Tweet
Tuesday, May 21, 2019
All about: Avène's all new PhysioLift Smoothing, Plumping Serum
My obsession with French beauty may have started with a red lipstick, but it's French skincare that really turned my head and reeled me in. Packing for Paris means leaving room in your suitcase for one heck of a lot of beauty-related purchases - after all, the city’s legendary pharmacies and perfumeries are impossible to resist.
And it’s not just the products - the philosophy that goes alongside their most famous brands is equally as alluring. French women are very much concerned about looking after their skin and their body in the long term, as opposed to the mainly-US and UK-based beauty approach that looks for results, NOW. This attitude permeates into the New Zealand Australian psyche a lot these days as well – women expect products to work over night, and if they don’t get the results they desire straight away they opt for harsh chemicals and exfoliants that may provide the wow-factor in the short term, but will irreparably damage their skin over time.
Which brings me to Eau Thermale Avène, a legendary French brand that is available in New Zealand, and one of most gentle and calming skincare out there. A brand centred on the use of thermal spring water and its soothing properties, all Avène products are created to heal and soothe even the most sensitive skin types. Even children.
One of the most recommended skincare brands by French dermatologists, it works to fight against irritated skin, intolerant skin and allergic skin. Its most famous offering is its Thermal Spring Water, which has calmed my skin over the years even when it’s been at its most eczema-afflicted. A naturally soothing source for sensitive skin since 1743, Avène’s Thermal Spring Water's unique composition is clinically shown by over 150 studies to calm, soothe and soften the skin. Ideal for red, sensitive or irritated skin and perfect for post-workout, travel, outdoor activities or to freshen up makeup, it is incredibly reasonably priced and a must in every bathroom.
So, the brand is famous for its gentle formulations that soothe even the most sensitive of skin, but also for its anti-ageing line, Physiolift, that addresses the needs of mature skin without drying it out or irritating it. Physiolift Day Smoothing Cream is surprisingly basic but works a charm. It contains sodium hyaluronate to hydrate skin, backed with shea butter to add extra moisture and create a barrier on the skin that prevents moisture loss for at least 8 hours. It also absorbs super quickly and creates a plump, even surface for your makeup – bonus! If you have oily skin they have the option of Physiolift Day Smoothing Emulsion, which has a lighter touch.
Physiolift Eye Crème is designed to smooth wrinkles and firm the skin around the eye area whilst helping to diminish puffiness and dark circles, whilst the heavenly-feeling Physiolift Smoothing Regenerating Night Balm takes a very French, slow but steady approach to results. A cross between a balm and a gel, it sinks in quickly, without leaving a greasy residue on your face, or your pillow. It contains the likes of sodium hyaluronate to plump up skin and dimethicone to fill in fine lines, but also pulls out one of the bigger guns in the form of retinal. Also known as retinhaldeyde, retinal is a form of vitamin A that can be converted by the body into retinoic acid or retinol in just one simple step. Once that happens, retinal boosts the production of collagen and increases skin’s thickness and elasticity. It’s less immediately effective than retinol, but also gentler, which is why it’s a much better choice for those with sensitive skin. It’s also a great starting point for those of you who want to try retinol but are too afraid to take the plunge.
But on to the reason for my post, which is the release of the latest addition to the PhysioLift range – the Smoothing, Plumping Serum. Enhanced with two sizes of Hyaluronic Acid, this serum helps visibly smooth and plump the skin and is formulated with a patented combination of ingredients to visibly reduce the appearance of pronounced wrinkles and furrows for skin that looks firmer and more luminous. Straight away! Over champagne and treats (bien sûr!) I heard all about its incredible ingredients a few weeks ago at a beautiful launch at The Glasshouse, and I was seriously impressed. They include Ascofilline, which is derived from the moisturising agents found in brown algae and supports collagen in the skin and reduces the appearance of pronounced wrinkles. HAMO (Hyaluronic acid mono-oligomers), at the optimal molecular weight of Hyaluronic Acid, penetrate into the skin to visibly plump and firm the skin, whilst Hyaluronic Acid Microspheres, at a high molecular weight for ideal diffusion at the skin's surface, visibly plump the skin, smoothing the appearance of pronounced wrinkles furrows and lines instantly.
Patented Pre-tocopheryl, a photo-stable form of Vitamin E, provides antioxidant protection, and last but by no means least, Avène Thermal Spring Water soothes, softens and calms the skin.
