Breakfast and Interview with Rebecca Gibney

Last month, I had the pleasure of catching up with Rebecca Gibney over a bloggers breakfast event at the beautiful surrounds of the Botanical in South Yarra.

The gorgeous Rebecca Gibney

Now I’ve been a long time fan of Ms Gibney during her acting days at Halifax f.p and even more so with her as Julie Rafter in Packed to the Rafters. So you can imagine my excitement when I got to meet her in the flesh and not only that but, enjoy a meal together as well as part of an Olay Regenerist bloggers event. It was truly a star struck moment.

In person, Rebecca is as beautiful as she is on set. Not only that, she is unbelievably affable, warm and friendly - it felt like we were speaking with a girlfriend on the morning, sharing stories about kids, chatting about our favourite makeup products and giving each other skin care tips over a delicious spread of croissants, fruits, smoked salmon and eggs Benedict.

Chatting away during breakfast

During the event, Rebecca spoke of her long time love of Olay products (especially the new cleansing system facial brush reviewed here) and why it was a natural fit for her to be their ambassador since she has been using their moisturisers since her early 20s. If it is good enough for Rebecca Gibney, it’s good enough for me as I’ve just embarked on the 4 week challenge with the new Olay Regenerist Moisturising cream and will be giving a review one the 4 weeks is up.

Having had such a great time at the breakfast event, I took the opportunity to ask her a few questions via correspondence afterwards to learn more about her secret to beautiful skin and what her upcoming media projects and here is what she has to say:

TIL: Now that you’re finished with Packed to the Rafter, what’s your next project?
Rebecca: I’m currently developing a couple of shows but hopefully I will be shooting one in the next few months to be on air early next year. And of course I’m loving being the Olay Regenerist Ambassador. It’s fantastic to be able to talk about a product that you are passionate about and it’s a brand I have used on and off for over thirty years.

I’m currently working on some projects with Channel 7 which I can’t reveal right now and I’ve also just shot a factual show in New Zealand which will be on in 2014. I’ve also been developing some projects with my husband for our company R&R Productions.

Being a beauty blogger, I’m interested in finding out about your beauty rituals. Can you tell us what your morning and night time skincare routines are? 
Rebecca:
In the morning:

1. I start off with my favourite new product the Olay Regenerist Advanced Cleansing System – it’s seriously amazing. I’m obsessed. It’s like a daily mini facial.
2. After that I apply the Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Serum
3. For SPF protection throughout the day I use the Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream SPF 30
4. I don’t like to wear a lot of make up in the day so I keep it light – a sheer foundation, a touch of mascara and a subtle lip.

At night:

1. Cleanse with Olay Regenerist Advanced Cleansing System- did I mention I’m obsessed? 
2. Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Serum 
3. Finishing the day off with my Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream. 
4. Sometimes an Olay Regenerist Face Mask if my skin is in need of a bit of extra care

TIL:Do you carry a makeup bag with you whenever you’re out? Can you share with us what’s in your bag? 
Rebecca: 

• Eyelash curlers
• Light translucent press powder from Chantecaille
• A light nude lipstick from Chantecaille
• A hand cream from L’Occitane
• Olay Regenerist Superstructure SPF 30+ Cream
• Burt’s Bees Lip Balm

TIL: What’s the most your favourite makeup product and skincare product and why? 
Rebecca: I would have to say the Olay Regenerist Micro Sculpting Cream SPF30. I wear it daily and can’t stress enough the importance of an SPF product (especially on a desert island). That and a good lip balm!

TIL: Do you have any advice or tips do you have on how to achieve/maintain youthful and radiance skin for older skin? (my mum is hanging out for your words as she said you look so young in our photo together during the Olay breakfast event). 
Rebecca: Doing it joyfully. DO it with optimism and you will always look better with a smile on your face. I’m a big believer that beauty comes from within. If you look after yourself on the inside then the outside should fall into place. I try and take care of myself with a fairly healthy diet  (although I still like a glass of wine and dark chocolate) Moderation is the key. Moderate exercise as well – I’m no gym junkie. And a genuine smile. I’m a very optimistic person. Things will always get better - even your skin if you look after it! -  Great skincare also helps.

