Beauty Firsts
Do you remember your first fragrance? Mine was LouLou, quickly followed by Issey Miyake and then a succession of others (including Stella, Chanel No5, Burberry Brit, Narciso Rodriguez For Her and Prada) until we arrive at my current signature scent – Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb.
The most striking thing about this list of smells is that each one reminds me of the time in my life that I wore them. Issey was university days, Chanel No5 my first full time job, Stella was the fragrance I wore when I started dating my husband and so on. Even though I’ve moved on, I would just as happily go back in time and wear any one of those fragrances again. One day I would love to have a bespoke fragrance.
I also remember, very fondly, my first dabbles with makeup. I had been wearing makeup on stage for ballet recitals and competitions from a young age, but the first time my own shaky hand applied mascara to my eyelashes and succeeded, without smearing it everywhere was quite an achievement. I can’t wait to watch these firsts with my own daughter. Which makes me wonder when that will be? What is the appropriate age for young girls to wear makeup these days? When I was growing up I wasn’t even allowed to pierce my ears until I was at intermediate school and I remember it being quite an event to get my legs waxed for the very first time (sometime in the summer before starting third form if I recall correctly). As much as I can’t wait for the mother-daughter shopping trips, I also hope that Coco doesn’t start too young and enjoys her makeup free youth while she can. Once you start – it’s a slippery slope (albeit a very fun and enjoyable one). There are some ways to ease youngsters gently into a lifelong passion with makeup and Amy McDonald shares these thoughts.
What was your first fragrance? What are your earliest makeup memories?
Tamsin xo
My first real perfume was Eternity by Calvin Klein – age 18. Up until then I used to use Bodyshop fragrances – but just occasionally. As for makeup – I was given strawberry shortcake and cabbage patch kid makeup to play with when I was 7. I didn’t get serious about makeup until I was around 15 when I was taken to the Kirkaldies counter (Wellington) for the first time. Girls in the UK – where I live now – seem to start pretty young and there are even beauty parlours for children! But there are also tv programmes which attempt to get teenage girls to tone it down and wear less makeup. It’s fun to experiment with makeup but a little bit of guidance about how to apply it well wouldn’t go a miss!
hmmmm the first spary perfume I can remeber was called Monsoon I think and was no doubt cheap as chips as I was only around 14. My first proper perfume was Contradiction by Calvin Klein which my husband bought me duty free when he took me to the Gold Coast for the first time – I was 19.
Can’t remember my first makeup experience – except awful blue eyeshadow for one jazz recital!
Ok… So this makes me feel old, but the first scent I proudly wore was “Charlie” by Revlon. Back in the day, it was the essence of the Charlie Girl that I aspired to… Her persona fit well into my dreams for myself at the time – independence, a bright and shiny outlook on life and confidence… And agroovy wardrobe & killer smile. All of this available from my local pharmacy ( my first perfumery!).
Nowadays I dabble in men’s scents from time to time, but mostly settle on Costume National Odeur 53 or Issey Miyake Light. Selection is based on mood or occasion ane sometimes even outfit!
As a comfort scent, my preference is to slather myself in musky-coconutty scents, light my Amber candle and relax… Aah – It is all about association and recollections, isn’t it.
Forgot to mention as I enter my 30s I am ready for a new scent but am completly overwhelmed at the vast amount on offer. I have been wearing the classic l’eau d’issey for a few years now but know its time to change. I spent an hour in the duty free shop on a recent trip but couldn’t find anything the stuck out? The closest I have come is Chanel Allure which i borrowed from a friend the other night and quite enjoyed but worry its a bit dated. How do you go about choosing a new scent?
Hey Sydney Kiwi
I reckon the best way to go about trying a new scent is to just try, try, try. Write down a list of all the fragrances you have liked, why you like them and take this to a department store. Hopefully you will get someone there who is quite knowledgeable and helpful who can, through a matter of deduction, find a scent in a fragrance family like the ones on your list. October is when a new batch of fragrances usually hit our shelves so keep an eye out for something then… something new for Xmas?
Started out with clinique Happy.
Then onto Gucci Envy Me then Dior Addict then Valentino V and currently loving Kenneth Cole Black
also want Elizabeth Arden green tea lotus as an everyday spritzer perfume.
My first perfume was YSL Babydoll Paris. Beautiful, I still wear it to this day.
Since then, I’ve amased a GIANT and varied collection. I really like sweet smelling perfume, and Flowerbomb is on my wish list!
Currently I own: Britney Spears Curious
Burberry Burberry
Kylie Minougue Sweet Darling
Lacoste Touch of Pink
Vera Wang Princess
Liz Arden Green Tea (my perfume handbag, love this smell, makes me feel so refreshed and happy!)
(i’d go on, but I own about 15 perfumes – oops!)