Kerastase

dry strands have met their match

Monday, February 3, 2014

As someone who prides herself on nurturing her hair back to health after frying and later chopping it all off, I’ve been suffering lately as the mercury continues to drop! My sweaters and collection of hats have not been kind and leaves my ‘do flat and lifeless. Winter seems to suck the moisture out of my strands, so they’re parched and begging for moisture.

Processed with VSCOcam with c1 presetKérastase understands this (and the effects of oxidation) and has revamped their world-renowned Nutritive collection using a very special ingredient known to fight oxidation: the iris flower. The ingredients found in the formula, in addition to the iris, targets dehydrated hair and infuses it with moisture. The brand also introduced two new products that I’ve been testing and fell head over heels for.

First, a pre-shampoo treatment (Immersion Nutritive, $42) that’s pretty lightweight and felt more like a leave-in conditioner than a treatment. This preps hair so that it can absorb more of the good stuff found in your shampoo. After washing and drying your hair, there’s Touche Perfection ($35)- a balm that you can carry around to add a bit more moisture to strands. I’ve been applying this when I reach the office and take off my hat. Instead of having hair that sticks up due to static, it’s soft and leaves a beautiful scent. Again what I love is how lightweight it is so my hair isn’t weighed down or stuck to my head.

The Nutritive collection is available available now at salons and Kerastase.com.

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#nyfw backstage beauty: creatures of the wind spring/summer 2014

Thursday, September 5, 2013

Backstage at Creatures of the Wind, stylist Odile Gilbert created a chic, be achy look on behalf using all Kérastase Paris products

To begin, she applied Mousse Bouffante on damp hair apply and blow dried. Next she curled random top sections with a 1” barrel curling iron, and twisted pieces as she went alone. Dry hair was sprayed pretty liberally with Powder Bluff for a matte texture and sprayed with Laque Dentelle Hairspray to set the look.

A small braid was created at the base of the head, underneath the hair, then coil and pinned against the head to serve as a pin anchor. A small piece of hair was then taken from the right side of the head right behind the ear, twisted and then wrapped around the loose lengths to create a ponytail and pinned into place. The look was finished with more Powder Bluff and Laque Dentelle to hold the look.

For makeup, NARS’ James Boehmer (NARS Director of Global Artistry) keyed the look.

“The real statement of the makeup look is the satin textured orange lip. It contrasts the color and finish of the opalescent-textured eye, and also references the era of the artist Eugene von Bruenchenhein, which was a source of inspiration for Shane and Chris. We loved the idea of translating this into the beauty look as well.”

On the face, he used Radiant Cream Compact Foundation and Stick Concealer. For eyes, Iceland Duo Eyeshadow and finished off the lips using Red Square Velvet Matte Lip Pencil and Timanfaya Satin Lip Pencil. The latter is new for Spring 2014 so if you’re looking to recreate the look now, try Heat Wave Lipstick with Triple X Lip Gloss.

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backstage beauty: monique lhuillier fall/ winter 2013

Thursday, February 14, 2013

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At Monique Lhuillier’s Fall 2013 show, the beauty look was all about modernity, sharp look hair stylist Odile Gilbert told be on behalf of Kérastase Paris. It was very soft and feminine - the complete opposite of the beauty look from last season said Gilbert. To create the look, Gilbert made a deep side part and gathered hair into a ponytail at the nape of the neck. There was no teasing or volume added as she wanted it to look flat. Hair was secured with a suede ribbon that was twisted around the hair to create a knot. The top of the head was sprayed with Kérastase’s Double Force Hair Spray, followed by a pea-sized amount of Ciment Thermique - also by Kérastase - and smoothed down with a brush for a sleek, yet matte effect. The length of the ponytail was then wrapped around the base of the ponytail to create a loop effect and pinned into place. They style was completed with a bit of Kérastase Double Force Hairspray.

Over in makeup, I spoke to Val Garland (dying) who was working with M·A·C Cosmetics. It was “all about fresh skin and a strong graphic eyeliner,” Garland told me, “think Art Deco.” One the face the makeup team applied Complete Comfort Crème to restore and hydrate the model’s skin and followed up with a new foundation available from M·A·C this spring called Mineralize Moisture SPF 15. Concealer and powder were used sparingly, only where needed for a flawless finish to skin.