Of course, I couldn't have breakfast without having a photo taken with my idol on the day and I would like to thank Rebecca for taking the time to respond to my question. My brief interaction with her has just further cemented my idolisation of her and yes, I'm still gushing and semi-star struck a month later. 

Catch Up: Cristina Re and Target Collaboration

I don't know about you, but I love pretty designs and love seeing them on stationary like note books, pens or pretty product packaging! Unfortunately, I don't have the creative flair to come up with elegant designs and am glad for uncle Google for inspirations when I need do any graphic or design work.

There are no such problems for designer and Melbournian entrepreneur Cristina Re who has successfully set up her own design house helping others create their own beautiful stationary designs (think wedding invitations and scrap booking albums), as well as collaborating with many brands to create products that adds that a feminine and elegant flair to stationery, home decor, bath & body items and even food collection via her high tea service.

Cristina Re.  Image Credit: Cristinare.com

For those of you who haven't heard of her or seen her works, you must check her out here, where you can familiarise with her philosphy and even purchase her products online.

Cristina partnered up with Target earlier this year to produce a range of home, bath and body range and I had an opportunity to check the items out first hand. Let me tell you I was not disappointed. These items sit well in any home environment and add a touch of chicness, especially the scented candle and home fragrance diffuser.

Cristina Re for Target range

I also had the  the pleasure of asking Cristina a few questions via correspondence to see if I pick her brains and channel some of her creative inspiration into myself (sadly, it was not successful) but she has further reinforced the notion to pursue's one's dreams and the key of perseverance to success.

So without further ado, here's what Ms Re had to say on her journey to building a successful, beauty and collaboration with Target.

Where do you get inspirations from for your designs and patterns?

I draw my inspiration from my travels around the world, in particular Rome (I was born in Rome and lived and studied in Italy for a number of years), Paris and Asia. I am inspired by nature, by the flora and fauna of Australia and many other beautiful countries. I am influenced by art & design from the past, and am also a big fan of beautiful interior design and draw inspiration from old vintage fabrics and wallpaper. You could say I also love fashion and beautiful packaging, and follow trends from around the world to help me create my new ranges.

What has been your favourite project/body of works to date and why?

I get very excited about the Bath and Body ranges I have produced. Creating these collections is very exciting for me, as I have always had an obsession for beautiful fragrances and packaging. For as long as I can remember, I have indulged in purchasing exquisite soaps, candles and perfumes from around the world and have found myself keeping each piece as a collectable decorative object used predominantly to adorn my home - so now I'm proud to have created my own products with my own favourite scents adorned in elegant packaging.

What does a typical day of yours entail?

A typical day is very busy! I am a very hands-on worker and like to oversee every creative element of the business. I am passionate about design and believe it is important to inspire and motivate my team to ensure that they understand and believe in the vision. Having said this, my days consist of overseeing the creative process of creating new designs and products, marketing my company and brand, whilst also managing the rest of the business from a higher level as well.

What do you attribute to your success?

I attribute a lot of my success to the people I have surrounded myself with. Having a good team of people to support you is critical. I have always had many like-minded friends in the industry that have pushed and inspired me and I have had great support from my family. In order to create a good team I believe that communication is the key to achieving success. I also believe in treating my staff the way I like to be treated myself and having a philosophy of work life balance is key. I aim to provide a beautiful and highly creative environment that inspires and breeds success.
There have also been many amazing businesswomen in the international arena that I have been inspired by, often in completely different fields of work, namely writers, television personalities and fashion designers. 

 How did the target collaboration come about and where was its inpirations?

Target approached me to design the Peacock Garden range as they were looking to associate themselves with other recognized Australian designers that have a wide fan base and following. With the Peacock Garden range Target wanted me to design something stylist and feminine for this year's Mothers Day which was also the ultimate affordable indulgence.  

My inspiration behind the Peacock Garden range for Target was to create something centered on my love of gardens that also contained pretty florals and my favorite animal motif, the beautiful and iconic peacock, which I incorporate in many of my paper designs. My inspiration behind the 3 fragrances in 3 pretty colour choices was my favorite personal blend of flora and fruits, containing hints of rose, jasmine, summer flowers and fruity fragrances.

