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Monday, September 18, 2017
Love it: the YSL Beauté All Hours collection
Foundation is like the white shirt of your beauty bag - an everyday essential that always works when and where you need it. But we all have a few white shirts depending on the hour and the season, and this also applies to your base. Consider the idea of building a closet full of foundation choices, as there’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to makeup.
Before shopping for a new foundation wardrobe it’s essential to decide what kind of finish you like – as in matte, velvet, dewy – and what kind of formula you find easiest to apply. You may love the ease of a liquid longwear by night but prefer a cushion during the day for a more dewy, handbag-friendly option. Your skin type also plays a vital role in your choice of base, and having two different formulas for the warmer and cooler seasons is a veritable no brainer.
One foundation formula that I believe everyone needs is a light-on-the-face but serious-on-coverage, nourishing longwear, and with the launch of their new All Hours Encre de Peau, YSL Beauté has created exactly that.
While you want a formula that‘s sure to provide you with coverage all day long, these days you can also find a formula that will nourish your skin at the same time – and this newbie does all that, and more. Designed for a flawless matte face and a perfect complexion, 24/7, it’s a lightweight marvel that comes smartly dressed in a sharp-suited bottle that echoes the classic YSL tuxedo. It goes on like velvet, and with a waterproof and transfer-resistant finish, it’s instantly addictive.
It uses a rich level of fine pigments to create a flawless, fresh and full coverage that lasts 24 hours, and even has a gloriously soft-focus finish thanks to spherical-shaped silicon resin. If your skin is on the drier side like mine you’ll appreciate the latter, as many longwear formulas draw attention to it rather than away. Thanks YSL Beauté!
It’s thanks to a special long-wear resistant polymer, rich in perlite, that the foundation lasts through non-stop activity all day and all night long, and it also contains skin conditioning complexes with antioxidant benefits to improve skin texture and keep it protected from urban aggressions. Kombucha, the fermented black tea extract, improves luminosity, and an SPF 20 helps to future-proof the skin. It also comes in 22 options from light to dark, so has one heck of a lot of complexions covered.
The brand has also created La Base Encre de Peau, a perfect primer to guarantee your matte, crease-free complexion will end the night the same way it started the day. It comes in a slick, black bottle and helps minimise pores and more, and can be applied with fingers or a brush. The formula includes aerogels, like micro-sized bubbles of moisturizing gel, which allow the skin to breathe while absorbing any oiliness, and smooth rolling beads allow the formula to spread uniformly over the skin, love that!
There is also a new sponge and a concealer in the ALL HOURS collection, which landed on counters today.
La Base Encre de Peau Suggested retail: $93.00
Encre De Peau All Hours Foundation Suggested retail: $101.00
Foundation Blender Suggested retail: $33.00
Encre de Peau Correcteur Suggested retail: $66.00
Friday, September 15, 2017
Hair how to: the Guido X Alexander Wang New Wave
This week in New York, uber designer Alexander Wang presented his SS18 collection at New York Fashion Week, and it was a standout show for SO many reasons. Kaia Gerber made her official runway debut and slayed, and the easy, breezy party girl hair created to accompany the collection was just perfect.
ghd partnered with international session stylist – and veritable legend - Guido Palau to create the show Alexander Wang SS18 hair look, which comes as no surprise. His approach to runway and campaign hair has always been completely his own, and his celebration of ‘natural’ hair is so refreshing. “When considering natural hair, people tend to assume that the
end result will be messy,” said Guido backstage at Wang. “That’s absolutely not the case.”
Reflecting the fashion industry’s current fascination with the individual and the unique, Guido worked with models’ natural texture to create ‘lived-in’ hair with movement a-plenty.
Guido first washed each girl’s hair, before applying a styling cream and using the ghd Air hairdryer with a diffuser to mimic the process of allowing hair to air-dry. “A great hairdryer, like the ghd Air Hairdryer, minimises drying time and therefore limits damage to the hair, while helping to achieve beautiful, natural movement,” he said.
After crafting a messy middle part with his fingertips, hair lengths were gently bent around the ghd Classic Curl Tong to lend natural movement, texture and idiosyncratic waves. “This look requires simply two tools, the ghd Air Hairdryer and ghd Classic Curl Tong. Great styling tools are essential for creating simple, modern textures.”
To get the look:
1. Wash hair and apply a heat protection spray.
2. Use the ghd air® hairdryer with a diffuser to gently blow-dry hair on a super low heat setting, while maintaining and enhancing your natural texture.
3. Add a natural centre parting using just your fingers.
4. Afterwards, create a soft natural wave by bending sections of hair around the ghd curve® classic curl tong to add additional movement. Maintain an imperfect finish by bending hair in different directions.
Monday, September 11, 2017
Love it: all new Too Faced Fall 2017 at Mecca
It goes without saying that Too Faced seem to be constantly creating new must-haves by the bucketload of late, and the newest collection to drop at Mecca Maxima is full of exactly that. It also introduces some fresh, new shades to some of the brand’s most popular releases, increasing its profile as a beauty name that champions diversity.
