Hello Beautiful! Rosie Huntington-Whiteley for LOVE

Pin-Up style Old Hollywood Glamour: Check
Veronica Lake style hair: Check
The perfect red pout: Check
Rosie does it best! Shot by Tom Munro

Love Magazine on sale 23rd August
www.thelovemagazine.co.uk

image via: models.com

Life Saver's - Beauty SOS

This heat is causing all kinds of crazy but i'm armed with some life saver essentials which take me through summer & get me sorted in a jiffy.

Ok, i'm going to start with something really interesting - Stella of Shopping Therapy commented on a recent post, wishing Yiannis Marketakis - Make Up extraordinaire, would reveal some beauty/make up secrets, such as 'how do you prevent make up from melting or sliding off your face in this heat?'

I'm going to reveal the secret to preventing a sweaty face (it worked on Whitney Houston & Britney when they perform!)... Ok, so you need to mix 'Ban Clear Gel Deodorant (only available in the US, but Sure Women Crystal Clear Aqua Deodorant Stick, £1.95, works too) with a foundation that has a good finish - it just means that the foundation will prime/stick better to your skin.

However, if you don't fancy that (I'm not sure I would, but then i don't wear foundation) try using a primer such as an Marini Skin Research Prime, £55 or Benefits 'That Gals" brightening face primer - available in the US, to UK & in Sephora.

Elizabeth Arden's 8 Hour cream is first aid in a bottle. Yes, I know it has a unique scent, not everyone loves it, but i've been buying this beauty SOS in a bottle for years. I carry it everywhere all year round, as you never know when you need to help soothe & rehydrate chapped lips, skin (if caught in full gale force winds), burns, scrapes...it also looks great as a natural lip gloss, can be smoothed over eyes and cheekbone area for a healthy sheen and natural glow too. See it's like miracle in a bottle! I always pick this up from Duty Free or Superdrug in the UK who always seem to do the most amazing offers! Oh and a little goes a long way!

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm - Clarins just works for me, this product pops out a lot - to brighten up winter complexion, but more importantly there's something in this product which helps give boost radiance. I use this after i've slapped on my daily moisturiser with SPF, then give my cheeks a quick pinch for colour if you don't use blusher! I don't really wear much make up in summer, but for a night out, water proof mascara is a lifesaver, you don't really want it smudging and sliding into the corner of your eyes, no one like to see a mascara bogey!

I love a good leave-in conditioner like the one by Aussie Miracle Hair Insurance, smells yum and does wonders if you've been for a swim in the sea or are caught up in the summer sun.

Keep lipsticks, eye pencils and some make up in the fridge. In these scorching temperature I always stash everything in a clear zip lock bag in the fridge and take out at least 10 mins before i really need it.

Some of you guys are on holiday or have just returned - if you want to keep that tan, keep moisturizing! Have always loved Palmer's Cocoa Butter - cheap and bloody efficient, also love the Soap and Glory ranges of butters, and the Body Shop range of Body butters - i'm a sucker for body butters, please don't judge! There are also lots of products which do After Sun Tan prolongers too such as Piz Buin & Nivea.

Wet wipes or Cleansing face wipes - those are handy in all kinds of situations!

Last of all... Totally random and unrelated - Alka Seltzer - I wish they sold this in Greece. I usually stock up when in the UK. This is your hangover & headaches fixer upper! Honestly, this works brilliantly - i think the equivalent in Greece is Dupon - the effervescent version.

So what beauty nightmares have some of you experienced this summer and what products have essentially saved you from drama?

Have a fab fab weekend everyone!!!
x.o.x.o

images via Boots, Piz Buin

Fashion meets Hotel interiors

I know today's Thursday, which usually means an installment of "I want this Job", right? I'm afraid today's gonna be a different day... However, I do have someone in the Industry who is really fabulous, will share with you soon!

Famous designers such as Moschino, Versace, Lacroix, Ralph Lauren, DVF & Karl Lagerfeld all share something in common...aside from lotsa money, they've added Hotelier to their resume. Check it out!

above Maison Moschino - each room complete with a fairytale theme! - Milan

The Piano Suite
above Diane Von Fustenburg's collaboration with Claridges, London

above Pineapple House by Ralph Lauren, Round Hill, Jamaica

above Missoni Hotel, Edinburgh

above Karl Lagerfeld's styling of SchlossHotel, Grunewald

Versace's Palazzo Down Under is worth mentioning here too because it oozes opulence and everything Versace! Christian Lacroix's Hotel Notre Dame is very 'Ab Fab', check out the rooms here. If you love Philip Treacy and his bold, quirky cool hat designs, his hotel in Ireland is altogether something else! Loving the use of colour and the vibe, check it out here.

Oooh, so many places, which ones your favourite?

Going somewhere? Frock Fest!

I love getting dressed up and putting on a gorgeous frock just puts a smile on my face if you know what I mean. I have a lot of love for super girly styles, prints and floor sweeping numbers too. Here's a few lust-worthy dresses that caught my eye this week, from Bank friendly budgets to Bank Manager horror budgets.

