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      Author: Hayley D'Onofrio

      Categories
      Interviews Hair

      India Travel Diary: Model and Aveda Ambassador Elyse Knowles

      The experience of a lifetime.

      With her flowing blonde waves, luminous bronzed limbs and piercing blue eyes, the fact that Elyse Knowles has been modelling since she was 10 years old comes as no surprise. However after winning television series The Block in 2017, Knowles has added more strings to her bow, and has starred in multiple campaigns—hello, Seafolly—hit the runway as a Myer ambassador, penned her own book From Me To You, and was also named an ambassador for Aveda Haircare, which took her on her most exciting trip yet.

      Just last week, Knowles travelled to India to be immersed in the history of Aveda to understand and experience the brand’s values firsthand. Here, she tells Gritty Pretty her itinerary, and her thoughts on beauty.

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      Gritty Pretty: How did you first come to try Aveda?

      “I first started using Aveda’s Chakra sprays a few years ago, and instantly fell in love with the distinctive aroma. The sprays also gave me a feeling of positive energy and a lift when I need it. I then was introduced to Aveda’s haircare, and loved the idea of products that use naturally derived ingredients that were also good for the earth. It’s also important to me that the products I use don’t harm animals, use recycled packaging and have a continued promise of environmental and social responsibility.”

      Gritty Pretty: Have you always had an interest in natural beauty?

      “I have gained more of an interest over the last two years—it’s important for me to buy and use products that are good for my hair, skin, and body, but also the earth. I continually learn about the benefits of natural products for my body and also their impact on the earth, and have never felt so passionate about making a change.”

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      Gritty Pretty: Tell us about your experience in India.

      “I had never been to India so this was such an exciting trip. Being part of a three-day brand immersion trip was incredible, and [seeing] Aveda launching in India was so exciting for the brand. Travelling to Chandigarh was an experience—it took over 24 hours—but it was well worth it. We arrived at the beautiful Oberoi Sukhvilas Resort and Spa and I was blown away; the rustic pink walls, gorgeous archways and architecture with patterned detail was absolutely stunning. It was also amazing to learn firsthand about ingredient transparency from the Aveda Research and Development team, and their insight on the sourcing of naturally derived ingredients from around the world was so inspiring.”

      Gritty Pretty: What were some of your highlights from the trip?

      “I particularly loved a session that was hosted in the forest by Aveda’s Executive Director of Botanical Research, Cindy Angerhofer. Cindy was so knowledgeable about sourcing ingredients, and the local communities and farmers Aveda work with and support. As well as the benefit of every single ingredient that goes into the products, she also brought a number of ingredients and Ayurvedic herbal extracts with her—my favourites were the turmeric, ginger and alma.

      At the end of trip in India I also travelled to Delhi to do some project work with international not-for-profit organisation WaterAid to raise awareness around improving access to clean water. Aveda is also an ongoing supporter of WaterAid through annual Earth Month fundraising, so this worked in well. I travelled to some of the most malnourished slums in Delhi—it really did open my eyes up to how lucky we are in Australia and how much we need to dig deep to help others in crisis. Water can change lives, and Aveda are helping to raise awareness. Also, on this trip Aveda revealed by 2020 all of their formulations will be vegan—beeswax and honey will be removed. By 2021 they have committed to being net carbon positive, which means they will produce more clean energy than we utilise through renewable energy credits.”

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      Gritty Pretty: Aveda is known for its sustainable practices. Can you tell us a little bit about how you saw this IRL, in India?

      “Aveda sources multiple ingredients from India, including organic amla and turmeric, which are in Aveda’s Invati Advanced [hair] products. In one particular session, we heard about an organic farm located in Umbari, Maharashtrot—not only do Aveda source turmeric from this village, but they also have supported the village via the installation of a pipeline and storage tank to provide them with clean water. Aveda also provide funds and support for these women to establish kitchen gardens, which gives them with fresh vegetables.”

      Gritty Pretty: Do you have a favourite Aveda product?

      “I love the Damage Remedy Daily Hair Repair—my hair goes through a fair amount of damage at work due to constant heat styling, styling products and washing. It provides nutrients and protects from breakage, and it also doubles as a heat protectant.”

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      Gritty Pretty: Let’s talk makeup. How would you describe your signature beauty look?

      “I love contoured cheeks, big bushy eyebrows, light eyeshadow and a fresh peachy cheek.”

      Gritty Pretty: What about skincare—do you stick to a thorough regimen?

