Supermodel Helena Christensen: ‘Here’s how I prep for a night out’
Party season is upon us but how best to get our glow on? Let’s get ready with one of the original ’90s supermodels and find out
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Helena Christensen is no stranger to a glam night out – after our Zoom chat, she’s dashing to an art gallery, before heading out to dinner with Victoria Beckham. Now 56, she’s got over 30 years of being one of the most famous supermodels in the world under her belt – and looks better than ever. All of which makes her the perfect person to talk pre-party beauty prep.
She calls me from her eclectic Manhattan apartment, where every inch of the cream walls is covered with a patchwork of prints and photos: “You couldn’t find less of a minimalist than me,” she grins.
After winning Miss Denmark aged 16, the Danish-Peruvian famously appeared topless on a beach in the video for Chris Isaac’s 1990 hit ‘Wicked Game’. Next stop: Victoria’s Secret’s original Angels, alongside the likes of Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiffer and Naomi Campbell. Then came gracing the cover of just about every glossy mag ever, walking for the biggest brands in fashion and basically ruling the 1990s.
She’s also a talented photographer and heavily involved with humanitarian campaigning on climate change, breast cancer and refugees, for which she won a UN Women’s Entrepreneurship Award.
I have a hunch that Christensen smells as delicious as she looks, because she also works as creative director of ultra-luxury perfume brand Strangelove. This project came about via her school gate mum friends, back in the days when she was still picking up her son Mingus Lucien Reedus, now 25, with American actor Norman Reedus. One of the other mums, Elizabeth Gaynes, is the brand’s founder. Whenever Christensen spritzes on one of the brand’s scents on a night out, strangers ask her what it is. “Taxi drivers will stop the car and say, ‘What are you wearing? I need to know before you get out!’”
And before she goes out tonight, we need to know more about her beauty tips – from her homemade exfoliant (don’t throw away your coffee grounds!) to the skin tool she can’t live without and how she uses red lipstick as a multi-tasker.
Helena Christensen’s party prep beauty tips
Boost skin with a face-sculpting gadget
When she’s relaxing and watching a movie at home, Christensen uses the Skorr Glow Device, about £522, a face tool created by her go-to dermatologist, NYC-based Dr Anetta Reszko (who she also visits for annual laser treatments to reduce the appearance of sun spots).
You apply a serum first then sweep the wand over the skin. The radio frequency supercharges collagen production, while sonic vibrations boost lymphatic drainage and there’s inflammation-soothing LED light too. “It’s the perfect at-home combo for hydration, lift and sculpted definition,” she says.
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For chic waves, put hair up in mini buns overnight
To define her natural waves, Helena applies Sachajuan Ocean Mist, £29 – a surf-style sea salt texturising spray – to semi-dry hair, then twirls it up into lots of little buns on top of her head, which she sleeps in. “This gives you lovely curls when you take them out in the morning. I prefer wavy hair much more than straight.”
She also does regular deep conditioning treatments: her go-to is Danish clinic Harklinikken’s Hair Mask, £45, (the brand specialises in hair loss and thinning) which keeps her waves smooth and soft.
For maximum glow, invest in high quality oils and serums
After years of jet-setting drying out her skin, the supermodel is all about serums and oils, which she re-applies throughout the day. She’s a long-time fan of Lumity Skin Nutrients Facial Oil, £48.75, for its spa-like scent and instant glowy effect, containing eight essential oils and 32 nourishing plant extracts.
When it comes to serums, she splashes out: her current favourites are Allies of Skin Copper Tripeptide Advanced Repair Serum, £190, which helps with her sun damage and skin elasticity and Barbara Sturm’s Super Anti-Aging Dual Serum, £340, which, she says, glides on smoothly, plumping out fine lines and boosting collagen production. Plus, she loves the tightening effect of 111Skin Eye Lift Gel, £150, around the eye area.
Exfoliate with, er, coffee grounds
It’s not all spendy skincare with Helena: she also makes her own natural concoctions, including a homemade exfoliator from used coffee grounds mixed with coconut butter. Her Peruvian mother, Elsa (below), is the inspiration here: “My mom is always sending me little beauty recipes with things like papaya. She makes this beautiful rosemary oil for the hair, too,” says Christensen. “She’s very much in touch with using natural ingredients because that’s how she grew up, being in a kitchen, watching everyone cook”.
Christensen is also a fan of the Penny Frances Apothecary’s Coconut Milk and Guava Softening Clay Mask, about £37, a powder packed with natural ingredients, which you mix up with yoghurt or water and then apply to your face for super smooth skin.
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A red lipstick never lets you down (and dab it on your cheeks and eyelids too)
It’s a classic for a reason. “I love red lips, with kitten eyeliner, you know? That’s my go-to glam look”, says Helena. The Typology Tinted Lip Oil in Ruby Red, £25.50, is the best red lip gloss she’s tried. Packed with jojoba oil and vitamin E, it delivers moisturising, plumping shine without being too sticky.
She’s also a fan of Westman Atelier’s Lip Suede Palette , £78. The compact has four buildable and customisable shades, from bright pillar box red to fuchsia, mulled wine and peony. No brush? No problem. Christensen “almost always” uses her fingers to dab it onto her lips, as well as her cheeks and eyelids: “I love that sun-kissed blush look,” she says.
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