Nails, nails and more nails...

At the beginning of this month we released these new nail paints:
311 Instant Nail Effects, 312 Indigo and 313 Dusky Mauve.

The blogger world has gone mad for Instant Nail Effects, it is the cheapest, simplest way of doing nail art!

But don't just listen to me tell you how amazing it is, here are some reviews on it:

http://www.vexinthecity.com/2010/10/you-need-this-barry-m-instant-nail.html

http://www.donotrefreeze.com/2010/10/finally-instant-nail-effects.html

http://www.facebook.com/notes/beauty-begins-blog/barry-m-dusky-mauve-and-instant-nail-effects/485078895341

Now just for a bit of fun, because we love to play around with our nail varnishes here, I painted my nails in black with hologram hexograms overt the top. The picture is a bit flat but they look so sparkly and reflective in reality, we love this look:

Steal Katie Waissel’s X Factor style

Love her or hate her, 24-year-old hair salon receptionist Katie Waissel has already made a big impression on the X Factor judges. And despite fluffing her lines not once, but twice, the Madonna-inspired singer made it into the final 12.  But while Katie’s quirky retro style might not be for everyone, here's how to create a much more toned down, wearable version of her make-up.

For a start, ditch the humongous circus-like false lashes - who knows how Katie got through the day at the judges’ houses with those unsightly things weighing her down. Instead, opt for a thickening mascara like our 3 in 1 to lengthen, add volume and separate the lashes. Elsewhere, Katie keeps her eye make-up pretty simple, with neutral eye shadows and well groomed eyebrows.

Katie opts for a matte foundation finish with a subtle rosy blush. Try a light to medium coverage foundation or a tinted moisturiser and sweep a smidgen of our Pink Orchard onto the apples of your cheeks.

The lips tend to be the focal point of Katie’s look (apart from the aforementioned lashes, of course) and at the judges' houses, she went for a girly baby pink shade. A far cry from the bright orange/red she went for on her first audition, the pale pink complemented Katie’s complexion and was well in line with the 60s little white dress look she sported. Achieve a similar look with our lip paint in Sheer Pink.

Finally, add a dramatic bow or hair piece to a quiffed barnet, and a coat or two of black nail polish and you’re ready to go!

By Lauren Holden

Get the X Factor with Cher Lloyd's look

The X Factor finalists have only recently been selected, but there are already countless articles and YouTube videos on how to recreate the girls’ make-up looks. First up, hip hop princess, Cher Lloyd - there’s no mistaking the 16-year-old singer’s distinctive look. And while we may not all want to rush out and purchase a pair of baggy ghetto pants or sky-high boots, there are tons of make up junkies who’d happily sport Cher’s heavy smokey eyes and dramatic black brows.

Here’s how to do it: get hold of a black or dark brown kohl eyeliner and fill in the brows, accentuating the arches by building up colour gradually. Or soft kohl pencil in black is a mere snip at just £2.95. If you’re blessed with thicker, more defined brows, use a thin shadow brush and a dark eyeshadow shade to gently fill them in.

Create Cher’s stunning smokey eyes by blending a dark eyeliner under the waterline and in the inner corners of the eyes our Super Soft Eyes Crayons are great for creating a smudgy, smoky effect. If you prefer to use a liquid eyeliner, our black will do the trick.

For the eyeshadow, blend a dark shade like Dazzle Dust in Petrol Black on the lid. For a much more wearable daytime look, you can tone it down with Charcoal or even a navy blue shade.

On the cheeks, Cher’s rosy glow is down to a well chosen blush like our Pink Orchid, at £4.50. Finally - the lips! Never mind those who say dramatic eyes should be worn with neutral lips - and vice versa. Cher is usually seen wearing a coral/pink, perfectly suited to her pale skin tone which you can get with our Peachy Pink Lip Paint. And you’re done!

Stay tuned for some more X-Factor-inspired make-up looks!

This was written by Lauren Holden

Yep Barry M are doing pressed eyeshadows!

Finally, I hear you all cry! Barry M are now doing pressed eye shadows - so you can get all the amazing sparkle and shimmer you have come to expect from Dazzle Dusts - but in solid form!

And they come in these lovely trio pallets:

You will start to see these in Superdrug now but if you can't get hold of them then they are always available on our website.

Personally I am loving Golden Goddess which is the first one, it makes creating a bronzed smokey look for summer so easy. And the pink and brown one, called Delicious Diva, gives a similar look but puts a pink twist on it for that extra girliness - how can you go wrong!