      “I really look after my skin and always wear a good SPF—I constantly get asked if I am sick due to my white face, but it’s just the sunscreen! My daily skincare routine usual consists of the following; Vital All-in-One Powder in Water, Bioderma micellar water to remove makeup, Amperna Ultra Gentle Soothing Cleanser, Aveda Botanical Kinetics Liquid Exfoliant, Clinique Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly, Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF50, aesop Lucent Facial Concentrate, and Est Lavender and Tee-Tree Balm.”

      Gritty Pretty: What about fragrance—do you have a favourite scent?

      “I always have little tubes of natural scents at arms reach—I love putting it on my neck, wrists and on the tip of my nose. I have Aveda Chakra Spray at my desk, next to bed, in my car and in every bag possible. In summer, I love Davidoff Cool Water for a fresh fragrance.”

      Tell us—have you ever tried any Aveda products? What are some of your favourites?

      Categories
      Skin

      This New Daily Moisturiser Helps to Protect Your Skin From Pollution

      Living in a big city definitely comes with its fair share of positives.

      Great restaurants, nightlife, close proximity to the CBD for a work commute, and a buzz that only living in a big city can bring. It doesn’t come without its downfalls, though, and if this was a different website, you can bet my stash of serums that I’d be waxing lyrical about the skyrocketing cost of rent and living expenses.

      Ahem. Let’s stick to beauty, shall we?

      Over time we have to combat a number of skin concerns that will inevitably crop up, including fine lines, wrinkles, sun damage, pigmentation and loss of skin laxity. Unfortunately, thanks to sun and pollution exposure, the latter particularly prevalent to those that live in the big smoke, means that the ageing process speeds up that much faster.

      While anti-ageing and SPF-based skincare has been available for eons, anti-pollution is a relatively new category to the skincare realm but has quickly gained traction. From mists to cleansers and sunscreen, these beauty buys are designed to add a layer of additional protection, because the impacts of constant exposure aren’t ideal. Environmental aggressors have some of the biggest physical effects on our skin such as clogged pores, dullness, blemishes, and, of course, those aforementioned signs of ageing.

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      It’s just one of the reasons Clinique launched the new Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly—the increasing concern around the damaging effects pollution can have on our complexion, and the desire for a helping hand. For the brand’s release of latest iteration in the best-selling Dramatically Different Moisturiser family (who could forget that iconic banana yellow formula?), Gritty Pretty headed to Shanghai for the global launch event.

      Shanghai’s current population stands at over 24 million, and while it’s a locale steeped in history and culture—and seriously good dumplings—it’s also one of the most polluted areas in China, thanks to a heavy trade, shipping and manufacturing presence. Interestingly, the pollution particles that get right deep into your pores are minuscule and can’t be spotted with the naked eye but the smog, however, is extremely visible, and floats hazily over Shanghai’s impressive skyline. This is where Dramatically Different Hydrating Jelly (DDHJ) comes in. It’s a lightweight and oil-free daily moisturiser that works to not just hydrate the skin, but uses a unique Clean-Shield Technology to protect against pollution, explains China’s Clinique National Education Director Vivian Wang. In addition to moisture-boosting ingredients like glycerin and hyaluronic acid that work to attract and retain water, this technology also contains a Moisture Barrier Blend, “which is made up of sunflower seed, barley extract and cucumber extract,” she says. This blend of ingredients, together with the hard-working hydrators, team up to strengthen the skin barrier, and in turn, act as a shield against pollution.

      Categories
      Makeup

      CHANEL Launches the World’s First 3D-Printed Mascara; We Rejoice

      There’s mascara and then there’s volumising mascara.

      The type that not only boosts thickness, but also accentuates each individual lash and creates a fanned-out, false-lash effect. And despite the invention of self-rotating, keratin-filled, and treatment-based formulas that have hit the counters in recent years, I’m not going to BS—the mascaras that actually achieve the above are few and far between. Trust me, at Gritty Pretty, the team and I have tried approximately 1,467 between us.

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      Considering a typical mascara has a shelf-life of three months, you want to know that the one you purchase will a) provide you with the aforementioned benefits, b) not dry out a week after opening, and c) completely justify its cost per wear. Which is why CHANEL’s newest mascara innovation, Le Volume Révolution De Chanel, steps in as a new front runner.

