Thursday 27 May 2010

Sex and the City 2

OK, I saw the movie at a preview last night and basically, I'm heartbroken.
I LOVE Sex and the City, you know that. I watched the TV show religiously, I own the shoe box DVD set. I have the Kiss & tell book even. But what they've put on screen this time, that's not Sex and the City. That's four really rich, over-privileged women complaining about how hard their fabulous lives are in a $22,000 a night hotel suite in Abu Dhabi. It's not Sex and the City if there is no sex and it's not in the city!

Anyway, my broken black heart aside, the movie has at least spawned some inspired beauty treats. Here are some of my favourites:




I love these Orly nail colours, especially the Red Carpet Samantha shade. I've been looking for the perfect red for summer tootsies forever, maybe this is the one.

The lovely people at e.l.f. have gone one step further and given us a guide to achieving the make up looks of each of the ladies. Take a look (confession - I blatantly didn't write these directions):


If you’re a Carrie… Think gorgeous sun-kissed skin with a touch of sparkle to shimmer throughout the day. e.l.f.’s Mineral Glow in Bronzed (£5.00) will highlight your cheekbones and ensure you light up any room you walk into. Create gorgeous smoky eyes with Studio Single Eyeshadow in Charcoal (£3.50) and complete your look with Mineral Lip Gloss in Trendsetter (£3.00).


Samantha oozes glamour and sophistication at every turn, and her make up matches just that. Her skin is positively glowing, and you can achieve the same look by using the Mineral Booster (£3.50) to ensure skin is matte and smooth all day long. Use the Cream Eyeliner in Coffee (£3.50) to smoulder with smoky eyes. Keep colour from fading from your lips by using the Studio Lip Lock Pencil (£3.50).


Ever the professional, Miranda exudes a stylish yet subtle air, and her make up perfectly reflects this. Her alabaster skin shows you don’t need to be tanned to be sexy. Add a touch of colour to cheeks with the Studio Blush in Candid Coral (£3.50), and spice up lips with a splash of Mineral Lipstick in Royal Red (£3.50). Keep your cool in the boardroom with the Mineral Infused Mascara in Black (£3.50) to complete the look.

Charlotte always looks young, fresh and downright pretty. Use the Studio Concealer and Highlighter (£3.50) to keep eyes looking bright. Achieve Charlotte’s flawless complexion with the Mineral Blemish Kit (£6.00). The Studio Lip Stain in Heartbreaker (£3.50) will perfect your pout.

Right, I'm off to watch the episode where Charlotte boffs the gardener because even an episode featuring Bunny McDougall will have a more positive, empowering feminist message that than shit show from last night.

Tuesday 25 May 2010

Sex and the City Week: Cowshed

Day two of our Sex and the City inspired extravaganza and today I have a HUGE treat for fashionistas in the UK.

From Monday 24th May through Friday 4th June, the lovely people at Cowshed will be indulging your Carrie & Co habit in the best way: with freebies, discounts and competitions! There's a 20% discount on products online and in store on the 27th of May to celebrate the release date, treat yourself to an SATC mani or pedi along with a cocktail in the spas - are you a Crazy Carrie or a Sensible Charlotte? - and episodes will be running back-to-back for you to get your fix while you're prettying up.

And if that wasn't enough, when you spend over £20 on products in store or online, you'll automatically be entered into a competition to win the Ultimate Sex and the City experience. Oooh. The winner and a friend will get some 'Social Grooming' at Cowshed's uber cool Shoreditch House location before being sent off to a London Fashion Week Show, before followed by poolside cocktails, dinner and an overnight stay back at Shoreditch House. Wowsers. Even Samantha couldn't blag that.

What's that? Me? Jealous? In New York, thousands and thousands and miles away from this amazing opportunity? Um, maybe. Yeah. Arses.

