Thirty years since its UK release, chatting to feted director Allison Anders, we look at the impact chola gang-girl masterpiece Mi Vida Loca has had on pop culture (FKA Twigs, Gwen Stefani – we’re looking at you). This one’s for the mothers, warriors, sisters… survivors!

It’s the mid nineties. Gang violence in the state of Los Angeles is at an all time high. Allison Anders is shooting her cult chola girl-gang movie Mi Vida Loca in the reportedly no-go neighbourhood of Echo Park. Talking to Anders now, twenty years later, she’s characteristically cool about the very real threat of violence that shrouded the set. “I had a thirteen year old gang-girl working with locations and she’d say, ‘We can go down here, everyone will be safe, we can’t go down there, that’s not our neighbourhood’.”

Anders recalls the one time she lost it on set, “Just shouting, ‘You be on time, you stop getting high, you learn your fucking lines!’” she clucks.  Anders’ methods were, let’s say, unconventional; in the name of authenticity, she street-cast real life Echo Park gang members. “The girls I was working with, they were getting shot at and standing alongside people getting killed. It was a gnarly time, but I kept all the violence off-screen because I wasn’t interested in that. I was interested in the girls, the subculture as a pop culture, the music, the clothes, and how they interacted with one another.”

90s indie, coming-of-age “hood tales” are two-a-penny in Hollywood, but Anders’ lore about a girl-squad so tightly bound by loyalty and love is irresistible: the romance; the fatalism; the pseudonyms Whisper, Giggles and La Blue Eyes; the low rider whips that swing like the chica’s hips; the boys in their hair nets; and the honey-glazed, 7-11, drive-thru neighbourhood – the film is an aesthete’s wet dream.

The opening scene unfurls like gangster Ernesto’s hydraulically-powered transformer truck, Suavecito. A half naked señorita is revealed as the trunk lifts away from the body of the car, the tyres flex, as Ernesto languidly cruises through a dusty LA. Cut to “Sad Girl” staring moodily into the lens, all pompadour hair and provocatively painted plum lips as she has three dots painted under her left eye, all the while with a baby on her lap.

The plot came from “the neighbourhood”, explains Allison.  “My daughter came home from school and told me this story about two girls: ‘Christina had a baby with Ernesto and then Marta had a baby with Ernesto and now they don’t get along,’ she said. I was like, ‘Who is this Ernesto? I gotta meet this stud’, and when I saw him he was just this tiny kid.”

The plot centres around two cholas, nicknamed Sad Girl and Mousie. They grow up together; as children on their block’s fire escape, as teenagers backcombing their hair in the mirror and as young women getting “jumped in” (initiated into their gang). Eventually, they betray each other by having a baby by the same man, Ernesto. Sad Girl (Angel Aviles) and Mousie (Seidy López) were played by trained actresses and Mi Vida Loca is also Selma Hayek’s first film appearance. Aviles recalls auditioning mainly out of curiosity. “Even now, 2015, they’re not making films about these women, who at the time were considered to be this ugly, underbelly of Los Angeles. I thought, why make a film about these girls? The war paint, the tattoos, the crime – it was bad. I found it intriguing. I was raised in New York which may as well have been a different universe.”

I wondered how difficult walking onto a set with a bunch of gang members might be for a twenty two year old stage-school kid. “These days, it’s termed BFFs, back then we called it ‘being down for your shit’, which means the same if you’re in LA or in the middle of the Amazon. It’s how you relate to your clan. I remember thinking these girls are legit, they love hard and they fight hard. I went in with respect and that’s what I got.” Aviles recalls preparing for the “cussing-match” between Mousie and Sad Girl on the fire escape. “Seidy and I were really good friends, so we knew each other’s trigger points, but I walked around set like, ‘What shall I say to that bitch?’, and I remember, even though it’s 25 years ago, Whisper said, ‘You should tell her, her pussy ain’t made of gold.’ I was like, ‘What?’, she was like, ‘Yeah.’ I was 22 years old, not from a small town in the Mid West, I was straight from New York City and I was like, ‘This girl is strong!’”

