Fearne Cotton Talks About Her New Beauty Range

We've fallen in a deep kinda love with Fearne Cotton over the years. Whether she is rocking rock chick or channelling lady like chic- the presenter and radio DJ does style with aplomb. She inspires women to be daring, isn't afraid of wearing scary trends (knee high socks with brogues anyone) and always has gorgeous make up to boot. Any stylista worth her salt knows that you've gotta have make up that makes a subtle statement to top off your look and that's one thing foxy Fearne has down to a T! And now she's sharing a little knowledge with all of us willing supplicants...she's released a beauty range **screams!** The line is called Fearne (simple, genius) and consists of different nail polishes, lip sets and eyeshadows that come in a range of colour palette kits from nude hues to vampy reds for full on impact.

I got an exclusive interview with the lady herself and over cupcakes, tea and peonies we talked about her new make-up which will be available exclusively at Boots!


What inspired you to bring out your own make-up line?
I'm a proper make up junkie and have always dreamed of having my own range! I've had to learn over the years how to do my own make-up. Sometimes you end up doing it yourself on TV shows! I've picked up tips from some great make-up artists. I decided to use that knowledge and also to incorporate things that I know and love when it came to picking the colours and the texture of things- that bit was really fun! Packaging wise I'm really into art and fashion so I decided to extend those passions into the pakaging. I made loads of mood boards and went from there. Its all really vintage inspired, cos I love vintage clothes. There's the odd subliminal skull in there too...


The packaging is very you, its tough but girly!
Exactly, its definitely representing me. I have a lot of tattoo's- four leaf clovers, mermaids and hummingbirds- and they were all incorporated into the packaging design. AndI love shoes so there are a couple of those in there too! I wanted the packaging to have a tough edge but not so tough it would scare girls off!

What kind of girl do you see wearing your products?
It'll hopefully be a mixture. I spoke to a lot of my friends who are all different personalities and different skin tones, I wanted products that would suit different types of girl. So I went for versatile products. For example, the lips kit (All About The Lips) either comes in nude, pink, red or twilight and all of the kits have a gloss, lipstick and a liner- so you get to go for whichever palette best suits you and you won't get stuck with a ton of colours that don't work for you!

Did you do that with other products to?
Definitely- with the nail colours you have the night set which is gothy or the day set which is pastel and glittery.

You said you sounded off with your friends on the products, that was a great idea!
Yeah it really helped me think about what other women might want. That helped me come up with the concept of making everything handbag friendly! Some of the range comes in nice little compact packages which you can just pop into your handbag! I mean I don't know about you but there is always crap everywhere in my bag so its nice to now my make up will all be in one place and not junked up in there with everything else!



What would be your top tip for taking make up from day to night?
In the day, especially when I'm working, I'll have really light make up and maybe just a splash of colour around my eyes- like I have today with a glitter pen- my range has great glitter sticks! In the evening I love wacking on a red lipstick. So I would go for the All About The Lips red lipstick set. There's something about red lipstick that makes you feel good if you've had a bit of a crap day!


Absolutely, red definitely makes a girl feel glam! We're coming up to autumn- what are your key make-up colours for next season?
Definitely strong colours to warm you up. So reds, deep pinks and purples. A smokey eye is always good especially for the festive season! And my new line has got all of these products, plus summery colours, so its perfect for taking you from one season to the next!

What's the best piece of beauty advice you've ever been given?
Stay out of the sun kids! It does you absolutely no favours to lay out and get fried by ultraviolet rays. Definitely ages you!

Agreed! And I'm loving your look today (Fearne is rocking a white, floral frock and a skull motif scarf) Can you describe your style to us?
My style? I guess its vintage/ tomboy. I love rooting around in vintage shops to score one off finds and I am very into being boyish with my style, incorporating flats and men's style boots into my day wear.


Does your mood affect how you dress?
I'm really mood dependent when it comes to what I wear. Like today I've got this little girly dress on but tomorrow I might wear a fedora, skinny jeans and a pair of biker boots.


