Hall of Fame - Chantecaille Just Skin

Shiny new logo for a shiny New Year!

After discussing Chanel's new foundation earlier this week and mentioning this, it occurred to me that it has hardly been mentioned here, despite me using it for 10+ (or thereabouts) years. Chantecaille Just Skin 

How is it described?
'This exceptionally versatile three-in-one formula represents a new approach to foundation, powered by the latest Japanese technology. It provides excellent coverage, smooths fine lines and offers sun protection.'

For me, it's a cross between a tinted moisturiser and a foundation, but it's closer to the moisturiser end of the spectrum.

How many shades?
6

What's in it?
Water, Cyclopentasiloxane, Butylene Glycol, Noepentyl Glycol Diethylhexanoate, Peg-10 Dimethicone, Glycerin, Dimethicone, Phenyl Trimethicone, Peg-400, Magnesium Sulfate; May Contain: Silica Dimethyl Silylate, Dimethicone/ Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Mica, Silica, Trimethylsiloxysilicate, Phenoxyethanol, Dextrin Palmitate, Methylparaben, Tocopherol, Methicone, Alcohol, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extract, Algae Extract, Lonicera Japonica (Honeysuckle) Flower Extract, Preregen, Nectapure, Edelweiss GC, Rose Water Concentrated E4445, Colorants, Talc, Titanium Dioxide, Iron Oxides, Stearic Acid, Aluminum Hydroxide

How best to apply?
I apply with fingers. It's almost like a moisturiser.

How's the coverage?
It covers but it's sheer. You can still see skin underneath.

Do you need a primer with it?
No, but I use one.

Can you feel it on the skin? Is it breathable?
Extremely breathable, this literally feels like a face cream as opposed to a foundation.

Does it give good glow?
This being Chantecaille, of course. Skin is luminous after application.

What's the staying power?
I can happily apply once in the morning and it will last most of the day. If I was going out in the evening however, I would have to reapply. Due to the high water content it will go patchy if you are dehydrated. I take this as my cue to add a ton of hydration after the evening cleanse.

Does it block pores?
No. It's light and doesn't sit 'in' the skin.

Best skin type/age?
You will need more coverage than this if you have particularly problematic skin. It's brilliant if you have fairly good skin, and across any age, but I think it would be most appreciated by a slightly older skin - and by that, I mean 30+.

Anti-ageing benefits? And would they/do they work?
Yes. And yes, in my experience.
Hyaluronic acid, 'botanical anti-pollution and antioxidants' including honeysuckle, green tea and edelweiss.

SPF content? Chemical/physical?
15 - physical - titanium dioxide

Who is it best for?
Anyone wanting light-medium coverage, it is buildable, but not for you if you want heavy-duty coverage.

Does it service WOC with the shades?
No. I love Chantecaille but they have a long way to go with darker colours, not just in this, but in Future Skin and the Compact Makeup also. And some of the names of the darker Future Skin colours are just 'no', but that's for another conversation.

And?
Like I said, I've used this for years, it's in my permanent stash and my backup stash. I switch between Tan and Wheat, depending on my sun exposure, the time of year etc.
I won't be without it.
A little goes a long way, I probably use two tubes a year.

Chantecaille Just Skin is £58.00 from SpaceNK.com or $69.00 on Nordstrom.com

Travel Bag - or 'How to turn a dehydrating flight into a spa session'

Last week I spent over 20 hours on an airplane. That's not much for some but it is for me. There are a few conditions that really compromise your skin - one of them is an airplane. All that recirculated air, no fresh air and everyone else's germs. Ugh.

The picture above is what I took last week, but the essence of it can be used and altered by anyone, with any skin type, on any budget.

Left to right:

The Body Shop Vitamin E Gentle Cleansing Wipes - for basic forehead, cheeks and chin makeup removal. I also had Ole Henriksen Truth To Go Wipes which I love, but ran out of them on the plane. Any 'won't burn your face off' wipes will suffice. Yes, wipes on the blog. Fannies, flights and festivals.

