Clever ways beauty brands are getting around COVID-19 – including virtual consults and at-home kits

Australia’s beauty industry has been hit hard by the coronavirus crisis.

But rather than shutting up shop completely, many of the country’s leading brands have found new ways to serve their customers. 

From virtual skin consultations on Zoom to at-home brow kits, questionnaires to get you the perfect makeup shade and free gifts to help you try new products – there are plenty of ways to maintain your beauty regime from home. 

Many of Australia’s leading industries have been hit hard by the onslaught of COVID-19, but many are also finding new ways to service their clients online (Melanie Grant pictured)

Celebrity facialist Melanie Grant (pictured) – who boasts Kim Kardashian and Victoria Beckham as some of her most devoted clients – is currently offering bespoke skin consultations over either FaceTime, Google Meet or Zoom

SKINCARE

Leading skincare brands, facialists and dermatologists have jumped on the technology bandwagon with aplomb – showing it is possible for you to look after your complexion, even without your regular monthly salon peel and treatment.

Celebrity facialist Melanie Grant – who boasts Kim Kardashian and Victoria Beckham as some of her most devoted clients – is currently offering bespoke skin consultations over either FaceTime, Google Meet or Zoom, where she recommends specific regimes targeted to the concerns of your skin.

‘Although our in-studio treatments are paused for now, our online boutique Skin Care Edit is open and offers next day product shipment, virtual consults and personalised one-on-one skincare advice with our expert Skin Therapists,’ Melanie said.

The skin expert has also launched ‘curb-side collection’ in her Sydney salon, meaning you can collect your products on the same day you want them. 

Sydney’s Inskin Medispa (pictured) is offering free postage on all items sold, as well as gifting of specific samples – so that you can trial new skincare products and not worry about the potential early effects while your skin gets used to them

Ella Baché has also created Virtual Salons (pictured), offering all Australians complimentary digital beauty services at home including skin consultations via video chat.

Melanie is not the only skincare studio offering new and different services in the light of COVID-19.

Ingestible beauty brand The Beauty Chef (pictured) is also offering a free Well Spray with any order over $130

Sydney’s Inskin Medispa is offering free postage on all items sold, as well as gifting of specific samples – so that you can trial new skincare products and not worry about the potential early effects while your skin gets used to them.

Ella Baché has also created Virtual Salons, offering all Australians complimentary digital beauty services at home including skin consultations via video chat.

On the chat, a therapist will recommend targeted at-home solutions to your concerns, meaning you can keep your skin bright, healthy and illuminated from home.

Meanwhile, ingestible beauty brand The Beauty Chef is also offering a free Well Spray with any order over $130. 

Leading brow studio Amy Jean Brow Agency is sending out DIY Brow Dye Kits ($115) to their customers whose brows need some attention (Amy and the brow kits pictured)

Benefit’s National Brow Artist Hannah Mutze (pictured) is also offering regular beauty tutorials on Instagram, to help you perfect your eyebrows from home

If you want to keep your brows in shape at home (pictured), avoid magnifying mirrors and opt for natural light. Don’t tweeze every few days as it interferes with growth

EYEBROWS

How to keep your brows in shape at home

* Avoid magnifying mirrors and opt for natural light when you’re tidying them

* Don’t tweeze every few days because it interferes with the natural growth cycle

* Invest in a quality pair of slant tip tweezers by Benefit or Tweezerman

* You’ll also need a spoolie brush, a brow pencil and cosmetic scissors to create shape

Eyebrows are one of the things across the country that men and women will miss.

Whether you wax, thread, tint or dye, it can be hard to replicate the same look at home with your arches – but not any more.

Leading brow studio Amy Jean Brow Agency is sending out DIY Brow Dye Kits ($115) to their customers whose brows need some attention.

The kits include 1000 Hour Brow Lash Tint, cotton tips, Vaseline, an Amy Jean Retractable Brow Brush,an Amy Jean Dual Ended Tweezers and Amy Jean Clear Brow Gel.

There are also instructions online as to what you should do to keep your eyebrows looking ‘on fleek’.

Benefit’s National Brow Artist Hannah Mutze is also offering regular beauty tutorials on Instagram, to help you perfect your eyebrows from home. 

Trinny Woodall’s makeup brand Trinny London (pictured) has also developed a Match2Me function, whereby you fill out a questionnaire to get an eyeshadow or a product directly matched to your skin type and colour

MAKEUP 

With Australia’s leading beauty store Mecca now closed until at least the end of April, it will be hard to know about new makeup products and try them before you invest.

