With the so called stars of today being hailed practically as soon as they are out of their diapers, BBHK is so happy to see a 90 year old be the face and designer of their new limited edition cosmetics collection.  This is however no ordinary 90 year old.  This is Iris Apfel, an eccentric New York fashionista and philathopist, who over the years (so many of them!) has inspired many fashion designers, bold jewellery ranges and exhibitions.  In a world she is utterly fabulous, and we think its very bold and forward-thinking of MAC to use a mature lady to front her collection, so different from the younger people that usually shop their brand. 

Launching on Jan 5th, to coincide with her exhibition at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art which is dedicated to the 90 year old style icon, MAC says the range is ‘a colour collection inspired by a rare bird who has always been ahead of her time.’  Influenced by her 2005 Rara Avis (Rare Bird) exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and mostly named after birds, the 20-piece collection features lip-liners, brow pencil, a mascara, single eye shadows, lipsticks, nail polishes and a beauty powder.

Like the style maven herself, the range is bold and bright, and she is hoping to inspire the youth of today in the fashion stakes.  Ms Apfel told the Telegraph that  ‘Most of the young people today look dreadful. And celebrities look even worse,’ she said.  Lets see if her new collection can help…

Prices range from USD$14 for the eye pencils to USD$23 for the beauty powder and will be available in Hong Kong somewhere between January 5th to February 9th 2012.

What do I like? bareMinerals. What do I love? The fact that bareMinerals is available again! That’s right, on 10 October bareMinerals was on the shelves at Harvey Nichols at Pacific Place and as of 13 October you can also grab your favourite product in FACES at Ocean Terminal. It’s about time this product that disappeared on us in Sephora made a comeback!

The bareMinerals SPF15 Foundation is a crowd pleaser and coverage is flawless, free of preservatives, talc, oil, waxes and other chemicals that irritate skin. It is great for humid Asian countries and as it is a powder you won’t get sheen in summer months.

Clinically proven, it delivers extraordinary benefits that dramatically improve skin appearance over time. The foundation is enriched with unique, proprietary 100% pure RareMinerals ActiveSoil Complex, which minimizes pores and promotes cell turnover for fresher, smoother skin while giving protection from environmental damage. At HK$250 for the original product or HK$275 for the matte it is definitely worth a whirl.

To apply, use the swirl, tap, buff method: swirl a small amount in the lid with the brush, tap away any excess and buff onto the skin in a circular motion – starting on the outside of your face near the cheekbone and swirl up your nose and forehead. For full coverage apply with Full Coverage Kabuki Brush and for medium coverage apply with Flawless Application Face Brush. Packaged in a Click, Lock, Go™ sifter, you can take this product anywhere you go with no spills or leaks.

Get your product at:
bareMinderals Counter – Harvey Nichols, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway Admiralty
FACES – Ocean Terminal, 3-27 Canton Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon

Megan Fox oozes with old school Hollywood glamour as she poses for Armani’s new christmas cosmetics range, inspired by the 1930′s inspired Mother Pearl (Madre Perla) make-up collection.  Armani cosmetics are pricey, but often worth the splurge! In the ad, Megan is wearing makeup by the Madre Perla Palette, Gloss d’Armani Rouge on her lips and Eyes To Kill Eye Shadows which is available in Gold, Silver and a blend of the two metals.

“I try to keep my make-up fresh, clean and pretty on the red carpet. My signature look is red lipstick worn with plain eyes, so I apply a light foundation, then on my cheeks I use blush or sometimes the same lipstick that I’m wearing,” she said.

She even named her favorite lipstick and, not unexpectedly, it’s from Armani Cosmetics.

We think she looks absolutely incredible, and shall be popping along to Armani pronto to pick up the collection!

Ladies, we have a treat in store for you.  Fresh from Milan, The Philip George Salon has introduced a new brand of cosmetics into the 852 -MTJ and its first Asian collection Goldentears.

Brainchild of celebrity make-up artist Massimiliano Della Maggesa, otherwise known as Max The Joker (hence MTJ), the Goldentears collection was designed for strong, modern forward-thinking women, perfect for you Hong Kong hotties!  Max’s illustrious career notes Gianni Versace, The House of Missoni, and Alberta Ferretti as past clients, but most importantly he was senior make-up artist for Italy for M.A.C cosmetics.  Years of  countless celebrity clients, fashion shoots, world tours, and collaborations culminated in the creation of MTJ Cosmetics.

Last week saw the official Hong Kong launch of MTJ and its Goldentears range in Domani restaurant Pacific Place. Massimiliano was joined by renowned hairdresser, Nicola Baroni who helped create the total look by styling the models hair with Napura haircare products.

The collection ranges from natural daytime looks to edgy, bold colours and fluorescents for courageous night time soirées.  But most excitingly, MTJ claim that the formulation of the cosmetics hold tight despite humidity and temperature variation… Hello Hong Kong!