Muji travel bottle filled with The Body Shop Camomile Gentle Eye Makeup Remover. Soak one cotton pad at a time, hold gently over the eye and swipe across, down and away. Turn the cotton over and repeat - then do the same on the other eye. Please don't rub your eyes like you're using a pencil eraser.

aesop Travel bottle filled with P50. Your usual exfoliating toner/lotion goes here. Use a saturated cotton pad and swipe it all over. I take it across the entire face, under the eyes, the eyelids and over the lips (P50 tastes grim). You aren't getting a proper cleanse here so this can help you out.

Georgia Louise Hydrating Rose Water (travel pack size) - a good spray toner/mist will be your most used product on an airplane. A normal can of Evian will just dehydrate you - it just works better as a toner/floral water etc. Any good alcohol free toner can be used and decanted in to the spray version of the Muji bottles above. Spray liberally. And frequently. Even when the people around you look annoyed. :)

Chantecaille Nano Gold Energising Eye Serum - (gold tube lying flat) God I love this product. No sugar coating - it's prohibitively expensive - so much so that I literally save it for using when I fly. You can substitute any similar roller-ball-effect cooling eye product from pretty much anyone. The joy in using something like this when you fly - for me - is the cooling effect and the hygiene. Look Ma! No hands! I reapply this whenever I can feel I need it. No stiff directions - depends on the length of the flight, your skin etc..

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum  (small size) - love love love this. Massive antioxidant boost to help protect against what is essentially a locked room of free radicals and other people's germs. Also, smells delicious (not relevant, but joyous nonetheless) and gives you a lovely glow. Nice if like me, long-haul flying leaves you looking like you've given birth. No-one, NO-ONE steps off a plane looking like a supermodel. Not even supermodels. They go straight to the toilets in the VIP section with their 'team'. Stop with the nonsense.

Darphin 8 Flower Nectar  (GWP sample size) - I love this oil but only really use it if I have an overnight flight. Whack it on, try and sleep (or get no sleep, end up watching 3 films and exit plane as above) and let it give you a layer of lovely smelling protection. Substitute any of your normal facial oils that you can decant into smaller bottles.

Chantecaille Magnolia, Jasmine and Lily Healing Emulsion (GWP sample size) - lovely, light, super-hydrating, really good for layering. Substitute any good hydrating, light lotion. You can layer this over other products, add extra layers on during the flight without it rolling...just keeps you soft and hydrated.

Aurelia Cell Revitalise Night Moisturiser (trial pack size) - pretty self explanatory. If it's a night flight/red eye: cleanse, P50, spritz, eye, serum or oil, then this. Marvellous.

Ila Day Cream for Glowing Radiance (travel pack size) - OK so my travel products clearly have a theme. Call something 'glowing radiance' and I'm in. Arriving during the day? When the seat belt signs go on for landing I do a quick spritz and apply this. You can substitute any of your daytime moisturisers and decant into travel pots. If you're landing in a hot climate remember your SPF.

Ole Henriksen Truth Creme Advanced Hydration (decanted into brown pot front right) - This is probably my current favourite for travel - really seems to keep the moisture in and doesn't 'roll' when you layer. The citrus scent is again brilliant for being up in the Gods with no air.

Carmex/Duwop LipVenom - standard lip and a slightly more 'zingy' one to wake me up when necessary!

Chantecaille Gold Energizing Eye Recovery Mask - these are new. They're nice - but to be honest, I much prefer the roller. It's amazing.




*purchases and samples - no affiliates

Discontinuing products. Please discuss with your clients first!

Today, dear readers, I bring news of a grave nature. If this was a telegram, it would be trimmed in black.

It would seem that Darphin have taken the decision to discontinue my beloved Purifying Balm. 

