MAC THE SIMPSONS COLLECTION #MACandMarge Product UPDATE!!!

... AND How to get your hands on it early at Comic-Con

My recent post on  the #MACandMarge MAC Cosmetics Collection with everybody's favourite yellow family The Simpsons was my most viewed article yet. So you'll be glad to know we have a sneak preview of some of the products in the collection!

AND if you have to be one of the first to get you hands on it there will be a one day only advance sale on Saturday July 26, at the MAC Cosmetics store in San Diego (234 Fifth Avenue) during Comic-Con. Otherwise you'll have to wait until August 28th where it can be purchased online and September 4th in stores.

NEW!! THEY'RE REAL - PUSH-UP LINER FROM BENEFIT

NEW RELEASE: They’re Real Push-Up Liner from Benefit

We may be witnessing the start of a new Eye-Liner Revolution... Benefit have set about re-designing the eyeliner as a gel-formula pen with a rubberised-slanted tip. This tar Liner is the newest edition to Benefit's "They're Real" Range of long lasting products including a Mascara and Eye-Makeup Remover. It goes on sale June 2014 but, lucky me, I've been using it for the last few weeks!!

LOVE: 

• Twist the base to pump the liner to the nib - delivering a usable quantity of product.
• The lid is screw top - great to prevent the liner from drying out.
• It dries to a deep, rich matte black
• This formula does not budge,  after a full-on cardio session at the gym it hadn't budged at all, even after washing my face it was still mostly there - definitely use a oil-based remover.
• This product may start a revolution, forcing other brands to work on new formulae and design.
• Great if you want to lock-in one look or add to it later in the day for a stronger evening look.

APPLICATION:

• Use the flat edge of the nib against your eye working it into your lash line. Use the fine tip to taper the flick and into the inner corner of the eye.
• As it's a gel formula it's not as wet as a liquid so needs to be applied in thin layers to prevent caking and flakiness. 
• It glides on pretty smoothly but achieving a very thin line still takes care. 
• If you use a firm, thin brush instead you can create a smudgy, smokey eye that will last an entire night and well into the next day. You'd have to wash the brush in oil pretty swiftly though as you may find brushes unusable if product is left to dry.

REMOVAL:

• You will need a heavy-duty cream or oil based eye-makeup remover for this one - it is NOT coming off in a hurry.

MAC THE SIMPSONS COLLECTION #MACandMarge

Well here's a bit of breaking news. Mac Cosmetics literally announced hours ago via Twitter and Instagram that they will be launching a Simpsons Collection. 

Commemorating 25 years of the show this news has already gone viral. With the Hashtag #MACandMarge it is no surprise that the collection will focus around the blue-haired matriarch of the Simpsons Clan. Due out September 2014 no one has info on what we might expect to see from this range although I'm predicting an 'Electric Eel' eyeshadow colour or maybe even mascara or liner to be part of this collection. How about even a yellow nail polish? Well we can only keep guessing at this stage but I will keep you updated with any further developments.

I found a listing of "official" Simpsons colours listed on Pantone (official with quotation marks usually means just the opposite) but might give us a wee insight into colours we might expect to see.. Here's my own 'artist rendition' - purely based on supposition of course!

MIXING LIMECRIME VELVETINES TO CREATE NEW COLOURS

I love Limecrime's awesome Velvetines Lipsticks! They apply like a cream gloss and dry to a super-opaque matte!! Delicious! So far the range is pretty small so I've been experimenting how to make new colours. Here's one such experiment bought to you in GIF format... hope you like it

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: RED VELVET, PINK VELVET, SUEDEBERRY, BLACK VELVET, SALEM, WICKED

There are  three new Limited edition Velvetine's available now in Salem(Dark Brown), Wicked (Dark Red) and Black Velvet (Black) as well as their three permanent colours Red Velvet (Classic Red), Pink Velvet (Neon Pink) and Suedeberry (Coral Red)

The full Limecrime range is available here

I'm a massive fan of this brand, I love their ethos, sense of fun and quality of product. Since discovering them I am adding more and more products into my kit (if I don't keep stealing them for myself) here are some of the Limecrime gals showcasing the limited edition colours.

LORDE'S MAC COLLECTION

Everybody's favourite teenage chanteuse has released a collaboration with MAC embodying her signature purple lip.

Our very own Amber D (Senior Artist for MAC) has been pivotal in developing Lorde's distinctive makeup style both in New Zealand and on her international tours. An awesome example of how a great makeup artist works with a client's personality to develop their own unique look that becomes synonymous with their name.

A massive high-five to Amber!

Penultimate Eyeliner in Rapidblack $19.50 USD 

Lipstick in Pure Heroine $16.00 USD

Look out for this collection in MAC stores in 5th June 2014

SHELLAC NOT WORKING FOR YOU? GET LONGER LASTING GEL NAILS

Ive been getting Gel and Shellac nails for years and, trust me, I think I've tried most of the big brands.  My problem with Shellac is that I'm very hard on my already thin nails and they never last more than a week.

What does work for me is Biosculpture a similar product to Shellac but slightly thicker and very long wearing.

Until now I have alternated between the two as many salons only do Shellac (and similar Gel products) and the seven salons I've found in NZ that stock Biosculpture don't have a particularly big range of colours. However that has all changed with a bit of a jackpot moment.... Using Biosculpture clear Base and Top Coat and a couple of layers of Shellac in between. The result long, hard wearing, beautiful nails while still having a vast choice of colours...YES!

