Adventures of Barbarella

Favourite Look #7: Barbarella

Bardot

Brows

 

Oh hello

Favourite Look #4: Strawberry Gloss (the landing look)

Favourite Look #3: Lashes + Red Lip

Favourite look #2: Smoky + Red lip. (Crazy Eyes)

Back to old habits: NARS Red Lizard

Favourite look #1: A natural nude

Halloween Inspiration pictures.

I'm having a love affair with a new camera this afternoon. I love it, it's just incredible on skin.

While we're here, I might aswell caption the pictures. This is a leather mask:



One of those "oh this will go with anything!" buys.

Beauty Essentials

I'm stuck at home with a cold and I have nothing to say about clothes. In fact, I'm not wearing any, so I thought i'd take this opportunity to catch up with something that I've been meaning to post for a while. It's not particularly fun, it's just one of those things that we girls like to know about. It's my beauty basics, those items that I am so dependant on that I systematically use and don't ever talk about, and I wholeheartedly recommend them to everyone.

SilkSkin pillowcase: This is a silk pillow case but not only that- in my experience, the best. It's not just like regular silk (granted, it's more expensive), it feels almost tacky. It's the softest material I've felt in my life, it feels almost moist. And I do sleep on the side, but it is also fantastic for the hair, it doesn't tangle at all on this.

Talika Lipocils: I've been using Talika on my lashes for years and years. It conditions them and brings them to their optimum state, which for most people means that it makes them curl, longer, thicker, and more of them. I use it as a primer in the morning (makes mascara apply so much smoother and also makes it easier to take off at night) and every night.

Liz Earle cleanser: I've only used this for about 4 months now but it has already become an all-time necessity. It just works and it feels great.

Nuxe Lip Balm: Again, used this for years (since I was 18?) on and off. Whenever I don't have it around I always miss it. It has a funny consistency for a lip balm, kind of like an organic lemon+honey health bar crushed. It doesn't have any shine and it keeps your lips moisturized for ever. I can't do vaseline or anything with petrolatum, it give me eczemas and doesn't moisturize at all.

YSL Touche Eclat: Another all time. I don't have dark circles, but this just makes my eye area feel bright and awake. It's also the best highlighter ever. And it feels like a cooling eye cream treatment.

I'm stuck at home with a cold and I have nothing to say about clothes. In fact, I'm not wearing any, (does a La Senza thong count?) so I thought i'd take this opportunity to catch up with something that I've been meaning to post for a while. It's not particularly fun, it's just one of those things that we girls like to know about. It's my beauty basics, those items that I am so dependant on that I systematically use and don't ever talk about, and I wholeheartedly recommend them to everyone. I think I'd rather have these than my wallet.

SilkSkin pillowcase: This is a silk pillow case but not only that- in my experience, the best. It's not just like regular silk (granted, it's more expensive), it feels almost tacky. It's the softest material I've felt in my life, it feels almost moist. And I do sleep on the side, but it is also fantastic for the hair, it doesn't tangle at all on this.

Talika Lipocils: I've been using Talika on my lashes for years and years. It conditions them and brings them to their optimum state, which for most people means that it makes them curl, longer, thicker, and more of them. I use it as a primer in the morning (makes mascara apply so much smoother and also makes it easier to take off at night) and every night.

Liz Earle cleanser: I've only used this for about 4 months now but it has already become an all-time necessity. It just works and it feels great.

Nuxe Lip Balm: Again, used this for years (since I was 18?) on and off. Whenever I don't have it around I always miss it. It has a funny consistency for a lip balm, kind of like an organic lemon+honey health bar crushed. It doesn't have any shine and it keeps your lips moisturized for ever. I can't do vaseline or anything with petrolatum, it give me eczemas and doesn't moisturize at all.

YSL Touche Eclat: Another all time, and the older I get the greater it becomes. I don't have dark circles, but this just makes my eye area feel bright and awake. It's also the best highlighter ever. And it feels like a cooling eye cream treatment.

Ibiza dinner look: pastel green

Earrings: Forever 21. I've already lost them at the beach

I was trying this green jade pencil from YSL (waterproof range) on my eyes, and I really liked the effect, although I don't think it's particularly flattering. The black liner is YSL liquid which did not smudge in the wet humid heat of Ibiza in six hours.


