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subscribe to beauty counter blog via RSSKasia Struss: Brunette, and “Loving It”
February 12, 2012 10:28 pm
If you ever managed to get your mind off the exceptional outerwear at Altuzarra (the coat in look 23 is the first thing we’re truly coveting this season), you may have noticed that Kasia Struss closed the show—and that she’s still a brunette. As a card-carrying member of the “Balenciaga blondes,” the group of girls that Guido Palau dyed platinum three seasons ago for Nicolas Ghesquière’s Spring 2010 show, Palau took Struss dark in Paris last March, and she’s been dark ever since. “I’m keeping it. I’m loving it,” she told us backstage last night. “It’s more me. I feel more comfortable and more like myself in this color.” While Struss admits that her formerly signature cornsilk, white-flaxen strands were great for editorials, the color was less conducive to “normal life.” “It made me look washed out. I needed makeup to feel pretty with that hair. But with this, it’s always good.” Her current shade of brown is more auburn than the deep chestnut-y hue Palau gave her for Spring, which is thanks to her New York-based colorists Lena Ott from Ion Studio. “It’s a little more red, a little closer to my natural color,” the Polish stunner told us, breaking down her maintenance mantra, which includes color-safe shampoo and conditioner from Kerastase and her secret weapon: Moroccanoil. “I put it in the ends. I really recommend it!”
tags: Altuzarra, Guido Palau, Hair, ION Studio, Kasia Struss, Lena Ott
Talking “Hair Fairies” With One Of Fashion’s Original Curly Girls
February 12, 2012 6:42 pm
It was hard to miss Gisele at Alexander Wang yesterday, what with the cavalcade of photographers that followed her around as she moved from hair to makeup to dressing room. But another supe walked among those of us backstage at Pier 94, albeit one that was considerably more difficult to recognize. A straight-haired Shalom Harlow sat in face painter Diane Kendal’s chair but without her signature ringlets; we had to do a double take before making a positive ID. Harlow felt just as anonymous with her freshly blown-out strands. “I do not to both,” she said of straight versus texturized styles. “I prefer the way that God made me, which is curly.” Turns out the statuesque brunette whose cheekbones are truly something to behold in person has plenty to say on the subject. “Being a curly-haired girl is kind of like trying to learn how to tame a hurricane—it’s a force of nature,” Harlow joked of learning how to manage her mane. “I have a whole thing that I do, but it took me 20 years to figure it out. Now I know I should only wash my hair once a week, which, to some people who have straight, limp, oily hair, may sound disgusting, but that’s all my hair needs.” A devotee of Chaz Dean’s line of WEN cleansing conditioners and a seaweed-based shampoo she picked up at Serge Nromant’s salon in L.A, Harlow cites hair masks as her big curly-girl staple. “It’s a total must. I’d like to say I do it once a week, but that’s kind of a lie. I probably do it twice a month.” (She like Normant’s Meta Morphosis Hair Repair Treatment.)
Otherwise, the catwalking legend revealed that she never, ever diffuses—”I bought myself one of those hair salon three-pronged infrared heat lamps. It sits in the corner of my room. It sort of looks like a lamp and kinda goes unnoticed”—and she always believes in the “hair fairies.” “A lot of curly-haired girls are too afraid to brush their hair, but I find that if I brush my hair at night, then the next morning, it gets a little bed-tousled—like freshly fucked hair.”
While Alexander Wang will be Harlow’s one and only NYFW appearance (”I couldn’t refuse an invitation from [him]. I like his approach to femininity. I feel like he would dress Athena,” she gushed about the designer), Shalom did let us in on another little surprise she’s got in store for the season: “You will see me in Europe.” We sure will.