It takes the same amount of time and works out at approx. $20 more then Shellac - but considering they truly do last weeks I think it's worth it!

I go to Pedman Spicer in Takapuna or check here for other stockists.

OIL PULLING - HOLY GRAIL OR FAD?

Recently a friend posted a Facebook link to Oil Pulling. Originally a traditional method for keeping the mouth healthy it has, in recent times, become something of a phenomenon, sparking much debate online and within the natural health communities. 

So here I at 6am on a Monday morning about to try it for myself… Turns out I'm not a natural swiller and only last 5 minutes with the oil in my mouth before I spit it out - bleugh! My lips do feel beautifully moisturised though and the faint taste of Coconut is pleasant. I will endeavour to continue this routine once a day, building up to 20 minutes and report back on my findings.

What is Oil Pulling?

Swilling Organic Unrefined Coconut Oil around in your mouth for 20 minutes a day

What does it do?

Supposedly rids your mouth of bacteria to improve oral and overall health

Benefits of Oil Pulling?

• Whitens teeth

• Strengthens your teeth, gums and jaw and has been recommended for those with sensitised teeth.

• Prevents cavities & gingivitis.

• Clear Breathing and Reduced Allergies

• Reducing Skin Conditions such as Eczema and Psoriasis

• Aids in overall detox

• Prevents Bad Breath

• Remedy for General Pain and hormonal Imbalances

Does it really work?

There's a huge amount of discussion out there on the web about Oil Pulling...

My teeth are so so so much whiter (which is great cause I can’t do any sort of white strips- my teeth are too sensitive), I have been sleeping much easier which is a big feat for this insomniac, my teeth have been less sensitive to hot & cold, & the best result of all- MY JAW PAIN HAS DECREASED BIG TIME!!! I have major jaw issues & awful TMJ 

- Fashion Lush

Negatives?

Oil pulling’s positive effects are based entirely on anecdote and not at all on clinical research – because there’s been very little. Pubmed lists six clinical studies related to oil pulling, all performed in India, and their quality and results seem all over the map. Some do indicate mild improvement in gum health, comparable to mouthwash use. But they’re not well blinded, use very small sample sizes and involve oil pulling only as part of a proper oral hygiene regimen. So it’s impossible to tell what’s causing said improvement. 

- Skeptoid

Like it or loathe it? I would love to hear your thoughts and, of course, I will keep up with my efforts and report back if I notice any improvement on my overall health and general wellbeing.

CLASSIC DOLCE & GABBANA MAKEUP WITH PAT McGRATH

Delicious makeup looks from Dolce and Gabbana Winter 2014 - perfectly classic for the cold winter months here in the Southern Hemisphere.

CHRISTIAN DIOR COUTURE - BACKSTAGE 2011/2012

If you feel like your Wednesday is lacking a bit of glamour here's a flashback to Christian Dior's Haute Couture Show from 2011-2012

I love the theatrics of it all, the taped eyes to elongate them into the hairline, pristine hair, liner and lips. Not to mention the paled faces, grey contour and white highlights.

Needless to say you might not want to replicate this exact look but here's my selection of Dior products you can use to create a more wearable version.

LIPSTICK: Rouge Dior in Sterling Red
LINER: DiorShow Art Pen in Catwalk Black
POWDER: DiorSkin AirFlash Matte Touch in Universal Beige
BLUSH: DiorBlush in Beige Nude

KATE HUDSON'S HAIR FOR 2014 OSCARS

Kate Hudson wowed fans yesterday on the  Red Carpet. Just as talked about as her stunning dress was her gorgeous hair in Veronica Lake-esq waves. Read on below to get the look using some of my favourite products.

1. Add O&M Styling Cream to damp hair and blow-dry using GHD Thermal Brush to create smoothness and volume.
2. Part the hair in line with the outer corner of the eye using a tail comb for accuracy.
3. Section hair in blocks away from the part.
4. Spray each section with L'Oreal Pli, comb through and curl with a one and a half inch tong. When tonging - wind hair from the ends to the roots ensuring the ends get the most heat therefore the most curl.
5. Pin each curl on top of itself using a flat pronged clip.
6. Do makeup and nails while hair cools.
7. Use Postiche Brush to brush out curls and shape hair into waves.
8. Spray with Schwarzkopf Silhouette Hairspray to set.
9. Finish with a light mist of Bumble and Bumble Shine Spray.

MAC AW14 LONDON FASHION WEEK

I'm a sucker for Backstage makeup - especially so when many of the MAC artists on this video are friends I worked with over the last 9 years in London! Take a look at what went on backstage at London Fashion week AW14.

Get the Look: Shimmery Smokey Eye

I was lucky enough to shoot with the beautiful Oona Chanel a couple of years ago and I still love this look we created for her for Topshop Magazine, Topman Generation.

Here are the key products I used to create the look

I firstly applied MAC's Fluidline in 'Blacktrack' up to the crease in the eye using Tom Fords eyeshadow brush. 

I then used a clean MAC 217 brush to buff around the edges to soften the shape. 

Finally I applied MyFace Cosmetics 'Blingtones' eyeshadows in 'Black Ice', pressing it on to the lid using the Tom Ford Eyeshadow brush. 

In some of the shots I added 'Gloss Texture' by MAC to the lids, a look that is awesome for editorial work but a bit harder to pull off in your day to day life.