Their legendary Born This Way oil-free foundation has been a hit since its release, masterfully diffusing the line between makeup and skin and really giving the appearance that yes, #IWokeUpLikeThis. It may be a medium to full coverage formula, but that coverage is so undetectable that when it’s shade matched right, it really does look like flawless, radiant skin. Oil-free and paraben free, it is boosted by the benefits of coconut water and hyaluronic acid so is a great pick if your skin is on the dry side, and the creamy liquid formula packs a ton of pigment, so a little goes a long way. Oh and it also has no discernible scent, which is a bonus for many makeup wearers that prefer their foundation fragrance-free. So with all this in mind, what could Too Faced do that could make this beauty better? Well introduce six new shades, meaning it’s available in a total of 24! A second skin that matched pretty much any skin tone? You gotta love that… Too Faced have also released six new shades of Born This Way Concealer to go with, which was equally as thoughtful of them!
Also on the base side of the new collection, the brand has release the brilliantly named Hangover Primer and Setting Spray, which is a weightless, 3-in-1 coconut water-infused mist, made to prime, set, and refresh makeup, while hydrating the skin like never before. To use as a primer, simply shake the bottle well, hold it 6-8 inches away from your face, and apply before your makeup. To use as a setting spray that lasts all day, simply spray after applying your makeup. To use as a mid-day refresher, apply anytime your skin needs a boost, serving as the perfect cure for a beauty “hangover”. The unique combination of coconut water, probiotic-based ingredient and skin-revivers work together to hydrate and brighten skin, promote skin’s elasticity and tone, and soothe and smooth the skin. The perfect product for the upcoming party season I reckon, and one I can’t wait to get my hands on!
The Too Faced Fall 2017 collection is available right now in New Zealand, exclusively at Mecca Maxima and www.meccabeauty.co.nz
Thursday, September 7, 2017
Hair how to: Kevin Murphy at Melbourne Fashion Week
I adore Kevin Murphy products, and the man himself is pretty fabulous, too. I interviewed him when his haircare range was just released, and found him to be super passionate about hair, the planet and making women beautiful. He isn’t called one of Australasia’s best session stylists for nothing, and his products are all carefully honed on the job and are just as effective at home or on set.
Melbourne Fashion Week has just kicked off, and the internationally renowned editorial stylist is naturally at home backstage, where will be undertaking his 14th year as Hair Director of MFW for 2017. Premium Runway 2 and 3 is where you’ll find key trends for Spring/Summer 2017, with designs from Akira, ALPHA60, Ginger & Smart, Manning Cartell, Sarah Hope Schofield and Zambesi walking down Premium Runway 2, and Asilio, JASON GRECH, MISCHA COLLECTION, nevenka, Nicola Fenetti and DEMKIW seen on Premium Runway 3.
The Melbourne Town Hall provided a historic and dramatic background to contrast the embracing of natural texture and movement in hair - a key look for the upcoming season. “We start with a languid-looking small silhouette of soft texture that is almost see through,” says Murphy, “and then for the second show we move into bigger more erratic texture to add movement and volume through the sides and back, however not so much through the top, to add a modern edge”.
He also kindly shared his secrets for nailing the Premium Runway 3 look, seen above, using his eponymous collection. To achieve the hair look follow these super simple steps as outlined by the man himself:
1. Prep hair by using ultra-hydrating duo, HYDRATE-ME.WASH and HYDRATE-ME.RINSE
2. On towel-dried hair apply HAIR.RESORT and blow dry in to create natural movement and
texture
3. Using a styling brush, blow dry hair with natural movement, spraying in SESSION.SPRAY
into the layers. Tuck hair behind the ears as you go, leaving the last section without
SESSION.SPRAY, so to not look over-groomed
4. Spray in BEDROOM.HAIR to complete the look with natural movement
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Wednesday, September 6, 2017
Love it: all natural, all good Miri Skincare Balm
I love multi-use beauty products, and am always on the hunt for the ultimate multitasker - an all-round, sure-fire, totally natural fixer upper, that throws together the world’s best pure plant ingredients to soothe, soften and condition all skin types, everywhere. I have a few faves in my arsenal, but one that I’ve recently been playing with - and love - comes from Aotearoa’s own Miri Skincare.
New Zealand made, Miri Skincare Balm is a natural alternative to many of the petroleum-filled salves out there, instead harnessing powerful, naturally available ingredients to soothe and nourish the skin. The company was founded by Paul Jarvis when he discovered his wife and her friends were using a popular Australian multi-use balm – that shall remain nameless! – known to contain petrochemicals proven to be unsafe for prolonged use. Knowing the myriad of remarkable natural ingredients native to New Zealand and the South Pacific, Paul began formulating an alternative product that was just as useful and effective across a range of common skin issues and conditions such as eczema.
The end result is a little multitasking beauty that nourishes hands and nails, conditions lips and softens and smoothes elbows, knees and dry, cracked heels. It even works as a super smooth massage oil, an intensive moisturiser for harsh environments, looks after baby, and will even tame the tips of flyaway hair.
