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?'