Walking in a Winter Wonderland at MAC Cosmetics

MAC‘s Winter collection looks like something out of Narnia. A far cry from their usual slick black packaging, everything is presented in white, silver and glittery parcels and is so wonderfully seasonal. This week I’ve grabbed some pieces from two of their collections and I couldn’t be happier with them.

Firstly I raided the Glitter and Ice collection. This lovely Mineralize Eye Shadow in Fresh Ice caught my eye for alternative reasons; I knew from one small smudge that it’s creamy tones and multi-coloured irridescent tones would make a glorious highlighter. All of the tones in this particular shade are cool which will suit the icy white skin and hair I am currently sporting (what can I say? I love my purple toner).

When I saw that MAC had named this nail lacquer Unconditionally Fabulous I simply couldn’t resist. Isn’t the power of branding unbelievable sometimes? This lovely clear varnish is filled with lots of irridescent glitter panels and I know that it is going to look simply incredible when coated on top of a deep black polish. For now, I’m going to use it on it’s own and pile up the coats to give a full-glitter finish.

My most amazing find, however, was in the Ice Parade collection. This collection is home to lots of miniature brush sets and kits, but the Make it Perfect brush kit in Special just blew my mind! An essential buy for any beauty lover, this kit contains the staples of the MAC brush collection for a fraction of the price. Included are the following brushes from top to bottom:

 - Powder brush, perfect for sealing your foundation.
- Blusher brush, for adding a touch of colour to your cheeks.
- Liner brush, helpful for framing your eyes.
- Flat round brush, helpful in endless situations and perfect for everything.
- Blending brush, helping to soften your smoky eyes.

I must admit that I was a little bit disappointed with the gift bag that they came in – the design of it was hardly the most inspiring thing MAC have ever come up with. That said, having those 5 brushes for just £39.50 was enough to stop my deflated opinions in their tracks.

With all of these lovely bits and pieces to play with I will definitely be embracing my ice-queen look this Winter!

www.maccosmetics.co.uk

Peaches and Cream do Bombay Dreams

A special celebration for the 100th anniversary of Mixed Gems!

Today at work, Kate happened to bring in her old portfolio from when she was at college. It was filled with all sorts of whimsical makeup concepts as she had trained in theatrical makeup. Seeing such unusual photographs led me and my co-worker- little Katie- to enquire about how these theatrical concepts translated to the every day makeup that we provide our customers. This prompted Kate to show us this beautiful photograph of her when she had done her makeup in the style of an Indian bride, and we were desperate to learn the look for ourselves.

Kate began to demonstrate this look by using lots of bright colours on little Katie. In particular, she found Limecrime eye shadow to be useful as it is easy to apply and comes in an array of striking colours, but she also used MAC Pigments to complete the look.

Next, Kate used a thick black liquid liner, mascara and jet black lashes to give shape to the look. With this bold outline in place, the colours were now framed beautifully and Little Katie’s Eastern makeover was underway.

After adding some gems, a bindi and contouring little Katie’s face, her makeover was complete. Doesn’t she look every inch the Indian princess? She looked so lovely that I began to feel envious, but fortunately Kate reached for her brushes at that very moment and before I knew it…

… I had been transformed too! Kate made a few minor adjustments in her colour choices to compliment the fact that my skin was so much fairer, and Katie and I were now a double act in role.

As we worked today, I told the girls how excited I was to blog about this makeover. Today, you see, is my 100th blog post, and so I was glad it was such a special day for makeup! Pondering this information, little Katie and I began to be consumed by the Bombay Dreams soundtrack that we had been blasting for hours to enhance the transformation process. How better to celebrate one year of words with one hilarious video? Without further ado, I present to you an exclusive performance from me and little Katie, now THIS is what we like to call getting into character at Peaches!

Peaches and Cream do Bombay Dreams

I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has been reading my blog for these last 100 posts! It is lovely to find all of your comments and feedback and I really love writing my Mixed Gems. My new resolution is to create more video blogs so please continue to read as Mixed Gems will hopefully be getting bigger and better. Love from Rose xx

Love your skin – the pale girl’s guide to summer

“I can smell the fake tans and hair gel already” – Jersey Shore

My name is Rosaleen, but a few years ago my good friend Natalie Nisbett introduced me to her friends as Casper, the Friendly Ghost. Hopefully this will give you a good indication of how pale I am. My parents are both Irish which means that I have inherited milky white skin and a sprinkling of freckles – it also means that getting a tan this Summer will be impossible. Now comes the predicament that so many girls are faking, to tan or not to tan?

