Well, Ben and I have bought a house. It’s been a stressful and expensive process but we are in. Alas, no internet there at the moment, so I’m relying on some old (and often rubbish) scheduled posts to ensure no one thinks I’ve gone missing. After Christmas services will return to normal and I will be back to blogging.

I intend our ‘guest room’ to double as a studio in the new house so hopefully I’ll be able to provide you with much better outfit shots! Expect pics of the new pad soon.

And Merry Christmas!

You might think that the winter months are an easier time for dealing with break-outs, and skin problems, but before you book that last minute ski holiday, think again. Summer heat might have led to oily skin, but central heating and cold winds in winter can strip the skin of its protective layers. All hail then to Beauty Braveheart Cassandra Bankson, who hit 1.7 million views on her recent make-up tutorial video.

Cassandra is a 19-year-old student who began filming videos of her tutorials over a year ago. She’s adorably sweet and pretty, with high cheekbones and a cupid’s bow mouth Angelina Jolie herself would envy. Seeing her made up one could be quite forgiven for feeling a twinge of girly jealousy. But Cassandra hides a secret beneath her make-up, which might make you think again.

A Common Problem

Cassandra has always been honest about her severe acne, for which she is being treated with antibiotics. Specialist dermatologists have been treating her for about four years and she is currently undergoing blood tests for hormonal imbalance and a range of lifestyle changes to try and get the outbreaks under control, including diet and exercise changes. She also practices meditation and stress management sessions, sleep analysis and has regular peels and LED Light facials.

Poor girl! Despite all this, she’s still plagued by the condition, which she describes as her greatest insecurity. She is incredibly open about this common and highly embarrassing problem, and the brave make-up tutorial that hit 1.7 million views showed her tutoring others how to cover their own blemishes as well as she does. And she is remarkably skilled, for one would never know from looking at her made up that there was any problem at all. In fact, she looks almost airbrushed.

Miracle Makeover

Cassandra starts with no make up on at all, revealing the extent of her problem. It actually makes her a little tearful to show herself in this stripped down state, sitting in her lounge with a dressing gown on. But she rallies and proceeds to show us the rather delicious contents of her make-up collection. As someone who doesn’t suffer with acne at all I found it fascinating to see how she applied her make-up, and the effect she achieved. A list of her products are given beneath the video. I think I will be trying some out:

• Smashbox Antishine
• Hourglass Veil Primer
• Makeup For Ever HD Foundation in 125 and 120
• Mac Studio Finish Concealer NC 30
• Mac NC5 
• Smashbox Halo in Light
• Makeup Forever Microfinish Setting Powder 
• Mac Fix Plus Spray

Application: fingertips

134 Face/Powder Brush

It’s a great to see the comments on her channel from girls who have suffered with the same problem and have found hope and inspiration from Cassandra’s video.

What’s On Trend for Christmas Make Up?

We can have the tiniest black dress, the greatest weight-loss result (yes!) and the most deadly killer heels on the market, but if our make up isn’t right then it’s like a Christmas Tree without an angel on top. Check out Cassandra Bankson tutorials on shading and contouring with foundations, and then turn your attention to the look you’re going to go for this Christmas.

The word is that 50’s retro glamour is in this year. Yes, the eyes still have it. There is no sign of a wane in the eyelash obsession that seems to be sweeping the fashion world, but glittery eye shadow is out.

Maybe it’s Victoria Beckham’s elegant fitted dresses, perhaps it’s Kate Middleton’s quiet class, but something has happened to make-up this year. With dressing up such a year round activity now, Christmas is a time to really pull something stunning out of the bag. This year the emphasis is on feminine, elegant, cool, retro and stylish.

Out with the tinsel, out with the glitter spray, and in with heavy kohl and false-eyelashes. Try MAC’s failsafe Liquid Liner, teamed with Shu Uemura lashes. Bright lips are in – get out and try some of the new colors, like MAC’s Lady Danger, or Girl About Town for a more 70’s look. Then party like there’s no tomorrow and raise a glass to Cassandra Bankson…

Guest post by Izzy Woods

In our bid to move house a week before Christmas, Ben and I spent the weekend packing. One room we tackled was our dressing room (a luxury we won’t have in the new house) the experience was actually quite hilarious and really gave in insight into how much stuff I have.

Before

Here is the mess before. There’s my clothing rail, chest of drawers and then Ben’s wardrobe and drawers (not pictured). There’s also Ben’s snowboard, a towel rail and at the back of the second picture you can see some stuff we cleared out of the cupboard in the computer room. This pile included New Rock boots, hats, shoe boxes and roller blades.

During

This is just a portion of my clothes and they all fit into this case due to the handy extender zip. This was just the beginning. I then filled two large Outnet bags, half a holdall (the other half was Ben’s), another suitcase and a canvas AGA bag.

After

A few bits left out so I have something to wear this week but I think we can count the dressing room as packed. Of all those bags and suitcases, all contain my clothes except the blue and red bag which holds all of Ben’s entire wardrobe (and some of mine too). Our drawers are just going as they are so that really puts into perspective the vastness of my collection.

OnePiece™ now opening their first UK Store in Boxpark, Shoreditch on Monday 28th of November, spreading the joy of comfort, style and fun even further. Get down to their store in Boxpark and say: ‘I’m spontaneous, not too serious, not too cool. Confident with no worries, so I would like to jump in and join you!’ – and they’ll give you a £20 gift-card – If you want to get it online, type code 85237 upon checkout on www.onepiece.com and you’ll get free shipping.

The OnePiece gift voucher will allow you to get £20 off in store. There’s also the handy free shipping code if you want to buy online too. I think everyone needs a onesie in their lives. They will keep you warm on these chilly winter nights. I think you definitely need one if you live in Scotland. Or the North Pole.

OnePiece Jump in Behind the Scenes from Knut Gresvig on Vimeo.

If you’ve got a minute take a look at this super cute video from the OnePiece photo shoot!

Paco Rabanne is continuing the musical journey it started with Black XS and has partnered with Universal music for a very special project, Be A Rockstar. www.be-a-rockstar.com is a new website that allows you to get up close and personal with music. It features behind the scenes interviews and snippets of what life if really like to be a rockstar as well as exclusive musical content.

In addition to all the rock and roll there will be more music than you can shake a stick at! Universal Music France will be giving some lucky people the chance to have some special backstage moments with some of its artists and really experience the music industry.

That's not all. The new collaboration between Paco Rabanne and Universal means there are going to be some very exciting exclusive titbits for you to look at. The Off Shows are nine episodes of pure musical bliss, going behind the scenes with bands such as Cold War Kids, Two Door Cinema Club and The Kaiser Chiefs. The Black XS OFF Shows will be shown on the Be a Rockstar site at the end of the year as well as on the YouTube channel.

When they say Be a Rockstar they aren't joking. The whole website is so immersive that you can use your webcam to sign autographs for fans, warm up a crowd and have groupies flinging themselves at your feet. My real life experiences of rock stardom involve tour buses, rubbish showers and junk food. I don't suppose I was hanging in the right circles was I? Oh and there was whiskey.

What I expect rock stardom to be like is a little bit more glamourous, although not by much.

If you've ever had a love for music or an obsession with touring and being a huge star then this is the collaboration for you. Plus you could win things, which is always nice!

For more info on the campaign, check out the Black XS Facebook page here.

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