You get an applicator in the pallet, with a brush and a sponge end. Personally I always prefer to use my own brushes but they are great to use for touching up when I am out.

Hope you like! This is totally new for us so we would love to hear your feedback.

Cookie the Barry M Bunny

Did anyone spot the Barry M Bunny in our TV advert?! She was in the first shot and at the end hopping around in amongst the girl's mess! Take a look and see if you can spot her: www.barrym.com/fun/tv-commercial

You may be asking yourself why a make-up company keeps banging on about rabbits?!?! Basically becuase we love them, and not just rabbits, all animals. Barry M have NEVER and will never test on animals. Not only that but we will only buy ingredients from suppliers who do not test on animals. 

So us crazy kids in marketing took this picture at our last photo shoot just to prove that our glamorous models wear our make-up and Cookie just gets a nice hug! (Click on the image to enlarge it)

 

Cookie is a family pet, you can watch what she gets up to all day on our website: www.barrym.com/bunnycam/

Vanity Van and Barry M at festivals!

With the festival season upon us, the chances are that you are off to watch some top-notch live music acts; you’ve loaded up your tent, picked up your mates and packed your wellies, but then you find there is no room for your straighteners!

Stylista’s don’t fret looking good this summer has never been easier. Glamping is IN ! - living in a muddy field for 3 days is no longer an excuse to end up as crusty as your wellies!

Vanity Van’s alfresco salon comes to the rescue to keep you buffed, bronzed and beautiful at some of the major festivals this year including Glastonbury, Isle of Wight festival, V festival and Creamfields.

Vanity Van is armed with fully trained beauticians and therapists ready to indulge you with their treatments, this year they are offering;

• Hair–cuts, blow drys, curling, straightening, up dos and DIY styling
• Makeovers, Face & body art using Barry M cosmetics and gorgeous false eyelashes 
• Beauty treatments such as Manicures, Pedicures using Barry M’s gorgeous nail paint range, BeauBronz spray tans and Parissa waxing
• Skilled therapists offering head, neck and shoulder massages using massage chairs and full body massages in our unique private massage zone

New! For this season the Festival Recovery Package, amazing group discounts, free goody bags for every customer and the opportunity to capture your makeover with our photographer, your friends will never believe you could look this good in a field!

Don’t be the last in the queue pre-book your treatment now by emailing us at bookings@vanityvan.co.uk , stating the event you are attending, the date and a preferred time.



For more information on festival dates, treatments and prices visit www.vanityvan.co.uk.

Be beach ready with Barry M!

This has been written by Lauren Holden, a freelance journalist and huge Barry M fan!

Summer's mere weeks away and we'll soon be digging out our bikinis and passports in search of some much-needed sun.

Make sure you have everything you need for a day on the beach by following Barry M's handy guide. Here's our top handbag essentials to take you from beach to bar.

* Lip service
Keep lips soft, smooth and kissably soft in time for that beach holiday romance this summer. Smooth a generous slick of Barry M's Vitamin E and peppermint oil lip balm before applying your usual lippy. Choose from cherry or strawberry scented lip balm and finish with a quick application of Barry M's peachy pink lip paint to complement your golden tan. Pale faced beauties can opt for Barry M's Pale Pink Sparkle or Palest Lavender to set off a porcelain English rose complexion.

*Want tasty beach-ready tootsies?
I scream, you scream, we all scream for Barry M's new Ice Cream nail paints. And nothing says summer quite like ice cream! With any one of Barry M's four tasty Ice Cream nail paints, you'll have cutesy, girly hands or tootsies in no time. Choose from Strawberry, Berry, Lemon or Blueberry ice cream-inspired nail paints - yum! Barry M's lilac (Berry Ice Cream) shade has been disappearing off shop shelves faster than you can say strawberry sauce and chocolate sprinkles - it really is that delicious.

* Dazzle day or night
Instantly jazz up your daytime beach make-up with Barry M's famous Dazzle Dust. Bronzed babes can enhance their summer tans with a subtle dusting of Barry M's Burnt Orange eyeshadow combined with Marigold or Bronze. Brilliant brunettes can go all out and embrace vibrant tropical inspired shades with a summery cocktail of colours. Opt for Parrot Green, Kingfisher or Aqua Gold Dazzle Dusts for a stunning beach-ready look.

And that's it - all that's left do do now is pack those sunnies and sun cream and board the plane! Enjoy