With an RRP of $80 this serum is a little pricier than some of the brand’s other products, but all signs point to it being a game changer. If you’re in the market for a fresher, brighter and more hydrated skin as we head into winter than I highly recommend that you give it a whirl.
Monday, May 20, 2019
Love it: Curionoir's newest creation, Orpheus Incarnate
We all have different reasons for stopping to add that splash of perfume before leaving the house – it’s a tool for seduction, can evoke happy memories and just add an extra element of individualism to the way you approach your day.
The new season doesn't just invite the opportunity to overhaul your wardrobe. With a bounty of new fragrance releases, it's also a good time to reconsider your scent. From the bottles to the base notes, winter's best new fragrances are a celebration of the bold, and I am all for a statement scent.
Coco Chanel once said that a woman should apply perfume in the areas where she would like to be kissed, but the experts generally agree that the "pulse points" are the optimal spot. These are locations on the body where the blood vessels are closest to the skin, and as these spots emanate heat, they help fragrance to travel from your skin into the air.
Experts say to apply your perfume to these points - namely, the inner wrists, the base of the throat, behind ear lobes, in the cleavage, behind knees, and the inner elbows – and this is where I am wearing my latest favourite, the truly enchanting and beguiling Orpheus Incarnate, from Curionoir.
Curionoir’s latest Extrait de Parfum and Glass Candle (next on my list) fragrance, the truly seductive Orpheus Incarnate is an alluring, heady fragrance that embodies the darkness and musical lyricism of the Greek God from which it gets its name, Orpheus. A legendary musician, poet, and prophet in ancient Greek religion and myth, Orpheus possessed the ability to charm all living things - even stones! - with his music. As an archetype of the inspired singer, Orpheus is one of the most significant figures in classical mythology, portrayed or alluded to in countless forms of art and popular culture including poetry, film, opera, music, and painting. He was quite the character, and his legend most definitely lives on.
But back to the scent at hand. Available right now at selected boutiques, Curionoir’s flagship store and curionoir.com, Orpheus Incarnate is a unisex fragrance, with all of the realms of play and possibility that implies. Immediately arresting from first whiff, it is a riot of herbaceous and spicy notes that tells a story of reconnecting with the beauty of nature. Carnation, Fig, Blond Tobacco and Pimento Leaves also merge with Iris, Tonka Bean Absolute, Heliotrope, Licorice Root and Musk.
Tiffany Jeans, Curionoir Creator says, “I wanted to create a modern-day story for the senses that evokes who Orpheus can be for us today. With his utter appreciation for nature, song and words, we can choose to channel these emotions into our everyday living. “Orpheus Incarnate as a fragrance quietly draws you in and takes you on a journey through the wilderness, to the depths of the ocean.”
Curionoir celebrated the launch with a film featuring stellar beauty Georgia Pratt – a New York-based New Zealand model - wearing a custom silk Melancholia dress by Kristine Crabb of Miss Crabb (RIP). Pratt is the perfect ‘face’ for the scent, and her performance a joy to behold.
Orpheus Incarnate comes as both Parfum and CN Glass as follows:
Orpheus Incarnate Parfum - 4ml Pocket Parfum for $50; 50ml bottle for $265; and at the flagship store, in a hand- blown bespoke vessel from $550.
Orpheus Incarnate CN Glass Candle - beautiful violet classic CN Glass candle for $210, inspired by apothecary of yesteryear.
Every piece is crafted by hand and is finished with a Curionoir stamp reminiscent of a wax seal of the past.
Orpheus Incarnate is available right now from exclusive New Zealand and International boutiques, the Curionoir flagship store, 76a Ponsonby Road, Grey Lynn, Auckland, and curionoir.
Friday, May 17, 2019
Hair how to: Alice McCall at 2019 MBFWA using EIMI by Wella Professionals and ghd
This season marked a 15-year milestone for the Alice McCall brand, and the highly respected Australian designer created a show for 2019 MBFWA that referenced the heart of all that her iconic label embodies.
The unashamedly pretty collection, called Cosmia, had all the flirt, drama and flair that one has come to expect from McCall, but with a super cool futuristic twist. There was the soft, feminine detailing like frills, feathers and fluted-sleeves that are so McCall, but also a bold use of metallics in the form of lustworthy cocktail dresses.
