THIS TIME, IT’S PERSONAL

Asserting your individuality is easy with the new generation of bespoke beautifers, says Phoebe Watt

Once the calling card of self-important city dwellers, customisation is now a customary part of the customer experience. Whether it’s a complicated coffee order (extra hot, triple-shot almond latte in two paper cups), a monogrammed handbag (to match your monogrammed phone case, of course), or the atmosphere in your car (pre-programmed to your specific requirements), the personal touch is something that we’ve come to expect from our consumables. So why, in this era of bespoke everything, are we still wearing off-the-rack cosmetics?

Personalised beauty buys are popping up across every product category — from blend-it-yourself foundation formulas, to hair and skincare tailormade for you by the experts. Here are the ones we highly recommend.

MAKEUP

• Make a multitasker out of your go-to moisturiser by dispensing a pearl-sized amount into your palm and adding one, two, or three drops of Clinique BIY Blend It Yourself Pigment Drops, $85, to create the BB cream, CC cream or full-coverage foundation of your dreams. • Say goodbye to foundation tide lines with the Napoleon Perdis Bespoke

Colour Blend Foundation Customiser Collection, $69, from David Jones. Perfect for those times of year when your makeup is suddenly completely the wrong tone for your skin, the kit includes three shades to help you lighten or darken your favourite foundation with ease. • Launched last year and exclusive to Elizabeth Arden’s Queen Street, Auckland boutique, Elizabeth Arden Custom Color Foundation, $88, uses an optical skindiagnostic tool and patented blending technology to create your perfect-match foundation on the spot.