The Colours of Spring

Spring makeup tends to look like peachy lips, pastel eyes and bronze skin, but the beauty looks this season is throwing us a few surprises in the form of vivid lips and strokes of brilliant color. 

Kjaer Weis Makeup

Kjaer Weis is the ultimate in eco luxury makeup. Its luxury organic refillable makeup system recognizes health and beauty equally by fulfilling the desire for colour cosmetics made with the highest quality safe, natural & organic ingredients without compromising on luxury or design. Created by Danish-born, New York based makeup artist Kirsten Kjaer Weis, products are CCPB certified organic and free from animal testing. Here we catch up with founder, Kirsten.

So, tell us a little about the story behind Kjaer Weis?

I have worked for over 20 years as a make-up artist and throughout my carrier I have had woman after woman sit down in the chair, pointing out brands they were allergic to. That together with me seeing upfront for all these years, the short term effect on their skin from using products with synthetic ingredients, everything from rashes to red eyes, to allergies etc. It made me question things, if this is the short term effect, what is the long term effect of a life-long use. There was an obvious need on the market for a true certified organic line, that as well as having the highest quality ingredients which are actually good for the skin, it could perform at the same level or better as the conventional lines and hold its own design/packaging wise. I feel there was always the perception that if one wanted to do something great for one's health, that there would be a compromise somewhere in the mix, my mission and desire was to change that.

What do you think sparked your passion for natural and organic ingredients?

I grew up on a farm in Denmark, so the closeness to nature came in early, the realness of growing up harvesting most of our own food on the farm, that said I always dreamed of the arts and big cities:), but  I have always had a great interest in eating healthy food, feeling the purity of non processed food and as I grew to understand more about cosmetics/skin care and reading ingredients lists, it was obvious to me that natural was the way forward and I believe the future.

Are there any plans to expand the existing range?

Yes, we have a 99.8% organic refillable mascara coming out in May and organic foundations for Fall. The plan is to have a full organic make-up line, so a woman can be fully covered in her make-up needs, but I'm building it slowly brick by brick, it takes time to formulate and performance and quality are essential.

Where do you see the brand 5 years from now?

Available to women worldwide, they deserve a wonderful harm free choice.

What do you wish you’d known when you started?

Hmm, all is pretty good actually, not sure I would want anything much different.

What is the most challenging part of your job?

When starting up on your own and wearing all caps, it's a full time job in the true sense of the word, but it's also such a privilege seeing it grow and finding the right tribe to support the brands vision, the challenging part is to juggle everything but also eventually to hand it over.

What are your every day beauty essentials?

Green juices and water for the inside and natural/organic products for the outside. I try out different brands and love Tata Harper, (serum, roll on oil) Tammy Fender ( body oil), Rudolph Care, (Acai body balm), La Bella Figura,( facial oils). Rahua for hair.

If you could treat yourself to one thing this month it would be...

A facial with my favorite facialist here in NY, Gilah Gurowitsch, a true gem, there are great facialists and then there is Gilah, she makes my skin glow like no one else.

Shop here for: Kjaer Weis

Trend Watch: Romantic Goth

Perfect for autumn/winter makeup and a key look on the catwalk, the Romantic Goth trend is open to interpretation. Think barely-there eye makeup with only a faint touch of mascara paired with totally vamped up berry lips; matte effects work well for this look giving a sultry stained finish. Alternatively, go for dark eye liner smudged for a worn look, teamed with a nude lip colour. Play up eyes or lips; this look is about either / or, not both, keeping it romantic and soft but gothic and edgy all at once. The trick is balance to make this look work.

Take inspiration for your nails from this trend and go for a super dark polish, like 1.Zoya Nail Polish (£10.50) in shade ‘Rihana’. A metallic plum purple mixed with both cool and warm tones will flatter most skin tones.

If you choose to play up the eyes, frame them with 2.Terre d’Oc Eye Kohl (£13.95) in shade ‘705 Noir Bengale’. Apply directly to the lash line or using a liner brush, or apply to the lid and smudge for smokey eyes. The creamy, highly pigmented formula should make this look effortless to achieve.

A note on the complexion: for a soft and pretty edge, consider adding a touch of soft pink colour to the face. 3.Ilia Multi Stick (£29.95) in ‘Tenderly’ is ideal, soft and demure carrying light pink as a base. This could also be used to add a wash of soft colour over the eyelid if you choose to play up your lips- this product is an excellent multi-tasker.

To finish off the dark smudged eye, an eye shadow like 4.Dr Hauschka Eyeshadow Solo (£12.95) in ’04 Taupe’ is a good option if eye liner alone isn’t enough for you. The shade is easily blendable and should work with most skin tones.