What advice would you give to someone trying to find their style mojo?
Don't force looks or copy other people. Find out what suits you! Its great to try things and look terrible sometimes because that's brave and you'll figure out what suits you and what doesn't!


Fearne's make-up range is on shelves in Boots NOW! Prices start from £10

The FBC does TMC

We put on our judges hat to help choose the finalists for the UK Top Model of Colour Modelling competition. The competition seeks to find models of ethnic heritage- mixed, black, hispanic- basically every race you do not normally get flooding the runways.

The contestants meant business- they were all leggy, had cheekbones you could cut glass with plus elegance, poise and intellect. Think America's Next Top Model- without the drawn out histrionics.

We fully back this comp. Its refreshing for a competition to seek to change the face of fashion for the better. Models of colour are still vastly under-represented on the runways and in ad campaigns.

The last semi final heat for TMC will be held on the 21 August. The finals are in November 2010- excitement!!

for more information visit http://www.mahoganymodels.co.uk/show-competition.php

Minxy Make -Up Artist Vanessa Guallar!

When I had the chance to meet superstar make up artist Vanessa Guallar I jumped at it! She's painted many famous faces including Uma Thurman, Kelly Brook and Ashton Kutcher. She's originally from Spain but her career has taken her from the UK to the USA and further. And not only is she handy with putting together the perfect colour palette for celebs she's created a make up line in conjunction with Boots N17. "Sit down darling, wow you look ah-mazing!" That's the first thing Vanessa says when I meet her. Love her already.

So tell us about your new line?
Well its the Starry Eye's Collection for Boots No17. Its coming out later on this year just ahead of Christmas- its fabulous!

Sounds exciting! So what makes it different?
Well the main thing is that it enables you to create a sophisticated smokey eye. It comes with instructions and a varied colour palette.

Whats the secret to a perfect smokey eye?
Its important to use some colour when you create a smokey eye. Its not all about just piling black eyeshadow on! You need to keep building the colours slowly don't start with black! That's what this new collection teaches you. Not to be afraid and to build a look that's glamour to the extreme! And although the collection comes out for Christmas, you can recycle it because its not just a make up kit for winter- its for every season!

You've made up tons of stars can you name a few!?
Oh gosh, erm- Kelly Brook, Myleene Klass, Denise Van Outen, Uma Thurman and Ashton Kutcher!

Wow! Thats a lot- whose your fav?
[Laughs]I don't have favourites I love them all! But I would say Myleene and me are good friends. Uma is pretty cool. She is such a regular girl. When she's getting ready she'll turn to me holding up dresses and say "Darling what should I wear?" And Kelly is just amazing. Me and her were chatting about Matthew Morrison the other day(Glee's Will Schuester)

That's her new man right!?
Well I did her make up the day she was going on a date with him! "She was saying to me "Vanessa what do you think- I'm not sure...." I told her to go for it!

Good advice cos they make a cute couple! Whats the most surreal experience you've had working with celebs?
Probably when I'm flicking through Heat magazine and I see myself in the back of paparazzi shots! The way those photographers vie for pictures is amazing. I remember doing Uma's make up for the Jonathan Ross show. When she was leaving she'd forgotten her glasses. So I told her to go to the car while I got it for her. When I got outside I tapped on her car window she opened it just a crack and all of the camera's went off I! A million flashes its crazy!

Sounds pretty surreal!
Definitely. And another surreal experience was when I did Ashtons make up. Demi was there. She is so beautiful in the flesh and so down to earth!

Anyone else you'd like to get your hands on that you haven't already?
Shakira- she's gorgeous. And Lady Gaga. I would love just working on the drama with her.

Cool! OK, so if someone has 5 minutes to get ready what would you suggest they do make-up wise?
First choose an eyeshadow, apply it with your fingers. If its a darker shade, draw it out to give the face a feline look. Use a light colour on the inner corner of your eye's to make them pop.
Put on lashings of mascara, Boots 17 Wild Curls in black looks amazing. Whip bronzer all over your face and use nude lip mirror shine (from Boots 17) to finish the look!

Sounds like 5 minute perfection! And whats the make up product you can't live without?Cream blusher. Ooh cream blusher is my best friend! It makes every girl look super cute!

