Garnier | Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Creams

There has been a noticeable shift in the world of beauty towards paying more attention to skincare, as by now we all understand that our makeup will look only as good as the canvas (i.e.: the face) that it’s applied to. Asia has long been a leader in this regard, as Asian women can be somewhat obsessive when it comes to caring for their skin (something I can relate to & am totally on board with, so good on them!) and the latest trend to rise from this need, is a new generation of sleeping packs – products meant to transform your skin overnight. First out of the starting gate is Garnier with the Miracle Sleeping Cream™ (Night & Eye versions) newly added to their Ultra-Lift range, that claims to ‘combat the signs of aging and fatigue’ while helping to regenerate your skin.

Since first being introduced to these creams at the Garnier media preview a few weeks ago (you can read about the event here), I have been [religiously] using both products and am ready to share my thoughts, but first, a little background:

According to researchers at Garnier, fatigue is now considered the #1 concern related to aging, and you can blame our lifestyles for that; sleeping less due to busier schedules, which contributes to wrinkles, as well as loss of firmness/tone in the skin. Oh joy.

The period of time where our body does its most effective regenerative work, is while we sleep, which has to do with chronobiology; that’s when our skin activates its natural reparative mechanisms, and Garnier is tapping into this source with the help of their new Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Creams™. According to the company:

“Formulated with a brand new polymer, this compound takes a toning, elastic form that can hold droplets of oils and active ingredients within the cream’s texture, enabling their properties to be preserved as much as possible. Upon contact with fingers, the polymer is irresistibly attracted to the skin, leaving an ultra-flexible film on the face. Once it is left, the polymer returns to its dynamic form, providing great coverage and allowing the texture to act like a ‘conveyor belt’ that helps the active ingredients to penetrate the skin”.

Spotlight on the 7 Active Ingredients:

LHA – a highly effective active ingredient that has been developed to boost radiance
ADENOSINE – helps to combat the signs of aging caused by fatigue
EXTRACT OF ALBIZIA – a powerful antioxidant that combats fatigue, helping to control dull skin tone and unevenness and reduces wrinkles
HYALURONIC ACID – intensely hydrating
EXTRACT OF RUSCUS – used to boost skin’s microcirculation
JOJOBA OIL – helps to strengthen the skin’s natural barriers
LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL – helps improve the quality of sleep and combat the signs of aging

Garnier | Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Cream™, Night Cream

Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Cream™, Night Cream (CAN $24.99) | Housed in a palm-sized cobalt blue glass jar (to help preserve the integrity of the ingredients against exposure to light), this pale pink-tinted cream has a noticeable fragrance: fruity, soapy, & slightly floral – not unpleasant, but definitely something to note for those with sensitivities. The texture, is where things get fun; kind of bouncy (think: Jell-O) with a cream/gel feel when you rub it between your fingers, and one which reverts relatively quickly back to a smooth surface in the jar. Meant to be highly nourishing/hydrating, but with a lightweight feel upon the skin.

My Skin: combination/oily, crows feet around my eyes (or as I like to call them, ‘laugh lines’), slight unevenness due to some hyper pigmentation on my cheeks, chin, & forehead (SPF and safe sun practices were unheard of, back in the day), loss of elasticity in the jawline area, a bit of seasonal skin roughness (noticeable during the Winter for the most part).

Thoughts: There’s a cooling sensation felt upon first applying this cream to the skin (although it doesn’t last long), and as this formula is quite rich in actual feel, a little definitely goes a long way. My usual routine before bed, is to start by removing all traces of makeup (I never, ever skip this step – even when I’m bone tired and it’s the absolute LAST thing I want to do) then I cleanse and/or exfoliate (I alternate with using a mild exfoliant type cleanser and my Clarisonic Aria). After towel-drying my skin, I take a pea-sized amount of the Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Eye Cream first and apply that on the skin under both eyes, patting it in (I also dab some on my upper eyelids), followed by dotting my cheeks, forehead, and chin with the Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Night Cream then massage it gently in, making sure to not skip my nose and ear lobes (TIP: don’t neglect this last area, ladies: ear lobes tend to show a significant amount of aging, as do elbows and knees). I then further follow up with a light application of the Night Cream along my neck, jawline, and just above the décolletage area (North American women usually apply their moisturizer by staying well within the boundaries of the face; European women, on the other hand, also include the neck and upper chest).