Susan Bertram designed the film’s wardrobe, and began by heading to “Compton Swap Meet in Echo park where the girls usually shopped. There they could get their buckled belts made up with their initial in old English scripture, or they could get ‘EC’ embroidered on the back of their jackets.” Allison constantly refers to the hand drawn magazine, Teen Angels, which has become something of a canonisation for the scene’s aesthetic (issues now go for hundreds of dollars on Ebay). The pages are filled with low-rider illustrations that inspired the artwork of the opening credits; hands in prayer, pierced flaming hearts, melancholy Madonnas and Pachuca girls with tears etched on their faces.

Mousie and Sad Girl’s uniforms tell different Chicana narratives. Mousie’s more overtly sexual style harks back to Pachuca style of the 1940s, which was the first pop-subculture for Mexicans in the United States. The old-school look was flamboyant and controversial, bending the rules of feminine dressing. While men dressed in wide Zoot Suits, women wore high heels, high skirts, and higher hair and occasionally their Pachuco boyfriend’s trousers.

For Angel, then aged 22, Sad Girl’s style had to be a more masculine take on chola garb than Mousie’s. “When I read the script, Allison had noted that Sad Girl had a ‘wall of hair’. I wanted her look to be extreme. She’s overcompensating all the time, so I wanted
her lips darker and sharper than everyone else, to have both her hands and her face tattooed. The first time I came out of hair and makeup everyone was like, ‘That’s legit’.”

The wardrobe has undoubtedly contributed to the film’s enduring appeal and Sad Girl’s look has become a blueprint for chicana style in the west. Professor of Anthropology at UCLA and author of Homegirls, Norma Mendosa-Denton, argues a flick of eyeliner could become a political act for chola girls. “They had different ways of doing make up, so if you saw someone from far away, you could tell what gang they were in,” she says.

Jay Wejebe worked as the makeup artist on set. Anders remembers a “22 year-old kid with no experience, who tells me to ‘take the girls to Woolworths and let them pick their make up’, because that’s where they shopped.” Anders hired him on the spot. Anders and I discussed Lana Del Rey’s continued use of the look, and the fact that, well, she might be missing a few details. “Yeah, well I think cross-pollination is natural, but what she might not notice are the little chola bracelets that were made from car parts, or that you had your hair high so you could conceal a weapon in it if you needed to.”

Like Echo Park itself, the chola lifestyle has been taken to the salon: polished and blow-dried and, in Norma’s words, “de-fanged and deodorised, which in part is down to the “Hispanic population stratifying. There are Chicano professors and business people and a Chicano president might not be too far off if the Bush’s get their way.” Mendosa-Denton stresses that the word “chola” is not a derogatory term. “It simply defines the look of a young Latina girl who is part of a gang,” she asserts. “When I say ‘gang’, I mean just another youth subculture. It’s only adults in power that make ‘gangs’ appear dangerous.”

It’s a film with a tribal subculture, a lingo and a uniform, packaged in lingering shots of the girls in Nikes, tall tees, mini skirts, rolled down dungarees and gold hoops; in short, it’s a sartorial wellspring. “What fashion takes is the sexiness and the feeling of being alive that comes from being in this get-up where everyone stares at you”, explains Mendosa-Denton. “They don’t take the tiny ‘chanclas’ (flat little espadrilles) that cholas would wear, because they might have to run from the cops.”

Mendosa-Denton suspects that Grand Theft Auto San Andreas may too have been an impetus. “You’re in this alternate world with these Mexican gangster guys with heavy Chicano accents. The advertising is meshing with real-life icons of Chicano aesthetics and re-branding them,” she explains. But unlike Hip hop culture, which was exhaustively plundered by designers in the early 90s (see Chanel’s much Tumblr-d 1991 collection), the adoption of the chola has been comparatively slight. It’s “A countercultural backwater that people are mining, but Taylor Swift wouldn’t go there yet, you know?’, the professor continues.

Take into account Kendall Jenner’s baby-haired LOVE cover, Nasir Mazhar’s fashion column inches, and it-girl du jour FKA Twigs’ style – which itself is a love letter to the 90s Cholita – and indicators show that fashion’s found a new fling. “These Chicano emblems that were once stigmatised, like the teardrop tattoo, are transitioning from underground to mainstream. It’s almost a de-ethanisation” says Mendosa-Denton.

