In a cavernous room that could easily seat hundreds, a moment of intimacy plays out before me: two girls, helping each other with their make-up. There is familiarity in each gesture, a tenderness and ease that speaks volumes of female camaraderie. It is a scene perfectly complemented by the warmth and decadence of my surroundings: sparse lighting, dark walls and sumptuous elements in the vein of plush velvet and silk. The distinct codes of Dolce&Gabbana, condensed into a single space. A unique DNA, if you will, that is keenly showcased in the latest masterful creation from the Italian fashion house: the Dolce&Gabbana Beauty Rose Glow Cushion.
To this, Gianluca Toniolo, the CEO of Dolce&Gabbana Beauty, has plenty to say. “I never doubted it. Even before Dolce&Gabbana’s beauty line was fully conceived, I knew and understood that you could translate the codes of runway into make-up,” he states, gesturing at the cushion compact before us. Perched atop a fluffy pillow, its gilded gold embossing winks up at us. The label’s audacious logo is embossed on black leather, exuding a kind of seduction and glamour that is characteristic of Dolce&Gabbana’s sartorial leanings.
A seamless fit
It is precisely this cohesion between Dolce&Gabbana as a fashion house and a make-up brand that makes its products so compelling. Every decision made—from the choice of finish on a lipstick to the clasp of an eyeshadow palette—is approached with a kind of meticulous consideration that is plain to see. This applies, too, to its selection of brand ambassadors, such as trailblazing Netherlands-based beauty creative, Celine Bernaerts.
As one of the maison’s global make-up experts, she made an appearance at the launch of the Rose Glow Cushion in Seoul, South Korea, sporting her signature buzz cut, glowing complexion and an intense red lip. “My beauty philosophy is very much aligned to what Dolce&Gabbana offers in its products,” she explains. “For me, make-up is definitely a tool to be creative, right? I don’t feel like beauty should only be to beautify. It’s something to play with, something to be creative with, something to express your identity with. For that, I look to products that are pigmented, so that I have the versatility to use them in separate ways. And that is what Dolce&GabbanaBeauty delivers on.”
Indeed, it’s safe to say that subtlety is not something Dolce&Gabbana Beauty gravitates to. The Rose Glow Cushion, for one, provides a blindingly radiant glow alongside 24 hours of hydration; a lightweight wonder that employs Italian rose to grant a formidable amount of coverage and a healthy sheen to dull, sallow complexions. Other fan favourites include a bold 12-pan eyeshadow palette aptly titled Eye Dare You! as well as the ultra-lifting Everfull XL Mascara. In Bernaerts’s case, however, it is a yet-to-be-released lip formula that has caught her attention.
“It’s called the Lip Sealer and it’s going to be launched in three different textures,” Bernaerts grins, leaning forward conspiratorially. I offer up my hand when she produces a slim tube out of her bag, uncapping it in a deft motion. “There’s My Comfy Matte, My Sculpt Satin and My Juicy Sheer, and it comes in 54 different shades. Just look at that pigment,” she continues, tapping lightly at my wrist. A deep red smear of colour, unwavering even after I dab at it with a tissue. “I find myself going back to it constantly because it’s chic, potent and impactful,” Bernaerts finishes.
Making its mark
Beyond make-up, the house’s sensibilities are also out on full display with regard to its line-up of fragrances. The newest addition to the family is the Perfume Velvet Infusion Eau de Parfum, which marries notes of soothing black tea with luminous Italian citrus—a punchy and dynamic union that scents the skin with a rich, lush zestiness. An olfactory encapsulation of the brand’s distinguished aesthetic, it treads the fine line between elegance and earthiness, presenting a fresh interpretation of musk that entices rather than intimidates.
Its noteworthy presence radiates off global ambassador Mun Ka-young upon her arrival at the event space in Seongsu, Seoul. Kitted out in a stunning midnight-black ensemble, she is a clear embodiment of everything Dolce&Gabbana entails: leather, lace and luxury. In the fast-paced and ever-evolving beauty sphere, this feels like a form of comfort. Nothing lasts forever—unless, of course, you’ve carved out a space for yourself so distinct that no one else comes close. Dolce&Gabbana Beauty is living proof.
Vogue Singapore’s December ‘Gratification’ issue is now out on newsstands and available online.
