Retail Therapy: Time to vote

DKNY Delicious Candy Apples Eau De Parfum spray. Photo / Babiche Martens

Time to vote

New Zealand Fashion Week's New Talent Competition is well underway. After receiving more than 150 entries, the judges have chosen 15 finalists from which five winners will be chosen. The competition, which aims to foster new talent, will find a hot new hair stylist, fashion stylist and makeup artist, plus a male and female model. All the winners will get to be part of New Zealand Fashion Week in September this year. Check out the entries before next Monday at the official NZFW Facebook fan page - www.facebook.com/nzfashionweek - and vote for who you think is the hottest new talent.

Open at last

Spa Ayurda has finally opened on Ponsonby Rd, with a top-notch fit-out. Viva's beauty editor Janetta Mackay has been counting down since letting readers know the spa was on the way in a cover story about global beauty treatments. This included a write-up on the excellent Ayurvedic-based facial she experienced at the sister clinic Planet Ayurveda in Mt Eden. An interesting feature of the spa is it has specially tailored treatments, including mini-facials and massages for children and teenagers, designed to introduce them early to the concepts of nurturing wellness. Spa Ayurda is at 213 Ponsonby Rd, ph (09) 360 0007, www.spaayurda.co.nz

Daily dose

Elizabeth Arden was the first big company to market skincare in single-dose form with the launch of Ceramide Advance Time Complex Capsules in 1990. Now the approach has been extended to the Intervene range for younger women worried about the first signs of ageing. A jar of Intervene's Skin Tone Perfecting Capsules delivers more than a month's worth of capsules that twist open to dispense a preservative-free, vitamin C-rich serum. They cost $89 and are handy for travel because you can just take out as many as you need for a trip.

Holiday at home

Pure Fiji, one of Viva's favourite indulgences, has introduced Island Bliss, a new fragrance line of indulgent bodycare products to add to its range of scents. This one is a calming blend of mandarin, lavender, patchouli, geranium, camomile and majoram essential oils. For stockists call 0800 7873 3454.

Farewell Salvage

Following last week's news that Viv Kernick of Bella Pacifica is heading off to New York with her partner to live, we bring you the news Kay Wolfe of Mt Eden textile store Salvage is also being lured overseas by her partner on what she describes as their "next big adventure". Kay plans to shut Salvage at the end of July.

New York story

Sex and the City 2 was filled with product placement, J'Adore Dior et al, and plenty of spin-off opportunism can be seen all over town. Several companies are claiming a link, some by dubious association, to the movie madness. To our minds the strongest scenery of the original series was not the filmic forays offshore, but its aspirational footage of Manhattan.

In tribute to New York City, here are a few new products that caught our eye by capturing the Big Apple vibe. For some effortless New York style we like the latest green apple limited edition of DKNY Be Delicious, O.P.I's new Big Apple Red - a real Samantha of a shade - and Nutrimetics' New York Chic makeup collection which includes multi-faceted lipsticks, shaped like a mini Chrysler Building (see www.nutrimetics.co.nz for more).

From Wellywood

New Zealand's own facialist to the stars Margaret Hema now has a specially trained consultant offering her massage style and using her hand-blended oils in Auckland. Seonaid Lyons is one of just a handful of Hema-endorsed facialists worldwide who works by appointment from a room in a Grey Lynn wellness clinic.

Hema's philosophy is that skin should be treated like beautiful, delicate fabric. She avoids toners and exfoliants, and her water-free organic skincare range consists of just seven products. It won over some big names, including Liv Tyler during the long Lord Of The Rings occupation of Wellington, where Hema is based. Hema facial oil is available through Zambesi and Isabel Harris stores in Auckland or see www.hemaproducts.com. Lyons can be contacted on 021 369 642 or at hemaauckland@gmail.com