With over 2.5 million subscribers on YouTube following her every beauty move, it’s safe to say that vlogger Chloe Morello knows a thing or two about makeup. So it’s no surprise that Chloe recently teamed up with cult beauty brand Benefit to create her very own Brow Wardrobe Kit. With so much emphasis being placed on a good set of brows, I thought it would be great to get Chloe’s tips, tricks and must-haves for getting them just right. Read on for the products she uses on a daily basis, what she does to tackle an over plucking mishap and her number one trick for achieving killer brows at home with minimal fuss.
What’s the key to good brows?
Spend time on them! Nurture them! It’s probably my favourite part of my makeup routine as it’s one of the most transformative. I can use multiple products and each do something different. My brow pencil will create the shape and add the faux hair effect, my Benefit Gimme Brow+ holds the hairs in place and plumps them up for a full finish, and Benefit High Brow is amazing to enhance the arch and give a lil’ glow!
What are some mistakes people often make when it comes to their brows?
I find people draw in the inner part of the brows and I find that looks harsh. I used to draw the little square edges at the centre of the brows too and I wish I didn’t! Now, before moving on with my makeup I generally buff the inner part of the brows out just to ensure it looks natural. Or use a brow powder like Benefit’s Foolproof in that area instead of a gel or pencil.
What are the essentials of a good brow tool kit?
I think a powder such as Foolproof is a good base product as you can choose the intensity of your brows quite easily. With powders I can achieve a very soft look if I pick up a small amount on a sponge applicator, and if I use an angled brush – spritzed with setting spray – I can achieve a very glamorous and intense brow effect. So it’s quite versatile.
You also definitely need a brow gel to hold the hairs in place. Gimme Brow+ is special because it not only secures your work but it also adds depth, colour and plumps up the hairs using its gel fibre technology! I really LOVE this product.
A pencil such as Benefit’s Precisely, My Brow is good too, because its so lightweight and easy to throw in your handbag or travel bag. The precise, micro fine tip makes it easy to fill in gaps quickly, or you can spend some more time carefully etching hair like strokes for a fuller look.
What’s the worst brow mishap you’ve ever had?
I used to create that very intense boxy look to the inner part of my brow that I mentioned above, which I am glad I stopped doing!
What’s your brow maintenance routine?
I take vitamin supplements to ensure my hair is healthy. Luckily that works for brows as well! I pluck strays very sparingly and then use my Chloe’s Brow Wardrobe kit to create a daily brow look dependent on my mood. If I have a casual day, I use Foolproof as it’s quick! If I have day time events like meetings and lunches I use Precisely, My Brow and GimmeBrow+ to get my ideal ‘full’ brow look. And for evenings and glam affairs I use Kabrow, Gimme Brow+ and Highbrow for a polished, sleek and elongated brow!
Chloe’s new limited edition brow kit with Benefit
Which celebs in your opinion have the brow thing nailed? Why?
Rosie Huntingon-Whitely has my dream brows; they’re very full, with a subtle arch. When she lightly shades them and brushes them up they look so stylish and effortless!
Can you take us through the steps of how you do your brows every day?
I generally use Benefit Precisely, My Brow in shade 3.5 to etch hair-like strokes from about 1/3 of the way in, to the tail of the brow. I feel I overplucked my brow arch last year so I’ve been straightening my arch out with the pencil by carefully adding a hair stroke or two there until the hairs grow back. Then I use Gimme Brow+ in shade 4 to intensify my natural brow hairs and hold them in place. I love to use upward flicking motions to get a plush look. Highbrow is the perfect brow finisher; its a subtle but buildable brow bone highlight that defines my eyebrow shape and adds a glow which really makes my brow pop.
What’s your number one tip/trick when it comes to achieving great brows at home?
Delegate 5-10 minutes to your brows so you can enjoy it! It’s my favourite makeup step as I find it the most transformative. Get to know your brows and you’ll see how many options there are and just how much of a difference beautiful brows can make. I also recommend sitting at a table so you have a flat surface to rest your elbow on, it really helps to steady your hand which helps with precision and preventing mistakes.
Along with my outfits I like to plan my beauty looks whenever I’m off to a big spring racing event. Hair and makeup is often the final finishing touch that can make or break a look so generally I like to have an idea of what I’m going to do ahead of time. And this is often based on the colour or colours I’m wearing and also the cut and neckline of my dress—the bolder the look, the less I do in terms of hair and makeup and vice versa.
