skincare Archives - Page 2 of 2

The one beauty thing I do without fail

22nd February, 2017

What’s the number one aspect of my beauty routine? It definitely has to be skincare. I follow my routine religiously. I believe amazing skin gives you a great foundation to start from and if your complexion is in top condition then your makeup will, by default, look good too.

My skincare routine is pretty simple as I like to keep it quite streamlined and not have too many steps. All I do is cleanse my skin morning and night and make sure I remove my makeup at the end of each day. I moisturise twice a day too and ensure I apply an eye cream to hydrate my skin. I’m also quite particular about applying sunscreen; I do it every day, no matter the weather. Other than that I ensure I drink plenty of water to keep my skin hydrated. It’s quite a straightforward regimen but I find it definitely works and keeps my skin in top condition.

What’s the one beauty thing you do without fail?

Beauty, Shop

The fail-safe Christmas gift I love to give and receive

28th November, 2016

Christmas is just around the corner so I’ve already started to compile a list of gift ideas for my friends and family. I’ve found the one kind of gift that is always a definite people pleaser are beauty gifts. I tend to buy my mum beauty products as presents and I have to admit I love receiving them too. Plus they’re the kind of present that is suitable for everyone from your closest girlfriend to your mother-in-law, so it solves the problem of having to wrack your brain trying to find the ideal gift.

I know it can be tricky sometimes trying to pinpoint the right beauty product to give to a particular person which is why I particularly love the special Christmas gift sets that are released at this time of year. I always tend to gravitate towards them as they’re always beautifully packaged, contain a perfectly curated edit of products and they last long after Christmas is over, so the person receiving it will be able to enjoy it for quite awhile. This year, I’ve got my eye on SK-II’s Festive Sets, especially the Ageless Beauty Set which includes their famed Facial Treatment Essence. I’ve used the products myself so I know that whoever finds the set under the tree on Christmas Day will be quite pleased! The set also comes with SK-II RNA Moisturiser, SK-II RNA Eye Cream and SK-II Skin Signature 3D Redefining Mask so it’s like an entire skincare regimen in one box.

If your Christmas shopping has already got underway I’d look to the beauty counter – you’re definitely guaranteed to find something that will impress!

SK-II Ageless Beauty Festive Set, $399, is available at Myer, David Jones, Adore Beauty and Sephora

Photography: Sophia Athas

Beauty

Napoleon Perdis’ ultimate beauty tips

13th June, 2016

With an eponymous make up brand, countless stores and numerous awards to his name it’s safe to say that Napoleon Perdis would have a beauty tip (or 10!) to share. During his recent visit to Australia I asked Napoleon to reveal some of his top make up and skin secrets. Here he reveals the key to achieving a flawless finish, the trick to doing your make up when you’re in a rush and the one thing he wishes more Aussie women would when it comes to their make up…

What’s the number one make up mistake you wish women would stop making?

Chocolate bar contouring. I see it all over social media and I’m not a big fan. Instead I love the look of hydrated, luminous skin. A focus on subtly highlighted skin is a much more modern way to get your skin looking flawless.

For you, what are the three non-negotiables of great make up?

Cleansing – It can make or break your look; priming – not to prime is a crime; and brows are back – think big, beautiful and bold!

Napoleon Perdis Wander-brow

What’s the key to achieving a flawless finish with make up?

To keep you skin looking and feeling its best during the cooler autumn/winter months it’s all about protection, prevention and a little pampering. To achieve a healthier complexion that is even in tone, your skin care and makeup should contain beneficial ingredients like chamomile for redness and antioxidants for anti-ageing. Primers are a non-negotiable! It acts as a bridge between your skin care and makeup. Your foundation should also contain SPF for sun protection and make your skin look smooth and hydrated.

What’s your favourite product in your range?

Definitely my Auto Pilot Pre-Foundation Skin Primer. Whether you are a makeup minimalist or prefer a more dramatic look, it’s important to nourish and nurture the skin with primers. This will ensure your makeup glides on easily and looks fresh all day. Primers hydrate the skin, absorb excess oil and keep makeup on for longer and is suitable for all skin types. With calming ingredients such as chamomile, yarrow extract and vitamin E it’s a great way to keep your skin looking and feeling smooth.

AP-Pre-Foundation-Skin-Primer-Gold---9322111143140

As Perdis says, “not to prime is a crime!”

What’s the key to achieving a great make up look when you’re in a rush?

