My fave Oscar starlet.... Marion Cotillard

So, Marion Cotillard is my new fave celebrity.

I was completely transfixed by her when she won Best Actress at the Academy Awards. I loved her whole look. Sophisticated and groomed, but not contrived. She represents to me what is missing in the Paris Hilton/Lindsey Lohan generation- poise. How to have poise without being too.... for the lack of a better word.... stuck up. She was gracious and charming, sexy and sincere.

Marion looked so gorgeous in the scalloped Jean Paul Gaultier dress. The classic makeup teamed with the white and silver dress perfectly complimented the outfit. Her jewellery was simple, and I liked her bouncy curled hair slung to the side. A+ from me.

Lancome Juicy Tubes

Lancome Juicy Tubes

I am doing a bit of a belated spring clean of my wardrobe this evening. I am on a strict budget at the moment, and thought I should try and unearth some hidden treasures of handbags I'd forgotten about tucked in little nooks, and tops at the very bottom of the washing basket.

I was cleaning out one of my handbags and found a gift pack sized tube of Lancome's Juicy Tubes. I can't remember exactly how I acquired the sample, but I am having vague memories of mum and I having a coffee break after a long day shopping, and me raiding the complimentary gift pack.

Anyhoo.... that doesn't really matter, does it!

The flavour (?) I have is "sorbet de framboise".... I think. It's a sheer pink colour with lots of little glitter flecks mixed in. It's so cute, and reminds me of some of the Mac Fafi glosses/lipsticks out at the moment.

It's thick in texture. Feels like a mix between your average gloss and a thick lip lacquer. It's sticky, but not uncomfortable. It's so shiny too, as the packaging tells us. And the glitter, although noticeable, doesn't look like kids gloss you might pick up at Kmart. It's subtle enough to be tasteful. It's one of those glosses that is a real feature to your face, so if you want to wear a natural look and have glossy lips, this is the ideal product.

Oh! By the way, there's a little delay with the Mod Makeup video and hair vids that I said would be up this week. I've been caught up in the back to uni rat race! Summer and I are hopefully filming tomorrow, so I hope to have something up this weekend.

Whatever!!!

Ok, this is officially the cutest video on YouTube!

Ask Me Makeup Retro/Vintage Photoshoot Competition

Today I have launched the Retro and Vintage Photoshoot competition with a prize of my highly recommended makeup products to the value of $200! I'm so excited to see the entries!!! I really am!!!!!!! (see all the exclamation marks?!!!!!!)

Here is a recap of the rules and conditions:

To celebrate the launch of the Askmemakeup.com website, I am giving away AUD$200 worth of my highly recommended makeup products.

All you have to do is create a retro and vintage styled photoshoot. Submit 5 pictures. I will select my favourite contestant entries, and then get you guys to vote on the winner!

Competition begins: Right now!
Submissions due: March 31st, 2008

Rules:
* Design a retro or vintage themed photoshoot
* Use the steps in either of the following Ask Me Makeup Videos: - Pink Vintage Pinup Girl Makeup - Vintage Pinup Girl Makeup - Old Hollywood Makeup - Sixties Mod Makeup (to be uploaded Feb 27th)
* You can be the model, or get together with friends and do a group shoot, or you can do your friend's makeup!
* You will be judged on creativity, execution and styling. I am looking for pics with wow factor! I am looking for creative shoots that are distinctly retro or vintage themed.
* Select 5 of your best photos from the shoot/s and email them to askmemakeup@hotmail.com
* You don't have to use the same products that I've used in my videos, just follow the ideas and steps I outline.
* Contestants must be subscribed to my channel
* You can attach a video as a response to this to show us what you've been working on. But only emailed photo submissions will be included in the judging

IN YOUR EMAIL SUBMISSION:
- Tell me your name, youtube channel/username, country
- Tell me which of my makeup looks you've recreated
- Tell me a little about the photoshoot! Eg. Did you enjoy it? What was your inpsiration? Camera used? Models? Props?

VINTAGE HAIR TUTORIALS TO COME. UPLOADING ON FEB 29th


(Why a photoshoot? Megs, Summer and I have so much fun each week doing our photoshoots for Frou Frou Magazine and for the videos! The girls have beautiful photos of themselves... and lots of them.... that they wouldn't normally have. How often do you get to take nicely styled pics of yourself?!!! It's a great opportunity to get some decent pics, and at the same time have a great time. The photoshoots I photograph are done cheaply using props from around my house, and fabric backgrounds stuck to the wall! Minimal effort, beautiful result!)

I've been out of action this weekend

Top- my swollen finger from the wasp sting!

Bottom- Latest photoshoot with Summer

Hey guys!

Sorry you didn't hear much from me over the weekend. You won't believe it! On Friday afternoon I found myself in a swarm of wasps and was stung 3 times!!!! I had a bit of a reaction to it, and although it doesn't look like much, my hand and tummy hurts sooooo much!

