When I go on holidays I don't wear make up 95% of the time. I'd like to say it's because it's good to let the skin breathe ( it is ) but frankly, I just can't be bothered. Holidays should be all about being lazy so when I finally find myself on vacay being leisurely becomes my forte. I struggle to apply sunscreen that is next to me in a bag because stretching my arm out and reaching in for a rummage just seems SO HARD, so in extension putting on make up to make myself pretty just appears insurmountable like attempting to climb mount Everest in heels.
Still, here and there I DO make the effort, mostly because I'm going to a nice restaurant or meeting people so it's polite to hide the fact I turn into a salt encrusted wildebeest when I'm not working.
I have additionally now started condensing my packing because hopping through a lot of different countries with a lot of luggage is a major pain in the behind, one that my boyfriend no longer chooses to indulge me in carrying, so lacking a mule, I have given up on my hefty make up bag and now bring compact yet versatile essentials. All I need is just a few fantastically efficient things to accentuate the glow and bring back a semblance of polish. Who wants to look like they spent 2 hours getting ready post swimming anyway?
Clockwise From Top :
1.Mukti hydrating cleansing lotion and moisturiser: I'm a sucker for natural skincare and this one comes in small travel packages and smells delicious. Starting off clean and soft is always a good start,
2. Charlotte Tilbury lipstick in Electric Poppy :I put some of this on my finger, than dab it onto my lips. It adds a nice pink bitten lip colour without going overboard but if I'm going out to a bar, I'll add a bit more for drama
3. Clinique Beyond Perfecting powder foundation + concealer : This foundation is easily transportable and provides great coverage. A little goes a long way so I use it around the eyes, nose and chin, like concealer and then leave the rest of the face bare. After all, tan makes my skin glow and I don't want to mask that
4. Clinique Chubby Stick Sculpting Contour Curvy Contour and Highlighter in Super Starlight : What can I say? Whoever said contouring is dead obviously doesn't know what they're talking about. What should be clarified is that Kim Kardashian contouring is dead ( Why was it ever alive? Who wants to look like a wax doll IRL? ). Cheekbones will always be in fashion but they don't need some crazy amount of layered make up. Just make a light stripe with the contouring stick underneath the cheekbone and intermittedly tops of temples and the jawbone then quickly blend. Apply highlighter to the tops of cheekbones, nose, cupid's bow and chin. Blend. Follow with...
5. Estēe Lauder Genuine Glow: on cheekbones. Blend. The whole contouring and blush applying shouldn't take longer than 3 minutes. This is holiday make up, not TV make up guys. Let that skin shine through. FYI - This product is also great on lips for a natural , pink colour
6. Eyebrows are SO important. I always say; if you have to apply anything, it should be eyebrow pencil instead of mascara. I love Shu Uemura for it's slanted tip and nice brush tip
7. If I'm going out though, I do put mascara on. I layer it on according to how glam I want to look. I love the amazing Growth Booster Mascara Terribly by By Terry
8. Charlotte Tilbury does my favourite eyeshadows. The Legendary Muse compact is natural and sparkly; perfect for highlighting the inside of the eye and drawing attention to the face's glow. I don't like heavy eye make up on holidays so this is perfect
10. A spritz of Frederic Malle's Carlos Benaiim Eau de Magnolia makes me smell like a bloom of magnolias and like magic the wildebeest becomes a real girl! ( perfume from Mecca cosmetica )
Wearing Double Rainbuu T-shirt , From St Xavier bag
Make up is a special weapon us women have in our arsenal to keep ourselves looking fresh ( men were blessed with facial hair to cover their imperfections) but this coup can quickly become a curse when it becomes a tedious, time sucking routine . It took me a long time over my long modelling career to work out what make up works, what doesn’t and in which order, but now, I have this daily ritual down to 10 minutes flat - which is always a blessing when all you want to do is savour your morning coffee a little longer before rushing to work.
Step 1: Apply Hourglass Veil primer over moisturiser -this luxe,mattyfying primer will help foundation glide on easier and keep it on for longer -use it sparingly for best results. Lightly dot multi performing Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk foundation on the face, then rub in with your fingertips. The warmth of fingers will help blend the foundation seamlessly into the skin.