Enjoying the Cristina Re's Amber Rose Diffuser 

What one beauty product can you not live without?

I would have to say body lotion. My favorite product from the collection would have to be both the body wash and hand lotion, because the beautiful scents linger all day and leave a lasting impression. They have a stimulating and sensual fragrance, reminding me of summer flowers and fruit. They also contain no parabans, SLE’s or PEGS which are gentle for the skin and are not tested on animals.

What upcoming project/works can expect to see in the near future from you?

I am a big dreamer and visionary, an overachiever and love challenges, so I see the development of many diverse and unique lifestyle product ranges to expand the Cristina Re offering. I love telling a story in every collection that I release, so I look forward to creating new and unique ranges that set the trends and continue to inspire people.
I plan to extend the High Tea collection to offer further new colours and patterns that are feminine and beautiful. The new releases will be perfect to mix and match and become collector’s items to invest in and cherish for years to come.
My long term goals are to further expand my line of giftware products by continuing to offer innovative and beautiful collections that tell a unique story, providing the ultimate sensory and celebratory experience. I hope to continue to inspire others through my artistic work, and perhaps through writing self-help motivational books and films.

Thank you Cristina for taking the time out in your busy schedule to answer these questions. You can pick up Cristina's affordable Target products in three delectable scents: Amber Rose, Mandarin Passionfruit or Pomergrante Lychee in stores or online.

• Scented Soy Candle RRP A$14
• Home Fragrance Diffuser RRP A$20
• Fragrance Soap RRP $8
• Fragrance Body Wash RRP A$13
• Peacock Garden designed journal RRP $10
• Small gift set RRP A$20
• Large Gift set RRP A40

Time out with Marie Drago – Soap & Glory

If you haven’t heard of Soap & Glory before, you could be taken for hiding under a rock when it comes to the beauty scene. Soap & Glory (S&G) is a British cult brand that prides itself in making skincare fun and accessible to the every-day consumer, ditching beauty marketing speak and jargon to give results based products (go read my review on their heel genius here.

Last month I had the opportunity to interview the marketing brains behind the Soap & Glory, Marie Drago. The French woman has for the past 5 Years made London her home whilest she helps to build the Soap & Glory as a fun, girly and accessible beauty brand.

The first thing you will notice when you meet the beautiful Marie is the warmth she exudes and her mesmerising accent. Being French really played to her favour. I hit it off well with Marie and in between discussing holiday plans, nail colours then food and places to visit, I managed to ask her a few question about the brand.

Marie and I

Q: How did Soap & Glory get started? 
A: It was created by Marcia Kilgore who was the founder of Bliss Spa founder back in 2006, while she was on a maternity break. She wanted to create something that was results-based and easily accessible to the consumer so it had to be fun and affordable. She has an aesthetician background and after playing around with making body products, came to create Soap & Glory.

Q:What attracts you to S&G?
A: I love the fun nature of the brand which is a break away from the traditional skincare brands I’ve worked with in France – they are very much into their scientific based. Soap and glory is different – we are honest and open and have a more informal approach. Our philosophy is that any average person can relate to the brand because it is solution based. We will clearly state what problems your products solve.

Q: What are the plans for the company’s growth?
A: We are a small company with 25 staff in the UK and approximately a team of 5 in the US. We are going to concentrate on our existing market base and make sure we do well in these areas before considering expansions to newer markets. So that means UK, US, Australia will continue to be our main focus for the foreseeable future.

What are your favourite products? 
A: Well, I have a secret love for heel genius is the only product in the range that is made in my home country France. I love the Breakfast Scrub from the new range because it smells beautiful with maple syrup, banana and almond for a beautiful scrub to use.
I also enjoy Sit Tight which has micro sponge caffeine to helps to tighten and slimming effects – has a warming sensation when you use it as well.

Q: Are the differences in what sells better in Australia than in the UK? 
A: Well there is a smaller range of products in Australia than in the UK – Australia stocks only the best selling skin and body care products.