Option 1: Fake it till you make it!

With so many amazing products on the market, why not try some fake tan? Here are some suggestions for getting it right.

1. Exfoliate thoroughly before you tan. By removing any hard/dry skin, you’re less likely to come out in patches. Be sure to pay particular attention to dry areas such as ankles, knees and elbows. Your skin will feel gorgeous after a pampering too!
2. Get a girlfriend to give you a hand. There are certain areas that no amount of yoga will enable you to reach – you’ll need some support when doing your shoulder blades and back.
3. Invest in a spray tan! Trust a professional to do the dirty work for you and you’ll be left with an even tan that lasts up to ten days. Natural red-head Lindsay Lohan, above, has professional help to ensure that her tan is always even.
4. Take care of your skin. Once you’ve perfected your tan, you want to take the necessary steps to maintaining it for as long as possible. When you get out of the shower just pat yourself dry, or try to dry naturally if you can. Then, invest in a rich moisturiser to keep your tan looking fresh. Johnson’s Baby Oil is fantastic when applied to wet skin – that covers the drying and moisturising all in one.
5. Know when to call it quits. If your tan is looking patchy and starting to wear off then have a soak in a hot bubble bath and grab the exfoliating gloves immediately. Nothing looks grubbier than a patchy tan. With freshly exfoliated skin, you can start the process again and have a fresh golden glow no sooner than you’ve removed your last one.

Option 2: Embrace your fair complexion!

Whoever said pale couldn’t be exquisite, too? Flaunt your skin and work with what you’ve been given using these pale preparations.

1. Invest in a strong sun screen. Your fair skin will be prone to sun damage and you don’t want to fry yourself. Apply a factor 50 cream for complete protection or use a once-daily lotion like P20 to save your skin the burn.
2. Add splashes of colour to your complexion by jazzing up your makeup. Bright colours will clash wonderfully with your skin and flaunt your complexion instead of washing you out – see how Gwen Stefani rocks that plum lip in the above photograph. I love Barry M’s lipsticks and nail varnishes for great value and striking shades.
3. Use a highlighter to brighten your skin. There’s no denying that a tan helps you to look more toned so those of us who are paler will have to work extra hard to keep up appearances. Highlight your brow bone, cheek bones and collar bones with an illuminating powder or cream to chisel your best assets. I adore MAC Strobe Cream.
4. Keep your skin super clear – blemishes will show up more easily on fair skin. Make sure that you drink plenty of water and use a cleanser, toner and moisturiser every morning and evening. Use a face mask once a week to really revitalise your skin – places like the Body Shop or Lush are brilliant for helping you to choose a mask that suits your requirements.
5. More pink than pale? Try Benefit’s ‘You’re Bluffing’ concealer to neutralise any redness on your face, or rub half of a fresh lemon onto knees and elbows to eliminate pinkness on the body. Strange but true!

So there you have it – whether you’re hitting the bottle or going au natural, your pale skin will glow and be gorgeous!

“Manners are love in a cool climate” – Quentin Crisp

 MAC Cosmetics: Magically Cool Liquid Powder
Product Review

With a blusher palette in one hand and the face of a client in the other, I was quietly minding my own business at work when I heard a gasp from one of the other makeup artists. Earlier that morning she had been moaning that she mustn’t have dried her makeup brushes correctly because when she applied her powder it felt wet, but she realised later on in the afternoon that she had actually purchased MAC’s bizarre new Magically Cool Liquid Powder!

This new powder is comprised of 70% water and feels wet when applied to the skin despite actually being soft and dry. It goes on as any other powder would do and sets your foundation to perfection, the only difference is that the recipient is left with a cool and wet sensation. At £23.50 for 28g, Magically Cool is available in three shades:

• Truth and Light – a sheer shimmer that reflects silver and pink
• Honey Rose – sheer rosy beige with multi-dimensional shimmer
• Cajun – sheer bronze shimmer that reflects gold

Although I am not quite convinced that the thickness and consistency of the powder is as effective as some of the other MAC products on offer, one example being the fabulous Mineralize Skinfinish powders, Magically Cool will act as a brilliant Summer essential to any ladies preparing to indulge in a spot of hot weather. (Indeed, it boasts such a translucent finish that gentlemen alike would be forgiven for choosing to indulge themselves.) Be sure to pop to your local MAC store as soon as possible to give this one a try… perhaps the most unusual makeup sensation to hit the shelves to date.

www.maccosmetics.co.uk

“We are obsessed with makeup!” – AMZI Cosmetics

 AMZI Cosmetics
Exclusive interview with founder Angie Muldoon

I was devastated the day that I first met Angie Muldoon.

