Crown Jewels

Inspired by international SS13/14 opulent tones and fabric finishes, ghd has released their new Jewel Collection: limited edition designs of the ghd V gold classic styler, which comes with a jewel tone ghd paddle brush, and the ghd air hairdryer, in rich metallic finishes. 

Inspired by opulent tones and fabric finishes, the deep metallic trimmings of the ghd Jewel Collection feature vibrant season hues of striking blue sapphire and alluring purple amethyst. 

The ghd Jewel Collection is available from approved ghd salons and www.ghdhair.com/au from mid June.

Stunning Campaign Shots Released for ghd eclipse Styler

The world-renowned British hair stylist, who regularly styles hair for Kate Moss, has teamed up with the revolutionary hair giant as global creative director. McKnight makes his debut for ghd as Global Creative Director in a campaign shot by Rankin that will officially launch its most innovative product in over a decade – ghd eclipse.

McKnight created the hair for the campaign – featuring an evolution of texture through five absolutely stunning images of one model and a short creative film – as his debut for ghd in his new role of Global Creative Director.

The five hair looks were all created using ghd eclipse, demonstrating how it can take on any styling challenge on any hair type. The first phase of the campaign features Dutch-born model Milou Sluis, who effortlessly encapsulates the ghd brand mantra of ‘a good hair day, every day’.

ghd eclipse™ is available from approved ghd salons. RRP $350

Cate Blanchett for Giorgio Armani

Actress Cate Blanchett looked incredible at her first offical appearance as the face of Giorgio Armani’s new fragrance, SI. The new scent was presented to more than 150 journalists from around the world at Armani HQ in Milan.

“SI is my tribute to modern femininity – an irresistible combination of grace, strength and independence of spirit,” said Armani of his new scent.

Blanchett made her relationship with the brand official back in April 2013, signing on to be the face of the brand’s new women’s fragrance. The whopping $10.4 million deal is only her second major beauty endorsement, after SKII back in 2004, which goes to show that being picky certainly pays off.

Timeless Beauty

image from newfashsite.com

There is so much pressure these days to look youthful. 50 year olds can look 40, 40 year olds can look 30, and celebrities just don’t seem to age at all! In a culture where youth and beauty are valued so highly, the rules of the game are changing: we’re getting wise to father time. We’re choosing to stop the clock in its tracks rather than wait to turn back the years. I sat down with Dr Theron from Clinic 42 to talk about Botox: what is it, is it safe and what’s the most effective way to use it?

What is Botox?

• It’s a simple non-surgical procedure that can dramatically reduce your wrinkles within days.
• It’s is a natural, highly purified protein that is extracted from the bacteria, Clostridium Botulinum (similar to how we get penicillin from mould)
• It’s appropriate for all ages for the long term treatment and prevention of facial wrinkles.
• It is the number one cosmetic procedure in the world today

How does it work?

• Wrinkles occur over time from over used or repeated facial expressions (e.g. frowning)
• Botox relaxes specific muscles so that you can’t make that expression so deeply (or at all depending on your preference)
• Lines are smoothed out and new lines are stopped in their tracks
• Particularly effective when used as a preventative, as the lines will never form in the first place

image from hudabeauty.com

Have you seen an increase in younger generations using Botox?

Younger people are definitely getting wise to the benefit of preventing the signs of aging vs reversing them. It’s simply becoming a part of our zeitgeist, like smart phones or getting your hair coloured. More and more people are jumping on the bandwagon and very soon the ones who have neglected their skin will be the ones who stand out. When you prevent lines from forming early on, you need less product less often and the results are more effective. However, in saying that, Botox is a very effective treatment for people of all ages.

How long does it last?

After the treatment it takes a few days to start observing the results, after which the effects will last between four and six months. Treatment takes about 10-20 minutes and there is no down time after the treatment, you just need to be careful not to massage the skin for a few days after. To maintain results, about 2-3 visits per year is recommended.

Is it safe?

There have been no permanent side effects reported – any undesirable results are temporary and can usually be reversed. To be safe you want to make sure you visit a qualified practioner. At Clinic 42 we are all registered doctors who are fully trained in Botox and other appearance medicines, so we can suggest the best method of treatment for you, which may or may not include Botox.

