Jennifer Lopez for L'Oreal Paris Volume Million Lashes Mascara

In a new television commercial for L'Oreal Volume Million Lashes mascara, Jennifer Lopez brings her glow to all things eye-fluttering. This is not her first venture for L'Oreal, having promoted their shampoo (who doesn't want J-Lo hair?), but this commercial smacks of a high-end music video rather than just an advert. And of course, there is some Victoria Beckham spangle dress, some signature sequin and some incredible shoes on her great pins to make sure all us fashion folk are kept happy. Ahhh.

The Winners of L'Oreal Paris LashArchitect 4D Mascara!

After much delay - hey there was illness, royal weddings, holidays and a LOT of judging to do - we have the 10 winners of the L'Oreal Paris LashArchitect 4D mascara to announce.
We had so many entries I had to deploy the whole of the O magazine fashion team and Sylvie after hours on the case. We sorted, we read out loud, we laughed so much and then we voted. And these 10 people touched us the most, and got the most points, so we decided they were the winners.

1. Dale Immerman
2. Simone Gregor
3. Claudia Fraser
4. Eduardo Cachucho
5. Charmaine
6. Arnold Vermaak
7. Keri Young
8. Tasneem Jaffer
9. Lena Ioannou
10. @NyariMP

We will be in touch with all of you for clarification on address details and that sort of thing.
Congratulations to one and all!

Sylvie Says: In Which Bastien Gonzalez Tells Me Why I Never Became a Prima Ballerina

At some point last week I started to wonder if I was the only beauty journalist in the Southern Hemisphere who had not got to meet and experience the Bastien Gonzalez’ pedi-cure at the One&Only. His name became as familiar to me as my own children’s as the twittersphere filled up with songs of his praise. And hallelujah, there by the invitation of Manley Communications and by the grace of her Doily I too was hooked up with an exclusive consultation with Bastien himself. 
Here are some facts.
1. Most women who apologise about their feet prior to a treatment are generally the ones who have less to worry about – tick. 
2. The arch of the foot – or the contraction of the arch of the foot - is the first point at which blood is pumped back to the heart. To quote Bastien,"you’re not going to die if you have flat arches." but we’re talking about optimal health, starting from the feet up, and BTW girls, any heel more than 6 centimetres will prevent the contraction and relaxation of the arch and result in heavy legs. Massage behind the knee to get the blood pumping
3. My 1st metatarsal is shorter than my second, and THAT is why, Dear Doily, I did not become a prima ballerina. My balance is slightly off and the mechanical imbalance can cause calluses (of which I have very little he is pleased to note)

Now I know dear readers, that you are of the shallow variety that don’t especially want to hear about the intricacies of the treatment or the innovations for that matter, and I assure you they are innovative and extraordinary – think dentist drills, generations old chamois buffers, exquisitely special products laced with pearl granules and an idea that took root in Gonzalez’ youth where he holiday jobbed for his architect uncle, when he was made to continuously buff and skim walls until they had reached a fine polish. Which is exactly how he reached the pearly natural pinky shine that is currently taking residence on my toes. Oh, and a foot and leg massage to die for, in a heated reclining chair. Just saying.
I asked if he was afraid that by imparting so much of his information that he would be copied. "No," he said without a heartbeat. If you teach people the exact way you do something, they will always do it your way. And boy, is he connected. We gossiped, we whispered, we rolled our eyes, we discussed our Mac fetish and we had a ball. And I cant tell you a word of it. Then we kissed, a lot, had a final little gossip on the step and I bounced off with my twinkling toes!

Some Bastien Facts

• He has 16 studios around the world partnered with the One&Only Hotel
• He has a range of products – Reverence de Bastien – which is sold in salons – he realised when in New York recently that (Said in a strong US accent) REVERENCE of Bastien was NOT going to wash on shelves with women who have single handedly been responsible for taking obey out of the wedding vows!
• He personally trains each of the therapists that work in his studios.

