Rebecca Taylor

We’ve just returned from NYFW where we were darting around the Big Apple getting the inside scoop from all the backstage areas and seeing what fabulous makeup trends are on the cards for AW13. Whilst there, we caught up with our favourite NY fashion designer, Rebecca Taylor, to find out what she keeps inside her makeup bag.

Inside Rebecca’s makeup bag

Chanel Perfection Lumiere Foundation, £36 – This gives an amazing coverage that lasts all day long. I prefer a clean, simple look and this provides exactly that.

MAC Eyelash Curler, £14 – I swear by these beauties because they open up my eyes and refresh my look in an instant.

MAC Eyeliner in Bordeauxline, £14 –  This eyeliner is a dark purple and can be worn day or night. It’s my favourite shade.

Bobbi Brown Extreme Mascara, £18 – Black mascara is a must, especially for night time! Of all the mascaras I have tried, this one tops the list.

Chanel Illusion D’Ombre Eyeshadow in Illusoire, £23 – I prefer natural or earthy tones for the eyes and this one is great for smudging onto the lids.

Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for Lips and Cheeks, £18 – I love this color as it’s more natural than a pink blush, and gives me a healthy glow. And it’s for the lips and face, which makes it a double winner.

L’Oreal have announced that their new ambassador is the one and only… Alexa Chung! The Chungster is going to be the first ever face of L’Oreal Professionnel’s in-care salon hair colour line INOA. How VERY exciting!

It’s hardly surprising that she has bagged a big time campaign, as the style icon is known forher signature hairstyle – loose waves accented by a shaggy Birkin-perfect fringe and ombre dye. She is adding the role to her bulging fashion CV which includes Young Style Ambassador for the British Fashion Council and three-time winner of the British Style Award at the British Fashion Awards.

Alexa Chung for L’Oreal

Before you get all excited to hear Alexa’s take on the line ‘because I’m worth it’ and to see her hair flip, the campaign will only be run in print. Alexa said about her new role with L’Oreal: ‘I am delighted to be working with such an iconic brand. L’Oréal Professionnel is behind some of the amazing looks on the catwalks in London and Paris so I’m really excited to join the team.’ She is joining an impressive group of L’Oreal campaign stars, including Cheryl Cole, Gwen Stefani and Gwen Stefani.

For her campaign shot (above) Alexa’s hair was styled by colourist Jose Quijano from Neville Hair & Beauty who used shades from the new Mocha SS13 collection which launches this April. Jose said of her look for the campaign: ‘INOA MOCHA shades are the perfect colour choice for Alexa. The results are brilliantly polished and with natural multi-tonal reflect which suit her style!’

Love Alexa’s hair See our tips for how to get her look in the gallery below…

Today’s beauty icon is not a Hollywood actress or a supermodel. Its celebrity outshines that of any famous face because it is the very thing that transforms a star into a super star and sends stellar their career.  We’re talking, of course, about the red lipstick. A slick of this timeless beauty classic has created more iconic red carpet moments than any dress designer could ever dream of.  Marilyn made it famous but it’s the flock of fresh Hollywood beauties who continue to turn to its confidence bosting powers (before a wander down the red carpet) that have given it such iconic status.  Here’s our favourite red lipstick on the Oscars red carpet moments…

1) Nicole Kidman: Red Carpet Red Lip

2007 was big year for red lipstick at the Oscars. Nicole Kidman made a statement with a power pout and matching dress. Her pillar box red, matte lip reminded us of the red lip she wore in Moulin Rouge which she apparently insisted on applying herself. We wonder if she did her own touch ups on Oscars night Mac Lipstick in Ruby Woo, £14, will give you the same high impact look. 

2) Michelle Williams: Vintage Chic

At the 2006 Oscars Williams transformed her vintage canary yellow dress into a show-stopping, timeless piece of true Hollywood glamour with a slick of the red stuff.  Opting for a satin finish, rich red lipstick with lots of shine, she quickly became the new go-to girl for easy, bohemian glamour.  To get her satin finish red lip try Estee Lauder Pure Colour Long Lasting Lipstick in Scarlet Siren, £19.50 or Chanel Rouge Allure Luminous Satin Lip Colour in Coromandel, £25, and add a slick of balm to freshen the effect.

