Sabina McIvor, Editor of ESVIE & Professional Makeup Artist

We love nothing more than scrolling the net and social networks to find the coolest trends and ideas to share! Beauty is a world of inspiration and creativity. If you can’t have fun with it, then what’s the point?

So with that in mind, we found and instantly LOVED these cute Easter Egg designs made by E.L.F Cosmetics using their very own Nail Polish collection. They even given you a step by step on their Blog on how to ‘get the look’

With soft pastel shades, these polishes will instantly give you an Easter trend that you’ve been after, for a fraction of the price you’d pay to go and get them done professionally! Knock yaself out and come up with your OWN style for this coming Sunday! Happy Easter!

Sabina McIvor, Editor of ESVIE & Professional Makeup Artist

Drew Barrymore. Accomplished and highly respected actress, director, producer and now the proud owner of self created beauty brand, Flower.

Proving her worth in the industry, Barrymore believe’s she is more than qualified to understand the business and industry and more than that, what makes a great make-up brand…

‘I think it could last, and my daughter could work on it someday. I think I’ve earned the right to do it, after so many years working with Cover Girl, and I’ve been in a makeup chair since I was six.’

Drew Barrymore

Barrymore believe’s that looking and feeling beautiful, shouldn’t come at an expense. For a woman, confidence is key, and so when it came to creating her brand Flower, she felt her products needed to be affordable to every woman out there.

With the brand being sold exclusively with Wal-Mart around the U.S, she hopes to connect with women everywhere. With new products being added to the collection all month, the brand will be fully launched by the end of January.

Clearly a woman of business thinking, Drew Barrymore speaks of the hopes for her four-month-old daughter to one day work with her on the brand. There’s clearly nothing wrong with planning ahead! Why not! If you’re lucky enough to be in a situation where you can, then go for it. Not everyone is lucky enough to be given headstarts in life, so why would you resent anyone that does. If you were given one, we’re pretty sure you wouldn’t complain…

Flower cosmetics will consist of lip colours, eyeshadows, nail polishes and mascaras and as promised, the prices will be kept to a minimum, ranging from $5 – $14. Now that’s High Street prices! Who can argue with that! 

Tania Collins, Fashion and Lifestyle writer

Strong, winged eyeliner, defined brows and red lips is a classic look which never goes out of style. Marilyn Monroe fascinated her own generation and continues to fascinate, she was after all a beautiful, husky-voiced enigma. Fifty years after her death Marilyn continues to be the inspiration for books, fashion and movies. Marilyn never really goes out of fashion and her makeup look is as classic as any of her movies. Marilyn worked with her trusted makeup artist Allan ‘Whitey’ Snyder for the majority of her career, they meet when he did her makeup for one of her very first screen tests. Marilyn and Whitey worked together to perfect what would become her signature look. Their friendship lasted until her death with Whitey doing her funeral makeup.

Recently MAC cosmetics announced their plans to launch a Marilyn inspired limited edition collection. The collection aims to help achieve the look of Marilyn and MAC is teaming up with Authentic Brands Group LLC who have acquired Marilyn Monroe’s estate to create the collection.

The collection will comprise of 30 items – I’m anticipating dark, smokey eyeshadows and red, red creamy lipsticks. The collection will be in stores worldwide in October.

Until then, here are some of the products Marilyn favoured and some of her makeup secrets:

 * Marilyn liked to use either Vaseline or Nivea moisturiser in a thick layer to create a dewy base.

* Marilyn was once quoted as wearing Chanel No5 and only Chanel No5 to bed.

* For Marilyn’s pout Whitey would use a pencil to outline the lips, a dark shade on the outer corners, lighter shades in the middle, he would also dab a white eyeshadow on the centre of her lower lip to create the illusion of a fuller lip.  Max Factor and GUERLAIN were two of her favourite brands.

* For the eyes white shadow was used to open up the eye, the rims would be lined with white eyeliner. Rather than a black pencil, a dark brown shadow was used to draw a line close to the upper lashes and wing it out. A line was also drawn on the lower lashes winging that out and then the space between the two wings were filled with white liner, this was to create the illusion of shadows from her lashes. A dot of red liner was applied to the inner corner to make the whites of the eye appear whiter.

Jennifer Lilley, Fashion and Beauty Writer

A survey carried out by Vitality Live found the true extent of our make up dependency in the UK.

70% of women would not be happy to go to work without a full face of make up, 91% would rather cancel the all important first date than go make up free, 31% wouldn’t venture to the gym bare faced and 1 in 6 of us wouldn’t even answer the front door (you never know who might be there!).

In fact, the survey suggested that many of us find going to work without any make up on more stressful than public speaking or even attending a new job interview. Make up was top of the priority list when leaving the house over other daily essentials such as bank cards and cash.

In the UK, our top make up bag, must haves include mascara, lipgloss, foundation, concealer and eyeliner with on average the women of the UK spending around 21 minutes applying a ‘full face’ of make up giving our male counter parts half an hour longer in bed. What ever happened to beauty sleep?