Starry Eyes will be available this Autumn from Boots

Festival Essential with Fearne, Pixie and Ke$ha!

We're smack bang in the middle of festival season- revellers have hit Glastonbury, Isle of Wight and Wireless... T in the Park is happening right now and there are still loads more to come like the epic V Festival and Bestival. So how do fashionista's, beauty-ista's and all round girlie girls survive without stacked vanity cases, hot water and outlets for hair straighteners?

Fear not diva's cos Bella has had a little word with Fearne Cotton, Ke$ha and Pixie Lott to find out how they keep it sexy when they hit the festival circuit.

Fearne Cotton
"I love festivals because it's a chance to become an amped up version of yourself. I would definitely say go for some glitter and waterproof mascara is a must, especially if its hot- you don't want sweaty mascara streaks running down your cheeks! I always use Mark Hills dry shampoo on my hair to keep my locks looking good oh and just make sure you get creative with your make up kit. You can use lippie as eyeshadow and blusher. Your getting three things out of one little tube!"

Get the look

Benefit Posie Tint £23.20
This lip and cheek stain will make you the prettiest posie in the bunch! Personally I can't live without it!












Mark Hill Holiday Hair Dry Shampoo £5.99
This will leave you with summer sexy tresses. Very handy if some unruly reveller dares to spill strongbow on your crowning glory











Ke$ha "Its all about glitter, eyeliner and fanny packs. As long as I have glitter at a festival I'm good to go. I sleep in it and just pile loads more on. And you can keep all of your stuff in a fanny pack so you've got your hands free and it pretty hard for anyone to steal your stuff if its wrapped around your waist! And black eyeliner looks hot even if you sleep in it."


Get the look

Collection 2000 Glam Crystals for only £2.99 bargainista! Slap it on and then slap on some more!



Rimmel Kohl Pencil in black £2.99 slick it on, smudge it, sleep in it and repeat!


Fanny Packs: Who said you had to look like a 90s tourist with a nylon dayglo fanny pack! Get fanny fabulous with this leather tassle detail bootylicious bumbag by Asos £22





















Pixie Lott

"Always carry baby wipes with you. Its like a little shower in a bag, you can remove your make up with it, have a freshen up during the day. If you're drinking alcohol make sure you line your stomach with chips or something like that. And never ever use the loo's, they're always disgusting! Oh and get one of my dresses they're girlie, festival perfect and available from lipsy!"

Get the look

Johnson's Baby Wipes £2.39 for a 64 pack
Smell as sweet as a new born babe, whilst all those around you are getting a bit whiffy!

Visit http://www.lipsy.co.uk/pixielott for the full range


White gypsy dress by Pixie Lott for Lipsy £48 available from ASOS











Need a wee? Head for the nicest bush you can find, squat, aim and fire!**Disclaimer: Pixie Lott does not endorse the squat aim fire routine**

Wanna smell good? There's an app for that!

The phone of the moment has got to be the iPhone...if you're a beauty savvy chick as well as a gadget geek Givaudan (industry leading perfumery house dontcha know)have come up with the perfect app for you...iPerfumer!

We headed down to the launch of this sweet smelling app at The Ivy early one morning (9am start arggh early but science waits for no man). Whilst nibbling on a nice bit of brekky we settled down to a lesson in perfume technology....call it iperfumer 101.

This clever little app takes away the stress of finding a new perfume. Hands up if you've ever been confused.com when you hit the perfume counter?My left hand is up as I type this.

All you do is create a little profile and enter details about what scents you like. But what scents do I like I hear you ask. Well you'll soon find out 'cos this app takes you to a science level where you become that little French man in a white coat down in Rue de la Blah blah in the back streets of Paris. The app teaches you about base scents like Chypre(citrus top notes) and Fougère (often a base for male fragrances its floral woody and oriental with top notes of lavender). Once you are armed with knowledge, this sweet little app also throws up several examples of these types of fragrance (e.g. for fougère you'd see Lolita Lempicka Au Masculin Fraicheu, for chypre Coco Mademoiselle).