Carol Morgan, Global Trend Tracker at Central St Martin’s, thinks the pull of a “gang” is too much to resist. “Everyone is sitting at home plugged into their iPhone. People want to belong without having to communicate, so they do that by getting dressed. Gang-dress is perceived to be violent and that’s always appealing,” she suggests and Shaun Cole, Course Leader for MA Fashion Cultures at LCF, agrees. “Fashion since time immemorial has loved the glamorous hard girl,” he claims. Morgan would argue that it’s part of the reason Nasir Mazhar’s “gang-land romance” is so feted. “When you see it on the street it can be menacing, and that can be very empowering for a girl.”

Like most street styles, chola dress was a reaction to marginalisation, so what does it mean when Rodarte designs an entire collection around chola gang-girls? Homage and exploitation become increasingly difficult to pull apart. Fashion’s piratical nature (see YSL’s lauded 1967 collection, Africa) has long been accepted, and only recently placed under the microscope with words like “appropriation” being bandied-about. Take Tijuana-based feminist-group Sad Girl Y Que’s reaction when Lana Del Rey’s “Sad Girl” moniker raised its head.  “She is this blonde heiress, with teardrops painted on her face, making music videos where she’s sat in the ‘hood’. She’s taken all these symbols from a culture that isn’t hers to make profit. It’s obviously offensive.” See our Sad Girl Y Que profile back on page 48.

“Suddenly, there were all these white girls calling each other ‘Mousie’, which was great, but we had no intention of making anything ‘cult’”, hollers Anders. “We knew at the time that the film was important for the neighbourhood”. And if you don’t believe her, see Angel throwing the Echo Park gang-sign in the film’s poster artwork. When I ask Anders what her intentions were with the film, she takes a moment. “To make a love story about the romance that the girls felt for each other, that they felt for Ernesto, and for the neighbourhood. Echo Park is so beautiful.
You know, the hills really do echo.”

All images from the film Mi Vida Loca courtesy of Allison Anders

Words: Nellie Eden

The post Lean Like A Chola appeared first on Wonderland.

L’Occitane Immortelle Brightening Essence

While the term “brightening essence” may rouse some suspicions, this little bottle really does leave the skin looking fresher and brighter. Complete with a dropper, this “essence” by L’Occitane is incredibly light with a fresh rather than perfume-y lavender scent. A perfect beginning to dewy summer skin.

Available for £44 from Loccitane.co.uk

Lancome Hypnôse Doll Eyes Palette in Reflect D’Améthyste

Purple can result in rather moody and gothic tones, which is why the Hypnose Doll Eyes palette by Lancome is refreshingly, well, fresh. The hues are comprise of soft pinks and baby lavenders, and were made to sparkle. And best of all, the texture is soft and light.

Available for £37 from Lancome.co.uk

Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Va Va Violet

Stepping back from deep indigo, florescent fuchsias and plastic-inspired purples, this creamy, decadent lipstick from Revlon saturates the lips with a more sophisticated, wine-fueled hue. With this velvet rush on your lips, all you need is dewy skin and a few coats of black mascara and you’ll be this summer’s hottest vixen.

Available for £7.49 from Boots.com

NUDE Perfect Polish

The Perfect Polish from Nude acts as a gentle exfoliating polish. Whisking away dry skin and uneven texture (and leaving a fresh, sweet scent), the polish is light enough to not irritate skin, but gets the job done.

Available for £28 from SpaceNK.com

Dolce & Gabbana Shine Lipstick in Violet

Oh, baby. Bright purple, and rather matte, lipstick may have many off running and screaming, but with the right touch, it can be the coolest thing this summer. Dolce & Gabbana’s Violet lipstick is a perfect shade of purple, and the texture is creamy, meaning it goes on quite smooth. Pair with fresh skin and simple brown eye liner, and you have the perfect, and unique, summer look.