Result: From the very first application, I can’t say that the years melted off my face (I wish), but I did notice several things: I woke up to a more even-looking complexion, but more importantly, my skin actually felt totally hydrated, velvety-smooth, and with absolutely no evidence of roughness at all (electric heating + harsh Canadian Winter weather = all kinds of nasty to my skin). After 4 consecutive weeks of using both products consistently, my skin continues to look more even, slightly plumper in certain areas (such as: under the eyes, along the cheeks and middle of forehead), and even my pores seem less noticeable. Without the equipment needed to proper analyze if the depth of any wrinkles has actually decreased, I can say that overall, some fines lines appear to be somewhat smoothed out, although not erased completely – but much less visible. As I said above, the texture and feel of this cream upon my skin, may fall on the rich side but when I wake up, it always feels completely absorbed.

One other thing worth mentioning, is that this cream is meant to worn at night ONLY, so don’t try doubling up by applying it as a day cream as well.

Garnier | Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Cream™, Night Cream (ingredients listing)

Garnier | Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Cream™, Night Cream swatch

Garnier | Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Cream™, Night Eye Cream

Miracle Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Cream™, Night Eye Cream (CAN $24.99) | Based on the same principles and formulation as the Night Cream, the Night Eye Cream has a similar auto-smoothing texture, albeit the formula appears more gel-like to me and is transparent (with just the slightest pink tinge). Also included among the ingredients to help fight dark circles under the eyes as well as the look of puffiness and fatigue, are ‘rare plant ingredients’, along with caffeine. Not as strongly scented as the Night Cream, and feels like it absorbs quicker into the skin, with no greasy after-feel.

Garnier | Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Cream™, Night Eye Cream (ingredients listing)

Garnier | Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Cream™, Night Eye Cream swatch

Bottom line: I enjoyed the feel of both products on my skin, as well as the results I attained. From the brand that was one of the first to introduce BB Creams to North America, this skincare first is poised to be equally successful, especially when you consider the price point. Did it perform miracles? Not yet, but neither was I let down with either cream; in fact, I continue to have soft, smooth skin which feels so well nourished, I can almost skip applying a daytime moisturizer (which I won’t). The only downside I can name, is that it is a little strongly scented, as I find most Garnier products to be – that’s something I wish this brand would seriously look in to, as skincare should be more felt, than smelled. Other than that, if you’re in the market to try out a product that thus far has delivered on its claims, then I suggest you give the new Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Cream™ Night and Eye Creams a look. Sweet dreams.

Available now at all mass-market retailers. Find more information on the brand by visiting www.garnier.ca

Press samples provided for my unbiased consideration

Garnier | New Product launches for 2015

January 15, 2015

A few weeks ago, select members of the media and I were invited to attend the preview launch of several new Garnier products that have just started making their appearance onto store shelves. The event was held at NINI Meatball House – a quaint & cozy eatery in the heart of trendy Griffintown (Montréal), and while the weather may have been a little on the uncooperative side, the atmosphere at the event more than made up for that.

After a short and informative presentation about the products, we sat down to enjoy one of the most delicious lunches I’ve had in a while (some drooling over my food pics, below, is guaranteed). The place card for each guest was a lavender-scented soy candle in a covered tin and personalized with each person’s initials, while mini bottles of antioxidant rich smoothies (there were 2 varieties – day & night versions) from Montréal’s own Glow Cleanse (you can read about my experience with this brand here) were freely available to try or take home.

With Garner set to launch so many new skincare products (from the Clean, BB, and Skin Renew ranges respectively) the stars of the event, were undoubtedly the introduction of Garnier’s new Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Cream™ Anti-Age + Anti-Fatigue Night Cream and Ultra-Lift Miracle Sleeping Cream™ Anti-Age + Anti-Fatigue Eye Cream (what’s with these ridiculously long names?). This new technology hails from Korea where ‘sleeping creams’ have been all the rage for some time now, and whose intention is to target one of women’s (and men’s) primary concerns: the look of dullness and fatigue upon the skin. The texture is unique as well – reminding me of a hybrid Jell-O/yogurt mixture (which sounds so much weirder that it is), and a bouncy, almost ‘self-healing’ quality to it … and which just feels so good upon the skin (both products have been put into major testing since that day, and I’ll be sharing my thoughts in an upcoming review).