In the UK, we have a cosmetics range on top of skincare which was launched last year, and it is doing very well. Also we have things that sell better in Australia than back at home such as the glow lotion as you have a better climate than ours

Marie’s tip: apply along the side of calves below the knees to get an extra inch of leg height instantly.

Q: So are there any plans to bring the cosmetic range to Australia or any other products?
A: Not at this stage, we are concentrating on consolidating on the products we have launched here so far. We don’t spend on marketing or advertising and rely soley on word of mouth and testimonials. In Australia, the brand has just grown so much with Kit Cosmetics’ support.

Q: So will you bring out new products to Australia? 
A: We’ve just brought a few new items like the grapefruit oil hand sanitiser which smells amazing, the breakfast scrub that leaves no residue on the body, the butter yourself body cream which is not as sweetly scented as the Righteous Butter.

And for the holiday season, we will see some cute Christmas packs coming out with mini versions of the some fabulous products.

Q: What’s an unconventional way you’ve use any S&G products? 
A: Well I’m told that the righteous butter is very good for stretchmarks and people with eczema use it as a treatment because it is rich in aloe and shea butter. It’s also another of my favourite product.

Marie and I then proceeded to discuss food and the best eateries in Melbourne as before wrapping up. It was an immense pleasure to meet and chat with her. I’m grateful she took time out of her busy schedule to meet give me some time for this interview and I hope you learned something new about the Soap & Glory Brand.

Interview: Clare Lille for Illamasqua

The L’Oreal Melbourne Fashion week (08-15 March) and various new season fashion shows have come and gone. Whilst I’m not a fashion blogger, I like to keep a watching brief on the trends that come out for each season.

There are many reasons for doing this but the 2 main ones are so I can see if there are any pieces that I can take from the catwalks and make it work in everyday life – I find footwear and accessories the easiest to incorporate into existing wardrobes.

The other is to see the stunning makeup and hair designs that come out of the catwalks – seriously, the pieces of work that come out sometimes are more of an artwork themselves than the clothing that hang off the models sometimes.

With that in mind, when I had the opportunity to interview Clare Lille, Head of Makeup Artist for the Myer Autumn/Winter Fashion Launch & Makeup Director of Illamasqua 2 weeks ago, I knew I couldn’t say no even if my work schedule didn’t really allowed for it.

Clare is a beautiful creature, her striking eyes enhanced with smouldering black khol and hair under a gorgeous turban immediately captivated me when I first met her at the back stages just 1 ½ hr prior to the fashion show opening that evening.

As Clara had a busy schedule, I only managed to catch her briefly and asked a couple of questions before she moved on with the next interview.

How long have you been working with Illamasqua?
I’ve been with the Illamasqua for 2 years and am one of 6 educators at the training school and have been assisting Alex Box and David Hall with all the collection design and looks – it has been an amazing and fabulous journey because you can create your own look from daring to be different to natural, it’s all achievable and limited only by your creativity.

What’s your style and inspiration.
I love the vintage look so the golden eras and 50s, 60s and 70s are all my inspirations. I love the unstructured look and on myself, I lean more towards natural beauty and like enhancing the features of one’s face.

What looks are you doing today for the models?
There are 2 looks going : on is an understated natural look with a modern androgynous twist that adds a bit of the London edge where the contouring is focused on the brows and eye area to give it a bit more of a sculpted feel but still keeping the rest of the face pretty neutral. To balance, we have a muted stained lip look using one of the lip pencils which balances out the rest of the face.

The second is a soft wispy beauty that is very natural, a bit unkempt on the hair, the eyes are softly smoked with a plum shade and lightly lined eyes. The face is fresh and not overly glowing and finished off with a rose petal lip.

What can we look forward to from Illamasqua?
Well the new collection called Human Fundamentals out this month is just beautiful. The colours are vibrant, the lines sharp and allows everyone to express their inner self to the outside world but is versatile enough that you can incorporate into your everyday look.

Thank you Clare for taking the time to answer a few of my questions!

I also managed to catch the Kevin Murphy team in action as they did the girls and guys hair that even. Boys were looking very natural with slightly texturised hair that had the finger run through the hair feel and girls had small side plaits on the that was gathered and sewn onto the sides of the head and its ends teased out for that wispiness (great for wedding hair I’m told).