STRAPLESS

From left:

• Coast 'Lexi' strapless dress - £125
• Lipsy print embroidered dress at House of Fraser - £65
• Matthew Williamson Neo Baroque dress at Outnet - now €507

ONE-SHOULDERED

From left:

• Emanuel Ungaro floral print silk dress at Outnet - now €546
• Emanuel Ungaro layered Organza dress at Outnet - now €719
• Karen Millen Signature 1 shoulder dress (Available in other cols) - £180

MAXI STYLE DRESSES

From left:

• Asos heavy draped maxi dress - £65
• All Saints 'Calvary' premium dress - £295
• FANTASTIC ebay find - $27.96 (plus $11 delivery) This maxi dress is made from cotton spandex based in Melbourne, Aus but deliver world wide! The direct link is here!

RACHEL GILBERT, SYDNEY

Awesome dresses and going out girly!
Check it out here!

Summer Breeze & Pretty florals

I know I sound like a broken record, but the heat in Athens has been reaching new highs, but thankfully, we had rain yesterday, followed by a cool, balmy and perfect evening. I've seen lots of pretty florals all over Blogland lately, from Fashion Butter to Jemima, so here's my little floral inspired ensemble.

I scored this little denim biker in the Pull & Bear sale recently and threw it
on as the night got cooler.

I'm still ummming and ahhhing over the new layout/look & colours, so will continue to play as i'm not overly convinced...

Experimentation...

Ok, please don't freak, I'm just experimenting with the look/layout of this blog. So bear with me whilst I work it out! I'm still getting there...

So, erm... does everyone like the grey & pink combo? It's already out there and I feel like I'm doing what everyone is doing already.... hmmm, I really like the miu miu AW10/11 campaign - dark indigo with mustard yellow... or my fave Aubergine with Turq, but not sure how well that would translate! Wahhh!

See you soon!

x.o.x.o

Sunday Best

I hope you guys are all having a fantastic weekend, sipping cocktails, swimming in the sea or simply doing bugger all cos that's what weekends are for right? Here's what's seriously on my awesome list for today! Enjoy!

Bold coloured make-up

Sasha Pivovarova via Haut Fashion

Sølve Sundsbø photography

Maddie over at Wardrobe Recycle's Instant Glamour post - this amazing bit of craftista is worth checking out, a chic kimono sleeve dress made in literally less than half an hour from one piece of leopard print fabric. The print on this dress is gorgeous too - Roberto Cavalli eat yer heart out.

Ok, for those who haven't quite busted a bikini body work-out yet, check out this bad-ass vlog (video blog post) and hot tips by the gorgeous Vahni at Grit & Glamour.

Fellow blog buddy Jemima looking seriously incredible and barely recognisable with her former blonde hair here.

My fave Vintage doll, Shareen of Vintage Mavens has gone road tripping & posted a jaw dropping photo-shoot of one of her vintage dresses (polka dot puff sleeve drs) for sale, seen here.

Did you miss the "I want this job" Make Up Artist post? Check it out here!

Oh and last of all, some cake love

I'm sorry had to post this, love Hello Kitty!

Honey, I shrunk Cameron Diaz for Top Gear

(note Cameron & Tom - same height here)

Ok, as random as this is (and you guys know how random I can be), I was doing rounds of papers this morning and came across these images... I love Top Gear and will openly admit that & the fact that the dudes on this show are quite stoopidly funny. They have the best job on telly & heaps of fun driving all sorts of cars (usually really nice ones) and do random trips across the world in the most ridiculous get ups.

Anyhow, as Cameron Diaz and Tom Cruise are currently UK bound for the Premiere of their new movie - Knight & Day, they joined Britain's mission to uncover the identity of the Stig (mysterious race driver on the TV show). Is it me or does Cameron Diaz look like she's been shrunk purposely (so that she's shorter than Tom) in one of the promotional shots for Top Gear?

She looks remarkably smaller here, than the shot above, no?

Neat camera angle trick!

?

After significant training with the Stig, the Hollywood stars competed against each other (amongst a few other stars) for the best lap time, for the 'Star in a reasonably priced car' feature - that being a Ford Kia. The results will be aired live this Sunday on BBC - sadly in Greece we're way behind!!!
Apparently Cam totally broke the clutch in her high-speed circuit race & called out to the Stig for help!

Here's Cam (in heels so looking taller) & Tom looking fab at their Premiere!

"I Want This Job" Make-Up Artist & Ambassador for Max Factor Greece

OK, so, I am beyond excited about this installment of "I want this Job", why?
Well, basically this is one of the professions I would have loved to have done, had I not been in Fashion. (Fashion Butter if you're reading, in another life I'd be driving around in a big fat, ice cream style van, giving out make-overs, rainbow coloured nail polish and the finest Gelato (naturally!).

I love make-up, make-overs, whatever... it's the inner creative mojo that gets unleashed once in a while.
When I moved over here, I was blown away by the amazing live TV "How-To's" on "Kafes me tin Eleni" and I also noticed how amazing Zeta Makripoulia looked on Greek 'Dancing with the Stars' (apologies to those who have no clue what/who i'm talking, she's a Greek Beauty - famous TV presenter & actress below).