A huge thank you goes out to all involved for inviting me to such a wonderful event!

Love you, Katie! ♥

I have the same initials as the Queen of England. Just thought I’d point that out.

Asian salmon tartar (appetizer)

Meatballs in tomato sauce with Parmesan shavings & Moroccan lemon couscous

Ice Cream Cookie (caramel ice cream between white chocolate-chip cookies. To die.)

I absolutely love this message – LOVE!

Golden Globes 2015 | Beauty Edition

January 14, 2015

The 2015 Golden Globes which aired this past Sunday did not reveal any surprises beauty-wise (more nude lips than you can shake a stick at, although why anyone would want to do that, is beyond me #weirdexpression), but it did show an overall trend towards a softer and more wearable palette of colours. As expected, makeup, hair and nails may have once again played a secondary role to the clothing (and if I were wearing a $20,000 gown, I’d definitely want the focus to be on that as well) but each beauty component was nevertheless important in its own right, adding the finishing touch and completing every look (with a few misses, naturally).

For the most part, the beauty looks could be broken down into easily identifiable categories: variations of nude lips dominated – beige, pink, apricot – eyes wavered from lightly lined to a more intense smoky tone, while cheeks were allowed to sport a bright flush of colour. Fluttery lashes were definitely seen aplenty, but what was noticeably missing, was the harsh contouring that seemed to be so prevalent from previous awards shows – Thank God – although I did feel that some celebrities went seriously overboard in the bronzer department, looking more oompa-loompa than sun-kissed (note to future awards show makeup artists: tone it down).

Hair fell in one of two camps; there was the ‘loose’ group – from slightly roughed up bobs to sleeker falls of more defined waves – and the structured group, with hair slicked down & the party in the back, displaying slightly messy buns, tailored ponies, and/or jewelled ornamentation. Again, no surprises here, with the exception that hair did appear that much more real and touchable – although there still were a few [rare] sightings of overworked, stiff, and teased do’s. Sigh.

Bear in mind that the following is not meant to be a completed list of attendees; as stated in my Golden Globes Style Recap post, that Herculean task would simply take too long. Instead, I’ve opted to show some of my favourite beauty looks – although I confess to several disappointments as well, such as Jennifer Aniston’s pulled back hair that left me utterly cold, while JLo’s alien-esque lipstick freaked me out just a bit. A big surprise hit for me was Katie Holmes (sorry, but I’ve never been a fan, although I’ve warmed up to her since she ditched her loony-tunes husband, Tom Cruise) showcasing a sleek pony done right and a combo of intense lined eyes/matte mouth. The beauty of Lupita Nyong’o once again stood out, with her berry lips and lavender eye makeup – making everyone else look a little drab by comparison. If there were an award handed out for that one celebrity who perfectly nailed every single detail, then that would go hands down to Jessica Chastain, with her Grecian-inspired pleated bronze Versace gown, that was complimented with bronze smoky eyes/nude glossed lips and that swathe of hair cascading down one shoulder. Outstanding.

Where possible, I’ve included the makeup artist behind the look, along with the products used; for others, I’ve given my own interpretations. I will be sure to update with any new information that comes my way.

Enjoy my Beauty Recap! Feel free to let me know whose look worked for you!

The Nude Group

Defined by a neutral lip and subtle eye/face makeup, I’ve grouped these in ascending order of colour intensity.

Sienna Miller – look created by Charlotte Tilbury

Products used:

Charlotte used a combination of Light Wonder Foundation shades (6 Medium and 7 Medium) and Retoucher Concealer where needed. She then powdered down the center of the face to finish her skin. To enhance Sienna’s brows, Brow Lift in Grace K and Cara D were used. For Sienna’s eyes, an eye pencil was added along the lash line for depth. A blend of The Sophisticate shadow, Pop, and Barbella Brown were used to create a sultry smokey eye.
To complete the look, Charlotte enhanced Sienna’s cheekbones with bronzer and highlight, and finished the entire look with a blend of nude lipsticks – specifically, Matte Revolution Lipstick in Sexy Sienna and a touch of K.I.S.S.I.N.G. Lipstick in Nude Kate.