The poll also showed that the average monthly spend per person on our favourite make up brands is £25. That equates to £300 a year, or £2,156,875 every hour collectively between UK women.

But it’s time to down the brushes ladies, and embrace the real natural look, with ‘National No Make Up Day’ being ‘celebrated’ on Thursday 22^nd March. More than half of the women surveyed where happy to be around friends, family and their partner make up free so why get so done up for work? Who are you trying to impress?

www.vitalitylive.co.uk

This season is all about the pout and how better to compliment this seasons floral prints than with an orchard inspired, flower petal lip.

Parabal Gurung’s Spring 2012 catwalk show presented the quirky look with bright fuchsia, outer edged lips, bleeding into deep plum tones on the inner lip.

The graduated colour is created through the use of dark eyeliner around the opening of the lips followed by a dark purple, magenta and bright pink lip colour, all seamlessly blended to create the orchard lip. Sounds simple enough, but this look takes a lot of practice and artistic flare, though the final subtle but gorgeous look, is well worth the effort.

An extra tip is to slightly extend your own natural lip line through the use of a lip liner matching the final bright pink colour to give yourself slightly more surface area to work with and also try not to have your chosen shades be poles apart on the colour spectrum. The closer the match the easier to blend.

No need for gloss to finish off. Keep the look matte to maintain the multi-dimensional look.

An amazing look when perfected but difficult to maintain all night (unless you plan to spend most of it in front of a mirror). Eating, drinking, kissing you name it causes smudging and the damage is irreversible. Back to square one. Well worth a try though just make sure you have all your photos taken before you leave the house.

Following in the glam footsteps of Lady Gaga, Cyndi Lauper, and Ru Paul, the unstoppable Nicki Minaj has teamed up with Ricky Martin who, ‘Dare You to be Bold. Be Beautiful. Be Safe’ in the new 2012 Mac Viva Glam campaign supporting the MAC AIDS Fund.

Nicki and Ricky looks amazing fronting the new campaign and promoting Nicki’s pink satin lipshade and Ricky’s colourless lip conditioner with 100% of each sale going straight to helping those of all ages, races and sexes affected by HIV and AIDS.

My MAC sources tell me that the long awaited lipstick and lip conditioner are already available in the US and will be available in the UK March 2012

www.maccosmetics.co.uk

Sabina Ventriglia
Professional Makeup Artist & Editor of ESVIE

It might nearly be Christmas, it might be blistering cold outside, but that doesn’t stop you using a bit of sun inspired makeup treats.

Introducing the Beach Tint from BECCA Cosmetics. This little tube of sunshine will leave you looking healthy and glowing by giving your cheeks a natural flush and your lips a just bitten look.

It’s the handiest product to have in your makeup bag. With it’s multi-purpose use and 7 fruity shades, all that is required is a tiny spot of this gel on the pad of your finger, and just dab and blend on either your lips or cheeks… or both if your short of time!  As well as adding a bit of healthy colour to your face, the best bit is that it stays put! No need for constant re-application. Perfect for the working girl!

Secondly on the list of BECCA treats, is their Radience Primer. With the frosty weather taking it’s toll on your skin, this primer will help your skin appear more even and full of dewy radience. Used on it’s own or underneith your foundation, this age-defying primer will help your makeup and healthy glow stay put all day long.

I have used this everyday for a week, some of which I have had some very tiring long days. Looking in the mirror when I walk through the door my skin still looks as fresh and alive as it did when I set off at the crack of dawn after freshly applying my makeup. A definate winner in my eyes!

Pick up your own BECCA treats at www.beccacosmetics.com/uk

Katy Archer, Beauty Writer

Imagine you’ve just washed up on your very own desert island. You’re alone; you’re scared; and worst of all, all your make up has been washed away by the sea. It’s not fun being stuck on a desert island, but it’s even worse if you have to look like a unattractive beast in the process. But wait! Suddenly, 5 boxes come floating along. It’s Castaway for the ladies; you might not get your very own Wilson, but you’ll be the most beautiful cave dweller there ever was.

Here are the 5 essentials for your make up bag. If you had to choose 5 products to use for the rest of your life (or until someone rescued you, obviously), look no further than these beauties.

1.Nivea Blemish Balm Cream

If you haven’t seen an advert for this on the TV or on a massive poster at a tube station all over the capital you must be blind. Apparently formulated in the 1950s, and praised by Asian beauties (why it’s taken so long to materialise here I have no idea), this is an all in one foundation,  SPF 15 tinted moisturizer and it evens outs your skin tone.  I was a massive sceptic of this product at first, but after trying it, I don’t think I’d ever go back to regular foundation. Having sensitive skin, it doesn’t irritate or clog up my pores, and it stays put all day. Seriously. Give it a go.