The vibe of range had a definite nod towards the sixties, and Wella Professionals Guest Artist, Keiren Street created a hair look with a mod-style wink towards the sixties using full fringes and sectioned hair. “The Alice girl this year was a nod to the 60’s with a teddy girl vibe,” said Street. “She’s a cool girl and knows what she wants. A slight grunge vibe with the hair having a little sweaty edge.”
The look was lived-in without compromising on glamour; a sixties eye with a slept-in touch. The texture in the back channelled a playful sixties vibe, and the choppy fringe added a doll-like finish to the fresh, porcelain faces of the models.
To Get the Look using EIMI by Wella Professionals:
1. Prep hair with EIMI Perfect Me from mid-length to ends, avoiding any product at the root to ensure the hair appears healthy and hydrated
2. Apply EIMI Body Crafter just below the crown (avoiding the root) to create 60’s inspired lift at the base
3. Use EIMI Perfect Setting from mid-lengths to ends (avoiding the root at all times) to create texture in the main bulk of the hair. Flat blow dry, over directing forwards on each side
4. Keep at it until the hair appears thick, dry and almost wig-like to create the ‘bedded’ effect at the crown.
5. Take vertical sections in the same pattern as the blow dry and tong. Over-direct down, staying away from the root, and prep each section with EIMI Mistify Me
6. Section the front of the hair into a ‘fringe’ section. Part down the middle and create a small braid on either side to anchor the fringe hair piece (if adding).
7. Take a ghd platinum+ styler and straighten random pieces to create a ‘grungy’ look amongst previous the tong-wave sections
8. Whilst keeping the hair flat (using slide-clips) diffuse both the fringe and sides.
9. Finish the look with EIMI Glam Mist to add hydration and a finishing gloss.
Wednesday, May 15, 2019
Love it: COSMEDIX amazing Enhance Lip Plumping Mask
Lip balm is a must-have in every beauty junkie’s makeup bag – I always have at least three on the go, which I select from depending on my needs. A great balm helps you deal with the drying out effects of some matte lipsticks, and the richest ones really come into their own come winter or mid-flight.
A lip mask takes things to the next level however, usually plumping as well as healing and really going the distance when it comes to repair. One I took with me to Japan recently that I was super impressed by is COSMEDIX Enhance Lip Plumping Mask, which is an ultra-nourishing, lip-plumping mask designed to “help deliver immediate comfort and moisture” using a unique blend of high-performance oils and natural emollients. Enhance works to improve the skin’s appearance for visibly fuller, more defined looking lips, while creating a moisture barrier for intense hydration.
The perfect overnight treatment for total moisture restoration or just slathered on during the day, its key ingredients are a botanical Bio-Polymer that conditions and creates a moisture barrier for long-lasting hydration, and Palmitoyl Tripeptide-1 – a powerful peptide that improves the appearance of skin for the look of fuller and more defined lips. It also has Shea Butter and Cocoa Seed Butter for instant relief from dryness, and it is light enough to wear on its own or under lipstick after allowing a few minutes for it to sink in. For optimal results, apply a thick layer before bed as an overnight treatment and watch this beauty work its magic! I also love the fact that the applicator makes it super hygienic - no fingers landing in tubs over and over again around here.
COSMEDIX Enhance Lip Plumping Mask has an RRP of $59.80, for New Zealand stockists call 0800 238 754.
Tuesday, May 14, 2019
All about: Katherine Daniels' amazing Instant Effect Eye Masks
Whenever I travel – especially long haul, and when I’m heading somewhere with a major temperature difference to home – I start amassing a travel beauty arsenal of goodies to hopefully steer clear of having to deal with less-than-clear skin when I’m enjoying myself. One clever little product that I’ll now never travel without is the salon strength Katherine Daniels Instant Effect Eye Mask, which comes in a pack of four sets and is a real no-brainer if you’re a frequent flyer or gearing up for a big event.
With concentrated Sea Kelp and Mineral Complex and saturated with hydra-boosting Hyaluronic Acid, they recently won the award for ‘Best Eye Mask’ at the Beauty Shortlist Awards, which is no mean feat. Renowned for being the biggest, most independent, non-sponsored beauty awards in the UK and going onto their 8th year, the Beauty Shortlist Awards are recognised globally. The judging panel is comprised of 10 independent beauty experts from Australia, the UK and USA, and this year’s lineup included red carpet, cruelty free makeup artist Justine Jenkins, Beauty Heroes founder Jeannie Jarnot and eco-luxe beauty blogger Shahrzad of the Beauty Spot.
