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Wednesday, August 23, 2017
All about: M.A.C Cosmetics X Nicki Minaj
I love a poppin’ lip, and they didn’t come much bolder and brighter than Nicki Minaj’s pink-tastic creation with M.A.C for the VIVA GLAM 2012 campaign. An ultra bright, yellow-toned pink with a satin finish, it was the perfect choice for a statement lip and just a hell of a lot of fun, and quickly became one of the top selling Viva Glam collections of all time.
With that in mind, it was not that much of a surprise when M.A.C n’ Minaj mentioned late last night that they have collaborated again, and their newest custom-designed creations look set to be just as massive, if not more! A little while ago Nicki went through quite the epic make-under process, swapping her usual cartoonish, neon aesthetic for a more neutral, sleek vibe, and the world went nuts. Her two new M.A.C lipstick creations echo this vibe, and look thus far incredibly wearable for almost any skin tone. They come in the form of Nicki’s Nude and The Pinkprint, creamy mocha neutrals that the singer is often seen wearing. Nicki’s Nude is a soft corally pink, whilst The Pinkprint is a mid-tone creamy pink. The finish for both is Amplified.
And if that ain’t enough nude for you, other M.A.C options include:
Pretty Please: pale pink pearl (lustre)
Gossamer Wing: dirty beige with gold pearl (lustre)
2N: creamy light pink (lustre)
Playing Koi: pale clean pink nude (satin)
Crème d’Nude: pale muted peach beige (cremesheen)
Japanese Maple: frosted light beige (cremesheen)
Bare Bling: light peachy nude (amplified)
Stripped: light, dirty peachy beige (matte)
The Right Note: warm sandy nude (cremesheen)
A Girl’s Got Needs: warm-toned yellow brown (matte)
Patisserie: sheer creamy neutral pink (lustre)
Mmmmmm: dirty rose nude (amplified)
Bosom Friend: sheer pinky nude with fine pearl (cremesheen)
Baby’s All Right: cool-toned neutral pink (matte)
Age/Sex/Location: dirty mid-tone nude (matte)
Easy Babe: dirty latte brown (matte)
Derrière: dirty mid-tone yellow brown (matte)
Among the Fireflies: soft mocha (cremesheen)
Everything above is in store on September 4, RRP NZD$40.00
(images supplied by M.A.C Cosmetics)
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Tuesday, August 22, 2017
Beauty destination: Elizabeth Arden's Auckland boutique, and more
I recently popped into the Elizabeth Arden Boutique at 62 Queen Street in Auckland’s CBD for the Ultimate Arden Facial, and it reaffirmed for me what an important beauty brand it is. Historic and definitely iconic, it was honour that they chose Auckland as their first flagship beauty retail store outside of the U.S., and it is thriving.
After my deliciously multi-faceted, 90 minute long spa indulgence – think a facial paired with a tranquil warm stone upper body massage and natural enzyme peel, collagen mask and décolleté treatment – I was given a tour of the on-site custom colour foundation machine courtesy of manager Lidean. It’s the third retail custom colour foundation-matching machine in the world, and literally all skin tones can be catered for with scientific precision.
The process starts with a spectrophotometer scan of your exact skin tone at time of testing. The results given by this diagnostic tool show your skin’s level of darkness and its golden or pink undertones. Then your skin type is input along with your coverage preference (sheer, medium or full), to ensure a comfortable, long wearing formula that is uniquely yours. Following this remarkably quick consultation and skin reading, the machine dispenses the correct amounts of white, black, yellow and red pigment along with a selection of priming and moisturising ingredients. The beautifully bottled foundation is then presented to you with a label with your name and a unique code attached, and a record is kept in-store – and at all of their locations - for any future purchases. So clever! I was amazed to hear that the service, including boxed foundation, costs just $88. Unheard of for a truly bespoke experience.
