Fragrance Friday – Mercedes-Benz for men

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SO when I heard that Mercedes were releasing a fragrance, and that Perfumer Olivier Cresp had been at the ‘wheel’ as ti were, I was excited to give this a sniff.

Available at Harrods exclusively, the Mercedes-Benz frgarance boasts an ‘assertive personality’, with a whole garden full of masucline scent and luxury.

I was a little skeptical on one level, as let’s face it, car manufacturers do not have a good track record with fragrances (Ferrari, there I’ve said it).  This is not the strongest addition to the world of fragrance but it is certainly not one to be passed up completely.

And so we begin.

The first spray on is like a breathing in a large burst of citrus. It contains Mandarin Orange and Bergamot, and this comes across beautifully and is really rather pleasant. This sadly all but disappears and gives way to something a little different.

The Mid Notes are laced with Violet leaves. Important this, as this powdery element persists throughout the dry down, and anchors the fragrance.

The Base Notes, I am told, are Bourbon Pepper, spices, and Cedar. These are the ones I can smell. When it dries, this spicy, traditionally masculine (I hate gender binary in fragrance but hey ho) mix floats along really nicely with the powdery staple of Violet leaves.   The first hit of those fresh citrus wafts are gone, and you are left with a woody scent that is not that woody, more fresh and aquatic.

To me it smells like a proper gents scent. Warm, and fresh at the same time. I cannot think of another fragrance that does this to be honest, I’m sure they exist, but this is the first I have smelled.

Not at all unpleasant, and a rather nice surprise, Mercedes-Benz is available at Harrods now.

 

Manscaping: Madness or Mandatory?

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I feel compelled to write about this ‘hairy’ topic for a number of reasons.  Firstly I am currently researching men’s shaving (face) for a feature I am going to write, and secondly because I recently had intercourse (social) with the lovely Mark Simpson (@marksimpsonist) about the use of the ‘Man’ in front of everything commonly associated with the ladies, that now has some bizarre market presence in the realm of men (Mankini, Mantyhose, …ad nauseum).

So imagine my joy when I discovered this little gem of a piece in the NY Times about ‘Boyzilians.  Your imagination is running wild right about now isn’t it?

Well it’s pretty much as you’d expect.  It would seem that men, all over America at least,  are opting to shed their ‘man hair’ for a smoother, and what they claim to be, more hygenic terrain as it were.

It’s no surprise at all that men are a little more vocal about their own ‘beauty’ regime, especially since that awful word meterosexual appeared, and now it seems they are letting it all hang out…and neatly too.

There are several things that struck me here.  The fact that the distinction is made that it is not just ‘competitive swimmers or underwear models.’ but all men, the full spectrum of social strata, minorities and non minorities alike. Being American, the justification of ‘cleanliness’ raises it’s ugly head by one hairless wonder, and also, the perceived advantage of increased size ‘down there’ as a result of a He-Wax. Really boys are we THAT shallow?

How do I feel about this?

Well, I am not particularly hirsute.  I have about 7 hairs on my chest, and the rest is all very well moisturised skin. I have never felt ‘unclean’ as  a result of a lapse in a trim, anywhere, (yes, I do it) and I am not aware of anything looking unsightly as a result of my tardiness, on me, or anyone else for that matter.  In fact I tend to view people who do go for the full-on Manscape with suspicion, suspecting them of slight OCD issues and a propensity for narcissism.   As such I have never felt the need to shave, or depilate, at home and certainly not in the  presence of a stranger in the confines of a spa cubicle and some hot wax! But as I say, I have little to nil body hair.

I have always viewed the ritual of hair removal by women as somewhat of a drudgery, something women would rather not do actually, but because of societal norms, (or men’s preference) women do it.  Religiously, and fervently, and it seems to be nothing but a pain, both figuratively and literally. So how do women feel about it being done by men?  Are we going to be expected to perform this ritual every few weeks for the approval of our own naked bodies?

The idea of a Bro-zilian becoming a widely practiced part of manly care frankly freaks me out.

And lets face it, after I’ve cleansed, popped a serum on and got my night cream warmed up, I just haven’t got the time.

Speechless short film

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OK so I was recently make-up designer for a short film called Speechless.

The brief was a simple one. Fancy Dress! The main character was dressed as Pierrot, that tragic Italian clown. Here’s some piccies of me at work in another very glamorous makeup location.. the back garden of the set. Not a coffee in sight either. Such a hard life!

Say Hello Flawless to Benefit

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Always ALWAYS on the look out for great foundations, especially since one of my FAVOURITE ones has now been re-formulated and, and is no where near as good (in fact it’s a downright AWFUL foundation) as its previous incarnation.

Not really been a fan of Benefit foundations, or bases up to this point got to be honest.  I find the sticks and the tinted moisturiser much to oily, and the colours were always just a little off.

That said, I gave this a good go in earnest.