Miri, Māori for ‘to rub, smear or soothe’, encapsulates what this balm is all about. Made using Kiwifruit seed oil and Manuka honey, the secret to the balm’s effectiveness lies in the unique combination of New Zealand and South Pacific ingredients that are well known for their beneficial properties. Kiwifruit seed oil is rich in essential fatty acids with a high concentration of Alpha-Linoleic Acid, otherwise known as Omega 3. The seed oil works to add needed moisture to the skin, naturally preventing dryness and cracking. Manuka honey then increases the effectiveness of the formula, with its well documented healing and soothing properties. The balm’s all natural makeup means that it is best stored below 25 degrees and shaken before each use, which really, is NBD.
The perfect size for your handbag, baby bag, carry on bag and to have on hand in the kitchen, Miri Skincare Balm is joyfully made without chemical fillers, preservatives, perfumes or dyes. It goes without saying that it’s also minus DEA-regulated ingredients, dibutyl phthalate, formaldehyde, parabens, PEG compounds, siloxanes, SLS or triclosan. Love that.
Last but by no means least, it is also super affordable at RRP$12.99 for a 25ml tube of goodness from leading pharmacies nationwide.
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Monday, September 4, 2017
All about: Bobbi Brown Cosmetics’ all new Downtown Cool collection
Landing September 18 – not far away now! – on counter at all Bobbi Brown Cosmetics counters is Downtown Cool, a beautiful and super wearable new collection inspired by effortlessly chic New York style.
With pretty much every piece in the collection set to be a fresh, new must have, it is the perfect pick for those that love that done-but-perfectly-undone look, and I have fallen in love. The star of the set must be a new and limited edition product….Duo Long Wear Gel Eyeliner (see below). Forget subtle, these babies will help you turn up the smoulder by day or by night, using the brand’s signature double-lining technique. The new Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner duos each feature two perfectly paired shades that are made to be layered, and work perfectly with clean skin and lashings of lashes. The award-winning Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner is known for the fact that it won’t smudge or fade, and these babies (RRP $57) offer all that and more. The shades available are:
Cobalt Ink / Thunderstorm
Black Ink / Steel Ink
Cypress Ink / Dark Meadow
Caviar Ink / Black Mauve Shimmer Ink
Dark Chocolate Ink / Black Scotch
Granite Ink / Violet Ink
The Cool Eye Shadow Palette (above) plays another key role in the collection, and I think it’s another element that is destined to be an instant hit. With an all-matte offering that allows you to create essential, super sassy looks ranging from subtle to smouldering, it is definitely a day through to night palette, so a great buy at RRP $95 due to its versatility.
The collection also includes a limited edition Cream Glow Highlighter for a hint of natural luminosity anywhere you swipe it, and the two-in-one Dual-Ended Ultra Fine/Ultra Precise Eye Liner Brush and Angle Eye Shadow Brush. I think these are going to get a major workout in my Spring/Summer beauty arsenal, and the multifaceted nature of most of the collection also makes it perfect for travel or days on the go. Thanks Bobbi Brown!
Friday, September 1, 2017
NZFW How to: Wynn Hamlyn AW18 by L’Oréal Professionnel
I spent the last four days of New Zealand Fashion Week working for FashionTV, interviewing international guests about what they loved and loathed about their time immersed in local style. Almost all of them named the Wynn Hamlyn AW18 show their pick for the best of the week, and the hair and makeup looks created to complement the collection were equally as beautiful and considered.
Michael Beel, L’Oréal Professionnel ambassador, created the hair look, which he says was inspired by “a dystopian type of world where the seasons are no longer defined by the typical autumn/winter, spring/summer”. It was a look that had an element of organic casualness to it, enhanced with the amazing wicker hats sitting on the head’s of some of the models.
To create the look at home is surprisingly simple using some of L’Oréal Professionnel’s key products, and Beel says it can be broken down into the following steps:
1. Prep the hair by blow-drying in Tecni.Art Pli into the hair encouraging soft movement throughout.
2. Place in an organic centre parting. Nothing too contrived.
3. Using a medium sized curling tong and Infinium Hairspray define a soft beach wave throughout. Keep the ends straighter to keep a more modern aesthetic.
4. Work around the head winding hair around the tong away from the face.
5. Shake out the curls using a wide tooth comb and use Tecni.Art Wild Stylers Crêpage de Chignon and slightly dishevel to encourage a more organic texture.
6. Tuck some behind the ears in a casual, carefree manner.
The makeup look created by Lisa Matson, L’Oréal Paris Cosmetics NZ Makeup Director was also a
play on nature’s elements, “particularly the cold and heat and how it affects the skin,” says the seasoned beauty pro. “It was inspired by the theme of Wynn’s collection, which is based on the dis-function of seasons in fashion.”
L’Oréal product used were:
Face: Infallible Matte Foundation blended with Age Perfect Facial Oil
Bronzer: Glam Bronze La Terra 02
Cheekbone Highlight: True Match Highlight Powder in Golden Glow
Brows: Brow Artist Plumper in Transparent
Eyes: Telescopic Mascara and Colour Riche Le Kohl in white
(photos by Alexander Hoyles of Pikdat Productions)
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Thursday, August 31, 2017
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