tags: Alexander Wang, Hair, Shalom Harlow
Cara Delevingne Takes Manhattan
February 11, 2012 9:38 pm
Since signing on as the face of Burberry a few seasons ago Cara Delevingne has gone from Poppy’s little sister to the girl with the mega brows—in our book at least. Delevingne opened Christopher Bailey’s Spring show in London in a world exclusive for Burberry, but that was last season. And, well, this is this season. After turning up on the Chanel couture runway in January, the 19 year old Brit has officially crossed the pond and is getting ready for a Fall coming out party. “This is my first time in New York. I haven’t done any other seasons ever,” she effused at Rag & Bone after making a runway turn earlier in the day at Jason Wu. “Im so happy to be here—I’ll be doing Paris and Milan, too,” Delevingne explained—after her Burberry exclusive in London, of course. As makeup artist Gucci Westman touched her up last night, we asked Delevingne what she brought with her from home to help keep her complexion in shape for the long road of shows ahead. “I’ve never been very good at taking care of my skin,” she insisted (although her radiant, completely blemish free face suggested otherwise). “I just use Simple Face Wipes and Skinceuticals serum,” she told us. “And my eyebrow gel. I need a shit load of that! I either use MAC or Anastasia—the clear one. I don’t need any more dark in my eyebrows.” Look out for more of Cara and her enviable arches at Carolina Herrera and Derek Lam this week.
tags: Cara Delevingne, Carolina Herrera, Derek Lam, Jason Wu, Rag & Bone, Skincare
Jam Session
February 11, 2012 2:36 pm
One thing that we particularly look forward to when a new season of backstage reporting comes around is the opportunity to discover the bounty of new products that the hair, makeup, and nail teams tote around with them to each show. More often then not, it’s an opportunity to get a first look at seasonal collections that won’t hit shelves for six months after they make their fashion week debut. But every once in a while, we get introduced to industry secrets that have long been styling and face-painting staples on shoots and sets. February 10, 2012, will go down as the day we met SoftSheen Carson’s Let’s Jam. “I’ve been using this for years!” Orlando Pita said of the small black tub of styling pomade that’s readily sold at drugstores nationwide. “It’s usually for black hair, but I use it on all types of hair for shine and hold because it doesn’t have that stiff, flaky finish gels can leave behind,” he elaborated, spreading it on the sides of the chignons he created backstage at Doo.Ri. We imagine it will work equally well on sleek ponytails—and maybe even the topknot we’ve become accustomed to wearing in inclement weather, like, say, today. Note to self: Stop at Duane Reade between Alexander Wang and Altuzarra.
tags: Doo-Ri Chung, Hair, Let's Jam, Orlando Pita, Softsheen Carson
Orlando Pita: “I Have A Feeling The Headband Is Going To Have A Big Moment This Season”
February 11, 2012 2:07 pm
There is a standard line of questioning that persists backstage at shows that can get fairly monotonous—for both editors and artists. Queries of “what’s the inspiration?” or “will this be a big trend next season?” ring out from all angles as camera crews and models scurry through narrow, makeshift alley ways in between hair and makeup stations. It’s enough to make you a little weary of the whole scene, and as a result, certain artists refuse to conform to a similarly standard line of responses. Orlando Pita is one of those artists. “You know I’m not usually one to talk about trends,” the coiffing star reiterated yesterday at Doo.Ri, but in a rare move, he did just that. “I have a feeling the headband is going to have a big moment this season,” Pita predicted. Why? “I don’t know. I haven’t seen them for a while,” he continued, explaining that he thought the hair accessory was due for a comeback. But not the kind of comeback it had at the Golden Globes. “I wasn’t feeling them,” Pita deadpanned of the jewel-encrusted hairpieces Charlize Theron and Michelle Williams wore on the red carpet at the awards gala. Instead, Pita is heralding the return of sophisticated and subdued headbands, like the elasticized leather pieces Doo-Ri Chung designed in a range of colors, including black, burgundy, and hunter green, for her Fall collection. Secured around the tight ballerina buns Pita sculpted for the occasion, they served to streamline the silhouette rather than interfere with it. “I don’t like when [hair] accessories are superfluous,” Pita said. Make a note of it.
tags: Doo. Ri, Hair, Orlando Pita
The 411: Gucci Westman
February 10, 2012 4:47 pm
Every international fashion week has its fixtures, and the New York shows just wouldn’t be the same without Gucci Westman. The California-born makeup artist grew up in Sweden, studied makeup in Paris, and cut her teeth working alongside film directors (Vincent Gallo, Spike Jonze) and photographers (Annie Leibovitz) before earning a loyal but understated following among A-listers like Cameron Diaz and Drew Barrymore. As Revlon’s reigning global artistic director, Westman has redefined the brand’s vision of American beauty with her signature laid-back cool and effortless glamour—and it’s that same combination that allows her to leave her indelible mark backstage each season at shows like Oscar de la Renta and Vivienne Tam. Here, a matter of hours before she’ll debut the Fall makeup look backstage at Rag & Bone, we caught up with the Manhattan-based face-painting superstar to talk about skincare musts, fitness obsessions, and more.
