I'm totally smitten with Blake Lively's textured ponytail. You too? Blakestar obviously is. The Gossip Girl star's worn it twice in the space of a week. And why not? It's totally gorge. All sexy and teased and not at all prim and proper. But fun and flirty just like her. She first sported it on Saturday at day three of Comic-Con and then chose it again for Wednesday night's screening of Twelve. The only slight variation in styling is the face-framing tendrils that she teamed it with on Wednesday. I totally dig the style. It's cute and breezy, not to mention easy to recreate. It works great on day-old hair but evo haze styling powder ($29.95) will sort you out if you're all clean and baby-haired. Then tease your hair from the roots, loosely pull into a pony, taking out an inch-wide section to wrap around the elastic and then Bob's your uncle you're done. Just finish with a light hairspray and pull out a few front bits if you like. Simple, huh?
Sure, Splendour in the Grass is all fancy pants now with its very own spa, but you still need to look good upon arrival. And when it comes to looking good, no one's better equipped to help you than Jillian Dempsey, Avon's Global Creative Colour Director/Mrs. McDreamy. Here she shares her tips on looking cool, not overdone.
Lips: No mirror? No problem. Jillian recommends a lip gloss or tinted lip balm with an SPF. Both are easy to apply when you just want a little hint of makeup. Try Bloom Lip Protectant SPF 30+ ($12.95).
The eyes: Smudging, creeping mascara does not a happy gig-goer make. Jillian recommends a waterproof mascara "because once you put it on, you're done."
The complexion: If you have to wear foundation, Jillian says go a tinted moisturiser or a foundation with a sheer finish. "And I love blotting papers," she says. "They're easy to pack and it's a great way to eliminate shine in any unwanted areas." Try BECCA Luminous Skin Colour ($68).
A multi-tasking option: "I have this product that's called the Multi-Pencil that is like a three-in-one," Jillian says. "You can do your lips, your cheeks and your eyes. It's really convenient." Try NARS Limited Edition Multiple Tints ($89).
And don't forget: Wear your SPF. "That's probably the most important — to protect your skin," Jillian advises.
Picture this: I paint my nails — a gorgeous nude — expecting to get at least a week's wear out of it. An hour later, it has pen all over it. Just on the ring finger. It's like I'm trying to copy Vanessa Hudgens, but with a cheap biro. Lame. It doesn't wash off. I don't have the polish on me. And I am about to cry, or at least stamp my feet, when Fiona Hay, ORLY's Creative Director, comes up with a solution that's simple, but that I would totes never have thought of.
A) Whitening tooth paste! Due to the gritty texture it makes it easier to wipe off the marks. Then reapply a topcoat after to get back to a high-gloss shine. Ta-dah! Easy, huh?
If your complexion's looking a duller than dishwater, there's an easy way to mimic a glowing-from-within effect. It's called gel blush. While harder to find and apply than cream blush, the payoff is worth it. Not only does it give the skin a transparent flush, its major benefits are that it's long-wearing and you won't even look like you're wearing makeup at all. Here are some handy hints for this makeup must-have . . .
Smooth sailing: Skin that's been freshly exfoliated will allow for a smoother application.
The key to success: The key to applying gel blush is to work quickly and precisely. First, apply the gel blush, like Smashbox O-Glow Intuitive Cheek Colour ($37.95) or DuWop Bronze Rush ($52), over freshly washed skin or a liquid-based foundation. (Do not apply gel blushes over powder products.) Next, using the fingers, a sponge or a foundation brush, lightly tap in the product to the apples of the cheeks up toward the hairline. Blend, and layer on more if necessary.
Big lashes are big news. Fact. They’re the not-so-secret secret of the makeup industry and play a key part in many-a-celeb look. From Miley Cyrus' va-va-voom look to a few individual lashes to boost your outer lash line, they're versatile. And definitely worth perfecting. Trouble is, most of us mere mortals hate them. Because we don't have a makeup artist on hand 24-7 to help us apply the slippery little suckers. But fear not, I quizzed MAC’s Senior Makeup Artist, Nicole Thompson and got her tips on perfecting a false flutter.
Go about your lashes the normal way: curl them, apply mascara and separate with a fan brush (very, very important) first. This will help you see what areas need a little more help.
Salt, Angelina Jolie's latest movie, presents her looking like you've never seen her before. But of course, those trademark pillowy lips are still as attention-grabbing as ever. Makeup artist Toni G used Chantecaille Brilliant Gloss in Charm (approx $31.50), a pale pink shade, on Ange during filming. "The formula is beautiful and kept her lips in way better condition than any balm," Toni G told Us magazine. Team with heaps of kohl, mascara and a shimmering mauve to get yourself one step closer to channelling the 4th Most Beautiful Woman to walk the planet.
