Girl Crushing on: Revenge‘s Ashley Madekwe

Tue, 24 July 2012 3:37PM

I’m feeling a little bereft today. I’m 99% sure it has something to do with the fact that Revenge has finished for the season (along with Law & Order: SVU and Downton Abbey … television addict, me?). So forgive me for trying to stretch out the Revenge theme a little today…

My first thought was to write about the beauty style of Hamptons women (the Hamptons, if you don’t know, are a series of beachside villages that make up New York’s playground for the rich and glamorous; think Aerin Lauder). But then I realised that, really, there’s not that much to say. Hamptons women – like Emily, the main character in Revenge, played by Emily Vancamp – are pretty minimal when it comes to their makeup and hair philosophy, not to mention a little too perfect. They have the laser-clear skin (lavished with the likes of La Mer and Estée Lauder Re-Nutriv), the tawny all-over colour (key: it has to have a green base, not an orange one – which is so Jersey Shore) and little more on the face than waterproof mascara and a slick of Bobbi Brown lip gloss. The hair? Sun-kissed blonde and salty textured. It could be courtesy of the Southampton skies and Montauk waves, but chances are it’s mostly thanks to Bumble & Bumble.

So anyway, as I was humming and hawing about the whole Hamptons thing, I kept thinking of Ashley, the character played by Ashley Madekwe. Sure, she was becoming quite the conniving little thing (perhaps – SPOILET ALERT – set to step into the late Victoria Grayson’s evil queen shoes?) but, boy, does she knows how to rock the red lipstick, liquid liner and peach blush. Especially all at once. Which is no mean makeup feat.

The more I researched Ms Madekwe, who’s British but living in LA, the more obsessed interested I became. Particularly once I came upon her blog, Ring My Bell. Essentially a series of photos documenting her favourite outfits (don’t you love a clothes perve? Even though it gives you wardrobe envy), Ashley also dips in and out of makeup recommendations and tips.

And whether you share my Ashley crush or not, I know you share my beauty love, so here are some of the prettiest makeup gems I picked up:

LIPS: Her most reached-for red is M.A.C’s Ruby Woo, with its glamorous, blue base, although she also wears the orange-red, Lady Danger ($35 each, M.A.C).

EYES: Staying in the M.A.C department for a moment, that fabulous feline liner is Fluidline in Blacktrack, $32, M.A.C. “I use this every day,” she writes. I love the density of the blackness and I find it easier to use than liquid eyeliner. I use it with an angled brush to get a really good flick.” (Tip: she lines her upper lashline first, coats lashes twice – in CoverGirl Lash Blast Fusion, $18.95, from pharmacies – adds a few Shu Uemura accent lashes, then finishes by doing the liner flick at the outer corner of eyes, once lashes have dried).

SKIN: Ashley loves M.A.C Face and Body Foundation, $60, which she describes as “like a tinted moisturiser”. But who doesn’t worship this one, really? I don’t think I’ve ever interviewed a celebrity who hasn’t listed it as a fave. Her other base buys: Chanel Perfection Lumière, $86, from department stores (“gives medium coverage and a flawless, velvet finish), Chanel Vitalumière Aqua Compact, $100 (“creamy full coverage. I use this instead of concealer … and take it out with me for touch ups”) and Laura Mercier Universal Invisible Loose Setting Powder, $59, Adore Beauty (“Don’t let the white shade of the powder put you off. This truly is invisible. I use it on my t zone to prevent shine”). As for those glowy apricot-coloured apples? One guess. That’s right. Every glow-loving girl’s go-to cheek colour: Nars Blush in Orgasm, $45, Mecca Cosmetica.

 

What do you think, Primpettes? Inspired by Ashley’s style?

Do you have and love any of Ashley’s favourite beauty buys?

And do you think she’ll be the new Victoria Grayson?

Kat x

Posted by: Katrina Lawrence

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Tags: ashley madkwe, mac, makeup, makeup tips, revenge, ring my bell, television series, the hamptons