I don't know the reasons (I shall assume it's insanity) nor would I expect them to keep a product just because I love it (how rude). 

It did lead to a conversation with Mum however, about favourite products that have fallen by the wayside courtesy of their manufacturers....

So: what products have YOU loved and lost...?

Here's a few of ours.....

Laura Mercier Sundown

NARS Ipanema brow pencil

Chantecaille Oak Brown brow pencil (old packaging - lead in new one is too soft)

Dior Self Tan for the Face (new one has shimmer - 'Hideous' - Mother)

Lancôme Flash Bronzer for the face (original) - 'new one is just NOT as good, if it's not broke, WHY do they try and fix it??' - Mother

Lancôme Primordiale - Mother will never forgive you

Sneaky peek of upcoming posts.

pureDKNY A Drop of Rose and a possible dupe for Chantecaille's Darby Rose

So DKNY have a new addition to their 'pure' line. A Drop of Rose follows A Drop of Vanilla and A Drop of Verbena.

And it has a lovely back story about the amount of rose petals picked to make the oil and how they are picked pre-dawn etc etc..

But I stopped reading that when I smelt it. It's the closest I've come across yet to the now impossible-to-find-deleted-from-range-we-all-cried-when-it-went Chantecaille Darby Rose.

By far the best Rose fragrance I've ever used - this went out of circulation around 10 years ago (?? was it REALLY that long? *cries*) and left a lot of users bereft.

This is not exactly like it - the DKNY rose is Turkish for starters, not from Grasse - but to the average non-expert whiffer (it SO is a word) - its a good close second. So much so that I'm putting it away and saving it for Spring when I will bring out my very last teeny tiny pot of the Darby Rose body cream. 

Unless you're Persolaise, Candy Perfume Boy or Basenotes - you'd never know. Ish.

pureDKNY A Drop of Rose launches 3rd February. Prices start at £37.00

Daily Makeup

A few posts ago I did a July round-up and one of the pictures featured was this (very rough!) picture snapped one morning of my Daily Face.

I've been asked a few times to list what was in the product so a quick run-down from base to lips is below:

Chantecaille Just Skin 

The only foundation I wear. It's sold as a tinted moisturiser but is perfectly adequate coverage if you don't want to look too made up but do want your even skin tone back.

If you are over 'a certain age' you see the benefits of this on your face immediately. In a league of its own. 

Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage 

Laura is the Queen of concealing - and this is the no-brainer concealer - comes in a pan with two different colours so you can blend accordingly with the area you want to conceal. You need to use with a brush though - just fyi.

Estee Lauder Idealist Cooling Eye Illuminator 

Loving this - I don't wear eyeshadow - I just can't be fussed and my eyelid bags are more like suitcases so why make them MORE noticeable? Anyway - this little beauty does a great job of 'lifting' the area (without the use of glitter - don't get me started) and just perfectly brightens the eyes so that you look alive. Love it.

NARS Ipanema Eyebrow Pencil 

Easy to use - the right texture - I don't have the patience for powders etc. I just whack this on and blend out the ends if necessary.

New CID i-glow in Coral Crush  

The best bronzer (for my face) ever - I've hit the pan on this twice. I use it every single day without fail across the top of my forehead and just 'around' my face. Have tried other colours, other brands, every single bronzer on the market - this is the best. No competition.

NARS Sin Blush 

I can't remember the last time I used a blusher that wasn't NARS. When you hit 40 (and upwards) you really do lose the colour in your cheeks - this - like the new CID - makes me look alive. I have about 6 other colours - this is the most used. 

Estee Lauder Sumptuous Two Tone Eye Opening Mascara  

I've been using this for about a month and I LOVE it. Double ended - one end for the top lashes - one for the bottom in a contrasting colour to make the eyes 'pop'. I wear the black and brown. Highly recommend.

