Paper: Sunday Times, The (London, England)
Title: Freshen up – Beauty
Author: Lorna V
Date: December 17, 2006
Section: Features
Page: Style 44
It’s the morning after, and you’re feeling fragile -but there’s no need to look a wreck. Take a lead from the hardcore party girls, says Lorna V.
How do partying celebrities manage to look so good the morning after, when we mere mortals display every sign of the night before and its excesses? Judging by the number of photos showing Kate Moss looking ropey, even a supermodel style icon can look the worse for wear if she’s caught off guard by the paparazzi. Nifty paps aside, however, most famous party babes know how to cover up and look glowing the next day.
It’s not just about getting the pros to do their make-up, or, indeed, about wearing huge sunglasses. According to the make-up artist Jemma Kidd, celebrities also pick up tips on shoots that they then apply themselves. “If you’ve ever wondered how Jade Jagger, my sister Jodie, Francesca Versace and Laura Bailey always look good, even after all-night partying, it’s about creating the illusion of dewy, glowing skin with face primers, illuminators and concealer,” says Kidd, who runs a one-day workshop, The Art of Skin
(Pounds 200; 020 7243 0357), which reveals the techniques for the “I’ve been up all night, but you’d never know” look.
Despite having youth on their side, the party set still pay attention to beauty rituals. And they stick to the classics. Charlotte Church is known to favour Clarins Beauty Flash Balm, Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream, good old YSL Touche Eclat, and a Naturasun Spray Tan to banish sallow skin. Peaches Geldof teams her high-street look with beauty favourites such as Max Factor Lasting Performance Foundation and the Body Shop’s Matte It.
As a rule of thumb, the younger the celebrity, the more make-up she slaps on the morning after -check out the teen glamour puss Lily Allen, never seen without her cat’s-eye, flicked-out eyeliner, contrasted with the fresh-faced look of twentysomething Sienna Miller, courtesy of Lancome blusher.
The party queen Kate Moss goes against the grain. She seems to be subtly adding more make-up as she grows older. The make-up artist Sharon Dowsett was wowed when she witnessed Moss doing her beauty regime on Eurostar. “I was really impressed,” she says. “It was a morning-after situation, and she did the repair job in just five minutes, with a real expert touch. She swept bronzer, probably Chanel, very lightly over her face. Then, on her cheeks, she dabbed a rosy tint over the bronzer. Next, she put tinted balm on her lips (something like Benefit Pocket Pal or Ruby & Millie Face Gloss). She then added a smudge of kohl pencil, a slick of mascara, and that was it. Oh, and finally, she brushed her hair. This was a real rock-chick look, rather than the usual clean face people tend to go for after a night out.”
According to one insider, the celebrity who looks best on the party circuit is Paris Hilton. “I saw Paris wrecked one night, and the next day, she looked amazing. That was after five consecutive nights out. I saw her close up, too. She looked phenomenal, and she wasn’t caked in make-up.”
Apparently, the secret is facials -up to three times a week -with the likes of Sarah Chapman (0705 009 7796), Anastasia Achilleos (07939 331889) and Nichola Joss (07810 837170). “These experts have amazing hands,” says our insider. “They get rid of all the puffiness and water retention caused by drinking, and they get the blood flowing again. For these girls, their face is their fortune, so they are fanatical about beauty treatments.”
The make-up artist Ruby Hammer says that it’s all down to alternating party periods with health drives. “The key is that between partying, Kate Moss and other party animals such as Sadie Frost go through periods of being super-healthy and having every treatment going.”
So, if you have the time and the inclination after a heavy night, check in for some serious spa treatments (try Eve Lom, Elemis, Bliss or Urban Retreat). If not, a long, hot bath and a face pack should do the trick. That and a hefty helping of concealer and blusher. Here are the experts’ favourite fixes to keep you looking good.
ON THE GO
Party animals who don’t know where they might end up should try these rescue products:
* Dr Harnik Stop Puffy Eyes (Pounds 8), followed by Under Eye Brightener (Pounds 7, from Boots) to revive tired eyes.
* Kevin Murphy Fresh Hair (Pounds 11, from HQ Hair; 0870 350 2390) spritzes out traces of the night before.
* Touch of Light (Pounds 10, from Selfridges; 0870 837 7377), a highlighter that conceals, as well as adding fake glow -a celebrity favourite.
* Aromatherapy Associates Party Survival Kit (Pounds 20) or a Korres Party Survival Kit (Pounds 16, both from HQ Hair, as before). Don’t be a dirty stop-out -take one of these with you.
BETWEEN PARTIES
* Gatineau Melatogenine Cleansing Cream (Pounds 20, from The Beauty Room; 0800 731 5805) exfoliates, cleanses, tones and moisturises.
* RMK Clear Jelly Sheets (Pounds 32; 020 7659 2223) do away with time consuming face masks, freshening and firming your skin in a flash.
* Frederic Fekkai Apple Cider Cleansing Rinse (Pounds 13, from Space NK; 020 8740 2085) is a pre-shampoo treatment that detoxes hair.
* Laidbare Rice Bran Body Polish (Pounds 13; 020 8249 6003) exfoliates, cleanses and moisturises.
* Pro-Ferm Instant Lifting Serum (Pounds 75, from Space NK, as before) to tighten the face.
* Bremenn Research Labs Hylexin (Pounds 95, from Harvey Nichols; 020 7235 5000) gets rid of bags and dark circles.
* Jessica Brilliance (Pounds 10; 020 8381 7793) renews nail varnish fast.
POST-PARTY
* Ren Multi-Mineral Detoxifying Facial Mask (Pounds 17.50; 020 7724 2900) is luxurious, yet thoroughly cleanses sweaty, dirty, greying skin.
* For home hydrotherapy, Phytomer Alguomarin Contouring Bath (Pounds 22.25, from The Beauty Room, as before) will revive you with its fresh aroma.
* Elemis Frangipani Monoi Moisture Melt (Pounds 29; 01278 727830), with its heady, floral aroma, is a welcome alternative to a Tahiti spa.
SENSITIVE SKIN
According to the top dermatologist Dr Leslie Baumann, this skin type suffers most during the party season, as it is prone to break-outs, redness and irritation at the best of times.
* Moor Soothing Eye Gel (Pounds 25; 0845 130 6768) is gentle and cooling.
* B Kamins Eye Cream (Pounds 49; 020 8997 8541) is a good all-rounder that de-puffs and works on dark circles and wrinkles.
* Amanda Lacey Persian Rose Water (Pounds 37; 020 7351 4443) revives, tones and moisturises -and it’s like immersing your head in a bag of rose petals.
* Mary Cohr Anti-Redness Cream (Pounds 25, from The Beauty Room, as before) calms and restores.
* Comfort & Joy On the Spot Refining Mix (Pounds 10.50; 01367 850278) is like whipped-up porridge on the face. It has the full effects of a face mask without stripping or overloading the skin.
CHEAT’S DETOX
Far more effective than vitamins is Green People Hawthorn and Artichoke Formula (Pounds 20; 01403 740350). Take it twice a day with juice or water to stay on top over the next couple of weeks. And keep taking it into to New Year if you want to enjoy the full benefits.
Author: Lorna V
Section: Features
Page: Style 44