Stila Launch at Harvey Nichols Birmingham

Forget diamonds, this year I'm asking for Stila for Christmas!

I was lucky enough to be invited to Harvey Nichols recently to celebrate the launch of the new counter, have my makeup done by pro artist Sascha Jackson and also take a sneak peek at some of the new product launches, just in time for Christmas.

Heading to the beautiful new Harvey Nichols store, I sat down to see Sascha and talk through some top trends for AW16, what she's been up to this year and also try out some of the fabulous new products.

First off, we caught up and I discovered Sascha has been a busy bee travelling to New York for the M&S Beauty Conference, and to make up the models for the Alice and Olivia shows.

At AW16, skin was flawless and dewy, with a real focus on graphic eyeliner and glitter eyes, with plenty of colour!

Back to the makeover. Sascha started off by asking what kind of look I wanted, and I opted for something bronzed with a very seasonally appropriate lip.

To get the look, Sascha used Correct and Perfect All in One Colour Correcting Palette to correct the skin followed by the new Aqua Glow Serum Foundation and Aqua Glow Serum Concealer. Perfect for dry skin, this moisturises and hydrates. The concealer has all the same benefits of the foundation, but in a thicker consistency, with light reflecting pigments.

Next, products from the newly launched Perfect Me Perfect Hue Eye and Cheek Palette in shade Medium Tan were used on the eye to create a beautiful bronze look, with shade Curious as the base, Feisty in the crease, Magnetic used as a wet liner blended in with more Feisty and the same shade underneath.

The eyes were finished off with Stay All Day Waterproof Brow Colour in Medium and Huge Extreme Lash Mascara in Black.

Back to complexion, the same palette was used to blush, and Stay All Day Bronzing Powder in medium was used to buff over the face.

Finally, the lips were lined in Stay All Day Lip Liner in Cabernet and finished off with Stay All Day Matte'ificent Lipstick in Framboise.

I adore what Sascha did and especially fell in love with the lip colours she picked for me; these are going to be perfect for Christmas!

How beautiful are all the products used too? These make such perfect presents, especially the palettes which start at £28 for Perfect Me, Perfect Hue.

With such beautiful packaging and standout products, any girl would love to receive some Stila for Christmas! Have you tried any Stila products before? 

Stila at Selfridges with Sascha Jackson

Can you remember your first Stila product? Yours, like mine, may well have been a twist and click lip glaze purchased from Sephora.

Stila has come a long way since then, and I was able to speak to the brand's UK lead pro artist and find out more about the reinvention when they launched a pop up at Selfridges Birmingham.

I met Sascha in the Selfridges Beauty Hall and was invited to sit and learn more about the brand, the products and get a sneak peek of what's happening in make up for SS16.

Founded in 1994 by celebrity MUA Jeanine Lobell, Jeanine wanted to create products that were different to what was already on the market. That lip glaze? It turns out that was actually one of the first products she created. 

The brand ethos is all about enhancing your natural beauty, making the best of your features and making sure you look still look like you. That means a focus on glowing skin, a great complexion and great ingredients is all on the agenda.

After the history lesson, it was time to get right in and explore the products. Sascha gave me a full makeover in a record breaking 30 minutes, and I actually couldn't believe how quickly and professionally she worked. Something tells me thats one of the reasons why she was chosen to be UK lead and it must seriously come in handy at fashion week.

Stay All Day Foundation

Starting off with the cult One Step Correct, Sascha then built up coverage using Stay All Day Foundation in no 5. To do this, she brushed on the product first and then stippled on top using a beauty blender. Sascha swears that she never has to touch up her foundation and these two products are all you need for a face that doesn't budge. I loved the slightly dewy finish but you could always use a sheer pressed powder over the top, dusted on with a big fluffy brush.

Next, Sascha used Stay All Day Bronzer in light shade 3 in the shape of a number 3, on the temples, cheeks and underneath the jaw a little.

Stila Convertible Colour Lip and Cheek Stain in Lilium

Now, she introduced me to the Perfectly Poreless Putty Perfector. What's this, you may ask? Well, it's actually something of a genius product that is bouncy to the touch, but on the skin creates a natural, matte, flawless finish. The final results were something like an airbrush effect, finishing off the face to hide imperfections. Even better, it's great for leaving in your handbag and using for touch ups throughout the day. This was dusted all over.

