The Tuesday Face : Khaki Everything

Base: Bourgeois CC Cream, Charlotte Tilbury concealer, Hourglass Ambient Lighting powder in Diffused Light, Hourglass blush in Mood Exposure, Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow Eyes: Charlotte Tilbury cream shadow in Veruschka, Stila Kitten eyeshadow, MAC Buried Treasure eye pencil, Rimmel Lash Accelerator mascara, Suqqu brow pen Lips: Mac Whirl lipliner

I used to love khaki. It can be both elegant and edgy, its green undertones makes it a proper color that stands out nicely from your basic black yet it still belongs to the neutrals category - that reassuring, fail and fool-proof neutral category. I used to wear it a lot but it somehow gradually disappeared form my wardrobe when grey took over. If I used to love khaki clothes and accessories, I also collected it in my make-up draws -  because if you haven't tried it yet, khaki looks good on the eyes, too. As the winter months made their way back, so did my crave for smokier, grungier eye looks. As I was doing some serious damage at the magnificent beauty counters in Selfridges only two weeks ago, I found myself itching for a new eye base, something deeper than just a brown, softer than black, less daunting than green; something khaki. So today's star of the show is a gem from the dreamy Charlotte Tilbury make-up line, her "Eyes to mesmerise" cream shadow in Veruschka. It is a stunning khaki indeed, very flattering on brown and hazel eyes - but then, I'm pretty sure it would look good on anyone. I'm truly glad to have some khaki back into my life, so much that I am now forever drooling over some khaki boots, bags, sweaters - khaki everything. In fact I could almost go as far as to say that I feel whole again but that would be over-dramatic (but then, when am I not ?).  Let us keep the violin down for once, shall we ?

The Tuesday Face : Dressing Up

Base: Chanel Perfection Lumière Velvet, Mac Pro Longwear conealer in NC15, Hourglass Ambient Lighting powder in Diffused Light, Chanel blush, Nars Laguna Bronzer, Illamasqua Gleam in Aurora Eyes: Urban Decay Naked palette, Charlotte Tilbury mascara, Suqqu brow pen Lips: MAC Russian Red lipstick and Burgundy lip liner

A red lipstick is the little black dress of any make-up bag; always chic, a bit glamorous, definitely timeless - you can never go wrong with a scarlet lip. It is also the quickest way to dress up any outfit. I was lucky enough to head back to London for the week-end and go to the Stylist Live event. I wasn't sure what to expect nor what to wear, but when in doubt there's nothing like the good 'ol classics to avoid any faux-pas. I kept the base and eye make-up fairly simple yet glow-y and, as often, chose to focus the look on the lips. A red lip is incredibly personal, it's up to you and only you to find the shade that suits you the most. It can be tricky at first but once you've pintpointed the one, you'll be amazed at how much you can rely on it and crack it anytime you feel like dressing up. My personal favorite is MAC Russian Red, which is rather cool-toned. I darkened it up slightly using MAC Burgundy lip liner, mostly at the outer corners to mimic an "ombré" effect that gives the illusion of a fuller pout. Now, if you're going to an event where you intend to have a few drinks (I know I did) it's better to be safe than sorry and go for a matte formula, just so you don't have to check yourself out in your phone glass after every sip. Other than that, don't be frightened to wear a red lip, even if you decide to have a burger for dinner; there's nothing prettier than a woman reapplying her lipstick. Red lipstick is a powerful tool that should be worn with pride and is meant to be a showstopper - use it.

Spotlight : Le Blanc de Chanel

Chanel surely knows how to create an icon - from the very glamorous Les Beiges compacts to the ever-so-timeless N°5 fragrance, splurging on some Chanel beauty products feels like collecting gemstones really. The Le Blanc base is one of those fairly popular products that the brand is known for that to my opinion doesn't get enough real love. Chanel addicts will surely own it, others will drool at the price tag and pass. To me, everyone should give this base a go, regardless of its name and reputation . It completely confused me at first as it is one of those product that definitely makes you look better but you can't quite put your finger on how nor why. If you look at it closely, it doesn't seem like anything special, except that it smells nice - as anything Chanel . It says "illuminating" base on the pot, yet doesn't have a trace of shimmer like most other illuminating primers on the market. It's white, but sheers out as you apply it on your skin and disappears. So what does it do ? Nothing and everything. Nothing you can see right away like you would with a tinted primer or a silicone product that significantly fills up your pores. However once you have applied your foundation on top, you realize a magic trick has been played on you - sort of. You definitely look more awake and glowy-er than if you hadn't used it, yet won't ever risk the disco-ball effect that you might get with other primers. It truly gives you that lit-from-within look. I also like to mix it with some of my foundations if I want to sheer-out a formula and go for a more natural finish (think Estée Lauder Double Wear). It's also excellent at priming your skin, no matter your skin type; it'll add some moisture to cuddle dry skin types without greasing up oiler complexions. It somehow smoothes everything out and allow your foundation to glide on effortlessly. I know, seems a bit hard to believe, but give it a go and see for yourself - it's magic in a bottle. Expensive magic, granted. The only flaw I can think of is that despite the fact that I adore the very chic glass bottle, it doesn't come with a pump - hence the pouring can get a little bit messy if you decide to go wild and not use the tiny spatula it comes with (*spoiler alert* don't do that. Be a doll and use the damn spatula). There's nothing quite like Le Blanc on the market, it is unique in the way it somehow works for everyone and can cheer up any complexion on a bad day as it can glam up your look and make you feel fabulous when you want to dress up. 

So, yeah, it's pricey, it's pretty to look at, it smells lovely, it's satisfying to own and hold - it's Chanel. But don't buy this one for its fame nor its name; buy it for it's game-changing properties. This one is so much more than an icon.