Ginger treats and best friends

Big love to one of my favourite friends ever, Floss for supplying me with Ginger treats to give me strength to get through a very stressful week.

Oh I am known to have a sweet tooth, and Green & Blacks is so decadent without being sickly sweet. To make it even better, they say dark chocolate is good for you- it's full of antioxidants! I think anything that makes you feel happy has got to be good for you anyway.

Note to self: don't forget how many amazing friends you have in this world & when times are tough: eat more chocolate.
MX

Hair Heroes -Part 2

A big, big congratulations goes to the wonderful Akin Konizi, Creative Director of Hob Salons on his big win, reclaiming his crown of British Hairdresser of The Year at Grosvenor House in London last night. Having been privileged to work alongside AK this year and watch his beautiful collection come into a reality, I can tell you now, it is well deserved.

Also to my Swedish love and partner in crime Christel Lundqvist for winning British Colour Technician of the Year, which places her in the Hall Of Fame! So this proves I have been lucky enough to be trained by the best of the best and it's fantastic that Christel can keep the profile of colourists right up there.

If that wasn't enough for Hob.... On a roll for sure, we took home the British Artistic Team of the Year too. Well done team, Daz, Andrea, Claire, Stan, Christel I am proud to have shared the journey with you all. Much deserved!

What a nice birthday surprise for me!!

And to many other talented finalists and winners- in particular Bruno from Marc Antoni, Angelo Vallillo from Zullo and Holland and the talented Mr Gary Gill from Monroes- I'm so proud of your achievements and I hope you all had a wonderful night.


MX

Baby, it's cold outside....

I admit, I do like the colder climate- it may well be the reason why I'm still in London. Don't get me wrong, I suffer from my share of the winter blues like anyone else but there is always a flip side. For me Winter fashion is far more stylish than Summer dressing, as the thought of exposing my legs minus anything less than 50 denier honestly gives me a panic attack.

Oh and any excuse to wear fur makes me happy! (before I get any complaints from activists- I mean faux or vintage of course)

Top tip to nourish your Winter complexion, or any time your skin needs a boost, such as after a long haul flight:

Apply a rich amount of CLARINS BEAUTY FLASH BALM on your face and neck for 10 mins, then rinse and moisturise for baby soft skin in a flash.

This is exactly what I plan to do right now!
MX

Ginge of the Week: BJORK!

In keeping with this month's blatant musical trend in Ginger hair fashion,

here at Makeup Marple, I am crowning the zany songstress

BJORK

with this week's highest ginger honour.

Usually sporting a darker, shade, perhaps she has realised Ginger's have more fun and for her latest album release has opted for an electric shade of orange whilst working a quite amazing textured look. Whatever the reason, it sure beats her infamous swan look from back in the day!

MX

Kiss Kiss! Top 3 Lip Balms!

There's that chill in the air now, time to dig out the fur already (not for long though as I'm off to the sunny shores of Australia in less than three weeks now!) I'm spending lots of time up in Leeds for work and it's got to be at least 10 degrees cooler. This plays havoc on my skin and dries it out, so for winter months it's best to take extra care- richer moisturiser, hand cream and lots of lip balm!

My top 3 Lip Balms are all essentials to me for different reasons or seasons...

1. Lucas Papaw Ointment

In first place,this is little beauty is a bargain, however quite tricky to buy here in the UK.
Yes, I will be sure to stock up whilst on my travels. Papaw ointment, which is created using Papaya as a base as opposed to petroleum (in Oz they call that Papaw- don't ask me why.... maybe like the courgette-zucchini debate!?)

With a formula that has been around for over 100 years, it is made up in far north Queensland. It not only soothes chapped lips but also has healing properties, so great for skin irritations of any kind ie insect bites, nasty spots, you name it. Great on dry elbows or any areas of extreme dryness!  It's one of my makeup kit must haves for shoots and can be used wherever skin needs a natural sheen without being overly glossy.

Rating:

9/10

2. Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Cream

With a cult following amongst beauty opbsessives, I was first introduced to this little wonder on a long haul flight from Melbourne to London. Longhaul flights generally result in me buying every form of moisturising product on the market for fear that I might shrivel up like a prune by the time I arrive! However, Eight Hour Cream has been around forever (since the 1950's) and  is my favourite to use as a non-sticky gloss when my lips also need some extra TLC.  I've used it on loads of shoots on it's own to enhance natural lip colour or it can be worn over lipstick. Although the smell and taste may not be to everyone's liking, it works wonders on very dry skin.  I have even been known to cover my hands in it before bed when they were really suffering from my salon days, I would wake with baby soft mits! When I'm on holiday I love the lipbalm version as it contains an SPF and is still moisturising at the same time.

Rating:

8/10

3. Carmex

Yes- you heard me right! Carmex lipbalm is another little bargain beauty must have. (I find the tube version more nourishing than the one in the pot)  In the middle of the harshest of Winters when my lips are chapped and dry this is the saviour in the most extreme cases!

Featuring an SPF of 15 you can use it all year round.

Oh yeah and the cherry flavour is a delicious bonus.... if only it came in orange.....

Rating:

9/10

MX

Hair Hero- Vidal Sassoon

My highlight of last night's tele would have to be the Vidal Sassoon movie. In fact it's the highlight of my TV week. For all you hairdressers out there, I highly recommend you see it, if you haven't already.

Although I'm not a hair cutter and I don't particularly find geometric haircuts to my liking, I really found myself having that same 'Alexander McQueen' inspiration while watching this doco. I LOVE the way Sassoon had a true passion to be the best at his field and master the craft. He then took a different way of looking at hair- in his case it was architecture- to bend the rules in order to create something that had never been done before. He was also the first hairdresser (as far as I'm aware to build the link between hair and fashion industry while also building the profile of hairdressing as an industry. I admire any hairdresser who works with this is mind!

I have always loved everything that 60's fashion stands for and sometimes when I'm walking around Carnaby St or the Kings Rd I think about the buzz that would have been like there at that time.




The style genius of the era of course is Mr Vidal Sassoon himself. There was such a revolution going on and suddenly girls got braver with their sense of style. This can all be owed to the talent and skill of Sassoon and the way in which he saw the importance of hair as a fashion accessory.



One of the highlights of my days working at Wella would be working up close with the Vidal Sassoon artistic team. I was very priveleged to witness this up close and learnt so much from them. They never failed to present collections that were and still are polished to perfection and I was always excited to see what they would present each season as they carry on the standard and philosophy of Sassoon.

So thankyou Mr Sassoon for putting your stamp on the hair world!
MX

Ginge Of The Week: LITTLE BOOTS!

Meet this week's Ginger goddess-

VICTORIA HESKETH

Whilst we haven't heard a lot in recent times from the supercool songbird aka Little Boots, her stunning new look- a delicate peach hue, coincides with her latest offering to the pop world.
It compliments her skin tone just perfectly and to make her new colour even more honourable, it was created by my dear friend, fellow Ginge and mega talented colourist- Sophia of Kennaland.
Ginger love all round!
MX