The Beauty Project Launch

Last night I came home in tears.

The day hadn’t started well, I was running late, rushing, bust a nail, tore tights and broke the cats’ bowls (thankfully they cushioned the fall of a bottle of rum,  but still…

Then everything improved. I was at the Boutique Bar Show – did a little plotting, some sampling, lots of chatting, it was an excellent day for networking.

So still why the tears?

It started with my trip to Selfridges to the Beauty Project launch. I was very excited about going – as I mentioned in my previous post, this event is about challenging preconceptions about beauty, and enabling people to explore their own beauty.

You see, I’m not pretty.

No, before you protest or argue, I’m not. I’m striking, yes. And I play on that and I’m happy with that. It’s not an issue, this isn’t a ‘woe is me, make me feel better by arguing with me’ sort of statement. I’m not a conventionally pretty woman. I’m short, overly round really, pear shaped with a bum the size of…. something  very big. I have a funny shaped nose, I’m covered in freckles, I have facial piercings.

I am no Barbie doll or Duchess of Cambridge.

I am me.

And I’ve always been in awe of the make up sections in department stores. The staff are just gorgeous. The ranges are so vast. Where do you start? Which one should I visit? Will they coerce me into spending oodles of money? And will I be able to even attempt the stuff they did on my face?

So I back away, claim I’m browsing. Leave it.

But at the Selfridges event, I’d sampled enough Dutch courage at the Bar Show to say yes. When the lovely lady from NARS sat me down, I was a bit scared, but I went with it. She was lovely and didn’t make it feel scary at all.

She made my skin look amazing.

And there was no heavy foundation, no oodles of concealer, just a primer and tinted moisturiser.

Then there was contouring and blusher, highlighter and eye shadow in colours I’d have never selected. Liner and mascara and I was thrilled.

I looked pretty.

I was giddy. So Keeley and I grabbed a little bottle of prosecco and threw ourselves into the event. We tried on sunglasses. We ogled nail varnish. We stopped by Illamasqua – a place that fills me with awe and terrifies me at the same time – and I spotted a lip colour. Paddy applied it for me, and as we chatted and I tried very hard not look adoringly at his eye make up, I found myself booking in for a full make up session later this month.

I think I got a little hooked.

Keeley and I even headed to Chanel to try their ‘blind’ scent sampling. Taking away the bottles and packaging, you can sample scents without automatically going for the obvious choices. It’s a great way for you to try their exclusive scents – some I’d never heard of before – and leave the bias of pretty bottles and boxes behind.

I’ve two samples to play with over the next few weeks – one I’d never even heard of before. If you spot me smelling my wrist over the next few days, you’ll know why!

Buoyed by our glamorous looks and probably the bubbles, we headed to the photobooth for a snap.

See? Pretty!

Then came the highlight of our evening. We met Armand Beasley. We met a man who has worked on BAFTA award winners and the Hollywood red carpet.

Armand has done Goldie Hawn’s make up.

Goldie Hawn.

And as part of the Beauty Project, he’s doing a 3 month residency at Selfridges Exchange Square where you can book for a redeemable £75.

With my new found excitement, I nearly signed up on the spot. I mean Armand is gorgeous and downright lovely too. And you know. Goldie Hawn.

He even went through his top ten products with us, which sit on floating shelves in his own little boudoir area where you have your consultation.

I walked away high as a kite. Floating on clouds. Pretty.

Then. Er. Yes.

Manchester rain happened. And within minutes I looked like a drowned rat. My mood became a little deflated. But it was ok, I made it to the tram stop and waited for the tram.

My phone pinged. The lovely Susan of Vintage Manchester had posted a ‘best of’ for me. And it was lovely and flattering, but it reminded me that Vintage Manchester is closing and that made me sad.

Very sad. It’s been one of the best things I’ve ever been involved in.

Then to add insult to injury, as  I walked from the tram stop, a car drove through a huge puddle….

I was drenched.

The bedraggled, half crying, half laughing, soaking wet thing that walked through my front door was greeted by a pair of arms and a big hug from Mr GFB.

I think this post has been more of a whinge than a review or article about the Beauty Project and it’s clear I’m no beauty blogger.

But if I can get over my fear and sit in that chair and walk away feeling so fantastic, it’s got to be worth it, right?

After all, for a little while, I was pretty….