The 20-year-old lipstick...

A friend recently 'fessed up to using the same lipstick for the past 20 years, not just the same shade or brand, mind, but the same ACTUAL lipstick - talk about value for money! Hygiene of course is another matter. She said she kept looking for a replacement but nothing else was quite the right shade of browny-pink. I took a swatch, searched through my beauty stash and the nearest I could find was a Bourjois Sweet Kiss Naturel in Sienna Kiss - I'll let you know her verdict! In the meantime, any other 'vintage' make-up hoarders should head to Harvey Nichols London on January 19th, where to celebrate the launch of the new Stila make-up counter, there's a make-up amnesty - Stila Steal. They're giving away a free Lip Glaze in Kitten worth £15 when you trade in an old lipgloss, even if it's not a Stila one. What's the longest you've had a product in continuous use, so to speak?

Cute i-phone wallpaper

By Green glasses Via Poolga

Insider's eye

Check out this behind-the-scenes photodiary for a celeb's-eye-view of the Venice Film Festival. How intimidating must it be to be bombarded by photographers like that, then scrutinised by the world's press shortly after? Gywneth has been spotted at my local softplay in the past, which is somewhat lacking in glamour - the contrasts of a celebrity-mum's life must be pretty surreal.

Gywneth often gets a lot of stick for her Goop website, poysonally, I like it!

Officially an Icon

Hairdresser Luke Hersheson scooped Hair Icon at Creative Head's Most Wanted awards this week. I've always liked his low-key approach - I have judged hairdressing competitions with him in the past and he somehow manages to be understated yet outspoken at the same time, with an unerring eye for what's cool. And one of the best haircuts I've had was from him. So congratulations to Luke (on the left). Who's that with an avuncular arm around him? Nick Irwin. He's a big cheese at Tigi now, we used to shoot together a lot, most memorably on a trip to the gorgeous Jake's resort in Jamaica, which has been on my must-go-back wishlist ever since. The model was the lovely Stacey. She and Nick got on well, so well that they are now married! Back to the Creative Head Awards - I was pleased to sit with two more hair legends - colour supremo Josh Wood, and the session maestro Johnny Sapong. Both of whom have new, intimate salon spaces - more on those soon.

NYC or Paris - which are you?

Love this from the clever and cute blog that compares quintessential NY and Paris things. When it comes to beauty which would you choose? Dior, Chanel and YSL or Bobbi Brown, Kiehls and Clinique? I love French brands for their luxe feel, but I like the freshness and immediacy of US products. Hmm...The image is also available as a poster too.

Beauty for your home

I'm liking these beauty-inspired home items from H&M, especially the in the oft-neglected shower-curtain and bathmat category! It seemed only Anthropologie was doing anything interesting there, and at pretty steep prices. H&M's collection is a lot more affordable...

Paper napkins, £1.99
Guest towel, £2.99 for 2
Shower curtain, £12.99
Shower curtain, £12.99
Shower Mat, £2.99
Bath mat, £6.99
Duvet cover set, £19.99

Astier de Villatte beauty

I have long hankered after the quirky ceramics by Astier de Villatte, but always reasoned that I would probably break them, so resisted. But now they have these beautiful candles, and even a hand cream, soap and eau de cologne, any of which could be a safer way to own a bit of the brand. The descriptions of the candles on the website are so evocative - I think perfect for these misty Autumnal nights must be the 'Edimbourg' candle: "A haunted castle, an ancient city of ruins abandoned to ghosts. The aromatic vapours of a pure single malt, damp cedar wood, mossy stones and beeswax mingle with coolly mysterious mineral notes." Gorgeous.

Why can't we have our own Allure?

Back in the day when readers letters arrived by the sackful, urgent info came on a fax and important office announcements were made via a paper memo that landed on your desk, there was one major source for cutting-edge beauty info, namely Allure magazine. In my first job on a magazine, I hungrily devoured every issue of the US beauty bible and it seemed a lifetime to wait until the next issue. That's a vintage one, above, from 1994. Now we don't have to wait more than a nanosecond for anything, but don't you think there's still a place for a specialist UK beauty title? That's not to say it hasn't been tried here - my first job was on Looks Magazine (I promise to dig out some back issues, hilarious); I used to freelance for the much-missed spin-off Marie Claire Health & Beauty; then there was Shine, and the fashion and beauty mag, Happy - all of which I loved. Sadly none of them survived.

Personally, I can do without the true-life stories, celeb features and sex tips that fill out many magazines - pure undiluted beauty is what I'm after. Do you think it could work, or are you all total web converts?

If Anthropologie did hair salons...

...they might be something like this. I love hairdressers that break the mould of clinical, all-white spaces - just check out this amazing salon in New York's East Village - L'Atelier de Laurie, discovered via fab new beauty blog Into the Gloss. It appeals to my inner magpie.

Camel fingers...

...and possibly er, toes? Nails Inc's new hue, Cadogan Square, £11, is a limited edition camel shade, designed to go with that camel coat we have all dutifully bought this season, haven't we? Could be a tricky colour to do, depending on your skintone, but that hasn't stopped it becoming their hottest seller, shifting more than 1000 units in just 24 hours. I like how it looks against the other limited shade, the turquoise Portobello Road.