Diane Kruger

Diane’s look is the epitome of “me, only better” – I love how her cheeks sport the brightest touches of colour here, with lips a flattering soft pink and eyes just lightly defined enough to stand out naturally. Perfectly groomed (but not overdrawn) brows are the perfect final touch. Best part: those are her natural lashes – how awesome is that?

Kate Hudson – look created by Christian McCulloch

Products used:

Dolce & Gabbana blush and foundation were used in tandem to achieve a radiant look. A chocolate-coloured eyeliner and bronze eye shadow cream, also by the brand, completed her eyes, and a honey-toned lipstick with a cashmere hued lipliner tied the look together. Kate’s look here follows her usual seemingly effortless style, although I take exception to her brows whose colour seems a little ‘off’, and her shimmering white shadow – a less stark version of white would have complimented her look so much better.

Kate Beckinsale – look created by Adam Breuchard

Products used:

All by Chantecaille: Nude Future Skin foundation was applied all over the face then a light contoure was given with Radiance Gel Bronzer. For the eyes, Eye Shade in Java was applied over the entire lid and under the eye. He then blended out the edges using Eye Shade in Rose Gold. Gel Liner Pencil in Espresso was used to line the top lash line. To deepen the look, he applied Marble from the Piazza San Marco Chrome Luxe Eye Duo directly on top of the liner and smoke the color out over the entire lid. Gel Liner Pencil in Jet was drawn along the top and bottom lash lines. To open the eye, wet Eye Shade in Pyrite was applied to the bottom waterline. For the cheeks, he used Cheek Shade in Emotion on the apples of her cheeks and then added some highlight with the brand’s Liquid Lumiere in Lustre. Kate’s nude lip was a mixture of Brilliant Gloss in Modern and Folly.

Jessica Chastain – look created by Kristofer Buckle

Products used:

All by Yves Saint Laurent Beauté: A perfect complexion was created using Teint Touche Eclat Illuminating Foundation in Beige Doré and Touche Eclat N°1.
Blush Volupté N°8 was then applied on her cheeks to get a soft transparent pink effect.
To shift the attention to her green eyes and give her an elongated smokey, smoldering, and sexy umber eye, shades from the Couture Palette n°3 and N°1 were used, intensified with Effet Faux Cils Crème d’Eyeliner in Deep black.
Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils Baby Doll Fetish in Black was applied to both top and bottom lashes to give an amplified effect.
For lips, a combination of Baby Doll Kiss and Blush N°7 was applied with a layer of Volupté Sheer Candy N°1 on top.

Katie Holmes – look created by Genevieve Herr

Products used:

This look was achieved with the help of Laura Mercier Soft Black Violet Kohl Pencil, and dusted with a blend of amethyst and black from the Lancôme Color Design palette in Violet Sweetheart. Topping off the look, Herr opted for matte nude lips. There’s something edgy, modern, and even a touch dangerous about Katie’s look here, and I love how the lips were kept neutral, letting the eyes do the talking instead (and for the record, her aubergine Marchesa gown was just beyond).

Jennifer Lopez – look created by Mary Phillips

Products used:

The focus was kept on achieving a stunning smoky eye and leaving the lips nude (created with Giorgio Armani Smooth Silk Lip Pencil #1 and L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro Lip Color in Neverending Nutmeg). The eye look comprised L’Oréal Paris Infallible Smokissime Powder Eyeliner in Brown Smoke with a touch of taupe, gold, and brown hues using Infallible Eye Shadow Crayons. My biggest gripe with JLo’s look, was the excessive use of bronzer on her usually gold-kissed and flawless complexion, as well as the plasticky look to her lips – her eyes, on the other hand, were killer.

The Pink/Nude Group

Defined by touches of more colour and shine to the lips, with more focus shifting to the eyes. Once again the looks are in ascending order of colour intensity.

