The Weekend Wrap-Up #5
Lisa Eldridge’s refillable lipstick, Pamela Anderson's pared-back beauty routine, Angelina Jolie goes curly, must-have Mary Jane ballet pumps, and more.
Happy November! How are you?
It’s been a bit of a catch-up week here, as my dad came home from hospital and, I’m so grateful to say, is doing well. I left him last night listening to The Nutcracker on Classic FM, enjoying a chocolate eclair and stubbornly refusing the cheese and ham croissant prepared (he’s always been a pudding man. Good signs).
The Christmas playlist hasn’t quite gone on yet, but I’ve cracked open the M&S Christmas teabags, after my friend made this deliciously warming and cosy Whittard’s chai, when I dropped by one evening this week. The M&S bags are an easy, citrusy and slightly spicy swap which hits the seasonal spot.
Welcome to everyone who has joined us at the MBE! Enjoy The Weekend Wrap-Up of this week’s midlife beauty and style news (always free for all), and this Tuesday’s edition (for paid subs) is devoted to restoring your glow—don’t miss it!
This season’s most talked-about new lipstick
Five years in the developing, celebrity makeup artist Lisa Eldridge’s new Rouge Experience Refillable Lipstick dropped this week. Launching in eight, creamy shades, the refill components are completely plastic-free (a first for a lipstick).
There’s the option to have the super-chic case—inspired by one given to Audrey Hepburn by Cartier, in 1956—engraved with an initial, which would make a lovely gift.
Jane at reviews the line-up here. I love Lisa’s namesake shade, 178 - a classic, wearable rose.
Kylie and Kate show off their party tricks
Not live from the London Palladium, but the Charlotte Tilbury makeup counter: Kylie Minogue and Kate Moss star in the brand’s new, royal variety performance-inspired Christmas ad campaign, Beauty Show, releasing later this month.
Starring celebs including Richard E Grant, Charlotte Tilbury’s The Beauty Show campaign supports The King’s Trust, a charity helping young people to achieve their dreams.
In other make-up (free) news …
Following her recent (and since viral) spot on The Drew Barrymore show, in which both hostess and guest went make-up free, Pamela Anderson has launched her new Sonsie Cleansing Mousse. Speaking with Marie Claire this week, Pamela shared some of her everyday, pared-back beauty routine.
“Now that I peeled it all back, maybe I'll wear a lip sometimes [or] put a tiny bit in my brows...but I'm just experimenting because I really prefer not to have anything on my skin," she says.
"I don't think I look better without makeup; I just think I look more myself without makeup. And that's kind of the phase I'm in right now."
Fitness-wise, “I walk every day,” she tells Marie Claire. “I walk five to ten kilometers a day outside, unless it's, like, torrential rain, then I'll hit a treadmill. But I'm outside all the time. It's really important for me to be in nature. That kind of that saves me.”
In hair styling news, Angelina Jolie hit the red carpet with curls for the Hollywood premiere of her new movie Maria.
A gorgeous departure from her usual, sleek and blown-out waves, it’s enough to inspire any of us with natural curls and waves to drop our straightening brushes, and dig out the diffuser languishing in the back of the wardrobe (🙋♀️).
For faster, frizz-free air-drying, diffusing or smoothing, I wouldn’t be without the OG Moroccanoil treatment oil. I just re-stocked, and spied this great deal: a full-size bottle, PLUS a hydrating hand cream, for the same price as the oil on its own.
Watch this space for expert party hair styling tips, for all hair types, textures and lengths, coming soon to the MBE!
Pumped
Ever since at 5 Things Friday flagged the Mary Jane as the ballet flat update of the season, I’ve been on the lookout for the comfiest, most tricky feet-friendly pair.
These from M&S (£29.50) have been widely compared to spendier ones (from The Row and the like), but, sadly, didn’t work with my SUPER-TRICKINESS (wide feet, high arches you could drive the Eurostar under, and ankles that rub in almost everything). I also tried the more expensive, unlined leather version (£45)—still without success (but I’m linking to them, because they’re lovely, so well-priced, and I know my feet are unusually difficult).
And you could pick up some Christmas teabags while you’re there.
But!! I’ve now spotted these, from FitFlop. And this, slightly different pair, in silver (the CRYSTALS!).
By the book
’s excellent book, The Beauty Edit—with glowing testimonials from Victoria Beckham, Charlotte Tilbury, and —has had a makeover, in the shape of a lovely new cover. It’s packed with India’s tried and true beauty tips, tricks and product recs for midlife beauty.
Perfect timing for Christmas wish lists.
Midlife style in the wild
Michelle Pfeiffer proves that the crisp white shirt and jeans combo never goes out of style, in this just-posted clip of her shopping her Henry Rose fragrances at Sephora.
All the season’s cosy vibes: Drew Barrymore, in chocolate and check, and Gwyneth Paltrow, in a cord blazer, talked new empty-nesting this week.
For the laughs … Hollywood makeup artist Jillian Dempsey demo’s her tools and technique on husband Patrick. (“I lost 10 years just there.” 😂)
And, finally, a wistful SJP considers “where it all started”, as Season 3 of Just Like That wraps production.
Those silver Mary Jane’s!!
Really loving the Pamela Anderson quote. I feel she's someone who has truly aged like fine wine, I'm honestly so inspired!