Last week I received a Karen Murrell lipstick in a goodie bag. In a rush to get to a dinner after the show, I quickly whipped on a coat of ‘Coral Dawn’ at the traffic lights hoping it wouldn’t clash with my dress.
I have worn it every day since.
The colour suited me (outrageously well if I say so myself), it felt good, it looked good, it smelt good, and stayed on throughout my very messy Mexican dinner. What’s more, it was an all-natural product.
In my year long quest to find organic products that actually work, and don’t smell like a swamp, I knew I was onto a winner. I had to find this woman. And as fate would have it, our paths just happened to cross three days later. After racking Murrell’s brains over green teas and soy lattes, here is what I found.
Karen Murrell
Te Awamutu born Karen Murrell is a lady’s lady, a girl’s girl and simply a delight to be around. I could immediately see how her gorgeous femininity had been directed into the look, feel, care and colour range of Karen Murrell Lipsticks.
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“Imogen spent the afternoon with Jen at Louise Gray Skin Care at 188 Ponsonby Road in the hope of discovering how to reverse sun damage…”Over the last year, I have noticed a couple of sunspots appear on my face. I take enormous pride in looking after my skin. I wear sunscreen every day; I cleanse tone and moisturise, drink plenty of water, and without fail always take my make-up off before going to bed. So you can imagine how horrified I was to realise that the sun had taken its toll on my precious, perfectly maintained skin. So I headed to Louise Gray Skin Care to spend the afternoon with skin specialist Jen to find out if there was any way I could reverse the damage done.
What is Sun Damage?
Sun damage is most easily recognised as hyperpigmentation – dark dots, larger than a freckle, flat unlike a mole, and more commonly known as sunspots. Read more ...
Even just a few late nights can leave you with dark circles and puffy bags. Imogen shares her top tips for disguising tired eyes.1. Aim for at least eight hours of sleep each night. While there’s plenty you can do to disguise tired eyes, the only thing that will really fix them is a really good night’s sleep. But, if being in bed by 10pm is a luxury you can’t afford; try these tips to bring the zing back to your eyes.2. Soak a couple of herbal tea bags in hot water then cool them in the fridge for 20 minutes or until they are cold. Place the teabags on your eyes and lie down for five minutes. Chamomile has many soothing properties and will reduce redness and puffiness. Green tea is another of my favourites, packed with antioxidants and a small amount of caffeine. Green tea stimulates blood flow to the eye area, sending those bags on their way while giving the eye area a much needed boost of topical antioxidants.
- Imogen Shephard
I really do believe in the saying, ‘beauty comes from within’.
The idea that the latest ‘super-rich-hydro-antioxidant-gold-flecked-unicorn-dust-wonder-cream’ will do the trick is fast becoming a myth - and about time. We get out exactly what we put in when it comes to our bodies, and it is no different for our skin.
The key to creating truly spectacular skin, hair and nails is nourishment. After all, it is nutrients that keep us alive. Beautiful skin requires more than a good night cream and a couple of skin supplements, so the basics are a good place to start… Read more ...
Eyebrows are easily the most underrated facial feature. We all know that the eyes are the windows to the soul, and that clear skin is the basis of any good look, but it is the eyebrows that structurally frame your face and can be the determining factor in whether you are perceived as happy, pretty, grumpy, or dopey person.
A well-groomed pair of brows should open up your face, accentuate your eyes, and follow the natural bone structure of your face.
Imogen caught up with top New Zealand make up artist and senior tutor at Ponsonby’s ‘The Makeup School’ for some tips of the trade.
How long have you been in the beauty industry?
13 years all together, I worked for seven and a half years at Servilles as a stylist, then did a four and a half year stint at MAC and have recently taken on the role as senior tutor at The Makeup School.
What do you think is the most important part of looking good?
For me, it’s hair, skin and personality. If your hair is a mess it can ruin your whole day, no matter how well you’ve done your make-up. Skin is a bit trickier; if you get the skin right then you have the base of a really good look, but most people are just not blessed with flawless dewy skin, so it’s really more about what you put inside your body than the make-up you apply. Lastly, a confident bubbly personality that shines through works wonders for looking good.
What are the key trends we should be looking out for this season?
Again, it’s all about skin. Dewy, flawless, radiant skin – you can create this look with a good demi-matt foundation and a highlighter illuminator around your eyes and cheekbones.
What is your rush out the door make up routine?
I can actually do this in less than five minutes! MAC strobe cream, concealer under the eyes with my fingertips, two heavy coats of mascara and my favorite MAC pink lemonade lip-glass!
Top beauty tip?
Your fingers are the most incredible tools when it comes to make up application. Of course, you should only ever use your own (clean) fingers on your own face for hygiene reasons, but they really can create the best results!
MAC Lipglass Pink Lemonade MAC Strobe Cream