Rosamund Pike – look created by Melanie Inglessis

Products used:

For now, the only product that I know for sure which was used in this look, is the Make Up For Ever Aqua Lip Waterproof Lip Liner in #5C Beige Brown. While I may not have been a fan of her Vera Wang gown (100% unflattering), I can’t deny how Rosamund’s makeup and hair were simply spectacular – her skin looks perfectly flawless & utterly poreless, while the combination of sooty eyeliner and fluttery lashes adds just the right drama to her stunning eyes.

Amy Adams – look created by Stephen Sollitto

Products used:

Light copper tones were used on her eyes, including Chanel Le Crayon Yeux Precision Eye Definer in Brun-Teak. I love how the most impact on this look appears to be focussed on the outer corner of Amy’s eyes; the slightly untitled liner and fanned out lashes perfectly compliment those gorgeous baby blues, while her pastel peachy lips add just the right touch of colour to the face and contrast beautifully with both her auburn hair & masterfully detailed Versace gown.

Reese Witherspoon – look created by Molly R. Stern

Products used:

For now, the only products I know for sure that were used, are a combination of Laura Mercier Crème Cheek Colour in Blaze and Kevyn Aucoin The Pure Powder Glow in Fira to provide an intense flush to the cheeks. What I absolutely love in this look, is the more adventurous use of colour on the eyes, with deep impact on the upper lids and the smoked out effect continuing along the lower lash line but with a unique bronzy twist. Reese’s blush is also perfectly applied, concentrated more on the apples of her cheeks to appear natural (not wind-burned), and lips in a soft pink tone.

Jennifer Aniston – look created by Angela Levin

Products used:

Angela went for a classic sun-kissed effect, adding glow with Chanel Perfection Lumière Velvet Smooth-Effect Makeup in 70 Beige and 22 Beige Rosé. On the cheeks, she applied Chanel Le Blush Crème de Chanel in Destiny and Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Colour in N°70. Her lips were a blend of lip liner in Mordoré-Nude, Rouge Coco Shine Hydrating Sheer Lipshine in Deauville and Glossimer in Sweet Beige. Jennifer has long been one of my beauty and style icons, but I confess to being rather unimpressed with her efforts here; the makeup was just too dark and piled on for my liking, while her Saint Laurent gown was just passable, and certainly a far cry from some of the stunning numbers we’ve seen her wear in the past.

Aniston’s bun was, of course, created by her longtime stylist Chris McMillan. With regards to Jennifer’s hair, I have to say that I may not have liked the front, but I’m totally loving the slightly imperfect bun.

Claire Danes – look created by Matin

Products used:

All by NARS: All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation, Fervor Dual-Intensity Blush, Giove Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow, and Kalisté Eyeliner Pencil. As Claire’s Valentino Couture gown (whose design is comprised of hundreds of little feathers hand-sewn together, by the way) had so much going on, I’m happy to see that her makeup was left relatively simple – until you noticed the hints of peacock blue sparkle on her upper lash line, which also went a long way towards adding a nice touch of colour to her face.

The Colour Group:

Defined by deeper hues, jewel-like tones, and brighter touches along both the eyes and the mouth.

Keira Knightley – look created by Kate Lee

Products used:

To start, Chantecaille’s Liquid Lumière in Sheen was applied to highlight Keira’s cheekbones and jawline before applying Chanel Perfection Lumière Velvet Smooth-Effect foundation. For the eyes, shades from the Chanel Quadra Eyeshadow in Tissé Rivoli were used and for the cheeks, Chanel Joues Contraste in Rose Bronze was applied, concentrating on achieving a visible flush. To finish the look, lips were defined with Chanel Rouge Coco Ultra Hydrating Lip Colour in Étienne (out this spring). Keira’s CHANEL gown may have been a hot mess, but her makeup? Flawless.

Lupita Nyong’o – look created by Nick Barose

Products used:

Shades from the Lancôme eye shadow palette in Jacaranda Bloom were used to add pops of colour to the eyes, with more intensity achieved by applying Lancôme eyeliners in Aubergine and Amethyst. Lips were defined with Lancôme Color Design in Hit List with a glossy layer of Lip Lover in Framboise Étoile on top.

