Are cat-eyes back? Just look to the fall runways...

Who doesn’t like cats? Okay... so a lot of people don’t. But I for one share a healthy dose of adoration for our feline friends. 

Cats are well groomed, they know what they want, and perhaps their most winning feature is their large, curious, winged-out eyes.

Lucky then that one of the biggest beauty trends to sweep through the past few fashion week’s was the resurgence of large statement eyelids. Everyone from Chloé to Gucci was sporting this resurrected makeup trend. 

Here are some of the best looks to recreate:

Dolce and Gabbana Fall 2013

It was all about a simple and clean fluid line. 

Gucci Fall 2013 

The cat-eye silhouette was created by blending plum eyeshadow right up to the brow bone.

  

 Anna Sui Fall 2013

Black eyeliner was drawn neatly all over the eye-lid and flicked to the side. The addition of eyeliner dabbed onto the bottom lash-line gave this cat-eye a baby doll twist.

Michael Kors Fall 2013

Smoky black eyeshadow was concentrated on the outer edges of the eyelids.

 

Lanvin Fall 2013

Lanvin gave the cat-eye sci-fi appeal by lining both the upper and lower lash-line with eyeliner and then drawing the pencil along the top brown bone, to make the eyes appear even bigger.

Which makeup look was your favourite?

SS x

Elle Fanning, and the kind of pink-eye you’d want to catch…

 Before you grimace at the pure thought of pink-eye (I’m talking of the medical condition that was made famous after being exposed in the hilarious rom-com Knocked Up), I’m speaking of the beautiful new makeup trend  that's spreading, well… as quickly as the above med-condish, on red carpets, at A-list Events, and soon I’m predicting street side-walks.

Look at the whimsical and super-happy Elle Fanning. Even If you weren’t a fan of the petite blond actress before, I’m sure her slick coloured eyeliner will have you pretty smitten.

Why I love this look:

1. She’s kept all her other features minimal. This includes skin, which is left milky white, brows which have been groomed with a spoolie bar a little gel to keep them in place, and just a smidgen of pearly clear lip balm for hydration.
2. The hero beauty products that have captured my attention however, are firstly the delicate pink eye shadow that has lined her upper lash-line, and the faintest amount of jet black mascara that has given her lashes a quick once over.

I particularly like this look on blondes. I think that's because Elle looks like a Nordic princess, she's so fair, including her hair, ,so the bright pop of pink, and black lashes, really stand out.

To achieve this eye catching look I’d use the following:

1. After you have perfected your base, start by priming your eyelids with Two Faced Shadow Insurance Anti-Crease Eye Shadow Primer. For those who haven’t used an eye shadow primer before, it’s a beauty game changer. No more eye shadow fall-out (pigment that tends to fall and sit looking a little messy around the lower lash line). 

1. Applying a fine line of pop pink shadow straight to the lid won’t make the cut this time girlies. It’s all in the prep work. Take a Max Factor Smoky Eye Effect double-ended eye shadow crayon. They do come in a whole plethora of colours, but a great investment piece to any beauty kit is this neutral toned option. Now, with a clean angled brush (I like Napoleon Perdis Angled Eye / Brow Liner Brush), take enough pigment of the nude hue to draw across from the inner corner of your eye, at the top of your lash line, to wing-out to the opposite end. This will act as a glue to hold the pigment that you’re about to apply.

1. Now with another clean angled brush (This is why I rave about having a few of these trusty brushes in your kit, they really do come in handy when you need a few to use all at once) tap brush into your pigment pot. I love M.A.C’s Miss Piggy shade. It’s a matte hue that has plenty of ‘pop factor’. Tap off any excess powder, and then pat on top of your nude liner.

1. Be gentle, if you need more you can keep dabbing on top, so slowly but surely is the best policy here.
2. Once you have achieved a clean looking line that’s bursting with colour, finish with one slick of Clinique’s High Impact Mascara, starting firstly at the roots, and then carefully scoop upwards to create a temperate curve leaving you with seamless lashes.

Stunning Miss Elle must have received mass critical acclaim in the beauty stakes, because low and behold, a short time after she stepped out again with another look, quiet similar, but a little bolder, and with flushed/blushed cheeks.

