Kelly Smythe, Stylist

Some women think that makeup hides the ageing process…

I disagree. Less is MORE! I never wore makeup growing up, I was a proper tom boy! But again from a young age I looked after my skin. Clinique was the first beauty brand I used. I grew up in a small country town in NZ, so it was a revolutionary moment when you could buy Clinique at the chemist. For my makeup, I have a simple routine and a minimal amount of products. I like products that act as a two-in-one. I always do my makeup in the car on the way to work to save time. I’m  all about glowy skin, highlighting cheekbones and good brows being my main focus. I like Ceravitae Oxygenating Foundation, Chantecaille and By Terry from Mecca, and I love my Kevyn Aucoin Eyebrow Pencil.

When I had laser to remove pigmentation…

on my forehead (post having my baby) there was a miscommunication between the doctor and I, and I didn’t understand the downtime. I was due to be on camera the next day for the Style Network with a scab on my head the size of apple! It was no ones fault but mine! My “less is more” theory went out the window that day when my makeup artist had to use stage makeup to cover the area!

For my hair, I love…

O&M shampoo and the Seven Day Miracle Moisture Masque – it has changed my life and my hair! I also use Living Proof Restore Shampoo, Aveda Invati and Smooth Infusion conditioner and swear by my Parlux hairdryer. Diane Gorgievski from Valonzcuts and colours my hair and Marc Armstrong from Raw Anthony Nader styles my hair for events or on camera work.

I drink three litres of water a day,

take lots of supplements, eat a lot of fish and fresh produce. I do everything I can do to make up for the fact I don’t get enough sleep and work too much! As for working out – my three year old son (Oscar) is my exercise routine! I eat sashimi every day. I also like poached chicken salads, steamed veggies, steamed fish of any kind and brown rice.  I don’t have a sweet tooth fortunately! But my weakness is anything Greek or Italian and anything with magnified chilli!

I take Magnesium, Zinc, Vitamin B, C and A

and lots of fish oil. It has helped so much with dry skin! It’s so great for my injuries. Recently started taking a supplement called cellgevity, imported from NZ by another guru I know, Dr Ron Bezic and his team at Refine Clinic. It is incredible! It’s considered to be the master of antioxidants, it reproduces cells that diminish with age and stress – result is my energy levels are up, I deal with stress better and hormones are well balanced.

I have always had a background in fashion…

While I was still at school my first job at thirteen was in fashion retail, where I gradually moved the up the ranks. By the time I left school at seventeen, I was still working with the same boutique and became full time as visual merchandiser. The creativity stemmed from there. At nineteen years old I moved to Sydney and, not even knowing where Bondi was, I discovered Oxford Street Paddington was the place to be at the time. I hit the pavement and dropped a printed out resume to every store along the street, I kept going back to every place for two months until a corporate attire boutique (now closed) employed me as store manager. It supported me financially while I worked away at doing test shoots on my days off until I built myself a portfolio.

At 21 I went freelance…

Working on various editorial shoots, music videos, and advertising campaigns as an intern. I earnt no money for two years. By then I had built enough experience to start calling these gigs my own. I landed my first big styling gig as Delta Goodrem’s stylist for her first music video. I was so determined to make my career in styling and worked hard to get there. My work was recognised by David Leckie at the Seven network, and he approached me to head the network nationally as Network stylist. Responsible for a team of approximatley eighty staff of stylists and hair/makeup artists around Australia and one hundred and ten on air talent, it was my job to give the network a complete overhaul. I styled with Seven for five years. I learnt so much in that time from a management and business side, working with celebrities and surviving in a male-dominated industry. I was blessed enough to have the support of some pretty big wigs there, one person in particular Peter Meakin, the head of news and current affairs at the time. He was my mentor.

After an amazing five years I decided to start the KS empire…

Jennifer Hawkins being my first client. A lot in my business has changed over the years, as has the industry. I’m still growing and learning every day, but I’ve never looked back. You have to love the industry and not be in for the money. My passion is styling, I have built this business to be adaptable to all areas of the industry so I can fuel my passion and still make it a successful company that supports up-and-coming stylists wanting to do the same thing.  I’m only as good as my team after all and am very blessed to have amazing, talented people around me. I love that no two days are the same, actually no two hours in the day are the same, it can all change in a heart beat. It is constantly fast-paced, challenging and I thrive on all of that.”

Story by Sigourney; Photography by Jake Terrey; Makeup by Becca Gilmartin; Hair by Brad Ngata.