I simply had to know the force behind was making these women gorgeous. I posted this a while ago, in hope of hunting down the genius and lucky for me, the gorgeous Katerina of Fashion Algorithms shed me some the light! The secret beauty weapon is this guy!

Introducing the mega talented and brilliant make up artist extraordinaire - Yiannis Marketakis!

I Want This Job: Make Up Artist
Who do you work for?
Max Factor (MF), over the last five years as ambassador of MF in Greece


What sparked your interest in make-up/beauty?
I love make up, even though my studies at the beginning were in a completely different path (I studied financial and law in Panteion University of Athens, and conservation and restoration of Art and then I studied make up and hair styling).
I love make up and beauty because it's very creative, you are working with a "live canvas"which is giving you the pleasure to transform and make people beautiful.




What's a typical day in the life of Yiannis Marketakis?
A typical day for me is starting early in the morning, it depends on the daily schedule: from working on a photo-shoot on a location requiring the use of the day light, and then working on an advertisement, filming in a studio to working late at night in a night club doing the make up of a famous singer. The day after you can find me in a world conference of Max Factor presenting products or flying in new york for a campaign!

At the moment, i'm on tour with Helena Paparizou (snap shot above) all over Greece.

Elena Paparizou looking hot!

Can you tell us a little about what goes on behind the scenes? A sneak peek into your world - be it TV appearance, preparing a celebrity for a movie premiere/event, photo-shoot for a magazine or for a collaboration with a make up brand?
The reality behind the scenes can be very tough sometimes, it's not always so flashy and glamorous that people believe. There is always the constant pressure about the time there is (I can just picture someone in the background going "4 minutes, you got 4 minutes only!!!") & a lot of things that have to be prepared specially when we are on a live TV show.
There is no room for mistakes as everything must be perfect at the right time, everytime! The make up, the hair, the styling, the lights etc... so as you can probably imagine there is a lot of pressure!

Yiannis working on Doukissa Nomikou

In a photo shoot the things are different, there is more time to create, to repair fix and change everything that you don't like!

What do you love about this job & why is it so fabulous?
As I mentioned before, I love this job because of the creativity and with this job, it never get boring, you are in a different place everyday with different people doing different things!
It's very fabulous because you have to deal with celebrities, actors, singers, models and you are also part of the fashion industry.

Is it as glamorous as it sounds?
Yes! It's very glamorous, because you live with all these people and sometimes very close. For example, i'm working with Helena Paparizou for the last six years, I'm in her daily schedule and sometimes i'm following her program for a long time. So we'll end up living in the same hotels, eating in the same restaurants, going out in the same places! Of course it's glamorous!


Have you travelled anywhere amazing as a make-up artist?
I have travelled around the globe a lot as a make up artist, from Japan, China, Australia, French Polynesia, Bora Bora, Maldives, all around USA, Canada, Latin America, Russia and all over Europe, Africa and Asia.


What's most challenging/difficult about this job?
The most challenging thing with this job is to create different looks on one person, sometimes long hours and the most difficult is to have contact with the people that you're working with. What core responsibilities do you have as a Make-up artist?
-to be always there if needed

-to have always clean products and tools

-to be always informed and updated in trends and in fashion

Which celebrity do you love working with?
I love working with my girls Elena Paparizou, Zeta Makripoulia, and Eleni Menegaki the most but of course i love working with all the celebrities.

Eleni Menegaki

Elena Paparizou

Which brands of make up do you love working with?
Max Factor make up products.

What skills do you need to be a great Make-up artist?
The skills for being a make up artist is "free hand and creative mind" inspiration and observation

What advice would you give to anyone who wants to become a Make-up artist?
My advice for those who want to be a make-up artist is hard work, read a lot of international fashion magazines and my moto in make up is "less is more"


What's the career path like? (Education, training, how long does it take to get to where you are/successful make up artist?)
The education & training is the first step, most important is the practice, it depends on how creative you are. My advice is to open your mind and feed it with a lot of creative data! Get different information from different sources and try to make them yours! Create your own style so when somebody sees a picture, they can say "Oh, that's Marketakis' make up"!

Editorials for International magazines & L'Officiel

How did you find your dream job as a Make-up artist? Do you have a portfolio?
By working hard, finding myself an agency. My site is under construction, however, you can visit www.yiannismarketakis.com soon.
For the moment you can see a small sample at www.effex.gr which is the agency i'm with.

Any make up tips you'd like to share?
Sleep 8 hours a day, drink a lot of water and keep your skin clean and hydrated. That helps a lot in making it easier for the make up to look fabulous.

Use liquid and light foundations to have a light invisible cover, especially in the morning and never go OTT and use all the products together!

A huge thank you to Yiannis for sharing this info with us (he's super busy man) - we love him! Personally I'd love a mini version of Yiannis to take everywhere with me so I can look equally as gorgeous 1st thing in the morning! Elena Paparizou sure is one lucky lady!