Charlotte Mensah Shares Her Beauty Favourites
TREATMENTS & GROOMING
Nails
Swanky Portobello Road has skilful, friendly staff – who have all been with the business for years. To me, that’s a good sign. For perfectly soft feet, I recommend booking the triple callus scrub pedicure. They have an amazing selection of nail colours, too, and are so attentive.
Brows
Threading has always been my preferred option, but I’ve stopped recently to help my brows grow out a bit. I want them to look more natural, so I’ve been using a gel to keep them in place. My favourite product is the Beauty Edit Mayfair Brow Setter, which is clear and contains castor oil, vitamin B5, and vitamin E. It helps strengthen and condition without causing any flaky build-up.
Relaxation
I've been seeing Ingrid Mary at Bagua Therapies for years for a combination of acupuncture cupping and deep tissue massage. I don't know what I'd do without her. She’s so caring and knowledgeable, and goes above and beyond to ensure you're getting the best treatment possible. I always leave feeling better – both emotionally and physically. If you’re in need of some serious relaxation, I can’t recommend her highly enough.
Swanky Portobello Road Nail Bar
SKINCARE
In The Morning
My routine starts with a lightweight cleanser and at the moment I'm loving the Susanne Kaufmann Purifying Cleansing Gel. It’s perfect for thoroughly clearing the remnants of any skincare products and excess oils left on my skin – all without drying it out. It leaves my skin softer too. I then apply Chantecaille’s Rose De Mai Oil and give it time to absorb before applying a moisturiser. For moisturisers, I typically use a cocktail of raw shea butters and apricot kernel whipped together to create a super smooth creamy texture that hydrates my skin throughout the day. For my body moisturiser, I do the same but add a couple drops of the Susanne Kaufmann Body Oil to form a thick ointment.
At Night
Since I don't really wear much make-up, there’s not often much to remove at the end of the day apart from eyeliner and mascara. For this, I would use the Susanne Kaufmann Purifying Cleansing Gel again. My top tip for more radiant skin is simply rest. Only a proper night's sleep can give you that special kind of glow.
MAKE-UP
Favourite Stores
Liberty is my favourite place to shop for make-up. Not only is the building amazing, it has an eclectic mix of cool, under-the-radar brands. I start at the top and work my way down through the whole store – it’s fun to go with friends as well. The staff there are so helpful, especially if you’re in need of some knowledgeable recommendations. Elsewhere, Space NK – online and in person – is great for make-up. Again, it stocks the best brands and the flagship store on Westbourne Grove is brilliant. Ask for Clara, who really takes the time to help you and give you personalised advice.
Desert Island Products
My eye make-up is often my focus, so I’d take two products with me to help me feel like myself. I like to scribble the NARS ‘Larger Than Life’ Pencil over my lids and blend it out as a base for my eyeshadow. I’ll often go out wearing just this and my favourite mascara – NARS Climax. It adds decent volume and has a beautiful, deeply pigmented colour that doesn’t smudge or flake off. My signature look is smokey, smudgey eyes that have a grungey feel to them – I’m sure I’d keep this going, even in a hot climate.
HAIRCARE
Cuts & Treatments
My favourite salon is my own – Hair Lounge on Portobello Road. I go in weekly for a hair treatment that uses an exfoliating salt scrub to get rid of dirt and build-up, and boost volume at the root. Scalp exfoliation can be both a soothing and stress-relieving way to invigorate the scalp – it can also promote better hair growth. Our team is amazing and I trust each and every one of them – so I’ll often get my hair cut with whoever is free on that day.
Daily Essentials
While I’m biased, the Charlotte Mensah Manketti Oil is always part of my daily ritual. I love oiling my hair to protect the strands – it works for everyone and doesn’t weigh hair down. Adding a healthy shine, it conditions and conceals the appearance of split ends and damage. My pomade is another favourite. It’s full of ingredients like mongongo oil, shea butter and argan oil which adds so much moisture and overhauls dead, broken hairs. The Manketti Finishing Mist is always a great final touch to leave my hair feeling hydrated, smooth and perfectly polished.
Go-To Tools
You’ll never find me without a paddle brush. Everyone should own one – they are the best for detangling, smoothing and straightening the hair. Kent does brilliant ones, as does Aveda. I love my Duafe Combs too. They are made from off-cuts of wood and they look beautiful. The porous nature of the design means they absorb and redistribute the hair’s natural oils to help maintain healthy strands. Meanwhile, the wooden tips gently massage the scalp and boost blood circulation to stimulate growth. As for heat tools, I always go back to ghd. The brand is – and always will be – ahead of the curve.
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