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?'

Shu Uemura

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

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....

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
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