3) Charlize Theron: A Granny-Chic Glow

2010 Oscars beauty was all about Charlize for us. Red lipstick and a lilac dress should spell disaster (Think Dame Edna) but clearly, did the opposite when cannily teamed together for her walk down the red carpet. As the face of Dior we know she relies on the aptly named Dior Rouge Lipstick in Celebrity Red, £25- the perfect cool red for icy blondes such as Charlize.

4) Scarlett Johansson: Madmen Glamour

Flashback to 2004 when Scarlett Johansson jumped to our attention as the ultimate bombshell.  Her retro (Let’s call it madmen meets Dynasty but in a good way) look enjoyed a fresh edge with a softly applied creamy red lipstick. Having just received rave reviews for her role in Sophia Coppola’s Lost In Translation, Scarlett quickly became the new red lip pin up.  Dolce & Gabbana’s Classic Cream Lipstick in Iconic, £24, will give you the Johansson lip.

5) Vanessa Paradis: Parisian Chic

Yes finally a brunette!  Oh Vanessa how we love you and how sad we are to no longer see you styling up the arm of Johnny.  His fashion credentials have seriously dropped in our eyes. In 2010 we lusted after her vampy, Parisian red lip which sat chicly between, centre parted, loose grunge waves which only she could pull off. Chanel Rouge Allure Luminous Satin Lip Colour in Inimitable, £25, is the ruby red she turns to.

OUR BEST RID LIP TIP EVER LINE YOUR LIPS WITH A NUDE (NOT A RED) LIPLINER TO CREATE A GREAT BASE AND GIVE  LIPS A MORE PLUMPED EFFECT.

Check back here on Monday when we’ll be bringing you all the best beauty looks from the 2013 Oscar Awards!

It looks like the bitter weather won’t be budging this weekend, but don’t despair quite yet. Our handpicked selection of beauty treats will warm your soul and guarantee to beat any winter chill. Whether you want to go Lichtenstein-retro with ghd’s new collection or get down and dirty with Avène’s pretty pink scrub, we’ve got something for everyone…

Repstyle Collection in Crocadilly and Snake it Up, £9.99 each

Bold lips and nails were all over the catwalks at LFW so make a statement this weekend with these fab new magnetic polishes from Essie. Hover the magnet over wet nails for a super sophisticated fishnet-esque finish.

Model Bianca Balti has just been revealed as the new face of Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue fragrance taking over from blonde beauty Anna Jagodzinska. But before your get yourself in a panic, male model David Gandy is still very much in the picture – and thankfully he’s held on to those little white shorts too.

New girl Bianca Balti

When the fragrance first launched in 2007 it featured Gandy alongside model Marija Vuyovic with the pair wearing white swimsuits and kissing on a raft. This steamy promo was followed up in 2010 with an advert starring Gandy (again) and Jagodzinska who were seen swimming towards a shore where they embrace.

For the latest campaign super snapper Testino is the man behind the lens once again and he David and Bianca have returned to Capri to continue the story.

Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana explain: “Bianca has featured in many Dolce & Gabbana campaigns, but to see her with David brings a renewed, relaxed energy to Light Blue. Together, their eyes match the colour of the water, that beautiful endless blue that is the Mediterranean surrounding Capri. Watching it is to dream of plunging into that refreshing sea and feel the sun on the skin, to feel totally free, relaxed and at peace.” Sounds good to us!

This time round the tale takes a retro twist harking back to Capri’s iconic past with Bianca wearing a high-waisted, balcony bra style swimsuit.

David Gandy in a previous Light Blue campaign

As well as Anna Jagodzinska, Bianca joins a long line of glamorous Dolce & Gabbana Beauty girls including Scarlett Johansson, Felicity Jones and Monica Bellucci. The brand is known for it’s sexually provocative advertising and whether it’s Scarlett channeling Marilyn or David’s tighty whities, the models always turn heads.

Check out three of our favourite Dolce & Gabbana campaign stars in the gallery below…