Spending time with: NARS artist Janice Daoud

I was lucky enough to spend a morning with New York-based NARS artist Janice Daoud (pictured above, top) last week, and what a wonderful morning it was!
Janice has been with the company for five years, and in that time has racked up some pretty glamorous time in the trenches working behind the scenes at New York Fashion Week on shows like Thakoon, Marc Jacobs and Rodarte, and most recently at Paris Couture Week and backstage at the Oscars. Needless to say, the girl is a serious walking beauty encyclopaedia, as well as being really rather gorgeous to boot.
The first new product release she talked about was NARS’ first ever tinted moisturiser – hurrah! - called Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser (beautiful campaign image pictured above, below). Francois Nars has always said that skin should shine through your makeup, and this beauty is all about beautiful, clean skin. “Your skin – almost bare, but better”, is its tagline, which sounds right up my alley. The advanced, oil-free formula provides a translucent veil of color and sun protection while also helping to reduce the appearance of hyperpigmentation and dark spots in just four weeks – impressive stuff. Infused with lush, naturally derived botanicals to immediately help thirsty skin feel hydrated, its ingredients include Kopara from French Polynesia and mineral rich seawater to “revive and re-mineralize skin for a softer, smoother, and brighter natural glow”.
Janice says that for subtle coverage, “use the tinted moisturizer in place of foundation. Emulsify it in your hand before blending it along cheekbones, then swipe a bit down the nose and along the top of the forehead. This will even tone while keeping things light and sheer.” She clearly stands by its ability to make you look pretty damn fabulous, even using it on the likes of Rose Byrne and Gwyneth Paltrow in place of foundation at the Oscars. It is best when pressed in as opposed to rubbed, and it’s also buildable, which is rare for a tinted moisturizer.
Janice’s other product loves at the moment included the lush new NARS Larger Than Life Lip Gloss and the Dark Rite Soft Touch Shadow Pencil from the Spring 2012 Collection, which was used to create the perfect modern smoky eye at the Rodarte show. I’m seriously obsessed with the latter, which is an incredible navy and a super long wearing formula. Want it now! Can’t wait til these hit the counter at my nearest Mecca Cosmetica – get in quick as they will sell like hotcakes!