my absolute favorite shade 'Ruby Pearl' by Elizabeth Arden....the name describes it perfectly....for me its my edgiest most sultry pout and works beautifully with browns and greens and a swish of a lepard print scarf....for me encapsulates autumn, i like application for everyday and layer it on for those cosy night in the pub or snuggled into a rather larger arm chair at soho house...

For anyone who is a little bomb barded with choice or slightly concerned about the right shade, or in fear like looking in any way like Coco the Clown I have found the perfect lipstick for you or rather the Lipstick Queen-Poppy King, who for me is all ready a legend with her vintage style and dedication from the age of 18 to bring her ever extending lipstick line to the world, she has invented the perfect shade for every blue jean girl...'Jean Queen' is a no brainer- its the perfect pink to offset blue and the perfect accompaiment to a little tinted moiserizer, with just the right amount of sheen and staying power.....for when you just need to pout and go...

If your still not convinced or you want a little pow to your pucker, finnish or wear alone with the ultimate gloss....and for me it has to be "ByTerry' Lip Expert Gloss-replumpling Ultra-Shine....its silky and soft and has a mother of pearl shine....ahhh 'now, who wants a kiss?'

Shu Uemura

2010-09-16T11:09:00.000-07:00

Once you manage to get your freshly glossed lips around these closely place vowels....something wonderful happens aside from being virtually fluent in Japanese, the red rope is lifted and you are about to become part of the S list, a list so exclusive reserved only for super-shinny-silky-shu uemura-sex-sirens, its a short list my beauties but is about to get ahellov a lot longer....

As I write this I am sitting in the make up truck as I have a little down time from playing Kate on Bedlam, which is quite apt as this is where my Shu Uemura story began... 'Kate's' look for the show took a little time to get just right, so after few tears (i can be a little dramatic) and a few trips to the colorist dark to blonde to dark..and some choppy layers we finally were happy....but my locks had taken a little beating and I needed to nurse them back to life...so donning my best "please give me what I want" smile I pleaded with the lovely Jess head of the make-up department to let me splash out and feed my hair with the best.
So picture this-its been bleached, twice, and hadn't been conditioned due to a shortage of product in my shower..so 'straw' would be putting it lightly....I carefully picked my products from the well stocked shelves at Harvey Nichols, my first thrill was that like a kid in a sweet shop i could 'pick 'n' mix'....all their products over lap and work seamlessly with each other providing, moi, the customer, with a personalized hair routine...

Shu Uemura approaches hair care with the attention to detail as that of a young quivering Geisha performing a Japanese tea ceremony for the first time... 'The Art of Hair' ritual consists of 'The Art of Style', 'The Art of Care' and 'The Art of Tools'. For my shampoo and conditioner I decided on 'Full Shimmer' for color treated hair formulated with musk rose oil, so you can imagine the scent, in addition for those desperate times I opted for the intense treatment mask from their 'Silk Bloom' collection which promises to restore and rebuild your locks back to their virginal years with the god like power of Aragan oil and vitamin E, now for the liquid gold, I exaggerate not..for a start its pricey at 38 pounds for 150ml but their Essence Absolute leave in oil for dry hair is, I imagine what mermaids or angels use, apply to wet hair and it protects from harmful rays pollution and conditions..leaving without so much as a greasy strand...and as for style I am officially hooked to creating as much lasting vavavoom as possible with their Fiber lift-protective volumizer...again applied to wet hair and their is absolutely no sticky residue only enviable height....

So don your kimono brew your tea leave leaves and leave that mask on for 15 minuets and I promise all you aspiring Geishas that shinny locks are within reach..those Shu Uemura peeps know a thing or two about the Art of Hair...

ADAM AND EVE BITE ME

2010-08-22T04:32:00.000-07:00

In the words of the big man in the sky, as he was laying the rules down for Adam and Eve; "for on the day you eat of it you shall surely die''... so i guess the apples from the tree of knowledge were slightly sour to say the least...but my fellow beauties, Eve was on to something as are 'Juice Beauty" when they (in longer than 7 days I'm guessing) created the 'Green Apple Peel' for sensitive skin which MUST have been plucked from the tree of knowledge of good and evil.....because let me let you- there is no going back once you have tried this organic refining hydroxy-acid-complex-of-organic-apple-lemon-grape-raw-cane-sugar!....its Heaven or rather Eden (pre-bite) but God was right ''you will surely die" with pure pleasure as the knowledge that your skin looks luminescent floods your brain, may i add.