Available for £23 from Harrods.com

YSL Rouge Volupte Shine in Fuchsia in Rage

For those of you who can’t go all the way with a matte lipstick, this glossy stick from YSL is the perfect solution. It still leaves a good dose of colour, but the texture is much lighter, creating a gorgeous “just devoured a Popsicle” look.

Available for £24 from Yslbeauty.co.uk

Philosophy Lip Shine in Raspberry Sorbet

Nothing get’s more summery than a gorgeous, shimmery lip gloss. The consistency is rather light, but adds a lot of shine and plenty of shimmer with a hint of juicy colour. And with the succulent taste of cool raspberry, we guarantee it will be gobbled in seconds.

Available for £10 from Selfridges.com

Revlon Nail Enamel in Enchanting

No Hit List is complete without a good dose of nail colour. Revlon is known for its long-lasting, non-chipping (and inexpensive) range of varnishes. This creamy, light purple varnish is another example of a summer look done right.

Available for £6.49 from Boots.com

YSL Marrakesh Sunset Eye Palette

Oh YSL, how we love thee. This eye palette from its Marrakesh collection creates the purple look without going overboard — quite easy to do with such a loud colour. Use the sandy tones to highlight and define, and a line of purple to add a surprising pop.

Available for £42 from Yslbeauty.co.uk

MAC Cosmetics Tropical Taboo Lip Pencil in Heroine

As you can tell, it’s all about the purple lips. So the make-up gurus behind MAC Cosmetics created a lip liner that gives absolute precision, definition, and a wallop of colour.

Available for £12 from Maccosmetics.co.uk

Givenchy Limited Edition Le Vernis in Purple

It’s becoming very clear that Givenchy knows a thing or two about nail varnishes. This purple varnish has an interesting, almost grey base, for a purple that is deep and yet still summery. But queue up now — it’s limited edition, so like these sunny days, it will be gone in a flash.

Available for £15 from Debenhams.com

Melvita Purifying Lavender Floral Water

It’s hot out there, so let’s be honest — the air can get a little muggy. But salvation is at hand with this trusty bottle by Melvita. The spray is emits a light, refreshing mist that immediately invigorates without a sticky residue.

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick in Violet Plum

Love is in the air. This long-wear cream shadow from Bobbi Brown contains a hint of shimmer, and because the texture is soft, can add a hint of colour to the lash line, be moulded onto the eye for an intense, all-over look, or lined like kohl around the eye for a sexy-cum-rave attitude.

Available from Bobbibrown.co.uk

Shu Uemura Eyeconic Eye Shadow in Purple

We’ve already mentioned the colour palettes of Shu Uemura’s Eyeconic collection. The tri-colour palette creates depth and definition, and can be layered for either a light dust or intense dose of colour.

Available for £11 from Shuuemura.co.uk

Words: Elise Marraro (follow Elise on Twitter @PardonMe_Lissie)

The post Hit List: Purple Persuasion appeared first on Wonderland.

Religion Magic Print Maxi Dress

Item one on the checklist – a free-flowing hippie dress that demonstrates our free spirit. If you’re going to go cliché, then there’s no better than the spectacular print and sugary sweet fit of this maxi from Religion.

Available for £95 from Religionclothing.co.uk

Warehouse Denim Shorts Dungarees

No festival goer can be cool and alternative without dungarees, the mini-overalls that scream looking good without giving a fuck, right? We love the style of these Warehouse dungarees. Pair with Converse for new age fun with a vintage feel.

Available for £48 from Warehouse.co.uk

Lolita Lempicka L’eau Jolie Fragrance

Between music moshing and days frolicking around muddy tents, festival-goers need a little fragrant spritz now and again. Look no further than Lolita Lempicka’s new L’eau Jolie fragrance. With notes of Nashi Pear, Peony and Sandalwood, the lightweight fragrance is sweet, gentle and perfect for festival time.

Available for 30ml at £28

Carrera 5004 Craze Collection Sunglasses

Eyewear during festival season isn’t only for obvious protection from those darn harmful rays, it’s a stylish must. Fortunately, the new Craze Collection from Carrera is a one stop shop for all of your festival eyewear needs. Colourful, comfortable, and nearly indestructible, these babies are the coolest thing since tent-pimping at Glasto.