But Mecca have considered this by developing a new platform to help its customers stay up to date with exclusive product launches and announcements if they can’t visit stores.

The platform is called Mecca Live and provides daily updates about beauty and what you need to know.

Trinny Woodall’s makeup brand Trinny London has also developed a Match2Me function, whereby you fill out a questionnaire to get an eyeshadow or a product directly matched to your skin type and colour. 

These sorts of services mean it’s easier to invest in new items without having to patch test in a store.

Jaye Edwards, owner of Edwards and Co salons, has already transferred much of his business online, creating ‘home colour kits’ which clients can use to treat their own hair until restrictions are lifted (pictured)

HAIR

While it is still possible to go out and get your hair cut, women across the country will be pleased to know that leading hairdressers have also developed ways and means to service you – whether you can or can’t go to the salon. 

Jaye Edwards, owner of Edwards and Co salons, has already transferred much of his business online, creating ‘home colour kits’ which clients can use to treat their own hair until restrictions are lifted.

He told FEMAIL he is already shipping dozens of kits to clients across the country, providing them with their choice of dye, brush and mixing bowl, towel, gloves, foils to prevent colour transfer and detailed instructions on application.

Basic kits start from $119.95 with free shipping and contain enough dye and equipment to colour hair three times, making them an purchase for anyone practicing social distancing or living in self-isolation.

Jaye and his team are also offering $25 FaceTime consultations for existing customers to help them find their perfect colour match.

Basic kits start from $119.95 with free shipping and contain enough dye and equipment to colour hair three times (pictured)

Similarly, Anthony Nader of Raw Anthony Nader is also offering boutique guidance.

While his Sydney salon is still open from Wednesday to Saturday, Anthony is also available for FaceTime consults, helping customers trim their own fringes  or offer styling advice.

You can message him directly on Instagram for this service, and there will be no charge for a consult. 

A simple way to continue removing hair is to invest in a portable machine, like the $299 device created by entrepreneur Dylan Mullan called Happy Skin Co (pictured)

HAIR REMOVAL

While there isn’t much of a substitute for in-salon laser removal, if you do need to remove your hair and don’t want to shave, you can do it at home.

A simple way to continue removing hair is to invest in a portable machine, like the $299 device created by entrepreneur Dylan Mullan called Happy Skin Co.

Australian-owned and made it’s the first company to launch an at-home Intense Pulsed Light laser hair removal handset.

The handsets work because the light energy from IPL is absorbed by the melanin in the hair, which then turns to heat and destroys the hair cells.

‘Most people will see complete results by the time they’ve completed their 12th session, so long as they zap the area once a week. At this point, hair generally stops growing completely however this doesn’t mean it will never grow back,’ Mr Mullan told FEMAIL.

‘You actually have to be careful when anyone claims “permanent” laser hair removal as all forms of laser hair removal will require maintenance or eventually the hairs will start growing back.

‘After completing your initial session, you would only have to use your handset about once every three months to maintain smooth, hairless skin.’

Hairdresser Jaye Edwards shares top tips for at-home treatments

As Australia braces for an avalanche of business closures and weeks – if not months – of social distancing, Mr Edwards says this is the perfect opportunity to let your hair rest and breathe.

He shared these tips with Daily Mail Australia.

Jaye Edwards blow drying a mannequin

1. Avoid heat styling: Take the chance to air dry your hair and leave straighteners, curlers and crimpers to the side until this is all over.

2. Invest in a good leave-in conditioner: Mr Edwards’ favourite is the $42 ‘Refresh and Purifying Leave-In Conditioner’ from Virtue Labs.

3. Start bonding your hair: Bond building products are designed to prevent damage and protect your hair from chemicals found in permanent dyes. High quality bonding products repair hair and reconnect damaged strands, making hair softer and stronger. Mr Edwards’ go-to bond builder is Redken’s pH Bonder which costs $33 for 150ml.

4. Treat yourself to a mask: Hair masks are famous for adding shine, softness and moisture to dull, lacklustre locks. They also reduce frizz and hydrate the scalp, making it healthier and less inclined to flake. Mr Edwards recommends the $30 Restorative Treatment Mask from Virtue Labs, which should be left on for five minutes for best results. 

Source: Jaye Edwards

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk