Laura Mercier Baked Eye Colour Quad in St Tropez

The Laura Mercier Baked Eye Colour Quad in St Tropez may be my new favourite shadow palette.

I tend to stay away from blue hues around my eyes, but this palette is the exception to the rule. These shades are so pretty and pearlescent, they remind me of an enchanting lagoon. I especially like the deepest midnight blue shade, so sultry.  

This palette can be used either wet or dry, depending on the desired intensity. Simply dampen a shadow brush with a touch of water for a deeper colour build upon application. 

It's a great versatile palette. For a high-impact look, apply the deep blue and bronze at the outer edges of the eye, gradually blending into the teal shade, and then into the lightest pearly-blue shade as you near the inner corner. Use a fluffy shadow brush to blend the edges, creating a soft and smokey effect. 

Laura Mercier Baked Eye Colour Quad in St Tropez (applied dry)

Be sure to take some of the dark blue underneath the lower lash line, this gives balance to the eye. 

For a less dramatic look; try applying the bronze shade just above the upper lash line, all the way across and then underneth the lower lash line. Use a light amount of the pearlescent blue just above (on the upper lid) to blend outwards. This creates a really pretty and unique look.

Christmas 2014: Gift Ideas for Girls

If you're struggling for some gift inspiration, here are some great beauty and fashion ideas (from cute stocking fillers to seasonal splurges) for Christmas 2014.

Did I ever mention that I love Christmas?

Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick (in Infrared)
A red lip is an absolute Christmas must-have, and this is one of my all-time favourites. It has a gorgeous matte finish, stays put all night long, and doesn't dry out the lip.

The Girl: Confident (sexy, sassy, glam, retro... it's a versatile red)

Thierry Mulger Angel Diva Gift Set (Limited Edition)
Perfume is a fail-safe option when it comes to Christmas gifting. Thierry Mulger's Angel is a seasonal favourite, as the scent is both sweet and musky. A festive winner. The perfume bottle is super cute too.

The Girl: Stands out from the crowd

Chanel Le Vernis Nail Colour (in 18 Vamp)
It wouldn't be Christmas without the timeless elegance of Chanel. This shade is a seasonal dream, a real luxury stocking filler surprise.

The Girl: Likes a touch of luxury

Clarins Instant Light Natural Lip Perfector (in Nude)
This little number is the perfect accessory for everyday wear. Clarins really know how to make a good nude gloss.With just the right amount of pigment and a really nice scent, I can't recommend this handbag-ready gloss enough,

The Girl: Cosmopolitan and chic

Brooklyn Charm X Urban Renewal High/Low Triangle Necklace
SO cool. Especially paired with a chunky-knit sweater.

The Girl: Hipster-esq. Knows her own style, doesn't follow the hype

Laura Mercier Baked Eye Colour Quad (in Summer in St Tropez)
This shadow palette makes it into the hot gift picks because it's both pretty and original. The shade combinations work together beautifully, and are versatile enough to create a subtle smolder or a real statement look. The shadows are smooth and pigment-rich, and the packaging is simple but classic. So Laura Mercier.  

The Girl: Creative

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Cream (Craig & Karl for Kiehl's edition photographed)
Forget diamonds... Face cream is a beauty-savvy girl's best friend. And when it comes to lotions and potions of the face variety, you cannot go wrong with Kiehl's. It absorbs fast and leaves skin soothed and soft. The limited edition packaging by artists Craig & Karl is a extra nice touch for a Christmas gift too.

The Girl: Beauty conscious, cares about her skin. Regularly pops a face mask on

Aldo Faux Fur Headband
...Because no Christmas day stroll is complete without a touch of faux-fur. Fabulous, darlings.

The Girl: Glamorous, already owns a wide-brimmed floppy hat

Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick (in Nectar)
Come December, all girls are wistfully reminiscing about their long-gone summer glow. This palette by Bobbi Brown is holiday in a palette, a subtle touch of warmth and radiance. It can also double up as a highlighter - so that's two gifts in one, right?

The Girl: All girls. Works as a subtle all-over glow those who like the natural look, or as an eye-catching highlighter for make-up fiends

Kate Spade Wallet/Purse (style pick: Cedar Street Nisha)
If there is one thing I have learn about girls, it's that no purse can ever have enough compartments to accommodate credit cards, gift cards, business cards, hair appointment cards, the receipt for a sweater purchased in 1998.... This stylish purse by Kate Spade is a timeless classic, with enough compartments to keep three dozen cards in check.

The Girl: Classy and efficient. Her wardrobe is made up of timeless neutral pieces, not jazzy patterns

Looking for a gift splurge? AllSaints Cargo Leather Biker Jacket
Yes, it's a pricey gift. But I've heard girls claim they'd consider selling a kidney for an AllSaints leather. Not even kidding. They're a wardrobe staple that will never date. High quality, always on-trend, unmistakably AllSaints.

The Girl: Fashion orientated, trendy, cool, urban

What would be your perfect Christmas gift? Leave a comment below.

Happy Holidays! xxxx

Step-by-Step Halloween Make-Up: Zombie

Find out how to re-create this deathly Zombie look with your everyday beauty bag. Follow the step-by-step photo gallery on Grazia!

Step-by-Step Halloween Make-Up: Enchanted Forest Deer

Find out how to easily create this look with my step-by-step photo gallery on Yahoo!

My Burberry by Burberry

I have finally found my signature scent for the Fall season.

Cara Delevingne and Kate Moss for Burberry

For as long as I can remember, I have longed for a Burberry trench coat. A timeless classic, it is as quintessentially British as the glossy red telephone box. Their new signature scent, My Burberry, encapsulates all of those wonderful qualities. It’s stylish, unique, and alluring in the most intricate fashion.

A floral scent, designed to ‘capture the fragrance of a London garden after the rain’, it is complex and subtle enough to be far away from some of the overly-sweet floral perfumes available on the market. Iconic rose, sweet-pea and geranium leaf. This really is a classy little number.

My Burberry by Burberry, 90 GBP for 90ml

I never would buy a perfume for its packaging, but you have to give it to Burberry – they sure know how to make things look good. Simple and classic, the bottle is a testimony to British style, just like the trench coat that inspired its design. You can even have it monogrammed for free if you buy online, it's a really good gift option. 

What's your signature scent this Fall? Comment below xx

Get the Summer Glow: Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder

It's a bold statement, but I'm going to put it out there. This silky-smooth bronzing powder by Bobbi Brown is my absolute favourite. It blends easier than any other I've ever used before, it's buildable so you can create striking contouring, and it adds a natural warmth to the whole face with a few sweeps of a soft bronzing brush.

Swatch: Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder in Golden Light (1)

The powder is seriously finely milled, which is why this powder is so effective. It softens the face with almost an airbrush effect, no tell-tale dark smudge marks in sight. 

Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder in Golden Light (1)

In classic Bobbi Brown style, the product is stylishly minimal and polished. And more importantly, the casing is sturdy enough not to be susceptible to the dreaded handbag-crumble.

Bobbi Brown Bronzing Powder is £27 / $38 and available in seven different shades.

New: Be Legendary Lip Gloss by Smashbox Cosmetics

Following on from their line of lipsticks, Smashbox Cosmetics have now launched their brand new range of 'Be Legendary' lip glosses - and I am already a complete smitten kitten. 

I have never used a Smashbox product that I haven't been impressed with, but I really love their lip wear. The colour choices are fashionable yet wearable, the texture is hydrating but not greasy, and the pigment lasts but doesn't dry out the lip. 

The new Be Legendary Lip Gloss is available in 16 hot shades, each priced at £15/$20. I'm a huge fan of the colour Mandarin, it gives a sheer, fruity warmth that looks gorgeous with a light tan, and I find that it really enhances the green in my eyes. 

Swatch - Smashbox Be Legendary Lip Gloss in Mandarin

My second favourite from the range is this cotton-candy pink shade, Pout. It's so cute and girly - and looks amazing with a LBD.

Swatch - Smashbox Be Legendary Lip Gloss in Pout

Which are your favourite shades from the range? Let me know by commenting below xx

Destination: New York City

New York. The first thing that pops into my mind is Carrie Bradshaw in her Madison Avenue apartment, Manolo Blahniks cast aside, longing for Mr. Big to walk through the door. The Empire State Building, where James’ giant peach is perched; a giant cake-pop in the sky. And Central Park, just a stone’s throw away from the cafe where Phoebe is performing a musical triumph about an unhygienic cat.

So I know nothing about the real New York; I’ve never even been there for a festive shopping spree. But, in a few days, I’m packing my whole life up into just two cases and boarding a big shiny jet plane. The destination? Fabulous, darling!

But what if this huge metropolis of fabulousness swallows me whole? I mean, I've done my best to prepare - shout out to my colleagues who presented me with the most glamorous wide-brimmed charcoal hat I've ever laid eyes on - but what if I never manage to order a cosmopolitan with the sultry sass of Samantha?

Years of living the British life, with Ps and Qs, tea and cake, airs and graces, have left me frightfully unequipped for the ‘go-out-and-grab-it’ ethos of NYC. I fear that I’ll be politely waiting in line for a mustard taxi for the foreseeable future. The bolder and the braver will step off the sidewalk in their tailored macs, arms flailing, unafraid of neither man nor high-speed motor vehicle.

But I am determined to grab this experience like the first time I clutched a pair of Christian Louboutins - there's no way I'm letting go. I'll be sipping a skinny macchiato in downtown Manhattan come April, armed with a leather bound notebook and a faux fur collar for a touch of everyday glamour. I'm ready for you New York City, show me what you've got.

Motivational talk aside, I best start working out how to squeeze 23 years worth of prized possessions into one luggage allowance. I have at least ten different shades of blush, ranging all the way from light peach to bright fuchsia to soft pink. It may be a long night. Someone pass me a coffe-sorry-skinny macchiato…

Follow all my weird and wonderful NYC experiences on my other blog 'Hello New Yorker'.

The Best Red Lipsticks for 2014

Whether you're a smitten kitten or single and proud, a fierce red lip is a Valentines' Day must. 

From left to right: Tom Ford Lip Color in Crimson Noir £36, Sainsbury's Boutique Lipstick in Paint the Town Red £7, Urban Decay Revolutionary Lipstick in F-Bomb £15, NARS Semi-matte Lipstick in Jungle Red £18.50, Illamasqua Lipstick in Maneater £16.50, Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick in Infrared £15.50, MAC Cosmetics Lipstick in Ruby Woo £15 

swatch

Illamasqua Lipstick in Maneater £16.50, with a bit of Intense Lipgloss in Touch on top, £14.50

The most vibrant of my picks, choose Maneater for a pout with a punch! An intense, bright red that makes a real statement.  

NARS Semi-matte Lipstick in Jungle Red £18.50

A softer hue, Jungle Red has a undertone of coral softness that makes it much more versatile. This shade looks amazing with darker, olive skin tones. 

Sainsbury's Boutique Lipstick in Paint the Town Red £7

A pillar box red for those on a budget, Sainsbury's own beauty range is soft on the lip and surprisingly hydrating. A classic, slightly glossy red with blue undertones.

Smashbox Be Legendary Lipstick in Infrared £15.50

I absolutely LOVE this red, it's matte, deep, intense and moisturising all at the same time. This true red is flattering to all skin tones, and instantly makes me feel like a Hollywood movie star. A make-up must have in my opinion.