Some Nail Facts 

•  Dry your nails with a towel in a buffing motion EVERY time you bath or get them wet, this promotes growth and maintains shine
• Don’t dig away at the cuticle, it is there to protect the ‘mattress’ of the nail – where the nail grows from
• File nails only in one direction but buff in any direction – but only with a chamois
• A blade in a practiced hand is the best technique for callous removal, followed by a foot peel – which dissolves built up skin and lastly by using an abrasive foot file, which sadly is more effective when wet than when dry.
• Vertical lines running up from the cuticle generally indicate dehydration, and horizontal waves indicate compression – too tight shoes, and too long nails. 

It was a glorious afternoon, my feet look fabulous and I cant wait for him to come back. 
I strongly recommend you go too. It is fascinating, enlightening and a pure treat.

Jennifer Lopez for L'Oreal Paris - In the Desert via Twitter

I love it when the peeps I follow on the Twitter post images of themselves that we would never have access to without the wonder of the little blue bird. Jennifer Lopez is a star that knows and understands the beneficial power of 'behind the scenes' insights and exposure.
There is no doubt that the access we have been given to her via American Idol, Twitter and the behind the scenes photos she releases have benefitted her public image and raised her profile considerably. Not everyone benefits, but people who have garnered an unfair reputation like J-Lo and Rachel Zoe are the real winners when it comes to reality TV and social networking.
Anyhoodle, Jennifer posted this picture last night of her and the mysterious Benny out in the desert shooting her latest L'Oreal Paris commercial. Looking, dare we say, not her usual glowing self. And yet, all the more lovable for it.

Her last L'Oreal campaign was sleek, smooth and chic. Effortlessly beautiful. Here's hoping we see another side to her for the next one. Go J-Lo.

Freida Pinto for L'Oreal Color Riche

You are all aware that I am most admiring of actress, Freida Pinto. I love her simple, chic, youthful style that never crosses the line into trashy. There are really so few young actresses you can say that about. Including people like Emma Roberts, which I found surprising. But Freida is always impeccably stylish. It makes me happy and restores my faith in the youth.
Freida is also the face of the new Color Riche lipstick campaign for L'Oreal Paris. And she looks lovely as usual. Nothing wrong with that. Really. I can actually get on board with just plain and simply jolly nice. Happiness.

Ines de la Fressange is New L'Oreal Paris Spokesperson

More used to famous faces from the world of film and music, this time L'Oreal Paris have chosen a fashion industry face for spokesperson duties. Ines de la Fressange is not only a woman in her 50s, but has also been mostly out of the limelight for the past decade.
Once a muse of Karl Lagerfeld and face of Chanel, they fell out and she fell out of sight. Now older and wiser, they have reconciled and Ines walked the Chanel show last summer in Paris and has landed a cover of Elle Magazine in France.
Embodying fashion, class and style, Ines de la Fressange is a wonderfully surprising choice and it is well deserved too. She says, "I am very pleased to work with L'Oréal Paris. Beauty is a real source of freedom. I believe in the slogan, 'Because we're worth it!' I love those words, which are still perfectly relevant today." Likewise L'Oréal is excited about the "divine grace" and "irresistible je ne sais quoi" that Ines will bring to the role.
You can also read a short interview with Ines, regarding her book on Paris, Parisian Chic: A Style Guide, by clicking on this link to Nowness.com. I like that she has named the book "Style Guide" - it gives us something in common, non?

Sylvie Says: Win Lash Architect 4D Mascara from L'Oreal Paris!

[SG Says: how exciting. Ten of you can win the very latest in 4D mascara that has yet to be launched on the market! Oh, and please ignore everything else Sylvie Says about me. Good.]

