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. 

The Tuesday Face : Vampy All The Way

Today's look had to be a vampy one; with Fall coming our way, it was only matter of time before I went back to the dark side (not that I ever left it really - vampy shades are my everything all year round, no matter the season). It's no news that I can't get enough of bold lipsticks, especially vampy shades. We all have that one magic trick up our sleeve that can make a really sh*tty day instantly a bit more bearable, whether it's a pretty dress, a pair of heels or a kick-ass lipstick. Nothing makes me feel more put together and powerful than a dark lip. People do stare, but that's expected with any statement you may make - and quite frankly, I do love the made-up and slightly unapproachable look a vampy lip arms you with. It screams a "don't-you-dare-talk-to-me" for you on those days you just cannot be bothered with small talks - or any talk. 

Base: Chanel Perfection Lumière Velvet, MAC Pro Longwear concealer, Hourglass Ambient Lighting powder in Diffused Light and Mood Exposure blush, Nars Laguna bronzer, MAC Soft and Gentle Eyes: Urban Decay Buck eyeshadow, MAC Soft and Gentle, Charlotte Tilbury mascara, Stila Kitten eyeshadow, Suqqu brow pen Lips: MAC Vino lip liner

I kept everything pretty simple with a wash of colour on the eyes and a natural-ish base, and then threw on some Vino lip liner which looks so good on its own I didn't even have the heart or need to add anything else on top. Bonus ? Lip liners last forever and are the handiest if you somehow manage to mess it up during the day and need to touch up. Easiest look e-ver for those days when you want to look decent but seriously couldn't be bothered to make an actual effort. 

What Men Want

"I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best." - Marilyn Monroe.

I've been meaning to write an article about make-up tips and tricks to go on a date for months. I had it all planned and I believe I had some pretty good advices up my sleeve. I've had my fair share of experiences and disasters, heard and told enough to come up with a pretty solid list of sensible recommendations. I was going to tell this funny story (not so funny back then) about that time I went on a date and had the not-so-brilliant idea to slap on a brand new foundation I had never tried before, because it was from a good brand and was meant to make me look fabulous right? Guess what - it was a total catastrophe. I never felt stickier, cakey-ier nor more suffocated with foundation in my entire life. Oh, and obviously the color match was hopelessly off. I was a total wreck and had no time to start over. So, yeah, I was young, inexperienced, messed up big time with make-up and was anything but confident when the time came and I had to sit in that guy's car. Was it the worst date ever ? No. Did I wish I had known better ? Sure. Do I believe it would have made any difference to the outcome of the relationship ? Absolutely not. Which is why I don't feel comfortable writing that post after all. I swear it seemt smart to me at first and all I wanted to do was to spare you the many embarrassments I myself and fellow women suffered. I wanted to give you some safe tips and an approachable guideline to make it easier for you and help you feel good about yourself on those nerve-racking rendez-vous.  But I came to realize how pointless the whole idea was. There's no book nor rules when it comes to what men want and thank God there's no such thing as a "What Women Want" textbook either. I'm all for that girl-power which, whether we're willing to admit it or not, make-up provide us with to some extent. But hell, make-up shouldn't be a concern when it comes to relationships. I'll gladly advise what make-up look to wear on an interview, everyday at work or even for a wedding or any other type of occasion that calls for careful planning, but not for a date. You can't plan a date and quite frankly shouldn't even try to, no matter how tempting. Don't wear make-up if you don't want to. Wear a full-coverage foundation if you feel like it. For God's sake, go all out with some falsies and your favourite red lipstick if you want to. You do you, is the best and only advice anyone could ever give. Don't lose yourself and start betting on you . And please, remember that if a little make-up -  or none at all - scares him off, he wasn't the one anyway.