In My Makeup Bag: The Beauty Products I’m Loving Right Now

May 29, 2013

I don’t usually do “what’s in my makeup bag” style posts, but recently I’ve started using a couple of products on a near-daily basis, so thought it was only fair to share these gems with you. Take a look at my new beauty favourites below…

Yves Saint Laurent Baby Doll

Urban Decay Naked Basics Eyeshadow Palette: I’ve been using Urban Decay eyeshadows since my early teens, but only recently added the famed Naked palette to my collection. There’s not really much to say here, as the Naked Basics collection has already been written about a million, billion times. It’s just a really solid collection of eyeshadow colours that you’ll want to wear again and again. Invest it a good set of brushes and you’ll easily be able to create beautiful looks with this palette. Find Urban Decay Naked Basics at Debenhams, £20.

Clinique City Block Sheer SPF: There hasn’t been much need for sun block in the UK, so far this spring, but for the occasional burst of sunshine Clinique’s City Block Sheer SPF comes in handy. In the past I’ve struggled to find a sun cream that works well with makeup (usually SPF and foundation melt together in the heat, creating a greasy mess), but this formula doesn’t cause any problems. Apparently City Block is also great for sensitive skin, as it’s free of chemical sunscreens, so it’s worth a try if sun protection usually causes irritation. Find Clinique City Block SPF at Boots, £16.

Yves Saint Laurent Baby Doll Mascarra: I’m not usually one to get excited about the latest mascara release, but I can’t stop raving about YSL’s new Baby Doll line. The volume effect mascara is very, very good. It creates bold, thick, long lashes and is easily one of the best mascaras I’ve ever used. As expected it comes with a high price tag, but I’d say it’s worth the investment if just you want one really brilliant mascara in your makeup bag. Find Yves Saint Laurent Baby Doll Mascara at Selfridges, £24.50.

Rimmel Undercover Shadow Primer: Sometimes you don’t have to spend a lot of money on a product to get great results. And that’s the case with this Rimmel eyeshadow primer. I’ve been using the lightweight formula for months and it definitely makes shadows and liner last longer. Perfect if you hate touching up your makeup throughout the day! Find Rimmel Undercover Shadow Primer at ASOS, £4.99.

Lipstick Queen Butterfly Ball Lipstick in ‘Float’: I’ve just discovered this Lipstick Queen shade and it has instantly become my favourite lip colour for day (and sometimes evening too). The Butterfly Ball moisturizing lipstick collection features five sheer, shimmering colours which are glossy without being sticky. ‘Float’ is a very subtle nude tone and I imagine it would be flattering on most complexions. Find the Butterfly Ball lipsticks at Space NK, £20.

M.A.C Sheertone Shimmer Blush in ‘Sunbasque’: There’s not much of a story here. This is a just a great colour which I’ve been using daily for a few weeks. I only apply a light dusting of this M.A.C blush, as the colour is quite vivid and I have very fair skin. But it gives a nice, healthy glow and is less dramatic than a shimmery bronzer. Find M.A.C Powder Blushes at M.A.C Cosmetics, £17.50.

The Fashion and Beauty Calendar: April 2013

April 1, 2013

Fashion and Beauty Calendar April 2013

The monthly Hide & Chic post has been given a makeover, and will now continue as The Fashion and Beauty Calendar. I think the name change makes more sense, and April is the perfect time to debut a new look, as there are so many dates to add to your diary. Here’s a look at the most exciting events and launches taking place over the next four weeks…

Now… The Mary Katrantzou x CURRENT/ELLIOTT collaboration hit My-Wardrobe last week, and the denim designs are sure to give your April wardrobe a playful kick. The stamp print shift dress is the standout item, and I wonder how long it will be until we spot an A-list actress rocking the look on the streets of LA. A week at the most?
Whistles’ fabulous mini leather satchel is also available to buy now. The cool chain-strap design comes in three colours – lime [pictured above], lilac and black – and is the perfect spring accessory. I want them all!

April 1st… Atelier Liberty launches the ‘Bang Bar’ on April 1st. The ‘drop-in and chop-in’ service offers fringe cutting for £10. So whether you’re looking for an update on your look, or just need a quick trim and aren’t brave enough to try a DIY job at home, head to the third floor of Liberty London and a Josh Wood stylist will have you sorted in no time.
Jo Malone London’s Red Roses fragrance has been given a playful makeover by their Style Editor, Charlotte Stockdale. The paint dipped bottle goes on sale today and is exclusive to Selfridges. Only 300 bottles have been produced, so act fast if you’re hoping to add to your cologne collection. Shop ‘Charlotte’s Corner’ in store or online from today.

April 5th… Spring Breakers opens in the UK on April 5th. The crime drama stars Selena Gomez, Vanessa Hudgens and James Franco (who appears to be in costume as Kevin Federline circa 2004), and actually looks pretty awful. But I have a feeling it’s going to be one of those films everyone’s talking about, so it’s probably worth watching. You can check out the trailer HERE. And, in more exciting news, Ryan Gosling’s new movie, The Place Beyond the Pines, hits UK screens on April 12th. Bradley Cooper co-stars, so book tickets now!