The Katherine Daniels Instant Effect Eye Masks were a clear winner in their category, with stats like a 70 per cent reduction in wrinkles and 85 per cent revitalised skin reported after just one use. Their power is partly down to the fact that each mask is activated right before you use it, which means the skin around the delicate eye area will get a powerhouse of fresh ingredients that helps it look visibly luminous, plumped and smooth and feeling hydrated, firm and revitalised. The superior anti-ageing eye mask delivers instant visible results after just one use, and sustained visible effectiveness if used two times per week. I took a pack to Japan recently and used them both during my flight and upon arrival at my destination, and will be taking some to Los Angeles as well when I travel there next month. They are super easy to use as well – just apply them to clean, dry skin as directed on the back of the eye mask pack, leave in place for at least 20 minutes, remove and gently press the remainder of the product into the skin around the eye area. Too easy and the results are INCREDIBLE.
At RRP $99.95 for a four pack the Katherine Daniels Instant Effect Eye Masks aren’t cheap, but if you can afford them then do splurge- they come highly recommended.
Tweet
Wednesday, May 8, 2019
Beauty news: New Zealand, here comes Sephora at last!
It has only been a matter of time for beauty freaks all Aotearoa before Sephora announced its official bricks and mortar arrival into this country, but finally we have a definite statement from the global beauty juggernaut as to where and when.
Founded in France by Dominique Mandonnaud in 1970, Sephora was first beauty retailer to really offer the-then revolutionary concept of offering clients a hands-on relationship with an ever-changing array of carefully curated brand partners, featuring trusted classics, indie darlings, emerging favourites and the critically acclaimed SEPHORA COLLECTION.
Now owned by LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the world's leading luxury goods group, Sephora’s excellence, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit have made it a beauty trailblazer in 34 countries and online, providing a diverse range of clients with the perfect environment in which to experiment and learn. Sephora has operated in the Asia Pacific region since 2005, and today announced plans for its first New Zealand retail store to open in Auckland in 2019. With over 3,000 stores globally, Sephora Asia currently operates in twelve countries including Australia, Singapore and Thailand, adding NewZealand, Hong Kong and Korea to that list this year. It’s a testament to the appetite for international beauty in the region, an appetite that appears to know no bounds.
Having launched the New Zealand e-commerce store in November 2015, this first bricks-and-mortar location is an exciting new venture for the brand. It’s also exciting for local lovers of the brand, who often found the online representation a little frustrating (I for one had nothing but mishaps when ordering, but loved their offering so tried to persevere!).
Opening its doors on one of Auckland's most renowned retail strips, the new location is set to become “the home of beauty on Queen Street”, which is no mean feat. The CBD-based store’s design will pay homage to the retailer’s global brand by incorporating its iconic black and white striped calepinage, while staying true to the rich heritage of the building.
Of the opening, Benjamin Vuchot, President of Sephora Asia said, “We believe that New Zealand will be a key market in building Sephora as the most loved beauty community in Asia, and the world. This expansion to a new market will allow Sephora to continue to amplify global beauty trends locally, elevate what our clients expect of the in-store experience and bring fresh, digital touch points to the retail environment to create a virtual, client-centric cycle.” I think all of that is marketing speak for a seriously amazing, super interactive store, and I can’t wait!
Pedro Coutinho, Interim General Manager Sephora Australia & NewZealand adds, “Sephora Auckland will be a beauty destination like no other. We are so excited to introduce our renowned service offering, a suite of the most sought after beauty brands from around the world and a fun place for our clients to experience and explore their own beauty journey. The Sephora client is the future – our customers are ahead of the trends, up to date with the latest brands and they want new products, now, ”said Coutinho. “We’ve listened to what our online clients want from Sephora, and this new Auckland location will help us deliver it.”
Stay tuned for a definite date and address of the destination, and start saving your pennies for an instant splurge!
Tuesday, May 7, 2019
Beauty news: Prescription Skin Care and SkinBetter Science
I’m embarrassed to say that I’d never set foot in Prescription Skin Care’s super chic clinic at 197 Ponsonby Road until earlier this year, when I was lucky enough to be invited there for the launch of the SkinBetter Science skincare brand into the local market. I was hugely impressed - both by the research behind the beautiful, high performance new brand and by the work of the team at Prescription.