I think the one thing that’s important to remember about any racing event is that it takes place during the day. This means that whilst you should look polished you should also leave the heavy, ultra glam makeup at home and instead opt for an understated, fresh faced approach. Less is more should be your motto. I always start with a healthy base so I like to treat my skin in the lead up to big events like Derby Day and Melbourne Cup. This means scheduling in a facial (or a few if my skin needs some extra TLC) and really taking care of my skin in the lead up to the event by being religious with my skincare routine and making sure I wear sunscreen to avoid any pigmentation or damage. I’ve always been of the frame of mind that having good skin is the best base you can have.
When it comes to my makeup I tend to wear it quite sparingly. This means I choose one feature to highlight whether it be my eyes or lips. Usually I’ll find myself going for a bold smoky eye and a neutral lip but if I find the outfit I’m wearing needs a little punch then I might go for a colourful lip instead. I stick to neutral tones most of the time as I find it’s a guaranteed way to stop my makeup from competing with my outfit and I tend to favour a lot of mascara to play up my eyes and give them a dramatic effect. Along with my makeup I always ensure that I factor in a mani and pedi in the lead up to a racing event. I always go for either a dark burgundy/wine colour or a light white/pink for a neutral finish, it just depends on the colour I am wearing and what I think will complement it the most. A perfect mani is always a guaranteed shortcut to looking polished so I do this religiously.
I’ve always been quite low maintenance with my hair and generally I don’t stray far from this for racing events. If I’m wearing something with a dramatic neckline that needs to remain the focal point such as a high neck, you’ll either find me with my hair in a sleek low bun or slightly more relaxed bun with a bit more volume at the top. It’s honestly one of the easiest styles I’ve found I can do and it’s always guaranteed to work. If my look is quite simple then I might go for a little more drama with my hair, in which case I’ll wear it down with a slight beachy wave and a little volume. Most of the time I prefer to keep things low key on the beauty front and just let my outfit take centre stage.
I’m sure there are a lot of you out there who are in the same boat—juggling work, family, and friends can become a neverending spiral of busyness. From school drop-offs to meetings and trying to get my inbox clear (one day I’ll get to Inbox Zero!) it doesn’t stop. I’ve realised along the way that if I just keep going without looking after myself no one benefits. My energy levels drop and I can become rundown and end up not functioning at my best and this affects both my family and career. This is why I’ve tried to incorporate some little rituals into my week to ensure that I give myself the best chance to stay fit and healthy. Whether it’s five minutes to have a cup of tea or a daily run, I know everyone has their own little ways of nourishing themselves. Here are mine…
Go for a daily walk and coffee run
It’s become a daily event for the kids and I to take a leisurely stroll down to my local cafe to grab a coffee. It’s a nice way for the three of us to start the day and it’s especially nice during summer as we can enjoy the sunshine. I’m able to get my daily caffeine hit and find it’s a great way to ease ourselves into what’s sure to be a busy day.
Go to bed early
I used to go to bed quite late but that all changed when I became a mum. My girls are early risers so I’ve got into the habit of heading to bed between 9.30-10.30 every day. By sticking to this religiously I’ve found I’m able to get enough sleep and have enough energy to deal with a full day constantly being on the go with Sophia and Grace.
Incorporate exercise into my week
I’ve recently joined a local mum club that trains at the beach near my house and have found it to make such a difference to my overall health and state of mind. I do it twice a week, and I’ve found that being able to do a workout helps boost my energy levels and gives me the stamina to get through my hectic schedule. We do lots of circuit training so it’s definitely helped my fitness.
Try and incorporate ‘me time’ into my routine
It’s hard not to get caught up in the craziness of work and family life but I’ve tried to make a point of taking a little time out for myself every so often. Even if it’s just an hour or so to do something on my own. I’ve found it works wonders for my mental health and wellbeing. I’m also lucky in that a lot of the time my work commitments and ‘me time’ intersect. If I’m going to a few racing events for example, getting my nails done and my hair tended to is all part of the process, so I can combine the two and enjoy a little break.
Whilst I don’t do Kim Kardashian scale contouring because hey, she has professionals helping her achieve that, I do like to do it myself from time to time. If I’ve got a work event or occasion to go to then I like to amp up my makeup a bit more for a stronger, more impactful look.
The best thing about this wand is that it’s really easy to apply and blend, and if you don’t get both of those things right it can make contouring go very awry… Luckily though, the cushion applicator dispenses just the right amount of product and makes it easier to target specific spots on my face.
I team this product with the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Beauty Light Wand and the overall effect is a more sculpted finish, with that lit-from-within glow.
If you’ve been wanting to try contouring yourself but were afraid to because it seemed to complicated then this is a great place to start. It’s seriously super easy to use and I consistently get a great result every time.