Between the first and second picture I managed to find this pretty crystal pearl prayer beads necklace

Bangles

Wearing on my face:
- Garnier BB cream in Medium (I was very curious about this and really like it. The coverage is very comparable to the Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer)
- Bobbi Brown Slate cream eyeshadow
- Dior Extase mascara in black
- NARS Belle de Jour lipstick

Bangles are from Liberty. I love these, they make me think of 60s caravans and fields. They'll be very cheerful in winter over a sweater

I've been watching "Snog Marry Avoid"

For those not in the UK, it's a makeunder kind of show where people with excessive flair and slap on are stripped of their character.

Permeable as I am, I took all the bad habits from the people they were making under (aren't they fabulous?) and did a big fat Nuts Magazine makeup on myself. Because Poster Girl is my alter ego of choice.





For today's trashy look you will need:

- MAC Prussian eyeshadow
- YSL black liquid eyeliner
- Giorgio Armani #3 lipliner
- Chanel Maline lipgloss
- Max Factor 2000 calorie mascara, which is just what I had on before all hell broke loose and reaaaally is not a good option for this look. If you're devoted, wear Dior Extase and some falsies.

Easy Days

My nail crystals started falling off yesterday. That might be because they rubbed against my shoes. Crystals don't allow much shoe choice, do they?. I had grown to love them actually, and I'm sure I'm gonna do it again. I almost got my hotfix swarovski stash out ready to do it myself but then I thought- no. Hotfix glue on nail might not be such a good idea.

So I went back to Mod About You by OPI. I first had an infatuation with it when I was 19. And I have incredible memories! It can never go wrong.

I'm wearing my clog mules again.



I didn't even go out today except to replenish my Cookie Dough ice cream stock, so I did some liquid eyeliner (NARS felt tip) and Vegas Volt on lips.

Nena

My little cousin is getting soo pretty. She's 12. It was her first time in London. She asked me to "do her makeup" so we moved her hair a little bit and then did some eyeliner and Bobbi Brown Tulle brown on lips and cheekbones, which is all I was carrying in my bag. I had to take some pics.


Hypnotised looking at the tv



You can see me in the mirror

Eye cosmetics: the 60s banana.

I always get teased when I go into makeup nerd mode. Because a) I don't work in makeup b) people can't explain why I have so much makeup and yet it never looks like I wear any. But I DO!

So today I was reading the September Vogue, and there's quite a spread on 60s bananas (again). This is something I have worn before but I haven't really gotten comfortable with. I usually just put a load of black on the crease and call it a day. It's become so much easier with the Chanel cake eyeliner (any other cake eyeliner would do, I suppose). I'll explain what I do if anyone needs the help or just wants to share the frustration.

Basically I draw a line with cake eyeliner where the crease would go. I have an "asian" crease as we call it in Spain which means it's not there. But you draw it anyway. It doesn't matter if it's too thick or not the right shape. Then you take a pointy q-tip dipped in eye makeup remover and clean up the shape from underneath. This is so much easier than it sounds. Half moon motions. I like the banana to be quite open.

THEN you get the cake eyeliner DRY and with a tiny pointy brush (I'm using a little Stila rounded pointy eyeliner brush), you draw over the line to soften it. This also softens mistakes and makes it look like you wanted it to look like that: "cool" and "modern" and a little scruffy. Which incidentally, we do.

Then I went crazy drawing lashes underneath. I draw lashes. I can't help it.



Tips from fans of the cut crease are very welcome

Kohl

Guerlain Kohl Kajal Black Frida LE crayon

This is amaaaazing. Smudges like crazy but still amazing.

(For non smudge eyeliner fun I recommend the YSL waterproof pencil)

Note: I love this makeup on men.

Pause for visualization of Johnny Depp.

Hair is au naturel, again! And I've been wearing that white t shirt all the time except when I wash it, that I walk around naked aimlessly waiting for it to dry. Gosh I'm really taking my time to style myself this week.

Oh! Speaking of visualisations. This is totally unrelated but it's important- Today I was explained how mobiles can produce cancer: the electromagnetic waves they emit have an effect on water, so what they do is that they suck the moisture out of our brain. Cancer is far too abstract a thought, but picturing my brain DRYING OUT?? = EWWWWW. People, wear earbuds.
 

What I Wore: Guess Girl

Makeup through generations Pt.1: Routines

I promised I would make this post; the ladies are not always collaborative but I managed to write down their regimes. On Part 2, I will attempt to expand this further.

It's second nature for me to refer to products by their names and function. Not so for these ladies. I quote:

- What are you using now?
- I've always used this
- What is it though?
- It's a powder
- ..but you used it without a base?
- It's my base
- Oh. So it's like a foundation?
- No, it's powder

Moving on. What I love about older women and their makeup is their loyalty to it; the transformative process is a luxury that they'll take every day to look their best and they pride on it. It shows that they care.

