How to look your best this year
New Zealand’s top beauty experts talk to Josie Steenhart about the trends and must-dos for 2019.
New year, new you – or maybe just a slightly updated you. I’m an unashamed resolution maker, and this year on the beauty front mine include adding a really good skin supplement into my daily regime, getting better at my evening double cleansing (and including a mini facial massage), and introducing more variety to my eyeshadow retinue.
I also checked in with some of our top beauty industry folk to find out what they have planned for their own skin and hair, and what they are predicting will be big in beauty for 2019.
Lauren Gunn Hair and makeup artist and owner of Colleen Salon
What are your beauty resolutions for 2019? I’m planning on committing to a red light facial programme but my main beauty goal is always about reducing stress – being relaxed is a beautiful thing.
What do you predict will be big trends this year? For me, really healthy hair. I want to see people paying the same attention to their hair as they do their skin. Fashion-wise – glossy lips and sleek, shiny hair. Dust your straightening irons off and rediscover Juicy Tubes, the 1990s are back in town.
What are you most excited about hair/ beauty-wise right now? The demise of instamakeup and the rise of IRL (in real life) beauty.
Ashleigh Scott Owner of the Facialist
What are your beauty resolutions for 2019? To do less! I’m product obsessed and sometimes I find the less you do, the happier your skin is. I want to stick to a simple yet effective routine to keep my skin healthy and not get too carried away with different products. Also to be 90 per cent foundation-free. I achieved this last year and love being totally comfortable in my own skin. Lastly, to take my supplements every day.
What do you predict will be big trends this year? Consumers are a lot more aware now of what’s in their products and who the companies are behind them. Ethically produced, natural ingredients are hugely important to people more than ever. I see more people seeking out locallymade/independent companies in favour of the big names that have always dominated the industry. It’s easier for people to see where their money is going and the ethics behind the brand/company they are buying from.
What are you most excited about beautywise right now? There are so many amazing natural skincare products on the market. I love products and get a thrill out of discovering a new natural brand that knocks the socks off oldfashioned chemical-laden products.
Danny Pato Creative director and co-owner at D&M Hair Design
What are your own beauty/hair resolutions for 2019? I’ve been growing out my hair for a while now so it’s long – I have thick, wavy hair and a lot of it. My New Year’s resolution is to keep growing it out to [Guns N’ Roses guitarist] Slash’s length, denying the impulse to chop it off in all this heat. With all the sun and swimming over summer, I’m having to regularly use Davines SU Hair Mask to replace moisture and keep it growing healthily.
What do you predict will be big trends this year? For cuts and styles, my No 1 prediction is for a 1970s-feel soft, shaggy curls cut below the jawline into a round or square shape with a full fringe, styled by embracing natural curls or using tongs. Blunt 1990s bobs will be big, worn wavy or straight and parted in the middle. Short choppy cuts will also be in. For long hair, the trend will be 1960s straight and healthy with centre parts for a boho feel, or adding volume at the crown for a beehive feel. My predictions for colour trends are inky blacks, chestnut browns, multi-dimensional coppers and golden biscuit blondes.
What are you most excited about beauty/ hair-wise right now? Hair accessories are taking off. We’re seeing clips, cuffs, scarves, and plenty of bobby pins on catwalks and red carpets all over. I love working with hair accessories to add a touch of interest, class or cuteness to a style.
Kath Gould Makeup artist
What are your beauty resolutions for 2019? I’m a total skincare junkie so I’m trying really hard to simplify my routine by using highly effective products with multiple benefits. I’m also trying to focus on inner beauty – water, exercise, better eating and gut health.
What do you predict will be big trends this year? In the social media and celebrity/red carpet world there’s certainly a push towards glossy, glowing and creamy-looking skin as opposed to sparkly powder highlights and baking, which has been a trend for the past few years. On the runways, we saw a lot of colour-pop eyeshadows in pinks, purples and blues with fresh, clean-looking skin. These shades can range from pastels right through to bright and bold hues, which means it’s a versatile trend, depending on how adventurous you’re feeling.
What are you most excited about beautywise right now? As I said, I adore skincare! My favourite brands at the moment are Tatcha, ASAP and Chantecaille. I’m loving really perfected skin that doesn’t look heavy – my go-to foundations are NARS Radiant Longwear, Armani Luminous Silk and MAC Waterweight. There are fantastic liquid highlighters and mixing mediums on the market – I especially like Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector and Armani Fluid Sheer Liquid Highlighters.
Dr Ellen Selkon Cosmetic physician and partner at Clinic 42
What are your beauty resolutions for 2019? My beauty resolutions for 2019 are to have regular treatments. I’m very good with my daily cleansing and moisturising and applying serums A, B and C, but tend to be ad hoc when it comes to having collagen induction treatments. I plan to have a Dermapen treatment every three months and a course of peels at the end of summer and end of winter. I will also ensure I have IPL done during the winter months on my face and hands.
What do you predict will be big trends this year? I think collagen induction treatments are becoming mainstream and will become the recognised ‘‘norm’’ for people wanting to take care of their skin and prevent premature ageing. Dermal Fillers are becoming more and more acceptable, when done subtly and to restore and enhance features without overdoing it. We’re also seeing our clients more often and doing less at a time with intermittent treatments.
What are you most excited about beautywise right now? The latest trends in dermal fillers are the most exciting development that we have seen in a long time, like being able to perform the ‘True Lift’ by lifting facial ligaments, thereby slimming the face and giving a rejuvenated look with no downtime. We are also using botulinum toxin in surgical procedures to minimise scarring and improve the final cosmetic result.