      It’s the world’s first mascara that has used 3D-printing to create its innovative brush. Yes, you read that right! The Future. As you would know, 3D-printing is now used in various industries, in particular architecture and automotive, however CHANEL actually patented the idea of the 3D brush back in 2007, before 3D-printing became mainstream. Without getting too technical, the way it works is that the brush shape and structure is manufactured by printing multiple layers using a laser beam, and the final product was reworked over 100 times to get it just right.

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      The brush itself is actually quite thick in circumference, so if you prefer a super-thin brush then it might not be for you. The reason why it’s thick, though, is because of the multiple bristles and their unique placement—each one is set exactly a millimetre apart so that no lash is left uncovered, and it has a conical tip to reach even even those tiny lashes in the outer corners. The granular surface is also tricked-up—it comes complete with microcavities to ensure just the right amount of product is deposited onto your lashes. And let me tell you, it does this without any clumping, simultaneously minimising the need for you to “pump” the wand, meaning it won’t dry out as quickly. In other words, you might squeeze out a few additional weeks past that three month throw-out rule.

      I wear contact lenses, making me a pretty tough mascara taskmaster, but et voilà, no smudging, no flaking, just good lashes, all day long.

      In a time where using an eyelash curler can often fall in the too-hard basket (or let’s be honest, the I’m-far-too-busy basket), we’re all about a mascara that does it all.

      Tells us, have you heard about CHANEL’s new Le Volume Révolution mascara? Planning to try it?

      Categories
      Makeup

      The New Matte Lip (And The Shades You Need To Try)

      It’s matte but not as you know it.

      Matte lipsticks often still cut a bad rap because of their sometimes-tendency to dry out your pout, or even leave a telltale ring of colour around the edges.

      It’s for this precise reason that Lucia Pica, CHANEL Global Creative Makeup and Colour Designer, lent her master skills in maquillage to create a new lip collection of CHANEL Rouge Allure (on-counter October 1). And, boy are we jumping that she did?

      Based on the tactile feel and texture of matte, but not in a “dry type of way—think of the most luxurious cashmere,” Pica reveals the concept has been taken one step further with the line-up featuring new Liquid Powders, six chic shades that create an almost blurred effect.

      Keep scrolling to see the collection in action.

      ROUGE AWAKENING

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      CHANEL Australia makeup artist Victoria Baron, who created these looks [pictured], intentionally created a stark contrast between this rich rouge pout and barely there base. “The lips are the focus, so by holding back in certain areas of the face, what you’re doing is highlighting another,” she explains.

      IN THE NUDE

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      Baron dusted a soft highlighting powder along the temples and the T-zone to add dimension and boost glow. Using the tip of the sponge applicator of CHANEL’s new Rouge Allure Liquid Powder as the guide for the lip line, Baron says to apply it to the edges first, then the centre of your pout. Once dry, pop on another coat to achieve this flawless, opaque finish.

       

      READ THE FULL STORY IN:

      GRITTY PRETTY MAGAZINE
      SPRING 2018 ISSUE

      Categories
      Hair Interviews

      Legendary Hairstylist Sam McKnight On The Four Styling Products Every Woman Needs

      He needs no introduction—but we’ll give you one anyway.

      Sam McKnight is one of the world’s most sought-after and renowned hairstylists. He has worked on the Fendi and CHANEL shows, including ready-to-wear and couture, and was behind the late Princess Diana’s iconic short crop, remaining her personal hairstylist for seven years. Spanning his over four decades in the industry, McKnight also has countless Vogue covers under his belt—over 100 for British Vogue alone.

      His latest project has seen McKnight launch a hair styling range, Hair By Sam McKnight, a line-up of four products exclusive to Mecca Cosmetica that pay homage to the beautiful, wearable and effortless hair that has become his signature.

      Here he talks to Gritty Pretty about creating iconic looks, working with Karl, and breaking hair rules.

      Gritty Pretty (GP): What made you decide to create your own styling range?

      Sam McKnight (SM): It was about time, really. Enough talking about other people’s products, enough giving people my own ideas. I’ve always been interested in new things, and I’ve been an ambassador for so many brands. With [Hair by Sam McKnight], we have done it all ourselves; we haven’t gone to a big company and just chosen one off the shelf. We have done everything from scratch, from packaging, to the colours, fragrance and the formulations.

      I know our experience, and I know what I think people want. We’re all hairdressers, every single one of us, and we all have something to say. It’s real, it’s honest, and it’s what we use, and what I know gets results and gets results fast.

      GP: Would you say these are the four styling products every woman really needs?