 

 

 

Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow foundation (£24.50) will be breezing onto counters this Saturday (March 31st).

So what is it?

Well, we are told that it is buildable, up to a medium coverage, foundation that has an Oxygen Hydrating Complex that has a plumping effect.

It’s oil free.

It also has a high SPF for a base, normally around the 15 mark or so, this  one has a wapping SPF of 25!

 

It also has the skin faves of Vitamins C & E to make sure your face is being looked after whilst your looking flawless.

 

So what’s it like?

Short note about foundations: As I plan to replace my staple favourite kit foundation, It was über important for me that someone wears it for a good while to make sure that a) it doesn’t move (too much) b) the colour stays true and c)save me having to wander round the house with it sat on my stubble. 

That said, I let the gorgeous Lauren @laurengriffin11 try it out. We’ll get to her thoughts in a bit.

I wanted to give this a two fold treatment, so I tested on my hand and then tested on someones face just to make sure…

On the back of my hand it was fine! Felt whipped texture almost, almost mousse like but not really. Somewhere in between liquid and filled with air (I dislike mousse foundations!). It did have to be moved a fair bit though to get an even finish, but then I thought it’s my hand, so whatevs!  I didn’t immediately like the colour. Thought it was too yellow (I had Champagne) but having said that, when I looked at it again after a short while, it seems to calm down.  I suspect this is the magic Oxygen part of the formula coming into play.

Lauren tried it for a full day. And she thought this.

It’s nice! it spreads easily, and has a really natural finish.  Not AMAZING coverage but adequate.

 

A little on the matte side for me. Would have preferred a dewier finish, but for shine control, amazing!.  Might be better on a slightly oilier skin than mine. But no need for powder, so great!

 

So there we have it. Not the greatest base on the planet, Does exactly what it says it will do though.

Would I add it to my kit?

Yes, I think I would. It seems like a good matte foundation, and they are really difficult to come by these days.

 

TopShop Spring Shop Make-up

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Yup, High street fave (and definitely one of mine) TopShop launched their Spring Summer collection end of last month, and there are some proper corkers!

Brand new and screaming spring more than a new born chick on an easter egg hunt in a field of daffodils, is the new creamy to pwder cheek colour in Flush £6.

 

Spookily pink and rather arresting in it’s discrete little spotted compact this powder finish creme blush colour is so easy to use, and has such a wonderful fresh glowy colour, you’ll be hard pushed to not find compliments with this on.

 

 

 

Literally, a stick of lip colour, the Lip Stick £7,  in Coy is a real post winter blues beater.

 

Matte finish (hard to come by these days) this is again, really easy to use, and has a lovely finish to it. Soft coral colour, this’d look amazing with darker hair. Go for Powder Room if you’re a blonde, and mix it with a gloss. Much brighter pinky colour. And we know what they say about boys and pink.

Some choice nail colours leapt out at me aswell.

The first being this really fun one. Ice Crush, £6. 

It’s sparkle and glitter, and fun, and lovely, and just plain spacey looking! Probably best popped over the top of darker colour like this one next….

 

The next is a bit of a cheat.

A certain french fashion/make-up brand released a nail colour a little while ago that sold out accross the board (as they often do) that is nigh on the SAME COLOUR! I have tried the two, and the difference is all but imperceptible.

Hidden Treasure, £6, is a gorgeous slightly on the darkside, pearly metallic shine.  One might almost say it resembles a Black Pearl…*nudge nudge*.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All spring/summer products are available now at Topshop.com. 

 

Elemis Fresh Skin

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Ahhhh those were the days.  Wandering into your local pharmacy for a bit of skincare TLC and not having the first clue about what was good for your skin, what would work for you, or even what skintype you were!

When I first started getting ‘into’ skincare as a youngster it seemed that all there was were aggressive treatments for acne, or bubblegum flavoured lip-balm.  Great!

As it happen I did suffer terribly with spots as a teenager but only because I wasn’t taking the proper care.  I used to browse the aisles of my local department store looking longfully at the premium range product, willing myself to one day have enough money to buy something a bit more targeted than an alcohol filled face wash/wipe/pad/scrub etc…

Well, this month the clever bods at Elemis have launched their Freshskin.

 

Elemis, famous for it’s products specifically designed for a busy lifestyle (and who’s busier than a teenager right?) have designed a skincare range that has young people’s skin interests at heart.  Gentle, and with a pretty much universal appeal skin-type wise (so far) the list of natural ingredients in these products are like nothing you’ve seen for this group at all!  Elderflower, Goji Berry, Lavender, to name but a few. No harsh chemicals, or alcohol.  Even the packaging is simple and really rather mature looking.

I love the Softly Softly Daily Moisturiser, £20. Smells amazing, and feels great! Not greasy, or heavy.