I also wanted to give a shout out to the newest Eight Hour incarnation (below), which is just gorgeous and super travel-friendly on all counts. A certified legend and skincare classic, Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant by Elizabeth Arden is a timeless beauty must have that can be found on millions of bathroom shelves and in handbags worldwide. It’s the skincare equivalent of a long-time Hollywood icon, and even has the changes of ‘look’ every now and then befitting of that analogy. The latest limited edition version of the classic multitasker sees it given the international travel treatment as Elizabeth Arden introduces Around the World with Eight Hour, a limited edition collection. The new, global-themed packaging showcases some of the greatest sights and cities around the world, and the TSA-approved sizes are perfect for a handbag or carry-on.
These limited editions combat the unavoidable strain that travel puts on your skin—from reviving jet-lagged skin with the classic Skin Protectant, to replenishing moisture-starved lips with the Lip Duo. The legendary Skin Protectant works wonders on brows, cheeks, hands, cuticles and nails, whilst the super cute Eight Hour Take Off & Touch Down Lip Duo is my new go-to. The new Eight Hour Lip Scrub gently massages over lips to exfoliate, soften and smooth, before the Eight Hour Lip Protectant relieves symptoms of chapped, cracked and dry lips with its moisturising, super-protective lip balm formula.
Both are in store from October 2, 2017, with the Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant Limited Edition a very reasonable (as always!) $37.00 (50ml) and Eight Hour Take Off & Touch Down Lip Duo $43.00 for the two 13ml pots.
Monday, August 21, 2017
Love it: Aesop’s stellar new Toothpaste
'He was a bold man that first ate an oyster,’ says a quote by Jonathan Swift on the Aesop website, and it is also a bold type who takes the plunge and brushes with their deliciously un-minty new toothpaste.
The legendary skincare name’s first New Zealand store officially opened in September of last year in Newmarket, Auckland and good god she is beautiful. A trip there comes highly recommended - it’s a treat your senses that will render you almost unable to leave.
Aesop is not your regular high-end skincare, haircare, home fragrance and more company. There are no big promises, no celebrity endorsements, no glossy packaging and no advertising. As a brand, they are committed to celebrating science by integrating both plant-based and laboratory-made ingredients, and the efficacy of their product formulations is world-renowned. I first encountered the brand many years ago on a trip to Sydney and after washing my hands with their premier luxury soap, I was irrevocably hooked. Their less-is-more approach appeals to the type of consumer who doesn’t need fruity surroundings and overbearing retail staff to tell them what is wrong with their skin or what their home should smell like, but those who are happy to pay slightly higher prices for authentic top-quality products that just make you feel good – and work.
Fans of the brand like me will be delighted to know that Aesop has launched its first toothpaste, complementing the Mouthwash in its Oral Care formulation. Aesop is committed to offering plant-based products that smell and taste great and support a chemical free lifestyle, and this new offering ticks all of those boxes.
The toothpaste is fluoride-free and contains mild abrasives to polish, Sea Buckthorn for its soothing properties, and Wasabia Japonica (Wasabi Extract) for its anti-microbial properties to help reduce plaque build-up in synergy with Tetrasodium Pyrophosphate. With essential oils of Cardamom, Anise, Spearmint and Clove and a fluoride-free formula, the mixture is both environmentally derived and intensely effective, with the abrasive touches working to polish stains away for a pearly white glow.
I’m a savoury rather than sweet fan, and so I loved the unique taste of this little number from the get go. You are recommended to brush thoroughly for two minutes, spit out and rinse your mouth, then complete the process by gargling with Aesop’s delicious, alcohol-free Mouthwash. It’s a winning combo, and both products are in store right now.
Aesop’s new Toothpaste has an RRP $19.00 a tube and comes highly recommended.
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Thursday, August 17, 2017
Love it: M.A.C Rollerwheel Liquid Liner
Your average, run of the mill eyeliner typically comes in one of five forms: pencil, felt-tip, brush-tip, potted, and pen. It’s a category that hasn’t been revitalised in a while but why bother? If you can nail a liner you can nail it, and if you can’t? Get better at mascara.
