A MOMENT WITH: MELANIE GRANT
BEAUTY ESSENTIALS, AS MINIMAL AS IT GETS
words Melanie Grant editor Julia Restoin Roitfeld
THE AUSTRALIAN ESTHETICIAN WITH STUDIOS IN SYDNEY, MELBOURNE, LOS ANGELES AND A RESIDENCY IN PARIS IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SOME OF OUR FAVORITE GIRL’S GLOW (NICOLE WARNE, VICTORIA BECKHAM, PHOEBE TONKIN AND MANY MORE). MELANIE SHARES HER ESSENTIAL BEAUTY BITS, MINIMALIST STYLE TIPS, UPCOMING PROJECTS, AND WHAT LESS IS MORE MEANS TO HER.
SHORT ANSWERS FROM MELANIE
LESS IS MORE:
AS I HAVE GOTTEN OLDER, I HAVE LEARNT THAT LESS IS DEFINITELY MORE, ESPECIALLY WHEN IT COMES TO BEAUTY, MAKE-UP AND FASHION. I LOVE SIMPLICITY AND A CONFIDENT WOMAN WHO IS COMFORTABLE IN HER OWN SKIN.
LAST ITEM I PURCHASED:
A BEAUTIFUL SET OF UNDERWEAR FROM CARINE GILSON.
LAST ITEM I RECYCLED IS:
I LIKE TO DO A BIG CLEANOUT OF MY WARDROBE ONCE A YEAR AND OFFLOAD IT TO MY SISTER, FRIENDS AND TEAM. I DON’T DO ONCE PIECE AT A TIME BUT RATHER A BIG OVERHAUL.
MOST IMPORTANT ITEM TO YOU:
MY WEDDING BAND
FAVORITE VINTAGE PIECE OF CLOTHING:
A FOX FUR COAT THAT BELONGED TO MY MOTHER.
LAST THRIFTY FIND:
I SCORED A REALLY BEAUTIFUL CLASSIC BLACK SLIP DRESS FROM KHAITE ON SALE.
YOU LEAD AN OVERALL VERY HEALTHY LIFE. CAN YOU TELL US MORE ABOUT YOU LIFESTYLE APPROACH?
I TRY AND LEAD A SIMPLE, HEALTHY LIFESTYLE. I LIVE BY THE BEACH WITH MY FAMILY AND PRIORITISE QUALITY TIME WITH MY BOYS AND PUPPIES OVER ANYTHING ELSE. I MOST LOOK FORWARD TO SITTING DOWN AT THE TABLE WITH MY FAMILY AND ENJOYING DINNER TOGETHER, CHILDREN GROW UP SO QUICKLY. I’M A HUGE BELIEVER IN MODERATION - WHILST I EAT WELL AND AVOID TOO MUCH ALCOHOL, SUGAR, DAIRY ETC - I NEVER DEPRIVE MYSELF OF A GLASS OF WINE OR A PIECE OF CHOCOLATE, IT’S IMPORTANT TO INDULGE ALSO.
OUR MAKEUP CULTURE NOWADAYS SEEMS TO EMPHASIZE PLUMPING, CONTOURING AND VOLUMIZING RATHER THAN YOUR MORE SEEMINGLY MINIMALIST APPROACH. WHAT DOES BEAUTY MEAN TO YOU OR IN OTHER WORDS WHAT IS YOUR BEAUTY PHILOSOPHY?
WHEN IT COMES TO MAKE-UP AND BEAUTY, LESS IS DEFINITELY MORE. I PREFER TO TAKE CARE OF MY SKIN WITH BOTH TREATMENTS AND A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE RATHER THAN CAMOUFLAGE. AS WE AGE, HEAVY MAKE-UP TENDS TO AMPLIFY IMPERFECTIONS SUCH AS LARGE PORES AND FINE LINES.
YOUR SIGNATURE BEAUTY LOOK?
