150th Birthday of Bourjois

Do you remember what was stashed in your teenage self's make-up bag?

As I make-up addict, I can remember mine vividly! But rather than a bag, I dedicated an entire drawer (and this was no small drawer, think wardrobe sized!) to hundreds of brightly coloured eye shadows, lipsticks and blushers. Brand wise, my pocket money would only stretch to what is now known as 'drugstore' brands, meaning every Saturday I could be found lurking down the Boots self selection aisle, my arms covered in a variety of product swatches.

With their fun advertisements, innovative products and pretty packaging, Bourjois, was one of my favourite brands, with Coup De Theatre mascara being my most regular purchase. This dual ended product contained a primer packed with silicone fibres on one side, which you applied prior to the regular black mascara found on the other, to create thicker, longer lashes. 

A first of it's kind when it was launched back in 2001.

This year the cult beauty brand are celebrating their 150th birthday!

Not many of you will be aware that Bourjois was originally started in the Parisian theatre district by actor Joseph Albert Ponsin, before being taken over by Alexandre- Napoleon Bourjois in 1863.

Like fellow make-up mastermind Max Factor, Bourjois first product, waxy lipsticks, were created especially for theatre actors. 

Image- Bourjois

By the time the first world war started in 1914, their now famed Little Round Pot, which was a pink blush called Cendre de Roses, was a favourite amongst women.

 Today, the shade 'Cendre de Roses' is still one of Bourjois' bestsellers- proof that you can't go wrong with a classic!

On May 15th four new blusher shades will be released to celebrate the anniversary. 

This cream to powder formula adds a pretty fresh flush to cheeks, are easily blendable and offer the longevity of a powder. 

Image - Bourjois

Image- Daily Mail.

Over the years Bourjois constantly launched innovative products, including beautifully packaged gift boxes and practical handbag sized make-up kits. This is a brand who are always evolving.

Today, Bourjois is a brand favoured by top make-up artists as well everyday beauty consumers. Products such as the improved Coup De Theatre 2 in 1 mascara, Healthy Mix foundation and Queen Attitude Khol Kajal often grace the pages of the glossies and are recommended by both beauty editors and bloggers alike.

One thing is for sure, with a price point that won't break the bank, pretty, feminine packaging and professional quality products, Bourjois is one brand that will no doubt be around for another 150 years. 

Happy Birthday Bourjois!

Illamasqua Paranormal Collection

This week saw the much anticipated launch of the latest collection from creative make-up brand Illamasqua. Celebrating individuality once again, this collection features not only vibrant tones but Ultra Violet formulas too. 

A selection of the Paranormal imagery created by Illamasqua

The item I'd heard most about was the innovative nail polishes- vibrant neon shades, which brightly glow under UV light. You can guarantee these will be seen on every fashionista's fingertips at the key festivals this summer- starting with mine at this weeks Liverpool Sound City!

Available in the fushia pink 'Ouija',  vibrant violet 'Seance' and bright green 'Omen'-(similar to the shade sported by Jessie J on this series of The Voice) this polish is perfect for sunny days aswell as raving nights! Not a fan of brights? Then UV Top Coat' Geist' is for you- simply apply over any polish for the same glow effect!

Paranormal Collection

Next up is the Paranormal Palette. As a make-up artist, I prefer to carry my products in handy palettes like this- not only does it reduce weight it also saves us lots of time hunting for the right item! So, whenever a new palette item is released I'm itching to get my hands on them!

These eyeshadows have a texture like no other. They have the vibrancy, and initial feel of a cream but blend seamlessly like a powder. As the formula is silicone based it is also water resistant and long wearing- once again perfect for the Glastonbury showers! The quirky shades look super bright, but on application actually offer a softer wash of colour than expected- making them wearable for most occasions. I especially adore the pink and orange tones, which actually seem a little more pigmented than the green and violet- maybe this is the summer I will really adopt the bright trend?!

I'll be trying a simple wash of one of these shades over my eyelid and lower lash line, finishing with a strong line (or in my case-flick!) of Precision Eye Gel- another long lasting waterproof formula that delivers a deep, rich black shade.

The one item in the collection I will probably never be brave enough to try is Posture and ESP- two new purple lipsticks. Posture is a beautiful cool violet, whilst ESP is a deeper, vivid tone with a matte finish. I will definitely consider using these in my professional work, but for me?

 I think I am best sticking to my beloved reds!

And what should we be teaming with our new brighter eyes, lips and nails? 

A flawless complexion of course!

