Byredo beauty is looking good …
Lucia Pica knows what we want. The Naples-born make-up artist has an unerring instinct for what looks modern, magical and flattering, in beauty terms, with her dynamic creative instinct and years of experience working backstage on catwalk shows and on cutting-edge shoots. I interviewed her in Paris when she was global creative designer for Chanel, and found her ideas and aesthetic really dynamic and inspiring. I remember at the launch for her Naples-inspired SS18 make-up collection, she wore a black Chanel trouser suit with the ultimate Parisian aplomb (she was living in the city then) and made everyone present want to cut their hair into a fringe immediately.
Lucia Pica wearing Chanel in Naples, 2016.
Anyway, Pica now brings her creative cache and razor-sharp eye to Byredo beauty, as creative image and make-up partner to the brand founded by Ben Gorham. Her limited-edition First Emotions collection is available online at www.byredo.com (with free delivery and any import duty included; the website is seriously slick, well-designed and easy to navigate, with lots of quirky items available, from stylish penknives to perfume collections).
The make-up shades and formulas are high-quality and distinctly appealing, both in design and texture – we especially love the lip colours (€45) and the burgundy mascara (€41); Pica certainly knows the impact of this shade for lashes, since she was at the helm when Chanel brought out their groundbreaking red mascara. And their current (and beautiful) Noir Allure mascara contains a hint of red, for that Rouge Noir effect.
The Byredo collection also features this palette (€65), kajals (€29) and more, all priced at the luxury end of life (I wouldn’t pay €45 for a flavoured lip balm, personally, however good it looks). Instead, I’ll be adding to basket one of the Liquid Lipstick Vinyl shades (€45) as they exemplify spring’s glossy approach. You get mini perfume samples with your order, too. www.byredo.com