Grandma's (84) makeup routine:



OPI Hot Ayers Rock on nails applied by moi

- Olay regenerist serum "I love serums they make all the difference. My skin feels so much denser"

- Maderas powder to cream makeup "I've been using this makeup for ever. My mom used to have it too- the loose version. After applying with a puff I smooth it out with my fingers to avoid it looking powdery, it's quite creamy so that works well"

- drugstore-brand pearly blue eyeshadow, estee lauder dark grey eyeshadow to contour "I really like blue around my eyes. I have a blue Lancome kohl pencil that I use on my inner rim as well. I've applied a bit too heavily today but it will all come together when I put on my lipstick"

[I just love how old ladies will use blue eyeshadow and fuchsia lipstick and lots of blush all at the same time. I am totally going to be one of them, big hair and all]

- LOTS of Estee Lauder pink blush. "I like rouge on my cheeks to be noticeable and I brush it towards the temples. I have a very sallow complexion and blush instantly gives me life. Blush is wonderful"

[She's very serious when she speaks of her blush. She truly thinks it's the essence of life. That and lipstick]

- Guerlain Reve D'or lipstick (alternates with Estee Lauder Tiramisu, her favourite which she claims is far more moisturizing and feels a lot nicer to use. This one was a gift) "My lipsticks are usually expensive, they're the one part of my makeup that I like splurging on because there's a big difference between a good lipstick and a so-so one. I like using a reddish lipliner to give my lips definition"

[I have tried to persuade her out of her red lipliner and time after time I have failed. It's okay. I won't deny anyone the pleasure of red]

- YSL eye pencil in black "I've always worn my eyes very made up. They've always been my best feature"

- Lash Curler and L'oreal Voluminous Mascara

- L'oreal Elnett hairspray on hair "Hairspray is essential to mantain the style. Having my hair done is very important to me. I go to the salon once a week and ask for a lot of volume"

Other grooming: Handcream (Neutrogena original) every couple of hours. Soaks her feet in moisturizer every night before going to sleep. Pedicure every two weeks.

Grandma's tip: "Take care of yourselves. One gets older but one has to always keep taking good care of oneself. I always have done and always will, for as long as I'm able to"

Mommy's (53) face of the day:




Mom is currently carrying four makeup bags with products that spill over my piano, sofa and carpet. She's not a "neat" makeup enthusiast and she often doesn't know what she's using but she's a fan of all the latest jazz.

- Sisleya global firming serum "my power-serum. Prohibitively expensive but SO GOOD"
- Sisley Hydraglobal "another good mention"
- Sisley All Day All Year moisturizer "to protect the skin from the sun. I'm a huge believer in potions and lotions, I use quite a few of them, on top of each other! Been a Sisley fan for ages. Diana uses them too"

- Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua makeup Beige Ambre Desert "I'm using this sample that I was given at the counter. But just slightly. Just a minimum amount of foundation. And I don't powder"
- Bobbi Brown concealer in Sand "Barely there"
- Brows: Benefit brow-zing in Light "This is my latest discovery. The colour is perfect for my ashy brows. I was using MAC Omega until recently. Brow definition is very important for women of a certain...How should I say this? Of an age like mine!"

- Bobbi Brown Goldstone cream metallic eyeshadow "My favourite at the moment. Really love how this catches the light and does not come off. I'm a big fan of Bobbi Brown eyeshadows in general, I have a couple"
- Bobbi Brown Black Plum eyeshadow to contour "I have a droopy eyelid and I like smoking it out and extending it out a lot"
- Estee Lauder Turbo-lash, "which is driving me crazy because it starts vibrating the moment you take it out of the tube. I like YSL Faux Cils better, though it smudges"
- Guerlain loose Kohl in brown inside the eye "Best kohl, I've always used this one. We have all the colours they're come out with"
- YSL Eye Pencil in Black to line "This smoky eye is so flattering"

- Chanel Rose Dentelle lipstick "I was on the hunt for a pink and this is the only one that looks good against my medium rosy skin; tried all the Rouge Voluptes and they all looked pasty. I usually stick to deep mauves and beige browns. But the effect of this lipstick is very brightening" I concurr.
- Chanel Lilirose lipliner "I am never without a brown-ish lipliner. I've used Chanel Desert all my life, Lilirose is Diana's I'm just trying it out with the pink lipstick".
- Chanel Rouge Contrast Pink Explosion blush "such a "happy" shade! It looks so sweet"

Mom has finished her makeup and is now going to take a morning bath.

Stay tuned! x