Always start your make up look by applying mascara and brows first. Not only does it frame your eyes, but when you are pressed for time, you can ensure you have your essentials on. Add a hint of concealer around the eyes and any area of discolouration. Next swipe a creamy lipstick on the lips and cheeks. Double duty beauty!

What are some of your favourite make up trends of the season?

Natural is cool. Keep your base minimal not mask-like.

Coloured lashes. Makeup is a form of self-expression so I love to see women have fun with their look. Blue lashes are so hot right now and really brighten up the eyes.

Strobing not contouring! I not a big fan of chocolate bar contouring and prefer when the skin looks lit from within. Think golden luminosity on the top of the cheekbones and cupid’s bow.

How do you think the way Australian women approach make up differs from other women around the world?

In Australia there is a certain freshness I adore with the textures kept quite real and understated. I really appreciate how Australians have an understanding of what’s modern. They can have a flawless and easy going day look and switch it up for night by adding on a bright lipstick or bold lashes.

What’s the key to long lasting make up?

To keep your make up on for longer, its starts with correct cleansing and priming. Next choosing the correct foundation for your skin type and setting your base with a small amount of powder.

To keep your lipstick looking flawless all day prep the skin with a lip balm, apply a generous coat of lipstick and line lips last. This will ensure your lip line stays crisp and helps to prevent bleeding.

Which celebs do you think are doing really great things with their make up looks at the moment?

I do love Margot Robbie’s look. She has let her beauty shine through and has let her skin do all the talking. She really nailed her make up at both the Oscars and the Met Ball.

I’m a big fan of Rooney Mara also as she takes her look to the dark side with bold brows and a signature deep plum lip.

Perdis loves Rooney Mara’s signature plum lip; Margot Robbie’s fresh look at this year’s Met Ball

What’s your philosophy when it comes to make up?

Cleansing and priming your skin can help keep your look on longer, no matter your skin type. Choosing the correct primer means you can get away with wearing less make up, plus it keeps your base on for longer. There is a primer for almost every skin type from oily to dehydrated and the best part, they are undetectable.

What’s one make up technique you wish women would master?

I would love to see more women experiment with a bit more colour. Make up really is art and a great way to express your style and mood! A sweep of blue mascara can really brighten up the eyes. A bright pink or deep brown lipstick can add drama and interest to your look in a matter of seconds.

Photography: Napoleon Perdis, Forbes, Brit.Co

Beauty

The 5 non-negotiables of my skincare routine

29th March, 2016

I have to squeeze in quite a lot on most days as often I’ll have back to back commitments so I don’t have very much time to spend on my beauty routine. This is why I’ve now streamlined it to only the absolute essentials as I want to ensure that I get the most bang for my buck with as minimal time spent on skincare as possible. It has been a process of trial and error but I’ve found current non-negotiable aspects of my skincare routine are working in great harmony and has helped improve the condition of my skin. And as I’ve mentioned time and again I am all about great, luminous skin. These are the crucial elements of my routine:

A great diet with plenty of antioxidants

I believe great skin really does come from the inside so I always try to eat well. Lately I’ve been incorporating a lot of fruit into my diet especially blueberries which are packed with antioxidants and really beneficial to the skin. Figs and strawberries have also been in high rotation for me and they’re both packed with essential vitamins and minerals not just for skin health but also general wellbeing.

Drinking plenty of water

It’s an oldie but a goodie that staying hydrated is important for great skin. I make sure to drink plenty of water each day (at a minimum the recommended eight glasses of water) as it helps to flush out toxins and in turn ensure my complexion is in tip top shape.

Applying sunscreen daily

I never ever leave the house without applying sunscreen first. I always apply a layer of sunscreen on my face before I put my makeup on as I want to minimise the damage the sun can cause and most importantly protect my skin from harmful UV rays.

Always removing makeup before bed

Clogged pores can lead to skin looking dull so I always make sure I cleanse thoroughly before bed and remove my makeup religiously. Even if I’ve had a late night, I make sure to wipe off all my makeup so my skin has time to breathe and rejuvenate itself overnight. Plus it can help keep breakouts at bay.

Assessing skincare regularly

I’ve begun to incorporate anti-ageing products into my skincare routine as I’ve started to notice changes to my skin such as fine lines around my eyes. I spoke about my new skincare obsessions here and they are still very much an integral part of my daily beauty regime. I massage the L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Laser X3 serum on my face and on my neck right before I apply the moisturiser and find that it has really helped target the signs of ageing on my skin, especially the fine lines around my eyes. I think it’s always important to reassess your skincare regularly to ensure that the products you’re using are addressing the biggest concerns you may have. After all a great skincare routine is one of the building blocks of an amazing complexion.