Then those clever folks at M.A.C Cosmetics come along with what I believe is the world’s first the rollerwheel liquid liner, created with those that find the liner thing tough in mind. The brand spanking new product – on counter in New Zealand right now – was originally introduced to the world by makeup artist Michael Patterson, who used it backstage at New York Fashion Week and put it on Insta. Since that day in February there’s been a whole lot of hype around the perfecting qualities of this innovative beauty product, which I have been lucky enough to be trialling over the past week.
There are three different shades to pick from: the matte ‘On A Roll Black’, royal blue ‘Roller Royale’ and warm brown ‘Rollerwheel Brown’, and they are quite the marvel. While the tip of the liner looks like a pizza cutter, it has none of the actual danger factor of one at acts like “training wheels” for liquid lining. The terribly clever, groundbreaking spinning disk applicator absorbs the perfect amount of product to provide a continuous, smooth, even stroke of colour. Every time. Skinny-lined and defined, a winged effect or a bold geometric look – let the rolling applicator do all the work for the perfect liquid line.
The wheel helps create the sharpest line possible with as little effort possible, and it’s completely unlike anything else on the market right now. With three shades for all your eye-lining needs and an ability to be mastered after just a couple of goes, this little marvel is a revelation. It creates the nice, super nice crisp lines that I love, and if you stay near the lash line and go steady you can create a truly beautiful look. Trust M.A.C to – literally – reinvent the wheel.
But be warned - this beauty is on counter now with an RRP of $42.00, but only for a limited time.
Tuesday, August 15, 2017
Love it: Benefit’s Boi-ing Airbrush Concealer
I’ve been forgoing concealer of late, mainly due to the fact that the majority of formulas I've tried settle most unattractively into the fine lines under my eyes, and I’m lucky enough (*touching wood*) not to be prone to blemishes. However, since having a decent play with it, I can officially declare Benefit’s brand spanking new Boi-ing Airbrush Concealer my cover of choice.
Benefit's original Boi-ing Concealer has always been a great option when my eye area isn’t too dry, but the new Boi-ing Airbrush Concealer is a super user-friendly and lighter version for those days you want a no-makeup makeup look.
It blurs, smoothes, and conceals using a soft-focus formula that covers uneven texture and some dark under eye circles, while reducing the look of fine lines. It literally melts on seamlessly – I apply with my ring finger, and blend - and doesn’t crease, cake, or crack. In addition, the flawless, natural-looking finish has been designed to last up to 10 hours, which gets a major thumbs up from me.
What I love most about this new concealer is how it goes on smoothly under my eyes (even without using a primer), and doesn't settle into those pesky fine lines. It won't cover massively dark circles but it will make them less noticeable, and it is also my pick for concealing minor redness.
In addition to launching the new Airbrush Concealer, those lovely people at Benefit have repackaged the rest of the concealer line in the sweetest boxes that definitely have a strong “back to school” vibe that I love. It’s totally, unashamedly Benefit, and the colourful packaging means that products can be found easily in your bathroom drawer or makeup bag. Other options include the Brightening Concealer (which is more full coverage), Industrial Strength Concealer (most definitely full coverage), and Hydrating Concealer (a sheer coverage).
The whole Boi-ing collection is in store now, so head to your nearest Benefit counter and have a play.
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Thursday, August 10, 2017
Love it: O Cosmedics 1SKIN Treatment Foundation
If you’re unfamiliar with the brand, O Cosmedics is a medical-grade, professional skincare line, which “utilises highly concentrated active ingredients to rejuvenate your complexion and achieve optimum skin health”. Like the sound of that? Me too. They have created some pretty great – and proven – products over the years, and their Youth Activating Oil Balm has been a favourite of mine for some time now. Essentially a corrective treatment serum, it utilises super rich vitamins and fatty acids to increase skin’s lipid levels and restore skin barrier protection whilst continuously treating, nourishing and repairing skin from the appearance of ageing. To me this means that it’s perfect for times of seasonal change and travel, as well as post-procedure if you’re someone who loves to use lasers and peels.
