Meet The Crew: Sally Hunwick, marie claire

Beauty Director

Beauty Crew / November 13 2018

Tell us a bit about your experience in the industry
I have been writing for magazines and online for a looonng time. I started out as an in intern at Cosmopolitan and instantly fell in love with the industry. I went on to be Beauty Editor on Dolly and then I moved to Harper’s BAZAAR where I really cemented my career in beauty journalism. I spent a few years in London where I wrote for titles such as Tatler, before returning to Australia where I worked on Cosmo as Beauty Director (back to where it all began!). I joined the wonderful Marie Claire team in 2017 and have been here ever since.

What’s been your biggest career highlight?
There are so many, I recently interviewed Michael Buble, which was wonderful. He sang to me and it was pretty hard not to show him just how much of a fan I am. I also got to interview Liv Tyler for BAZAAR while I was in London; we met at Claridges in Mayfair London so it was all very special.  

What’s been your favourite beauty discovery?
They are everywhere now, but when the ghd hair straighteners first launched, they were a major game changer; suddenly we could all get salon-worthy hair at home. I have a few pairs now, but I still have my originals!

What do you think is the one beauty product every woman should own?
A good mascara. You can go out without makeup but mascara really makes you look fresh and awake.  

What’s the best beauty tip you’ve ever learnt?
Ask any skin professional what the best anti-ageing tip is and they will say daily application of sunscreen. I apply sunscreen every day without fail. Even during winter. Even if I’m not leaving the office all day. With so many daytime moisturisers and foundations dosed with SPF these days, really there is no excuse. It is so much easier to prevent skin issues than to tackle them after they’ve become a problem.

Confess your biggest beauty sin
There is nothing better than getting a professional manicure, especially from someone like Jocelyn Petroni in Woollahra Sydney who does one of the most meticulous manicures in the country. But I confess I am bad at keeping up my appointments. With so much time at the computer, I should probably get a manicure once a week, but I just can’t get there!

What’s your biggest beauty battle?
Pigmentation. Whenever a facialist asks me what I want to tackle it’s pigmentation. I enlist a lot of AHAs, retinol and vitamin C into my skin routine to keep it under control.

Who is your beauty idol?
Alexa Chung. I look nothing like her but she is just so effortlessly cool, it’s hard not to love her. She keeps her makeup minimal, with perhaps just a statement lip or winged eye, and her hair is always working.

The three beauty products we’d find in your cosmetic bag right now
CHANEL Le Volume Revolution de Chanel mascara, NARS Blush in Orgasm (blush is back!), Dior Backstage Eye Palette in Cool Neutrals.

What is your beauty philosophy?
Find a skincare routine that works for you and then stick to it – day and night. I like to concentrate on keeping my skin looking its healthiest then I find that everything else falls into place.