The above is available for £85 from 0800 723 45600

Office Industrial Beige Sandals

Quit whining about the mud and grab these sandals. The beige leather sandals are cute but not too girly and will stay on your feet whilst you show off your pedicure – you know, until the mud destroys it.

Available for £55 from Office.co.uk

Dolce & Gabbana Nail Lacquer in Bouganville

Speaking of pedicures, this liquid colour bomb from Dolce & Gabbana is the perfect accompaniment to all of your festival needs. It’s bright, loud and coats beautifully, so your nails will look flawless even when you’re passed out and sun burnt.

Available for £19 from Harrods.com

John Frieda Flyaway Tamer

The rule of festival beauty is to look like you don’t give a damn while looking damn fine. This impressive little wand from John Frieda will help you do just that. Without making hair greasy, the brush pats down wispy fly-aways.

Available for £10.99 from Boots.com

Givenchy HydraSparkling Lip and Cheek Stain

Get that sunny, rosy look from drunkenly dancing all day with this incredible little cheek and lip balm. Soft and creamy, the lightweight formula adapts to your skin tone and lasts for hours. An amazing touch-up without the fuss – true festival spirit.

Available for £21 from 0207 5638834

River Island Tribal Print Trousers

Festivals are one part music, one part self-discovery, and one part out-doing your friends in style. We’re convinced these fantastic blue-tinted, cheetah-print trousers with monochrome tribal relief from River Island will do the trick.

Available for £30 from 0844 576 6444

Acne SS13 Music Vest

Alright, if you’re at a music festival, why fight the obvious? This lightweight T-shirt vest from Acne literally proves your love of music in a cool, ironic manner. Pair with the wild pair of cut off trousers above to complete the festival look.

Available from Acnestudios.com

Gucci Diamond Glitter Collection Sunglasses

As we stated above, festival sunglasses are an absolute must, from the wild, bright colours of Carrera to these incredible Gucci Diamond Glitter frames. Coming in a range of colours, the sunglasses literally sparkle, adding stylish magic to an already magical moment.

Available for £210 from 0800 723 45600

Hunter Festival Millbank Pink Neon Trainers

As much as we try to tell ourselves Glasto and the best summer festivals will be sun-filled days of fun, reality and past experience tells a story of rain, mud and that drunk dude spilling beer down your back. To deal with these little mishaps, get a pair of these hardcore Hunter trainers. Not only spikey in honour of the punk trend, these bad boys are waterproof.

Available for £89 from Hunter-boots.com

YSL Baby Doll Mascara

There’s a reason we keep mentioning this tube of wonder. Brush on for a wide-eyed Bat For Lashes look.

Available for £24.50  from Yslbeauty.co.uk

Words: Elise Marraro (follow Elise on Twitter @PardonMe_Lissie)

The post Hit List: Festival Special appeared first on Wonderland.

bareMinerals Lash Domination Volumising Mascara

There’s been a unmistakeable shift in mascara ergonomics – along with formulas, brands are redesigning wands for increased volume and coverage. Case in point: bareMinerals Lash Domination, a silver bullet that holds a “Protwist 180” wand. In lay terms, the helical brush curls and coats lashes for an exceptionally dom lash look.

Available in August for £16 from Bareminerals.co.uk

Dolce & Gabbana Lace Collection Intenseye Mascara

A favourite among gothics and romantics alike is the Dolce & Gabbana Lace Collection Intenseye mascara. The bristle brush is simple, tapering at the top, and  the wand is stiff for a classical application. Meanwhile, in typical Dolce fashion, the formula is highly-pigmented yet easily applied.

Available for £24.50 from Harrods.com

Givenchy Noir Couture Waterproof Mascara

The Givenchy Noir Couture Waterproof mascara is one of two recently launched mascaras for the brand. While both are stunning, we’re frankly impressed by the silky application of the waterproof Noir Couture. While most waterproof mascaras flake and crumble, Noir Couture volumises with its innovative helical brush and seems to moisturise lashes for long-lasting coverage – and has an incredible package to match.

