ELLE.COM/UK September 2O19Photography: Lucky If Sharp.246
ELLEBeauty
But what I’ve also learned is that there are some beauty truths and rules
that rarely get passed down. These are the things the cognoscenti keep
to themselves... and which, for the first time, I’m breaking rank to share
with you. Most will surprise you, some may even shock. But each one
has been gleaned by listening to fellow beauty editors, interviewing
the world’s best dermatologists and make-up artists, time spent with
celebrities, and earwigging of the most stylish women. So here they
are. My gifts to you. These things work. They’ll stick by you. They are true
classics. And what could be more fashionable than that?
Parisian women have beauty nailed.The major beauty companies
are in Paris, which means much of my job is spent getting up close and
personal withles filles françaises. How do they do that insouciant cool
thing so well? Easy. Parisian women don’t use conditioner – it makes
hair too sleek. Instead, they prefer thatbelle du jourfluffiness. They also
live by the rule of one – meaning just a single standout make-up moment
on your face at any one time: a red lip with bare skin, or a smoky eye
against naked cheeks and lips. As for scent... they
simply spritz into mid-air, then ‘walk ’ through their
favourite fragrance to create a devastating ‘trail’.
Stock up abroad.Beauty editors have spent
the past two decades telling you to stock up in
French pharmacies, but stop short of telling
you what exactly to buy. Here’s the lowdown.
Get Homeoplasmine – it’s a waxy balm that
works a dream on stubborn dry patches. And
there isn’t a make-up artist in town who doesn’t
fill their bags with Embryolisse face creams.My love affair with beautybegan in a
small bedroom in a southwest London
semi. Every month, this very magazine
would drop through my letterbox and
the faces of the supermodels of the
day – Naomi, Cindy, Claudia, Yasmin
and Helena – would stare back at
me, their make-up almost as perfect
as their genes. I plastered every inch
of my teenage wall with those covers- but not before I’d noted down every lipstick, liner and base worn.
And so beauty became my obsession. I interned at countless glossy
magazines, and saw first-hand the mythical beauty cupboards filled with
row upon row of perfumes, creams and every other unguent you can
imagine. The role of beauty editor was to test every one. No interrogation
was too extreme (it’s common practice to use a different cream on every
limb, while splitting your face down the middle to
trial two differently priced serums). If it didn’t work,
it didn’t go in the magazine. Simple as.
So, two decades, five magazine titles and
thousands of product launches later, here I am.
And what have I learned? A lot. I can tell you
the best money you’ll ever spend is on a good
haircut. That micellar water is basically toner...
And if you skip any step from your routine,
make it that. I have tested every texture of blusher,
andnothingis as flattering as Nars Orgasm Blush.
17 YE ARS as a beauty
ed i to r. 2,O O O A RT ICL ES
written. 1O, O O O
PRODUC TS tested –
the untold truth about the
modern beauty industry
“ DON’T SPEND
your MONEY
ON SKINCARE,
SPEND IT on SPF:
8O% OF AGEING
IS CAUSED
BY THE SUN ”