'My name is Kelly Harrington [@kellouhar], and I currently live in London. I work at H&M as a senior print designer, and I'm a part of their trend and forecast team. Basically, I design, create, and forecast graphics and patterns on clothing and accessories. In my spare time, I love collecting vintage clothing, particularly Japanese indigo and denim. I regularly scour flea markets around the world, but hands-down the Rose Bowl in LA is my favorite—there are rows and rows of vintage clothing and bric-à-brac. As such, my house is full of trinkets and little keepsakes from when I travel.
These days I travel a lot more for work, so I find myself fighting a constant battle to keep my skin hydrated. My mum has the most amazing skin for her age, and she barely wears any makeup. She taught me to cleanse my skin with Lancôme Galatéis Douceur, and regardless of anything else I experiment with, this is the product I always go back to. It's fantastic for removing eye makeup and makes my skin so soft that I often don't need a moisturizer. When I do need some extra moisture, I like Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream and their Pro-Radiance Illuminating Flash Balm. In Japan, I discovered Shiseido White Lucent Brightening Moisturizing Emulsion. Japanese chemists are open 24 hours, and I've often spent many jet-lagged nights in the middle of Shibuya looking for new beauty things.
When I first visited Japan, I went to a Japanese onsen, which is like a hot spring bathhouse. Being naked and dipped in cold and hot baths, then transferred over onto a bamboo matt in the steam room was a terrifying experience at first, but I've grown to crave it! My skin and body have never felt cleaner. I try to recreate this effect at home by using scrubbing mitts on my skin.
I'm a bit specific when traveling because I know what works for me. You know how you have one product that's great for one specific time or place? That's my Darphin Aromatic Renewing Balm. I use it as a weekly intensive moisturizer especially when I travel to Stockholm. It gives an instant healthy glow and smells wonderful. When I'm jetlagged and have serious dark circles, nothing seems to have made a significant difference apart from Bremenn Hylexin Clinical Strength Dark Circle Eraser. As for the sporadic blemish that results with not treating my skin kindly due to aircraft, hotel air conditioning, and the change of air and water in different cities, I was given a tip that Savlon Antiseptic Cream works brilliantly. I now keep it in my makeup bag for emergencies—it's the magic formula and clears up any redness and spots.
My makeup has to be fast and effortless because I have to be out the door at 7am. I never use foundation because I like my skin to breath. I feel that once you start using it you feel like you can't live without it. I do, however, use YSL Touché Eclat as concealer around my eyes. My trick, especially if I'm tired, is to wear a bright pink cream blusher for an instantly fresh-faced look. My favorite is Crème De Blush by YSL. I've used it for years but unfortunately I think they have discontinued my favorite shade Fuchsia Temptation— I only have the tiniest bit left. It's really easy to apply with fingertips and doubles as a great lip stain mixed with some lip balm. I will be on he hunt for a replacement soon.
I'm an eyes girl, so I often have two types of eyeliner in my makeup bag. For every day, I wear a cat-eye flick with Chanel Écriture de Chanel Automatic Liquid Eyelinerin 10 Noir and use a soft kohl to create a smoky eye for nighttime. If I want a more intense look, I'll line the inside edge of my lower eyelid with Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof Long-Lasting Eyeliner in 88 Noir Intense. Then I'll I use a little bit of The Make Up Store Microshadow Eye Shadow in White. I discovered this brand when I lived in Sweden. The colors are highly pigmented, and they have a whole rainbow of shades. Then, I like to use either Lancôme Définicils High-Definition Mascara for my sensitive eyes or YSL Mascara Volume Effet Faux Cils Luxurious Mascara for an instant false-lash effect.
I'm not afraid to experiment with beauty fads, and I'm currently really into trying out new colored eyeliners. My latest purchase is this gold pencil from The Make Up Store in Gold Digger, which has a surprisingly subtle effect and enhances the eyes.
Every Sunday evening I paint my nails—it's become a ritual. I can’t live without Essie's First Base Base Coat—this genius formula manages to keep my nail varnish on twice as long! If I'm going for ease in application, I reach for Essie. If I want a good, chic, classic red—well, nothing beats Chanel.”
—as told to ITG
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