HELENE RAVLICH: NATURAL BEAUTY BB CREAMS AND TINTED MOISTURISERS – THE BEST, AND WHY THE BUZZ? THE FIRST TIME I SAW A FELLOW BEAUTY EDITOR sporting a BB cream – the biggest buzz in beauty right now - I have to say that I was a little horrified. It had given her a a ghostly appearance, and looked like a thick formula that needed several hours’ worth of working in. It certainly didn’t look like the “wonder” product that it had been made out to be, and I began to wonder if BB in fact stood for “beauty blunder”. The idea of a BB cream was right up my alley – a multitasker that gave a natural but still flawless finish – but in practice this one looked quite the opposite. The BB – AKA Blemish Balm - Cream craze began in Korea but has since hit Japan, China and the rest of the world over the past twelve months. BB Cream has been hailed as pretty much the end all of foundation, concealer, moisturiser, etc. as it’s a combined product that eliminates many products from your daily makeup routine, and not only simplifies foundation but also offers key ingredients that we all look for in makeup and skincare. They aren’t all created equal though, and I’ve viewed a lot of them with more than a little skepticism since my initial encounter. You can see why everyone is so excited about BB Creams, but they are not without their flaws. This put me off wanting to try one myself… that is until now. The moment that changed my mind was being sent Smashbox’s version - simply called Camera Ready BB Cream – which is pretty damn impressive. It doesn’t settle into fine lines or pores and is loaded with peptides, also banishing shine without giving your skin a chalky finish. The ultimate test was when I wore it through a spin class at Grey Lynn’s Re:ab, from which I emerged looking amazingly un-shiny – if a little sweaty from the neck down! If oiliness is your issue or humidity your clime, then I really recommend this as a great everyday cover. If you’re not ready to commit to a BB Cream then there is always the option of sporting its close cousin – the tinted moisturiser. Like the former not all are created equal, but
there are some amazing examples out there by some of my favourite brands. A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to spend a morning with New York-based NARS artist Janice Daoud at Mecca Cosmetica, and what a wonderful morning it was! Janice has been with the company for five years, and in that time has racked up some pretty glamorous time in the trenches working behind the scenes at New York Fashion Week on shows like Thakoon, Marc Jacobs and Rodarte, and most recently at Paris Couture Week and backstage at the Oscars. The first thing she talked about was NARS’ first tinted moisturiser called Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser. Francois Nars has always said that skin should shine through your makeup, and this beauty is all about beautiful, clean skin. “Your skin – almost bare, but better”, is its tagline, which sounds right up my alley. The advanced, oil-free formula provides a translucent veil of colour and sun protection while also helping to reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation and dark spots in just four weeks – impressive stuff. Infused with lush, naturally derived botanicals to immediately help thirsty skin feel hydrated, its ingredients include Kopara from French Polynesia and mineral rich seawater to “revive and re-mineralize skin for a softer, smoother, and brighter natural glow”. Janice told me for subtle coverage, “always emulsify it in your hand before blending it along cheekbones, then swipe a bit down the nose and along the top of the forehead. This will even tone while keeping things light and sheer.” She clearly stands by its ability to make you look pretty damn fabulous, even using it on the likes of Rose Byrne and Gwyneth Paltrow in place of foundation at the Oscars. It is best when pressed in as opposed to rubbed, and it’s also buildable, which is rare for a tinted moisturizer. So there you have it – two new releases that are well worth a try, especially if you’re in the market to ditch that foundation (HELENE RAVLICH) PN
SLICED... just a place for a healthy smoothie on Richmond Road.
102 PONSONBY NEWS+ May 2012
PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)