Monday 24 May 2010

Sex and the City 2

Picture this.
It's ten am on a glorious NYC Saturday morning. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, you're at the swanky 230 Fifth Avenue roof terrace for a photo shoot in which you're playing 'the Brit Carrie Bradshaw'. Sounds good, right? OK, now pop on five in Louboutins... And a tiny little silk dress. And a big fuck off stupid bow for your hair. Now climb up a FIRE ESCAPE until you're perched on the top of the gas vent for the entire building and you, three other teetering girls in high heels and the photographer have about twenty square feet to play with before you plummet twenty-one floors to your death.

Fun enough yet? Ok, throw in food poisoning. Oh yes, in between smizing your ass off, you're also throwing up over the edge of the 'roof' you're standing on which plays havoc with your lip gloss. The make up artist was not happy.

The things we do for publicity. Anyway, those fabulous pictures will be coming to you soon in Look magazine, I imagine we will also make the cover... Sob. On a sidenote, the photographer and make up artist were amazing and I will love them forever.

I'd like to thank the patron saint of girls-who-type-staring-out-the-window-saying-I-Couldn't-Help-But-Wonder?, Miss Carrie Bradshaw for making all this possible for me. And also for the deluge of Sex and the City-related press releases I've received this week. You will be seeing the best of the bunch. I'm going to a screening of the movie on Wednesday night and will be irritatingly tweeting throughout at the PR's request. No spoilers though, promise.
I bet you can't wait, right?

Thursday 20 May 2010

Avon Glazewear Lip Gloss

After a quick look, my handbag currently holds a wallet, two phones, my Kindle, an iPod, seventeen receipts, three half-empty packets of chewing gum, perfume and shockingly, right now, only one lip gloss. I know you won't believe me but it's true and my camera's broken so you're just going to have to suck it up and trust me.
Lately, given my black mood, I've been doing a lot of black eyeliner with MAC's Retrospeck eyeshadow over the top to soften the smokey black smudges so all I can add to the overall look is a punch of pink blush, lashings of mascara and a neutral lip. My chosen gloss? Avon Glazewear. Now, I know we've had this conversation about Avon before and I won't preach to you again but listen! It's not lame and made for your mum, it's really, really good. Take a look at avon.com and check it out. It's not tacky, it lasts and it doesn't taste like ass. What more could you want? Well, if you're in the US right now, you can pick up a Glazewear gloss for $1.99 right now which is amazeballs. And since Avon sells the equivalent of eight of these glosses every minute, they must have something going for them, right? I mean, it's not just me, it's looooooooads of people.

I love the Clear shade as it has an SPF 15 in it but really, they're all lovely. I loaned my roommate one of the berry shades a couple of nights ago and she couldn't rave about it enough - apparently, everyone had complimented her on it over dinner but did she actually tell them it was Avon? No. Honestly... but do you know what? Fine, let Avon's awesomeness be our secret but make sure you try it out.

Wednesday 19 May 2010

Clarins Skin Spa

For the want of being in another country to visit the Royal Day Spa in Tunbridge Wells (which is according to all of you, amazeballs - thanks for making me feel worse), I popped along to the Clarins Skin Spa on Madison Avenue on Saturday. Because I CAN, because I LIVE IN NEW YORK. Sorry, didn't mean to shout.

To cut a long story short, the lovely facialist, Vivian, recommended the Radiance facial as my skin needed hydration then went on to explain that Clarins don't use any mechanical implements in their facials or extractions, just lymphatic massage and highly concentrated formulas of their regular products. Since I've been semi-obsessed with Clarins products for the last couple of months and I hate extractions (too harsh on my sensitive, lily-white skin) this made me super happy.

We went through what products I was using and Vivian was super happy with my choices - this was the first time a facialist hasn't tried to hawk me anything. Shocker - and then we started on the facial. It was amazing. I'd say it was bliss but then it would sound like I was taking the piss (I liked it better than Bliss anyway). I came away an hour later with smooth, evenly-toned skin and didn't even bother with foundation to hit my friend's birthday picnic. Madness. I've kept up the good work with the Multi-Active Skin Renewal serum, Multi-Active Day lotion and the Eye Contour balm. Aside from a red and blotchy run in with a particularly allergen-happy cat on Sunday, my skin has been looking great all week.