Available for £22.50 from 01932 233 824

YSL Effet Faux Cils Baby Doll Mascara

There could not be a discussion of the best SS13 mascaras without due mention of YSL Baby Doll mascara. The gold tube reigns chic while the patented formula lengthens and separates lashes. If you’re dying to replicate the on-trend sex-kitten Sixties look worn by Cara Delevingne in the campaign, check out our exclusive How-To here.

Available for £24.50 from Yslbeauty.co.uk

Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme Lash Multiplying Mascara

The Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme mascara lives up to its name. The formula is softer than most, with a mousse-like texture that glides effortlessly over even the sparest of lashes. And the big-boy brush is larger and more evenly shaped to grab each lash for an extra dose of batting power.

Available for £22 from EsteeLauder.co.uk

Chanel Jeux De Regards Le Volume Mascara

We told you brands are re-inventing the mascara wand. Chanel Le Volume mascara, part of the new Jeux de Regards collection, harnesses the power of its “snowflake” brush, a cylindrical comb that coats lashes root to tip. Plumped by the stiff bristles, the lashes are coated in a waxy, luscious formula that keeps giving and giving.

Available for £24 from 0207 7493 3836 and Selfridges.com

Guerlain Cils d’Enfer Maxi Lash Mascara 

With its sweet aroma and adorably petite packaging, the Guerlain Cils d’Enfer Maxi Lash mascara brings classic pin-up back to centre stage. The long brush reaches every delicate lash, coating eyes in a velvety, easy-to-apply formula with one fell swoop. Guerlain never follows ridiculous trends nor creates unflattering colours — the Maxi Lash mascara is sweet, classic and strong, just like the brand.

Available for £22 from Houseoffraser.co.uk

Words: Elise Marraro (follow Elise on Twitter @PardonMe_Lissie)

The post Hit List: The Best Mascaras for Summer from Chanel to Dolce & Gabbana appeared first on Wonderland.

The campaign video for Hedi Slimane’s love-it-or-hate-it autumn/winter collection has dropped. Featuring Cara Delevingne and DIIV frontman Zachary Cole Smith, it features all the classic Hedi hallmarks: moody, washed-out LA tunes? Check. Grunge-y overtones and devil-may-care styling? Check. Oblig indie boy? Check.

It’s not exactly a conventional campaign video (think static images overlaid on top of each other) but it makes a change from Slimane’s earlier black and white campaigns. So, not exactly conventional YSL – but then again, this is Saint Laurent we’re talking about.

Part 2 is expected in mid June. Check out the campaign images below.

The post Cara Delevingne lands Saint Laurent AW13 campaign video appeared first on Wonderland.

Fuck me eyes and sex kitten lips — dance-all-night babe Cara Delevingne certainly nails it as the face for YSL’s Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils Baby Doll campaign. Inspired to flirt the night away with glam pouts and devilish ideas, we were delighted when our peeps at YSL gave us the exclusive how-to of the look, created by head YSL make-up artist of Northern Europe, Fred Letailleur.

1. Begin by applying Eyeliner Baby Doll Noir along top lashes – always direct your application towards the centre of the iris, rather than the outside of the eye. Avoid creating a line in one movement, instead, two separate strokes — first from the inner corner, then from the outer corner.

2. Create a modern structured flick by positioning the Baby Doll brush handle against the side of the nose to the corner of the eye. For added drama, extend the line further towards the hairline.

3. Apply Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils Baby Doll to top and bottom lashes. To thicken, apply mascara to the top of your lashes from above before applying underneath. For an ‘eyes-wide-open look’ brush lashes upwards and outwards.

4. To complete the look, add a touch of colour to bare lips with a Rouge Pur Couture Vernis a Lèvres in Rose Baby Doll and coat nails with hot, high shine fuschia, La Laque Couture in Rose Baby Doll.

YSL’s Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils Baby Doll is available for £24.50 at www.yslbeauty.co.uk

Make-up: Fred Letailleur
Words: Elise Marraro (follow Elise on Twitter: PardonMe_Lissie)

The post How To: Cara Delevingne for YSL Baby Doll Volume Mascara appeared first on Wonderland.