You'll begin to get an idea of what new scents you might like to try and what fragrances you can buy for other people (you can create multiple profiles). You can also rate the perfumes you've previously sniffed. Makes perfect scents doesn't it (sorry had to use this bad joke at some point).

This ingenious app also tells you about new fragance launches, you can see the top rated perfumers by members of the iPerfumer community and it holds over 4500 perfumes in its database. This means you'll be armed with enough knowledge to whittle down your choices when you head to your nearest perfume counter or your surfing the web for a new fragrance.Wanna know more? Get you yourself down to the Apple store in Regent St, London and download it for free- the minute we finished our sausages we did!

Be a Bronzed Babe!

Finally the sun has come out over the UK. And while we all love those ray's, its a well know fact that laying out in the sun and attempting to turn into a weathered piece of Italian leather is not a good idea.
Wanna get a little bronze-a-licious? Well read on beauties, cos whatever your skin tone there's a bronzing hue out there for you!


Boots No7 have the best range for turning you into a bronzed Aphrodite if you have pale/ light skin tones (you resemble Aggy Dean/ Sienna Miller's colouring). Slap on some No7 Naturally Sunkissed Gradual Body Tan. (200ml £9.25) It can be used like your usual body lotion and deeply smooths and moisturises skin, whilst its gentle self-tanning ingredient leaves behind a hint of beautiful colour that builds day by day into a natural looking glow.

Girls who already have a golden glow (think Eva's Mendes and Longoria)only need a little warming up, so go for something a little lighter that doesn't build over time. L'Oreal Sublime Bronze (£9.99) is just the ticket. Its got a great light texture and the effects only last for a couple of days.

And for those of you out there who like me have a beautiful brown hue all year round(Beyonce/ Naomi Campbell types) then you only want something that's gonna tip the scales and give you a little extra oomph. Guerlain Terracotta Spray Bronzing Powder mist (£33) is brilliant. It gives a nice lift without leaving a heavy colour behind.

No7 range is available from all Boots stores, L'Oreal is avaiable from all good beauty retailers and Guerlain is stocked in most larger department stores (Debenhams, Selfridges and House of Fraser)

Catch up with Lisa Butcher- The model, the mum, the designer and the ambassador!

Lisa Butcher was catapulted to supermodel stardom at the age of 14 after winning a modelling competition with British Elle and went on to work with fashion powerhouses like YSL, Galliano and Ralph Lauren. She famously married Marco Pierre White 3 weeks after meeting him (aged just 21) but the pair divorced after 15 weeks! Now the mother of two has established herself as a presenter fronting Britain’s Next Top Model and What Not To Wear. She is also an ambassador for Fairtrade Cotton, designing jewellery and designing a range for Long Tall Sally- this is one busy yummy mummy! We caught up with Lisa recently and she revealed all about her work with Fairtrade, her lust for J Brand jeans, why beauty starts from the inside out and her tips for looking sexy this summer!


How did you get involved with Fair Trade cotton?
I grew up in Indonesia around tea plantations. So I’d seen first hand what it was like for workers in these countries. And the experience instilled in me that we should always care for other people. When Fairtrade approached me I jumped at the chance to help out. They asked me to go and see the cotton farmers in Gujarat. It was an amazing 4 day trip, where I met the workers and their families, saw how they lived. People don’t really think about the consequences of what they are wearing. I wanted to highlight to people what the cotton workers go through.

Do you think it’s important for people in the public eye to get behind causes?
Definitely. It’s important if you have a bit of a profile to be a voice for people who have been forgotten. Coming from the modelling industry you were a projection of everyone’s ideas, told to wear something shut up and get on with it- I had 20 years of that but now I can speak up! I couldn’t take on too many because I still need to take care of my children and earn a living!

Is it tricky juggling motherhood, your career and charity work?
I wouldn’t have it any other way. The more busy you are the more organised you are with your time and the more you get out of your days. My kids come before everything always, much to the detriment of my career sometimes! But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learnt during your career?
Take every opportunity when it comes because it might not come again. I started out so young [14 yrs old]. I didn’t appreciate what I had and in hindsight I would have taken more of the opportunities that came my way! I fronted a Ralph Lauren campaign and I didn’t even know who they were!