That's where Hydra Veil comes in- a lightweight gel packed with anti-oxidant marine algae, which instantly re-hydrates skin and reduces the appearance of redness.

Apply before make-up, focusing on any dehydrated areas, and follow with Skin Base Foundation for a flawless, radiant finish. Finish by buffing Gleam cream in Supernatural onto cheeks for a sun kissed bronze glow.

Once again Illamasqua has created a collection most of us will be head over heels for.

And in the words of the genius's themselves?

'After all why be normal, when you can be Paranormal?'

Kryolan Lip N' Cheek

Kryolan is a brand I have been aware of for over 10 years now, and one that has created some of my all time favourite kit staples. What I would do if I lost any of Dermacolour palettes, god only knows!

 For the average beauty shopper however it seems Kryolan is a brand known by very few. Especially amongst my friends at home in the North, who found themselves in beauty heaven when I introduced them to my favourite items from the range in London's Charles Fox last weekend.

Charles Fox and their imaginative window!

If you too are new to this brand, then here is a quick overview of the important bits you should know!

• The brand was started by Arnold Langer, and now run by his grandchildren. A real family company!
• Launched in Berlin in 1945, they have been supplying make-up to TV and Theatre for over 66 years
• Kryolan has an extensive range of over 16,000 products and is a favourite with professionals
• They use their own recipes and formula's to manufacture their own products
• Kryolan products have never been tested on animal

Recently, Kryolan's newest product Lip N' Cheek has been brought to my attention, and quickly made its way into my kit bag! This multi-purpose product is available in 11 shades, from beautiful nudes to bolder hues, they all create a soft subtle hint of colour. It is also water resistant, making it ideal for weepy brides, those with oilier skin and for us gym bunnies! Who doesn't want to look good at the water cooler?!

The three shades I have been using are of the orange tone family.

Hibiscus, is perfect for a very natural, daytime glow. Petunia adds a pretty apricot hue whilst Poppy gives that kick of tangerine, sheer enough for even the most bright shy. All three looked lovely against my ivory skin tone but I think Poppy will look come into its own against a sun kissed tan!

Packaged similar to a lip gloss, with an angled applicator for ease of use, you get a mighty 10ml of product within a handy size tube. Ideal for your make-up bag or that unused handbag pocket!

Whats really clever is the formula. Its smooth enough to easily blend using your fingers onto the cheek area, yet applies precisely to instantly stain the lip area. Although I'm a fan of matte lipstick, I did prefer applying a touch of lip balm about 10 minutes before the tint and a a small top up after, just to stop my lips looking a little chapped.

I'm sure once the warmer weather arrives this will be unnecessary, but until then, its balm all the way for me!

Overall, this is definitely a product I will be investing more into- especially the girly pink shade Lotus, which I think will fly off the shelves of Charles Fox this summer! So, if you are looking for a pretty flush, perfect for the summer sun or emotional weddings, look no further than Kryolan Lip N' Cheek. 

Hibiscus, Poppy and Petunia

BBC The Voice

The lovely Alice, who is best known for playing the role of Rae in channel 4 soap Hollyoaks, had been a regular client at So Coco Rouge for well over a year, when she asked us to work with her on a very exciting project!

A little known fact about Alice is that she is a very talented vocalist, before she landed her Hollyoaks role, her talent had even been spotted by the X Factor judge and music mogul Louis Walsh!

Taking the decision to focus on her music career, Alice successfully applied for BBC's The Voice - and that's where we come in! Prior to her audition and interview, I traveled to the new BBC studios at Salford's Media City to ensure Alice looked like the star she is. And what fun we had!

Alice and I agreed that she should appear naturally flawless, but with a soft smokiness around her eyes and a pretty pink sheen to her lips.

Make-up Forever HD foundation has been a kit staple of mine for around 3 years now- the medium to full coverage and fine texture make it perfect for HD TV work, and ideal for Alice. A minimal amount of Kryolan Derma Colour was used beneath this to conceal any uneven areas of pigmentation. Finished with a light dusting of MUFE HD powder to minimise shine.

Alice has beautifully shaped eyes and she can pull off the strongest of eye make-up's, but today we kept the centre of the eyelid neutral, sweeping MAC Naked Pigment over the area for a pretty sheen. To extenuate her socket line, I blended MAC Malt eyeshadow, adding a touch of MAC Vanilla (matte) eyeshadow immediately beneath her brow. Creating soft smokiness was simple- using MAC limited edition shadow Show Shopper (Dark flat brown) on a MAC 239 to the outer corner, blending into the outer 1/3 of the socket line using a MAC 217 in circular movements. Finished with a slick of Estee Lauder Double Wear gel liner in Onyx, blending the outer edge into the darker shadow, and individual lashes.