I like to look after my skin but sometimes at the end of a long day all I want to do is go to bed and the thought of having to go through a cleansing routine seems the hardest thing in the world. So in the interests of avoiding clogged pores and potential spots by just leaving my makeup on, I’ve started using these handy cleansing pads.
They’re a simple concept – 60 pads that have been pre-soaked with micellar water and chamomile extract that can take the place of your regular cleanser. So not only can I just wipe the day off I’m also giving my skin a hit of chamomile’s anti-inflammatory benefits. It also moisturises so I’m left with supple feeling skin afterwards.
As I tend to be on the go a lot, they’re also compact and come in a handy little screw top jar which means I can just throw them in a bag with minimal fuss. And hey, if this means one less thing for me to worry about in my skincare regiment then I’m definitely on board.
You’ll be familiar with Poppy Delevingne first and foremost as a model. She was first scouted at the age of 15 by Sarah Doukas, Storm models founder and the woman who discovered a young Kate Moss. And whilst she’s modelled for the likes of Burberry and Alberta Feretti, and landed magazine covers for Elle, Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue and fronted campaigns for the likes Louis Vuitton it seems she’s found her true calling: acting. She’s starred in King Arthur and Kingsman: The Golden Circle and is appearing opposite Antonio Banderas in Genius: Picasso. However we’re sitting down for a chat for another reason—her Queen of Pop collection with Jo Malone London. The fun, 60s inspired range includes everything from bubble bath to fragrances and has brought Poppy to Sydney to chat about its launch in Australia. Here we chat about working with such an iconic brand, why she loves Aussie labels and the one place in the world that gives her butterflies.
What are you up to and what are you doing in Australia?
I am in Australia for the last leg of my Jo Malone London Queen of Pop tour. We’ve done LA, London, Dublin, Paris, Milan. Now Australia. So this is my last bit, and I’m very sad that it’s ending.
Tell me all about your collection.
So Queen of Pop… we created our first standalone bubble bath. It’s Jo Malone’s first ever bubble bath. It’s about time. In a much bigger bottle, with three very luxurious fragrances. And then what is bath time without a luxury candle? Which we did in another three fragrances. And then I picked three favourite colognes, which all mean something to me in very unique and special ways. I’m a 60s girl at heart, so we went for quite a Mod aesthetic. I was very inspired by the 60s, and by pop art, and Roy Lichtenstein and Andy Warhol. So, bright polka dots, bright colours, gold stripes. We just wanted to do something that was really playful.
And so how did you go about choosing the fragrances?
So, Red Rose is … Was the first Jo Malone perfume I ever wore, and I started wearing it when I was 18 years old and I always go back to it, it’s like an old friend. Amber and Lavender is the cologne that my husband wears. It’s a unisex cologne and we did these little bottles so I can now carry him around wherever I go. And Peony Blush & Suede is my all-time favourite Jo Malone fragrance because it’s so feminine and light and floral, but has a little edge to it. If I wear it I get compliments.
The Queen of Pop collection is now available in Australia
What is a day in the life of you?
Every single day is so different…. a lot of planes, usually make up a lot of my time. I’ve actually at the moment just started [filming] a new TV show called Riviera, season two. So I’ve moved out to Nice, and I’ll be living there ’til November. Which is super exciting. Every day is a new adventure.
You’ve come from a modelling background, and now you’re focusing more on films and TV. Which genre do you prefer?
I prefer acting. I never really felt like I belonged to the modelling world. I was just always that goofy girl with lipstick on her teeth, tripping over lighting cables. I’m so grateful for the career that I had in the fashion industry, but acting really has my heart.
What was the biggest lesson you learnt while modelling?
Oh my God, to have a thick skin. To not take things personally. How to deal with jet lag.
What do you love most about acting?
For me, I like the challenge of it. I’ve always been someone who likes to push myself and challenge myself in any way that I can. So, for me it’s that terrifying feeling I get before going on set, and then being able to do it and achieve it. That sense of achievement at the end of the day is everything.
You’ve worked on some big films. What has been the biggest pinch-me moment?
I think my biggest victory moment would have to be doing the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon in America. And I did that with Steve Martin and Martin Short. I’ve always been [a] huge fan [of both actors], since I was young. I grew up with [the movie] Father of the Bride. So, for me to be sitting on a sofa with those two comedic greats, and with Jimmy Fallon, who’s also a genius, he’s unbelievable, I was absolutely petrified and I opened a beer bottle with my eye sockets. I was like, “Oh my God, don’t do this, you’re gonna get a black eye!” It was so fun.