Photography: Mike Belkin

Beauty

The new skincare products I’m obsessed about

23rd March, 2016

The health of my skin has always been a crucial focal point of my beauty routine. I’ve always firmly believed that if you start with great skin as a base that you’ll always get a great result from your makeup so its maintenance has always been important to me. I admittedly encounter new beauty products all the time and while I’ll give some a go for a day or two it takes a lot for something to make it into my regular beauty regime. So I’d like to introduce you to my latest beauty obsession: the L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Laser x3 range.

I’ve incorporated the serum and day moisturiser into my daily skincare routine for awhile now and I’m really pleased with the results I’ve been seeing. I’ve been really focussed on tweaking my skincare routine to help minimise the signs of ageing so the Revitalift range has been great because it specifically targets fine lines. It’s also been clinically proven to challenge a laser session from a professional so it’s great for helping to resurface the skin without needing to pay a visit to a dermatologist. The moisturiser and serum are lightweight so it doesn’t feel too heavy on my skin and it has a really delicious scent which is always a nice bonus.

My skin has been feeling quite dehydrated of late so it really drank up the moisturiser and helped to combat the areas of dryness I had been experiencing. I usually get fine lines around my eyes so I made sure to focus on that particular area. I found the products to be really soothing and hydrating to my skin and it was really easy to incorporate it into my usual routine. I’d wash my face, apply the serum and then moisturise so it was really straightforward to use which is really important for me as I usually need to get out the door fast. My skin is looking and feeling great so it definitely ticks all the boxes for me.

Photography: Mike Belkin

Beauty

How to get your glow on: essentials for amazing skin

9th February, 2016

I’m all about healthy, glowing skin. I think that your makeup simply looks and sits better when you have a great canvas to work with from the start. I have a skincare routine that incorporates a few different elements and I’ve found the below combination works in harmony to help keep my complexion looking healthy.

1. Take makeup off before going to bed

I’m religious about taking my makeup off. I always do a thorough cleanse at the end of each day before I go to bed mostly because I like the feeling of having clean skin when I sleep but also because sleeping with makeup on can clog pores which in turn can cause my skin to break out.

2. Try to have regular skin treaments

I sometimes just need a more thorough skin overhaul than my usual cleansing, toning and moisturising routine can offer which is when a facial comes in. I book myself in for regular facials because it’s great for sloughing off dead skin cells which in turn can help reveal the healthier skin underneath. Healthier skin = healthy glow. As I mentioned in this post, my favourite treatment before a big event is a blueberry facial which does wonders for my skin.

3. Hydrate your skin

I have really dry skin so I love using facial oils. My go-to is the above SK-II Facial Treatment Oil which is so hydrating it feels like a big gulp of water for my skin. I use oils at night as I like to have really hydrated skin when I go to bed as I find I wake up the next morning with a much better complexion. However it’s also great for wearing under makeup when I want my skin to have a dewy effect.

Facial oils are great for dry skin, however I recently learned that they’re also ideal for oily skin. It may sound counterintuitive to use an oil but when you strip your face of its natural oils by over cleansing your body will produce more oil to compensate. So the trick is to replenish your skin’s moisture with a facial oil as it locks it in much more effectively than a regular moisturiser. This will in turn help to balance your skin and avoid the over production of oil.

4. Drink plenty of water

It’s a given that drinking plenty of water is essential for healthy, glowing skin. It flushes out nasty toxins which in turn helps to improve your complexion.

5. Make sun protection a must

If there’s one thing that will stand in the way of you and a healthy glow it’s sun damaged skin. This is why it’s important to make sunscreen a part of your daily skincare routine. I make sure I always apply sunscreen before I leave the house everyday. I apply it under my makeup and ensure I stick to this routine religiously.

Beauty

My day to night skincare routine

26th January, 2015

Over the years I’ve managed to get my skincare products down to a very tight edit. I make the effort to really look after my skin but I also don’t have all the time in the world to apply a million and one products. I’ve found these skincare products really work for me and so far I’ve found it keeps my skin in great condition and I also don’t have to spend hours on my routine.