Cara Delevingne hasn’t just been busy getting tattoos – she’s also the face of the YSL Baby Doll mascara campaign.

The full-length video was revealed today, and features Cara getting dolled up with the mascara in between shots of her partying with some glamorous friends (Rita Ora and Rihanna not included). In between getting her lashes done, she’s gets up close and personal with male and female models. It’s not quite falling out of The Alibi with Harry Styles, but it’s as close to it as we’re gonna get.

YSL Baby Doll mascara is available from May 22.

The post Watch: Cara Delevingne’s YSL Baby Doll mascara ad appeared first on Wonderland.

Welcome to our debut Hit List, a weekly roundup of all things best and present in the world of beauty and fashion. This week, we take a look at the best new beauty products out for the Spring, from YSL’s new mascara to Dior Addict lipgloss to a very special offer with Chanel. So take a look, grab a bag, and bask like a beauty in the sun.

1. Lancome Hypnose Palette Eye Shadow

It’s been said that seduction is all in the eyes. So while we practice our magnetic gazes, Lancome took a more practical route by creating the very alluring Hypnose Palette eyeshadow collection. The collection includes three looks: Doll, Star, and Drama eyes, all of which add a softness or intensity to the traditional smokey eye. Imagine wearing Khaki Chic while traipsing through a garden or Menthe a’Lo reflecting city lights.

Available in April at www.lancome.co.uk, £37

2. YSL: Baby Doll Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils

The new YSL Baby Doll Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils was made for the likes of Valley of the Dolls babes sipping on Manhattan cocktails: demure stirred with straight up sex appeal. Sounds fancy? It is, you devilish things. With a scientific formula and a beautifully designed brush, YSL introduced impressive and ultramodern technology to create voluminous, retro siren lashes. Fur rugs and Jane Birkin aside, YSL’s Baby Doll Mascara is a go-go.

Available in April at www.yslbeauty.co.uk, £24.50

3. Dior Addict Lipgloss

With Spring finally in the air, we need a colourful gloss to match our poolside daiquiri. Luckily for our pouts (and developing tans), Dior’s new Dior Addict gloss range has 24 juicy and succulent shades as well as three different effects, ranging from Pearly, Shimmery and Pure. Our favourite is Diablotine – it’s ice lolly bright but it won’t be melting off in the sun.

Available at www.houseoffraser.co.uk, £22

4. Chanel Le Volume De Chanel Mascara

New in the already legendary Chanel Jeaux de Regards collection is the Le Volume de Chanel Mascara. This is Chanel’s first volumising mascara, meaning this is not your run-of-the-mill tube o’ clump. Using their cylindrical ‘Snowflake’ brush, and smooth, surprisingly clean texture, Chanel has created a mascara that’s as innovative as their name. To celebrate the launch of this impressive little weapon, Chanel is hosting complimentary eye makeovers of their Jeaux de Regards collection at an exclusive booth at Selfridges from today through the 8^th of May.

Available in April www.selfridges.co.uk, £24

5. Smashbox Megatint Long Wear Lip Colour

Like us, your parched winter lips probably need a good dose of moisture. Enter Smashbox Megatint Long Wear Lip Colour, which has an incredibly lightweight formula that won’t peel off, unlike the flaky longwear lipsticks of old. But be careful: with six shades, choosing which colour to wear for the entire day will get a lot more difficult. It’s a hard job…

Available in April at www.smashbox.co.uk, £18

6. This Works In Transit Skin Defence

While our reaction after a dismal winter is to strip down and bask in the sunlight, we need to remember the sun can be as moody a bitch as winter winds, causing harm and damage to delicate skin. Luckily for us, the team at This Works know how to keep nature’s nastier side at bay with the In Transit Skin Defence Moisturiser. If your plans this summer include picnics, poolside lounges or bopping festivals, this lightweight formula is a must for your daily regiment. So get partying – just be skin safe.

Available in April at www.boots.co.uk, £40

Words: Elise Marraro (follow Elise on Twitter @PardonMe_Lissie)

The post Hit List: Beauty Roundup From Chanel to YSL appeared first on Wonderland.