Toma Nail Polishes

We love all the beautiful brights around right now, but think we’ve found the brightest of the bunch! Toma Nail Polishes from Mad Beauty launch their collection of eye popping shades for nails – the Art Attack!

Six neon shades, including Blue Movie, Pink Panther and Tangerine Dream make up a set to get you noticed; we’re loving them with white t-shirts and faded denim, we’re loving them for multi-coloured rainbow toes and we’re loving them more because they’re a very reasonable £6.90 each. www.madbeauty.com

Nails Inc - Elizabeth Street with flag charm

Nails Inc have been a presence on the British high street for 10 years: and they’re celebrating! A limited edition collection – five best selllers and five new summer shades – have been accessorised with cute charms. The charms, that include a London taxi, Union Jack, a red phone box and a London bus adorning the best sellers, come with a mobile cord so you can add them to your phone.

The new summer shade charms are all about the beach and include a pink flamingo, an ice lolly and a bucket and spade! On sale from 30th April at House of Fraser and Nails Inc stores, the anniversary polishes cost £15.

Taxi Cosmetics

Peter Kelly is the Co-creator/Owner of Taxi London Cosmetics. After working as a UK contract manufacturer helping to create new products and brands, it was a natural progression for Peter to create his own line of cosmetics.  Here we talk to Peter about his collection, who he admires and what the future holds.

How did you get into the beauty business?
I worked for a UK contract manufacturer in sales and product development for 15 years. Past clients included Bobbi Brown, Jeanine Lobell (Stila) & the girls who created Pout when they were starting up their own ranges. We also looked after products for established brands such as Boots, Avon & Max Factor.

Why did you decide to launch your own business?
As part of a rationalisation at my then employer, I was made redundant in April 2004. As I had pretty much always worked on new products and had developed ranges for others, I had been considering my own brand for some time. Being ‘let go’ gave me the opportunity and backed by my wife Jane, and after investing savings (and some!), the brand was created. We originally created Taxi for export markets such as Asia and India. Our aim was to source quality UK & European made product there. 15 months after the decision to create Taxi London; we launched the range at a major international trade show, Cosmoprof Asia in Hong Kong.

Click here  to read this interview in full.

Daniel Sandler - Watercolour Blush

While we’re all watching Jade Goody’s progress with a kind of horrible fascination, it’s good to know that some of her friends are getting on with the business of supporting her quietly. Make up artist, Daniel Sandler, who did Jade’s wedding make-up, has produced a perfect pale pink Limited Edition Watercolour blush, and for every one sold, £5 goes straight to Marie Curie Cancer Care. Daniel says, “Jade is probably helping a lot of young women be aware of the disease before it’s too late.” Cancer charity websites support Daniel’s view with tenfold increases in the number of people reading up on the disease. ‘Jade’ Watercolour, £14.95, 01923 845 370.

Hello Kitty for MAC

Probably one of the cutest collaborations ever to hit make-up counters. We challenge anyone not to be charmed by this kooky, quirky range. Yes move over Dame Edna, MAC has a new leading lady (feline or otherwise). It’s time to say Hello Kitty, and lap up all her delicious delights. Like the cutesy kitty herself the range is girly, fun and pink, pink, pink.

The Hello Kitty Colour Collection is jam packed with little gems, from sheer Lipsticks to Lipglass in party pinks and slightly more muted peaches. The Glitter Eyeliners paired with the fabulous falsies are a killer combo for a naughty night out look. While you can’t help but fall in love with the Beauty Powder, complete with Kitty’s little face imprinted.

Hello Kitty for MAC

If like the adorable Kitty you are a bit of an exhibitionist opt for ‘Hello Kitty Mild meets Hello Kitty Wild’ and as the title suggests this isn’t for the faint hearted. From shocking pink Lipsticks and new Lipglasses are sure to please all you 80’s addicts. Walk on the wild side with Reflects Glitter and Eyeshadow Palette, we’re loving the tempting teals and funky fuchsias. 

Still not satisfied? well we’ve saved the best for last, please give a warm welcome to the Hello Kitty Kouture range. Adorned in Swarovski crystals, at over £50 a Pressed Powder doesn’t come cheap, but let’s not forget a piece of Kitty Kouture is priceless.  No normal vanity case will do here, lovingly store your little Kitty gems in the cosmetic bags.

Available now, the Hello Kitty collection is limited, so avoid the last minute stampede and pick yours up now.

www.maccosmetics.co.uk

Shadow Minerals

Probably is gold. Especially when it’s the new Shadow Mineral Gold Collection from L’Oreal. Available in two shimmering tones, Gold and Bronze Gold, we’ve fallen for the one that’s most similar to how we expect our jewellery to be; pure Gold. It’s gorgeous for an eye-widening day time look, mixed with some khaki kohl or spiky brown lashes, or applied with a heavier hand for sparkling evening eyes. Perfect for skin that is sensitive, they contain no perfume, no talc or preservatives.

£8.99 nationwide.

Custom Pink Hyacinth

A hot make-up artist favourite, 3 Custom Color, has arrived at www.cultbeauty.co.uk featuring stand out products from the fabulous range. We’re immediately in love with Watercolor For Cheeks cream blush in popping Pink Hyacinth (£15), that can be dabbed on cheeks with the fingertips and blended for a flush of prettiness. The compact has it’s own mirror so there’s no excuse for looking anything other than the picture of health. www.cultbeauty.co.uk.

Bourjois Illuminating Touch

The weather’s brighter so your complexion should be too. A little radiance goes a long way, which is why we’re loving Bourjois Illuminating Touch Face Highlighter at a very budget friendly £6.84. You can swirl it lightly over cheeks and brows or even add a dab to your cupid’s bow to lift and enhance your look. Wear it under your tinted moisturiser or foundation to get a ‘lit from within’ – or as we like to put it, ‘just got laid’ radiance!

At Superdrug and Boots now.

Mascara Wands

Love me and dump me…not a phrase you will often hear me say it has to be said, but when it comes to mascara wands I take on that exact sentiment. Never one to stay faithful to just one brand, I like to shop around. With each wand offering something different I end up spending a fortune on my quest for lash perfection. I suggest you save your pennies and go online to The Pro Make-Up Shop. The Pro Mascara Collection consists of nine different disposable wands so you can work out what is best for you. For volume nothing can beat ‘Big Bertha’, while ‘Particular Polly’ gets into those hard to reach areas with its delicate fine bristled brush. Simply dunk into any mascara, layer up your lashes as required then ditch the wand. We hear these little wands will be in use at London Fashion Week  for the Qasimi show. If it’s good enough for the runways it’s good enough for us.

£4.25 gets you 25 disposable wands.
www.thepromakeupshop.com

Duri Nail The Lilac French

We love the twist on traditional French manicures from The Nail Base using a splash of lilac instead of nude or beige polish. Elaine Brand, founder of The Nail Base uses a multi-layering technique using new-to-the-UK Duri Nail Polish to perfect The Lilac French. It’s the perfect way to combine spring’s big nude look with perfect pastels for a pop of discreet colour, and it’s easy to do at home too. Snap up a bottle of gentle violet Duri Delicious, £8.50 and creamy Duri Blank, £8.50 at www.thenailbase.co.uk and get working the trend.