I always cleanse my skin twice a day. I use Cosmedix Benefit Clean Gentle Cleanser in the shower in the morning, then I use it at night before I go to bed. I always get all my makeup off before I cleanse and I normally just use a makeup wipe or a makeup remover from MAC or Napoleon. I cleanse twice – once to get all the makeup off and a second time just to clean my face.

In the morning I use a moisturiser called Dermaquest Stem Cell 3D. It has the added bonus of having an SPF for extra skin protection. Plus it’s tinted so if I don’t need much coverage I just use it on its own.

At night I skip the moisturiser and use an Aspect face serum instead as I find it’s really nourishing. After I moisturise I apply an eye cream. I’m all about an eye cream! I think it’s really important to get into the habit of applying one as the skin around your eyes doesn’t get much moisture so it’s important to apply an eye cream to hydrate the area. I do this before I go to bed.

Occasionally I’ll apply an Cosmedix exfoliating mask to give my skin a more thorough cleanse and get rid of any dead skin. And I always moisturise my body with Nivea skin lotion. And that’s it – nice and simple!

What are your favourite skincare products?

Photography: Tamika Keioskie

Beauty

How to get the perfect summer glow

23rd December, 2014

What’s the key to an “I just spent the summer in the Greek Islands” summer glow? Founder and CEO of ModelCo, Shelley Barrett shares her top tips on getting the kind of skin that will have people asking you if you just came back from an exotic tropical holiday.

Exfoliate regularly – “As skin cells build up, they will start to diffuse light and in turn, dull the surface of the skin. Regular exfoliation will gently whisk dead skin cells away to reveal the fresh, smooth skin below.”

Embrace oils – “I love applying ModelCo Rosehip Luxury Facial Oil. This skin-quenching elixir is packed with the hydrating, firming and brightening ingredients.”

Give your skin a boost – “ModelCo has literally bottled the secret to an instant glow with our new ModelCo Instant Miracle Booster Serum. This wonder serum is formulated with a healthy dose of Vitamin C, renowned for its skin brightening properties and has the ability to magically transform a flat and dull complexion in a flash.”

Light up – “Using an illuminator will help you achieve a dewy glow, and ultimately leave you with a brighter complexion. I apply it lightly down the centre of my nose, on my cupid’s bow and of course, to top off my cheekbones.“

Fake a glow – “A self-tan will not only lift your overall glow but your mood too. When it comes to fake tan I find the first thirty minutes after you shower is the best time to get your glow on. When the skin is clean and starting to cool it’s at its best to react with the tanning agent, as well as being super absorbent and soft.

Exfoliation is the key to getting a smooth, “I-can’t-believe-it’s-fake-tan” finish. I use ModelCo Tan Remover, an exfoliating scrub that smooths skin and removes old tan for the best bronze application.

Over application or uneven application is unsightly – use a fast working tan remover immediately to correct mistakes! A tan remover helps to remove self-tan mistakes when applied directly after the initial tanning process – perfect for when you get it on your palms!”

What are some of your tips for getting the great summer skin?

Beauty

Beauty profile: Natalie Imbruglia

26th November, 2014

Sitting down to chat beauty with Natalie Imbruglia is like swapping beauty tips with a really good girlfriend – you’ll walk away wanting to try everything she recommends! Not only did Natalie reveal her top beauty tips during our recent chat, she also let us sneak a peek inside her Chanel bag to find out what beauty products she actually carries around with her…

Her top beauty tips…

“Drink lots of water”.
“This is a tough one sometimes but make sure to cleanse your face at night and always take off your makeup. I know that sounds really obvious but so many people don’t do it.”
“You don’t necessarily have to wear a foundation these days. With tinted moisturiser you’re getting a really good SPF and a lighter coverage.”
“Remember that less is more.”

Her fave product from her new anti-ageing skincare line, Iluka…

“The Pearl Illuminator. It’s actually got crushed pearls in it. Some people like it under their makeup as a primer which you definitely can do, but if you don’t like being that luminous you can just put it on your cheekbones. And crushed pearls are great for problem skin which I have. Everything in my range is really good if you get acne and things like that because I have to be really careful with what I use.”

Her makeup faves…

“I’ve got a really nice Chanel Rouge Coco lipstick. It’s the colour of your lip but a bit enhanced. And Laura Mercier peach rouge which has got the consistency of a thick lipstick. It looks like the makeup is coming from under your skin and not just sitting on top. I also use an Iluka lip conditioning treatment.”

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