Look This Way

FRESH FACE

Beauty business diversity continues to grow, with Soo Joo Park the latest model to win a mainstream cosmetics company contract. The Korean-born American street-style favourite is the latest face of L’Oreal Paris. We like that she’s not a baby either, only getting into modelling at 26 after training as an architect.

LOCAL HEROES

We’re impressed that the newly rebranded T Galleria by DFS has added smart local boutique beauty brands to its top floor showcase of New Zealand products. General manager Azra Kujovic has gone well beyond the expected stock of tourist-friendly Rotorua mud and lanolin items to include some of our best and brightest gift and skincare selections.

Included are home fragrances from Maraca and Illumina, perfume and candles from Ingrid Starnes, skin and hair care from Triumph & Disaster, Snowberry, Sans and Living Nature and gift items from Linden Leaves. Under Kujovic's tenure, the big brand emporium has gained T Galleria status as a leading duty free and retail outlet for the world's biggest luxury travel player and historic features of its Customhouse building have been restored. Ingrid Starnes director Simon Pound told Viva the outlet opened up new customers for the brand and it had developed non-glass containers for its Vetyver Bergamot body care items.

BRIGHT BIRTHDAY

Auckland formulator Karen Murrell is celebrating the launch of her 20th lipstick by bringing it out in a limited edition bronzed canister. Her accomplishment in making a convincing range of moisturising natural lipsticks is so considerable that she is now the largest manufacturer of lipsticks in Australasia, so here's to a happy birthday for the clever Aucklander. The new siren red shade is called True Love. "It had to symbolise the love that I felt when I wore my first red lipstick," says Murrell. The lipstick is $29.95 from selected pharmacies and health food stores. Stockists ph 0508 600 400.

DESIGNS ON YOU

Azzedine Alaia is the latest international designer planning to launch his own fragrance. He has teamed with Beaute Prestige International, the company behind perfume brands for Issey Miyake, Jean Paul Gaultier, Narciso Rodriguez and Elie Saab. Alaia’s fragrance is expected in September. We look forward to seeing if the man who came to fame as the King of Cling in the 1980s has a body-con bottle in store.

QUICK SMART

The challenge of being a first-time mother has seen glam girl-about-town Kathryn Wilson reassess her beauty routine. Like any new mother, the busy shoe designer is in adjustment mode, but the arrival just over three months ago of baby Lola isn’t slowing her down. On the drawing board is a new collection of footwear, The Famous Five, drawn from the “greatest hits” of her archive, in reworked styles and shades. Maintaining good skincare is another essential for Wilson.

Since Lola’s arrival she has pared back the time spent on her appearance, but says looking good helps with feeling good. Her go-to product is BB cream. She regards the tinted moisturising base with sun-protection and skincare ingredients as a beauty “must have”.

Wilson is collaborating with mass-market brand Garnier in a social media campaign because she rates its BB range, which includes a sensitive-skin option. Her previous brand partnerships have mostly been in the luxury sector, including cars and champagne, but her practical side is drawn to economical time-saving tricks. Wilson’s Famous Five collection, including brogues, heels and ballet flats, will be in store next month.