What was it like to be on such a big production like the movie King Arthur?
I mean, daunting, but quite incredible. Working with [director] Guy Ritchie is a dream come true. Getting to act with the wonderful Eric Bana and to meet all these incredible actors who I could learn so much from. It was daunting, but magical all at the same time.
What was it like to work with Antonio Banderas in the show Genius: Picasso?
Incredible. He is such a kind and generous man, and such a generous actor, and to be able to work with someone like him who I could learn so much from and … He was always so helpful and so respectful and I learnt a lot from him.
What’s been the best advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I’ve ever received would have to be from Cinderella, which is, “Be kind and have courage.” I love that.
How would you describe your personal style?
I think my personal style is very eclectic and I would say that I always dress to suit my mood. I like spontaneous dressing.
What are your wardrobe essentials?
For my daily uniform, I always have a really good pair of jeans. I’m obsessed with FRAME Denim or Citizens of Humanity. T-shirts, I love James Perse and Calvin Klein. A leather jacket. I have a gorgeous one by Anine Bing. And then I’d wear these little trainers called Feiyues, which are actually from China. I live in them. So yeah, like jeans, t-shirt, leather jacket and trainers.
What about beauty essentials?
Oh, my God, where do we begin? I wash my face with MBR (Medical Beauty Research) enzyme face wash. I love using Crème de la Mer eye cream and soft moisturizing lotion. That’s basically me done. I like to keep it very simple and quite basic.
What are you makeup daily essentials or are you one of those people that wears no makeup on a normal day?
If I’m not working, I like to do no makeup whatsoever, because whenever I’m working, it’s part of my job to wear it so I like to give my face a day off every now and again.
Are you a flats or heels girl?
Flats, because I’m so tall on my own. I don’t need any help in that department.
Do you like Australian labels? and if so, what are your favourites?
I do. Zimmermann has been one of my all time favorites and it’s come to London now, which is so exciting, because it means that I can basically wear them. I used to love sass & bide. I was so devastated when that stopped, because it was literally like my favourite store in the whole world. Who else do I really love? I’ve got really beautiful things … I can’t remember what she called it now. Her name’s Kit Willow. KITX, she’s got some gorgeous things. She’s a beautiful designer.
What are your favorite things to do when you come to Australia?
See all my Aussie fans, because they’re literally some of my favourite people in the whole entire world. To see them, to drink Aperol Spritzes, be in the sunshine, work on my freckles and shop.
Where is your favourite travel destination?
When I think about Italy, when I think about Positano and I think about having pasta for breakfast, lunch and dinner, that gives me butterflies with excitement. And Le Sirenuse Hotel has ton loads of memories. One of my all-time favourite places in the world.
What do you carry in your travel bag?
In my travel bag I have a lovely organic lavender hand sanitizer. Yes, it’s literally the best thing ever. What else do I always carry in my bag? Jo Malone London do a gorgeous lip balm, a gorgeous vitamin E lip balm. They also do a lovely geranium and walnut hand cream that I’m obsessed with. And I’m also really obsessed with Dr. Barbara Sturm, who does these hyaluronic ampules. They’re like acid ampules and you crack them open and put all over your skin and just let it sink it. It’s heaven.
Amazing. I need to try that.
And a silk eye mask.
Really? Do they really work?
Yes. Makes the world of a difference. It’s so bad to leave … you know if you take off an eye mask and you have a mark on your face, as you get older, it’s really bad to do that. My dermatologist told me that. She’s like, “You need to get silk pillows, silk everything, because-yeah, because, it just wrinkles your face so much. I know, right?
I always saw them and thought, “Oh, it’s too high maintenance to wash silk pillows.”
I know. It’s annoying, but a silk eye mask is good enough.
What’s next in the pipeline?
I’ve been finishing off this show, Riviera. I’m filming it till November, and then I think just seeing what comes next. I’m going to be doing a third collaboration with Jo Malone London, so I’m super excited about that. I’m working on it at the moment, so it’s a work in progress, and we’ll hopefully get to tour with it next year.
If you could work on any film or with any actor, what would be your dream role?
My dream would be to work with the wondrous Meryl Streep. I think she can do no wrong. It doesn’t get much better than that.
And any particular character you could play?
I would love to play a character who’s perhaps completely out of my comfort zone. Somewhere where I’d have to really transform myself and really immerse myself and become that person. Anything that’s a real challenge.
Where you see yourself in five years time?
Five years time. Babies, babies, babies. I hope so. Fingers crossed.