Onto the eyes, I was impressed by the Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner. A longer than average tip somehow makes this eyeliner so much easier to use. Unlike so many eyeliners, the colour doesn't fade and stays true all day. Sascha also used the Eyes are the Window Shadow Palette in Soul, a collection of earthy neutrals in a variety of finishes that are heavenly for everyday and to build up in the evening.

To finish, we used Stay All Day Liquid Lip Colour in Patina, and the colour was a revelation. Something that I would never normally pick out, it was just divine and works so well with my dark hair.

Here's my final look! Do you like it? I wish I could book Sascha in to do my make up everyday!

As for the spring trends, it's all about glossy skin, a perfect complexion, contrasting textures and a matt lip this season. Sascha was even at New York fashion week working behind the scenes on Alice and Olivia recently, working her magic so she really is the expert.

I've had a chance to try out these products at home too and I am thoroughly impressed. Firstly, the Liquid Lip Colour in Patina. Although this is a colour I would never normally try, Sascha did an amazing job of picking out a colour that suits me so well. I use this product so much and I'm always being asked what I'm wearing when I have this on. Not only that, but this genuinely does stay on all day, even after eating.

The foundation again, is a stay all day wonder, especially when used with the One Step Correct. The lid even comes with a concealer and I use this regularly to touch up on the go.

Finally, the eyeliner. Whether it's the shape of the tip or the formulation, I can actually just about manage a decent eyeliner flick with this.

Those are my favourites, what are yours?

*With thanks to Stila for the makeover

Bobbi Brown Make Up Lesson and Long Wear Gel Sparkle Launch

Whilst I may have missed the Bobbi Brown Shadow Meets Liner Launch when I was away on holiday, the guys at Bobbi Brown were kind enough to invite me in for a one-to-one Make Up Lesson at House of Fraser Birmingham instead.

With Shanice from House of Fraser Birmingham

The lovely Shanice took me in for a lesson and demonstrated the new Shadow Meets Liner. As a complete Bobbi Brown newbie, I was really keen to find out more about the brand and stories behind the products. Taking me around the counter to try out everything from skincare to makeup, Shanice talked me through the Pretty Powerful philosophy. Bobbi Brown is a real believer of less is more, and the make up is designed to accentuate the good parts of the real you rather than create something that isn’t naturally there.

I was surprised to see that there is such an extensive skincare range available, and I had a look at the Extra Balm Rinse and Finishing Powder.

Once we’d chosen a shade of Shadow Meets Liner for me, Thunderstorm, we sat down and the make up lesson began.

I don’t usually wear eyeshadow but Shanice persuaded me to try something new, so I went for Thunderstorm, a silvery dark blue colour as a change from anything I’d normally wear. Both an eyeliner and eyeshadow, I opted to use it as an eyeshadow just to experiment.

On the wish list - Bobbi Brown brushes

First of all, Shanice prepped the eye area using Extra EyeRepair to moisturise the area, before using both the Corrector in bisque and Concealer Kit in beige under the eye area, using the concealer brush. She explained that these two products work perfectly together to correct and then conceal, and that Bobbi has always said that if she could formulate the two together, she would. Next came the Long Wear Eye Base in Medium all over the eye to give a flawless finish and prime the eyelid. I loved this product and it would be great as an everyday alternative to shadow for a pared down look. Next up, the star of the show; Long Wear Gel Sparkle in Thunderstorm. This pigmented, glittery colour was worked into the eyelid and taken up to just below the crease, before being blended out. On the crease, Shanice used the Eyeshadow in Shell to blend out into and create a contrast. To finish, the Long Wear Gel Eyeliner in black gave further contrast and I asked for a little flick too. A little tip from Shanice when using different colours on the eye was to work from darkest to lightest from the eyelashes, so my eyes went from black, to Thunderstorm, to Shell.

You can see the finished look here:

Eyes closed

Eyes open

There is a huge range of lessons available from 10minute to 60minute makeovers.

Here’s the full menu of complimentary lessons:

Makeup Lesson Menu

What do you think of my Smokey Eye lesson?