SANTA BE A DOLL...

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.

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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....

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

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

‘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....

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..

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....

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?'