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Foundation Sponges
This week is a veritable blender bonanza. These are our favourite tools for applying liquid foundation, as they distribute the base evenly to create seamless coverage. Just dab on your make-up, blend and buff . You'll never look back.
Cult Following
Cult brand Dr. Hauschka's night-time ampoules help to balance and firm skin while you sleep. The soothing ingredients include witch hazel, madonna lily, rose, marshmallow and sunflower. Apply it for a month to thoroughly cleansed eyes, lips, neck and décolletage, then just add sleep. Renewing Night Conditioner, $55, drhauschka.com.au.
Road test
This week I try ... a four-tiered facial
The lowdown One treatment just not enough? Try combining four. My delightful therapist Janett begins the Intense New Age facial with a skin analysis that gives me a depressingly low hydration reading of 26.3 per cent, meaning I have lots of room for improvement. She begins with a 25 per cent glycolic peel, which is followed by hydro-microdermabrasion to remove the loosened dead skin cells. Next, Janett applies a cooling gel mask, followed by the high-tech Lightfusion (LED) mask to boost my hydration levels and stimulate collagen and elastin production. My face is then drenched with a collagen-infused serum that targets fi ne lines. While all this is going on, Janett works her magical hands over me, releasing tension in my face and neck. I just love the fact that this treatment is both results-driven and relaxing.
Pain factor The glycolic peel is intense, as my skin is quite sensitive. Janett removes it a couple of minutes short of full-time.
Downtime A mostly blissful 75 minutes.
Results My hydration score improved dramatically, rising to 49.2 per cent, and my skin looks plump and radiant. Where to get it Sydney and Melbourne: Endota Spa, endotaspa.com.au.
Cost: $250.
At home Keep up the good work by applying Endota's High Performance Lifting Mask; $80 for four weekly treatments (endotaspa.com.au).
Ask Stephanie
I want to update my make-up from scratch. What do you suggest?
Start at your favourite make-up counter by getting your foundation colour-matched to your skin tone and work up from there. If you don't have a preferred brand, try Mecca, mecca.com.au, which has a vast range of beauty brands to work with.
Send beauty questions to stephanie@darlingbeauty.com.au.
Follow Stephanie Darling on Instagram @mrssdarling