How Much?
$160-$295HKD

Where?
MTJ is available at:
The Philip George Salon
Address: 23/F, 1 Duddell Street, Central, Hong Kong
Telephone: +852 2524 3143

We all want to look our best, but we don’t need to go to the cosmetics counter for a make-over to achieve magazine perfection.  The secret is in the brushes, investing in good brushes, and looking after them can make all the difference.  Always test brushes on the skin to see how they feel.  If they feel great on your hand, they will feel amazing on your face.  Look out for full, soft and comfortable brushes, firm ones for shading and softer ones for blending and dusting.

Natural or Faking It?

If you ask a pro, they will almost always say natural, especially when it comes to powder.  The natural fibre holds the powder better, hence making blending more effective.  Natural brushes will tend to be camel, squirrel, sable or goat.  If you are offended by or allergic to animal products, then go synthetic.  Synthetic brushes, such as Nylon or Taklon are actually better for lipstick and concealer, when you need a sticker brush.  Top make-up artist tip: For the perfect air-brushed magazine look, use a stippling brush, which tends to be half synthetic, half natural to blend the make-up smoothly on the face after applying. Giselle eat your heart out!

The bigger the better?

With so many brushes to choose from , how do you know which size to choose?  This is pretty easy actually, this differs from person to person, but choose a brush that fits the area you are applying powder to.  Look at your crease width, (they will get bigger with age…booo), If you have large cheeks, you will want to choose a bigger blusher brush, if you are a cheek-bone girl (lucky you), you will need a smaller denser brush to show them off.

Dirrrrrty…

Would you use a tooth brush for years on end?  Apart from the fact that it would be looking grim, we know that bacteria and grime set in, and there is no way we would put it in our precious mouths.  Then how often do you clean your make-up brushes?  Brushes are a haven for bacteria, and dirt, but because of the colour, we cant often see it.  Dirty brushes can encourage acne breakouts, conjunctivitis, or even more serious skin conditions.  To clean your brushes, you can either buy a dedicated brush cleaner (see M.A.C photo), or use shampoo, lather and rinse.  Tease the brush into the natural shape, and let it dry naturally.  Beware of using hairdryers as this may make the hairs fall out.  Its recommended to clean your brushes once a week, at least do it once a month!  Top make-up artist tip:  For brushes such as eyeliner brushes, that may have caked-on waterproof products, start by working through a little bit of olive oil. This will release all the stubborn dirt.  Then follow with shampoo.

Brushes Going Bald…

No matter how much you spend on your brushes, it is normal for stray hairs to fall out, synthetic or natural.  Its best to test the before you buy.  Swipe the brush over your hand, and if lots of hairs fall out, then steer clear.  Some companies offer warranties against shedding, but you will be paying top-dollar for those.  Top make-up artists tip: Ask to see the demonstration brush in the shop, if it is in good condition, and hairs are not falling out, then the chances are that if you buy one, it will be a good-un too!

Which Brush For Which Bit?

With so many brushes available in the shops, which ones should we be using, and what are the minimum brushes we should have in our make up bag?  Well the top three must haves for brushes, even if you have no others are a good blusher brush, a soft eye shadow brush and a tapered eye-liner brush.  Mac have brilliant ones, namely the 300, 129 and the 226.  If you cant afford those ones, then look out for other brands in those shapes.

Brushes are expensive, but they are a great investment.  If you look after them properly, you should rarely need to replace them, just dont lose them!

More Top Make-Up Artist Tips

“Always apply your make-up in a good natural light, make sure there are no shadows over your face and treat yourself to a good mirror”

“You should hold your brush with no tension in your hand.  When you have a light touch the brush will glide back and forth on your face.  The handle should feel comfortable in your hand”

“fingers are good for blending but make sure they are clean and oil free”

“to keep your make-up looking fresh and flawless, tak care of your brushes by storing them in a neat brush roll (that has individual slots for each brush) or in an upright pencil cup.

BBHK loves Bobbi Brown make-up,  but no matter how fantastic the quality and perfect the colour, you need to know exactly how to apply it perfectly.  That’s where guru make-up artist to the stars,  Bobbi Brown comes in handy.  Not only has she published a multitude of books showing step-by-step guides of how to create fantastic looks using her products, she also has great tips and info on her website www.bobbibrown.com.hk.  For this weeks blogarazzi post, we have found this fabulous guide on her website showing you how to create a beautiful face in 10 easy steps.  Enjoy, and don’t thank us, thank Bobbi Brown!

These images and steps are copyright of Bobbi Brown and can be seen on this page

Tis the season to be jolly, tra la la la laaaaa la la la la!  Can you believe that 2010 is nearing its end, and Christmas is only weeks away?  With all the parties and festivities to look forward to (and mince pies!), what better way to glam up your look than the new Winter Trend Collection 2010 from The Body Shop.

