Vanity Affairs: Every Single Product Lillian Khallouf Uses To Stay Fresh Faced All Day Long

Welcome to Vanity Affairs – an editorial series where we document the early morning beauty routines of notable women.

There are some women who have an I-can’t-put-my-finger-on-it kind of glow – a certain je ne sais quoi, if you will. You know the ones –  their hair falls just right, their skin is dewy but never shiny, and they exude confidence without being arrogant. 

In the interest of public service, we’ve set about tracking these aforementioned unicorns down to find out their secrets. Have you got your pen and paper ready?

Today’s bathroom cabinet deep dive: Lillian Khallouf.

Having dressed the likes of Natasha Oakley, Pip Edwards and Jennifer Hawkins in her eponymous label, Khallouf is one of the Australian fashion industry’s ones to watch. Adopting an inside-out approach to beauty, Khallouf believes every good skin day starts from within: “I keep active, I eat good and I drink lots of water, which is really important,” she says.

Starting her brand after growing up in her parent’s clothing manufacturing factory – playing with fabric cut offs and exploring textures – the Sydneysider believes her global living situation has greatly affected both her work and beauty philosophy. Having lived between Syria, Lebanon and Sydney, Khallouf has had to nail a routine that can take her to all the climates and not take all the time.

Putting her love of beauty down to her Syrian grandmother, we sat down with the uber-cool designer to get a go to whoa rundown of every product in her morning beauty routine.

Skincare

“I start by cleansing my skin with the exfoliKate cleanser by Kate Somerville. I apply a small amount on wet skin and massage for 30 seconds – it helps clear dead skin build-up and excess makeup.

“I follow this with the exfoliKate Exfoliating Treatment. I use this no more than twice a week but it has dramatically improved my skin texture and pores.

“I’m obsessed with the Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum. So much so that I use it in the AM as well. I apply a dropper-full into my hand and massage it onto my face and neck. It helps keep my skin hydrated and luminous.

“Finally, I love the Lanolips Lano Face Base Vitamin E Day Cream before I apply any makeup. It’s become my favourite moisturiser because it keeps my skin hydrated and oil-free whether I’m wearing makeup or not.”

Makeup

“Due to my position at work, I have to wear a full face of makeup – and most days I’m in the same face for up to 12 hours so I’ve definitely had to consider long-wear makeup that doesn’t give me cake face. 

“My current favourite foundation is the NARS Natural Radiant Foundation in Syracuse, which I team with the Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Concealer in Amp 220. I then like to mattify the foundation with the Translucent Loose Setting Powder from Laura Mercier teamed with the Rae Morris Invisible Mattifier Powder for my T-zone. 

“I’ve used the same Chanel Joues Contraste Powder Blush for years – occasionally changing the colour depending on my tan. Currently, my favourite is the [shade] 82 Reflex. My go-to for eyes is the Urban Decay Perversion Mascara and as for brows, the Hourglass Arch Brow Micro Pencil is a staple.

“My favourite lip combo and signature colour is the Laura Mercier Longwear Lip Liner in Plumberry and the Huda Beauty Liquid Matte Lipstick in Venus.”

Fragrance

“My favourite everyday perfume is the Byredo Rose Of No Man’s Land Eau de Parfum. The rose smell reminds me of home back in Syria.

“When I was a child my grandmother used to infuse my tea with a drop of rose water for flavour – all I need to do is close my eyes and I can easily go back to that moment.”

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