The day in question was a lovely Sunday afternoon and so I decided to pop along to Leaf on Bold Street to visit my good friends, the girls behind Pillbox Vintage, as they held their Retro Sundays at Leaf vintage fair. As I sipped my cappuccino and tottered around the stalls, I noticed a new smiling face among the sellers. The very day that I had arrived with just enough money for a coffee and some cake, Angie was parading her amazing range of products, from MAC to Benefit to theBalm, and I was unable to delve into her makeup bag. You name it, she had it – mascara, blusher, eye-shadow, glitter… it was like taking candy from a baby! Nevertheless, Angie and I got talking about all of her favourite cosmetics and she even told me about the new online boutique she was soon to be launching. As well as stocking her own brand of AMZI Cosmetics, Angie would be selling lots of her favourite established brands and picking and choosing her personal favourites to ensure ultimate customer satisfaction.

After sincere disappointment that I had missed my chance to replenish my makeup bag with some AMZI essentials, I was delighted to hear that the AMZI Cosmetics website had finally launched the other day! Too excited to keep the news to myself, I asked Angie to tell me her Top 10 products and why she loves them so much. Here’s what she had to say…

AMZI According to Angie

Having a cosmetic website and my own brand of cosmetics gives me incredible choice when it comes to my own makeup bag. I could tell you that I only use my own brand but I am not going to do that. Like everyone I have my favourites, and sometimes I get bored and fancy a change. This is what I am using at the moment.

Foundation
 Amzi Cosmetics Dual Mineral Foundation
What I love about it is firstly it stays on like you can’t believe and I have oily skin which would usually look shiny by lunch time but not anymore! I use this foundation by applying it directly onto the sponge but if you wanted you could wet the sponge and this would give you a dewy finish.

Blusher
theBalm: Cabana Boy
I love the colour, a raspberry pink, and it also has a slight shimmer to it. The packaging is so cute and retro, and the magnetic clasp means it won’t open in your bag. I think it’s just the right colour of pink – I would say most days I wear Cabana Boy.

Eyeliner
Urban Decay
I use this 24/7… the pencil is getting small now that I have sharpened it and used it so much! The best thing about 24/7 is that is so soft and just glides on and, yes, it stays put.

Mascara
 GWP Estee Lauder Mascara
This is will surprise you, I am using a GWP Estee Lauder mascara. I sell them on the website and, although they are only small, the brush is amazing. It’s a slim brush that really lets you get in-between all of your lashes and gives you such a full, false lash effect.

Eye shadow
AMZI Cosmetics Eye Shadow
I am so happy with my AMZI eye shadow range that I am not using anything else – in fact, I might list all of my other eye shadows on eBay. The pigments are so strong and the colours so intense; when used wet they do double as eye liner. I have had such positive feedback on the eye-shadow range.

Bronzer
theBalm Bahama Mama
This bronzer is completely matt with no orange undertone. It spreads beautifully and gives you a just-off-the-beach glow.

Lipstick
AMZI Cosmetics Lipstick and theBalm
AMZI’s lipstick is just the right texture, not too dry, not too sticky and stays on for hours. I also have theBalm Read My Lips in shade ‘Scoop’ and I alternate between the two.

Eyebrows
Blinc Eyebrow Mousse
I like it because I find I don’t need much to get the desired effect.

Highlighter
theBalm Mary Lou Manizer
If you have never heard of this you have to try it! It is so much better than Benefit’s High Beam because it does not take your make up off as it is a shimmer powder. The container is so cute and you will love taking it out of your make up bag. This should last you a forever as a little goes a long way.

Primer
AMZI Cosmetics Primer
This foundation primer is a MUST to provide a flawless finish to the face. It helps to seal and protect the skin’s moisture balance. It is excellent to use under Dual Mineral Foundation (as above). If you are not using a primer this is the one thing you should definitely do!