I caught a styling tip on getting perfect hair during prep time:  blow dry your hair in the final stages under a hair net to set everything in place. It also works to help maintain a style in humid weather so there is no need for touch up when it comes time to walk that catwalk – genius much?

Alas, I did not have time to stay and watch the fashion parade as I had to get back to the office and finish off work till the dark hours that night but here are some official photos of the parade that evening.

Additional photography courtesy of David Caird & Lucas Dawson.

December Highlights: Interviewing Natalie Bloom

With the festivities of Christmas and the holiday season last month, I was grateful for a relatively quiet month on the beauty front.

I did, however, have the pleasure of meeting and interviewing the amazing Natalie Bloom, entrepreneurial beauty addict and founder of Bloom Cosmetics.

At 40, Natalie is a mother of 4 (the youngest is just 4 months old!) and racing at 100 kilometres an hour daily to grow her hugely successful Bloom Cosmetic that is currently turning over sales of more than $20 million annually. 

Natalie Bloom - image courtesy Ben Swinnerton | Herald Sun

I chatted with Natalie before Christmas about her love for design and beauty and everything else in between.

How did you take that leap from your passion of arts and graphic design and turn it into a business?
I studied graphics design in my Arts degree and it started with designing cards while I was a freelance designer. It was the encouragement of my then boyfriend (now husband) that I took the plunge and started my own business printing cards. Nowadays at Bloom, I’m all about artistic and creative direction and collaborating with talented Australian artists like Beci Ophin and David Band to design our packaging.

How did Bloom Cosmetics start?
What launched bloom as a cosmetics brand is the lip balms which is the heart of Bloom with only natural based ingredients and they are still a core product in our range today. The DIY kits with candle and potpourri making kits were also popular and developed a big following.
The success spurred us to develop a lipgloss at a time when lip glosses weren’t as mainstream as they are today and the business just grew from there. From then we launched eye products, then the complexion products and the rest as they say, is history.

What can we look forward to next with Bloom in the new year?
Well Bloom Cosmetics will turn 19 in March, which is a fantastic milestone. We will be growing our organics range which will launch new body care products which I’m very excited about. I’m very much into the organics and healthy living at home with my 4 kids. I’m what is termed a dark-green consumer (using only environmentally-friendly products at home).

What are your favourite products from your lines?
This is like asking me which on my kids are my favourite! I love them all but I’m fanatical about our lip gloss as that’s what launched the brand. I also love our newly launched candles and we have what I think is the best mascara with the full and flirty mascara which is made in Italy. Then there are the eyeshadows which are just beautiful.  

How do you maintain a work-life balance with 4 children , especially with such a young son who is only 4 months old?
It’s a constant juggle; sometimes one takes over another depending on what needs your urgent attention at that point in time and it’s constantly changing.
I’m very grateful for my supportive husband who has flexible working hours and can help with looking after the kids when at work. My 4 month old son comes to work with me on certain days as I’m still breast feeding and I have a nanny 3 days a week to help me out at home. Without these support, I definitely don’t think I will manage as well as I do.

Do you think there is a tension between the traditional bricks and mortar stores and online stores? Who do you think would come out on top?
In today’s climate, I think you need a presence in both and they really enhance the experience of each other. Since the relaunch of Bloom’s website we have seen our sales double but we also don’t see a decline in sales volume in our retail presence.
I think online is great for doing short and sharp promotions and can cater internationally (we are working on making our online store available to international customers but have to iron out some bumps first) but a retail presence adds the personal touch to the shopping experience and that is why retail will always have a place in the business. It’s about finding the right mix of online and offline and making that connection to get people from looking at the screen to walking into stores.

Natalie & I

So there you have it, the online and offline debate is going to fizzle out and the two will end up being complementary channels if Natalie is to have her way with it.

Thank you Natalie for taking the time out of your busy schedule to chat with me.

Beauty In Bloom Giveaway
Natalie is also kind enough to sponsor a giveaway of her book- Beauty in Bloom: A collection of beautiful inspirations.

