D&G My Collection

D&G's good looking fragrance anthology also comes in this mini-set - all five glass bottled scents within a D&G branded white pouch. I can't quite believe that this only costs £35 or as a GWP with purchase of a full-size Anthology fragrance - also £35. My favourite is the intensely floral La Roue de La Fortune (apparantly wearers are intrepid, experimental and players of life's game...ooh-err) with a heart of Tuberose, Gardenia and Jasmine. Nice.

What Lady Gaga Smells Like...

..Dragon's blood resin, blonde patchouli, jasmine and vanilla...seriously. She's apparantly fallen for Boadicea The Victorious 'Passionate' and also 'Provocative'. Beautiful, Dirty, Rich sums them all up nicely I think.

We’ve Got A Ticket To Ride,Too

I had an inkling that this was about to happen a while ago, but last week was manic with lots of PR meets and launches, and the message that is coming over loud and clear right now is that magazines are irked by the beauty blogs. In fact, it seems several PRs looking after high profile brands have been asked not to show products to beauty bloggers ahead of time, feeling that beauty exclusives should be for magazines, particularly weeklies and supplements, as tradition has dictated.

Although it’s being done more discretely than the obvious fashion journalists’ distress at their LFW being ruined by ‘liggers with laptops’ (their words, not mine), nonetheless, the message is still there.

As ever, I put this to the blogosphere for their words of wisdom, but my views are as follows:

Beauty blogging isn’t going away – if anything, it is going to get stronger, with more and more amazing beauty blogs jumping on this highspeed, driverless train;

The World Wide Web does exactly what it says on tin: information is so much more accessible to everyone and no amount of complaining is going to change that: if it’s out there, it’s ours;

Beauty consumers who read beauty blogs do so exactly for up to the minute information and unbiased reviews – beauty blogs feed a need and desire for instant knowledge and there isn’t a way to compete with that on paper;

Long after the copy of your magazine has made its way to recycling, blog news and reviews are there forever. For anyone to see, at any time – present or future.

Beauty blogs listen – and provide a place for beauty fans and consumers to talk.

The reach of beauty blogs is infinite.

This list could run on for pages really, but it is my view that insisting on exclusives in this ‘now’ world doesn’t do the brands and products justice – it’s a one shot, disposable hit that may bring short-term dividends, but long term, I don’t think so. I’ve said before that the last thing in the world I want to see is a ‘them’ and ‘us’ situation, but then bloggers aren’t insisting on exclusives and pettily refusing to feature at all if conditions aren’t met.

Ultimately, everything’s different now. Get used to it.

Shiseido Spring/Summer 2010

Loving this image of the whole darn lot of Shiseido's Spring/Summer 2010 make up range. Stand outs are the Perfect Rouge Glowing Matte Lipsticks (£19 each) that 'fill' in lip lines with spheres of Smoothing Matte Powder and a water friendly oil that gives lips a soft look and feel.

Rococo Nail Apparel Limited Edition Colours

Launching into SpaceNK this week are these beauties from Rococo Nail Apparel. The collection is named The New Romantics. Shown on the pic from left to right are:

Runway, Black Perle, China Doll, Jaded and Stone Cold Karma.

I'm feeling for Stone Cold Karma and Runway myself; you?

Vivienne Westwood: Ladies, Will You Wear The New Moustache?

Vivienne Westwood's Paris show for A/W2010/11 included models with drawn-on moustaches. Along with no eyebrows, pipecleaners cut up and stuck on as eyebrows, clown mouths and cadaverous no-make up make up, I'd say it's dangerous times to be a model. And just before we all start kohl-ing rakish lines over our upper lips, like all the other 'looks', I'd say this one won't 'translate to high street' either. Anyway, Frieda Kahlo did it years ago. Screams.

Pic Source: AP.

TokyoMilk: Toooo Pretty!

TokyoMilk Lip Balm in Opera Mint



TokyoMilk Your Kiss Is On My Lips Kissing Kit


TokyoMilk Solid Fragrance in Lotus Sake




I found these gorgeous TokyoMilk beauty bits out shopping today - the solid fragrances come in vintage inspired, decorative boxes and inside snuggling next to the pot of scent are five tiny (fairy sized) cards, each with a different, beautiful image. I've taken some snaps of the cards in the shop. At the same time, I discovered TokyoMilk do several lipsticks - each in a bullet with the bottom section imprinted with vintage imagery, and some gorgeous, gorgeous lipbalms. The solid fragrances are £22 but I got so carried away with the prettiness I actually forgot to smell them. Oops.

I found them at www.sistersanddaughters.co.uk