Festival Checklist

Love a bit of Beni 2011 (I'm in blue)

One part of the summer that we all look forward to is probably the myriad of different festivals we now host and attend. Personally, the logistical and meteorological disaster that was Creamfields 2012 is still too fresh in my mind and it will be a good few years before I can physically bring myself to attend one again. However, most people are far more dedicated and mud-hardy than I am (i.e. most people are not as big a pussy as I am) What to pack is usually a dilemma faced by festival-goers, so I have put together a little beauty checklist to get you through your (wet and) wild weekend.

1)      Suncream with UVA and UVB protection

This is so essential. Whether the sun does makes an appearance or not, think of all the exposure you’re getting. Damaging UVA (aging) and UVB (burning) rays can travel through clouds and any weather. Aging from the sun and environment accounts for 90% of the environmental aging of the skin; this is not a statistic to be sneered at if you are spending solid days and nights outdoors. Kiehl’s sunscreen is my favourite, but most of us have spent our student loans by this stage and Boots have a great sun protection range for a smaller budget.

2)      Elizabeth Arden’s 8 Hour Cream

8 Hour Cream is a fantastic cosmetic for lips, eyes and brows, but its herbal healing properties are also amazing on minor ailments such as cuts, bruises, insect bites, grazes, chapped skin and sunburn making it a good first aid item. Great for applying loose glitter to the skin with as well, because its a festival and you’re allowed

3)      Batiste Dry Shampoo

I probably don’t even need to write this one as it is such a well know favourite but Batiste really is a lifesaver for greasy, lank hair as it mattifies all the oiliness and gives you a bit of volume. Owners of a fringe will appreciate this more than most as it stops the dreaded split-and-clump situation.

4)      A Good Base

Have you ever spent hours on the perfect makeup base to have it all sweated/rained/smeared off in a drunken haze? Save your money and your time by going for an easy and simple combination that you can top up on the go. I would recommend a primer, BB cream or tinted moisturiser followed up by a powder which gives coverage, which you can also take out and about with you. My perfect combination would probably be Kiehl’s new BB Cream with SPF 50 followed up by MAC’s Mineralize Skinfinish Natural Powder, which I can safely say is the nicest powder I have ever used.

5)      Forget the Lipstick

Like the perfect base, the perfect lip might not be maintainable through out the day. I would go for something sheer like Revlon’s Lip Butters which give moisturising colour, and can be applied relatively mirror free (if you’re careful). If your lips have a tendency to get dry, keep some clear gloss on hand to top up the colour and keep your lips moisturised.

6)      Water Resistant Eye Makeup

As most people know, waterproof mascara is a bit rubbish, but get a water resistant one and it will still survive a day in the elements AND still be an effective product. Plus, but the end of the day it should go a little bit smudgy in a sexy, smoky way. I would probably pair this with a gel liner rather than a kohl one, as they have more staying power but can still be blended and used on the waterline of your eye .

7)      Something Fun

Whether it’s jewels, glitter, transfers, the blue eyeliner you bought and never used, neon pigment, or none of the above, treat yourself to something a bit quirky and try it out, I dare you.

Paris Fashion Week 2013

NONE OF THE IMAGES ARE MY OWN. FROM VARIOUS INTERNET SOURCES

This post is horrendously late (2 months late to be exact) and you’ve probably already read everything you need to know about Paris Fashion Week.  However, when I start something, I see it through, and to round off my other posts about fashion month, here are my beauty favourites for Paris Fashion Week.  Due to university commitments I have neglected this blog a little, however I have turned a corner and plan to post properly again! Enjoy x

Oh...am I to distracted by how gorgeous Cara Delevigne is to write anything about the makeup and hair  at Chanel? Maybe, but I do think that the bold silver eyes and low bun are a perfect wearable evening look and would be easily translated off the catwalk. I love metallic eye makeup, and this really popped on the catwalk.

Marc Jacobs took his graphic aesthetic with retro touches to Paris, and the Louis Vuitton catwalk featured groomed beehives, contoured eyes and strong brows, which also made an appearance at his eponymous label. I think the effect is beautifully feminine, and the hair ribbons gave a girly contrast to the striking collection.

Chloe is one of my favourite fashion houses, and the messy low ponies and bronze eyes look as chic as you would expect.

One thing that stood out for me at Celine was how beautiful the skin was. So natural you could see freckles, and dewy, it looked young and fresh. Personally I’m a bit of a full coverage die-hard and this made even me want to loosen up on the foundation. Light coverage is so much nicer in warmer wearther.

In terms of makeup, Dior was, I think my, favourite look of Paris Fashion Week. I don’t think it even needs an explanation! The eye makeup here is so so beautiful, all I can say is, Pat McGrath, you are a goddess.

Jean Paul Gaultier took us back to the 80s with his collection, so while LFW was all about children of the 90s reliving their childhood, here’s one for the 80s kids. Blue eyeshadow? Check!

Milan Fashion Week 2013

NONE OF THE IMAGES ARE MY OWN. FROM VARIOUS INTERNET SOURCES.

So Milan Fashion Week has come and gone, and I have once again collected my favourite beauty trends from the catwalk for S/S 2013. I was looking forward to seeing the return of Jil Sander to her eponymous label, personally one of my favourite fashion houses. Sander did not disappoint; the collection was a beautiful marriage of simplicity and elegance; but I would just like to take a second here to appreciate the hair and makeup:

How beautiful!! Who would have thought a low ponytail and flawless skin could look SO GOOD!!

One of my other favourite looks from Milan was Gianfranco Ferre. Sleek hair is looking like a big trend but I love how it’s been worked differently here with the double parting. The metallic eyes also look striking, and a toned-down version would make a very wearable summer look and would suit most skin tones.

Gucci also had sleek hair re-worked, this time with hair extensions so rigid they looked like shards of glass when wrapped around a more traditional chignon bun.

Headscarves, the holiday favourite, made a return at Milan as well, featured at both Dolce and Gabbana and MaxMara. For, D&G, think Riviera with neat updos, whilst MaxMara’s utilitarian take on the trend was more safari appropriate.

Dolce and Gabbana

MaxMara

Red lips stood out at Prada. Can I also just say that I loved the geisha inspired footwear? Edgy but cute, I want some.

Red lips also made an appearance on the runways of Missoni and Moschino, in a bright coral-orange that popped against flawless skin. The 60’s trend continued at Moschino, with the collection strongly influenced by both Mods and Flower Power, something which I think will definitely be echoed in beauty trends. 

Missoni

Moschino

With Twiggy-esque Mod style already being seen a lot in fashion and beauty for the coming season, the more hippy-chic flipside of the 60s and 70s has had less of a look in, and I loved that Versace embraced that trend. The collection was somewhat reminiscent of 70s California, the long flowing locks fitting this aesthetic, with the smoky eye giving the look a more contemporary twist.