The fiercest in fashion, the sultan of style, Melissa Hoyer wears many a (carefully chosen) hat.
Bh’s Olivia was lucky enough to chat to the Australian icon on her favourite beauty buys, top travel destinations and why the ‘Chinatown upside down roasted duck’ look won’t be hitting the runway anytime soon…
Formal season is almost well and truly upon us, what do you think are trends for formal hair and make-up in 09?
There is a much fresher and more natural look in formal style this year. ”¨Gone are those super-structured hair styles, where a teasing comb and an entire can of hairspray has been used, and instead hair is softly blow dried with natural waves and curls, often set off with a bejewelled head band.”¨ Ban the tandoori spray tan and go for a light bronzing. A coat of ModelCo’s Tan in a Can, Tan Brush or a few layers of Johnson’s Holiday Skin Body Lotion is all you need.
Make up focuses on a bold smoky eye and the glossiest lips you’ve ever seen – while the super adventurous will go a really bold red lip like one, using shades from MAC, Nars or Chanel.
What’s the most interesting or unique beauty product you own?
At the moment there is Jan Marini’s Transformation Face Crèam, which is AH-MAZING as is Estee Lauder’s Nutritious Vita Mineral make-up.
The best beauty tip I’ve ever heard is…
Exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate – it really does leave my skin feeling like a clean and cleansed blank canvas, whether I’m about to put make-up on or not. I’ve also discovered that an SPF 30 (love Invisible’s Zinc’s Tinted Daywear) is ESSENTIAL as I get older and live in Australia.
Name a worst-ever beauty blunder.
A couple of extremely badly applied spray-tans that left my ankles, fingers and wrists looking like they met an upside down roasted duck in Chinatown. Thank God for ModelCo’s Tan-in-a-Can and Frankie from the Bronzing Boutique in Sydney, who comes to my house and does her spraying thing.
Who’s your beauty icon and why?
Actress Cate Blanchett takes the SKII approach to her skincare and having seen her in action, she really does practice what she preaches. Her translucent skin is testament to sticking to a strong but simple beauty regime.
What’s on your bedside table?
Keihl’s Lip balm, Aesop Resurrection hand balm, a Tiffany & Co water jug and glass set, Estee Lauder Stress Relief eye masks, La Prairie’s Anti Ageing Eye Cream, a picture of my 7-year-old-son and my ever trusty BlackBerry!
What’s the last beauty item you bought?
A Nars red lippie called Red Lizard from Mecca Cosmetica, some Tom Ford Black Orchid and Hermes’ Caleche scents, a Maybelline mascara from Priceline, Chanel’s Precision Eye make-up remover and some French (Collyre Blue) eye drops from the Australian College of Make Up and Special Effects in Annandale, Sydney.
What’s the most interesting place you’ve travelled to and why?
Prague and Paris, the jewels in the European crown. I can just walk and walk and walk around both cities and always discover a new gallery, an exquisite cobblestoned street, a café or bar. If I wasn’t living in Australia, I would definitely be in either city. Prague holds particular charm, as my father was Czech so I can just about ‘feel’ the city within me.
What must-have beauty product would you not leave home without?
Some sort of lipstick or gloss – I’m loving Lip Lights by ModelCo and Revlon’s Colorstay. I just don’t feel ‘dressed’, even if I’m running down to the shop, if I don’t have something on my lips! I also wouldn’t leave home (if I was going out), without a Valonz (Renya Xydis’s salon) blow-dry.
If you were shipwrecked on a desert island what three beauty products would you want with you?
A 30-plus of anything; Pantene’s 3 Minute Miracle hair treatment and Alexia Shinas from the Next of Skin salon, who could give me a killer facial. Ha!
If you weren’t doing this job you’d be…?
I would be in a well set-up Winnebago, taking a year to travel around Australia and filming it for a, kind of interesting, take on a documentary series!