Rouge D'Armani in 401 

I picked this up in Harvey Nichols and totally blame Cesar - Armani's top dude - and an old friend from my counter days. He's a total enabler. He's also a genius so if you ever need your makeup doing/new look etc - call Harvey Nics and ask when he's in. I digress. 

This is the colour used in the lipstick ad with Megan Fox. Needless to say once applied, you too will look like Miss Fox. Kinda. Not really. But it IS a perfect, divine red.

YSL Rouge Pur Couture in Rouge Laque - The perfect stays-put gloss to stick on top of your lipstick to give extra oomph or just to use on its own to give you instant red, shiny, glamorous lips. Stains a little so great for long wear coverage.

That's it. Swift, easy, long-lasting. I change the blusher and lip products regularly but the rest of it is pretty much set in stone.

Overnight Travel Kit

I went on an overnight trip to Monaco earlier this week - more of which to come at a later date.

I snapped off this pic very quickly as I was packing up to come home as it was probably the best overnight kit I've managed to put together for some time.

As I was going on my own and didn't have to make room for seven billion items belonging to my children that normally fill all of my cases - I didn't worry too much about travel sizes.

Included above is:

• balance Me Cleanse and Smooth Face Balm cleanser - full review to follow - but lovely!
• Serge Normant Volumizer, Shampoo and Conditioner (Hairspray out of shot) - the only range to use if you have long hair
• L'Oreal Tecni Art Volume Architect - when you want ridiculous OOMPH
• Aesop Petitgrain Hydrating Gel - reviewed earlier this week - lovely
• Alpha-H Liquid Gold travel size - obviously
• Frederic Malle Lys Mediterranee - obsessed
• Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist travel size and Illuminating Moisturiser - loving at the moment 
• Kate Somerville Deep Tissue Repair - brilliant for glow and travel due to the packaging
• Hampton Sun After Sun Moisturiser - as a body moisturiser - not aftersun...
• Oral B Pro Expert - I remain completely obsessed with this toothpaste and now have the entire family addicted also - go get your free sample via the link

That's it. Stood me in good stead. Anyone have any good suggestions for travel sizes for the future?

* the above are a mixture of PR samples, purchases and product from clients (Serge, Hampton) but are all equally amazing.  No affiliate links. Just being helpful.

Cleanse, Tone & Moisturise - London Makeup Girl

The lovely Grace from London Makeup Girl is one of my real blogging inspirations. The champion of niche brands and ethical blogging - I trust everything this woman says no questions asked. She's also a rocking mum to a daughter a similar age to mine and thus feels my pain (and joy obvs).

As an aside, but unsurprisingly, it's also the first time I have ever had to ask a brand in Australia for visuals for the blog...! I've also left the original email from Grace almost untouched - easy when she writes like she's speaking to you - not at you...!

Cleanser - Stem Organics Gentle Cleansing Milk. 

Yes, I know this is one of my hippy skincare brands, but Stem has some properly good skincare ingredients too. This is a light milk that dissolves makeup gently but effectively (including eye makeup) and rinses away cleanly with water. I like my muslin cleansers (Emma Hardie is a favourite) but sometimes I don't want the extra bother. Stem is perfect. Smells lovely too - from the mandarin and tangerine essential oils. 

Toner - if I don't have a toner, can I have a serum instead? If I can, I want:

Skinceuticals Serum 10 AOX+ - Vitamin C and Ferulic Acid serum. I swear by this stuff for both brightening the skin and helping to prevent photodamage. I love the Perricone Face Firming Activator I'm using right now, but for a 'thing I'd recommend to everyone' I'm going with the Skinceuticals. 

If you make me choose a toner, I'll go with the Pai Bioaffinity in Lotus & Orange Blossom. The only toner that I've found that actually does something for my skin, helping it to hold on to moisture. Alcohol free too. 

Moisturiser. 

Oh, this is hard. Chantecaille Firming Sun Cream SPF 30 if I really have to just chose one. 

