Air Borne: Easy, breezy fashion accessories

Despite autumn making its way onto the runways and stores with new fall/winter collections launching, it would seem that the summer heat is here to stay. Why not make the most of the warm sunny days by amping up your ensemble with these essentially easy, breezy fashion accessories.

Look 1:
Coach x Sephora Collection Sharky eyeshadow palette, Rexy eyeshadow palette and Uni Face eyeshadow palette by Sephora Hong Kong; Curator Eyeshadow Collection by Hourglass; Aqua Universalis Cologne Forte Collection by Maison Francis Kurkdjian

Look 2:
Marble Silk Robe Du Soir scarf and Printed enamel bracelets by Hermès

Look 3:
Sunglasses by Loewe; Heart sunglasses by Stella McCartney; Space Derby scarf by Hermès

Look 4:
Viva Bow bag by Salvatore Ferragamo; Viv’ Rangers sandals by Roger Vivier; Cleo shoulder bag by Prada

Look 5:
Essential Check-In luggage by Rimowa; Rubber shoes by Dolce & Gabbana; Top by Dolce & Gabbana; Shorts by Dolce & Gabbana; 5. Pansies Large Puzzle bag by Loewe6. Goya small bag by Loewe

Look 6:
RV Night lily Broche Vivier Buckle mini bag by Roger Vivier; East West tote by Yuni Ahn from Shanghai Tang; Mount envelope bag by Bottega Veneta; Square-toe mules by Yuni Ahn from Shanghai Tang

Photographer: Jack Law
Videographer: Kingsley Lau
Art Direction and Styling: Jhoshwa Ledesma

Sun Kissed: Broad spectrum Summer skincare essentials for a healthy glow

With the cooler climes of spring firmly behind us and the sun’s rays intensifying, it’s now more critical than ever that your skincare routines encompass an array of UV-beating, moisturising boosters. To help, we’ve shortlisted some standout products that may enable you to beat the damaging summer heat.

First to the table is Melbourne-headquartered Aesop’s Protective Facial Lotion SPF25, a lightweight solution that blocks harmful UVA and UVB rays, while ensuring optimal dermal hydration via its hero antioxidant ingredients of green tea and tocopherol (vitamin E).

A more organic approach comes courtesy of Hourglass’s Equilibrium Broad Spectrum Day Fluid SPF30, which utilises four organic chemical compounds to create a shield against the elements and sundry sunrays. It comes with the side benefits of being vegan and cruelty-free.

Then there’s US-based beauty brand Skin Inc, with Pure UV Protect⁺, an all-in-one makeup base, sunscreen, moisturiser and anti-ageing cream billed to protect against UV and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Kicking things up a notch is Watery Sun Cream SPF50+ PA++++ from South Korean cosmetics label Laneige, with its birch sap-infused formula made to provide all-day sun protection as well as resistance to sweat and water.

The final entry on our list – German cosmetologist Dr. Barbara Sturm’s Sun Drops – gives your skin some much-needed tending courtesy of a hyper-condensed yet lightweight serum. Infused with cassia extract, vitamin E, hyaluronic acid and more, this SPF50 broad spectrum product is designed to protect against sun spots, skin discolouration and wrinkles, ensuring you maintain a youthful glow throughout the summer.

Get the Look: The Autumn Almaknack

Get the Look

In the darkest times, it’s still possible to shine and let all around see your inner light. Start with the lightweight Airbrush Flawless Foundation from Charlotte Tilbury, then enhance your cheekbones with Lancôme‘s Blush Subtil. Moving up to the eye region, apply Giorgio Armani Beauty’s Eyes to Kill Designer Eyeliner for an ultra-slim effect, then reach for the High-Pigment Longwear Eyeliner from NARS for a smokey touch below the eyes. Focussing on the lashes, opt for the Climax Mascara, again courtesy of NARS, before treating your eyes to a little shine from Givenchy’s Prismissime – Nine-colour eyeshadow palette. Next, add a dab of Tom Ford’s Fiber Brow Gel to the brows. Give a shine to your lips courtesy of Hourglass’ Unreal High Shine Volumizing Lip Gloss and, finally, enhance your overall glow with Guerlain’s new Parure Gold Mist.