The Hair Heroes: Three’s Company
“I have three favorites. I go to Tommy Guns to see my amazing colorist Tim Nolan, Orlo for a lovely catch-up and cut with my friend Orlando, and finally Blow, for the occasional, genius 15-minute blow-out paired with a mega-thorough manicure.”
For Tommy Guns locations, visit www.tommygunsny.com; Orlo, 34 Gansevoort St., 3rd fl, NYC, (212) 242-3266; for Blow locations, visit www.blowny.com.
The Nail Spot: Jin Soon Hand and Foot Spa, New York
“Jin Soon, love Jin!”
Visit www.jinsoon.com for more information.
The Skincare Routine: An (Extensive) Roster
“Are you ready? It’s a lot! I like to combine different brands as much as possible, so my skin has the ultimate response. From La Mer, I swear by The Moisturizing Lotion (I have been using it for the last decade) along with their Lip Balm and SPF 30 UV Protecting Lotion. Also in rotation: Dr. Hauschka Regenerating Serum, Rose Day Cream and Normalizing Day Oil. Eminence’s Coconut Milk Cleanser is heaven, the Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafoliant is a gentle exfoliant that I’m obsessed with, and the Clear Skin Probiotic Masque is so awakening. I put it on in the shower after the Dermafoliant and Pear & Poppy Seed Microderm Polisher, leave it on for 10 minutes, then put on Diptyque Rich Butter for the Body.”
Available at www.cremedelamer.com, www.drhauschka.com, www.eminenceorganics.com and www.diptyqueparis.com.
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tags: Fragrance, Gucci Westman, Makeup, Revlon, Skincare
Valentine’s Day: The Beauty Guide
February 10, 2012 2:08 pm
Whether you’re a true believer in the holiday for lovers or believe it’s a money-making scheme thought up by the card companies and chocolate makers of America, Valentine’s Day is coming. So we’ve put together a Top Ten list of sultry scents, luxe lipstick, pretty polishes, and more for you to fall in love with—even if a busy New York fashion week schedule will keep you from properly celebrating. As far as we’re concerned, there’s nothing wrong with postponing the flowers and fancy dinner for February 16. Just saying.
The Evocative Bauble: Joya Heart Solid Perfume Brooch
Sure, we could make jokes about wearing your heart on your sleeve, but we’d prefer to wear it on a lapel. This brooch boasts a gorgeous ornate design that houses a solid fragrance brimming with a blend of jasmine, honeysuckle, and musk—a surprising treat for anyone who can get close enough to the cool curio to take it all in.
$38, www.beautyhabit.com.
The Pretty in Pink Polishes: New Black Ombré Nail Polish Set in Floyd
As most of us are clearly suckers for rose-colored anything this time of year, may we suggest a DIY gradient manicure, which goes from the palest pink to bright magenta?
$22, www.drugstore.com.
The Bubble Bath Meant for Two: Lollia in Love Bubble Bath
For those couples who prefer to stay home and avoid New York’s V-Day restaurant scene, filling up your bathtub with this rose and jasmine scented bubble bath might add that necessary touch of romance to an evening spent watching a House Hunters marathon and eating takeout.
$34, www.beautyhabit.com.
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tags: Dolce & Gabbana, Elizabeth Arden, Fragrance, Jurlique, Makeup, Nails, Red Door Spa, Smashbox, The New Black, Viktor & Rolf
“The Alchemy Of Beauty:” A Discussion With Coiffure’s Reigning Fine Artist, Bob Recine
February 8, 2012 4:59 pm
Bob Recine is a beauty visionary if ever there was one. A well-established hairdresser who is equally comfortable crafting demure runway looks backstage at Jill Stuart and prepping Gwyneth Paltrow and Charlize Theron for the red carpet as he is constructing elaborate headpieces for Lady Gaga, Recine is a master of many mediums—all of which he frequently brings into his unique approach to coiffure. “I see it differently,” Recine says of the generally held views of hairdressing, which tend to have a small vocabulary as far as creative experimentation is concerned. A talented illustrator, sculptor, and occasional shutterbug, Recine refuses to be confined to scissors and combs—a fact that can readily be seen in his vast body of work that has, for the first time, been collected into a new book. Bob Recine: The Alchemy of Beauty (Freedman/Damiani; 2011) hits shelves next month and features a selection of Recine’s favorite editorial collaborations with photographer Mario Sorrenti as well as choice Polaroids, paintings, and construction projects that he has undertaken over the years. “I’ve never been typical in my field and I relish in that a little bit,” he says.