A little bronzer, a touch of peachy blush to the apples of her cheeks and a pink  toned lipgloss, and Alice's Voice make-up was complete!

That's all I can say on Alice's Voice journey- but keep watching to follow her story!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4mrFf_uyAo

Phillip Kingsley Elasticizer

Like the majority of girls I know, I am currently growing my hair. Unlike most girls however, I am feeling like Rapunzel with my shoulder sweeping locks.

After around 4 years of rocking anything from a super short elfin crop to a chin length bob, I decided to finally bite the bullet and adopt a softer, longer look. For a girl who used to see her hairdresser more frequently than some of her own family, avoiding the chop was going to prove difficult. Nothing used to please me more than seeing heaps of red hair on the cutting room floor, and hear the gasps of the extension obsessed girls next to me, on a 4-6 weekly basis.

To the surprise of those around me (and to be fair, me included) I have (so far) grown my hair with ease. The usual 'hitting of the shoulder' moment passed by without the emergency call to the salon, demanding it was swiftly taken back to its resting place on my ear. And now, 16 months on, it casually sits on my collar bone, happy as Larry.

So far, so good. BUT. I am, after all a RED HEAD. And unfortunately, not a natural born one.

If, I could happily embrace my bland, dull, mousey toned hair, I'm sure it would be in mint condition. Dying it on a very regular basis, and not having the very frequent chops I was used to, had left my hair needing a bit of TLC.

This is where two very important things came into my life. 

1. Kelly, hairdresser extraordinaire at So Coco Rouge

2. Phillip Kingsley Elasticizer

Firstly, working alongside Kelly has proved a god send to my locks. Within hours of her moving in full time, she grasped my barnet in her talented hands and prescribed me a gorgeous new red hue, minus the damage!

Then, Trichologist and genius behind the brand, Phillip Kingsley, came into my life at the QVC Beauty Bash in January. The lovely PK team are great friends with the OPI family, and as the new recruit, they welcomed me with lots of goodies to try!

Here's what the PK team say about their hero product 'Elasticizer- Pre Shampoo Treatment' 

 Healthy hair stretches when wet before returning to its original length when dry.

However hair in poor condition snaps and breaks when stretched. Intensely moisturising Elasticizer delivers a rush of moisture to the hair’s cuticle; suppleness, elasticity and bounce appear instantly without weighing down or coating the hair.

Suitable for all hair types, I was recommended that my colour treated, medium textured hair would require treating once a week. Even busy (or lazy?!) girls like me can work that into their beauty routine!

Simply dampen hair (I used either a spray bottle a la hairdresser style, or tipped my locks into the bathroom sink- oh the glamour) and apply Elasticizer thoroughly in sections. This fragrance free cream, has a similar consistancy to a rich body lotion, and feels highly moisturising.

Once you have worked the treatment into your hair, and combed through using a wide toothed comb, its time to wait it out!

PK recommend leaving the treatment for a minimum of ten minutes- which I guess most people would do whilst in the shower. I on the other hand, decided to rock the provided PK shower cap and enjoy watching the soaps before removing. 

Rinse well, before shampooing as normal, preferably with the Phillip Kingsley product for your hair type. Follow with conditioner- if like me you suffer with oily roots, apply a minimal amount to mid lengths and ends only.

Even whilst wet, my hair felt smoother and in much better condition. 

After blow drying (which, on my own hair, I will be the first to admit, I'm not the best at) my hair had a lovely sheen, and my ends less frizzy.

I have now been using Elatiscizer for 3 months, and although the condition of my hair hasn't improved massively from the initial application, I still feel the same smoothing benefit after every use. If you use the entire PK range (shampoo, conditioner, tonic etc) I am sure you will see a greater benefit than I have experienced.

Costing £27.50, this isn't a cheap product for an initial outlay- but- I have had 12 applications from one tub, which works out as under £2.50 per treatment. 

Much cheaper than a weekly treatment at the salon!

My last word? Definitely a great buy for budding Rapunzels like moi. 

(Especially those with a bad colour habit without a Kelly in their life!!)

More Magazine Interview

What a sad day for the editorial industry.

This morning it was announced that production of best selling teen/early 20's glossy 'More Magazine' has been suspended, after a glorious 25 years.