But enough about the balm, because today I’m here to talk about the brand’s foray into makeup, foundation in fact. Called 1SKIN Treatment Foundation, it’s a high performing, almost beyond natural foundation that has replaced the use of silicones with natural texturisers, designed to hydrate and protect the skin with a velvety finish. Intrigued to know more? I was, and when I finally got to try it DAMN was I impressed.
Its key ingredient is a functional active called Green Pea Polypeptide, which is a multi-functional, anti-ageing whirlwind that repairs the skin and helps with firmness and elasticity. It also supports collagen and elastin synthesis and prevents the degredation of protein abundant in the Extra Cellular Matrix, making it one smart cookie.
The formulation is enhanced by the likes of white cocoa butter and desert date oil, which is known for its hydrating, nourishing and purifying benefits. In addition, 20 per cent of the formula is made by an organic fruit extract, to help fight environmental stress as well as repair skin and support firmness and elasticity, collagen and elastin synthesis.
It is blissfully free from Talc, Parabens, Mineral Oil, Nano-Ingredients, Silicones, Alcohol, Fragrance, Petrochemicals and GMOs, and is currently available in five shades, with more rumoured to be on the way.
It is blissfully free from Talc, Parabens, Mineral Oil, Nano-Ingredients, Silicones, Alcohol, Fragrance, Petrochemicals and GMOs, and is currently available in five shades, with more rumoured to be on the way.
So how does it perform? Very well in fact, and I loved the creamy texture from the get-go. The coverage is medium but buildable, and the finish velvety as described, rather than matte. I was super impressed with its staying power for a 98 per cent natural formula, and my skin felt super nourished all through the wear. Awesome!
Made it Italy and Australian owned, this beauty is available now here and from approved clinics.
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Beauty news: YSL Beauté announces Zoe Kravitz as new Global Ambassador
When she appeared last year in the YSL Beauté project, ‘Before the light’, which showcases up-and-coming music talents from around the world, modern beauty Zoe Kravitz used the power of great make-up to help prepare and reveal her personality on the stage. It was a flawless performance by all accounts, and clearly a taste of things to come.
The singer, model, celebrity offspring and star of the HBO miniseries, Big Little Lies has just been announced as YSL Beauté’s newest Global Makeup Ambassador, and I can’t think of a better woman for the job!
As a muse for YSL in the United States, Zoe has already been bringing us her effortless brand of cool makeup pics and on-the go style tips via social media, and she will reportedly be kick-starting her new international role with the first of several ground-breaking campaigns – Tatouage Couture – launching internationally in August 2017 (in NewZealand, 2018). She is a perfect match for YSL’s mix of ultra modern, edgy vibe and elegant heritage, and I predict that the end result will be groundbreaking for the beauty industry.
“YSL Beauty has always been one of my favourite brands,” says the star. “Their ability to combine the chicest of styles with a raw edge has always been to me one of the best ways to express yourself through fashion and beauty. Nothing is forced, nothing is fake, but everything is bold, strong and unafraid. I’m very excited to work with this legendary and timeless company.”
In between modelling part-time and making music, the 28-year-old creative is one very busy bee. She is currently in the process of filming the Fantastic Beasts sequel, joined by the likes of Jude Law, Johnny Depp and Eddie Redmayne. Simultaneously, the Hollywood it-girl who’s currently rocking a bleach blonde pixie cut, is featured in Tiffany & Co’s latest ads. Other gigs on Kravitz’s modelling resume include a 2010 Alexander Wang campaign, two Vera Wang fragrances, plus two Calvin Klein ad campaigns (one of which she shot alongside her beautiful mother).
YSL Beauté say they are proud to welcome the actor and recording artist to the family as new Global Makeup Ambassador, in one heck of a coup.
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Wednesday, August 9, 2017
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