Are you struggling to see what, exactly, a matte polish is compared to an opalescent one, or how cream polishes are different from frosts? You've come to the right place. Nail polish texture terminology can get a little bit iffy, but once you know a few easy phrases, you'll be discussing the fine points of texture trends like a pro . . .
A cream polish is the easiest to explain, because it's the classic nail polish texture — glossy, but not glittery or shimmery. It's the texture we think of for retro nail polishes and archetypal red nails.
Matte nail polishes are also pretty easy to grasp — they're simply not glossy. They look "flat" and more like marker or pencil rubbed onto your nails than enamel the way other nail polishes do.
Frost (also known as pearlescent) nail polishes are your standard-issue shimmery shades — there's no individuated glitter in them, but they sparkle instead of just shining.
Opalescent nail polishes have a distinctive "mother of pearl" effect — they glisten the same way the inside of a shell does.
Glitter nail polishes come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from subtle micro-glitter to big and chunky, but you can tell that what you've got is a glitter polish instead of a frost because you can see the individual glitter bits.
Melanie Inglessis is one of the best known names in the beauty biz. The New York-based makeup artist has worked on makeup for every style bible going and continues to rack up celeb fans from Mary Kate Olsen to Rosamund Pike. More recently she's been working on a slew of events for Glee's Lea Michelle. Last week we managed to grab Melanie for a quick chat about everything from her top makeup tips to her favourite products . . .
What's been your inspiration for Lea Michelle's red carpet beauty look? She's a very good collaborator. She's not afraid to take risks. I always like to do a nice dewy skin on her, as I think it makes her look really fresh. I like skin that breathes on the red carpet. I usually use a combination of Chanel Sublimage Rehydrating Cream, with a light reflecting cream foundation. This locks the moisture in but it's not too shiny.
Breaking news: Alexa Chung wows Fab and I again at the Mulberry party. Shock horror. Given that we pretty much worship her every move, you might be wondering what's got us so excited that I've written a whole post about her. Not her eyeliner. Not her balayage and its brilliance. So what is it? Why this heart mani. Just divine, isn't it? Not garish, unlike some people's alternative nail designs — yes, Jennifer Love Hewitt, I'm looking at you — it's cute with a little bit of kitsch thrown in. LOVE. I've been experimenting already so if you can't get your hands on a fine-tipped brush to paint the hearts, use the pronged end of a bobby pin. Dip it against the nail polish brush and paint two dots close together to form a vertical line, then move around about 20 degrees and do the same, joining them at the bottom to form a cute 'lil love heart. Alternatively, pretend you're buying Fing'rs Girlie Nails Nail Art Variety Pack ($12.99) for your niece and get sticking away. What do you think of Lex's latest look? Do you love it like me?
Hold the phone. Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom are MARRIED! Woot woot! We LOVE Kerrbloom so news of them tying the knot makes us all warm and bubbly inside. You too? Now, we know these two like to keep things normal and down-to-earth so details of the dress and ceremony haven't yet been released, but Pop, Fab and I are on it. Using my Super Investigative Skills, I can tell you that beauty duty would've gone a little like this . . .
BASE: Miranda's a smart cookie. She knows that high definition makeup like Smashbox High Definition Healthy FX Foundation ($55.95) and High Definition Concealer ($28.95) will lead to the Best Possible Photos. Not that she really needs any help in that department with that angelic face of hers, but still, a girl likes to look her best. And a creamy rose cheek colour like MAC Blushcreme in Posey ($40) is a must for any blushing bride.
Sure, 
If your complexion's looking a duller than dishwater, there's an easy way to mimic a glowing-from-within effect. It's called gel blush. While harder to find and apply than cream blush, the payoff is worth it. Not only does it give the skin a transparent flush, its major benefits are that it's long-wearing and you won't even look like you're wearing makeup at all. Here are some handy hints for this makeup must-have . . .
Big lashes are big news. Fact. They’re the not-so-secret secret of the makeup industry and play a key part in many-a-celeb look. From 
Melanie Inglessis is one of the best known names in the beauty biz. The New York-based makeup artist has worked on makeup for every style bible going and continues to rack up celeb fans from Mary Kate Olsen to Rosamund Pike. More recently she's been working on a slew of events for Glee's Lea Michelle. Last week we managed to grab Melanie for a quick chat about everything from her top makeup tips to her favourite products . . .
Hold the phone.