Alice Quiddington, DJ

“I never thought I could make a living from being a DJ, it was meant to be a hobby…

I began to fall in love with house music and I started going to festivals and nightclubs and hearing the music in context. I understood it and on a trip to Ibiza one year I decided that it was something I wanted to take up as a hobby. About 7 or 8 years ago – I’m getting old in DJ time – my friend was a DJ in Sydney and knew I wanted to do it. She needed a new DJ partner so she just started teaching me how to mix. We started DJ’ing together, and then she went overseas and did her own thing. I just kept doing my own thing. It’s always amazing when the crowd is really loving your music, such a great feeling.

I think I’m a minimalist.

My mum always taught me less is more, so I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. I definitely stick to my old faithfuls. A new product will rarely make the cut, I guess I’m not very adventurous with trying new things any more. My skin can be a bit tricky so I try to stay away from using too many different products.

I’ve got very sensitive skin…

…so I use Cetaphil, it’s the only thing I can really use on my skin. It doesn’t make me break out and I love that. I used to use all different types of moisturisers until I tried that and I finally figured it out. I’d get blotches on my skin around my cheeks. It can get really itchy and dry. I was trying different things like diet and I thought once it may have been alcohol. I was cutting a whole bunch of things out. My sister went to see a dermatologist about her skin and they said to only use Cetaphil, so I just tried it and it cleared up straight away. I can also use Sunday Riley Good Genes and La Mer The Moisturising Soft Lotion and The Renewal Oil. I’m pretty simple with my actual beauty routine.

I get a little more adventurous with makeup.

I love Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, it’s just so velvety. And then I use Nars Laguna and Casino bronzers, I swap between the two depending on the time of year. At the moment, I’m quite dark so I’m on Casino. I also love Estee Lauder blush, that’s probably my favourite – it’s Pure Color Envy Peach Passion. I use Bobbi Brown Shimmer Brick, it’s a good highlighter.

I’m obsessed with Benefit Goof Proof Brow Pencil…

…it’s my new favourite product. I’ve just been basically doing really simple makeup lately, but am getting my lashes done at The Lash Room in Double Bay. They’re awesome, I just get a quarter of the lash line done. I don’t really even need to wear mascara anymore. I also get my eyebrows done, and that’s kind of my makeup done.

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My favourite fragrance is Santal 33 by Le Labo…

…it’s my go-to, I love it. I also love The Byredo’s La Tulipe and Tom Ford Tobacco Vanille. I like those really earthy, kind of spicy scents.

Staying away from alcohol and eating healthy really has an impact on how my skin looks.

Sleep is really important for me, too – you can tell in my eyes and under my eyes when I haven’t had enough sleep. I try to get eight hours sleep per night, which isn’t always easy for a DJ. My sleep routine can be a bit all over the place so I try to overcompensate when I’m not working. The nights I’m not working I try to switch my phone airplane mode by 8:30pm and turn off any TV/laptop/technology, just read a book and have an early night. I try not to look at social media or emails in the morning. I will start the day with exercise or meditation before I begin to switch on any technology or get into work mode.

I wear a lot of black.

I think I wear pretty classic, simple pieces, but couple it with accessories or shoes that are a little more out there.”

Story by Rikki Hodge-Smith; Interview by Sigourney Cantelo; Photography by Alice Mahran