This is an SPF 30 that doesn't feel like a sunscreen, and applies like a normal moisturiser. The Chantecaille is perfect for my normal-in-the-summer skin. I occasionally have wobbles that Chantecaille are going to discontinue this because it isn't always in stock at SpaceNK. I think I would cry. 

For a non-spf cream, it's another Stem Organics choice - the Exquisite Facial Fluid. This has rosehip, vitamin B3, beta glucan (good for calming sensitive and reactive skin) and seabuckthorn berry oil in it. Sinks in quickly, never feels heavy on the skin, but moisturises my skin in its normal to dry mode perfectly.

A brilliant array of choices I'm sure you'll agree. Thank you for sharing Grace!!!

London Makeup Girl

@londonmugirl

Next week: Luke Stephens

Eye Creams - Reviews and Recommendations

Following on from the Cheat Sheet the below are just a few of my favourites. If you have any specific questions about a particular cream feel free to comment.

Best for travelling/tired eyes

Lierac Diopti Calm - £17.50 - Selfridges and good chemists

This is my go-to whenever I'm getting on a plane/just got off a plane/doing long distance rail/road travel. It's moisturising, cooling and hydrating - which is what you want taken care of in those circumstances. Great after a long hard day's work.

Good for dryness/moderate wrinkles

Origins Plantscription - £35.00 - all Origins stockists and online

Origins newest eye cream is a lovely light texture, absorbs really well and is really good under makeup. Good for dark circles. One gripe - I would like it in a tube or pump dispenser please. The texture is such that it can be accommodated thus, so a pot seems unnecessary in 2011. Good, affordable cream though - so don't be put off.

Best for baggy/puffy eyelids

Perricone MD Acyl-Glutathione Eye Lid Serum - £95 - Harrods and Selfridges from January 2012

If you are a 'woman of a certain age' (me) and have noticed that along with everything else - your eyelids are rapidly heading south (me) this new serum from Perricone is brilliant. It instantaneously tightens the lid area - I noticed a difference across the lid within around 25 seconds. The only area it did not affect was the fatty deposits in the outside folds of the lid (I know - gross) but the only thing that can treat those is a knife. And I'm not quite ready for that yet.

Best Value for Money and Packaging

Monu Collagen Eye Cream - £22.50 - Monu Shop.co.uk

This is joint first for packaging. Light, controllable pump, small enough for travel and handbag - perfect. I would recommend this as a good cream for someone in their mid 20's/30's. Contains arnica, marine extracts and evening primrose oil - great feel on the skin - this is my 'I don't really have any one major concern today' cream.

Best for older, wrinkled, dried up eyes - The 'I'm older, more wrinkled and can afford it' cream

Chantecaille Nano Gold Energizing Eye Cream - £230 - SpaceNK

OK - firstly - yes it's £230. No I did not buy it. I had a handful of samples. But let me tell you this: if you can afford it, and you are older and suffer from a typical crêpey, ageing, dry eye - then this should be your first port of call. This feels like luxury on the skin - you do not need this is if you are under 35/40 (younger if you smoke) - but if you are my age or older this is divine. Absolutely divine. Contains gold particles and is massively anti-inflammatory and healing - when I put this on my eyes literally go 'aaaahhhhhhhhhh'. Bliss. If you can afford it.

Best Feel on the skin and Joint Best Packaging

Kate Somerville Line Release Under Eye Repair Cream - £123.00 - SpaceNK

This is my current favourite. Perfect packaging - including a window on the side to see when you are running out - which by the way - is one of the MOST requested things from customers on the shop floor - why more brands don't offer this I do not know - controllable dispenser and airtight. I look forward to cleansing so that I can apply this. Makes my eyes glow, gets rid of my lines and visibly reduces puffiness. Again - it's not cheap - but if you are in your 40's and your eyes show it - this is really wonderful. A joy to use.

