Elles Nijkamp made us all look beautiful for Amayzine TV last week, but she is also the makeup artist for Ellemieke Vermolen and Daphne Deckers. Both are natural beauties and so is she. She achieves that natural look in no time because she loves ‘accidental hair’ and ‘yourself but a little extra’. We are so glad she wanted to share her tips and tricks with us.
Morning ritual
“I love creams. I prefer to apply three a day. We don't get any prettier from dry studios and lots of lights. After showering, I always use the Future Solution Xl Body cream from Shiseido. For my face, I use creams from Radical. The Eye Rivive cream is, for example, a super tip from my friend Daphne (Deckers). After the whole cream ritual, I do a quick makeup in five steps. For that, I use a concealer from Laura Mercier, a shimmer for the eyes from Chanel, an eyebrow kit from Hema, blush from Shiseido and Nars, and the lip balm from Swaab. The latter is really my addiction. A few minutes brushing my hair, putting it in a ponytail, and off to the table with my husband and kids. Every day I start with a protein breakfast because it gives me so much energy. And of course, the family loves it.’
Red Carpet essential
“A very good hair & makeup artist is of course an absolute Red Carpet Essential. If you don't have one, don't panic. Less is more, but make sure to present the very best version of yourself. Accentuate your strengths. If you have beautiful hair... show it! And good preparation works wonders too. Prep your face the night before with, for example, Shiseido Benefiance Wrinkle Resist Pure Retinol express eye mask. You'll shine!”
Favorite brands
“For many years, I have been happily working with Shiseido products. The skincare and makeup (with super pigments) are truly fantastic! But I also get tempted by other beautiful brands like NARS, Ellis Faas, Laura Mercier, Bobbi Brown, and even Hema. ‘Hair-wise’, I can't do without the wonderful products from Farouk Systems.”
Eyebrows or lashes
“The most underrated part of your face is definitely the eyebrows. It's like a free facelift if you groom them well. Be careful, never pluck when you're angry because you'll take off too much. A beautiful eyebrow gives shape, strength, and balance to your face. A little tint now and then doesn't hurt because we lose our pigment over the years. It's also quite easy if you don't want to think about your eyebrows every morning. A little clear brow gel (Hema) for shape and you're done!”
Million Dollar Tip
“OPI gelcolor, where have you been all these years? When I add up all the hours I've spent painting my nails. My hands are important in my work and always need to look top-notch. That works perfectly now and I'm incredibly happy about it every day. Also handy for those summer feet that will soon be showing up again. The gelcolor shades ‘Cajun Shrimp’ and ‘Big Apple Red’ are currently my favorites. Another tip from a totally different angle is that everyone could smile a bit more. It makes you look so beautiful. Want a fresh smile? A little pink blush on your cheekbones and you instantly look super fresh. Together with that smile!”
Favorite perfume
“I really love fragrance. I enjoy it immensely. The outdoors, scents of hairsprays, mascaras that smell like honey, and fresh roses: I can't get enough of it. However, I'm looking for scents that are a bit more unique and that's how I once found Amouage Bloved Women. Often, a body cream of a scent is already enough. There are already so many scents present in the workplace that it can be a bit overwhelming. I stand so close to my clients that a large amount of perfume wouldn't always be pleasant. Another beautiful scent is WOW Limited Edition. That's a fragrance my friend Daphne Deckers developed for TC Wow.
Undiscovered beauty product
I might be revealing my age now, but I have such a lovely magnifying mirror with suction cups for the window. Super handy for plucking because you can see everything. I'm also pleasantly surprised by the special (price) quality brushes from Other Stories.”
Never leave home without
“I am really a ‘blush person’, so even if I'm going to exercise, I still put on a little blush Shiseido Face Color Enhancing trio mixed with Nars Orgasm on my face. Furthermore, I always have the Doll Eyes mascara from Lancôme, Shiseido transparent gold gloss, and my addiction, the Swaab lip balm in my bag. I also absolutely hate dry hands, so I never leave the house without my Avoplex hand cream from OPI.”
Her must-do
“I am a true mixer. A cocktail of different products for the best result. That varies per person and depends on hair type and length. My super cocktail at the moment starts with Aveda Dry remedy on the ends, then BioSilk Volumizing Therapy or CHI Volume Booster at the roots, and finishing with Bio Silk Silk Therapy and Bio Silk Finish Spray. It gives your hair a full bouncy healthy look. Then shake it out with your hands to style because I really love ‘accidental hair’.”
