When it comes to beauty and all things fabulous, it’s the secret tips and expert advice that we all really want. Rescu. has sought out some of the most influential style experts to form the series Learn from the Style Experts, giving you just that. Enter, all your expert advice for living a life more fabulous.
Expert Post by Sigourney Cantelo, Beauticate Founder.
For many of us, skewing our lifestyles to embrace a more natural or organic way of life is high on the agenda. We know that health wise, we should be reducing our chemical intake, but when it comes to beauty, this can mean losing out in the efficacy department.
We called on long time beauty journalist (she was beauty and health director at Vogue for six years) and founder of Beauticate, Sigourney Cantelo, who is also seven months pregnant, for her take on what actually works. “Since there are a bunch of ingredients you’re not allowed to use during pregnancy – like retinol and salicylic acid – I’ve been forced to really cherry pick from all the natural beauty ranges to match my fairly stringent skincare standards,” she says. “These are the products I’ve been most impressed with.” Notepads at the ready.
–The Beauty Chef Probiotic Skin Refiner, $69.95
“Lactic acid is a superstar when it comes to skincare – it sloughs and refines at the same time, assisting in pigmentation (a bit problem for me during pregnancy), dehydration and roughness. This fluid contains loads of the magical stuff along with a whole host of superfoods like grains, veggies and herbs.”
– MV Organics Hand Rescue, $59
“I’ve been a fan of this rose-scented dream cream for years and I keep one on my desk and in my bedside table. It’s super thick but it absorbs quickly and doesn’t leave a greasy residue, so you can get back to whatever you were doing when you remembered to apply it – and fast.”
–Subtle Energies Facial Oil Blend, $113
“This has got to be the most sublimely scented face oil ever. It’s a beautiful aromatherapy and ayurvedic blend that is based a special type of jasmine known as mogra and it’s just mesmerising. Whenever I pop it on before bed, my skin drinks it in and I wake up feeling perky and hydrated.”
–Black Chicken Axilla Deodorant Paste, $18.50
“Most natural deodorants don’t really pack much of a punch when it comes to keeping you smelling sweet, but I’ve been pretty impressed with this one which contains antibacterial and antifungal ingredients like peppermint, lime, mandarin and clove. I wouldn’t rely on it when doing heavy exercise, but it certainly keeps me feeling fresh day to day.”
– Aromantik Merchants of Menace Natural Eau De Parfum Spray, $29
“Commercial fragrances are amazing but they do contain a lot of synthetic ingredients. When you’re trying to cut your chemical load it’s nice to switch to a natural perfume and Aromantik have some of the most dreamy scents. This refreshing spray reminds me a bit of musk sticks but in a delicious and non-sickeningly-sweet way.”
–Antipodes Immortal SPF 15 Face & Body Moisturiser, $47.50
“It can be hard to find a good broad spectrum natural sunscreen but this delicious SPF-spiked face cream is really great to use and is also pumped with dermal-plumping sweet almond oil and jojobal oil along with hardworking hyaluronic acid and vitamin E. A great all-rounder.”
–Sodashi Samadara Ultimate Age-Defying Eye Cream, $280
“Sodashi is the Rolls Royce of natural beauty ranges and this eye cream is literally the crème de la crème. It contains a stunning mix of top shelf essential oils like rose, neroli and lavender and comes with a special rose quartz massage discs and a special eye massage routine to drain fluid and leave your peepers sparkling.”
–RMS Beauty Lip 2 Cheek in Smile, $48
“Miranda Kerr introduced me to this awesome range by New York makeup artist Rose-Marie Swift. She uses coconut oil as a basis to these beautifully pigmented balms and creams that you can apply with your fingers, like a stain. They’re so natural you could practically eat them.”
–Josie Maran Cosmetics Enlightenment Argan Illuminizing Wand, $40
“I’m crazy about any makeup that feels like drawing with a crayon. This beautiful, creamy luminiser is the perfect champagne-shade and it’s full of hydrating argan oil. It’s the perfect size to carry with you and can be used on cheekbones, brow bones, even along collar bones and down your limbs to give the illusion of length.”
–Rahua Voluminous Shampoo, $41.95
“Rahua is a gorgeous range which contains super potent ingredients that the Amazonian women used to strengthen their hair. Since I have fine hair I’ve found this range helps fatten strands without drying it out or making it ratty, which a lot of volume ranges tend to do.”