Tess van Daelen is a fashion and beauty journalist and writes for, among others, BYDANIE, but also has her own site Tessted.com. As the name suggests, she tests quite a few nice products and writes about them with knowledge and humor. With baby Yasmine quite busy, she still always looks stunning. Fashion and beauty-wise. And these are her little secrets.
Morning ritual
“Since the arrival of baby Yasmine, I wake up earlier than ever, which also means it takes a bit longer for me to get back into the groove. After a cup of tea, I jump in the shower. I always use the Clarisonic electronic cleansing brush while showering. It removes night cream, any dead skin cells, and makes my skin much softer. I don’t wash my hair in the morning; it’s just too much hassle with my hair. By the time it’s dry, an hour has passed (and then it still needs to be styled). No, I usually wash it in the evening (the new Wella Elements line is currently my favorite) and let it dry overnight. It gives me a beautiful, natural wave. After showering, I put on a bathrobe and do my makeup first. Then it’s time to get dressed, maybe a red lip (handy to distract from your tired eyes), and I don’t leave the house without a spritz of perfume.’
5 minutes make-up
“My cheeks can sometimes be a bit red, I have quite a few freckles/spots that I occasionally want to conceal as well as dark circles under my eyes. My concealer (Touche Eclat by Yves Saint Laurent) is therefore essential. To achieve an even complexion, I always use a foundation (Skin Luminizer by MaxFactor). I set it with a bronzing powder (Dream Terra Sun by Maybelline), which gives me just a bit of a healthier color. Furthermore, I focus on my eyes. I often use multiple mascaras together (one for extra length, one for fuller lashes) for a more powerful look. I’ve never been great at applying eyeliner, so I usually stick to mascara. I always fill in my eyebrows a bit with fine lines, especially when I’ve plucked too enthusiastically and there are ‘gaps’, just with an eyebrow pencil from Hema.”
Eyebrows or lashes
“I really love a good eyebrow, but the Cara look isn’t equally elegant for everyone. Full lashes make every woman more beautiful, but full eyebrows don’t always. Therefore, I would choose lashes. I myself am ‘blessed’ with a full brow, but unfortunately one that doesn’t stay nicely shaped on its own. That requires quite a bit of trimming and plucking. Luckily, the ladies at the Soap Treatment Store help me out every now and then.”
Favorite perfume
“Armani Code in all its variants. Whenever I wear this, I get compliments about it. Dolce & Gabbana Desire is also firmly in second place. I often put on some perfume before going to bed. It may sound strange, but I enjoy it, albeit unconsciously, all night long and my bed always smells wonderful.”
Favorites role
“ In terms of skincare, it’s often Garnier. Day cream tends to “pillow” on my skin for some reason. With this cream, that’s less of an issue. My makeup is almost always from MaxFactor. They just have great products and the prices aren’t sky-high. For my hair, I often buy Andrélon products myself, but I also really enjoy the more expensive brands that I get to test for work every now and then, which have that lovely professional ‘just from the hairdresser’ scent.”
Tessted
“For a collaboration with Toni & Guy, I tested their entire line last year. It was the first time I tried the Dust Powder and I found the effect (it keeps your hair from lying flat on your head) so cool. The downside is that if you use too much Dust Powder, it looks like you have a huge gray regrowth, so I use it sparingly. “
Red carpet essential
“Something against sweating seems like a good idea. So a good deodorant, but there also seem to be armpit pads on the market. Not particularly sexy, but nothing is worse than two spots on your clothes, not to mention the accompanying smell. When I stayed in Los Angeles for three months last year, I couldn’t find a decent spray deodorant. They only sold rollers everywhere and I didn’t like the smell of any of them. My dad then brought four cans of 8×4 during a visit from the Netherlands. No sprinkles and bitterballen, but deodorant; indispensable!”
Best purchase
“A curling iron from Remington. I can make both small and large curls with it, giving my freshly cut shorter hairstyle just that little extra. I use it daily.‘
Never leave home without
“A mirror to check if there’s anything stuck between my teeth and a chic box of mints. If I feel like I don’t have fresh breath, I don’t like talking to people. That’s pretty difficult at a busy fashion party where numerous work relationships are present.”
Unexpected Beauty Tip
“The brow shaper from Lancôme is very nice for getting all the hairs to go in the same direction. It’s a kind of gel that you apply with a brush. Once it’s dried, I fill in a bit more.”
Biggest Style Icon
“In terms of beauty: I almost hesitate to say it, but I think Kim Kardashian always has a flawless makeup look. Very glamorous and still quite true to herself. I don’t know what it looks like up close, in real life, but in photos, she’s a beauty. In terms of fashion, Nicole Richie is my favorite. For years now, all the way back to The Simple Life season 3. She shows courage, experiments, and interprets trends in her own way. She’s very petite, but that doesn’t stop her from wearing XL palazzo pants and floor-sweeping dresses. For men, she may not always be incredibly sexy, but I enjoy every outfit. Besides, I think she’s just wonderfully quirky.”