On Sunday, I had summer over for a shoot for the mag. I don't want to give too much away but I'll attach a photo.

Competition details will be up Wednesday! Sorry, sorry, sorry!

Bobbi Brown's Pink Raspberry- For Spring

Bobbi Brown's Spring Range

"Pink Raspberry"

Pink Raspberry Face Palette US$55

Pink Raspberry Glitter Gloss US$19
www.bobbibrown.com

Bobbi Brown has released her limited edition Pink Raspberry Face Palette. A palette filled with classic wearable colours, which I anticipate this will become a loved product for any woman.

The particular look she demonstrates on her website (click here for link) is a favourite of mine. A soft shimmery eye, bright pink blusher on the cheek and a pink gloss on the lips. This teamed with lashings of mascara gives a soft romantic look that brings out the freshness in any woman's face. She's right! Perfect for spring! Suits all different skin types.

As I noted, I've loved this look for a long time. I have a journal of inspiration pics and drawings from 2001 when I started getting into makeup seriously, and I have a few pages of clippings of people wearing this look like Charlize Theron, Kylie Minogue, and Sarah Jessica Parker.

You don't need to use Bobbi Brown products to acheive this look. I know a few products that I have that will help me acheive this, like Stila's Storm and Kitten eyeshadows and Mac's Dollymix blush. I'd probably purchase one of Bobbi's glosses though. I am particularly in love with the "Pink Raspberry Glitter Lip Gloss".

I will definitely do a video for this look.

Featured on Stila's Website

Summer just called to inform me that I am featured on Stila Cosmetics' website for my Valentine's Day makeup video.

I love Stila, they are a brand that I respect. I am so honoured by this feature.

A special thank you to Kara, and the Stila Cosmetics team for your generosity.

Valentine's Day Accoutrement

I just wanted to list a couple of extra items that may make your Valentine's Day a little extra special, or sexy!

Firstly, perfume. My strongest recommendation is Christian Dior's Hypnotic Poison. I am one of those people who gets a headache from perfume, and usually opt to have a nice soapy smell about me. This perfume is one of 2 perfumes I can stand to wear daily. It's very sexy, as the name suggests. Everytime I wear it, someone comments on it. And guy friends often comment it's a sexy perfume after greeting them with a kiss on the cheek. So, it's a winner!

Another range of perfumes I quite like are the Mor Cosmetics range. I was initially attracted to the bottle, and didn't hold high hopes for the fragrance, but fell in love with them. This particular perfume (pictured) is Mor Fruits of Cornucopia. It has a peppery undertone. Spicy and yummy.




Now for the hair. I've pulled a couple of videos off YouTube for some sexy hair ideas. The first is my hair video. In this video I use hot rollers. You could equally curl your hair with a wide barrelled curling wand and pin the curls to your head. Just follow the curl placement.



And this next video is by the ever fabulous, Johnny Lavoy of Ford Models. It is such a gorgeous up-do. Takes a little extra time, but a stunning result.

Valentine's Day Glamorama

L-R: Betsey Johnson, Zac Posen, Diane Von Furstenburg shows at New York Fashion Week Fall 08













So, I always like to think that I am a bit of a fashion forecaster! *flicks hair* (Tee hee!) My mum and I are those types of people who say "I'm quite partial to feathers at the moment", and the next thing you know it's the next big thing in Vogue. Or we buy Repetto shoes in Paris (because Amy stupidly wore wedges shopping all day) and you see them everywhere a year later!

Ok, I'll stop kidding now.... because I'm not really being fashion forward as you will see below, just fashion.... ah... synchronous.

Last night I uploaded my Valentine's Day video showing 3 different looks. I happened to be looking at some of the pics online from New York Fashion Week and noticed that my classic glamour red lipstick and smokey eyes, were present in a few shows! I guess the good thing about my video, is that it shows a translation of the catwalk look (which is a little more bold, and black on the eye) as a more wearable option.



Here's the link to my video:

Here I am!

Hi everyone!

Firstly, thanks so much for your support and patience while I got together my website. It's finally up now..... phew!..... which means I can finally sleep like a normal person!

My graphic design team did a great job. Bravo guys! (And a little pat on the back to myself!)

And the magazine! I'm so proud of it. I have some great contributors this month!

This really is just a quick note to say that the first proper blog entry will be up tomorrow, and this post is a bit of housekeeping.

There's a whole bunch of new features on the website that I am trying to get used to. For instance, the forum is a whole new site and format for me, so please bare with me over the weekend while I get used to it!

Ok.... so I fear I'm rambling.

Please enjoy the website!!!

Amy xx

Oh! I'll be posting the Valentine's Day Makeup video tomorrow.