Lancome Renergie Eye - £44.50 - all Lancome stockists

Mum's favourite. In her words - 'Amazing - If I can see a difference then it bloody well works miracles! Makes my eyes smoother, calmer and the concealer helps my dark circles.' Mum may not look it but she's in her 60's and suffers from a chronic illness so this is pretty much the word of Jesus. Recommended and much loved.

A couple of points worth mentioning:

• Most reputable brands provide samples - in the case of Chantecaille and Somerville, Harrods, Fenwick, Liberty and SpaceNK have samples - if you are spending that much - try it first!
• If no samples are available and you are at the counter - squeeze some out and put it on your eyes over makeup - at least you'll know if you are allergic before you buy...
• Once again - stay away from mineral oil. Makes your eyes puffy and congests the area. If you are prescribed a heavy cream for dermatitis/eczema that contains a lanolin that is different - but it's too heavy in normal circumstances
• Don't forget the previous advice about bismuth oxychloride - avoid if you are prone to allergies

And a final word on the cost of skincare products in general. I'm constantly asked for recommendations for 'something cheaper' by some readers. I don't generally blog about cheaper products (for facial skincare) because I don't really use them.

I read some of the same people on twitter saying they have bought a new dress/pair of shoes from New Look (for example) and saying 'it was only £25.00!' Why won't you spend that on your face?

Here's my theory: Spend on your skincare what you would spend on a good pair of shoes or a good handbag and you'll be ok. People tend to have shoes and handbags relevant to their financial situation.

Clothes and accessories come and go but you only get one face.

*Disclosure

The above is a mixture of products bought by me, available over-the-counter samples and PR samples 

Chantecaille Christmas - Updated

Some prettiness for Midweek. These are coming soon to a counter near you - and being Chantecaille, they are gorgeous.

Limited Edition Evening Duo Palette

The Evening Duo is a Limited Edition Swarovski bejewelled eyeshadow palette containing two new colours: Charmeuse, a soft pearl with a delicate shimmer and Carbon, a highly pigmented jet black matte. The set comes with two custom designed brushes is £75.00 and available from Harrods.

And for the first time all five of the Chantecaille fragrances - of which Kalimantan - above - is my favourite, are available as a 7.5 ml roll-on in a beautiful faux-croc envelope-style pouch which of course matches the packaging of the respective fragrance.

The roll-on is also available with the matching candle in a similar faux-croc bag as another Limited Edition set in Tiare and Frangipane only.

And finally - look at this... *sighs*

The Chantecaille Crystal Collection is has been created by Cimon, whose renowned sculptures are adorned with crystals and these promise to bring a new level of exclusivity to the term 'Limited Edition'.  If you take yourself down to Harrods you'll be able to order the fragrance of your choice - and collect it four weeks later... The fragrance is normally £150.00 so I weep at the thought of the price of this beauty - but that's not the point - is it?

No on-counter date for any of the above as yet. But they're on their way!

MUA of the week - Chiara Guizzetti

This week's MUA is Queen of the Catwalk Chiara Guizzetti.
You know that dream where your backstage at Chanel tending to all the top models faces while Karl Lagerfeld holds court next to you? Chiara does it in real life - and worse - makes a living out of it.. How rude.

How long have you been a MUA?
I got my PDC award in Make up in 2002 in London and did my first photoshoot straight away.
I remember being very nervous…I met the crew in South London and when I saw the photographer with the model I just wanted to run away: he previously gave me all the details about the look..except that the model had black skin (???!!!) It was quite tough but came out very well. That was my first real “lesson”.

How long have you been working in the industry?
Eight years in total. For four years alongside  Space NK, two years with Daniel Sandler Cosmetics and two years as a full-time freelance MUA.

When did you get your ‘big break’?
When I came back to live in Milan and got represented by Green Apple Italia.

