Marianna Hewitt Talks Make-Up Tips, Skin Lessons & Ride-Or-Die Faves
I’m always on the hunt for products that make me feel more confident. My morning make-up routine is fairly minimal but there are a few steps I never skip. I like a sheer skin tint and never leave the house without concealer. My favourite is by Natasha Denona – l love the shape of the applicator. I then blend everything together with a damp sponge. I never feel complete without a lip either. My go-to is Summer Fridays Flushed Lip Stain in ‘Almond’. It gives my lips a barely-there contour that lasts all day – literally 12 hours – and then I top it off with a Lip Butter Balm, usually ‘Pink Sugar’. For the evening, or even just when I want a little more coverage in the day, I use the Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, which I’ve loved forever. If I want to sheer it out, I’ll sometimes mix it with a little moisturiser.
One treatment that makes me feel instantly more awake is a lash lift. I get it done – along with brow lamination – every few months. It’s one of those high-maintenance-to-be-low-maintenance treatments that means I don’t have to worry about applying mascara or curling my lashes every morning. I have really straight lashes that point downwards – even if I curl them and use waterproof mascara, they just won’t stay up! A lash lift opens up my eyes, streamlines my morning routine and just makes me feel more confident.
I choose my blush depending on my mood. If I want something easy for everyday, I go for something a little peachy-pink. For something more sun-kissed, I’ll use a shade that’s almost a mix between a bronzer and a blush. At this time of year, I love a berry shade on bare skin because it gives me that straight-from-the-sun flush. First, I dip my brush in, tap off any excess on the back of my hand and then apply it to my cheeks. Finally, I go over everything with a damp sponge to finish and my last non-negotiable step – especially in the summer – is locking it all in with a setting spray.
The secret to building a beauty brand with real longevity is never losing sight of the customer or the community. At Summer Fridays, we listen constantly and we aren’t afraid to take our time to get a formula right or even say no to something that doesn’t feel true to the brand. From the very beginning, everything was built on this idea of effortless efficacy with skincare-first products that actually work and make your life easier.
My skin prep always involves something really hydrating. Our entire Jet Lag collection was born from this idea of feeling tired and exhausted, because even when I’m not travelling, I sometimes have that same feeling at home. When my skin is hydrated, I look so much more awake, so I’m always on the hunt for products that will instantly refresh my skin. I feel so much better doing my morning routine while wearing my Jet Lag Eye Patches – they’re my cannot-live-without product.
Consistency is the best skincare habit, over any single ingredient. For me, the key to great skin is finding the products that work for you and using them regularly over time. No matter how exhausted I am at the end of the night, I try to do my full skincare routine. In the morning, even if I’m in a rush, I’ll at least do a couple of steps. If you’re unsure about which ingredients or products you need, it could be worth seeing a professional. I learned so much from an aesthetician I saw in my 20s – she helped me build a routine and educated me about which formulas best suited my skin. I’ve carried those habits with me for the last 15 years – such a great investment.
Monthly facials make the biggest difference. Especially when they involve extractions. I’ve seen Shani Darden for over a decade. I have a really light peel each time – gentle but effective. I don’t do anything crazy or with a lot of downtime. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve also invested in IPL laser sessions to fade dark spots that developed before I understood the importance of wearing sunscreen every day. Plus, a few times a year, I get microneedling with PRP. All these treatments have been such good investments for my skin, beyond my daily skincare habits.
I also prioritise getting enough sleep every night and drinking plenty of water. I never drank enough water until later in my 20s. I also take electrolytes and stick to a consistent sleep routine. For me, cutting out dairy made a big difference too. It’s not for everyone but it really helped improve the breakouts I was getting around my chin and jawline.
I have an exfoliating mitt in my shower at all times. When I use it, my entire body is so smooth and it’s so satisfying. All of my bodycare products work even better afterwards and it makes my skin feel amazing.
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Breathwork is the one wellness ritual that has drastically improved my life. It makes me feel more calm and grounded than anything else. My favorite is 4-7-8: you breathe in for four seconds, hold for seven, and exhale for eight. Even when I do it for just five minutes, I’m instantly so calm. I think it’s a combination of taking my mind off whatever I’m thinking about and focusing on breathing and counting so my mind isn’t racing.
I don’t have a signature scent but there are certain notes that I love. I’m drawn to gourmands, anything vanilla, caramel or a little sweet. I’m also really into scent layering and mixing – making custom combinations based on my mood or what I have planned that day. I start with Sunlit Vanilla, and I’ll mix and match from there depending on what I’m doing – fresher in a beachy destination, more skin-like and musky for a meeting, or a little more woody or smokey for a night out. It’s the perfect base.
There are a handful of ride-or-die products I swear by. I can’t do my hair without the Unite 7 Seconds Conditioner. I spray it into my mid-lengths and ends and it makes everything so much softer and smoother. For a blow-dry finish with minimal effort, I reach for the Mane Hot Round Brush. In summer I wear my hair up a lot, but I have all these little hairs that stick up. Briogeo Style & Treat Stick lays them flat along my hairline with enough hold without feeling like there’s too much product. A few years ago I stopped getting gels and now a bare manicure is my go-to. For a long while I wore Essie’s ‘Ballet Slippers’ but wanted something more sheer, so now I do two coats of Gel Couture ‘Sheer Fantasy’. Even when it chips or grows out, you can’t really tell and I love not having to sit through gel removal anymore. The Rare Beauty brow gel gives just the right amount of texture and hold for an all-day set, without any flakiness. When I’m on the go, I always keep this Charlotte Tilbury powder compact close to hand as it’s the perfect size so I can touch up my skin throughout the day. Finally, I wear so many cream products, One/Size’s setting spray helps everything stay locked in place.
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