Beauty Squared Round-Up - December 8, 2012

What was interesting in the realm of beauty links this week? Here's what we found for you. Enjoy!

Beth is your typical American teenager living through a zombie apocalypse on AMC's Walking Dead. Here's her beauty tips, in case you ever need them.

If you've seen photos of Marilyn Monroe, you've probably seen a Ceil Chapman dress. She made some stunning frocks for stars such as Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe. Pin Up Girl Style takes a look at this legendary dress engineer. 

Stylish clothes designed for bicycle riding? What took so long? 

One of the things I love most about make-up is the way it can make someone see themselves in a whole new light. Lipstick Angels are an L.A. organization of volunteer make-up artists who help women feel beautiful, special and confident. 

What makes badasses (like the band The Kills, above) so sexy? 

Life after extreme weight loss.

Three easy ways to disguise signs of drowsiness on your face.

Inglot's Double-Sparkle eyeshadows combine matte and shimmer into one eyeshadow!

I LOVE the sparkly strands of hair in the photo of Beyonce, above. Click here for more beauty inspiration ideas.

A collection of make-up artist Luke Goss's best tips in one video!

MAC Illustrated Preview

Three renowned illustrators transform classic M·A·C makeup bags into mini masterpieces. Julie Verhoeven’s bold colours and outright wit come alive, featuring an array of abstract faces swept with vibrant hues. François Berthoud’s intricate flowers convey pop art chic in fluoro-brights. Nikki Farquharson ’s design is a graphic, bold hand-drawn black-and-white pattern, hit with swirls of red and yellow. Available in two sizes—one scaled for just necessities, the other for total beauty.Limited Edition. M·A·C Store exclusive.

Petite Bag by François Berthoud
$36.50 CDN/$30 US

Small Bag by François Berthoud
$42 CDN/$35 US

Petite Bag by Julie Verhoeven
$36.50 CDN/$30 US

Small Bag by Julie Verhoeven
$42 CDN/$35 US

Illustrated Small Bag by Nikki Farquharson
$42 CDN/$35 US

Petite Bag by Nikki Farguharson
$36.50 CDN/$30 US

MAC Ruffian Preview and Photos

Cult New York designers Brian Wolk and Claude Morais of Ruffian bring their infamous swagger to MAC in three exclusive Ruffian Manicures and Lipsticks. Each ready-to-wear set includes 24 nails that are pre-glued and in assorted sizes to ensure a couture-worthy fit. Touch and go with Spectator ovals, an inky spin on the classic French manicure; turn everything to gold with gilded tips à la Demilune; or push buttons in five-alarm Demoiselle talons. For the power pout: Ruffian Red, Ruffian Naked, a crepey beige and Ruffian Gold, its 25-carat kin. A triple-threat of colour, texture and style. 

Available Exclusively Online June 18, 2012 through July 16, 2012

Lipstick in Ruffian Gold
Gold Glitter Metallic (Frost)
$17.50 CDN/$14.50 US

Lipstick in Ruffian Naked
Pale peachy nude (matte)
$17.50 CDN/$14.50 US

Lipstick in Ruffian Red
Classic rich blue red (matte)
$17.50 CDN/$14.50 US

Ruffian Manicure in Demilune
Matte black with chrome gold half moon (matte)
$30.00 CDN/$25.00 US

Ruffian Manicure in Domoiselle
Ruffian red with white half moon and black french tip (creme)
$30.00 CDN/$25.00 US

Ruffian Manicure in Spectator
Cream with black half moon, black french tip and black ruffian ensignia (creme)
$30.00 CDN/$25.00 US

butter LONDON: All Hail McQueen

Fashion designer Alexander McQueen passed away in February 2010, tragically and very suddenly. You can read about his death in the NY Times here. His death stunned those both inside and outside of the fashion world and I think designer Katharine Hamnett summed it up best when she was quoted as saying "What a terrible, tragic waste."

McQueen with Sarah Jessica Parker at the 2006 National Costume Institute Gala

Photos from some of McQueen's collections

Undoubtably,  McQueen's loss will be felt for a long, long time by those in the fashion world and still tributes are popping up here and there.


Seattle-based nail company butter London has come out with two McQueen-inspired nail shades for it's 2010 fall line - Bumster and All Hail McQueen. Also included in the 2010 fall line are Marrow and Victoriana.

L-R: All Hail McQueen, Bumster, Marrow and Victoriana

butter London is a high-end nail salon and nail care line in London, England which focuses on high quality, low-chemical nail polishes and products. butter London's lacquers contain no formaldehyde, toulene or DBP (pthales) and retail for $17 CDN a bottle.


All Hail McQueen is a holographic taupe and Bumster is a mustard yellow cream, both unexpected colours that fit their McQueen-inspiration. If you're wondering, Bumster is named after McQueen's signature low-slung trousers, pictured below:

Can you guess why they're called Bumsters?

The other two shades are Marrow, a reddish-grape shade apparently inspired by the dark purple, rusty centre of a bone (hmmm, really?) and Victoriana, a twinkling, textured vintage blue described on the butter London site as "Things reminiscent of the Victorian era, such as corsets, top hats and Syphilis."


To see swatches, check out All Lacquered Up here. 


What do you think? Are Bumster and All Hail McQueen appropriate shades to pay tribute to McQueen? Would you wear either?


C.