Kristina Rihanoff always looks so flawless
Tell us about your new make-up collection.
I was always very interested in makeup. I went to stage school from 12-16 and I also did a course which taught me how to apply on-stage make-up. It's always been another passion of mine. When MeMeMe Cosmetics approached me to do this for Christmas time I thought it would be an amazing opportunity. I got to pick out the colours which would suit everyone and they’re also very ‘now’, the berry colours for the nails and lipstick. The price is fantastic too - it’s a great gift box.
What’s your favourite product from the set?
Well, all of the colours I actually use pretty much all of the time for my shows and the Strictly Come Dancing performances, but I would say that the Shimmer Brick Stack is the best because it’s multi-purpose; you can use it as a highlighter, eye shadow, blusher.
If this collection does well would you like to make another?
Well, yes I hope. We’ll see how this one goes. I hope people will get it for Christmas, you know the lovely ladies will get it off their husbands, boyfriends and family. Then maybe yes, we can do something in the future. Like I said, it’s something that I’m passionate about.
What’s your favourite beauty look for this season?
I love the dark berry colour for the nails, because I use that quite a lot on Strictly [Come Dancing]. It’s a glamorous colour, a very traditional and classic colour. Red, cherry, berry nails are always on trend. This is something that I personally love, and always use.
What’s the best thing about the collection?
It doesn’t matter if you have the high end products, I think it’s to do with the application of the product. Like I said with the Shimmer Brick Stack you have so many different ways to use it and it’s good to go online and see how other people have used that. It’s so good if you have go to Bobbi Brown you can pay more than £26 for a palette but with this you can pay £26 for the whole box. That kind of price difference is amazing. Nowadays it’s important to fit everything into your budget, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have beautiful things and beautiful makeup.
Obviously you wear heavy makeup whilst on Strictly Come Dancing, what about when you’re off-duty – do you wear much makeup then?
I try not to because my skin needs to breathe a little and it gets a little overwhelmed with wearing makeup for so many hours. I try to make sure that some days I don’t put anything on my skin unless I need to, like if I’m going to an event. I just moisturise and make sure that I clean my skin really well. I try to go once a week for a facial, if I can. It’s important to look after your skin, especially if you wear heavy makeup.
What do you do to take care of your skin then?
A long cleansing process with a good cleanser, something like Sisley that’s definitely one of my favourites. Then I clean my eyes with eye cleanser and then I use eye creams, moisturiser and different serums – which I use depending on the time of year.
Other than your own range, what other items are essential to you?
From MeMeMe Cosmetics they have an absolutely amazing moisturiser Seventh Heaven Moisturising Face Base which also works as a Primer it balances everything out really well.
You talked about technique and applying makeup, so what sort of tips have you got to share?
I think there are a lot of things now on Youtube and online where you can see how to apply makeup, but I honestly think the best way and for free too, is to go into a department store and at the counter of Estee Lauder or Lancome or whoever they can always give you a free makeup lesson where you can see how the people are doing it.
Anti-ageing is obviously a bug topic for women, so how do you stay looking young?
Like I said, the most important thing is moisturising your skin using a very good creams and serums.
Are you opposed to surgery, or would you ever consider Botox or things like that?
I wouldn’t say never, maybe I will in the future it depends on where I’m going to be at in a couple of years. With being on TV I think you have to be very careful what you do with your face. As a dancer we’re acting through our numbers and if your face doesn’t have any expression it can look a little weird. I’m never going to judge women, because we all want to stay looking beautiful and if they think it can help them physically or mentally, then why not?
What’s your ultimate beauty tip then?
8 hours of sleep and plenty of water.
Follow Kristina on Twitter at @KRihanoff and purchase her cosmetics set ‘The Kristina Rihanoff Essentials Collection at www.mememecosmetics.co.uk’ .
Femalefirst Taryn Davies