The Non-Negotiables These Fashion Week Front-Rowers Swear By To Look and Feel Their Best | The Fashion Editor
Whether it’s a birthday, wedding or one of the biggest events scheduled on the fashion week calendar, there’s more than meets the eye when it comes to looking and feeling your best as you walk out that door.
Here at The Parlour Room, we’re huge believers that beauty shines from within, feeling confident and comfortable in your own skin. So in the lead up to fashion week this year, we wanted to find out exactly what the non-negotiables the fashion front-rowers swear by in order to look and feel their best when it comes to all things beauty, skincare and wellness.
Introducing, Lauren Sams, fashion editor of The Australian Financial Review. Between attending shows, interviewing designers and not to mention writing, transcribing and publishing an array of stories each day, Lauren has the pre-event prep down pat.
Here’s how she does it.
The Fashion Editor | Lauren Sams
BEAUTY
Lauren: I love skincare but I’m not as obsessed by beauty. When it comes to prepping for an event, I am quite minimal, no matter what is happening. I find if I use too many products my skin freaks out. I have to keep this in mind because I am very easily nudged into experimenting, especially when I am stressed. So. I have a list of failsafe products I always go back to.
Day-to-day, I keep things pretty simple - I love a tinted moisturiser for day and a foundation with greater coverage at night. For day, I go between Nudestix and Rationale’s new Tinted Serum (truly a game-changer), and occasionally It Cosmetics. In summer I love Chanel Les Beiges water tint. I have no idea how it works; it’s mainly water but somehow leaves your skin looking perfect. Magic.
I am a slave to Bare Minerals That Peach Tho for my blush (I have to have blush; without it, I look six feet under) and I fill in my brows with a pencil and brush from Amy Jean, who I swear by. I keep both products in my bag at all times.
If I wear lipstick, it’s Hermes - the absolute best. But truthfully, I do that about twice a year! Possibly I'll feel a bit special at FW and wear a bright lip. Watch this space. I know, it's intriguing. Imagine.
For hair, I will see Paula at Project One in Sydney for a fresh cut. I have curls and Project One is a curly hair salon - I discovered it a few years ago and have not looked back. I wash with Living Proof’s curl shampoo and conditioner, dry with Aquis Rapid Dry turban ($46 seems like a lot for a glorified towel until you use it and it really, really works) and then I use Kevin Murphy’s Motion Lotion. I try not to blow dry unless I need to. For colour I see Nikki at Mr Burrows, who is the absolute best.
Oroton Runway 2021 (Photo by Brook Mitchell/Getty Images)
SKINCARE
Lauren: I love skincare. I often think that if my Year 11 chemistry teacher had taught me about niacinamide I might have stuck with it. I cleanse with Emma Lewisham’s cleansing oil or Sunday Riley’s Ceramic Slip. In the morning I’ll follow that with Rationale’s Hydragel, then Barbara Sturm’s Vitamin C and Paula’s Choice Ceramide moisturiser. At night after cleansing I use the Hydragel again, then Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair and Biossance Vitamin C and rose oil.
I love masks. A few times a week I’ll exfoliate with Biossance’s glycolic mask, Dr Dennis Gross Alpha Beta peel or Paula’s Choice glycolic exfoliant, then use a sheet mask - I like the ones from Minenssey, Go-To, 111 Skin and Dr Dennis Gross. I love Fresh masks too - their rose mask is absolutely sublime.
Before a big event, I'll treat myself to a facial, like the very special Fire and Ice facial at Self The Parlour Room. And very occasionally, I will get my nails done.
WELLNESS
Lauren: I exercise every single day, no excuses, especially when I am busy because it is so, so good for my head. I wake up at 5.30 and I'm exercising by 5.45, after a coffee. I love it. Usually, I’ll do a strength workout at home - I follow a woman called Lindsey Bomgren, who has free workouts on YouTube that are seriously tough. She has transformed my life, no exaggeration! I’ll finish with 10 minutes of skipping while I listen to a news podcast like The Squiz. Then coffee. Again. On weekends I’ll go for a nice long run or do barre. I like the classes on the app Alo Moves.
I have collagen every day. I like Vida Glow, The Beauty Chef and By Beth, which is a new brand. I am not sure on the science, to be honest, but anecdotally I think it’s made a difference.
I try not to drink too much, mainly because, a) I have drunk enough alcohol for a lifetime already and b) when I drink it makes me feel sh*t during my workout the next day. In my job, and particularly at something like Fashion Week, I am handed a glass of champagne approximately every ten seconds, and I’ll almost always say no, which is no fun but it means I can, you know, actually do my job.