Results aside for a moment my favorite thing about the apple peel, is that unlike other peels i have used, it very easy to remove, there is none of this snake like shedding business where you can grantee on leaving the house you will still have an attractive piece of "skin" attached to your chin, instead you wash it off in the shower or easily in the skin and voila...scale free..it goes on as a sheer green gel and you can see your new found glow appearing with in minuets, i have found using it once or twice a week has kept my pores pretty clear....which as i am currently working and wearing makeup for long hours is pretty life saving!

Juice beauty would definitely be welcomed into the garden of Eden..to quote "Beyond what is in our Eco-Chic products, Juice Beauty is Eco Committed. We use recycled packaging, 100% recycled paper and cardboard, 80% of our products are produced with solar power, and we only purchase ingredients from USDA certified organic farms. Juice Beauty IS the Organic Solution for the future!"

They have a whole range of products free of any nastiest in the Green Apple line, such as a body peel and apple shower moose you can pamper yourself from head to toe and after that organic ritual move over Eve and lend me your fig leaf!!

So start sining and take a bite... uk store for green apple range or statesiders... usa store for green apple range

Let me tempt you with Temptu....

2010-08-11T09:03:00.000-07:00

I love u Temptu, after my recent experience with their range of airbrush makeup, courtesy of the lovely Ava and Laura, it's true to say I'm an airbrushing maniac in near danger of resembling David Bowie in his Aladdin Sane phase - hey I say that like it's a bad thing but I could totally pull off a purple lighting bolt!.. Or maybe not.

After a tutorial by the lovely Laura in their hip silverlake studio, I was itching to get my hands on their magic wand... And magic, my fellow beauties it is....
Carefully we color matched, clicked in a foundation capsule similar to something one may find lying around ones spaceship and off I went..

Now close your eyes and imagine you are floating through a misty cool cloud or perhaps you're on a ski trip in the alps, on a chair lift besides John-Paul (mmmm another misty story) either way Temptu's air brush's cool mist takes you to another level as it glides on ( sorry can't get the alps out of my head) evenly distributing a fine layer of dewy foundation and when you come across a bump in the road simply pause over any blemish for complete coverage.

Now here's where it gets really exciting...select a bronze capsule wave your magic wand and like Picasso begin to shade the contours of your face, hollow out your cheeks, sun-kiss your brow, I even wafted my decollete! Next switch out for a blusher, Im in love with sheer berry, 'smile!' and ripen those apples and finally and oh so beautifully select the highlighter cap, champagne for an expensive glow, spritz those Cheekbones, collar bones and eyelids (creates a great pearlized shadow) and VOLIA! You'll have bone structure that would have Kate Moss shooting you daggers from across the room!

Their colors are divine, great tones to the foundation I particularly like natural and warm beige, although for me their blushers stole the show as boy do they LAST! With the look of a sheer wet blush, so creating the natural flush I love so much and rather than being absorbed and doing a disappearing act I was shocked to see that on returning from my shenanigans I was still flushed, well bronzed and blemish free! Ahhhhhhh poor John-Paul, there he was thinking he was the source of all my blushing...

Fancy a go?...buy here x
Temptu website www.temptu.com
Temptu Blog BLOG

Ladies and Gentlemen, the wonderful...Beau Garrett...

2010-07-30T11:57:00.000-07:00

EYE:Having spent many an hour in the make-up chair do you feel actresses have a special relationship with their make-up artists?

BEAU:If you are lucky enough to spend enough time with a good make up artist, you definitely build a relationship with them in regards to what you want to accomplish. The best thing you can hope for as an actress is someone that is patient, has a gentle hand and helps you to get where you need to go with who you are playing.  You always want to be on the same page in regards to character and you need them to beable to read you if you need quiet time or a pick me up.  I had a lot of early mornings and long hours with Rosalina Da Silva on the set of Tron Legacy.  Her and her team were like family to me then. Good people and such talents.