BITESIZE:
We went to: Bistro Moncur Mosman
We ate: Pan fried barramundi fillet; Potato & ricotta gnocchi
I’ve sat in more makeup chairs than I can remember and the one thing I love about it is every time I walk away I have the most amazing glow. If I could permanently have someone doing my makeup everyday I’d totally be on board with it but alas it’s me doing it most days so I need products that are quick and easy to use. So, how to achieve a glowy skin effect without a million and one products? Well, I have become a huge fan of the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Beauty Light Wand for that very reason.
I like using highlighters to accentuate my features however I’ve never been able to find one that’s just the right consistency. This liquid highlighter is great as it’s easy to apply and blend (it comes with a sponge applicator at the tip) and is really easy to work into the skin. I don’t end up looking streaky or too overdone and achieves just the right kind of luminosity.
If you’ve been on the hunt for a highlighter that delivers just the right level of sparkle without looking like you had a run in with a glitter pen then definitely give this wand a go. I am amassing quite the collection of Charlotte Tilbury products because they’re so easy to use and the finish is always spot on and this product is no different.
What beauty product are you currently obsessed with?
If you want Bambi-esque lashes that look oh-so natural this is the mascara for you. Dior’s Diorshow Pump ‘n’ Volume mascara has some interesting new features that really set it apart.
Once you find a mascara that works you want to shout it from the rooftops—so here I am doing just that! I’m sure most women are in the same boat as I am, in that they want a mascara that will make their lashes look thick and luscious. I’ve tried a fair few in my time but this is one product that really impressed me with the results I got. A few coats of Diorshow Pump ‘n’ Volume added a ton of volume to my lashes and achieve that abundant falsh lash effect.
Whilst the original Diorshow is quite the cult beauty product, don’t dismiss this version as just slightly newer incarnation. It’s got a few key differences that are really impressive. Firstly the tube is actually made of rubber which means it’s squeezable. Aside from being quite a novelty, by giving the tube a squeeze it’s said to warm up the formula inside. By doing this it allows the mascara to glide on a lot easier and really coat all the lashes. It also allows you to move the formula around inside so you don’t have to repeatedly pump the wand (a big no-no as it’s said to allow air in which not only dries it out but also introduces bacteria) to fully coat it.
A little coat goes a long way and really gives lashes a full effect that’s hard to achieve with a lot of other mascaras. Whilst a Dior mascara is a little pricier, the results you get are definitely worth it.
I recently hosted a special event launching the new Maison Christian Dior pop up store at Sydney airport followed by a lunch at the restaurant, Fred’s. For a launch celebrating the iconic brand, I knew I definitely had to wear Dior from head to toe. I knew it would be spoilt for choice as far as design options went (it is Dior after all!) but I can’t resist a polka dot print so this dress caught my eye immediately. I loved the layered effect of the dress—the midi skirt overlay gave it a point of difference and the perfect dramatic touch. I think the long sleeves and wearing the collar buttoned up gave it a more streamlined, classic feel at the top which was the ideal counterpoint to the edgier look of the skirt.
I wanted to take advantage of the split feature of the dress and knew I needed to find some standout shoes to match. Enter these showstopper Dior boots! What else would you do with knee high mesh boots than make them a focal point of a look? As they were completely on show I loved the fact that they had a really strong, fierce vibe about them and held their own with the frock.
It’s always fun to be able to experiment with new looks and different silhouettes and this outfit allowed me to do both, whilst being able to wear one of my favourite brands.
Charlotte Tilbury can really do no wrong. This eyeshadow palette provides a flush of colour for the eyes that’s punchy, yet natural and I’m officially obsessed.
Eyeshadow palettes can sometimes be a tricky thing as you’re not always guaranteed to love all the colours. I’ve had instances where I’ve played favourites with the colours only to have one that goes unused. However I’m pleased to report that there’s no such issue with this little beauty.
As with most of the Charlotte Tilbury range the colours, the finish and the wearability of this palette is spot on. The copper, bronze and champagne shades all work together to create a beautiful warm, sun-kissed effect whilst still looking natural. I hate looking too overdone and I’ve found all the hues in this quad work harmoniously together to create the perfect finish.
Whilst providing the ideal flush of colour on my eyes, I’ve found that the colour in this eyeshadow quad has staying power. I can wear this all day and it still has the same intensity as when I first walked out the door. It’s perfect for those times when I just want to look a little more polished as I’m going to an event or an important meeting during the day, with it looking too over the top. I highly recommend this for those wanting a product that’s easy to apply but delivers a flattering finish with staying power.