Get the Look: Glow and behold… Golden shine for summer time

Get The Look

Shimmer in the golden sun this summer by first applying a touch of Sisley’s Blur Expert to smoothe out the skin, then brush the cheekbones with the Glowgasm Face Palette from Charlotte Tilbury for a little extra radiance, before finishing with a shimmery touch of YSL’s Touche Éclat Shimmer Stick. Moving onto the eyes, go for a scorching hot look courtesy of D&G’s Intenseyes Creamy Eyeshadow Stick, which is all but guaranteed to make your eyes shimmer, then moving on to Dior’s 5 Couleurs palette for a softer and blurrier effect.

Enhance the shape of your eyebrows with a pinch of Shu Uemura’s Eyebrow Manicure, to ensure a fuller look. And for a truly sun-kissed aura, apply a healthy layer of Hourglass’ Unreal High Shine Volumizing Lip Gloss for a silky unsticky pucker. Finally, finish with an extra touch of sparkling Aura Dew from Shiseido to guarantee instant shine and bronze across the areas that need them the most.

Go for the Glow: Four new foundations to try this season

French luxury skincare brand Clarins is seemingly on a mission to persuade its keen adherents to turn over a new leaf this year, at least dermatologically, with its all-new Skin Illusion foundation being touted as the first veil foundation with a silky serum texture and a bare skin finish.

Hot on its heels is another haute French beauty brand – Guerlain – that has just reinvented its L’Essentiel Natural Glow Foundation. Promising everything from a 16-hour glow to guaranteeing an au naturel complexion, it’s apparently a 30ml miracle that’ll transform your skin forever, at least according to the company.

However, if it’s the most futuristic form of skincare that you seek, perhaps you should try out US-based cosmetics brand Hourglass’ hero product – Vanish Seamless Finish Liquid Foundation. A highly concentrated liquid, only a tiny drop of this foundation is said to be enough to give you full coverage. As an added bonus, it’s vegan and cruelty-free.

Meanwhile, for some extra radiance, why not seek out the Sheer Glow Foundation from French beauty marque NARS? In addition to the expected assurances of full coverage, even skin tone and long-lasting formula, it’s also said to provide maximum luminosity, giving you that ever-desirable glowing skin. Available in 20 shades, there’s sure to be something here for everyone.

Christmas Spree: Affording you the greatest glee this festive season

As we draw closer to Jolly Old Saint Nick’s annual visit to our beloved city, it’s now the time to be rockin’ around the Christmas spree. Carefully selected by Gafencu’s staff are the perfect little prezzies to slip into your loved ones’ stockings, or perhaps even under the mistletoe to guarantee an extra holiday smooch.

Look 1:

From left: Confession refillable lipstick set by Hourglass; Provocateur eyeshadow palette from NARS’ Holiday 2018 Collection; Sunglasses by Alexander McQueen; Miu Cleo bag by Miu Miu; Cadogan Engine billfold wallet by Dunhill; Leather headphone case by Bottega Veneta; The Only One eau de parfum by Dolce & Gabbana; Valeria cuff by Chloé; J Box clutch with crystal stars by Jimmy Choo; Bunny Macrame charm in calfskin by Loewe; Evening slipper in patent leather by Dunhill

Look 2

From left: Cho Real Barocco mule by Roger Vivier; Varina ballerina and mini Vara Bow flap bag with crystals, both by Salvatore Ferragamo; Hot Tryst cheek palette from NARS’ Holiday 2018 Collection; Red Edition N°5 eau de parfum by Chanel; Panthère de Cartier sunglasses by Cartier; Talia sandal with crystals and feathers by Giuseppe Zanotti