For more information visit www.clinic42.co.nz

Beautiful Skin on The Great Gatsby

It’s been spawning beauty trends across the globe, but the stylized hair and make-up looks aren’t the only thing that has people talking about the soon-to-be-released The Great Gatsby.

The glowing soft, dewy skin is simply incredible, with the film’s make-up artists crediting Dermalogica as the secret behind the spotless complexions.

“Dermalogica was on my on-set essential for The Great Gatsby,” says make-up artist Diane Dusting. “Dermalogica helped me achieve the perfect afterglow for the actors filming the grand party scene in The Great Gatsby.”

Products used include used Demalogica’s Total Eye Care, UltraCalming Serum Concentrate, UltraCalming Mist and SkinPerfect Primer to create the glowing complexions.


I've recently started using Dermalogica in my own kit (Multivitamin Toner, ActiveMoist and SkinPerfect Primer) and I've noticed a huge difference in the final product. In any makeup the skin is usually my favourite feature as it can make or break the entire look. If you can create a perfect base, anything else you do will look so much better as well.

My Week

It’s been a full on week, with yummy treats, acrobatic shoots and thoughts of next summer!

Ruby & Liam Spring/Summer 2013 Preview

What do we have to look forward to next summer? Ruby promises Italian seaside inspiration with playful prints and nautical colours, as well as soft mints, lilacs and floral prints. Liam draws inspiration from Salman Rushdie’s novel Midnight’s Children, with lightweight silks and lace, eye-catching paisley jacquard and bold greens blues and purples. Set to arrive in stores mid-July. Visit www.rubynz.com

 

Little Bird Unbakery

This is an old favourite of mine and one I frequent a fair bit whenever I’m in Kingsland. Everything is raw, vegan, gluten free and free of refined sugar. They do great smoothies, inventive lunches and delicious cakes and slices. Eat in or takeaway. The lemon slice is a must.

Me with Kathryn Wilson (image courtesy of thread.co.nz)

Showroom 22 Spring/Summer Preview

I attended next season’s preview from the likes of I Love Ugly, Adidas, Glassons, Ingrid Starnes, Juliette Hogan, Kingan Jones, Kathryn Wilson and more. The makeup was really fresh and uncomplicated, with an emphasis on beautiful highlights. Hurry up summer!

 

Shoot for Chaos & Harmony

I was on hair & makeup for Chaos & Harmony’s Spring/Summer 2014 shoot, which took place at the Dust Palace (an amazing training space for trapeze and aerial artists). The shoes were stunning, of course, and between touch ups I even had a go on the ropes. www.chaosandharmony.co.nz

 

Golden Yogi

A new Yoga studio has just opened up on Barry’s Point Rd in Takapuna. with over 40 classes they offer 16 different styles of yoga from babies and teens, pregnancy, Yin, Vinyasa, Kundalini and much more. It’s a beautiful space to practice yoga and until Sunday all classes are the cost of a gold coin. Well worth a trip over the bridge. for class times visit www.goldenyogi.co.nz

School Ball Season

from Christian Louboutin Cinderella Collection

It’s nearing the end of May which means school ball season is upon us! If you haven’t already booked your makeup and hair appointments, now’s the time to do it. However, there’s also a few steps you should take care of before the big day.

Skin: Prep your skin by drinking lots of water, eating fresh foods and getting a good amount of exercise every day. Stay away from sugar as much as possible and start the day with a cup of hot water and lemon to cleanse your body.

Tan: If you plan to have a fake tan for your ball, it’s a good idea to test it out beforehand. A tan is relatively inexpensive and well worth it to prevent looking like a patchy orange in your photos (trust me, they last forever).

Hair: Book in a cut (and colour if you regularly get it coloured) 1-2 weeks before the ball to ensure it’s fresh but a little worn in. Also, keep up the conditioning! A great inexpensive product to use is coconut oil. Apply at night and focus on the lengths and the ends to keep them in great condition.

Now that you’re all prepped, let’s look at what you’ll need to have with you on the night to stay looking fresh:

• Gloss - it’s the easiest way to touch up your lips
• Hair Pins - just in case
• Powder - or blotting papers to remove shine
• Cotton Buds - great for touch ups

Have a great time at your school ball guys!