MEET ANNIE MAYO: ADVANCED MINERAL MAKEUP FOUNDER
All mineral makeups are not the same, according to Annie Mayo, founder and president/CEO of Advanced Mineral Makeup. A TV and film makeup artist who has worked on over 25 feature films, countless print ads, and sporting events such as the Super Bowl, Annie found a common flaw in many mineral makeup lines—harsh chemicals. In 2006, she took matters into her own hands and formulated her dream line of 100% natural mineral cosmetics, Advanced Mineral Makeup.
The line is free of chemicals, dyes, talc, and preservatives and formulated with the experienced eye of a makeup artist. The undertones of the foundation mesh with the skin, and don’t include pink tones, which look unnatural. Annie says she created a neutral makeup collection that is easy to use and good for the skin.
What are some makeup trends you see for the coming year?
A big makeup trend for 2013 is red lips in many shades and textures, from blood red to black-red and matte to shiny. Pronounced eyeliner that swings out at the end of the eye is also big. Lastly, a trend that’s been on the rise in recent years is natural beauty products that don’t contain sulfate or parabens.
What are some big mistakes that you see women make when it comes to their makeup routine?
The biggest mistake I see women make is picking the wrong color foundation for their skin tone or skin type. I advise women to stick with foundations that have yellow or peach undertones in shades that will mimic their skin. This will make the foundation look more natural rather than like a second layer of skin. Your skin type—dry or oily—will determine the technique you use to apply your foundation. Those with dry skin should apply foundation to pre-moistened skin for a dewier finish. You can use an oil-based moisturizer or a serum to add an extra layer of hydration. Those with oily skin should set their liquid foundation with a matte powder. This will absorb excess oil and prevent the skin from looking overly shiny throughout the day.
What’s next for Advanced Mineral Makeup? Are there any new products in the pipeline?
We are currently working on certified organic lip glosses. These lip glosses will user all-natural ingredients such as coconut oil, shea butter, vitamin E, grapeseed oil, and antioxidants to provide the lips with extra hydration and full protection. Any product I create will never contain harmful chemicals or ingredients; my mission is to develop products that actually benefit the skin. We are also hoping to expand worldwide.
Can you share a few of your favorite skincare tips with us?
- Always wash off your makeup at night with a good cleanser and follow with a toner to balance pH levels. Forgetting to remove makeup can cause premature aging, crow’s feet, and laugh lines.
- Use hyaluronic acid and omega 3 in pill form or in smoothies to hydrate and keep skin looking great.
- Use an eye cream or moisturizer daily. The skin around the eye is very thin and needs extra attention, so it’s important to consistently hydrate the area.
- If you have acne-prone, sensitive skin I suggest using chemical-free products to wash and exfoliate the skin. Mineral makeup is a great option because it actually heals the skin and has anti-inflammatory properties. Educate yourself on beauty ingredients and read the ingredient list of products. What’s in your makeup can really surprise you!
- Drink at least 120 ounces of water a day. The more hydrated your skin is, the smoother it will look and feel.
- Use a foundation that contains broad-spectrum sun block to guard against UVA/UVB rays. Natural sunscreens to look for are zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.
What is your favorite, must have, makeup tool?
You can’t beat a good liquid foundation brush. It not only helps you apply foundation and concealer, but it also can fix any mistakes such as fallout from eyeshadow or mascara mishaps. I call it the mistake wand.
Do you have a dream celebrity client?
I would love to work with Jessica Lang and Gwyneth Paltrow.
MEET VICTORIA CHRISTIAN – CLIVE CHRISTIAN PERFUME AMBASSADOR
The oldest daughter of British designer Clive Christian, Victoria Christian’s love of perfume began at an early age. She and her father discovered in the floorboards of the family’s English manor house an original bottle from a perfumery that had been crowned by Queen Victoria in 1872. Although Ms. Christian originally studied ballet and performing arts, even performing on London’s West End, when her father took over the old perfumery and decided to create a new level of luxury perfume, she ended her theatre career and joined the company. After a training period with perfumers in London, Paris, and Grasse, Ms. Christian launched the definitive Clive Christian Perfume collection in 1999. Today, Victoria travels worldwide as an ambassador for Clive Christian and is proud to represent the perfumes her father created, including No. 1—The World’s Most Expensive Perfume, of which only 1,000 bottles have been released.
