Life beauty is when someone embraces themselves fully. It doesn’t fit a physical mold – its all-encompassing from the inside out. It is important to me to know where my ideas and beliefs come from, this includes my attraction to certain physical beauty ideals. It is something I am deconstructing in myself and I use my art to help me have this conversation. I believe it will be a journey of discovery til the day I die (and then who knows?!) Why do I not like my jowl lines? Is it because I have been indoctrinated into seeing beauty as clear, tight fine skin with no signs of mortality and experience? If so why do I have an issue with the fact that I will age and die? Where did that come from? I must keep asking myself these questions. Keep digging so I can see where I am misshapen and where I shine. To acknowledge I can change if I choose to and the closer I am to loving myself the closer I am to being able to give my love to others. I think miscommunication, ignorance, and fear are some of the deadliest toxins in our current society.
What does beauty mean to you?
On Skincare
For morning, I wash my face with cold water, brush my teeth and apply Tata Harper serum, and then No7 perfect and protect SPF 50. I will continue to apply SPF throughout the day if I remember. Night time I use 111Skin cleanser, Augustinus Bader Serum, eye cream and Rich cream. I also LOVE Neals Yard Orange Flower oil. It smells delicious, and is great to use if I want to give myself a bit of a face massage. I tend to grind my teeth making my temples, jaw, and neck tight. Self-massage is great for calming down the nervous system and giving some love to the self. My sister taught me to use moisturiser after every shower or bath. I have been doing this probably since I was around eight years old. I wish I’d given my face the same attention. Anyway, it is lovely to do. Sometimes when I do it I thank my body for all it has endured from me over the years and for carrying my soul around so well. I use either Kiehls body lotion, La Roche Posay, or Biotherm.
In Laura's File
‘At night I use the Augustinus Bader Rich cream!’
‘Full Orbit: cooling, hydrating and lifting and the only eye cream I think that you can put on your eye lid, as well as the surrounding area.’
‘I am rubbish with makeup. I don’t have the patience. However, Fara Homidi’s new line is like butter. Smooth, easy to apply and the colours are deep and delicious! Love love.’
‘I also love this Neals Yard Orange Flower oil. It smells delicious and is great to use if I want to give myself a bit of a face massage.
‘Cocoa butter: important note is it’s in the little tiny pots, not your regular Vaseline nor is it the same as the one in the circular metal tins. I have only ever found them in the states. It is the only lip balm that hydrates my lips without any irritation. It also is great if you suffer from cold sores as it acts as a kind of barrier and can stifle the coldsore and stop it from getting really dried out. I’ve been using it for well over ten years. Never leave home without it.’
On Haircare
Once I cut my hair really short. It was a nightmare for me as it required my attention. My general rule has been wash it and leave it alone. This has stood me in good stead at the cool age of 45 as I’ve got very little damage. I don’t use a hairdryer because I have no patience. When I do I am amazed at how nice it looks and think “ooh must do that more often”. I use Yves Durif’s comb when my hair is wet to protect the hair and not split. When it is dry I use Yves Durif’s hairbrush– It’s brilliant, gets out the tangles, is light and its design helps to protect the hair. Shampoo wise I am still at a bit of a loss. I can’t recommend anything to be honest as I jump all over the place with it. I use Kiehl’s conditioner for the ends. Oh, and I use silk hair ties. I wish I had known this before and could have saved a lot of breakage!
On Make-up
I love Fara Homidi’s Smudge and contour lip pencil, the colours are divine, it’s really easy to use and it looks awesome. I sometimes use Mac ruby woo when I’m going out – but it needs a lot of attention which for me is tough as I prefer talking and dancing – so far Fara’s has held up brilliantly. Mascara I use Maybelline Lash sensational, or YSL. I have had this Mac foundation for about eight years – I actually need to check it hasn’t gone off! And a little colour on the cheeks. If I am feeling very generous with my time I may pencil in my eyebrows, as without they are nonexistent – with a mac eyebrow light brown pencil, and add a little coal black eye liner which I pinched from my Mum. Makeup tends to take a back burner on my creative list as there are other things that lift me more. I wish I had more patience for it as I think it’s a wonderful way to express oneself.
On Health and Wellness
Walking in nature. Listening. Closing my eyes and moving my body in the way it wants me to. Singing. Boxing. Dancing. Hugging my friends, family, and dog. Taking Vitamin D, B, Iron, Mushroom elixirs. Writing gratitude lists. Breathing in pain, breathing out love. When I get panicked I take my attention to my feet and feel them connected and held by Mother Earth.
Rituals
Every night I fill up a 3/4 litre bottle of water and I drink it before I get out of bed in the morning.
On Fragrance
I wear Le Labo Santal 33. I have done I think since it came out. I toyed with the idea of changing it a couple of years ago but my friends told me not to, and that it’s my smell. I have had people text me from different cities saying they walked into a room and I was there with them because they smelled my smell. I like that. I travel so much and live away from so many people I love deeply I like that I can show up in unexpected places to them. I also love the smell of my brother and my friend, Helena’s dog Lola. And Geranium mixed with Rose – it brings me close to my mother.
Your Beauty Secrets..
Smiling and laughing. Thinking on love, compassion and connection. Breathing deeply so my chest and belly expand and out so they sink in. Closing my eyes and feeling my feet on the earth. Turning my face up to the rain and smiling. Self-massage to my face and neck.
What is always in your handbag?
Small tub of vaseline for my lips, a notebook and a pencil, Santal 33, Sony wireless headphones, a Phone, and my specs.
Laura’s Directory
I tend to spend my money on bodywork. I have experienced a lot of trauma in my life and believe deeply that it can get stuck in the body. Top of my list always will be Martha Soffer and her ayurvedic medicine. Martha founded her company Surya Spa in LA. I first went 18 years ago and she brought me back to life from a very serious illness. I would move mountains for her.
Barcelona, Spain the wonderful Stefan at Manuvision. Another healer. This work is tough but by goodness, it helps. I left Stef feeling as if I had taken MDMA. He moved pain out of my body that had been stuck in me for years.
Hudson, NY is the lovely Grace Gilroy for deep healing massage.
Facial wise in London I see Milena at Skin 111. Milena is all about the individual, and not about trying to sell you anything. I always leave feeling beautiful and so very well taken care of. I wish all of these guys lived near me as I would be glowing if I could see them always.
Yves Durif in NYC is pretty much the only person I’ll let cut my hair, which happens about once a year
‘If one’s pocket allows Skin 111 is phenomenal, especially the Black Diamond line. If you can afford it’s worth the weight.’