From the MECCA Group Chat: Multipurpose Makeup and Jane Birkin Hair
April 10 | 5 minute read
Words by Izzy Wight
I’ve never understood the phrase ‘beauty is pain’. Sure, in the 18th century, when high society ladies powdered their faces with white lead makeup, but beauty products have come a long way since then. Now, we not only don’t have to worry about getting poisoned in the pursuit of glam, but we have formulas so good, they almost do the work for you. Below, a hair mist for perfect ocean waves, effortless beauty essentials and our favourite French fragrances…
Commuter beauty
How long does your makeup routine take you? Not to brag, but I’ve honed mine down to a relaxed seven minutes, always completed in its entirety on my morning commute. This is my subtle way of saying I am an expert in effortless, multipurpose beauty products.
If you can’t apply it in the back of an Uber using your phone as a mirror – if it requires sharpening, layering, drying time or any specific kind of tool or skill – it’s not making the cut. Take a leaf out of makeup artist Emily Wood’s book and consider bending (or rather, blending) the rules.
For a lit-from-within radiance, start by mixing the blurring By Terry Brightening CC Serum into your foundation, skin tint or moisturiser, depending on the level of coverage you’re looking for. Using fingers or a fluffy brush, add depth and dimension to the face using the all-in-one Kevyn Aucoin Sculpt and Define Contour Book Volume IV – contour on the jawline, cheekbones, forehead and nose, cream blush across the cheeks and lips and a touch of highlighter on the lids, cheeks and cupid’s bow.
For a bolder blush look, follow your cream products with a swipe of the Flawless Pink shade from the Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Beauty Soulmates Face Palette. It’s a duo palette that includes a setting powder for on-the-go touch-ups (plus the heart-shaped packaging is the stuff of Disney Princess dreams).
Only the finest
The brainchild of legendary perfumer Francis Kurkdjian and co-founder/CEO Marc Chaya, Maison Francis Kurkdjian maintains all the sensibilities of classic French perfumery (artistic intuition, scientific precision) but with a contemporary edge. It’s a prestige fragrance brand that doesn’t feel stuffy in any way – and while Maison Francis Kurkdjian scents are on the more expensive side, their longevity and unique complexity make it entirely worth it.
Francis Kurkdjian is so good at his job, in fact, that when he was asked to make a limited-edition fragrance for the 250th anniversary of French crystal manufacturer Baccarat, the scent became a cult favourite. Now, Baccarat Rouge 540 is a permanent fixture of the collection, synonymous with all things luxurious and decadent.
(Hair)do as the French do
In the fashion world, the ‘Jane Birkin effect’ is all about not being afraid to really wear your ‘best’ accessories, to embellish your handbags with trinkets, stickers, scuff marks and scratches. The British-French actress and style icon was known for her laissez-faire approach to fashion and beauty, with her spot now permanently cemented as the most hot and nonchalant of the hot nonchalant women.
With the recent bedhead renaissance, we’ve seen the ‘Jane Birkin effect’ extend to our haircare routines in intentionally imperfect, mussed-up, untamed hair. Hesitant to forgo the comb altogether? A combination of Crown Affair’s The Texturizing Air Dry Mousse (on damp hair) and Hair by Sam McKnight’s Cool Girl Texturising Mist (when it’s dry) will give the same effect, minus the knots.