If you go all-out on the lips, then of course the lipstick is the absolute essential piece of makeup. 5.Vapour Siren Lipstick (£18) in ‘Bold’ is a classic cool deep red, delivering a rich berry tone to carry out this look to perfection. 

Whatever way you wear this trend, wear it with confidence.

Shop here: Naturisimo

Nude is still hot...just not as we know it

Although looking distinctly undone may not be as On Trend this season, there is a new twist on this oh-so-popular makeup look, based firmly on the ‘barely there’ philosophy. Keeping an uber natural palette is still the key to pulling off the best nude look, but makeup should now be seen. Take foundation- the full coverage kind is now desirable again, leaving your face looking perfectly polished. How about lips? Make a statement- not with bold, loud colours but with smooth, matte finishes in muted tones. Nude is still hot... just not as we know it.

Vapour Atmosphere Soft Focus Foundation (£41) balances all skin types and provides a buildable, medium to full coverage. This revolutionary formula lets your skin breathe but with a finish described as ‘flawless’ and ‘worth every penny’ by our reviewers (read them for yourself if you don’t believe us!) the difference between using this product and going bare faced is more than a little noticeable, yet still ultimately gives you a natural look. Perfect!

Go for a lipstick in a sophisticated nude shade to accentuate the lips in an understated yet obviously groomed way. Ilia Lipstick (£19.95) in shade ‘Funnel of Love’ would be my choice. In a yummy soft nude with peach undertones and inspired by the look of the iconic Brigitte Bardot, this one is a winner and ideal for this look. 

The main effect of a smoky eye is the definition it gives your peepers, but you can still accentuate the eye area with a neutral palette.  Dr Hauschka Eyeshadow Palette 01 (£31.95) gives you everything you need to create a defined chic look. For daytime or night, the four shades of brown glide and blend seamlessly; creating a beautiful finish has never been easier.

Shop for makeup here:Naturisimo

NEW Alicia Silverstone for Juice Beauty

Juice Beauty is a brand you have to love. With a patent liquid juice base more nourishing than the typical water base and products backed by powerful science, the products have a strong following. And now, Alicia Silverstone has collaborated with Juice Beauty to create a stunning collection to keep you looking simply gorgeous.

The range consists of 5 products for skin care and makeup. Cleanse with Alicia Silverstone Simply Pure Chamomile Cleanser (£21), a daily essential to remove impurities and soothe skin. Keep skin hydrated and silky with Alicia Silverstone Simply Nourishing Moisturizer (£35), an ultra lightweight moisturizer to keep skin healthy.

Keep your look matte and enhance your natural complexion with Alicia Silverstone for Juice Beauty Pressed Powder (£22), and give any skin type a healthy, radiant glow with the peachy-pink Alicia Silverstone Irresistible Glow Facial Highlighter (£21) Finish off the fresh faced look with the gorgeous Alicia Silverstone Purely Kissable Lip Colour (£15), a yummy blend of organic passion fruit, acai and goji berries with natural minerals that deliver a beautiful universal pink shade.

The packaging is subtle, utterly feminine, simple yet beautiful; just like the products. We wonder if there will be any new additions to the range soon...

Buy the range here: Juice Beauty

Shake Up Your Make-Up with Kjaer Weis

We are super excited to have recently launched Kjaer Weis, the ultimate in eco luxury make-up. Exclusive to Naturisimo in the UK, its unique refillable system makes it cost effective as well as beautiful, with the refill pans making it easy to either replace or mix up your shades with something new, whilst keeping the original stunning compact.

Designed by Marc Atlan, the compacts are uber chic and so gorgeous. The bold metal cases themselves come in little red boxes, resembling jewellery cases. Every purchase from this range feels like a little gift- a beautiful and indulgent one. 

The shades up for grabs consist of flattering and contemporary tones, with something to suit everyone. From nude to deep burgundy, ivory to onyx, Kjaer Weis make creating shades for every occasion- and every skin tone- look effortless. My personal favourite is Kjaer Weis Lip Tint (£32) in shade 'Sweetness', an utterly perfect coral orange.

For founder Kirsten Kjaer Weis, the desire to fuse natural makeup with luxury stemmed from her upbringing in the countryside of Denmark and her experience as a makeup artist. Kjaer Weis is certified by the CCPB, the Italian organic certifying authority (requiring at least 95% organic ingredients), offering both organic credentials and luxury, with each product consisting of raw materials, natural preservatives, and pigments extracted from the earth.

We are convinced that Kjaer Weis will be a big hit with our customers. All we can say is thank you, Kirsten. We love!

Buy the range here: Kjaer Weis