Samantha Hayes describes her natural and nourishing beauty routine

18 September 2017
By Fashion Quarterly

Kiwi presenter Samantha Hayes laughing on a nature walk

From full face to fresh-faced, the Newshub Live at 6pm presenter and reporter shares her on and off-duty beauty routine.


FQ: What is your morning skincare routine?

Samantha: My skin can be quite sensitive so I’m a huge fan of the Dr Hauschka range which I have been using for almost ten years now. It’s completely natural and I find it calming and soothing on my skin. My day starts with the Dr Hauschka Cleansing Milk, followed by the Cleansing Cream which is a gentle exfoliant; the Clarifying Toner and then the Melissa Day Cream. Sometimes I also add a couple of drops of Trilogy’s Certified Organic Rosehip Oil into my moisturiser or foundation which gives a nice dewy look. Sun protection is also really important – I also mix a little Dermalogica Solar Defence Boost SPF 50+ into my day cream.

I have to wear makeup everyday for work, so when I’m at home I love letting my skin breathe and try to keep things pretty simple. This usually means a little under eye concealer – MAC Select Cover Up maybe some Dr Hauschka Bronzing Powder and Bobbi Brown Natural Brow Shaper to keep them under control – it’s like a mascara and gel for your eyebrows. I only discovered it this year and it’s great.

When I’m working, I add L’Oreal Foundation and I use a MAC eyeshadow palette. I’ve had it for so long that the name has rubbed off but it’s the perfect colours – warm tones and minimalist. I also use a Bobbi Brown Ink Liner eyeliner pen which I find really easy to use. I’m still trying to master the art of liquid eyeliner but this certainly helps. I set everything with a MAC Mineralise powder.

You have to be quite careful with makeup when you’re on camera, anything too heavy doesn’t come across well in high definition and the cameras are really sensitive to any shimmer so you have to be cautious with highlighting – it can reflect and make you look shiny on TV.

Samantha hayes makeup collection

I have three magical hair care products. Kevin Murphy Fresh Hair – this is a dry shampoo which is awesome. If you can stretch out not washing your hair, then I am all for it. I also love the Kevin Murphy Doo Over Dry Powder Finishing Hairspray – it texturizes at the same time. The other one is called David Mallett Volume Powder which is a dust that adds volume, a couple of puffs and your hair stays exactly where you put it.

And at night?

Trilogy’s Make-Up Be Gone Cleansing Balm is a life saver. You warm it up in your hands before you use it, rub it all over your face and then wipe it away with a hot face cloth and all of your makeup is gone, even liquid eyeliner. It just magically disappears. I have been using this every day since it came out and I love it.

I follow this with the Dr Hauschka Cleansing Milk and Toner. A couple of times a week I will also use a mask, my favourite is the Aesop Blue Chamomile Facial Hydrating Mask. I also use the Dermalogica MultiVitamin Mask and the Dr Hauschka Hydrating Mask.

The Trilogy Exfoliating Body Balm is great in the shower, I use this a couple of times a week along with their Botanical Body Wash. It has kawa kawa in it which is one of my favourite ingredients, it has so many wonderful healing benefits. I’m also addicted to the Trilogy Pure Plant Body Oil – my skin just absorbs it and it’s delicious. I use it most days without fail.

Presetner Samatha Hayes' skincare collection

What’s your philosophy on beauty?

It’s important to spend time doing the things that nourish you. When you do what you love and what makes you happy, then this shines through. For me that’s getting into the great outdoors and making the most of the beauty we have in our backyard.

As you get older, how has your attitude to your appearance changed?

I have become more relaxed about wearing less makeup. On the flip side, I think I have also gotten better at putting it on having learnt a few tricks of the trade from our incredible makeup artists at work! I’ve also become more comfortable in my own skin which is nice. I used to worry that there was an expectation to look a certain way because of how I appeared on TV – that I’d be unrecognisable without make up – but as I’ve gotten older, I don’t feel the same degree of pressure and I’m much more relaxed about it. I look how I look.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BW1hqSEgpHq/?hl=en&taken-by=samanthahayes

What have you learnt about skin that you wish you had known when you were younger?

My skin reflects what else is going on in my life and depending on things like stress, fitness and general health it changes. Sometimes I will have breakouts, redness and dry patches… and it reminds me to take stock and look after myself.

What’s the latest trick you’ve learnt that’s changed up your beauty game?

Easing up on the blush. The makeup girls at work will have a laugh about this because they know I love blush, but they’ve been teaching me how to do cheeks in a good way rather than an over the top way. They also have this magical product which is red/orange in colour which goes under your eyes to counteract dark circles. At first I thought it was a lip gloss because of the colour but it works wonders. Scary at first, but very effective.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BXme4Fng-H7/?taken-by=samanthahayes

What’s the product you tell everyone about?

Trilogy’s Makeup Be Gone Cleanser. I rely on this every day to remove my studio makeup, it dissolves the makeup into the oil and easily wipes everything off your skin.

Lipgloss, lipstick or lip balm?

All three. Blistex is an essential product for me and having sunscreen included is essential. I have a tendency to fixate on lipsticks, at the moment it’s MAC Fanfare. Whether it goes with what I’m wearing or not, I will have it on.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BVoIY2WgWxM/?taken-by=samanthahayes

Foundation: blending with fingers, sponge or brush?

I use a brush I picked up at the pharmacy.

Nails: Standard polish or gel?

I go to Petrina at Tan Babe Nail Salon to get my nails done. I see her every fortnight and I get a pedicure every second or third time – she’s fantastic.

Guilty beauty splurge?

I do love the Ecoya Vanilla Bean candle range. Anything vanilla scented really, I remember as a little kid climbing onto the bench to get at the vanilla extract in the top kitchen cupboard.

Best supermarket beauty find?

My L’Oreal foundation. I also really like the Ecostore Vanilla Soap which you will always find in my house.

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