 So now that you’ve heard from Angie, I’m guessing you’re tempted to see what all of the fuss is about? Have no fear! Angie has kindly offered readers of Mixed Gems an exclusive 10% discount code to be used when shopping online at www.amziboutique.com. Just enter ‘launch promo’ at the checkout to claim your discount.

Happy shopping!

(P.S I’ll be trying and testing some AMZI Cosmetics soon, so be sure to keep an eye for an AMZI review on Mixed Gems!)

“Suddenly everybody wants to be in show business”- Tallulah, Bugsy Malone

Diary of a Showgirl

“Rosaleen Gallagher!” they commanded. With legs of jelly and a restless stomach, I pranced sassily to the centre of the stage. Despite being secretly consumed with nerves, my face painted only a picture of confidence and charm; when auditioning, you see, I knew that my most powerful accessory would be my smile. The following adjectives came to mind when attempting to form a sentence that would express how badly I wanted to get this part (that of the ultra chic Tallulah in Bugsy Malone): excruciatingly, intolerably and hysterically. Unfortunately I do not feel that any of these are quite illustrating my delicate emotional state at this time so I suppose I shall just have to continue and allow you to lose yourselves in my former seventeen year old self.

Tallulah was the only character that had truly captured my heart from this play. She leapt, devilishly, out at me from the script. Arguably she was the true star, outshining the clever endeavour of the writer to create all of the characters equally and with similar exposure time so that conflict was not abounding when performed by it’s target actors- children. Everything about her was so sultry; contemplate a cross between the prim values of a classic Chanel quilted handbag and the vivaciousness of a Vivienne Westwood catwalk and you would just about have reached the essence of Tallulah. Butterflies flew around in my stomach as I finally reached for my microphone.

Costume was, at this point, unnecessary. We were not to audition for a part in particular, merely to audition and have the most suitable role allocated to us. With a hand on one hip (the personification of a splash of pillar box red MAC Lipglass) and a pregnant facial expression (naturally channelling the understated impact of Christina Ricci’s Louis Vuitton campaigns in 2004) I sang my little heart out. Imagination was the only tool at my disposal without a poignant outfit; to complete the look I had to ignore the inappropriate blues of my frumpy school uniform and perform as though I was draped sinfully in a Dior gown. This, I did, and the part, I landed.

Please be under no impression that I was ungrateful for this part. My lines were learned within hours and I was practising every outward display of my alter ego incessantly in the mirror during my spare time. The most exciting part about landing this role, however, was yet to come. The costume department were creating garments of identical nature for all of the dancers and chorus; lead characters, on the other hand, were ‘unfortunately’ required to accumulate their own wardrobe necessities. My mind spiralled rapidly. To the world famous Rag Markets in Birmingham I trotted.

Cliche, perhaps; my crimson finger nails hovered over the silky blacks and reds amongst the array of fabric shades and textures. Predictable, yes; but Tallulah was an original showgirl, and therefore the inevitable influence of burlesque fashion and go-go girls was a concept that I wanted to embrace, because in capturing the spirit of Tallulah’s character, I needed also to acknowledge the concepts that would have inspired her. My bible at this time was a book entitled Pretty Things- The Last Generation of American Burlesque Queens by Liz Goldwyn. Featuring pictures of femme fatale goddesses in their elaborate ensembles and the original sketches from which these masterpieces materialised, I was in the perfect position to invoke my inner Robin Antin and create my own gown.

The vision came to me during a dance theory class at school, so rather than continue with my labanotation I decided, instead, to allow my pencil to be the gateway between my animated mind and the literal world. I sketched a beautiful strapless with a heart shaped neck. It was boned and corseted at the bodice with a crimson red silk, and then cut at the hip with a curve creating v line to allow for two subtle layers of black silky frill. Long black gloves and lavish pearls would be the Versace cherry on  the cake.

The show went fantastically and was filmed on it’s closing evening. With a glamorous selection of photographs to choose from, deciding upon a few for the DVD front cover was a difficult task. As I collected my copy a few weeks later, I noticed a familiar face at the left hand corner of the cover. Who was there, poised and ready to pounce? You guessed it. It was I, Tallulah, and my beautiful dress.

I wrote this account of my memory of the school show for the Vogue Young Writers contest this year. Despite whole heartedly exaggerating some of the finer details, the basic jist of the tale is true, and this was my favourite fashion memory.