 Gianfranco Ferre

What advice do you have for aspiring MUA’s trying to get into the industry?
It’s a very competitive industry, especially these days.
Be nice and people will want to work with you.
Be perseverant, eventually it will pay back.
Don’t rush things: it simply takes time.

Who has been your best client so far?
I worked with lots of lovely people…. but I have a very nice memory of working with Marie O’Riordan, former editor of Marie Claire UK. I did her make-up when she was the main judge for Britain’s Missing Top Model, she’s exquisite, very professional and I feel  so lucky to have met her and worked for her.

And your favourite job so far?
Last year in Venice for the Chanel cruise show. It was AMAZING. From to the gorgeous hotel (booked out just for us) on the Lido, to working with the world’s top models, the magic atmosphere of Venice…Watch for yourself ..here.  (Warning - this video will make you A: jealous and B: crave Chanel)

What are you currently working on/who with?
I just did a shoot for Pierre Ancy.

How many brushes do you own?
Lots. More than 50 I’d say, but I tend to use my favourites most of the time, of which there are probably about 10.

What do you consider your speciality?
My make up style is generally soft, not really into the heavy handed stuff…my strong point is a  good eye for colours.

What is your favourite brand, and why?
I like variety and to be able to choose..so I like to work with different brands: Laura Mercier for concealers, MAC and Becca for foundations, Daniel Sandler for  blushers, Dolce & Gabbana lipsticks, Stila, Kevyn Aucoin, Chantecaille, Shu Uemura, Madina Milano, Stephane Marais, Chanel.

 Donatella and Christopher Kane - like you do...

Your kit is on fire – and you can only save 5 things. What are they?
Bioderma Make up Remover
Decleor Hydra Floral Anti-Pollution Emulsion
Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage (if you don't own this after reading all of these MUA's list it in this section you're clearly missing a trick!)
Lash Curler
Daniel Sandler Watercolour

You can follow Chiara's life on the road blog here.
And check out her amazing website here!

Make-Up Artist Monday - Dorita Nissen

This week's MUA is Dorita Nissen.  Dorita has been in the industry for 13 years and working as a full time MUA for 6 of them.

Dorita during a hard day at the office.

Dorita was born in Denmark and from an early age developed a love for art - so much so that in her teens - becoming an artist was her career objective.  When she finished high school she moved to Florence, Italy  where she completed a course in art restoration. 

After moving to Miami and a short stint at Estee Lauder as a MUA - she was offered a role at a new company by a MUA called Laura Mercier. Dorita worked directly for Laura and assisted her for several years before moving to London.

When did you get your ‘big break’?
The day I could start living off my work - during a shoot for Sunday Times Style I met music photographer Dean Chalkley - soon after he gave me the opportunity to work with him on what would become my first cover for NME - Carl Barat of the Libertines.

What advice do you have for aspiring MUA’s trying to get into the industry?
Originality, a strong back bone and the ability to get on with people!

Who has been your best client so far?
I would never say!

What about your favourite job so far?
All my jobs are favorites, as I love working... I would say though, that working with rock legends such as Roger Daltrey, Peter Gabriel and Depeche Mode rate high!

What are you working on at the moment?
I'm currently working with Faithless, New Young Pony Club and Harpers Bazaar.

How many brushes do you own?
I've never counted them, but over 50 !

What is your favourite brand, and why?
I don't really have a favorite brand, as depending on the job I use different products.
Make up I mainly use includes  Makeup Forever, Laura Mercier, Chantecaille, MAC, Dior and Krayolan...
My first choice for skincare is Sisley, Bioderma and Ina Crystals.

Your top tip?
Be yourself and believe in your work!

Your kit is on fire – and you can only save 5 things. What are they?
Laura Mercier's Secret Camouflage, Sisley Confort Extreme Day Care, Dior Show Black Mascara, Laura Mercier Black Extreme Eyeliner Pencil, Rosebud Perfume Co's Smiths Rosebud Salve.

www.doritanissen.net