All hail the Doyley! (that's StyleGuide to you and, yes, I know its spelt 'doily'?) 
Some months back my good friend StyleGuide was crowned  - quite rightly - the Doyenne of Fashion Blogging. That she is, no doubt. And she is also at the centre of a ring of people who most love and adore her, and use this privilege to give her a righteous ribbing when we see fit (and are a little more than an arm’s length away for safety.) 
So the moniker "The Doyley" was born. And look at her in this A Portrait of a Nation shot.... HOW gorgeous? 
Now, when The Doyley was approached by lovely photographer Andrew Brauteseth (@guy_with_camera) to take part in his A Portrait of a Nation project, I was most flattered when she asked, nay insisted, I do her face for her. DUH. Well not so much. My friends are notoriously difficult about having their faces painted. Seriously. I don’t get it... Stars of stage and screen, models who’s mugs appear regularly on cover shoots and every bride from here to KwaZulu Natal love having me ‘do’ them (slight exaggeration for dramatic effect of course), but not my friends. 
They run screaming when I so much as reach into my bag for a tissue, and treat my make up brushes like loaded guns. WHY? 
When they do capitulate for events such as milestone birthdays, weddings and contributors pics they grimace and twitch and treat me like the oral hygienist. Whatevs to them. But not The Doyley – she was a treat. She let me have my wicked way with her (with the help of some hella purple eye shadow and a show-stopping red lip), she didn’t grimace and she only had wonderful, kind things to say about how she looked. Quite right. 
And so, in the spirit of celebration of this awesome portrait, the fact that this is the ONLY mascara that the Doyley’s impossible eyelashes respond to and that I’m looking for a little love, I’m giving away ten tubes of our about-to-be-launched, insanely brilliant Lash Architect 4D Mascara. So follow me on twitter (@SylvieLOreal) and tell me why you’d let me do your face. You can also let us know in the comments box - and what you think of this portrait. And as soon as I feel flooded with love I’ll pick ten of you to give a prezzie to. It's that easy. Now go.
Photo: Andrew Brauteseth, A Portrait of a Nation

Sylvie Says: Ombre-s It!

(Really? That's the heading she sends? Like this blog is a cheap and tacky tabloid! Humph. But I did warn you yesterday in my trends piece that ombre hair was on its way...and here it is. Enjoy.)

Hi all. So its a rare thing indeed when Robyn and I disagree on a trend. I finally got her to agree that my much coveted Swedish Hasbeen’s Jodphur Clogs were ‘ok’ but I’m not allowed to tell a soul. And I granted her her long pleated skirt (with a minimum of whining). But we cannot reach agreement on Ombre hair.
You see – I like it. She doesn’t. I like it so much that if I had Hair with a capital H I would do it, but I don’t. I have a crop, and if I did it, I would look like I had a crop with frosted tips. And that’s definitely a look we agree to hate on!
I loved it when I first saw it on Drew and Nicole – and I think my buddy Kate Moss may even have done it for a fraction of a style second. And it sort of reminds me of Debbie Harry.
But, there are rules:

1. It should not look as if your roots are growing out;
2. It should look as if your roots are growing out EVENLY;
3. The tips should be coloured regularly to keep them fresh and not all dried out and dusty;
4. Ditto the roots;
5. It can be done with extensions – BUT (again with the but) they must be fresh, human hair, high quality, beautifully coloured and well maintained;
6. Ombre hair is not an excuse for shampoo dodging – neither is matte hair for that matter;
7. Dip dying your ombre hair in hot pink or orange is not a look;
8. Matching your dip dyed ombre hair to your buddy’s.... Well I think you know the answer to this one.

Try Huey or Nicole at Love Hair Salon – they’re hip and they know about stuff like this
LOVE, 5 Wandel Street, Dunkley Square Gardens, Cape Town or www.lovehairsalon.com
[Obviously we are deeply grateful to MasterCard and L'Oreal Paris, as ever, for sending us to London so we could discover the trends first, for you]

Behind the Scenes at London Fashion Week 2011

As you all know, I headed out to London last week to shoot some editorial for O Magazine, and was lucky enough to get behind the scenes at London Fashion Week, and attend some of the shows. I will post loads of pics this week, but first, here is the team at the registration at Somerset House, where the base tents were situated.

Sylvie from L'Oreal Paris was our make-up artist and thanks must go to L'Oreal Paris for the sponsorship. Anthony Friend was the photographer (although obvs these snappy snaps were just by me) and Alex, now based in London, was the first assistant stylist. Sylvie and Alex are, of course, blog favourites.

We must also thank MasterCard for trip sponsorship. Shopping photos to come soon.