Felicity Jones

The makeup created here, is a perfect example of how to highlight both the eyes and the mouth in one look; while rather smoked out, the colour stays within the boundaries of the eye shape, just slightly elongated upwards at the outer corners, leaving the upper crease area fairly clean. The coral/pink lip colour completes the look, made totally workable by a satiny texture (glossy would have been overkill), as well as adding a nice bright pop to an otherwise somber colour palette. Even the hair, tailored and sleek but not too slick, adds a modern touch – especially when you consider the almost severe lines of Felicity’s Dior Couture gown.

Amal Alamuddin Clooney – look created by Charlotte Tilbury

Products used:

All Charlotte Tilbury: A very classic and true Hollywood-glamour look was the focus here; the Pop shade the Luxury Palette in The Dolce Vita palette was swept across the lids and depth was given via the Rock ‘N’ Kohl Eye Pencil in Barbarella Brown. Cheeks were dusted with Cheek to Chic in Love Glow and First Love.

Finally, her crimson lips were a mix of Lip Cheat Lip Liner in Savage Rose along with K.I.S.S.I.N.G. Lipstick in Night Crimson and Matte Revolution Lipstick in Red Carpet Red.

Photo credits

NARS| Spotlight on beauty at the 2015 Golden Globes

January 13, 2015

With awards season fully upon us, expect a slew of new beauty products to start making their way from the red carpet to the retail market (and hopefully soon). The following four NARS looks presented here from this past Sunday’s 2015 Golden Globe Awards (see my style recap here), may initially appear somewhat subdued, but they each hold one signature component that makes them stand out: a bright lip for counterpoint, smudged-out smoky eyes for drama, a touch of sparkle to illuminate, and boldly unabashed brows to form the perfect face-framing feature.

Taylor Schilling in a custom Ralph Lauren gown, accessorized by Tiffany & Co.

Taylor’s look was created by celebrity makeup artist Tina Turnbow

Beauty Inspiration

“The inspiration for Taylor’s look was a younger, modern take on Grace Kelly. I wanted to play up her bone structure, her skin and her natural beauty, and so we went with a clean eye, a bold brow and a crisp orange red lip to clash with the scarlet shade of her Ralph Lauren gown”

Key NARS products used:

All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation (new for Spring 2015 – for now, try Sheer Matte Foundation)
Porto Venere Eye Paint (new for Spring 2015 – for now, try Abyssinia Matte Eyeshadow)
Red Square Velvet Matte Lip Pencil

Key NARS products used for Taylor Schilling’s red carpet look

Laura Carmichael in a vintage James Galanos gown

Laura’s look was created by celebrity makeup artist Fabiola

Beauty Inspiration:

“Laura is wearing a vintage James Galanos gown; it’s a black one-shoulder floor-length dress with a sequin starfish at her hip. Because the look was so vintage, we went with a smoky charcoal gray to play up her almond, doe-shaped eyes and added a light blush and a nude lip”

Key NARS products used:

All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation (new for Spring 2015 – for now, use Sheer Matte Foundation)
Lysithea Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow (reviewed here)
Adoration Dual-Intensity Blush (new for Spring 2015 – for now, try Bouthan Duo Eyeshadow)

Key NARS products used for Laura Carmichael’s red carpet look

Claire Danes wearing a Valentino Couture gown

Claire’s look was created by celebrity makeup artist, Matin

Beauty Inspiration:

“When I saw Claire’s hand-beaded Valentino gown, I was immediately struck with inspiration. We agreed that her eyes should be the focus, so I matched her eyeshadow to the gorgeous peacock blue of her dress to create a brighter, edgier smoky look”

Key NARS products used:

All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation (new for Spring 2015 – for now, use Sheer Matte Foundation)
Fervor Dual-Intensity Blush (new for Spring 2015 – for now, try Unlawful (reviewed here) and Taos blushes)
Giove Dual-Intensity Eyeshadow
Kalisté Eyeliner Pencil