Body Shop make up is often a company that is overlooked in our society of high-end brand loyalty and love of sexy packaging.  But one must not forget the quality of the make-up, the vast range of colours and the pigment of the eyeshadows are really very fine.  That parred with the ethical ethos that The Body Shop promotes, BBHK thinks it is a brand that we should take more notice of.  The Winter Trend Collection 2010 uses quality ingredients such as organic virgin coconut oil from Samoa, marula oil from Namibia and cocoa butter from Ghana, all sourced from farmers and their families from marginalised communities that need and rely on the business that The Body Shop brings in from their Community Fair Trade programme.

In creating a range that screams old school glamour, and a touch of festive sparkle, the Winter Trend Collection has some perfect key items for a fun, ethical look for the party season.  Key items include the Twilight and Midnight eye pallets, perfect for creating smouldering party eyes  Each limited edition palette contains four pressed powder eye colours plus a shimmering highlighter that can be applied to eyes, cheekbones and brow bones.  Add to this either of the easy to apply soft-nib eye-liners in black or starlight for a more dramatic effect, and finish off with a splash of shimmery lip gloss in twinkling pink.

BBHK loves (a little bit too much) the limited edition Sparkler,  a fabulous iridescent vintage boudoir style sparkle-dust.  A little puff of the pink atominiser will  release a burst of shiny pearls and fine glitter for you to shimmy the night away. Lightly sprayed over the face, neck and decollage should do the trick, remember girls less is more when it comes to glitter, we dont want to look like we belong on the top of the tree!

How Much?

Sparkler in Boudoir Pink $249
Eye Palette (Twilight/ Midnight) $199
Liquid Eyeliner (Black/ Starlight) $115
Love Gloss (Natural/ Twinkling Pink) $109
Stardust Glitter Pots (Starry Night/ Twinkling Pink) $59

Where?

Click here for the store locator for Hong Kong and Macau

We love Smashbox here at BBHK.  Every season at least one-must have item lands in our make-up bag that we cant live without.  This season it is the O-Glow.  Winner of a multiture of awards, such as  Allure Magazine, and Sephora, this magical clear gel reacts with your skin to change to the colour you naturally blush.  Genius!  Needless to say the boy seems to think he’s making me cute and coy all the time.  Job Done.

Get the Smashbox look, check out these stunning shots, and try your best to follow.  Videos to follow.

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Ready for your concoction of M.A.C and Milk? Straight from the bovinely named Milk Studios in New York’s meat packing district, M.A.C unveils their looks and collections.  Courtesey of M.A.C, enjoy and be inspired by their photos of the day from.

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Guerlain is well known for their beautiful packaging and makeup formulas, and their new 68 Champs-Elysées 2010 Fall makeup collection is no exception to the rule.

Named after the House of Guerlain’s flagship Paris store address, the hot product of the collection of the luxurious Écrin 6 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette. In one of those “why didn’t I think of that” moments, the delicately ‘laced’ metallic cover opens to reveal a large flip-out mirror panel.  Much larger that any compact mirror I have encountered, you can see most of your face.  The colour pallet underneath reveals six dazzling and complementary shades, perfect for a snazzy night out in Hong Kong, or a more subtle daytime look.  My favourite is 68 Champs-Elysées – a group of grey, browns, violet and iridescent silver. Following the easy application guide inside, the blendable colours can create the perfect smokey eye, or using the iridescent silver and less pigment, a stunning lighter bright open eye.

The eyeshadows contain Moonstone powder – a precious stone powder which enables the product to extend its staying power. Each palette offers three different textures (iridescent, matte and satin) within each compact. The Mother of Pearl particles also lend a radiant sparkle within the iridescent eyeshadow formula.

These five palettes bear the address of a Guerlain boutique in Paris.

93 RUE DE PASSY: pink, smoky pink, grey, taupe
10 RUE DES FRANCS-BOURGEOIS: beige, golden bronze, brown
29 RUE DE SÈVRES: taupe, light grey, turquoise
2 PLACE VENDÔME: iridescent ivory, deep grey, intense indigo, navy blue
68 CHAMPS-ÉLYSÉES: precious brown, gradations of brown, beige, intense violet

To finish off the Parisian Chic look, the collection also includes the new  Kiss Kiss Essence de Gloss.  Not only does it uber-gloss  your pout, it also contains anti-aging ingredients (SQUEAL!) to help retain that youthful glow.  Wearing it daily is supposed to smooth and pout your lips.  Also containing mother-of-pearl particles, the gloss is available in 8 shades.

How much?
Écrin 6 Couleurs                          $ 590
Kiss Kiss Essence de Gloss        $ 230
Blush 4 Eclats                               $350
Rouge G de Guerlain                   $360
KissKiss Gloss                               $210

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Where?
Sogo, Lane Crawford, Seibu, Harvey Nichols, Guerlain Image Shop-Festival Walk.