EYE:From the sneak peeks we have caught of your up and coming movie TRON we catch you looking AMAZING is this super human futuristic getup with this fantastic white blond hair and heavy dark eyes, can you describe a little bit of the process for our readers? and how playing this super human techno beauty made you feel? 

BEAU:On to the Tron make-up.  Talk about patience....The whole get up took about 5 hours. Hair, make-up and suit. A lot of tedious layering and eye liner and white concealer and double lashes and black eyebrows and a blond bleached wig and tears and bobby pins and more white concealer and white spray and white powder and loads of mascara and sparkly dust and tears and patience and so so much more. When leaving the trailer for the somewhat final time before shooting I felt like the sexiest, oddest, creepiest and yet the most strangely beautiful alien in a world of normal boring humans. The look took me over.

EYE:Your beautiful face has graced REVLON billboards all over the world, what did you learn from them and finally what do you do to feel beautiful on the inside? because its not just your shimmer that makes you glow so beautifully ;)

BEAU:I spent three years as the face of Revlon and one thing I did learn from that company is the importance of inner strength. A lot of

 the money Revlon cashes in every year goes to finding a cure for breast cancer and spreading awareness for early detection. I met

 countless sisters and daughters and mothers and aunts and wives that have struggled with this disease once and sometimes twice.  The pride that these women carry. The strength.  The resilience.  The beauty. I learned a lot of things about what beauty is in the time I spent supporting that company.  Sometimes the things that make us feel the sexiest aren't always in our make-up bag.  I guess that brings me to what makes me feel good on the inside....good food, hiking, running on the beach with no one around, travel, kindness, quiet, laughter, my dog. All of those things make me sparkle, oh, and my Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer. That too. Love you Charlotte.

BRIGHT EYED...by resident makeup artiste (drum roll please) Teddie Bergman

2010-07-26T22:56:00.000-07:00

...Dont let them know you've been up all night.....

Ok ladies!!! Here it comes….. The forbidden secrets of under eye concealer and the “how to” on eliminating those dark spots and discolorations under the eyes while creating a bright and youthful appearance. The famous Bobbie Brow says “concealer is the secrete of the universe.” Even if you only used concealer, a little cheek and lip color you are ready to go in five minutes taking with you all the appearance of stress away and ready to rock n’ roll your way out the door.

The majority of people are taught to apply a concealer that is a shade or two lighter than your foundation color which is true, however before you do that there is one most important rule. Find a color corrector that has a peachy tone or bisque which is use to block out the darkness, blueness, and greenness under the eyes. Once you have color corrected then you can select your concealer color and gently tap onto the area to blend it into the skin. Another rule is to always apply a hydrating eye cream to help smooth the surface and the trick is to only use a little. Lastly, dust a little powder to help set the makeup and help it from creasing.

One of my favorite concealers is Eve Pearl. I used Eve Pearl cosmetics on my latest film “How to Grow” in which that I had the chance to work on the lovely and talented actress Charlotte Salt. Charlotte has a beautifully structured face, and like everyone has a touch of darkness under the eye. Using Eve’s popular “salmon concealer’s,” it glided along the lash line creating an even more brighten eye on Charlotte. The makeup is creamy in texture which makes it easy to work with, which is important because the skins under the eyes are extremely delicate and you don’t want there to be any pulling.

Checkout the transforming salmon concealers at www.evepearl.com and her book 'Plastic Surgery Without the Surgery'

The last greatest tidbit is Eve Pearl has fantastic video tutorials about makeup and industry tricks.

Health, happiness, and beauty…

TEDDIE BERGMAN

Just a smooth operator...

2010-07-21T20:45:00.000-07:00

"Pack it up, Pack it in, let me begin"......whurrrrrrrrrrrrrrr... ahhhhhhh the sound your neighbours and loved ones will grow to love, mine are still on the fence, but you know what? I don't care because nothing or nobody can take away the new love of my life: my kitchenaid 5 speed blender. People, I know what your thinking, one word 'vitamix' but seriously at 400 dollars a pop I might as well blend up my wallet with my banana.