Gwen Stefani is Named New Face of L'Oreal Paris

Known as much for her relentless use of red lipstick almost as much as her music and fashion line, makes Gwen Stefani an obvious and natural choice to be named as the new face of L'Oreal Paris, with her debut campaign to be for Infallible Le Rouge lip colour.
This is not the first interaction between the cosmetics mega-brand and the No Doubt front woman, as prestige hair care subset L'Oréal Professionnel recently sponsored the rocker-turned-designer's Spring 2011 LAMB show in New York.
Ms Stefani said at the launch, "I can't believe I get to be one of the L'Oréal Paris girls. I love playing dress up, on stage or shooting videos, it's always been one of my favorite parts of being in a band."
Congratulations lady.

Sylvie Says "I'm Sorry" and Gives You The Gift of The Smoky Eye

Right, so first, I ask forgiveness... While I have been swanning about smiling and waving, suffering death-by-canape and generally wrapping up the year I've left you the blog readers most awfully in the lurch...
A catch up.
* I love our new Miss SA Bokang Montjane
* I am completely obsessed with Kate Middleton – who bears an uncanny resemblance to Audrina ‘Ceiling Eyes’ Partridge, don't you think? (in a good way)
* And I just cant feel the love for Carey Mulligan’s face to rival the outpouring of desire for her wardrobe. Sorry.
* I cant wait to see Black Swan and have rekindled my love affair with ballet, in its honour, by enrolling at a local ballet school which teaches the Vaganova Technique. So fancy.
But, far more importantly here is, my Christmas gift to you:
THE SMOKY EYE
I know – you can send gifts later - honestly this is the most ridiculously most asked about make up look. EVER.
1. Rim lash line top and bottom, inside and out with a soft pencil in black, deep purple or sparkly brown – depending on what the intensity is that you’re looking for. And I mean RIGHT IN the lash line in-between your lashes with no gaps. Feel free to scribble – its not important at this stage to keep things neat.
2. Using a cotton bud, smudge the liner to break down the wax of the crayon and get a looser and softer edge
3. Now, and this is critical, dip a small brush into a corresponding powder (i.e. black for black liner, brown for brown... you get the picture) and continue to scribble into the smudged area setting the greasy wax pencil... It is essential that you do this to prevent your eyes from sliding down to your chin. Tap off residual powder and work with TINY amounts to blend and set the crayon – work from the inner corners blending outwards and remember a little goes a long way. Blend the outer edges and top line away into nothing... Remember, this takes elbow grease and practice. The make up is just the tool... You have to do the work
4. Clean up any fallout below your eyes and add concealer if necessary
5. Finish by curling lashes and applying as much mascara as you can possibly manage!
Voila
And
You can also go over here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZ-dczsh03M... To see my brand boyfriend James Kaliardos show you his way, in a video, in his soothing dulcet tones! (his technique is totally different – but listen to him say BLEND!)

New International Face of L'Oreal Paris - Jennifer Lopez

So Jenny-from-the-block has a lot on at the moment. I mean she is the new judge on American Idol. She has twins to look after. Small ones. She makes movies. And sings. Sometimes quite annoyingly with her husband. She presents stuff and exercises up a storm in her free time. I know this for sure because there is no way else a woman of my age could look this incredible in a figure-flaunting Hervé Léger By Max Azria dress with sky-high nude leather Brian Atwood pumps if she didn't.
And now the multi-talented super woman that is Jennifer Lopez has been awarded a multi-year contract as global brand ambassador for L'Oréal Paris and becomes the face of the new EverSleek haircare range. As if she wasn't already successful and busy enough.
But she really does have beautiful hair. And flawless skin. And is a real, honest-to-goodness, I-came-from-nothing-and-just-look-at-me-now gal. If she can do it, you have to believe that she is an excellent role model for the young women of today. So props to L'Oreal for the pick.
PS: Did you know that JLo's style icon is Barbara Streisand? Fact.