The above steps can be repeated again, but instead switch your pretty pink eye shadow for an icy blue variation. I love Shisedo’s Shimmering Cream Eye Colour in Ice.

To recreate her healthy glow, simply use Benefit’s Posie Tint, and dab on the apples of the cheeks and onto your lips for a full youthful look.

And that’s it guys! Two amazing beauty looks thanks to the daring, ultra-cutie, Elle Fanning. She may be young, but she sure has a few beauty tricks up her sleeve that we can defiantly jot down and save for those days when we want to put our best, and brightest, face forward.

What are your thoughts?

SS x

An ode to Trunfio

Nicole Trunfio is anything but boring. Sharp cheekbones, dishevelled hair, piercing brown eyes and lips that are perpetually pouting. The Australian beauty has all angles covered, making her style and beauty much sort after.

I recently wrote a piece for madison magazines online website, illustrating how to recreate Trunfio’s beauty look which was seen in a madison November photo shoot. 

The steps to stealing her look are cinch, but the overall impact hits high in the glamazon stakes.

Nicole Trunfio has the power to make her own beauty look effortless, yet still well put together.

Without further ado, head over now and learn how to steal. Click here to follow through.

Lots of love,

SS x

Sandy/candy beauty... be mine?

This beauty look is as fresh as they come. Lilac lids? Yes please! Thick and full lashes? Umm yeh! Pink verging on red lips? Gimme gimme! Baby pink opaque nails? Oh you shouldn’t have!

Okay, so you get the picture. This look is way too hot, and even easier to recreate.

*A little disclaimer if I may - this look is modeled on someone with fair skin and ultra light hair. Pair this look on someone with a darker complexion and it may not hold the same results. For those with fair skin and dark hair, make sure you also define and fill in those brows, so you don’t become washed-out, for lack of a better phrase. By doing this you will still look as dainty and fresh faced as the lovely lass above.

To recreate this look, which would be stunning during summer 2012/13, here are the go-to products to perfect and make this your own.

Eyes:

Try the Yves Saint Laurent Candy Palette which features four individual shadows, all within the purple/pink colour spectrum. Opt for the lilac shade in the upper left hand corner and completely fill in your entire eyelid. Take a blending makeup brush and make sure you smooth out any harsh edges; this will create a more seamless look. 

To steal the above lashes, I suggest using Benefit’s Bad Gal Lash Mascara in jet black. This product really helps lengthen, thicken and keep each individual lash separate. Black mascara is definitely the key here, as the stark contrast allows the whites of the eyes to pop, and the lilac shadow to really show up best.

Lips:

Try Chanel’s Rouge Allure Laque, Luminous Satin Lip Lacquer in Dynastie. The Hue is a perfect match to that of the models above, and will help to create that glossy pout that is big on shine and creaminess. It’s also a refreshing change and allows the fashionable matte-finish that we have seen everywhere to take the back seat for a little while.

Nails:

  

Oh la la. These macaroon pink nails are so delish, if only they were edible! Nail biters beware; perhaps this is not the colour for you, especially if you can’t handle temptation! M.A.C’s nail laquer in Saint Germain is always a crowd pleaser, this is the shade to rock if you want as many compliments as possible whilst out for Friday night cocktails with the girls. For best results apply two to three coats for the most opaque finish possible.

Hope you enjoyed ladies!

Let me know if this is a makeup style you would fancy trying out in the coming few summery months.

SS x

Makeup of the stars

If I asked you to choose from yellow, pink or sky blue, which would you choose? I bet you would all pick something completely different, as what you opt for is entirely subjective. Lately I’ve been doing a little bit of research into how colours effect the ebb and flow of our emotions. 

I learnt so much on which colours help cool and refresh us, and which colours perk us up and give us that much needed energy to get through the day. This is no headlining news however; it’s long been known that painting a room a soothing cream will help to allow an openness of mind, while a fiery red focus-wall will sadly drain much of your energy, even after that piping hot morning espresso. 

I took my research a step further, I realised that some colours affect others differently... why should that be I puzzled? The conclusion of my ‘colour findings’ was that different astrological signs take to colour groups individually. This doesn’t shock me at all; personalities are as diverse as singular colours in the rainbow. We all have a friend that loves hot pink leopard print while another would prefer minimal art deco.

