Lookfantastic Christmas

Stop by lookfantastic.com before December 11th for Christmas offers and savings that you won't find anywhere else. I'm tempted by the free Juicy Tube in Peche when you buy a Kerastase shampoo and conditioner or masque, and the Balance Me Super Set for £25, saving £11. Stocks are limited, though. If you do leave your Xmas shopping til the last minute, you can order everything else until December 23rd. And with this code LFBLOG09 you'll get £2 when you spend £20 or over.

Chanel catwalk spy

Found this amazing video via fab blog Hair on the Brain where a spy camera is hidden in a girls hair to give a models-eye-view of the catwalk at Chanel's S/S show. It actually made me feel a bit nervous watching it. As well as negotiating a spiral staircase to get to the catwalk, models also had to navigate haystacks and wooden pillars. When I've been to shows, I find watching models struggle not to trip up in impossible heels excruciating. But then I remind myself they are being paid a fortune and don't feel quite so bad for them. Also noticed how tiny the 'real' people are next to the models; true, the camera is on top of her head, but if I hid a camera on my head, it would still be about level with these girls cleavage (if they had any, that is). I've heard of nanny-cams and dogcams - what next - celebcams? I'd love to get a celeb perspective of a red carpet moment. WDYT - could be the new Twitter?

Meet a Beauty Director...

...at Selfridges in Manchester and Birmingham tomorrow evening. I can personally vouch that they are all lovely! So if you're in the area, get down there and give them a grilling about all things beauty! Nicola Moulton from Vogue will be at Exchange Square, Manchester from 6 til 9pm. Lisa Durrant from InStyle will be at Selfridges Trafford from 6 until 11pm and Annabel Jones, Grazia's Beauty Director will be at the Bullring Selfridges from 6 until 11pm.
You'll be given a glass of bubbly, and a chance to have complimentary treatments, make-overs and win prizes. And everyone gets a goodie bag. There's a £10 charge redeemable against products bought on the night.

How adorable...

...is this Happy Days Soap Sack by Nostalgia Organics available this week at Content. The craft-corner types among you can upcycle the bag into something new, using the pattern on the label. Or just admire its prettiness as it is.

Glitter grows up

British Vogue has just done a story on 'grown-up' glitter which gives me the perfect excuse to post another image from the glitter story that I shot for Company a little while ago! So here it is...I think the make-up artist judged it perfectly, combining fresh skin with packed-on shimmer. The secret trick here is adding the carbon-black liner on the inner lid which makes the models eyes look brighter and 'anchors' the colour, creating definition that glitter alone can't do.

If all the talk of Chanel Jade nail colour has opened your eyes to green polish, here are two more to consider. While Jade is a pretty, Laduree macaroon of a colour, these two are altogether more Wicked and witchy. L'Oreal Paris Resist and Shine Titanium no 736 is part of their new Black Gloss collection, made with a carbon black pigment base shot through with metallic colour. This one is called Black Turquoise, it comes out as a dark, seaweedy green with a hint of shimmer and a high shine finish. Simple to apply and lasts well. No7 Stay Perfect Nail Colour in Totally Teal is a cream formula and a lovely bluey-mid-green. Needs a bit more care to put on to get a good finish. My bedroom used to be painted that colour, perhaps that's why I'm drawn to it! Have you found any other great greens?

Lotions, Potions and Me Bag Spy

Got a minute? Pop over to Lotions, Potions and Me - I am delighted to be today's Bag Spy, where I reveal exactly what's clunking around in my make-up bag!

Size zero vs Plus size...

It's the fat v thin debate, but this time we're talking mascara wands. Revlon Double Twist has a chunky, retro-looking brush, although its double-helix shape is all-new technology. Clinique High Lengths has a spindly, bendy brush of supermodel proportions - skinny, that is. They're calling it a willow wand - slim but strong and flexible. It doesn't look like this skimpy brush could achieve much, but it makes getting to those tiny inner lashes simple, lifts from the roots and coats each lash for a defined, separated, natural look -making it a great everyday mascara. The Revlon brush on the other hand, deposits lots of deep black to the lashes, thickening at the roots and giving a full, feathery, perfect-for-night effect in one swoop. Hmm, I think you're going to want them both! Double Twist on counter December; for High Lengths you're going to have to wait until February.

Vintage Moustaches

Just in case your man needs some inspiration for Movember (see previous post) a selection of vintage mos from the classic 1977 tome 'Looking Good - A Guide for Men' by Charles Hix, (look for it on Amazon) and shot by Bruce Weber. I think they've stood the test of time!

One for the fellas

It's not too late to grow a mo. Movember - formally known as the month of November - is a charity event held throughout November to raise money for The Prostate Cancer Charity. Known as Mo Bros, all participants register at the start of November with a clean-shaven face, then grow and groom their moustache throughout November, raising as much money and awareness about male health issues as possible.

Wilkinson Sword has taken over the Dermologica Store in Kensington opening Mo's Emporium - a grooming parlour open exclusively throughout Movember. At Mo's Emporium three professional Wilkinson Sword barbers are on hand to give free moustache maintenance to anyone growing a moustache for Movember, using Wilkinson Sword Quattro Titanium precision razors. All donations made at Mo's Emporium will go directly to The Prostate Cancer Charity and free appointments can be booked through Wilkinson Sword's official Movember website www.lovethemo.co.uk. Get your man to give it a...grow.

Threading at Boots

I posted on threading not long ago, and now Boots is offering the service -but only at its High Street Kensington, Birmingham and Glasgow stores, in association with Jannat – The Brow Studio, including "Jannat’s bespoke three step eye brow renaissance therapy, offering intensive treatment and consultation to rejuvenate neglected eye brows." 5% of all sales will be donated to Children in Need. I haven't tried it yet, if you do, let me know how it goes!

A new Tom for Lauder

News from Estee Lauder via Fashionista, that make-up guru Tom Pecheux is signed to the brand. Which can only be great news. Above are some of my favourite looks he's created for French Vogue, Gucci and Chloe. I've been lucky enough to meet him at the shows and he's never been less than totally charming, a calm oasis in the mayhem that is backstage. His trademarks - fresh skin and painterly shades. If he can create products for Lauder that make that glow available to us all, it's going to be a winning collaboration.

Un petit peu de Paris

Available from today exclusively on asos.com, these adorable Paris-themed pots from Bourjois. The limited edition collection is called Rendez-vous á Paris, eight of their best-selling Little Round Pot Eyeshadows and Blushers adorned with designs by Parisian illustrator Nathalie Lété, celebrating famous Parisian landmarks. As lovely as a box of Laduree macaroons and will last a lot longer.