Relived and I might add quite impressed with myself for staying clear of the bank breaking vitamix, I did a little research and bingo, 80 dollar kitchenaid 5 speed say hello to your new home, like a serial monogamist, it was time to move on, my nesspresso machine was dumped (on top on the fridge) and my new man was given prime counter space....

The inspiration for this new found past time of smoothie making madness as apposed to my usual double long cafe macchiato habit, came from reading 'Spent' newly named with a more positive spin 'Revive' (you may have read ms patrol's rave reviews on goop) the author Dc Frank Lipman is really quite the persuasive talker, well he has converted me from a coffee for breakfast kinda girl to a smoothie blending hazard. Doc Lipman comes from the school of thought that a smoothie can contain everything you need to set you up for the day and carry you through till lunch in one easily digestible yummy drink..and he wasn't lying, he has many great recipes but I tend to get a tad carried away and end up chucking everything in I can find that I hope will have me hopping to work singing Necro's "Who's ya daddy"...so that currently includes:

a scoop of Vibrant Health's Green Vibrance or something similar
a squirt of flax seed oil (make sure its organic and cold pressed)
1/4 avocado (provide nearly 20 essential nutrients, including fiber, potassium, Vitamin E, B-vitamins and folic acid)
a scoop of protein if you like, eg hemp, whey or a raw egg
I like to alternate daily between avocados and bananas for my smoothie base
Frozen fruit or fresh, my favorites are frozen raspberries for their cancer fighting ability and great taste
Homemade almond milk, which can be achieved by blending up almonds and water and then pouring through a siv
ice

But, without a doubt my favorite use of my blender is to make guilt free chocolate nutmilk shakes...i have one as an afternoon snack or even as dessert to satisfy my sweet tooth without having to bombard my system with sugar, dairy and caffeine...

1/4 avocado
1 heaped table spoon of organic raw cacao powder a mayan superfood full of magnesium, flavanols and polyphenols..don't you know!
homemade almond milk
a squirt of organic raw agave syrup
four ice cubes
sometimes if I want a real health kick I add some fresh curly kale (blend well)..the chocolate cacao taste disguises it very well!

Please trust me on this one people, you totally get into it..I've tried juicing before but lets face it cleaning that damn thing is such a ball ache, excuse the expression, but that just about sums it up for me...Oh also Dc Frank has the most amazing shoulder de-stresser involving 2 tennis balls that changed my life, so please grab a copy of the book and open your life to a more energised existence.

So as I began "Pack it up, Pack it in, let me begin ...........jumpa round, jumpa round, jump up, jump up and get down!...jump, jump, jump!!" owwwwwww!

You can find many great recipes in Dc Lipman's book or in other smoothie books, I have all my favorites books and ingredients in my online shop..USAstore UKstore

TATTOOS FOR THE FAINT HEARTED

2010-07-10T14:21:00.000-07:00

Ahhh Chanel, Chanel how very clever you are, you took quilted leather from the grannies and adorned the shoulders of the tres chic and now you've taken temporary tattoos from the pre-teens and well, made us all feel like we have to hide from our mothers. Personally I was very excited, being a total wuss when comes to body art, I suddenly felt it would be ok if I felt like heading down to Floyd's to get my hair cut, on say, my imaginary biker bf's Harley...anyway ''les trompe-l'oeil de Chanel"..trick of the eye, facade, smoke and mirrors, blah blah, but at $75/50sterling I kind of want the real thing and not to blow my own trumpet but 'do I really want to be a walking advert for Chanel?' although I guess that can be said about carrying one of their beautiful totes and who wouldn't want that? But last I checked it was not ok to have branding aside from luxury leather goods (I mean think late 90s D&G tees) but then again this isn't the 90's, they're not knock off and they're Chanel swallows fer f***sakes!

Sigh..

Grazing the shelves of Sephora, like a jersey cow chewing over fresh grass, suddenly there was my answer, staring me right in the face ''Adorn" temporary tattoos by Temptu for 25 bucks for 9 design sheets containing about 5 individual designs...bingo!