Also, try out the Face Mask Duo, £15. Three of each, Deep Clean mask for when you feel a bit oily, and grubby, and the Magical Moisture for when your skin feels tight and slightly on the dehydrated side.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are 10 items on the range thus far, all under £23. You can check it out at www.timetospa.co.uk

 

 

Shocked by the power!

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So it’s Fragrance Friday again, and we have a bit of a corker today.

Calvin Klein has a pretty heady catalogue of fragrances to choose from, and a good staple of classics that have at some point graced the dressing tables of many a man.

The iconic CK One, launched in 1999 as the first mainstream unisex fragrance, and had quite an impact. Well Calvin Klein created a newby last year with the CK One Shock for him and for her.

The bottle has a graffiti style logo emblazened across the front of it in a bright, dare I say it, ‘shocking’ green spray can (for the boys) and ‘shocking’ pink lipstick (for the girls), suggesting something out of the ordinary,  a little unconventional, slightly anarchic, I was intriguied to have a sniff.

 

Now, I’m not going to lie to you, I was never really that much of a fan of CK One. Not that it wasn’t a nice fragrance, more that it was on EVERYONE! I got sick of smelling it.

I think CK One Shock has the edge that CK One lacked in that it is not nearly as universally appealing, therefore it’s for a much more discerning fragrance wearer I feel. Living up to it’s image, the fragrance is unusual, and has quite a bit of a journey to it.

Let’s start with the Boys:

Containing an array of fresh and smoky notes, namely, Clementine, Cucumber, then Black Pepper and Musk, this really goes on initially like an assault! You’re hit with everything it has straight away. It’s almost overwhelming. It does settle, albeit slowly, into a warmer, more musky scent, but retaining  that cheeky fruit kick. It reminds of my teenage years, weirdly, and I cannot work out why. It’s bedrooms, and music, and joss sticks, and cider all at the same time. It’s not a signature scent by any means, but it is really quite pleasant.

If you want to be noticed, and fast, this is the one for you!

The Girls:

Described as opening ‘with a fierce bouquet of passion flower’ I can’t argue, but not nearly as aggressive as the boys one. Softer and more gentle. We have Poppy, Chocolate, and Amber with a hint of Vanilin. The journey here is less boisterous. It settles gently into a soft, sweet smell. It reminded me of Candyfloss, and sort of stays that way, all fluffy, pink and sweet, but not sickly so much as it is warming. A very nice young feminine scent.

 CK One Shock is out now nationwide, and starts at £23 for 50ml. 

For stockists, call 08000836310

Bloomin’ Lovely!

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It seems apt that as I type this, the snow is settling outside in a nice thick white blanket, reminding us all that Spring, however much we want it to be, is still just that bit beyond arms length.

After a few weeks of grey, dull weather, little natural colour to look at and bring a flash of cheer to your demeanor, how nice that Clinique have launched their Limited Edition fragrance Happy in Bloom with its vibrant floral bottle design, and fresh springy scent.

Clinique have taken the original fragrance, Happy, with its Lily of the Valley, White Freesia, and Mimosa and added some sweet little extras like Yellow Plum, and frozen fruit for a really crisp and fruity aroma.

It starts very fruity, and full, then slowly drifts back to an almost musky smell, cologne like. It finally settled into a warn smelling floral scent, like having your face in a bunch of spring flowers. The petals, the leaves, and the water are all in there. Very girly, and uber fem.

To me it smells clean, and cheerful, and oddly reminds me of being indoors looking out at a cold, frosty winter scene all wrapped up and cosy.

Happy in Bloom is out now, and starts at £25 for 30ml perfume spray.

 

Brush Up!

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Adequate tools are essential to any make-up bag, and there are few that come close to Louise Young Cosmetics brushes.

It’s no secret that having a decent set of brushes, not a ton of them, but maybe two or three will make all the difference to your make-up. If you are on the lookout for some decent ones, you would be very wise to look at these beauties!

Louise Young is a make-up artist having worked on some of the most famous faces in world, From Jerry Hall, and Marie Helvin, to the make-up artist for the BBC Strictly Come Dancing series.  Myself and Katie Aldridge were lucky enough to have a long chat with her about the tools, and women, and make-up.

Katie with Louise Young

For a while now she has had her own line of super high quality, and very affordable make-up brushes available. Originally started as she was disappointed that some her make-up students had such tatty, and poor quality beushes, she wanted to give them some that she knew could be used for a long while afterwards, and ones that would do the job required.

Sold out of Harvey Nichols, Fenwicks Bond Street, and of course PAM, there is a wide range to choose from to make application effortless, and a hell of a lot better.

One of my favourites is the LY-34 foundation brush. It really puts many of the others to shame. Cut to a point, you can easily get into all the contours of the face, and buffs even the thickest of bases to a flawless, natural finish. Defiantley, one that puts the others in the shade.

Louise also has some natty little sets to get you started form around £30. Check them all out here.