Step2 : Fill in eyebrows with Anastasia’s Perfect Brow pencil then brush out with the brush attachment for a natural look. Doing this first frames the face and lets you easily identify the high and low points you would like to highlight in the next step. I have fair eyebrows, so filling in all those light hairs really helps me find my features!
Step3 : It’s all about reverse contouring! I find this is the most natural way to highlight/lowlight a face. Simply apply YSL Touche Eclait to the bridge of your nose, chin, under the eyes , under the arches of the eyebrows and just above the cupid’s bow to gently highlight these areas, erase dark circles, smooth lines and make the lips appear more plump. Finish off with a super light dusting of gorgeous, light Ilia translucent powder.
Step 4. Curl eyelashes and apply lenghtening mascara such as Giorgio Armani ‘s Eyes To Kill. Take an eyeshadow shortcut by using Clinique’s eyeshadow chubbies in Lots o' latte to the eye sockets, then add a little of the lighter shaded Ample Amber just above it. Blend until edges are softened.
Step5. With a soft wide brush such as all vegan Eco tools , swipe a light dusting of Natio bronzer in Sunswept just under the cheekbones, temples , hairline and jawline for added lowlights. Follow up with a little bit of Nars blush in Deep Throat on the tops of cheekbones for a healthy, rosy glow.
Step6. Apply a lipstick like Tom Ford’s lipstick in Blush Nude or a grown up lipgloss such as Dior’s lip plumping Lip Glow Colour Reviver Balm and voilá!
Tools of the trade: (clockwise from left) Nars bronzer in Sunswept, Ilia translucent powder, Giorgio Armani Eyes To Kill Mascara, YSL Touche Eclait, Anastasia Perfect Brow eyebrow pencil, Eco Tools brush, Clinique eyeshadow chubbies in Lots o’latte and Whopping Willow, Tom Ford lipstick in Blush Nude, Dior’s Glow Colour Reviver Balm, Nars’ cheek colour in Deep Throat, Hourglass Veil mineral primer and Georgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation
Wearing: Uniqlo x Ines de la Fressange shirt , Tiffany & Co necklace and Cartier bracelet
Photographed by Kasia Werstak
It’s that time of the year again! You know, the one where we attend multiple Christmas parties, defriend our livers, spend weekends lying on the beach with friends dreaming of endless holidays, stepping up exercise because: beach bod, trying to make every meal on the BBQ because who has the time to clean the stove and generally feeling festive enough to think that midnight is the new 9pm. I am not immune to any of these predilections but I do have my little needs come party season.Hereforth are my top picks of covetable party season essentials.
1. Clinique Even Better Foundation: All those late nights = uneven skintone, discolouration and general un-glowiness. This foundation will deliver dewy, even , light coverage whilst correcting minor flaws and pigmentation .Bonus: the SPF15 protects the skin from further discoloration and sun’s damaging rays.
2. Giuseppe Zanotti heels – Um, it’s Zanotti, snakeskin & gold. Enough said. (from Miss Louise )
3. Givenchy sunglasses: because they are dark, cool and make everything better. So much need for these come the morning after.
4. Bollinger champagne : "I drink champagne when I'm happy and when I'm sad. Sometimes I drink it when I'm alone. When I have company I consider it obligatory. I trifle with it if I'm not hungry and drink it when I am. Otherwise I never touch it - unless I'm thirsty” – Lilly Bollinger. This quote may be borderline alcoholic but Bolli is still the best.
5. Bottega Veneta Knot perfume : with top notes of clementine, mandarin, lime, neroli and orange blossom and heart notes of peony , white rose and lavender this perfume screams summer sophistication.
6. Louis Vuitton Vivienne bag: Classic bag with an awesome gold logo and beautiful chain. An investment that will pay handsome cost per wear dividents
7. Topshop gold skirt: 80s rock n’roll never goes out of fashion and is always par-tay ready.
8. Amber Sceats ear cuff, earrings and ring: Because : bling!
9. Ford + Harris gold cuff: Resembling a thorny vine, this goldtastic cuff will meet all your goldtone matching needs.
10. Clinique’s Long Lasting lipstick in Runaway Coral: pigment, comfort, moisturising and long lasting? Yes it can. Seriously good lipstick in a seriously great summer shade!