Bauer Media made the announcement today, informing all fans that the last issue will be released tomorrow, April 23rd. No doubt this will be an issue many twenty-odd year old women will cherish.

My first memory of More Magazine, involves a boring maths lesson, lots of giggling and a rude awakening to the skills a Sex Education didn't teach!! Every fortnight my friends and I would reach into our pocket money and sneak out during our lunch break to the corner shop. 

Usually red faced from assuming the newsagent knew which page we would be flicking to first!!

I was delighted when, back in 2011, More writer Natalie Blenford contacted me about a feature called 'My Dream Job' , in which I spoke about my work at So Coco Rouge.

Looking back at this article today, it will always be one of my career highlights. It's not many of us that can say what they read at the back row of a maths lesson lead onto being featured in said pages of the magazine a matter of years later.

(And my this I mean the beauty pages, not the latter, much to my mums relief!!!) 

Here is the article- enjoy!

If you've already read Part 3 of our life and career guide, these girls will really inspire you to go for the job you've always wanted!

Now meet the more! readers doing their ideal job…

THE ENTREPRENEUR 
Name: Sian-Louise Auld Age: 24 Job: Co-director of So Coco Rouge 

The details: 'With my friend Robyn, I run an agency in Liverpool called So Coco Rouge. We have ten make-up artists in our team, and my job is to find them work and help them get established in the make-up industry, which can be very competitive. We send girls on fashion shoots, to TV sets and to events in Liverpool. We recently did the make-up for a new Dracula movie, which was great fun! I typically start work at 8am and work through till 8pm. Some days, I get the train to London to meet potential clients and do make-up myself on shoots. No two days are ever the same and I Iove my job!'

How I got here: 'I left school at 16 and went to night school to do make-up training and beauty therapy. I then did some work experience and that led to a place in a make-up school in Manchester. At the school, I met Robyn, and after five years of working as a freelance make-up artist, we set up So Coco Rouge in January 2011. We’ve got a great office at the heart of Liverpool’s cultural quarter, and it’s amazing running my own business.'

Top-tip: 'Find a partner to help you get your business idea off the ground. Robyn is my best friend so I can be completely honest with her about everything. Also, get help from a local business service, like Business Link. Writing a business plan and sorting out a bank account can be stressful, but there are people out there who can advise you on how to do it. Also, find a mentor. Keep in touch with everyone you do work experience with and ask for advice from someone who’s already doing what you want to do.'

No7 Stay Perfect Lip Stain

When you are a lipstick devotee like myself, you are always on the hunt for the latest miracle product offering that perfect pout all day long.

When I heard that my beloved No7 were launching a lip stain, in a design similar to a felt tip pen, I was intrigued. In the past I have tried Stay Perfect Lip Lacquer, which, due to the liquid formula is rather tricky to apply. Especially if, like me, you are always late and tend to rush your lippy application on a moving train!! They are also not to be used in situations involving wine. Trust me on this one girls!

Available in five shades, ranging from a pretty nude to a striking red, with plum pinks in-between, there is a Stay Perfect Lip Stain shade for every cosmetic eventuality. 

These slim double-ended pens feature the stain on one end and a moisturising clear lip balm on the other. As a women with minimal handbag space, this is a win win situation.
 No7 have also cleverly created a 'double lid' to the stain end- meaning that even if the cap comes off, the nib itself won't be damaged or dry out! The team over at No7 are obviously very intelligent indeed!

Image- Boots.com

Being a red lip obsessive, I dived straight for 'Ruby'-  a pink toned red. 

The pointed nib makes for precise application and I'm sure most of you can achieve a perfect edge to your lips using it. But if, like me you have an uneven lip line or you haven't got the most steady of hands, you may find it beneficial to apply a lip liner in a similar shade before hand. 

Remember, this is a stain- meaning one small slip, and you may resemble a child who has drank far too much cherryade. Definitely not the desired effect!

Merely seconds after application, the stain has dried, leaving my lips with a pretty red flush yet feeling like there is nothing on them at all! The beauty of these stains, is that you can re-apply for added depth of colour- something I have been unable to do with previous purchases, as it has tended to feel sticky and overloaded.

As with all lip stains, my lips quickly feel dry, but after a slick of the clear balm my lips are re-hydrated and left with a subtle sheen rather than a heavy gloss. It's essential to reapply the balm throughout the day not only to prevent dryness, but this also helps to keep your colour even.

After 12 hours of wear, 2 meals and endless glasses of water, I'm pleased to say my lips are still looking perfectly polished!

Looks like I may have found another favourite to my red lip collection!