Ladies, Gents, and Krasey Beauty regulars, I would like to introduce you all to a new, bi-monthly feature here on the site: British Beauty with Get Lippie.
That’s right folks, the fabulous Louise of Get Lippie has signed on as a regular contributor, here to bring us all a dose of beauty from across the pond. For those who aren’t familiar, Get Lippie is an amazing blog that features beauty reviews, all with a wonderfully witty flair. If you have a moment, be sure to add this site to your daily reads, for Louise’s wit is not to be missed. Now without further adieu, take it away Louise.
*Image is courtesy of Daniel Sandler, Beautique.com, and the Beautique Blog
Hello Krasey Beauty readers! Greetings from the tiny corner of London that Get Lippie calls home! Over the next few weeks, I’m hoping to introduce you to some wonderful British beauty brands, old ones, new ones, classic ones and trashy (but blimmin’ good fun) ones. I’ll also take you on a virtual tour or two of some of London’s most iconic beauty halls (any requests?), and talk to some people who I think, help define British beauty today.
First, I thought I’d talk about – possibly somewhat controversially – what I think are the differences between how I see American and British beauty trends. To me, American beauty (and the American beauty brand) is all about the polished glamour. Perfectly studied neutrals, and a discreet playing up of one’s best features. To me, the Bobbi Brown brand perfectly sums up the “classic” American-style beauty. Personally, I find the perfectly groomed and polished, powdered and plucked, lipstick’d and mascara’d style a great one to emulate!
I always think though that British makeup shows a great acceptance of colour and experimentation, it’s not so much about the grooming sometimes, as it is about the application, and the shades! Look at Illamasqua and Barry M, not much neutral about either of those ranges, you’d be hard pressed to find a great taupe in either of their ranges, but they’re both much beloved on this side of the pond! Sometimes, British beauty trends can be a bit quirky, and I’ve seen many a UK makeup collection that contains practically every colour under the sun. Mine certainly does.
One difference between US and UK beauty habits I’ve always found interesting is that we in the UK buy far less makeup in palettes than US beauty buyers, and I’ve always wondered why that is. I’ve heard tell that it’s because (according to a “expert” I can’t quite recall the name of right now) UK customers love to experiment, and US customers like to know how the designer wants the shades to go together. What do you guys think of that?
I had a little chat recently with one of my UK beauty heroes, Daniel Sandler, (he’s an amazingly talented makeup artist with his own line of cosmetics, he put together the amazing look on the model in the pic up there – and he’s a perfect English gent, to boot) and asked him for his thoughts about British beauty, here’s what he had to say:
“For me, beauty is not only what you are born with but what you make of it. Its not just about a pretty face but her entire being and her soul. Its how a woman looks, how she holds herself e.g. how she walks into a room or how she sits and how unselfish she is from within. Its pretty old fashioned stuff really though this is not meant to offend Feminists in any way.
British beauty in my eyes is all about the porcelain Celtic skin with either blonde, red or deepest brown black hair. I believe that an alabaster complexion , like we see in the Irish or Scots, is not only classically beautiful (which, by the way, inspired the likes of Gainsborough,Singer Sargent and Reynolds to paint the English aristocracy with over-whitened faces to keep them looking superior until Coco Chanel came along) but when contrasted against either golden locks, Titian or raven curls the white skin looks so striking and beautiful.
I love the British pale complexion, it can be draining on some girls but only requires a hint of colour to the cheeks and lips with spot of mascara to really make our British sisters look their most beautiful.”
Now, I have to say I’ve never been an English Rose, and the “just a spot of mascara” look has never been one I can pull off, but I know just what Daniel means, that kind of defines “classic” British beauty to me too, and I’m envious when I see a girl with roses in her cheeks!
Daniel has some ideas about the Classic British beauty style too:
“I think that the makeup look that is quintessentially British has to be Twiggy’s look from the 60’s, particularly the black and white Barry Lategan photo of her that M&S popped on one of their jute bags last year. That iconic makeup look has been reinvented and made modern with each new passing fashion season so has to be for me “the” British look that I love. In fact, Vogue wrote about one of my makeup colour collections last year called “Iconic” that paid homage to the smokey eyes and nude lips that Twiggy wore.”
I’ll be talking about Daniel’s cosmetics in a couple of weeks, but what do you think of what he has to say about British beauty? And, do you agree with his selection of Twiggy’s iconic photo as the “quintessential British look”? Next time, I’ll be talking to another of my Great British Beauty heroes, and finding out how they think of US vs UK beauty
Well, I think that’s quite enough for this week, do let me know if you have any questions, or if there are any product requests you want to see on here, I’d love to hear from you!
Lippie xx
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6 Comments
Interesting read. A commonly held perception is that Brits really value their eccentrics; so it seems natural that the love of experimentation and uniqueness would be prevalent in make-up, hair styles, and fashion. That iconic image of Twiggy really resonated with me because that graphic, edgy make-up look was all the rage when I was in high school. It was not really a smokey look, rather it was made up of sharp color contrasts, stark and exaggerated lining, and the requisite false lashes. It went beautifully with the geometric haircuts and color blocked fashion of the time.
I’m on Louise’s side of the pond and I have to agree that there is a difference between US and UK beauty. I’ve always described the US as liking a much more sculpted look, with lots of definition to the face. Whereas I think the UK usually prefers to go for a softer look, maybe more natural even when experimenting with colour. I find the UK is more concerned with colour and using it it many different forms, whereas the US is all about precise applications and achieving a flawless finish with everything in the right place. Either way, I love both styles!
Eileen, well said! I find it very interesting that two makeup cultures can be so utterly different. Interestingly enough, I think that the British ideal of beauty resonates with me more, as a whole. I am very big on experimentation!
Beauty maze, I never realized the differences in beauty ideals until Louise pointed them out. That being said, I love them both too! I feel like it is easy enough to cozy up to either one of the aesthetics.
I have always found that in the US, brighter stronger colours seem to be used as in the Uk it tends to be more pale colours, or bright colours toned down. Interesting read, will deffo be keeping am eye on the comments.
Beauty supplies, please do! So many interesting opinions on the subject.