The first night of GLAMOUR’s Big Beauty Call – a series of virtual hook-ups that exploring the best of skincare, haircare and makeup – saw an informative yet luxurious evening of beauty excellence thanks to the hair pros from Amika, who walked us through four on-trend styles and shared their top tips for keeping hair healthy, as well as a skincare masterclass with Pixi Beauty, joined by esteemed skincare expert Amanda Bell, Pixi Beauty’s director of artistry and education and Deb Falke, makeup pro and skincare sensation.
During the first session of the night, GLAMOUR’s beauty & entertainment assistant Shei Mamona was joined by Naeemah LaFond, Amika’s Global Artistic Director and James Earnshaw, Amika’s Artistic Ambassador, to learn how to do four different summer hairstyles that can be achieved from home.
Deep Waves
Naeemah started off by creating deep waves on textured hair using the Amika High Tide Deep Waver, £90, on a model with 3C hair, although Naeemah explained that the style can be done on all types of hair from straight, wavy to curly and coily as well as all lengths. “If you do the under layer, it’s going to shorten hair more because the waves add dents into the hair. So to help keep that length you want to do just the top layer as well.” she adds.
Naeemah recommended a a generous amount of Amika Blockade Heat Defense Serum, £20, throughout the lengths of the hair in order to “preserve the integrity of the hair texture and make sure you have a barrier between the hair and the heat” and the Amika Shield Anti-Humidity Spray, £10, which also serves as a style extender. “I want those waves to just really last, if we’re going to put heat on our hair, especially if it’s naturally curly hair, you want it to last a few days.” says Naeemah.
The Rope Pony
Naeemah’s second look of the night was a high rope braid ponytail. She started off using Amika Supernova Moisture And Shine Cream, £20. “I’m using it to smooth into her hair,and bring it up into a nice high ponytail.” She also used the Amika Curl Corps Enhancing Gel, £20, as a light holding gel for her sleek pony.”
To get the pony in the perfect position, pull the hair high and tight above the brow line, to give the illusion of a naturally snatched face, and secure with a hairband with two bobby pins dangling from different ends, wrapping the band around and then gripping it down with the bobby pin for the tightest grip, without having to faff with pulling the hair through.
Day 3 Waves
James demonstrated how to recycle a beach wave on day two to day four of our hair wash routine, curling the front sections of hair in the direction away from the face and using a wide tooth comb to brush out the curls. James used Amika’s Got Grit Dry Texture, £20, paste for styling. “This is going to help us to mattify the hair and just give it a little bit more of a gritty texture.” says James.
The Double Pony
James went for a cool 90s, sexy, curly double ponytail for his second look, massaging the Amika Wizard Detangling Primer, £20, into curls to help moisturise and revitalise.
As for stopping your curls from dropping after styling, James suggested spending time on the preparation prior to curling. “I just went in and blow dried some Amika Brooklyn Bombshell, £20, to help give the perfect base to her hair. Just spend the time to prep and layer up your products to achieve the perfect base.”
During the second session of the evening, Get Your Glow with Pixi Beauty, GLAMOUR Beauty Editor Lottie Winter was joined by Amanda Bell, who has over 20 years’ experience in the beauty industry and knows all the secrets to radiant skin and Deb Falke, makeup and skincare influencer known for her glowing skin and show-stopping makeup looks.
First up, Amanda revealed why Vitamin C is one of the most important skincare ingredients we can all benefit from when looking for that lit-from-within luminous glow. “Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that helps to protect the skin from environmental aggressors like pollution” she explained. “The Pixi Vitamin C Skintreats range not only contains three sources of Vitamin C with lemon, orange and grapefruit extracts, but it also contains ferulic acid to add extra protection and many other skin-loving ingredients.”
Vitamin C can benefit all skin types
Taking us through her everyday skincare routine, Amanda used Vitamin-C Juice Cleanser, which contains the hero Vitamin C blend as well as green tea and humectants to give skin an instant hydration boost, followed by the Vitamin C Tonic, which also calls upon peppermint to provide a cooling effect. “Vitamin C is a fantastic ingredient for all skins, especially when it’s blended with such gorgeous hydrating ingredients like those in the Pixi range,” Amanda explained. “For basic maintenance, the cleanser and the tonic is a great place to start, but you can weave Vitamin C into your skincare exactly as you feel you need it.”
Vitamin C helps to tackle pigmentation
A huge fan of all things Vitamin C, Deb Falke attributes Pixi’s products with helping her tackle her pigmentation and lacklustre skin tone. Following Amanda’s step by step regime, Deb revealed that she likes to layer the Vitamin C Sheet Mask on top of the BeautifEYE Patches for transformative results. “The products have taken away all the dryness and the pigmentation. Now, I feel so confident going out without makeup, whereas before I never did. I am obsessed with them.”
Use the products in a way that suits you
Using the products in a way that suits you is one of the most beautiful things about the Pixi range. Amanda explained how the Vitamin C Wake Me Up Mist can be applied before applying makeup as well as over the top of a finished look while Deb said she likes to spritz it after foundation but before powder.
Then there’s the Vitamin C Oil Serum, a lightweight, non-greasy oil that delivers all the wonders of Vitamin C as well as ceramides, turmeric and humectants for hydration and anti-inflammatory benefits, which Deb likes to mix into her foundation for a next-level glow up.