{happy monday . . ?}

Sorry things have been a little quiet around here recently; the last few days have been a bit shaky for me, I had to have a poorly tooth removed on Friday afternoon under IV sedation (which definitely wasn't fun..) so I've been keeping my poor mouth warm at home snuggled on the sofa with a pile of blankets half watching mindless TV and half watching the snow fall . . . 

A Guide To: Your Best-Ever Red Lip

Its impossible to sport a red lip and not feel festive; with upcoming Christmas parties, dinner invitations and some very merry days - a simple slick of lippy works wonderfully.

If we're doing things properly, and by the book, we should start with a quick exfoliation with a lip scrub (or simply gently brush your lips with your toothbrush, apply your favourite lip balm and allow to sink in nicely before applying your lipstick.

I've rounded up some of the best red lipsticks before, but my all time favourite and fail-safe combination is a careful lining of the lips with Mac Lip Pencil in Cherry. Take a lip-brush and fill in your lips, following the shape you created with your pencil with the Mac Matte Lipstick in Ruby Woo, a highly pigmented and glamorous red that really will suit all skin tones. I love a matte red lip, but should you want to add a little gloss, Mac Pro Longwear Lipglass in Driven by Love complements Ruby Woo perfectly.

At the Office: Desktop Delights

Love it or hate it, we all spend a huge majority of our lives at our desks, surely we should be making all of the time spent there as enjoyable as possible? A stylish desk, filled with things to inspire and help you through your working day is essential. I think a monochrome colour palette is the best place to start - its simple, chic and clean. You can add accents of a bright colour pop as your mood and the seasons change quickly, and relatively cheaply.

A quick look through any fashionistas desk will reveal just as much as what she carries in her bag; these are the day-to-day gospel products which can are consistently reliable. The iPhone (complete with a chic Marc by Marc Jacobs shell £30) used to coordinate the days schedule and tasks to uploading your latest instagram picture. A beautiful bunch of flowers, a statement-making and well-placed lamp  (like this £60 one from Zara Home) and Jo Malone (a favourite is the Pine & Eucaluptus £45) diffuser all help make the place a little more pleasant to whittle away the hours. A Diptyuque candle always helps to relax the atmosphere and soothe square-computer eyes. 

Beauty Icon: Blake Lively

Blake Lively, is bloody gorgeous. Born with quite clearly perfect genes, she shared some of her beauty secrets behind the scenes for her new million dollar campaign for the newest fragrance from fashion house Gucci - Premiere. 

What's your go-to beauty or hair look for events? "It depends. I was at a premiere in Los Angeles recently in a Zuhair Murad gown, and I could have gone two ways - a smoky eye and lighter lip with a very slicked-back, straight, long ponytail, or a Rita Hayworth look with the red, longer nails and little cat eyes. So I went for the latter because that to me was a fun, special moment. But the next day at the premiere in New York I had this beautiful Gucci mellow yellow gown, and with that I thought you could go Grecian or A Midsummer Night's Dream. So, to make it different from the night before, I thought: 'I want a high pony or I want a braid'. And I had a necklace that I was considering wearing, so I thought: 'let's wrap it around the braid because it will make it more interesting." So you decide upon the looks yourself? "I'm always designing what the hair and make-up will look like and I style myself, including the shoes, jewellery, accessories - all of it. But then I'm lucky to be in the hands of some of the most talented people who will say: 'so that's your idea, now let me actualise it in a way that's more beautiful'. Maybe it's that old classic Hollywood look, maybe it's messy Kate Moss hair or a slicked-back J-Lo ponytail. So there's no go-to, it's 'who do you want to be tonight?"

Five Favourites: Red Lipsticks

Red lipstick has long been, and will be, an iconic look for women. Keep the lip neat, the rest of the makeup simple and only ever apply a good shade that suits you skintone onto properly moisturised lips and you cant go wrong! Matte shades of red have always been my favourite, but the stunning editorial of the equally stunning Rosie Huntington-Whiteley from the UK edition of Vogue, March 2011, has me craving a big fat glossy red lip. 

My favourite ever, suits-everyone reds are; Chanel Rogue Allure Luminous Satin Lipcolour in Lover - 09 (£25)  |  Yves Saint Laurent Rogue Pur Couture Pure Colour Lipstick SPF 15 in Rouge Vernis - 35 (£22)  | NARS Cosmetics Semi-Matte Lipstick in Heatwave (£17.50)  |  NARS Cosmetics Semi Matte Lipstick in Red Lizard (£17.50)  |  Rimmel Lasting Finish Lipstick by Kate Moss in Red'n Chic (£8.95)  |  not a lipstick, and we're now onto number six of five favourites.. but you cant create Rosies red lip without this hero NARS Cosmetics Larger than Life Lipgloss  bin Norma (£19).

p r e v i o u s  f a v o u r i t e s  . . .

rose tinted glasses  |  face masks  |  liberty beauty hall splurges  |  beauty oils  |  summer nails  |  may 2012  | british beauty buys  |  tom ford spring/summer beauty  | matte lipsticks  

rachel xo