Off out to Soho House LA later that night it was the perfect place to showcase my body art.
Cut to,
me sitting on my bathroom floor, running late, having screwed up 2 of my tattoo design sheets already in frustration; smudgy, patchy, faint you can imagine....but then slowly I started to get the hang and realised that trying to transfer the whole design sheets one handed was impossible, but the trick is to cut the designs out individually, then apply (had I watched the instruction video...)

Then, Volia! A pretty passable Koi tattoo!

The beautiful lighting in the Soho house garden was heaven sent for my tattoo's first outing, a few of my not so observant male friends asked 'when had I got it done?' (!?!!), I even had a few of my girlfriends baffled for a second!
BUT be warned, icky guys suddenly had what they thought was the perfect opening line;
Sleazy Hollywood alpha male, "so baby, the koi, what does it symbolise in your life..?"
Moi, "ermmm, that i cant afford Chanel?"........

........you can buy online at My USA STORE x

2010-07-07T21:48:00.000-07:00

To commence this Blog or should I say 'get this party started' I would like to thankyou forward slash welcome anyone who has being searching the web long enough to find my little beauty!
So obsessions, as my current crush "Marina and the diamonds" sings "you never told me what it was that made you strong, what it was that made you weak" ...well I will tell you what makes me stronger and weak at the knees...

Lets start with my current love affair, which seems apt as my bf is out of the country, KORRES, it is a Greek line, and lets be honest its not just the yogurt and the extra virgin olive oil keeping those goddess oh so bronzed and so enviously glowy...

Gorge and Lena Korres are the smooth olive skinned founders of the company and they believe, to quote, that "Korres Natural Products sees its fundamental responsibility towards nature and the environment as an essential effort that should be done by all of us, for the protection of our planet"...I mean come on, if you aren't already in love with the idea of a fully eco-conscious range, you will be when you hear about all the nastiness they keep well away from our skin and hair..

We avoid using and have limited non-biodegradable ingredients, such as silicones and mineral oils.
We avoid the use of parabens, sulphates, propylene glycol, ethanolamines, phalates, genetically modified organisms, phalates and triclosan, all ingredients that are believed to be harmful to the body and to nature
We do not use ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) because it is non-biodegradable and its removal from wastewater requires special treatment.
All the extracts and vegetable oils we include among our ingredients have been certified as pesticide-free by quality control laboratories.

Believe the hype, my sister was recently in Europe and was lucky enough to stumble into one of their flagship stores, but for those who aren't lucky enough to be putting our high school Spanish to the test, you can get your fix by clicking the link on my blog UK or USA to visit my virtual store filled with my favorite korres products (and more to come)...or sephora stock them as do Liberty of London.

My favorite products, ofcorse i haven't tried the whole range but i am working my way through, a tough job but someone has to do it, in no particular order..

quercetin-and-oak Age-Reversing Oil-Control Treatment, it is a-a-amazing my skin feels and smells beautiful and I get this instant glow, its probably one of their most expensive products at $50 dollars but well worth it, I've had mine awhile and when I go to pump I am still rewarded with a pea sized blob.

My skin can be very oily and I am obsessed with their thymus and sage anti-acne cleanser, its the only wash I have used that cuts through the oil and grime with out drying, and again the smell..mmmmwwwaaahhhhh!!

Put your hands up if you love the idea of a tinted moisturiser Oil free and silicone free tint gives medium coverage with a dewy finish and powerful sun protection, breathable, water-resistant, sweat-proof, with watermelon extract (again the smell), rich in vitamins, carbohydrates and amino acids, supports the stressed immune system of the skin, preventing premature ageing and increases the skin’s immune defences against free radical damage AND vanilla and Curcuma Longa Extracts provide essential antioxidant protection and prevent photo-aging!! phew!

Seriously I know I sound like I work for them (I wish I did) but I also love their mascara, its unbelievable, my lashes are so much thicker just as if I hadn't worn any mascara for days, and it doesn't rub off.....trust me.

I could go on all day, their bronzer is also wonderful made with monoi oil, a tropical Tahitian oil...so please open your world to the beauty of Korres, it's life changing...

All I need now is my very own modern day Eros to apply my korres Greek yogurt aftersun....sigh.