Interview: Photographer and Style Blogger Candice Lake Talks Skincare, Makeup and ManeNocte

Tue, 31 July 2012 5:00PM

You might remember earlier on this year we bumped into Australian fashion photographer, model and style blogger Candice Lake during MBFWA ’12. Not only does she posses incredible personal style, she’s known for her fresh and natural approach to beauty, which made teaming up with skincare brand ManeNocte a perfect fit.

ManeNocte (pronounced man-nay nok-tay) is the Latin medical term for day and night, a new skincare concept by Richard Parker, creator of Rationale Skincare and the Essential Six. The range consists of one product for day and one for night, using preservative-free active skincare ingredients, canceling out the need for an extensive skincare regime. In other words, perfect for those in their ’20s and ’30s who are constantly on-the-go like Candice. The products are infused with antioxidants and coconut water to minimise clogged pores, fade pigmentation while boosting skin clarity and luminosity.

Not only does she use the products, but ManeNocte commissioned Candice to take a series of street-style photographs of people that best represented the brand. Those who were featured in her images have been trialling the products and will be profiled in the online blog, which launches tomorrow.

I was lucky enough to catch up with Candice while she was in Sydney late last week, where we talked low-maintenance skincare, fuss-free makeup and the quest for glowing, luminous skin.

PRIMPED: Tell us about ManeNocte and your experience with using the range.
CL: “Fortunately I have always had good skin, but because I travel so much it is so dehydrated and on the sensitive side. I don’t want to have to carry around loads of products, but I wanted something that was natural that I could apply while I was on the go. Before I just use to get Paw Paw Ointment and lather it on my face, which is probably not good for my skin, but it’s so easy! Whenever I was on a plane I’d do that, but then I started to notice that my skin would break out. Obviously. So when I started using the range, my skin began to look luminous, and people were commenting on it, saying that it looked lighter, brighter and more dewy. So now I wash my face with water, and then use these products morning and night. But I’ve only had a few hours sleep, so don’t look at me now!”

PRIMPED: So what are your top skincare tips?
CL: “I like the idea of beauty from the inside, which is why I think I was so drawn to ManeNocte. I also make sure I have enough sleep, drink water and really live by the whole idea of mind, body and spirit, as strange as it might sound. Also, using a skincare regime that works for you.”

PRIMPED: You’re originally from Queensland, so how did growing up in under the Australian sun impact your skin?
CL: “I must have looked really strange, because my mum always put hat on me and slathered pink zinc all over my face. At the time I was upset because I was always being teased, but now I’ve incorporated hats into my style. I’m so fair and I’m outside all day sometimes, so a hat is a staple.”

PRIMPED: Tell us a little but about your photography project with Mane Nocte.
Candice Lake: “For these shots I wanted unconventional, natural beauty. They didn’t necessarily wear a lot of makeup and didn’t want their pictures taken without being made up. It’s following on from the concept of day and night with Mane Nocte, because there are so many different aspects to our personalities, and each person had their own sense of individuality and story.”

PRIMPED: What makeup products do you use, and what part does it play in your beauty routine?
CL: “I wear just a lick of makeup. I care more about skincare than makeup. I always wanted dewy, glowing skin. I’ve had my makeup done thousands of times, and I still have no idea what I’m doing. On shoots, I’m always asking if I should be using certain products. I recently lost my makeup bag, but it wasn’t too drastic because all I had was mascara and YSL Touche Éclat, $55, from department stores. But I love Tom Ford. If I lost my Tom Ford Lipstick in True Coral, $65, from select David Jones, I’d die. It’s a lipstick that just gives a pop of colour. But unless I’m going out and I know I am going to get photographed, I tend to not wear foundation.”

PRIMPED: What are your top makeup tips?
CL: “I’m all about contouring! Whenever I’m on a shoot, I always say ‘make me look like I have no makeup on, but change my face.’ I’m not really into a big smoky eye, but I like a bold lip, and using contouring and highlighting to define your facial structure. But if you’ve had no sleep and you add a dash of Touche Éclat, you’re set. I also love Giorgio Armani products, like a dash of Facial Fluid for a sheer finish. I’ve only just started wearing mascara again, I go through stages with makeup – and I have white eyelashes and white eyebrows!”

PRIMPED: So makeup artist Pat McGrath must love you!
CL: (laughs) “Yes! She told me to never dye my eyebrows darker! You know how she loves light eyebrows. But even as I get older, they only darken slightly. Whenever I see Pat, she tells me never to wear mascara.”

PRIMPED: What beauty treatments do you indulge in?
CL: “I love massages, so I have one at least once or twice a week, and I’ve also recently started having acupuncture. If I could, I would just have a blow-dry every 2-3 days throughout winter. I’d wake up at 6am and, if I lived here, I would rock up daily to Renya Xydis. And get a mani at Miss Frou Frou. I feel so pampered in there.”

PRIMPED: Who is your beauty icon?
CL: “You actually mentioned who she was. When I became a model, I was really inspired by Pat McGrath. She was someone who told me I was perfect just how I was. I see so many girls putting on too much makeup, and I always think how beautiful they are without it. Pat has the ability to transform a face and make it look so many different things. I always thought she was such an inspiration, and the sort of person everybody needed in their life. I think a lot of young women need that.”

PRIMPED: Finally, what’s your favourite …
Drink? Champagne
Label? Rue de Mail and Céline
Eating spot? The Wolseley in London

So Primpettes, have you heard of Candice Lake? Do you follow her blog?

What about your skincare regime – using just two products per day sounds ideal, don’t you think?

Do you currently use skincare with active ingredients?

Doesn’t she just look gorgeous in that shot?

Hayley x

Mane Day Nutrition SPF15 and Nocte Night Nutrition, $120 each from ManeNocte. For more information and stockists details, please call 02 9331 1388 (Sydney) and 03 9654 4011 (Melbourne).

Posted by: Hayley Bennett

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Tags: candice lake, contouring, featured, giorgio armani, interview, lucas paw paw ointment, makeup, mane nocte, miss frou frou, renya xydis, skincare, tom ford, touche eclat, ysl