Beauty Blog

American  are legendary around the world thanks to the movie industry and the media. Students are primped and pampered for hours in preparation of their school prom, not to mention the weeks and months of anticipation in the build up for the big night.

A typical American high school would invite dozens of volunteers from local salons and cosmetology academies to offer the girls free hairstyling, makeup and manicures, because the night is seen a such a big deal over there. I remember my school prom, or rather ‘Leavers Ball’, which was really a dressed up disco held at the hotel down the road. A very modest affair compared to the extravagant elaborate evening that we here about taking place across the pond.

Typical prom makeup is dramatic, sparkly and quite simply over the top. Young girls plaster themselves in base, foundation, blusher, bronzer, concealer, eyeliner, mascara, fake eyelashes, eye shadow and anything else you can think of! I think it’s the eye makeup that is the most overdone - dark smokey eyes are better suited for the more grownup woman than the 17 year old wanting to look grownup!

Kate Moss stepped out this weekend, not to her own wedding, but to fellow model’s Leah Wood and Jack Macdonald. She wore a full length silk gown in cream with gold shining platforms she looked ever the star, with long term boyfriend Jamie scrubbing up well in a three piece suit.

Her smokey eye make-up was spot on (as always), and her creamy natural look with neutral lip colour made sure she didn’t outshine Leah.

Kate does look gorgeous no matter what, and of course did not fail to pull a winning outfit out of the hat perfect for the occasion. The rest of us, however, can struggle during this time of year, the dreaded wedding season, to find the perfect outfit. Finding a look that can take you from the ceremony to the reception can be tricky, and coping with a tiny clutch bag for all day make-up essentials, don’t even get me started on daytime drinking, and you end up with a full blown fashion and beauty crisis!

One definite no-no is to not under and circumstances, try out a new makeup on the day of the wedding. Always do a trail run on anything experimental a few days before the wedding to make sure you don’t have any last minutes panics on the big day. I know it’s not your big day but the bride will not thank you to turn up with crazy Amy Winehouse eyeliner-gone-wrong in ten years time when they are going over the photographs! (Unless they are very cool)!!

Brooke Shields, 43, rose to fame as a child model and actress is set to publish her first book on Tuesday next week. The children’s book, a 145 word story is called the “Welcome to your World, Baby”, written through the eyes of her five-year old daughter Rowan, and how she had eagerly anticipated the arrival of younger sister Grier, now aged 2.

Shields struggled with postpartum depression after the birth of Rowan. As she looks back over writing the short story, she said she found it more difficult than the pain she went through during that time. She also compares writing the book to to writing her memoirs “Down Came the Rain”, again saying the children’s book was the hardest to write. She explained that when writing a children’s book so much has to be said in the drawings and all has to explained in just one or two lines.

The actress is starting filming this week of the second season of “Lipstick Jungle” on NBC, and she has recently finished her second children’s book, a story of two little girls who get to spend alone time with their father and dog.

MAC Cosmetics are involved in the 46664 Concert being held to honour Nelson Mandela turning 90, taking place in Hyde Park on 27th June 2008.
Mandela, one of the world’s most loved leaders, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and freedom icon will be celebrating his birthday (which actually takes place later this year) with some of the world’s most powerful figures.
MAC’s involvement is to provide on hand make-up services during the concert, by which proceeds will go to raise money and awareness on the impact of AIDs and the prevention of HIV. Amy Winehouse, Queen + Paul Rogers, Annie Lennox, Simple Minds, Leona Lewis, The Sugarbabes, Razorlight and many more are all there to perform, and will have their makeup done by the ultimate MAC team.

MAC have come up with some festival essentials, so that come rain or shine the guests will stay looking impeccable! MAC wipes, MAC Splashproof Mascara in Blacksplash and MAC tinted lip colour in spf 15 is great for sun protection.
MAC Cosmetics actively works in the world of music and film and the market leader in makeup. MAC is often found at fashion shows, celeb events and photo shoots around the world!

Gadgets have finally found their way in the beauty industry, with the world’s first vibrating mascara by Estee lauder. Not surprising really, following huge advances in cutting edge technology like sat nav and mp3 players owned by thousands.

Meanwhile, electronic headbands - said to smooth wrinkles as effectively as Botox  - have been a sell out at Selfridges in London. The is apparently not just for labour saving, but is the ultimate in new technology, said to unprecedented results - justifying the unprecendented price tag.

The mascara is designed to lengthen, volumise, separate and curl the lashes, and the electronic head band is supposed to reduce wrinkles by 83.3%. And the new Wellbox Massage system is billed to combat cellulite, erase wrinkles, perk up dull skin with only six minutes of massage a day.

So many women already opt for preventative botox type procedures, showing that society is no longer willing to accept the ageing process. So these at home treatments could become a booming of the beauty industry. So far sales have been impressive - after the Wellbox was launched at Harrods the item sold out within four days! And the Safetox electronic headband is selling at a rate of 17 per day - a snip at £200 each!!!

Miss Universe has just kicked off in HCM City, Vietnam. Eighty beautiful women are taking part to win the crown of Miss Universe 2008, possibly the highest visible beauty pageant in the world!

The event will include galas, parades, visits to charity organisations, a national costume show, a fashion show and beach events. It is set to be an excellent opportunity for Vietnam to showcase it’s spectacular scenery, wonderful culture and friendly people to millions of viewers around the world.

Miss USA, Miss India, Miss Canada, Miss Guam and Miss Philippines have already paid a visit to the Navy Hospital Ship, USNS Mercy, which provides free surgery to children with cleft lips and cleft palates in the coastal city of Nha Trang. They later flew back to HCM city to take part in a traditional costume performance with the other contestants.

On the same day, Miss Universe 2007, Riyo Mori and several of this year’s contestants attended a black-tie event held at the Sheraton Saigon Hotel and Towers.

The UK entry is in with a good chance this year, Lisa Lazarus, a 20yr old, 5’10 entrant, from Swansea, with her latino looks has just as good a chance as anyone at winning the title!

The 80 contestants will battle is out to win title until the winner will be victorious in mid July!

Beyoncé Knowles, lead vocalist of Destiny’s Child, has rapidly become a diva. With a stage presence similar to Diana Ross and her super-model good looks, it’s not hard to see why. To get Beyoncé’s golden and glamorous look for yourself, look no furhter!

To get this look plait your hair by sleeping on it the night before for a great look in the morning, or plait your hair in the morning and wear it all day for a fun daytime look and a great style at night.

• First shampoo hair and follow with a deep conditioner, such as Aussie Three-Minute Miracle Reconstructor (£5.29 for 250ml). Apply conditioner liberally on the ends, as this tends to be the driest part of long hair. After gently towel-drying your hair, apply a liberal application of a moisturising styling lotion and comb through to evenly distribute.
• Then part hair down the middle. You will be plaiting it in rows starting from the scalp and working back towards the base of the head. Using your comb, divide off a one-inch section of hair closest to your part at the hairline. Begin plaiting at the base of the head and continue using moderate tension. Secure the braid with a coated hair-band.
• Continue plaiting the top row in this manner until you reach the back of the head, then begin another row just down from the first, until that side of the head has three complete sets of plaited rows, top, middle and bottom. Repeat the process for the other side.
• It is important that your hair is completely dry before you undo the plaits, which, depending on the thickness of your hair, may take several hours. Before taking out the plaits, try a test strand from one of the back bottom rows to make sure the hair is completely dry.
• Remove all hair-bands and carefully unplait the hair using your fingers – don’t comb it, as this will make your hair frizzy. The look you’re going for is textured and tousled waves.