Clive Christian fragrances are available for purchase at Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman.
Tell us a little bit about your history and the history of the Clive Christian Company.
Though I had always had a personal passion for the fragrance world, shared and encouraged by my father who had always been passionate about great perfume and beautiful bottles, I actually studied ballet and performing arts in London and performed on the West End Stages in Musical Theatre for five years after finishing school. At that point, my father decided to take the reins of one of the oldest British perfume houses that had been out of business for some time and create a new level of luxury perfume with his usual uncompromising feel for luxury. It was 1999 and the Definitive Collection was born, which comprised three perfume pairs for men and women—‘1872,’ ‘X’ and ‘No.1’ which was to be acknowledged as The World’s Most Expensive Perfume by Guinness World Records. It was at this point that I left my career in theatre behind and joined the family business. I haven’t looked back!
What is your personal beauty philosophy?
Beauty always comes from within. A sincere and ready smile. If you are happy within—taking care of yourself, keeping fit, taking time to relax and smelling the roses, eating well—then you should radiate positivity.
What do you love about crafting perfume collections? What are your favorite fragrance notes and combinations?
It is my pleasure and privilege to represent my family business and it is my father, Clive, who is the founder and who to this day is at the helm of the Clive Christian brand. I love what he has revived in terms of luxury perfume, sparing no expense in terms of using the rarest and most precious ingredients in their most concentrated forms. I am very proud of his achievements and hope that as time goes by, I will be able to maintain the fundamental philosophy of the brand. My favourite ingredient without question is Egyptian jasmine—as found in ‘X’ for Women and ‘C’ for Women. Associated with Isis, the Goddess of the moon, Egyptian jasmine is plucked from the banks of the Nile at dusk, as this is the time that the jasmine flower is at its most ‘alive’ fragrantly. This jasmine has a legendary history: it was chosen as the flower to be sewn into the sails of Cleopatra’s barge for her journey to meet Mark Anthony. Legend has it that he fell in love with her on the breeze as she sailed towards him, so intoxicating is the scent.
Tell us about Clive Christian No. 1, The World’s Most Expensive Perfume.
The Clive Christian philosophy is to first design the absolute best, then cost it. This ensures that the highest quality and excellence is achieved—after all, this is what prompted Queen Victoria to grant her crown to the house in 1872, and we are proud to carry these principles forward to a new generation. This is also what resulted in ‘No.1’ becoming “The World’s Most Expensive Perfume,” as my father is simply unable to compromise in his pursuit of excellence.
What advice do you have—for women and for men—when it comes to choosing the right fragrance and wearing it well?
Choosing the right perfume is an expression of you—your mood, how you want others to think about you, and to remember you. Whether you are a man or a woman, my advice would be to follow these simple rules:
- Don’t pay attention to whether it’s intended for men or for women—it’s what it smells like on you that counts.
- You must try the perfume on your own, clean skin and then have patience to spend a day or an evening returning to the perfume to see how it makes you feel from the moment it hits your skin and then as it develops.
- You know you have a winning perfume if you love it, those that you care about love it on you, and you receive compliments from perfect strangers when you wear it (this last point signifies a perfume with a good sillage—the delicate trail of scent that weaves around you).
- You should wear your perfume wherever you like—however, you can afford to be quite precise in your application. I usually put a spritz or two at the back of my neck and then in the centre of my chest. I also like to use a spritz or two on my clothes. Don’t rub it in—just let the perfume unravel and work its magic.
What comes next for you and Clive Christian?
The second release from the Private Collection is just launching exclusively at Neiman Marcus—‘V’ Perfumes, which I am honoured to say that my father named after me. The notes range from delightfully bright and joyful in ‘V’ for Women to wonderfully dark and resonant in ‘V’ for Men. I find it quite hard to wear one without the other. Orange blossom sits at the heart and is a clean, bright, determined, and distinct note that in the Victorian language of flowers was the symbol of first, true love—the flower that Albert gave to the young Victoria at the moment she asked for his hand in marriage. Olibanum—or frankincense—rests at the foundation and as one of the most important aromatic notes, its legacy can be traced throughout world history. Its deep, steady warmth is evocative to me of the comfort, devotion, and trust Victoria and Albert had for each other—unconditional and enduring love—which is a rare occurrence itself. And what will come after this? When it is time to let the cat out of the bag, I will be sure to tell Beauty in the Bag!