So well done Clarins for pulling a fab facial out of the bag after I got all pissy with the woman on the phone the other day. Well, there was mutual pissiness but we're fine now. I'll be back.

Thursday 13 May 2010

Royal Day Spa - Tunbridge Wells

Dearest Readers,


I have had what are commonly known in the business, as a properly shitty couple of days. All I can think about is booking a massage and maybe a blow out and pretending none of it is happening. Sadly, this is apparently not possible because I have to Go to Work. Arses.

Anyway, I should explain that my daydreams were set off by an email from a London buddy, raving about this spa in Tunbridge Wells*, the Royal Day Spa. Now, a spa's a spa, right? Well, maybe not. Having spent ten minutes this morning on the phone with a very rude lady from a certain international chain trying to book a facial with a gift card I was given at said brand's recent beauty blogger event, I'm not even looking forward to the appointment anymore. The Royal Day Spa however, has become the spa of my fantasies.

All the treatments (which sound divine - check them out online) are complemented by reiki, treatments take place on Tempur mattresses in rooms lit by lanterns, infused with essential oils. I am currently sat in a whirly chair, in a room lit by fluorescents and infused with the scent of tuna baguettes from across the hall. The Royal Day Spa is forty minutes out of London by train. I am forty minutes away from the bloody deli across the street because we only have one elevator working.

It is now my life's goal to visit the Royal Day Spa.
If you make it before me, will you please tell me how heavenly it is? And you know, book me in?


*I went to Tunbridge Wells once before to see Easyworld (dearly departed indie rock trio of my uni days joy) in a venue that used to be a public toilet. True fact.

Friday 7 May 2010

Jouer Cosmetics for Mother's Day - Competition results!

Well shucks, how much do you love your mums? It's enough to bring a tear to my eye... easily done given my allergies to be fair.


Anyways, WE HAVE A WINNER!


The first person to email, was Ms Erin Stein, pictured above (presumably some time ago, otherwise your command of English is amazeballs for a nipper) and Erin says...


'My mum is the best because she taught me everything there is to know about bargain shopping. 'Dress your best for less' is her motto!

Also, she is an absolute beauty maven... you can ask her for some advice on skin care and beauty products and she will send you a four-page email listing all the various formulations that would work best for you. She has tried it all!

She also has a lot of skin sensitivies and is up on all the details of which companies have (or don't have) which ingredients. She's a true guru!'

Maybe your mum should have a guest column on here?
Jouer goodies on their way to you soon.

Don't forget that the rest of you can enjoy Mothers' Day treats at Henri Bendel today through Sunday. Yay for mums!

Wednesday 5 May 2010

Jouer Cosmetics for Mother's Day!

This Sunday is mother's day over here in the US and I would like to confirm that it is a Big Deal. Everyone is busy booking brunch plans, getting haircuts, ironing outfits and generally trying to project an air of 'see mom? I can look after myself!' even though the reason they're doing it now and not on Sunday morning is because they'll be out until 4am and in no fit state to go do anything other than meet mommy dearest with the finest bunch of deli-bought flowers drinking change can buy.

Anyway, if you are looking for something lovely to do in NYC with your mum/mom/grandma/aunt/mother-figure/whatever, I am super excited to suggest that you venture up to Henri Bendel on Fifth Avenue and get a personalised mother/daughter make up application lesson at the Jouer counter. Not only will you get some quality time with your beloved parental, there are terribly classy petit fours and (non-alcoholic - sad face) mimosas as a special treat. And while stocks last, you'll also receive a Jouer mini moisturizing lip gloss set!

To celebrate, the lovely people at Jouer have given us their complete Spring 2010 collection to give away to one very lucky BeautyMecca reader. All you have to do is email me at beautymecca@gmail.com and tell me why your mom is the BEST. First person to email back gets the loot - and why not throw me a pic of you and your mum? I'll post the winner on Friday!

Call 1-800-HBendel or 310-312-0557 to book your appointment on the Jouer counter at Henri Bendel this Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

Aww, makes me sad for MummyBeautyMecca... until I remember she's off on holiday to Crete for a fortnight next week and then I don't feel half as bad for her.

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