Look 3

From left: Dice game in leather and wooden dice by Berluti; Duke zipped folio in metallic calfskin leather by Dunhill; Garden of Paradise parfum by Chopard; Villeret Grande Date Jour Rétrograde watch in 18K red gold case by Blancpain; Billfold wallet in multi-coloured intrecciato leather by Bottega Veneta; Leather case by Hermès

Look 4

From left: Multipouch in nappa leather, iPhone case in nappa leather, three glass orbs, all by Bottega Veneta; Zipped tablet pouch by Hermès; Foxley tasselled slippers by Jimmy Choo; Leather box with mouse motif by Loewe; Leather cardholder by Hermès

Look 5

From left: Grand Attelage gold-plated cutleryby Hermès; Barocco box clutch with crystals and stones by Roger Vivier; The Empressa Collection X’mas box gift set with Empressa eau de toilette and body cream by Penhaligon’s; Sequined Mary Jane pumps by Miu Miu; Twenty~4 Automatic watch in 18K rose gold set with diamonds by Patek Philippe; Goldomania nail colour and Goldomania Loubilaque lip lacquer from Christian Louboutin’s Goldomania holiday collection.

Photos: Neville Lee
Art Direction & Styling : San Wong

Light Fantastic: Three Top Winter Eye and Cheek Palette ranges

Add some extra sheen to your eyes and cheeks this winter with our top three selection of eye and cheek palette ranges.

NARS’ Atomic Blonde Eye and Cheek Palette could arguably be all that you need to look wonderful this winter. With shimmery golden, copper and chocolate shades, this could be your secret weapon in the never-ending battle to turn heads.

Another brand looking to turn up the heat this winter is Hourglass, with the famously cruelty-free US cosmetics manufacturer having just launched its new blusher palette – Ambient Light Edit. Available in six contrasting shades, it is being hailed by beauty pundits as the all-in-one solution for your bronzing and highlighting needs.

Inspired by the ever-popular camouflage print, Bobbi Brown, meanwhile, has just launched the Camo Luxe Eye & Cheek Palette for its AW18 collection. Coming in six rich and earthy colours for eye shadow and a warming glow for the cheeks, it’s all you need to look effortlessly glamorous. Each formula glides on your skin smoothly, treating your lids to a wealth of densely-pigmented colour.

Top 5 products to help you get that glow

From the leaves of literature to glossy magazine pages, writers the world over have used one word to describe a natural and universal concept of beauty: glow. Whether it’s the ‘glow of youth’ or that of a new-found love, this natural radiance is a look that many a beauty brand has tried to recreate with a myriad of products. If you’re looking to incorporate the right shine into your daily make up routine, we’ve got a list of the best tools to ensure your skin is glowing, come rain or shine.

Charlotte Tillbury – world famous make-up artist and beauty brand – uses porcelain flower extract in the newly launched Hollywood Flawless Filter foundation. This essence, derived from a Thai flower, is made of natural anti-oxidants and anti-inflammatories that create a brightening effect.

Guerlain’s Météorites CC Glow collection, meanwhile, is comprised of three colour correcting pens that work together to target and banish skin tone imperfections. Each concealer has specific correcting properties, which in turn offer a radiant and rejuvenating effect.

The Hourglass Vanish Flash highlighting stick is formulated with hollow microspheres for the most weightless texture. The skin-saving highlighters adjust to your body temperature, effortlessly blending into the skin and offering an instant flash of light.

Natural Radiant longwear foundation by NARS pairs perfectly with star product Radiant Creamy Concealer. Offering a 16-hour fade-resistance with full-powered brightness, the amino acid coated pigments strongly adhere to skin, binding with a long-lasting effect.

From foundation to highlighter, using the right product can help you to achieve your desired look even when you are not on the cusp of youth… or finding new love.