Prescription Skin Care has actually been helping people “look younger and feel confident about their skin” since it was founded in Remuera back in 1993. The Ponsonby location opened in December 2016, offering a state of the art clinic with the same technologically advanced equipment, facilities and highly trained personnel as Remuera, but for clients over this side of town. Both utilise the knowledge of Dr. Stephen Gilbert as Medical Director, a man who comes with a wealth of experience under his belt. He is experienced in all kinds of plastic surgery including facial enhancements such as rhinoplasty, breast surgery and liposuction, and was a founding co-director of the New Zealand Institute of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery. Stephen’s daughter Georgina Robertson co-owns the Prescription Skin Care clinics with her mother Margaret Gilbert, so the passion for great skin solutions definitely runs in the family.
The Ponsonby clinic is known for its proficiency in less invasive procedures like IPL, Laser Genesis and Laser Vein Treatments, as well as its stellar results with injectables. Angela Frazer (above) is the Senior Skin Care Nurse Consultant and Clinic Co-ordinator at Ponsonby and Remuera, and is largely responsible for the clinic’s fantastic reputation as a highly respected location for non-invasive work and skincare advice. She is also one of the most knowledgeable people in the beauty field that I have been lucky enough to meet in quite some time, and I could seriously listen to her talk for hours! And clearly I’m not the only one, as over the years Angela has contributed to health and fashion publications and spoken at a number of industry seminars, including the Australasian Plastic Surgical training weekend for doctors and the national Plastic Surgical Nurses Symposium. After qualifying as a Registered Nurse in New Zealand, Angela moved to London and worked for two years in the world-renowned dermatology unit at St Thomas’s hospital. During this time she not only gained extensive specialised knowledge in the field of dermatology but also developed a keen interest in the skin and associated treatments.
This was followed by seven years in the Plastic Surgery and Burns Unit at Auckland’s Middlemore hospital, before she was able to combine her experience in Dermatology and Plastic Surgical Nursing in private practice. She started at Prescription Skin Care in 1997 and has never looked back. Initially training and qualifying as a specialist collagen injector, Angela is now an expert in the areas of new generation dermal fillers and Botox, and she attends seminars, advanced workshops and conferences all over the world.
I returned to Prescription Skin Care a few weeks after the launch to meet with Angela one-on-one to learn more about the SkinBetter Science brand, which set out in 2016 to create a “new paradigm in skincare”, not only for patients, but for the physicians, nurses, aestheticians and surgeons who help patients achieve great skin. I was pleased to find out that the products are so well formulated that they don’t require a tedious multi-step process of application in the morning and evening, something that has turned me off so many brands. They say that one SkinBetter Science product can deliver remarkable results; and just two to three can change how you feel about your skin. I love that, and so does my bank account.
The one product that I’m excited to be playing with first is SkinBetter Science Alto Defense Serum, which is being applauded all over the world for its work on free radical damage. Free radicals are unstable, electron-stealing molecules that harm our cells as we age. The resultant damage, if unaddressed or repaired imperfectly, accumulates over time giving rise to wrinkles, brown spots, and even skin cancers. There are a myriad of antioxidants to counter free radicals, but individual ones generally do not protect against all free radicals — some only impact one type. And while both our bodies and our skin are smartly outfitted with innate antioxidant networks, they can easily get overwhelmed by the barrage of environmental assaults most of us suffer every day purely as a consequence of modern living. And when the hits start stacking up, we begin to look older than our years.
Which brings me back to Alto Defense Serum. What makes it remarkable, setting it apart from even the gold standards dermatologists have long lauded, is its impressive medley of antioxidants - vitamins C and E, coenzyme Q10, grape seed extract, cocoa, tumeric, green tea, coffee, superoxide dismutase, and more — that work in synergy to provide skin with a sort of blanket protection. What also stood out during recent testing was the apparent reduction in redness and wrinkles in subjects’ skin after just four weeks’ of use. There was also continued improvement over time, and the serum’ is highly tolerable even for those with rosacea like me. I generally can’t use products containing multiple actives, but thus far, this beauty is seriously performing.
If you want to learn more then I highly recommend a trip to Prescription Skin Care, a great local resource if ever there was one.
Thursday, May 2, 2019
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