What was the hardest thing starting out so young in the industry?Well 14 is a time when you are still developing. Hormones are flying all over the place and you are becoming who you are going to be in the future. Sometimes going into a role and forgetting who you are can have repercussion’s later on in life. And I guess for me, one of my biggest regrets is that I didn’t stay in school for longer.

You fronted What Not To Wear. Would you say the main aim of the show was to help those struggling with their image?
It wasn’t so much to do with image. It was more to do with restoring confidence. Often something had happened- they may have lost someone or they might have been ill-and they needed their confidence back. It wasn’t just about looking in the mirror. It’s about feeling good on the inside. You don’t have to be the prettiest in the room to be the one that everyone gravitates towards. Confidence is key!

Do you ever struggle with image or finding the right clothes?
Gosh all my life! I love those really cool jeans that are out at the moment by J Brand, they kind of look like combats [the Houlihan]. And they only come in a 31inch leg. I’m 6ft, its a bit annoying that the coolest trousers in the world will never fit me! I also have hips so I do sometimes struggle!

Would you say you’re a bit of a crusader for women of all sizes being accepted and having the right to good clothes that fit?
In a way. I went to Equity to campaign for models of all sizes to be represented on the catwalk. When I was modelling I was told not to eat, that I was too fat. I had puppy fat. It did disappear but now its come back!

You look amazing! Do you have a failsafe sexy outfit?
Probably a dress that I designed for Long Tall Sally. It’s a halter neck maxi dress, but with really long ties so you can tie it up in heaps of different ways.

What’s your favourite/ least favourite part of your body?
My arms are my favourite as they are quite slim. I guess my bottom half is my least favourite. I have a typical English pear shape!

I’m sure the fella’s like it!
[Laughs] It’s so funny but its true men love that and us girls just want to be tiny as ever.


Lisa’s Sexy Summer Tips

*Killer pair of shades is a necessity. I always have at least two pairs in my handbag.

*Jean/ cargo hybrid pants like the Houlihans from J Brand a la Rihanna[also check out www.netaporter.com or www.my-wardrobe.com]

*Indulge in tribal prints- but it’s a trend so don’t overspend.

*A maxi dress- my one from Long Tall Sally is brilliant!

*Zen Tan- its amazing, you look super healty and if you put it on right it doesn’t streak!

*Bright nail varnishes from POP! They are so bright you practically need shades to look at them. Neon brights are a brilliant look for nails this summer

*Mineral foundation by Mac. It’s the best coverage in the heat. Your skin can breath!


To find out more about Fairtrade Cotton visit http://www.fairtrade.org.uk/

Visit www.longtallsally.com and check out Lisa's designs!

Spotless Skin? Simples!

Do you ever wake up in the morning to find you've sprouted a monument-al spot over night? Feel like wearing a paper bag over your head until it goes away? Cos I definitely do. But ladies, gentlemen and teenagers fear not, step away from the paper bag and step towards the new Spotless Skin range from Simple! Every now and then there's a new beauty hero and this is it. There is a great face wash, moisturiser, face wipes and face scrub to keep the nasty's at bay. And if a spot should rear its ugly head you can dab on some rapid action spot zapper for targeted on the spot treatment.

'Cos we @ the FBC love our readers we are giving away complete sets of the Spotless Skin range to the first 3 readers who email us at thefbcuk@gmail.com with 'Simples' in the subject line! Include your name and address in the email and we will email you back if you are one of our lucky winners!



The range is available now at all good chemists!

Its a Diet Coke (nail) Break

Diet Coke has commissioned four limited edition nail colours with Nails Inc. What's Coke got to do with nails? The FBC won't pretend to know but we love these tasty colours available until the 30th of June in Boots...Oh and if you have a naughty little Coke habit pop 2 500ml bottles and you can use your empties to claim a free nail colour from Boots an all. Dibs on the ruby red hue...looks as iconic as the Coke can itself.