SUPER FRESH AND NATURAL - I GO MOST DAYS WITHOUT ANY MAKE-UP, I THINK I ACTUALLY LOOK YOUNGER WITHOUT. WHEN I DO WEAR MAKE-UP, I MIX A TINTED MOISTURISER WITH ANOTHER MOISTURISER FOR A SUPER SHEER VEIL OF COLOUR. FOR MY EYES, I SMUDGE A TAUPE OR SAND COLOURED CRAYON INTO THE CONTOURS AND UNDER MY WATERLINE WITH A LITTLE MASCARA, AND I FILL IN MY BROWS WITH A SUPER FINE BROW PENCIL FOR A NATURAL EFFECT. IF I AM REALLY MAKING AN EFFORT, I’LL APPLY A DAB OF LIP BALM ONTO MY HIGH POINTS FOR A DEWY FINISH.
BEAUTY ICONS?
I LOVE CAROLINE BESSETTE KENNEDY, KATE MOSS, CHRISTY TURLINGTON AND MALGOSIA BELA.
IF SOMEONE DECIDES TO GET RID OF ALL THEIR CHEMICAL LADEN PRODUCTS, WHERE SHOULD THEY BEGIN RESTOCKING WITH NATURAL PRODUCTS? WHAT DOES ONE NEED?
A SIMPLE CLEANSER, A NOURISHING FACE OIL AND A MINERAL BASED SUNSCREEN ARE A GREAT STARTING POINT.
HOW DO YOU LIVE A SUSTAINABLE LIFE?
I DON’T BUY JUNK, I PREFER TO INVEST IN LONG-LASTING PIECES, WHETHER IT BE FASHION, FURNITURE OR HOMEWARES. EVERYTHING I PURCHASE IS CONSIDERED AND I TRY NOT TO GET CAUGHT UP IN CONSUMERISM. I BUY ALL OF MY PRODUCE FROM LOCAL FARMERS AND TRY AND LOVE TO BUY FROM SMALL ARTISANS WHERE POSSIBLE.
SUSTAINABILITY IS SOMETHING THAT I THINK WE ALL NEED TO GET BETTER AT PARTICULARLY IN THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY. I’M ALWAYS LOOKING AT WAYS TO IMPROVE THE SUSTAINABILITY IN MY STUDIOS AND RETAIL OFFERING.
“Sustainability is something that I think we all need to get better at particularly in the beauty industry.”
beauty bits
WHAT MAKEUP PRODUCTS DO YOU USE ON A DAILY BASIS (UNTIL THEY’RE EMPTY)? DO YOU PAY ATTENTION TO PRODUCTS HAVING NATURAL INGREDIENTS?
FOR ME IT’S NOT ABOUT NATURAL PER SE, IT’S MORE ABOUT PERFORMANCE AND QUALITY. I LOVE CHANEL LE TEINT, KEVIN AUYCOIN EYEBROW PENCIL, BOBBI BROWN EYE SHADOW CRAYONS IN NUDE BEACH OR SAND DUNE, LAURA MERCIER CRAYON IN AU NATUREL, VICTORIA BECKHAM MASCARA AND LIPSTICKS (I LOVE ALL OF THE COLOURS, ESPECIALLY POP) AND THE CHANEL ILLUMINATING BAUME IN TRANSPARENT OR ROSE.
WHAT IS YOUR MORNING ROUTINE?
I USE A MICELLAR WATER MOST MORNINGS FOR EFFICIENCY (BIODERMA CREALINE IS MY FAVOURITE), IF I HAVE TIME BIOLOGIQUE RECHERCHE LAIT U. ALWAYS AN ANTIOXIDANT SERUM - I AM CURRENTLY USING VICTORIA BECKHAM BEAUTY POWER SERUM - FOLLOWED BY EYE CREAM (I LIKE BIOLOGIQUE RECHERCHE CRÉME CONTOUR YEUX BIOFIXINE) AND OF COURSE A MOISTURISING SUNSCREEN TO FINISH (I AM CURRENTLY USING MY OWN LAB SAMPLES - WATCH THIS SPACE!).
WHAT IS YOUR BEDTIME ROUTINE?
DOUBLE CLEANSE ALWAYS - FIRST WITH AUGUSTINUS BADER CLEANSING BALM, FOLLOWED BY COSMEDIX PURITY CLEAN OR BIOLOGIQUE RECHERCHE LAIT VIP 02. MOST NIGHTS I WILL USE A LOTION P50 FOLLOWED BY A SERUM, EYE CREAM AND NIGHT CREAM. I ALTERNATE MY SERUMS DEPENDING ON HOW MY SKIN IS FEELING AND THE RICH CREAM BY AUGUSTINUS BADER HAS BEEN A MAINSTAY IN MY ROUTINE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS NOW. IF I HAVE TIME, I LOVE TO APPLY A MASK IN THE BATH - I LOVE BIOLOGIQUE RECHERCHE’S MASQUE VIP O2 OR MY VERY OWN STRAWBERRY RADIANCE MASK.
