Simply Abu Dhabi XXII

2 9 1 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I exactly what we initially offered at my first boutique in Galerie Vero Dodat: women were able to come and see me and order a specific colour of lipstick, or a particular shade of foundation. We would take samples and test them and then create their customised product. By Terry was born with this one-to-one approach in mind. What product were you most excited about creating? Creating my fragrance line was extremely exciting and as it was something I had never done before, it was an absolute challenge! I had always dreamt of having a fragrance line and I have obsessed about it for years, but I wanted it to be perfect, so I had to wait for the right moment. It couldn’t be something I rushed into. It took me years and years of research and finally, together with the Maitre Parfumeur, Michel Almairac, I created my first fragrance line. It was an exciting journey that is not yet over! Is there an element that you feel sets your products apart from others on the market? Absolutely. I truly believe that By Terry products are unique in the way they offer a 360-degree sensory experience… They are all beautiful to look at, have wonderful textures to touch and have a dreamy scent… If only we could eat them then we would!! What advice would you give to someone starting a business/brand? Hard work is number one. After that, I advise anyone to always be true to their initial message and to be honest with their customers, deliver what they promise. There will be so many large corporations that will try and buy your brand or make you change your message to make it more marketable, but you just need to stay focused and be true to yourself! What is your favourite product? It must be the Light Expert Click Brush that I launched in 2015, a revamp of the iconic foundation brush. With its brand new look, remastered inside and out, it is a perfect foundation that is portable and suitable for all women on the go! Delivering professional makeup results in a single, simple step, it's ideal for women who think they can't do foundation as well as makeup experts. The intelligent, skin-mimicking formula and portable format means it’s always ready to use. Everything about this product makes it a must- have – expert foundation for every day. Has anything surprised you about creating a cosmetic line? Oh yes, so many surprises along the way! The most surprising thing for me is how sometimes something that seems so perfect and ideal in theory turns out to be a complete flop when turned into actual product! And this works the other way round too. In fact, my hero product Baume de Rose is an unexpected mistake in the lab... and turned out to be the brand’s best-seller! Where do you call home and why? Paris is definitely my home; that’s where I met my husband and where my children were born. Although London is now also fast becoming my home! If you were limited to three makeup items, what would they be? Foundation for an even skin tone and a perfect complexion, mascara for perfectly separated lashes and a red lipstick! Roses play a key feature in your collection. Can you tell us why? From a very young age I have had a real passion for roses; to me, they represent the essence of femininity. It is such a romantic and delicate flower, yet it has such powerful properties. Each part of the rose has some wonderful quality: the petal, the stem, the oil, the butter. And its wonderful scent is just so irresistible! I use roses in my three lines – fragrance, skincare and makeup. What trends do you think stand the test of time? I believe that the trend that will stand all test of time is the classic and timeless one of perfect skin and complexion, neat and full eyelashes, and full healthy plump lips! Describe a typical day in your life. I wake up early and keep up to date with the news, reading the papers whilst drinking a pot of Earl Grey tea. I then start my morning cleansing routine. After that, I go through my emails and have meetings with my creative team in Paris. In the evening I relax and have a tête-à-tête dinner with my husband. What do you do to relax? I have a me day! A relaxing bath infused with drops of By Terry Huile de Rose and scented candles. Reading a book at home with opera in the background. Also gardening and cooking! What is your favourite colour, texture and scent? My favourite colour is purple, of course… and coral, like the packaging of my first fragrance collection! I love soft textures like velvet and silk, crisp textures like cotton and linens, and hard textures like velvet. My favourite scent is the most natural of scents that I find in my garden in Provence: rose bushes, lavender fields, rain falling on the warm soil. I have worked hard to recreate these scents into my latest fragrance, Thé Glacé! What can you reveal about upcoming products and how your brand will evolve? The brand is evolving to become more user-friendly and accessible, but there will still be a very high-end luxurious side. I amparticularly excited about a new collection that will be launched after the summer… it’s very cool and contemporary but I am afraid I cannot say more. With regards to skincare there will be a surprise for early 2017, a real novelty for By Terry, so stay tuned!