Beauty in Bloom is an inspirational, eclectic and stylish compendium of all things beautiful from Natalie Bloom, founder of Bloom Cosmetics. From the love of makeup to inner beauty, nature to notebooks, from perfumes to Paris, Beauty in Bloom is about making us look beautiful, feel beautiful and above all be inspired by beauty. If you want to win this special book.

To win a signed copy of this book (yes, I've confirmed Natalie will be signing your book!), all you have to do is tell me what inspires you every day?

The most creative answer will be judged as the winner. Readers can enter mulitples times but each separate entry must be a unique answer.
This competition ends on midnight AEST 22nd January so don't forget to get your entries in!
This competition is open to all readers, international or in Australia.

Interview: Greg Roberts on Onkaparinga

You may start off wondering what all Aussie Onkaparinga is all about as it's one of those brands that you don't think of normally unless you are in the market for it.

Let me tell you Onkaparinga is a Proud Australian company with rich heritage that dates back 1869 and is synonymous with high quality luxury sleep products and accessories. Their growth in recent times have seen them expand to the bathroom and to the beach with their latest and upcoming offerings.

I recently had the fortunate opportunity recently to interview the Greg Roberts - Managing Director of the company to find out more about its business and its products. 

Onkaparinga was established since 1869 – there must be a lot of history. Could you give a brief history of Onkaparinga. What has the growth been like?

For generations Onkaparinga was associated with high quality Australian woollen blankets and has established a rich heritage as a well known, trusted brand.

[The name Onkaparinga comes] from the indigenous word meaning “The Women’s River” and was referred to as that before reverting to the original name in 1837. The river, at its source at the foot of the Mt. Lofty Ranges, was the site of the Onkaparinga Woollen Mills, first established in 1869.

In recent times Onkaparinga has expanded its range to become a leader in the luxury warmth and comfort category... continuing its range extension to beyond the bedroom to the bathroom and beach but always based on a premium premise which allows our consumers to pamper and indulge themselves. 

What sets Onkaparinga apart from other companies offering similar products eg. Sheridan. What is your differentiation?

Our heritage first and foremost sets us apart. It has taken 142 years thus far to build trust and a quality reputation so we are not about to compromise that. Onkaparinga concentrates less on fashion and more on comfort, quality and pampering our customers. Our quilts and bedding ranges are proof of this, as is our new bathroom towel collection and wait until you see our Retro Beach Ware to be launched in David Jones later this year.

What’s next on your horizon? What can customers look forward to?

We continue to expand our bedding lines, with high end linen to follow soon. 

In September we launch our beach ware selection, a retro range of beach towels, umbrellas, beach lounges and beach carry bags... We return the fun to beach ware. Look out for it in David Jones this summer.

What is your favouirite past and current product ranges and why

It is difficult to be objective but everyone here is wildly excited with the upcoming release of the Beach Ware range. But, then the current range of our Egyptian Cotton towels is fantastic as well... (Greg couldn't decide on his favourite range and listed a the various ranges he was fond of instead). 

Would you expand to clothing or accessories?

Yes, though within our categories. Sleepwear is one, so too beachwear, such as sun hats, t-shirts and board shorts. Onkaparinga is a brand synonymous with and unique to Australia. So within our category that sits comfortably under this umbrella is the answer with the proviso that it is of premium quality and pampers our customers.

Thank you Greg for taking the time out of your busy schedule to answer my questions. 

****

I also had the chance to check out the luxury towel range and I can tell you these towel are hotel quality and stand up to the abuse of daily use and washing and drying and still come out nice and fluffy and soft. I can't think of anything warmer this coming winter than to step out of the shower and onto the soft bamboo bathmat whilst being wrapped up in fluffy soft towels like Onkaparinga's. 

Latest Egyptian Cotton towel range

What's more these towels with their ribbed pattens and sophisticated colour selections (my favourite are the mushroom colours as it's nice and neutral) means there's bound to be one that would suit your decor and add an extra touch of luxury into your bathroom.

Latest Luxury Towel range and bamboo bath mat

Onkaparinga Towels start at RRP A$9.95 for face washers to A$64.95 for large bath sheets.
For more information on Onkaparinga products or stocklists, please visit Onkaparinga Online.

Samples from the latest towel range were provided for consideration.