Key NARS products used for Claire Danes’ red carpet look

Ava Duvernay in a Zac Posen gown

Ava’s look was created by NARS International Lead Makeup Stylist, Uzo

Beauty Inspiration:

“The look was about a woman in a position of power. Ava’s statement-making makeup was kept soft and ethereal to balance her bold hairstyle and architectural Zac Posen gown. I created a velvety, smoky chocolate eye and soft neutral shades for her cheeks and lips”

Key NARS products used:

All Day Luminous Weightless Foundation (new for Spring 2015 – for now, use Sheer Matte Foundation)
Fez Shimmer Eyeshadow
Raquel Audacious Lipstick (reviewed here)

Key NARS products used for Ava Duvernay’s red carpet look

Press information kindly provided – all products, except where noted, are available at www.narscosmetics.com

Golden Globes 2015 | Spotlight on Style Recap

January 13, 2015

The star-studded 72nd annual Golden Globes were held this past Sunday at the Beverly Hilton Hotel, hosted for the last time by Tina Fey and Amy Poehler – two women who compliment each other’s comedic style so perfectly, easily displaying their bang-on timing as well as an uncanny ability to couch the most pointed barbs in honeyed tones. All I can say, is that they will be one tough act to follow.

But I digress …

For a few years now, I have been recapping award shows on my blog (you can find previous posts by clicking the category sidebar, filed under award, award shows, Golden Globes, The Oscars), and while I know ahead of time that each show is basically a tweaked variation of the previous one – where celebrities sport incredibly lavish gowns (and some that are just utterly confusing), neutral nails (duh) and relatively simple makeup – these red carpet appearances intrigue me, for it’s where upcoming makeup launches make their first (albeit somewhat clandestine) appearances (my recap post on Golden Globes beauty is coming soon).

Several colour groups appeared to dominate the red carpet, starting with statement-making red, the ubiquitous black numbers, vestal white, followed by gleaming silver. A few dared vivid yellow, with a smattering of blue and green thrown in, and finally some requisite beaded and adorned dresses added to the mix.

Of hits, there were plenty of front-runners with an equal amount of misses (I cannot begin to comprehend Keira Knightley’s dress – and this horror came from my beloved CHANEL, no less … the shame …), and while a complete roundup would have had me chained to my computer for days (no thanks), I’ve collected the looks that stood out for me; obviously, everyone’s opinion and taste varies, so whether you agree with my picks or not, feel free to chime in on the comments section – would love to know your thoughts!

Grab a cup of something, and enjoy my Golden Globes 2015 recap!

Golden Globes hosts Tina Fey (in a bespoke Antonio Berardi dress) & Amy Poehler (in a Stella McCartney dress) arriving on the red carpet – they changed outfits a few more times over the course of the show

Ladies in red

Top row (from left):

Viola Davis in a Donna Karan Atelier gown
Taylor Schilling in a custom Ralph Lauren gown (jewellery by Tiffany & Co.)
Heidi Klum in a Versace gown, Jimmy Choo heels

Bottom row (from left):

Kate Mara in a Miu Miu gown (jewellery by Vita Fede)
Allison Williams in an Armani Privé gown
Catherine Zeta-Jones in an Angel Sanchez gown

The ommorphia award for Best Red Gown, goes to Dame Helen Mirren (seriously, how absolutely gorgeous is this woman? At 69, she is totally working that bod!)

Dame Helen Mirren in an embellished Dolce & Gabbana gown, jewellery by Chopard and the crowning touch: a Charlie Hebdo tribute pen at her shoulder – well done, Helen

Silver [screen] stars

Clockwise from top left:

Julianne Moore in a Givenchy Haute Couture by Riccardo Tisci gown (jewellery by Chopard)
Reese Witherspoon in a custom-made Calvin Klein gown (jewellery by Tiffany & Co.)
Dakota Johnson in CHANEL, heels by Jimmy Choo
Kate Beckinsale in an Elie Saab gown

The ommorphia award for Best Silver Gown goes to Diane Kruger, wearing a gown of such exquisitely crisp lines and lightly textured fabric that so perfectly skims her body – everything about this just works.