DO YOU HAVE ANY NATURAL DIY TRICKS?
I OFTEN APPLY MANUKA HONEY TO MY FACE WHEN I AM FEELING DRY OR SENSITISED. I ALSO LOVE TO ICE MY FACE IN THE MORNING TO SCULPT, FLUSH AND COMBAT PUFFINESS.
MAKES MY SKIN GLOW:
VITAMIN C- I LOVE SKINCEUTICALS CE FERULIC OR IS CLINICAL PRO -HEAL___ MAKES MY SKIN GLOW.
I SPLURGE ON:
SERUMS - THESE ARE THE WORKHORSES OF YOUR SKIN CARE REGIME.
A CHEAP-BUT-CHIC PRODUCT OR TREATMENT?
I LOVE BIODERMA CREALINE AND EMBRYOLISSE LAIT-CRÉME CONCENTRATE.
IF YOU COULD ONLY USE ONE BEAUTY PRODUCT FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE WHAT WOULD IT BE?
SUNSCREEN.
COULD SHARE ANY TIPS FOR US IN LOCKDOWN ON HOW TO ACHIEVE POST FACIAL SKIN GLOW, AT HOME?
FACIAL MASSAGE - YOU CAN MAKE IT AS SIMPLE OR AS COMPREHENSIVE AS YOU LIKE, WHETHER YOU USE A GUA SHA STONE, A JADE ROLLER OR YOUR OWN HANDS. YOU CAN REALLY SCULPT, DETOXIFY AND CREATE A HEALTHY GLOW IN LESS THAN 10 MINUTES. I LIKE TO MASSAGE MY FACE AND NECK WHILST APPLYING MY NIGHT CREAM OR OIL OR EVEN WHILST CLEANSING IN THE SHOWER. THERE ARE NO HARD AND FAST RULES - JUST MAKE SURE YOU WORK UPWARDS AND OUTWARDS AND ENSURE YOU HAVE ENOUGH SLIP SO YOU ARE NOT TUGGING OR PULLING AT THE SKIN.
STYLE FILES
WHAT ARE YOU WEARING RIGHT NOW?
I’M ON A FLIGHT TO MELBOURNE WHERE IT’S A LITTLE COLD AT THE MOMENT (SUMMER, WOULD YOU BELIEVE?) I’M WEARING JEANS WITH A CASHMERE TANK AND MY FAVOURITE CHANEL COAT.
HOW DO YOU RESTYLE THE SAME OUTFIT FOR ANOTHER DAY?
CHANGE THE SHOES AND COAT.
CLOSET ITEM THAT HAS BEEN PASSED ON TO YOU? YOU WILL PASS ON TO YOUR CHILDREN?
MY MUM HAS GIFTED MORE JEWELLERY THAN CLOTHES, MY BOYS CAN HAVE WHATEVER THEY LIKE THOUGH I’M NOT SURE THEY’LL BE TOO INTERESTED - SUCH A WASTE!
DO YOU UNIFORM DRESS? IF SO, WHAT IS YOUR GO TO WEEKDAY OUTFIT IF YOU’RE RUNNING TO A CASTING OR AUDITION? WEEKEND? NIGHT OUT?
MY WEEKDAY OUTFIT IS ALMOST ALWAYS A MIDI DRESS OR A SILK BLOUSE AND BELTED SKIRT.
ON THE WEEKENDS, A LONG FLOWY DRESS IN SILK OR COTTON VOILE WITH A SLIDE, OR JEANS WITH A CASHMERE SWEATER. ON A NIGHT OUT, A SIMPLE SLIP DRESS AND HEEL WITH A BIG, BEAUTIFUL COAT. I LOVE A COAT!
IF YOU COULD ONLY WEAR ONE OUTFIT FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE WHAT WOULD IT BE?
A BEAUTIFUL LONG SUMMER DRESS WITH A GREAT SLIDE.
WHAT IS ONE PIECE EVERY WOMAN SHOULD OWN?
A GREAT COAT.
