Thomas Hair Spa, Mexico City, Mexico
Mexican coiffeur Thomas Escarcega learned his craft in London and Paris in the 1970s, moving to his native country in the 1980s to launch the first of his many successful salon ventures. Concrete floors, all-white walls and marble accents have been the signature elements of his salons' minimal look, distinguishing his outposts from the more exuberant decorative style on offer locally. His latest offering is a luminous new Thomas Hair Spa on a tranquil street in the upmarket Polanco neighbourhood of Mexico City. The modern take on the French bob (a carefree version of the classic) is a favourite of the cutter, who specialises in precise styles of cut that have a long-lasting effect eschewing obsessive care. The no-appointment policy of the salon is compensated by a waiting area that doubles as cultural space, furnished with classic design pieces and constantly updated with a wide selection of books and international luxury periodicals.
Campos Elíseos 363 local A: Esquina Goldsmith Colonia Polanco México; T: 52.800 592; www.thomashairspa.com
Writer: Rosa Bertoli
Brooklyn Grooming
Brooklyn's first skincare company for men has unveiled 'Anchor', an organic, handmade aftershave. Its launch simultaneously celebrates the brand's anniversary year and points it in a new direction away from the three signature colognes that established their name. The aftershave offers a brand new scent that incorporates holistic remedies like Himalayan Cedarwood, paying tribute to the original medicinal purpose of its distinctive blue glass vials. Riding on the back of the launch, the company have also produced the aptly titled Gentleman's Kit, a sampler pack which contains four of their all-natural salves, including their iconic 'Williamsburg' beard oil. It just seems to prove that you can’t stray too far from your hipster roots.
Gentleman's Vial Kit, $26; www.brooklyngrooming.com
Writer: Ava Davies
Fresh Crème Ancienne Honey Mask
Lev Glazman and Alina Roytberg, the founders of Fresh, have made it their mission to tread the globe in search of the simplest cosmetic solutions that history can reveal. Along the way they have unearthed rich natural resources, tapping into them to produce inspired, modern-day cosmetic products that are informed by tradition and fed by the finest natural ingredients. Previously they have worked with sugar and milk, seaberry and Umbrian clay. Their latest resource is Loire Valley honey, produced by the Buckfast bee. The Crème Ancienne Ultimate Nourishing Honey Mask is a rich face mask that can keep skin hydrated for up to six hours. It contains nearly forty percent pure honey, which retains moisture in the skin and keeps it soft and supple. But the seemingly simple solution is not always so - it took four years for Glazmana and Roytberg to achieve this without leaving a sticky honey residue behind.
Crème Ancienne Ultimate Nourishing Honey Mask, £89, available from September; www.fresh.com
Writer: Romy van den Broeke
Celestine Eleven, London, UK
Newly opened East London concept store Celestine Eleven is a unique proposition: luxury retail with an underpinning of spiritual and holistic principles. The brainchild of stylist and talent agent Tena Strok, Celestine Eleven purports to be a 'supernatural super store' dedicated to the aesthetically conscious with a penchant for a natural approach to life and beauty. The fashion offering (from designers such as J.W. Anderson, Meadham Kirchoff and Chalayan) is flanked by an upscale apothecary. With a focus on natural skincare brands and plant-based products, the space offers a thoughtful edit of labels such as Nude and Dr Jackson - Strok even entrusted the doctor behind the latter to curate a 'bespoke medical plant garden' in-store. The beauty offering expands into bespoke holistic treatments by facialist superstar Alexandra Stoveral - who is setting up an outpost of her Maida Vale clinic in Celestine Eleven’s lower ground area - and events such as aromatherapy oil-making sessions and perfume playgrounds.
4 Holywell Lane, EC2A 3ET, London, UK; www.celestineeleven.com
Writer: Rosa Bertoli
Marc Jacobs Beauty
Fashion golden boy Marc Jacobs enters the world of colour cosmetics, launching his first beauty line and projecting his namesake brand into a broader lifestyle universe. Already a successful fragrance author, it seemed like a natural move for the designer to expand his brand further into beauty territory. The 120-product strong debut is all about 'the spirit of youth, confidence and experimentation' and boldly aiming to redefine beauty as 'imperfectly perfect' - a concept that can be traced back throughout the designer’s prolific career. New York agency Established was entrusted with the packaging, delivering a sleek black collection of cases that have a luxuriously whimsical tone. The capsule brand debuts with four lines tailored to different make-up needs. These range from the foundation basics of its 'Smart Complexion' collection to the 'Blacquer' line for mascara and eyeliner essentials. Then there is an entire line dedicated to an 'unexpected colour range' devised by Jacobs himself, including a lip gel inspired by the designer's favourite movies and rich shadow palettes in several hues. The designer's personal favourite is the 'boy tested, girl approved' set of lip balm, eyebrow grooming gel and anti-ageing concealer pen, a trio that defies gender and applies to the grooming-conscious on both sides.
Lovemarc Lip Gel, $30; Lash Lifter Gel Volume Mascara, $26; www.sephora.com
Writer: Rosa Bertoli
Concoction
Mixology Technology's Concoction, masterminded by former ‘The Apprentice’ contender Alex Epstein, could prove to be a turning point in the haircare world. Concoction (which sets up shop in London’s Selfridges from 25 July for two weeks) innovates by offering customised hair products, mixed to suit your exact hair type and needs. With the support of Millie Kendall MBE (co-creator of Ruby & Millie) and Will King (founder of King of Shaves), Epstein is capitalising on the popularity of prescriptive cosmetics. All the shampoos contain intensely conditioning oligopeptides, extracted from silk; enriching Vitamin E; and ionic systems to detangle knots and reduce frizz and static. They are personalised by the addition of extra serum ‘shots’ that boost volume, moisturise, preserve colour, soothe the scalp etc. They also come in a choice of scents, such as the refreshingly unpredictable Black Pepper Citrus.
Concoction ShampYou, £14; www.concoction.co.uk
Writer: Ava Davies
Santen Sante Beautéye
You can trust the Japanese to come up with the most industrious and original beauty products on the market. Osaka-based pharmaceutical firm Santen have just devised the latest product for the beauty-obsessed: eye drops to fight ageing and enhance regeneration of the eye tissues. The drops, composed of elements such as taurine and vitamin B12, act as a fatigue relief, moisturiser and regenerator, protecting the eyes from everyday stress and deterioration. In a mission to steer clear from Santen’s medical background, the brand enlisted Japanese designer Tokujin Yoshioka to create a packaging that looks more like a luxurious perfume bottle. The small case is made of solid resin and its minimal design beautifully displays the bright fuchsia of the drops.
www.santen.com
Writer: Rosa Bertoli
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A new Oxford Street pop-up celebrates IKEA's blue bagsIKEA's iconic blue bag gets its own pop-up concept store, the 'Hus of Frakta'.
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Audemars Piguet and Kaws have created the Royal Oak Concept watch we didn't know we neededThe Audemars Piguet x Kaws Royal Oak Concept Tourbillon 'Companion' is slick wrist-worn art
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A friendly rivalry coloured by kinship: Wendy Maruyama and Tom Loeser on their two-artist show'I wanted to make furniture, just not traditional furniture, but weird furniture,' says Wendy Maruyama on ‘Colorama’, a two-artist show presented at design gallery Superhouse (until 11 January 2025)
