AM to PM Beauty – E.L.V. Denim’s Anna Foster

COMPILED BY: OLIVIA MORRIS

AM TO PM BEAUTY

Anna Foster, founder of E.L.V. DENIM – the only denim brand globally to use 100 per cent upcycled denim – talks us through her sustainable beauty routine

Talk us through your morning routine. I wake up and have a cup of hot water. I used to have lemon in there, but my dentist explained that the acid damages the enamel so now it’s plain, but I love how cleansing it is. I then have a mad 30 minutes getting the kids ready for school, and then I have 15 minutes to get ready. I use the Dr. Barbara Sturm Body Brush to briskly exfoliate my body before I shower. Then I double cleanse with Botane Whipped cleanser, apply Triple Level Hyaluronic Serum by Irene Forte followed by Botane Peptide Cream and my essential Elequra Eye Architecture. I use Ameliorate Transforming Body lotion which has literally transformed my skin! And how about your evening routine? As soon as I get in from work, I double cleanse again and use the Trinity facial toning device by NuFace. For me cleansing the day away instantly allows the products to work for the maximum time possible. Then I apply Albiva Advanced repair brightening serum followed by Macrene Actives High-performance cream and of course my Elequra eye cream. What are your go-to skincare products? I am completely guided by my friends who are experts in this space. My guru is Andrea Pfeffer who is launching Salon C Stella in April and she introduced me to Botane and Elequara. I more recently was introduced to Jessica from Shen Beauty in Brooklyn, who has completely got me hooked on Irene Forte Skincare. All ingredients are grown on their own land from Rocco de Forte Hotels, all packaging both primary and secondary (glass made in Italy, boxes made in Italy from recycled materials) are sustainable, and they are manufactured in

Clockwise from top left: Whipped Cleanser Dhs250 Botane; Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturiser SPF30 Dhs145 BareMinerals; Gypsy Cowboy Eau de Parfum Dhs672 St. Rose; ECM Advanced Repair Brightening Serum 30ml Dhs971 Albiva; Eye Love You Mascara Dhs270 Westman Atelier; Trinity Facial Toning Device Dhs1,500 NuFace available at namshi.ae

IMAGES: SUPPLIED Italy. So it is not just the ingredients that have no carbon footprint, and not to mention she has just undergone clinical testing on all products and has repackaged to make them all refillable. Are you a fan of masks? Yes – I love them! But I avoid disposable sheet masks, only using masks in a jar – Masquerase by Synergie who is a clean science brand or Esse cream mask. How would you describe your approach to makeup? Pretty natural and I prefer to just use skin enhancers. My favourite is the Vital skin foundation stick by Gucci Westman and I also use her mascara. What can always be found in your makeup bag? Bare Minerals tinted SPF30 – I was completely ignorant of how essential this is for your skin, even in the winter. But I am now committed. Let’s talk fragrance. What are you loving at the moment? I am obsessed with Gypsy Cowboy by St. Rose. The founder Belinda uses an upcycled rose concentrate which is the process of extracting olfactive components from once distilled petals rather than merely discarding them. Just to put this into context, it takes 4,500kg of fresh petals to make 1g of essential oil. How do you choose your evening fragrance? I am afraid I am a one fragrance girl – complete loyalty. Talk us through your hair routine. I only use Rahua, which is completely non-toxic, clean formulas and they sell refills. What is the most unusual item in your makeup bag? Perhaps Origins Original Skin pore perfecting cooling primer with Willowherb – the cold primer tightens pores. I love it!