MEET MATHILDE THOMAS: FOUNDER OF CAUDALIE
You could say that Mathilde Thomas, founder of French skincare brand company Caudalie, has it all—gorgeous family and husband, traditional French vineyard and a booming skincare brand with spas in Europe, the U.S. and Turkey. In 1995, she launched the first Caudalie products, which incorporated grape polyphenols, powerful antioxidants that were abundant on her family-owned vineyard, Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte, located in the Bordeaux region of France. In 1999, the company opened the first Vinothérapie Spa amidst the vines of the vineyard. Since then, the number of spas has grown to 8, including one in New York landmark hotel, The Plaza. With an ethical commitment to using natural ingredients, Caudalie’s business has expanded exponentially and its products are sold in more than 25 countries. Today, Mathilde, her husband Bertrand, and their three children live in New York City, from where Mathilde is planning her U.S. expansion.
www.caudalie-usa.com
Tell us a bit about your history and how you came to found Caudalie.
My parents, Florence and Daniel Cathiard, have a vineyard in Bordeaux, Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte. During one of the harvest celebrations in 1993, I was giving a tour of the vineyard and a guest—Dr. Joseph Vercauteren, a specialist in grape and grapevine polyphenols—was asking questions about what we did with the excess grape seeds, stalks, and skins. Through this conversation he revealed the incredible natural anti-oxidant power of these raw materials. From there we starting working together to research ways to utilize these ingredients in skincare and in 1995 Caudalie was born. We have since created three patents with Dr. Vercauteren to protect, brighten, and firm the skin and are working on a fourth patent, which will come out this fall.
Why are grape seeds so great for our skin?
Grape seeds have a natural ability in the shell of the seed to protect themselves against free radicals and this natural power can be leveraged for skincare purposes. Similarly, the vine stalks, which are capable of living up to 100 years, are able to self-protect and we are able to translate that ability into patent ingredients that help firm and rebuild the skin. One of my favorite discoveries was when we heard about women in the vineyards using vine sap to brighten skin and rid the complexion of freckles. When we studied the sap, we found it has a natural ability as a melanin regulator.
What is your beauty philosophy?
I believe it is possible to create highly effective beauty products that are not only effective, but also natural and luxurious. I try to live a very healthy lifestyle and this translates into my beauty philosophy as well. A big difference I’ve notice between young women in France and in the US is that in France, there is an emphasis put on prevention and treatment, whereas I’ve found young women in the US try to cover up the problem rather than solve it.
What are the key treatments offered at Caudalie’s Vinothérapie Spas?
We have a selection of signature Vinothérapie treatments that are found in all 8 of our spas around the world. Our most popular body treatments include the Crushed Cabernet Scrub, the Pulp Friction Massage with fresh grapes, the Honey & Wine Wrap, the Wine Maker’s Massage and our Barrel Baths. Our facials were all created to be extremely effective while also incredibly relaxing; these include our Vinoperfect Facial, our Vinosource Facial, and our Premier Cru Treatment (ultimate luxury!).
What are your three favorite products in the Caudalie line?
The Premier Cru Cream is my absolute go-to product. It contains all three of the Caudalie patents in one formula, so it’s my favorite product when I’m traveling. The Beauty Elixir is one of the most popular products in the collection and my favorite to spritz throughout the day to revive my skin—it also has an amazing therapeutic scent that’s very calming. Our Vinoperfect Serum is a beautiful formula and great for pairing with your regular moisturizer. It became the #1 anti-dark spot product in French pharmacies when women in the South of France realized they could use it to get a more even tan.
What’s coming up next for you and Caudalie?
I am very excited about a new multi-use oil that launched this summer—Divine Oil. It’s a blend of vegetal oils and features a fragrance that I designed with perfumer Jacques Cavalier before he went to work in-house for a designer. It reminds me of summer in the South of France and leaves the skin beautifully nourished. In terms of the spa, we launched a new Anti-Cellulite Body Treatment this summer. It’s incredibly popular in Paris among French women and I have no doubt that it will be a huge hit with New York women! The core of the treatment, “le palpé roulé,” effectively breaks down cellulite and smoothes the skin.
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