2.Tweezerman Eyelash Curlers

To be used with mascara, which I’ll get to next. When I got my first pair at the age of about 12, I used to put my mascara on and then curl the lashes. A little bit backwards, but I was on the edge of womanhood and I thought I knew what I was doing. Thankfully, nowadays I know how to use a pair. For me, there is just no point in buying mascara unless you own a pair of curlers. If you buy some that are a little more expensive than own brand, they usually last years. Keep them clean, obviously, or you’ll get nasty eye infections, which would be very counter productive.

3.Maybelline Great Lash Mascara

I know it’s not waterproof (though you can buy it as such if you’re choosy.) I know it’s not expensive. I know it’s not the ‘best’ brand out there. But for price, durability, brush and look, this is the one to go for. Boasting itself ‘America’s Favourite Mascara,’ it’s hard not to agree. All these newer, fancier mascaras I tend to try on a whim always end up going dusty in the bottom of my make up bag. They may promise ‘LASHES SO BIG AND FULL YOU WON’T EVEN BE ABLE TO OPEN YOUR EYES,’ but this one will always be my favourite.

4. Benefit Dandelion Powder

I’ve chosen Benefit’s ‘Dandelion’ blusher as an example that suits my skin tone, but there are lots more of these wonderful little boxes to match any cheek. Totally gorgeous packaging (which I am a sucker for), coupled with to die for cheek shades, Benefit are definitely a company you can trust not to sell you products that don’t do what they say on the box. And it comes with a brush, so that won’t take up the last number on my list.

5.Rose & Co Lipbalm

At first, I was going to pick lipstick. Older. More sophisticated. Then I changed my mind, and thought that lip gloss, lipsticks younger sister, would be better. Then I ran through my own daily routine and realised that I apply lip balm probably 10 times a day. This one has a hint of pink to give you some colour, and after only 1 day of use, your lips will be smooth and kissable. Perfect for when you’re rescued from your island, no?

December is here. As you wearily trawl up and down the high street in search of THAT perfect party dress you grab a bite of a fragrant, brandy doused mince pie.Instantly you feel happier… more festive….. giddy….(OK, so maybe that was the booze from the pie kicking in). But, there is definitely something about a spicy fragrance which provokes a happy Xmas feeling.

To conjure up a similar vibe without expanding your waistline, spray on a spicy, aromatic, perfume.

For those who prefer standing at the photocopier to propping up a bar try Pomegranate Noir Cologne by Jo Malone. With notes of Patchouli and frankincense, it softly hints at Xmas. Ideal for those who want to feel Xmas-y….. without leaving their desk.

A Sparkling, Festive, Fragrance!

If you think that suspenders are for everyday wear and apply red lipstick as often as you brush your teeth, choose Portrait of a Lady by Frederic Malle. With  heady notes of Patchouli and musk  this is a seasonal, sensual fragrance. Wear under the mistletoe and prepare to seduce or be seduced!

For those who like nothing better than to sip a mug of warm cocoa whilst wearing a pair of fleecy pj’s, try Laura Mercier Amber Passion Elixir. The amber oil once warmed on the skin, creates a comforting scent which sits perfectly with a deep sofa and re-runs of TOWIE.

Are you triple booked on Xmas eve?  Does 3AM sound like an early night ? If so, you will appreciate Cinema by YSL.Clementine, amber and white musk combine to create a sparkling fragrance. Perfect paired with shimmering sequins, your highest heels and a diary chock a block full of parties!

Will you be wearing a specific perfume to get you into the Xmas spirit this month?

Emily Jane Williams,

From Beautiful Teas to Luxurious Body Creams- Rituals has always been seen as a prestigious, top quality brand. I have always been a big fan of Ritual’s Jasmine Tea, which might i add is by far the best i have ever tried! I can taste the quality in every sip!

I have now had the chance to try the lastest ‘GEM STONE’ range which is a pure make-up range created with Gemstones and silk! Various kinds of Gemstones have been used in each product as each has its own unique effect on the skin. Here are my favorites from the range:

Rituals Precious Foundation. 

Made with Amethyst & Pure Minerals. Amethyst leaves skin smooth and subtle and the minerals allow the skin to breathe. The foundation has a beautiful creamy texture packed with rich tones. Blends like silk onto skin and gives a fresh dewy glow! Wearing this makes any girl feel like a million dollars!

Natural Bronzer- in Sunkissed.

I am VERY picky with my bronzers! There are far too many out there that could make a banana look like a tomato!! This is a BEAUTIFUL product. Rituals Natural bronzer is packed full of pure silk which blends onto the skin like a dream and leaves skin feeling silky soft (no drying out the skin!). The colour is a deep golden bronze with a teeny weeny pop of shimmer. It creates an incredibley natural summer glow and stays put for hours!! And only £13.90!!!?? I cant believe it!! 

PS:  Of course, you HAVE to try the Jasmine tea!!!

To find out more visit- www.rituals.com