The statement was definitely made with the eyes where Garland and team created an exaggerated cat eye that went across the lid and on the lower lash line but only in the inner and outer corners (the two did not connect, leaving a gap through the mid-lower lashline.). They used a 212 Flat Definer Brush, Feline Kohl Power Eye Pencil and M·A·C Pro Black Crème Liner for the look. There was a bit of highlighting using M·A·C’s Cream Color Base in Shell and contouring but not too much. On the lips she simply used lip conditioner and then wiped off for a naturally matte lip.

Lastly, I made my way over to Michelle Saunders for Essie to chat nails. On the fingers she used Essie’s Over the Top, a beautiful icy grey that really went with the embellishments seen in the collection and added to the drama. On the toes, she really wanted to complement the sexy shoes seen on the runway so she opted for Stylenomics by Essie, a pretty hunter green that gave a bit of an edge. There wasn’t a special shape, instead she matched the model’s natural shape — no stiletto nails, sorry!

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backstage beauty: libertine fall/ winter 2013

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Backstage at Libertine, I had a moment to chat with Kérastase Stylist Akemi Tamaribuchi on the inspiration for the Fall 2013 hair look as well as how to recreate it. Akemi described it as a “glamorous woman who had a great night out.” She loves to go out so her hair was a little dirty in presence and was very textural.


To begin, she created a deep middle part and sprayed Lotion Densitive GL from root to tip for natural texture and moderate shine. Next, she blow dried using a diffuser and paddle brush in large casual sections, which led to curling the hair with a 1 ¼” barrel. She created a rope-like effect to the hair and sprayed Double Force Hairspray. Using a pea-sized amount of Homme Pate Capital Force at the ends, she created a piecey look and finished with Double Force Controle Ultime for a matte finish.

Over in makeup, M·A·C Senior Artist Chantel Miller told me the look was total “60s noir” which meant this woman was straight outta the 60s but in a non-traditional sense. Think Sharon Tate. The skin was left completely raw - no foundation, concealer, or powder in sight - and the focus was really on the eyes. Using Superslick Liner

After priming the lids, Miller used M·A·C’s Fluidline in Blacktrack, a smooth gel that easily glides on lids. She created a graphic 1960s wing along the top lid and only lined the lower lashline halfway. Next she applied M·A·C’s Superslick liner (“it dries like vinyl!”). The deal with this liner is that it dries unbelievably fast and Chantel urged that if you didn’t get it right the first time, you were screwed. No pressure. Next she applied two sets of false lashes (the #3 and #2 by M·A·C) to create a “nice topper” and followed up with lots of mascara (Haute and Naughty). “This is big girl makeup with big girls lashes,” Chantel regaled me.


Finally over at nails - la pièce de résistance! Lead Manicurist Katie Hughes, butter LONDON Global Colour Ambassador, who created a bespoke nail lacquer for the Libertine show, a golden hue called Marbs, which will be available in Summer 2013. She then placed crystals, supplied by the designer, cascading down the nail in no particular order.

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backstage beauty:suno fall/winter 2013

Saturday, February 9, 2013


Speaking with MissWYA favorite - Odile Gilbert - I was told that the look was a “real blow dry.” She applied Kerastase Mousse Substantive, dried hair upside down then created a middle part, teased hair and puled back into a ponytail. The look, as she secribed it, was very “round” and wintery - as if she’s been skiing in Aspen. She also applied Double Force Hairspray (also by Kerastase) to the hair.

Over in makeup, I spoke to Carole Colombani who created a very soft and subtle look that consisted of clean skin, applying foundation and concealer where necessary. There’s no mascara on the eyes but she did apply a soft velvet terracotta shade by mixing a Exposed eye shadow by MAC Cosmetics with the brand’s lip conditioner. She used this as a base saying, “it’s important to test [wit makeup].” She created a soft focus in the middle of the eye with a reddish shade (Love’s Lure) in the middle to create an Autumn like hue. She highlighted underneath the eye and used two different lipsticks to contour cheeks (“makeup is freedom!” she said laughing — HERE! HERE!). The lipsticks were part of MAC’s lip palettes and weren’t too pink or too brown, and she kept the model’s lips moisturized, using whatever was left on the foundation brush over them. The brows were kept straight, made a little bit stronger with a powder that was similar (but not a direct match) to the model’s hair.

The nails were TO DIE FOR! Created by the team at Rococo Nails, they applied Gold Leaf Lacquer which contains 24 karat gold (!!). Casey - the lead manicurist - dubbed this look the “Midas Touch” and told me that it went perfectly with the collection as there were lots of luxurious patterns and rich gold hues so it was the perfect match.

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