Beauty Spot: Lorraine Downes

She’s our most successful beauty representive, EVER. When Lorraine Downes was crowned Miss Universe in the 80s the world watched as a little island downunder took out the ultimate beauty award. Proving she’s way more than just a pretty face, Lorraine has since built up a hugely successful business giving style advice while maintaining an impeccable profile. She’s polite, generous and very professional. Best of all, friends tell me she has a wicked sense of humour to boot – she’s fun to be around. She shares her beauty secrets with us…

What’s your earliest makeup memory? At my first photographic modelling job when I had my make up done by a professional. I could not believe the transformation from arriving at the job barefaced to being camera ready. They are truly make up artists with a gift.

What was your first perfume? Cinnabar, Estee Lauder

Now, do you have a signature scent? I love oriental scents especially for winter. My absolute favourite perfume is Europhia Calvin Klein and in the summer I like to wear something a little lighter and fresher like Prada Infusion D’Iris. I cannot leave the house without perfume!

Describe your everyday makeup look and what products you use: I like a natural look-concealer, tinted moisturiser, bronzer, eyebrows, mascara, blusher, natural colour lipgloss. Because I am in my 40′s my skin needs a little more help to have my skin looking hydrated, so my foundation, blusher all have a sheen to them. In my make up bag I have Living Nature, MAC, Bobbi Brown.

How do you change this for night? Step it up by using a liquid foundation, wearing eyeshadow for a smokey eye, and liquid eyeliner.

What was the last item of makeup you bought? Bobbi Brown Long Wear Gel eyeliner. I love this gel eyeliner because they are easy to apply.

What’s on your shopping list to get? Living Nature lipstick in pink (love their lippy’s as they last and no chemicals in them!) and MAC concealer.

Biggest hair/makeup disaster you’ve had? At the age of 30 I decided to do a full head of peroxide blonde to my shoulder length hair. Disaster as I looked like Loni Anderson (if you do not know who that is Google her!) so that is when I had not option to cut it all off and go really short and then the colour worked.

What are your thoughts on cosmetic surgery? Me personally, I don’t have a problem with my face aging so therefore I wouldn’t resort to surgery to turn back the years or to try and stop the aging process. I want my face to match where my mind and heart is and that is about the life that I have lived and living. I think my daughter wants me to look like her mother not her sister.

What’s the most surprising thing you’ve learned about the industry? That there are a lot of products on the market that do not disclose what they actually have in them and how some people don’t seem to care about what the effects of these nasty chemicals can have on their bodies.

Best beauty discovery? Methven Shower Infusions- so good for the body and the soul.

Ultimate indulgence is? A spa experience such as The Chuan Spa at the Langham.

What advice would you tell the younger you if you could go back in time? Wear sunblock, wear sunblock, wear sunblock. Tanning your skin results in wrinkles and sunspots and the evidence of those sunbaking days don’t show until you are starting to age in your 40′s!

Has motherhood changed your beauty routine and if so, in what way? No not at all. I think it is really important that even though your life is so much busier being a Mother, especially in that first year of a new baby, that you do not to let your beauty routine slip because you are too tired and can’t be bothered. It is a time when it is vital to do, because you will feel and look better.