      SM: They’re a start. It was important that the four we launched with established us with integrity. Other products work, too, but I didn’t want to be the person launching a 25-piece product range—it’s confusing. I thought if we do this, in beautiful colours, and we’ve got something to say, I’m comfortable with that. They go well together, they’re all aerosols, and we have had fun with the packaging, and the names. We’re also bringing a bit of fashion into it. If you look online and in-store, there’s nothing interesting in haircare with colour; it’s all a bit flat. We thought there was room for something interesting.

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      GP: Let’s talk through each of the products…

      SM: All of the products are instant, they’re fast and they eliminate the need to wet hair and put a mousse or gel in, and then dry them through. They’re also brush-out-able—maybe I need to register that word—because they all really do brush out. You can start again.

      Lazy Girl is a really amazing dry shampoo. It’s invisible, so it’s quite powerful but it’s really light.

      When I’ve done someone’s hair like Kate Moss or Gisele, and it still looks too perfect, Cool Girl will mess it up. Just a few blasts and it will stay. It’s a barely there texturiser.

      Modern Hairspray is a multitasker—I can use it for straightening, for curling, and I can use it for volumising. It does many different things.

      Easy Up-Do is a strong texturiser. It instantly gives me enough bite so that I can backcomb the hair and it will stay, or it will give lank, silky hair that never stays up some grip and friction against itself. It’s as simple as that. It’s also going down a treat for wedding hair.

      GP: We follow you on Instagram—obviously—and know you have your own beautiful rose garden. What made you work with perfumer Lyn Harris for the scents in Hair by Sam McKnight?

      SM: We wanted it to smell like a fine fragrance. I never wanted it to feel like it was something that had just made in a big factory and just put on a shelf by some suits with their own boxes to tick. The fragrance had to be bespoke, and it had to be a multi-dimensional scent—not an off-the-shelf cherry flavour—I wanted it to smell really unexpected.

      GP: You have had so many career-defining moments. What has been a highlight?

      SM: Staying in the course for so many years. I still can’t quite believe it myself. That I’m still here, doing it.

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      GP: You’re also known for creating iconic hairstyles, Princess Diana’s short haircut being one of them. What was it like in those moments, looking back now?

      SM: Everyone is a real person. I never think of those people other than the person that I’ve met. I worked through a lot of different eras, and I guess it’s all about relationships and memories, and that’s all it is in the end. It’s the people. The thing is, you don’t know you’re creating iconic styles in the moment—the iconic status comes in retrospect. I think the people who call things iconic before they’ve done them don’t know what they’re talking about, because it doesn’t work like that. That has been a bit of a perk of old age—seeing some of your work become iconic.

      GP: A new haircut or style can be intimidating. What would be your advice to our readers wanting to try something new?

      SM: Take a tip from the younger generation. Kids now aren’t stuck in the groove their parents were in. Kids experiment with their look, and even old women aren’t stuck in dying the grey out. You’ve got 50-, 60-, 70-, 80-year-old women with longer hair, breaking all the rules. There’s an older generation and a younger generation who are not afraid, but there are women in the middle that are stuck in the limbo of either ignoring their hair or they’ve become afraid of it.

      GP: You have exclusively worked on the CHANEL shows for nine years—they’re known for kick-starting seasonal hair and make-up trends. How collaboratively do you work with Karl Lagerfeld?

      SM: It is nine years—you did your homework! It’s amazing. We do it all from a sketch from Karl, and Karl is not looking at trends at all—Karl is just doing the sketch from what he thinks the silhouette should be. He has a knack of having his finger on the button. I’m proud of the fact that we have done those nine years, and we haven’t done the same thing twice. We’ve done about four or five ponytails but they have all been different. CHANEL, from me, demands something more; it commands a look. It’s fantastic for us to be able to do that. And Fendi, too. Whatever Karl touches there’s a magic to it. It has a beautiful theatrical romance to it—CHANEL is selling a dream, a fantasy. And that’s why I got into this industry in the first place.

      GP: I’m sure you’re constantly get asked about where you find inspiration. So instead, I’ll ask what keeps your motivated to create great hair?

      SM: I think working with people like Karl, Vivienne Westwood, and Dries Van Noten. It’s not difficult to be inspired because you’re surrounded by it. My garden in England because it’s full of colour. And I love doing the shows—being involved in that world has been a constant source of inspiration.

      GP: Do you plan on extending Hair By Sam McKnight into haircare?

      SM: Yes. But I’m not allowed to talk about it yet…

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