Beauty launch pad | Benefit Sugarbomb

Being fair with pores large enough to been seen at ten paces, I am always on the prowl for products that both brighten and heighten the colour of my complexion and smooth over the pore-tastic finish of my face.  My first tango with such powders happened during an impulsive shopping spree on my first trip to a Douglas chemist. I was entranced by the place -- like a French chemist with all the high-end beauty I could handle in one go.

During that trip (and rash dash for products), I purchased my first YSL lipglosses and a pot of Guerlain meteorites. I had once espied the latter product on the bathroom shelf in the house of two very glamorous north London Lesbians (where I also came across first flush darjeeling, in the kitchen, not the loo). It was far beyond my meager student means at the time, but my curiosity was piqued, to be satisfied several years later on that first trip down the aisles of Douglas.

Returning home from Douglas, I shimmied off the lid, swirled a brush within the latticed pot of luminescent balls and swept it across my cheeks, from nose to temple (pores being most visible, of course, on the cheek right next to the nose). Wait... where did they go!? My pores!? The skin was smoothed and had the most lovely, soft, uniform finish. I was hooked, for a while at least.

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Blue Mercury turns ten

If you're not from the US (and if you're from certain states within the country), Blue Mercury might not be in your common vernacular as a female. It's a beauty boutique and spa, sort of like the big ol' Space and Spa NK in Westborne Grove. It has the same allure for me now that Sephora did when I was a teenager. Sephora, which I do still love in a different way, has a younger and less sophisticated feel, but not in a bad way (as an aside, I was recently in a Sephora and bowled over by the new Negligee Pink lipstick from Dior... wonderfully flattering and, accordingly, sold out.); They're simply catering to a customer that might not fancy a facial before stocking up on skincare. Their customer wants a new cream or eyeliner on their lunch break, at least that's the feeling I get when I'm there. All of which eventually has brought me to the point.

Blue Mercury has just turned ten, which is a major feat considering how hard it is to make the cut it in the big bad world of beauty retail, especially as a small(er) fry. The Davids often don't often survive the Goliaths, but such an anniversary makes me believe there's room in this world for both the Sephoras and the Blue Mercurys, the Blushes and the Space NKs. Why not? Yes, market share is pretty much the final word for most people trying to make a buck out of beauty, and thus competition might not always be welcome. But it breeds creativity and I think it allows a larger variety of brands and retail models to flourish. In any event, this is to say a big happy birthday to Blue Mercury and to let you know that the goody bags on offer to celebrate the event are, in fact, quite great.

The brands stuffed inside the blue organza bag are: NARS, Fekkai, MD Skincare, Bumble and Bumble (mine had a big Creme de Coco hair mask, which worked wonders on my fried summer hair), Rememde, ReVive, Darphin, Tocca, Bliss, Skinceuticals, Bobbi Brown (lipliner in Hot Cocoa... amazing nude colour that I bet works on everyone) and Fresh among others. Your goody bag comes free with a purchase of $50 or more (that's 30 quid or so in UK speak... not half bad).

Happy birthday, Marla and co.

UK cult products in the US: Daniel Sandler

The UK's creating a bit of a stir in world of beauty as well as fashion nowadays. With everyone from top facialists like Vaishaly Patel to hair experts Andrew Barton and James Brown creating eponymous lines, it was only a matter of time before the demand overseas for British beauty goods started to grow in earnest (let's be honest. US Vogue's always had a bit of a crush on all things British anyway).

So it's with bated breath that Americans await the arrival of Daniel Sandler's makeup range in the US this spring. From his award-winning Watercolour Blushes (think Benetint in 12 different shades) to other great fixes like Perfect Canvas, Wash of Colour, Hide It and a range of brushes, it's a robust professional-grade line for at-home use.

With a client list that includes the likes of Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell, beauty lovers stateside should look forward to snapping up these English imports as soon as they hit American shores.