April 9th… Marc Jacobs turns 50 on April 9th, so celebrate his birthday by wearing one of his designs. I love the Marc by Marc Jacobs crystal barrette [pictured above], but a spritz of Daisy or Lola will also do the trick. And don’t forget to send some birthday love on Twitter too! Marc has only tweeted twice since 2010, but he might still check his feed…

April 15th… Anna Sui’s adorable Tin Houses hit stores, this month. The designer’s three best-selling perfumes – Secret Wish, Flight of Fancy, and Fairy Dance – are all presented in a pretty tin houses, which can also be used as jewellery boxes. They’re exclusive to Debenhams from the 15th, and at £36 each they make fabulous gifts. It would be very easy to get carried away and buy the entire village!

April 26th… If you love BB creams you’re going to be excited about this beauty launch: Clinique‘s new Moisture Surge CC Cream, £28, is released nationwide in the UK on April 26th (it’s exclusive to John Lewis from the 5th). The Colour Corrector promises “natural, glowing skin”, comes in six shades and includes SPF 30. I tried the Clinique CC Cream last week and was impressed by the coverage – it gave a really nice, even look.

Are you impressed by April’s line-up of fashion and beauty launches? What are you most excited about, this month?

Four Colourful New Beauty Products for Spring 2013

February 12, 2013

new beauty products 2013

At the start of each season most of us do a thorough wardrobe clear out, but do you ever take the time to go through your makeup bag? If not now is your moment. A host of exciting new products are starting to arrive on beauty counters, so it’s the perfect time for a spring clean.

Swap dark, smokey eyes and heavy liquid eyeliner for a slick of Clinique’s lightweight sheer colours. The Chubby Stick shadows are easy to apply and come in a great selection of shades (my personal favourite is “Whopping Willow”). Worn with a few coats of mascarra and a dusting of AERIN’s pretty Floral Illuminating Powder, your daytime beauty look will be sorted in under five minutes.

And once the clock strikes six simply apply a coat of Yves Saint Laurent’s Rouge Volupte lipstick, which will take you from office to bar. With 19 different shades in the Rouge Volupte collection there’s definitely something for everyone, and the lipstick’s fruity mango scent instantly makes it feel like summer!

That’s your makeup bag sorted then. And if you’re looking for a new, summery fragrance to accompany S/S 2013′s fresh beauty looks you’ll want to try Jo Malone’s limited-edition Sugar & Spice colognes. Launching in March, the collection includes five quirky scents: Redcurrant & Cream, Ginger Biscuit, Lemon Tart, Bitter Orange & Chocolate and Elderflower & Gooseberry. You’ll either want to wear them or eat them…

Hide & Chic: The November 2012 Edition

November 1, 2012

It’s crazy to think that it’s nearly the end of the year. Soon everyone will be talking about Christmas and New Year, and then we have Awards Season to look forward to. But for now let’s just enjoy November and the exciting fashion/beauty launches coming up over the next four weeks. The Hide & Chic edit has everything covered, so you won’t miss a single collaboration or emerging mini-trend…

Vampire Chic: The final Twilight Saga movie, Breaking Dawn – Part 2, is released on November 16th, marking the end of the vampire-crazy era. Celebrate with Markus Lupfer’s vampire sequin knit and keep an eye out for Kristen Stewart’s red carpet appearances. There’s the whole will-they-won’t-they PR stunt building up around a reconciled Kstew/Rpatz red carpet walk, but I’m more interested to see which labels Kristen chooses to wear. Will it be Balenciaga again or perhaps a younger, lesser-known designer?

Clinique Chubby Stick Intense: November 16th also marks the release of Clinique’s new Chubby Stick Intense range. The popular moisturising lip balms are back, with eight new shades in – you guessed it – much more intense colours. Find them at Clinique counters from the 16th, for £16 each, or shop the current Chubby Stick collection now at Sephora and Selfridges.

Novelty Eye Lashes: Now that the fuss around nail art has died down it’s time for eye lashes to have their moment in the spotlight. Novelty eye lashes are quickly approaching trend-status, with Paperself’s pretty paper lashes (shaped like the London skyline and peacocks feathers, amongst other things) now stocked on ASOS. They may not be particularly practical for everyday wear, but their great for parties!


Felt Hats: Perfect for keeping dry (and avoiding bad hair days) in the cold winter rain, wide-brimmed felt hats are a wardrobe necessity this Autumn/Winter. Rag & Bone’s red fedora [pictured above] is my top choice, but you’ll find similar options at ASOS and Topshop.

Maison Martin Margiela for H&M: The launch party took place last week, but the Margiela for H&M collection doesn’t drop until November 15th. As always, the designs are expected to go fast, so if you’ve got your eye on the sweet wrapper clutch bag and perspex heel boots I suggest you get up very early on the 15th. Set your iPhone alarms now…

The Kardashian Kollection: Love them or hate them, you can’t deny it will be interesting to see how Kourtney, Kim and Khloe’s Kardashian Kollection will be received when it launches in the UK at Dorothy Perkins. Kourtney and Kim arrive in London on November 8th (Khloe will be stuck in LA due to her X Factor commitments), so stay tuned for updates on official launch. I’ll be there…

Hide… Ballet Flats: Even if you have freakishly warm feet, ballet flats just look odd in the winter – even the super cute bunny designs, pictured above. Now that November is here it’s officially time to swap your ballerinas for biker boots.

Which November 2012 launches are you excited about? Will you be standing in line for MMM at H&M and the Kardashian Kollection at Dorothy Perkins?