Tom Ford Lip Color in Crimson Noir £36

A splurge for the red lip lovers, this deep red lipstick is incredibly smooth and glossy. The texture reminds me a bit of the MAC creme sheen lipsticks, only much smoother and more comfortable on the lip. Only one-slick required for a satin-finish pout of luxury colour. 

What's your trademark red? 

RealTechniques Retractable Bronzer and Kabuki Brush

RealTechniques Retractable Kabuki Brush £11.99 (available May 2014) and Bronzer Brush £12.99 (available now from Boots nationwide)

I'm a big fan of Real Techniques brushes, designed by make-up artist Sam Chapman, and now they have released two retractable designs. Perfectly portable, these brushes are ideal for when you need a cheeky top up in your lunch hour. 

The kabuki brush is slightly more versatile, as you can use to contour with bronzer and fill out the apples of the cheeks with a blush. While the bronzer brush is great for soft, all over coverage - patchy bronzer is a no-no! 

Kiehl's Powerful Wrinkle Reducing Cream

Kiehl's Powerful Wrinkle Reducing Cream, £42 

Kiehl's have introduced a brand new anti-wrinkle cream to their impressive offering, a POWERFUL wrinkle reducing cream. Hooray!

I've been using this rich, hydrating cream for one week, and I'm already impressed with the results. My skin feels smoother and the nasty open pores on my nose are less visible. So far, so good.

Kiehl's claim that this magical cream can improve elasticity by 32% within 4 weeks, which really is something. With copper PCA and abyssine as active ingredients, the scientists at Kiehl's say that copper is essential for stimulating the production of elastin (that keeps skin supple) and also acts as an antioxidant to improve the skin barrier function.

But that's enough of the sciencey stuff. In consumer tests, a cross section of fifty 35-55 year old women trialled the cream for four weeks, and 84% said that their fines lines looked visibly reduced, while 83% said the look of pores had decreased.

Kiehl's Powerful Wrinkle Reducing Cream (and eye cream) will be available from Kiehls.co.uk from February 2014.

Clarins New Opalescence Spring Collection 2014

Clarins have released their new opalescence spring make-up collection, with luminous lip colours, shimmering shadows and beautifully sheer blushes. 

Joli Rouge Brilliant Sheer Shine Lipstick in Coral Tulip and Pink Orchid, £18

I love these super sheer, spring-fresh lip colours. They're soft, sheer and bright all at the same time, gorgeous for day wear. In true Joli Rouge style, they are lovely and hydrating on the lip, but they have added shimmer power. Great for adding a subtle fullness to your pout.

Joli Rouge Brilliant Sheer Shine Lipstick in Coral Tulip 

The 'Coral Tulip' shade is my favourite for spring, it's bright and zingy without being too much for a pale skin tone. 

Joli Rouge Brilliant Sheer Shine Lipstick in Pink Orchid

This sheer pink shade is subtle and pretty, just perfect for adding a 'natural' flush of colour to the lip. 

Mineral Eyeshadow in Smoky Plum, £17

Ooohhh, ahhhh! Shimmery delight! This eyeshadow is actually a deep plum colour, but it has so many shimmering, reflective particles in that the flash of my camera makes it look light. Pigment rich, this shadow is intense and smouldering, and really easy to blend. You can also apply wet for a stronger look. It's a must-have for those who love a sexy, smokey eye. 

I only applied lightly here, but you could create a more dramatic look by building up the shadow.

Instant Light Radiance Boosting Complexion Base, £26

I cannot express strongly enough how much this radiance cream will enhance your beauty regime. I ALWAYS add a cream like this to my regular foundation, and I always get compliments on my 'dewy' complexion. 

What's more, this formula by Clarins smells gorgeous and helps protect the skin against pollution. It's a really versatile product, you can apply before foundation, mix in with foundation, apply a few dabs as a pick me up to the under-eye area, or blend along the cheekbones for an added glow.

