FRANKIES BIKINIS BEAUTY

What do Bella and Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner, Hailey Baldwin, Miley Cyrus and Sofia Ritchie have in common, apart from (possibly) being the coolest girls on the planet? They are all fans of Frankies Bikinis, a cult swimwear brand founded in LA by 24 year old Francesca Aiello. With nearly a million followers on Instagram and Bella & co sporting its creations, Aiello´s label is the poster for a glam, carefree lifestyle. Even more so with the launch last March of Frankies Bikini Beauty, a clean, cruelty-free skincare/makeup line aimed to enhance one´s natural beauty and impart a beach babe glow. “Beauty has always been a huge passion of mine: I have been mixing my favourite products to create the exact natural glowy look I desired for so long “ tells us Aiello, that for years has been questioned by her fans about the secrets behind her radiant complexion. The line consists in a trio of essential, easy-to-use “summer beauty” products to be worn equally on the beach or on a night out. There is a glow promoting mist, an illuminating moisturiser, and an eye-cheek-lip tint “that work amazing on all skin types, look beautiful on all skin tones, and are versatile enough to use alone or incorporate into your existing beauty routine“. Purity has been a priority in the formulating process for Aiello whose skin is extremely sensitive: all products are gluten, alcohol, paraben, sulphate, artificial colouring and artificial fragrance-free; and are made with high quality natural ingredients such as avocado and argan oil, coconut water, shea butter, aloe vera leaf and lemon balm extracts. More products, already staples in Francesca´s beauty routine, are in production, such a reef safe SPF. Guess Bella & co eagerly await.

HOP & COTTON

Bespoke beauty being a scorching hot trend, many brands have jumped on the bandwagon: but few do custom-made beauty with the integrity, know-how and personal touch of Hop & Cotton, an indie label based in Brisbane, Australia. The company is the brainchild of cosmetic chemist and molecular biologist Ee Ting Ng: that after ten years struggling with problematic skin, unable to find products that resolved her issues, has decided to create her own. “I wanted to provide solutions for every type of skin that works every single time “says Ng, whose bespoke formulations are made with active ingredients (think vitamin and peptides) chosen depending on the specific needs of each complexion. The Hop & Cotton experience starts with an online skin test: a detailed questionnaire where one specifies skin condition and concerns, products currently used, and preferences in terms of consistency and scent of cosmetics. The result is a personalised regime of cruelty-free formulations (elaborated by Ng and not by an algorithm) made from scratch, designed individually for each client and dispatched within 5 business days: “skin solutions driven by results rather than trends.” The proof of their effectiveness? Most clients are repeat customers. “Most of our clients stay with us, because they finally found someone who ‘gets’ their skin! “ says Ng. “With any changes that they may face with their complexion, we keep track of them via skin test updates, and we then modify their formulas to address their most current skin needs and concerns”. Spot on.