Sylvie Says: Do Your Bit for Movember

One for the your boys!
It’s Movember (just in case you hadn’t noticed) so, we thought we’d hand this one over to our chaps...
Head over to Man of the Cloth blog and post a pic of your bloke (or someone else’s if you like) and give him an opportunity to win a hamper of awesome L’Oreal grooming products to the value of R1000!
A hamper of equal value will also be donated to Look Good, Feel Better charity on behalf of the runner-up – so everyone wins. Don't you love that.
In the mean time, do you think I’ll win a Friday Fashion Face-Off with this look?
Xxx
Sylvie

Sylvie Says: Go and Be Pretty - Use Blusher

with apologies to the Old Spice Guy)
Look at Jenna, now, back at me, now back at Jenna, now...ok you get the picture. Isn't she PRETTY?!
Those of you that follow us on Twitter will be more than aware by now of the (probably nauseating) lovefest that went down last week while shooting the O Mag February editorial. But it was just delicious. And the kind offering of Haute Cabriere wine and views just added to the romance. My brief, as the make-up artist, was to make Jenna pretty. Not hard to do you might argue – and I quite agree.
So out came the blusher. Blush is synonymous with pretty for me, and while its been taking a little holiday for the first part of the Spring/Summer ‘10 make up trends, sometimes you have to say ‘trend be damned’ and you do what you have to do to get what you want! Which is what I did – and I added lipstick. Lovely fruity sheer lipstick.
Some tips about blusher:
* Don’t make stripes
* Don’t get it too close to your nose ( a two finger distance is ideal)
* Don’t use blusher to contour - in fact, don’t contour unless you are a makeup artist with at least 10 years of experience
* Do use more than one colour – an overall softer colour underpinned with a pop of something more fruity
* Do use a fluffy buffing blush to apply even cream blusher
* Do stick to pure pigments and stay away from anything too dusty.
Go forth and be pretty!
Xxx sylvie
Ps. Did I mention I’d be buying ALL the garments from this shoot. Groceries be damned! Look out for it in the February issue of O Magazine
Photographer: Anthony Friend
Model: Jenna Upton from Max Models

Sylvie Says: How to Choose The Right Shade of Foundation

A few weeks ago I spent an entire six days week with my pal and brand wife Linda O’Connell who is Me, only for Maybelline, travelling our lovely country doing store visits. Now, aside from that we can tell you that the City Lodge does a fine tuna tramezzini, Tasha’s at Melrose Arch is awesome for meeting Cape Town buddies, I am still not proficient with the Garmin, people in Pretoria love ice-cream and the News Café at King Shaka airport serve Tanqueray – what we can definitely tell you is that SA women STILL don’t know how to test for the right foundation for their skin colour...

An example:
Me: studiously and surreptitiously observing a woman furiously blending foundation into the top of her hand
Me: you know, if you want the right colour you should test it on your face
Her: looking at me as if insane - ‘actually I’m looking for under-eye concealer’
Me: looking at her as if insane. Seriously. Really. Well then testing in on your HAND is definitely the right way to go.

You’re getting my point right? So girls, please – if you want to find the right colour foundation – test it on your face. Most importantly test it on an area where the skin is at its best colour (i.e. avoid the centre of the face) - which bascially means the jawline.
Draw as many stripes on your jawline with as many shades you think you may be and go outside into the natural light.
The colour that has mostly disappeared is the right colour for you.
Simple.

PS: Looking and dismissing a colour from what you see in the bottle aint gonna help either, see?
Xxx sylvie
Pic above stolen, as usual from www.jamienelson.com

Sylvie Says: Don't Think Everything That You See Is Real

Anyone care to guess who this is?
Flawless, fresh, rich enough to afford or pretty enough to model the coveted Burberry Shearling Jacket...

I DIE!!! Its old raisin-face herself.


Corrective makeup...pff. Botox....pah! What we really need is some of that peskily elusive PhotoShop in a bottle serum. Just another reminder chaps, don’t believe everything you see in the movies
Xxx Sylvie
PS: You don’t want to be dieting yourself into non-existence and tanning yourself into a genuine leather handbag either! Preggers or not...