Tonight, New York’s The Hole gallery will premiere a three-day beauty pop-up exhibition dedicated to Recine’s new tome and curated by Jacqueline Miro, and we’ve got an exclusive sneak peak of some of the works that will be on display right here. Below, Recine—a self-proclaimed “modern builder”—reflects on his illustrious career, which hit a high note a few months ago when he had a chance to “[steal] the show” from Lady Gaga.
Where did your initial interest in beauty come from?
All I can tell you is that ever since I was a child, I was completely fascinated with beauty in all its forms. That was my attraction to becoming a hairdresser, to fashion—being fascinated by the creative act of adornment. You know, through history people have always adorned themselves, and I’ve always been into the sorcery and power of what that means. For a person who they say is a “beauty expert,” I see it differently in a way. I have to tell you that [beauty] comes in many forms and its importance is how it’s utilized in the moment. That’s my perception and infatuation with beauty.
Where do you derive most of your influence?
My biggest influences are really being able to combine cultures—not only cultures, but science. I’m really fascinated by building. When we talk about hair, we constrain ourselves. We say we use hair spray, we use gel, but I think you need to look outwards to make the inward advance. When people ask me what inspires me, I really can’t think of anything that doesn’t . A little girl and the way she wears her pigtails, a bum on the street and the way he wears his hat—it’s an anthropological equation.
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tags: Bob Recine, Bob Recine: The Alchemy of Beauty, Hair, Lady Gaga, The Hole
LFW Backstage Beauty Alert: NARS Crosses The Pond
February 7, 2012 11:37 am
After spreading its backstage beauty wings last month, sponsoring its first-ever Couture show at Bouchra Jarrar in Paris, NARS Cosmetics made a convincing case for taking its face-painting show on the road. While François Nars’ beloved brand is a fixture at New York fashion week, frequently turning up at Marc Jacobs, Rodarte, 3.1 Phillip Lim, and Thakoon, it has yet to become a global fashion force to be reckoned with in cities across the pond. But that’s about to change. Style.com has just learned that Nars will be spear-heading makeup and nail duties at Christopher Kane’s Fall show in London, supplying makeup artist Lucia Pieroni and nail artist Sophy Robson with a veritable rainbow of pigments and polishes with which to create runway magic. Word on the street is that this is just the beginning of a an expansion that, if you ask us, is a long time coming. Stay tuned.
tags: Christopher Kane, Lucia Pieroni, Makeup, Nails, NARS Cosmetics, Sophy Robson
NYFW Backstage Beauty Alert: Sunday Riley Takes Manhattan
February 3, 2012 2:12 pm
Last season, we broke the news that skincare guru Sunday Riley had teamed up with makeup artist Diane Kendal on a new makeup line that debuted backstage at Maiyet and Vanessa Bruno in Paris. After a stellar performance for Spring, it’s perhaps unsurprising that we’ve got some more news to break for Fall: Style.com just learned that Riley has landed a few impressive makeup sponsorships in New York, where her full line of complexion perfectors will be used backstage at Helmut Lang, Victoria Beckham, and The Row. These last two shows are particularly of note, as they have previously been showcases for big-name brands like Lancôme and Estée Lauder. But now it’s Riley’s foundations, eye shadows, lipsticks, and the like that will be in the very capable hands of Kendal as well as makeup artists Lisa Butler and Tom Pecheux, when the shows commence next week. In a word, pumped!
tags: Diane Kendal, Helmut Lang, Lisa Butler, Makeup, Sunday Riley, The Row, Tom Pecheux, Victoria Beckham