Below I have detailed which colours make star signs the happiest, of course wearing your colour would also reinforce this positive mood, so I’ve collected some lust worthy beauty prodzies to match.

Don’t worry though, if you’re a Gemini and the colour that makes you happiest is yellow, I haven’t included any hard to wear eye shadows in that tone, think more along the lines of cool nail colours to make this super accessible for everyone.

Enjoy, Oh! And if you want the full experience, make sure you hit play on the sound cloud music box below. Roberta Kelly is singing Zodiacs, its fun, it’s fitting and it sure will get you in the mood for some online beauty shopping. I learnt a lot about myself, I hope you do too.

P.s I’m a fiery Aries, so with royal purple making my inner self happiest, I have been wearing Sisley Paris Phyto-Kohl eyeliner in dark amethyst, it has a slight glitter with a beautiful deep plum tone. Love!

SS x

Aries: Fiery Aries need a touch of Royal Purple in their lives.  Red is the colour of Mars – Aries’ ruling planet.  Mix hot red with cool blue and you get purple, hence the colour’s association with Aries as it symbolically tames the wilder excesses that people born under the sign can fall into. Try this moody Anna Sui purple eye shadow.

Taurus: Think of earthy Taureans and you’d put them with greens as this has such a strong association with nature. Green the colour of the heart chakra - can give huge hearted Taureans a feeling of peace and the security that brings out the best in them. Urban Decay has a huge range of coloured eye pencils. This mossy green tone will help highlight your peepers.

Gemini: Geminis work well with yellow as it is the colour of intellect and mental activity – but this recommendation comes with a warning!  Too much yellow can send a mentally agile Gemini into hyperspace. With this disclaimer in mind, opt for a splash of yellow on the nails. Try Chanel in Mimosa, it will last as long as the buzz.

Cancer: Sensitive Cancerians are water signs that are ruled by the moon.  They do best with colours that either echo lovely lustrous lunar hues – such as white and cream. This Illamasqua palette has a stunning pearlescent glow, perfect to highlight your upper cheekbones.

Leo: No prizes for guessing that sunny Leos beam in yellow and oranges.  Yellow’s association with the solar plexus chakra and the ego makes it a bold choice for this fearless sign.  On the other hand, orange represents the sensuality and passion. Clinique have brought out these ultra cute, super moisturising lip crayons. A few coast of this on your pout and you’re ready to prowl the town.

Virgo: Virgos are known for being just a tad traditional and do well with traditional colours, such as navy blue and hunter green.  Dior Show navy mascara not only makes lashes full and luscious, but the blue pigmentation helps the white around your eyes seem even brighter.

Libra: Lovely Librans resonate with the pale pinks and greens associated with the heart chakra.  Ruled by Venus, they need to feel emotionally balanced to be at their very best and these colours will help them dissolve any negativity away. Create a plumped up pout with Givenchy rose desire in baby pink.

Scorpio: Scorpios need to learn to take life more lightly and experimenting with brighter colours, such as yellow or gold, which can really lift their mood. Sprits yourself in dazzling gold by Paco Rabbane, 1 Million. You will literally feel like a million dollars.

Sagittarius: Outgoing Sagittarians thrive in bright pinks, electric blues, violets and bronze, all colours associated with the heart, throat and third eye chakra. A bright, hot pink lip pencil, like this one by Stila, will last the distance but also have you causing a stir. For best results, completely draw in your lips for a stand out look.

Capricorn: Capricorns are strong enough to carry off brown, charcoal and gray – colours that might be dull when worn or used by anyone else. My pick would be these much sort after Disney eye palette which holds a variety of dusty greys, all in this super cute illustrated compact. You can’t get much more high-drama then a quick dash after midnight.

Aquarius: Aquarians should adorn themselves and their homes with silvers, bright blues and turquoise as these colours not only life the mood but add a sense of glitz to their lives. Here we have this revolutionary glitter spray in silver by the masters at Sephora. I recommend a subtle pray around the upper cheekbones and arch of the eyebrow for an extremely airbrushed, flattering look.

Pisces: Pisceans can be proper little ladies of the lake and will suit lilacs, sea greens, mauves and aquamarines. My pick? Go for this devastatingly gorgeous lilac by Illamasqua and paint the town purple.