Beauty Spot: Michiko Hughes

I’m the Style Director at TVNZ. I look after the hair, make up and wardrobe department. I have worked on many TV shows (such as Australian Idol) as a costume designer, stylist and wardrobe and make up supervisor.

I enjoy my job as I get to meet lots of people and glamming people up for a living is naturally loads of fun!

The world of televison is an exciting place, who knows where technology will take us in the future with all the different platforms available to receive information.

What’s your beauty resolution for 2010?

My New Years beauty resolution would definitely be to try to get more sleep! Sleep is so important to rejuvenate your mind and is like an anti-aging device. With my hectic schedule,I really need to make sure I get enough sleep!

What’s your beauty routine?

My usual beauty routine is cleansing my face with Shiseido’s White Lucent Brightening foam and moisturising with SKII moisturiser.

How long does it take you to get ready?

It can take me 10 minutes to get ready if extremely rushed but generally half an hour is the norm.

How would you change this if you had more time?

If I had more time to get ready, I would bother to use makeup brushes on myself as opposed to my fingers! Oops!

Current favourite evening look?

My fave evening look would be smokey eyes with a nude lip. I do wear this myself because I love it and it’s just such a hot look.

Eyes or lips?

I’m definitely an eyes girl!

What about nails?

My fave nailpolish is Lancomes’s black ME 198 and MAC’s hot pink “Gee Whiz”

I like a happy union between short and long nails. No stumpy nails and no talons thank you very much!

Is there a product you’ve used for years and just can’t give up?

The one beauty product I’ve used for years and can’t give up is Shu Uemura eyelash curlers. They make my eyes look alive and just pop!

Is there anything you’re searching for?

I’m always searching for the ultimate mascara, thick, lush and the blackest of black. I adore MAC’s Zoom lash.

What’s your signature fragrance? Why?

The fragrance I’m wearing is Stella McCartney’s “Stella in Two Peony”

Why, because it’s sexy but sweet and innocent at the same time and I love Peonies!!

Biggest faux-pas?

I’m always using my hands and my biggest fashion faux pas would be that I really don’t moisturise my hands well enough every day.

The best beauty advice you’ve ever heard?

My best beauty advice is being confident. If you believe in yourself 100% and see yourself  as a strong, unique and beautiful person it will radiate out from you and others will feel it too.

If you could turn back time what makeup look would you avoid?

Turning back time, a make up look I should have avoided was being a goth girl back in the 80′s: a white pallid complexion a la the “undead” with blue black hair and harsh eye make up was and still is, never a good look!

If you could tell the younger you anything what would it be?

The advice I’d tell the younger me would be that as you mature and feel happy within yourself, your looks will actually improve with time. Sounds mad but it’s true!

What trends are you considering trying?

The trend I’m considering trying is out long maxi skirts. I usually tend to go for super short hemlines, so this will be a fun new look. Of course, being only 5ft 3″ I will have to team it all back with sky-high heels to mot be dwarfed out by the whole look!