There are five beauty tips I swear by and have stuck to for most of my adult life. From not sleeping with makeup on, to a daily dose of SPF, moisturising from head to toe, and how rocking a red lip can instantly lift your spirits. Here are the ultimate beauty tips, and the products I swear by says editor Trudi Brewer.
Sunscreen is everything
Growing up, my mum was a sun worshiper for decades. In the '80s and '90s, a golden tan was the pinnacle of youth and beauty, and she would often say, 'Get outside and get some colour on that skin." After a trip to Auckland dermatologist Dr Fergus Oliver in the late '80s for acne medication, I learned my most valuable beauty lesson. "You can preserve your skin and ward off signs of ageing if you wear sunscreen every day," said Oliver. Pointing this advice directly at me while looking at my tanned complexion. He stated. Every tan leaves a scar. The learnings. Sunlight has various wavelengths of ultraviolet radiation that lead to wrinkling, freckling, loss of tone and elasticity in the skin, and direct damage to your skin's DNA that can contribute to skin cancer. Therefore, sunscreen (which directly blocks harmful UV rays)nothing under an SPF15 on your face, chest and neck, (all exposed areas) is the final product you should apply to your skin before stepping outside. Thanks, mum.
The SPF I am using right now
Avène Sunscreen Emulsion Face SPF50+, $32.
If you suffer from breakout or have sensitive skin this photo stable, silicone-free, water-resistant, SPF 50 + not only works overtime to keep your complexion protected it contains soothing thermal spring water, and leaves a slight matte dry-to-touch finish on the skin.
ENVIRON Rad Shield Mineral Sunscreen, $93.
For those who want a pure mineral screen, the zinc oxide and titanium dioxide blend, with skin-loving antioxidants, offers both UVA and UVB protection under the sun. The texture is lightweight, and the finish transparent, it’s ideal under makeup and over your daily moisturiser.
Never go to bed with makeup on
Regardless of the time, I stumbling home after the bar or how desperately I needed sleep after a busy day with kids and work. Cleansing my skin is the cornerstone of my beauty routine. So why do I hear you ask? Leaving your makeup on overnight has both immediate and long-term consequences: It causes your skin cells to build up and your pores to clog, causing breakouts and a dull-looking complexion.
That buildup on your complexion prevents the serums or moisturisers you apply from penetrating the skin to do the job of hydrating it. So long term, your face looks dry, wrinkled, with an uneven texture. Also, nothing beats the feeling of clean skin; makeup glides on better and stays put longer.
The cleansers I use daily
PURE FIJI COCONUT CLEANSER, $50.
To say I was obsessed with this fruit acid-based cleanser would be an understatement. It lifts every scrap of makeup from your face with its delicious coconut, macadamia and moringa oil formulation, and gently exfoliates thanks to the papaya extract. Prepare to be addicted - I am hooked.
Sebamed Facial Cleanser, $18.
If you skip cleansing because this ritual leaves your skin feeling tight and dry, don’t. Try this hard-working cleanser that keeps your skin’s pH balanced and happy, and ultra clean. We love the ease and speed this cleanser offers and would not be without it.
Moisturise, Moisturise, Moisturise
I grew up enamoured by the collection of jars mum kept in her bathroom and the smell of her Nivea cream when she kissed me good night. Watching her daily ritual of rubbing cream onto her face or using baby oil on her legs every morning was my first glimpse into the beauty rituals of womanhood, which have stuck with me to this day. Her motto: Moisturise every day from your face to your feet, skincare should not stop at your neck - and she was right. For anyone with dry, dehydrated skin, there is nothing like slathering on a rich oil-based cream or the same can be said for those who are you're prone to breakouts, a soothing, mattifying gel.
The take-home here: moisturise your face and body every day. Keeping your skin hydrated is not just a nostalgic ritual; it works.
The moisturiser I am hooked on right now
Shiseido Vital Perfection Uplifting and Firming Cream 50ml, $189.
It nourishes and protects the skin both day or night. Deliciously rich, it’s a multi-use cream with clever technology, including lifting ‘KURENAI-TruLift Complex™ and firming ReNeura Technology++™, along with olive root, tea, and angelica root extracts, together they give skin an enviable glow.
The Ordinary Natural Moisturizing Factors + HA, $17.
Stacked with multiple skin-loving ingredients including 11 amino acids, ceramides, and hyaluronic acid hence the HA. Fragrance-free, thick and fluffy from the tube, it melts into the skin in seconds. Cost effective, it’s a great beauty buy.
Red lippy makes everything feel better
There is such a thing as the lipstick index. That term, coined by Leonard Lauder, Chairman of Estée Lauder, during the 2001 recession, claimed that lipstick sales were an economic indicator of an economy's health. Maybe not in this current pandemic when we are all wearing masks, but there is no doubt of the feel-good factor; add a swipe of bright lipstick to your face before heading out the door will give any woman - even under your mask. Synonymous with power and strength, specifically during the Suffragettes movement, today, wearing a red lippy is doing more than boosting your confidence; you're displaying a symbol of power embedded in the history of women's rights. Oh, and bonus: a blue, red lipstick does make your teeth look whiter.
MAC Lipstick in Ruby Woo, $35.
My go-to when it comes to vivid blue-red lipstick. This colour was gifted to me on the evening MAC launched in NZ (22 years ago), and since then, this retro-matte formula holds a special place in my makeup bag.
Napoleon Perdis Double Duty Infusion Lip Oil, $39.
On those days when I want just a hint of red on my lips, I adore this oil-based, lip gloss formula. It nourishes my lips while offering unrivalled shine, and every time I wear it the complements flow.
Leave a lasting scent impression
A fragrance is that invisible impression you leave on those around you. But where you put perfume matters. Spritzed onto bare, well-moisturised skin is best; this will help lock in the scent and where the idea of fragrance layering comes in, of applying fragrance after body lotion. Also, lightly mist your hair, so the air helps diffuse the scent around you and others as you move.
GIVENCHY Irresistible EDP, 50ML, $177.
It’s warm and creamy thanks to rose Damascena, and tart blackcurrant (a vibrant addition), but it’s the woody Virginia cedar that makes it comforting, and creamy, with a tangy bite. Right now it’s the comforting fragrance I need to keep my spirits high.
Dolce & Gabbana Velvet Mughetto, 50ml, $295.
I have been stopped in the street when wearing this ultra-fresh floral. The blend of Italian bergamot, black currant and spicy pink pepper, is heightened by the spring-like, sweet Lily of the valley, #love.
This Winter.