Multi-Blush Cream Blush in Peach and Grenadine, £18

Cream blushes are the perfect way to add a dewy flush of colour to the cheeks, instant healthy glow at your fingertips. The soft peach shade is perfectly warming for light and medium skin tones, while the grenadine offers a punchier blush for a more dramatic look.

Multi-Blush Cream Blush in Peach 

Multi-Blush Cream Blush in Grenadine

Limited Edition Eye Quartet Mineral Palette, £31 

This new limited edition quad palette is beautiful and versatile, the shades can be used for a striking, smouldering evening look or a fresh day look. The colours are well-suited to blue and green eyes, as the purples and grey tones will really make them pop. As with the Smoky Plum shadow, you can dampen the applicator for a richer application. 

All products featured coming soon to Clarins. 

What's your favourite product for spring? Let me know by commenting below. 

Get the January Glow!

Want radiant, healthy-looking skin? Find out how to get the January glow with my latest step by step tutorial for Yahoo Lifestyle UK here

Detox your beauty regime

After all the glorious excesses of Christmas time, I always try my best to throw myself into a life of health and vitality… Give or take a few left over mini Toblerones. They're mini, it's fine. 

But it isn't all about the steamed vegetables and super berry smoothies. You can also transform your complexion into a vision of health with a few handy little helpers from the beauty aisle.

Clinique Turnaround Concentrate Radiance Renewer, £35

This serum is complexion-enhancing magic in a squirt. By prompting cell renewal, it helps create skin that is more luminous and radiant. Surface imperfections are reduced and skin is smoothed. What a January hero! 

Kiehl's Skin Rescuer, £29.50

When it comes to TLC, Kiehl’s knows the score. Their Skin Rescuer formula actively works to minimise the appearance of the visible signs of stress, with key ingredients to promote a healthy, strong skin barrier to protect against those pesky external aggressors. 

Benefit Ooh La Lift, £17.50

After the festive party season, we all need some held shifting those heavyweight bags. This light reflective formula by Benefit instantly brightens the under eye area, with soothing raspberry extracts to reduce puffiness. I use underneath concealer for a fresh, bright-eyed look. 

NARS Cosmetics Radiant Cream Compact Foundation, £28

If, like me, you're not blessed with the dewy skin of an angel, this foundation is the perfect cheat. It's a cream compact, which gives a luminous, natural glow.

Bobbi Brown Nude Glow Brightening Finishing Powder in Brightening Nudes, £40

Part of Bobbi Brown's New Year, Nude Glow range, this all-over powder is a beautiful must-have. Sweep across the face (avoiding the eye area) for a healthy, illuminated finish. 

Create the Perfect Winged Eyeliner Look

I get asked a lot about how to create a sexy winged eye-liner look, and I always say:

Start with the flick and draw it with the eye open, as if you draw it with the eye closed, then it will be at a funny angle when the eye is open. 

Here's a step-by-step guide. For ease, I used a Liquid Define Liner by Eye of Horus (£13), as it's like drawing with a pen.

1. With the eye half open, turn your head so you can see the side of the face you're working on in the mirror (i.e turn your head to left/right)

2. Draw a line from the outer of the corner of the eye towards the end of your eyebrow, but stop after just a few millimetres. This line acts as the bottom of the flick. If you are unsure of the angle, take a straight, long object (a pen or pencil will work) and line up from the nose to the outer corner of the eye and use this as a guide.

3. Draw a line from the tip of the flick to the inner corner of the eye, about where the lashes stop. I tend not to go all the way into the tear duct, as this can make your eyes look closer together. It should look something like this:

4. Fill in the gap between the line and the lashes using the liquid liner. 

5. For a fully framed look, take the liner underneath the eye. Again, start at the flick and drag the pen below the bottom lashes. Try and keep the line nice and thin, getting thinner towards the inner corner. 

Have you tried this look? Tweet me your pictures @PoutOutProud xx