Sylvie Says It's An Oldie But A Goodie - Dove Evolution

I know that this video has been watched over 11 million times across the globe, but a woman needs regular reminders in this world of superficiality and photoshop, that beauty is never as it seems on the outside. Watch it again, just for yourself.
I use it every time I talk about make-up and beauty.
Sylvie xx

Sylvie Says Eyebrow Threading is Sore But The Only Option

Ok so here the post on eyebrow threading actually is! Seems the common (ahem) thread in the private responses I got to my 5-minute-face post was ‘who did your eyebrows’!
I’ve long been a fan of threading as the only option for eyebrow grooming – it works equally well for those of you dealing with Pete Sampras brows, and those like me, who need to have their brows carved out of the blonde fur above their eyes.
Many of my models, bless them, have been sent to worship at the temple of Rashmi (More about that later) prior to any big beauty editorial or campaign shoot and my ears were burning with their screaming curses, but they thanked me later… oh yes they did.
Now I’m not gonna lie to ya. Its sore. Sore like you wish you were in natural labour/having root canal/stepping on a pointy stone with a cold food sore. Very, very sore. But only the first time. And maybe the second too… but its WORTH it.
Take 2 Myprodol and put on your big girl panties. You’ll thank me too..
In Cape Town you must try Rashmi – in Rondebosch eastish – easy to find they explain (she has a sister-in-law called Sheitel or something who is offered as B choice- same salon- but I think is actually better...). For R25 ten minutes in and out seriaaaaaas call 021 696 5354 and ask for a brow thread.
OR I went to Eyecandy – basically a dentist’s chair in the middle of Woolies where they do a perfectly fine job (better than any waxing or plucking brow bar people I’ve ever been too) and they charge 80 Ronts with some little ayurvedic massaged thrown in – bit odd under the fluorescents but what the hey. And they can pretty much fit you in immediately!

Sylvie Says This is Not About Eyebrow Threading, But Could Be

This was supposed to be a post about eyelash threading but, it isn’t.
I’ve just returned from a gruelling week of cross-country store visits – imagine The Amazing Race, combined with The Apprentice in high heels… The experience was absolutely invaluable and I’m going to tell you all about it. But in another post.
So this post is just about pretty pictures. It’s a website that I discovered through my SA photographer friend Misha Taylor’s facebook page – the photographer, Jamie Nelson, is a friend of his and I’ve followed her (um, stalked) her down to her blogspot and website. http://www.jamienelson.com/ I love her work. And the work of her make up artist, Lottie (I think!)
(Posted without permission from anyone and when and if she sees this she’ll probably take it down and take out an order of restraint against me because I’m proper obsessed!)

Sylvie's Five Minute Morning Face

In the spirit of graciousness and the interests of transparency I though it best to properly introduce myself So, this is me, or at least how many of you may know me...

Cute huh?
But the truth is, is that without a little help in the mornings, this is actually me.

And its my job to make people who are at least one hundred times better looker (and younger) than me, look one hundred times better than that, BEFORE we’ve even lit and shuffled them around in Photoshop a little Hence you can imagine my resistance to putting goo on my own face when erm, faced with that…
But the truth is, it makes us all feel better… here’s something I did earlier (while the children were eating their breakfast)

1. Pretty (BLEAK)


2. Conceal around the dark and discoloured areas only. Nose, inner and outer corners of the eye, lower eye and top and bottom lip – blend well into a moisturized skin to get a sheer and even cover...


3. Fill in and extend your brows using a powder not more than one shade darker or two shades lighter than your actual hair colour...


4. Swirl a lively peach toned blush onto the apples of your cheeks...


5. Recess any overhang on tired eyes using a taupey or dirty colour to create the illusion of shadow – this pops out the bulbs of the eye making you look instantly fresher...


6. Curl and twirl. Mascara is your BEST friend...


7. Tap on a little berry lip colour with some gloss...


8. And smile!


With a little Photoshop and the right light… Voila!
I look like this...

Well no, I still look like pic 8 – we’ll leave the Cosmo covers to my cuz. But I’m ok with that!

Truly 5 minutes to fresher… we can all spare that, I promise you (p.s. Photobooth really does make a great mirror).

So let me know what you think? Perhaps next time we can take a look from day to night, if, of course I manage to get a day face on again before 5pm!
XXX