Diane Kruger wearing a tailored gown by Emilia Wickstead

Snow ‘Whites’

From left:

Rosamund Pike in a custom-made Vera Wang Collection gown
Salma Hayek in an Alexander McQueen gown (jewellery by Boucheron)
Emily Blunt in a custom-made Michael Kors gown
Kristen Wiig in vintage

The ommorphia award for the Best White Gown, goes hands-down to Kate Hudson who manages to look drop-dead sexy and absolutely radiant at once (and who does cut-out shapes better than Versace? Google Elizabeth Hurley’s Versace ‘safety-pin’ number to see what I mean).

Kate Hudson in a KILLER Versace gown

Not-so-little Black dresses

Top row (from left):

Jennifer Aniston in a Saint Laurent gown
Laura Carmichael in a vintage James Galanos gown with a star embellishment
Emma Stone in a Lanvin jumpsuit

Bottom row (from left):

Lorde in a custom-made Narciso Rodriguez outfit
Amal Alamuddin-Clooney in a Dior Couture gown, slouchy opera gloves (jewellery by Harry Winston)
Katherine Heigl in a Zac Posen gown

The ommorphia award for Best Black Gown (and yes, even though technically it’s not ‘black’, I’m adding it to this group just the same for its lush dark vibe), goes to Jessica Chastain for channelling true Hollywood glamour and bringing back Fortuny pleating (again, Google it my beauties).

Jessica Chastain in a Versace gown

Primary beauties

From left:

Leslie Mann in a Kaufmanfranco gown
Elettra Rossellini Wiedemann in a Miu Miu gown
Jenna Dewan Tatum in a Carolina Herrera gown

The ommorphia award for Best Yellow Gown goes to Naomi Watts in her stunning column of citrus elegance – and can we just take a moment and admire that diamond snake about her neck?

Naomi Watts in a Gucci gown, accessorized with Bulgari jewellery

Mermaid-esque

From left:

Cindy Crawford in a Versace dress, Jimmy Choo heels & clutch (jewellery by Harry Winston)
Lana del Rey in vintage William Travilla
Ruth Wilson in Prada

The ommorphia award for Best Blue/Green Gown goes to Felicity Jones, who manages to make Victorian style chic again.

Felicity Jones in a Dior Couture gown

Embellished details

Top row (from left):

Chrissy Teigen in Zuhair Murad
Lupita Nyong’o in a Gimabattista Valli gown (jewellery by Chopard)
Claire Danes in a Valentino Couture gown

Bottom row (from left):

Anna Kendrick in a gown by Monique Lhuillier
Katie Holmes in a Marchesa gown
Kiera Knightly in CHANEL

The ommorphia award for Best Detailed/Embellished Gown, goes to Amy Adams for this masterfully draped number that would make even the Goddess Aphrodite cry.

Amy Adams in a gown by Versace, accessorized by Tiffany & Co.

Special Mentions:

Sienna Miller in an embellished Miu Miu dress, Jimmy Choo heels and accessorized by Tiffany & Co. – from the choppy bob, flawless makeup and perfect mix of lavish yet tasteful embroidery on her dress contrasted with a dangerously plunging neckline, this is one woman who consistently nails the style department.

Jennifer Lopez in a Zuhair Murad Gown (first two photos) & an ensemble by Amanda Wakeley for the weinstein after-party.

With regards to dressing, it goes without saying that JLo can rock a potato sack, but her Golden Globes gown left me more than confused – plunging neckline, thigh-high slit, bodycon shape combined with a flowing cape, train and a king’s ransom in beading – I’m not sure whether I absolutely loathe this, or applaud her uniqueness. My verdict? It’s just way.too.much. The after-party number doesn’t score much higher with me either (JLo, you of all people, really don’t need to try THIS hard).

But I can’t deny how flawless her hair and makeup looked, as well as the ‘secretly bejewelled’ mani she was given my by man, Tom Bachik (he placed rhinestones on the underside of her taloned nails – pretty cool, huh?)

And finally, there’s Prince because, well just because he’s Prince. Eccentric, androgynous, musical genius, and definitely way out there … but always entertaining. Plus he’s holding a jewelled walking stick that can double as a lethal weapon.