A fashion founder who swears by hair botox and French retinol

The first rich creme guest routine

Hi,

Happy Sunday <3

I’m writing this from the airport at 6 am — I spent the last few days in Melbourne with one of my best friends finding her a wedding dress!!! I’m flying home early because today I’m celebrating my bday over lunch with some othr close friends. My birthday was over a month ago (lol) but this is 31 — organising a catch up takes hundreds of messages and a lot of logistics.

Today I have what will be the first of many interviews with interesting people detailing their beauty habits. I’m thinking I’ll share one per month. I LOVE hearing about what people really use, where they go, who they see… and not just people within beauty. This Q&A is with Liv Koennecke, who is a very good friend of mine but also the founder and creative director of Maison Essentiele. The routine is GOOD! Read it below (and thank you Liv).

What's your name?

Olivia (Liv) Koennecke, 31

Your skin type?

Combination/dry

And your hair type?

Dry and fine

What does beauty mean to you - how do you define it?

Beauty to me is more than just a product. It's a sacred, special moment carved out for you. It’s a way people own their uniqueness, enhance their favourite features, and show up for themselves and the world.

When did you get into beauty - was there someone or something that influenced you?

When I was young, my mum took me to David Jones to buy a skincare set: cleanser, toner, moisturiser. I remember feeling so special leaving with my new products. They weren’t particularly expensive but it was about learning to take care of yourself. I had so much pride in my new routine — it’s something that has stuck with me to this day.

Okay so what's the first thing you do when you get up?

Drink as much water as possible, wash my face (usually just with water) and do my skincare.

Talk me through your morning skincare - I want all the steps and products.

I usually only wash my face with water in the morning, or sometimes I’ll use a gentle balm or cream cleanser if I’ve worked out.

Then it’s pretty simple: hyaluronic acid, sometimes an active serum (depending on my skin at the time) - I’ve been loving the Keihls Ultra Potent 1.5% Hylaronic Acid & Chanel Sublimage L’Extrait Serum.

Depending on how my skins feeling, I’ll usually use La Mer, Chanel or my La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume b5 if I want something thicker.

Lastly, the MECCA Save Face Brightening SP5 50, it gives you that natural glow.

What about evening?

Keihls Ultra Potent 1.5% Hylaronic Acid & Chanel Sublimage L’Extrait Serum

a313 retinol balm (!) & lastly, the La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume b5 to seal it all in.

What about makeup? Do you wear much? What does a typical day look like?

Every day is pretty much the same! I keep it light and natural with a focus on brows, glowy skin and a lined lip. I love a pot concealer to even out my skin tone and spot treat: my favourites are the RMS one & Glossier Stretch concealer.

Westman Atelier Stick Bronzer and the Westman Atelier Lit Up highlighter in Nectar— it’s translucent and creamy for a radiant glow. All the Westman Atelier products have skin-loving ingredients, without any synthetic fragrance, silicone, parabens etc. I LOVE them.

Glossier mascara (IYKYK) the most natural, understated mascara that doesn’t clump or go on too thick.

I brush up my brows, fill in any gaps, and I’ll usually wear some sort of plum-tinted lip stain or balm in a diffused way, dabbing it on with my fingers to my lips and cheeks. Lastly a lip liner — anything in a nice pinky brown thats close to my natural colour.

What's your going out makeup vibe?

Very similar to my every day, but if I want something dressier I’ll add a bronze smoky eye with NARS or Laura Mercier.

Last makeup product you bought because you were influenced?

A viral lip stain I saw on Tiktok by Wonderskin - another high maintenance to be low maintenance hack - I love it!

What's your signature scent/s?

I love a fresh, floral scent, like La Tulipe by Byredo. But recently I tried Powder by Perfumer H in Mecca. It reminds me of a vintage powder room or my elegant grandmother… but it’s modern. On my wish list!

What's your hair care routine? What does your wash day look like?

I am a huge fan of Davines hair care. The Smoothing Shampoo & Conditioner are my favourites as my hair is prone to frizz. I only wash every 5 days or so… It’s quite long so washing is a bit of a mission every time. I love the Virtue hair mask during the summer when I’m swimming a lot and my ends are drier from salt water. I love an oil too, Virtue and Olaplex are my favourites.

My absolute favourite styling tool is my Dyson Airwrap. It’s literally a salon blow dry at home every day. Worth the hype.

Who cuts/colours your hair?

I go to Dana Steffenson at Ren Salon in Paddington for regular trims and a brunette tone to keep my hair looking glossy.

I know you have hair Botox - tell me about that…

Yes! I’m all about the ‘high maintenance to be low maintenance’ investments.

Hair botox is essentially a keratin treatment, but only for about half the time/strength, working to “smooth” the hair, rather than completely chemically straighten it. I had it done just before the summer holidays and it was a saviour from post-swim and humidity frizz. I naturally have very curly hair so for me, it really provided a lot of value.

Body care — anything you love?

I love a thick body cream. My favourites are Kiehl’s Creme de Corps or Officine Universelle Buly Body Milk. And I always buy Goe Oil Body Oil when I’m in Paris. If I’m feeling really dry, I’ll go in with a Hyaluronic Acid first.

Anything else in your shower we should know about?

Le Labo Hinoki Shower Gel - I love a scented shower gel to turn those everyday moments into an experience. I originally bought this for my husband but definitely use it more than him.

Virtue Restorative hair mask (the OG for dry/brittle hair girls)

Nails — are you a regular manicure girl or into bare nails?

My go-to is a Shellac pedi in a deep wine red, in particular Redder than Blue by OPI and an almond shape mani in Put it in Neutral or Bubble Bath by OPI. You’ll rarely see me without either.

If money was no object what beauty/wellness things would you splurge on?

Space permitting, I’d love my own infrared sauna/LED light panel for the bathroom. And time permitting, probably an annual trip to a health and wellness spa — no phone and daily treatments etc, bliss..

Beauty icon?

Besides my mother and grandmother, I don’t know if I have a beauty icon… I’m constantly inspired by strangers, women I meet, people online… etc.

Cheapest product you own?

My two absolute favourite products are french pharmacy/drugstore: La Roche Posay Cicaplast Baume b5 & a313 retinol balm — if I could only choose 2 face products, it would be them!

Most expensive?

My Dyson airwrap multistyler, hands down.

Wellness - what’s your routine?

Semi-private Cadillac classes at Laura Halls Pilates. I’m also a big fan of walking. About 7kms a day.

What about supplements and tinctures? Anything you believe in?

I literally love supplements: I can get lost in a health food or wellness aisle, but I’m not very consistent. I do swear by greens powder when travelling or feeling under the weather. I’m also a big fan of herbal teas, fermented foods and eating a whole food diet, but I don’t restrict myself either.

Best stop for a facial in your city?

I absolutely adore Madona from Kaelon beauty - she not only got my skin wedding ready, but is a world of knowledge on all things wholistic beauty.

Give me 3 other beauty/wellness spots you love - places you'd recommend to a friend visiting?

Slow House Bondi, The Calmm, Laura Halls Pilates

What treatments are non negotiable for you?

I’m definitely a high maintenance for every day low maintenance girl. I get regular Hair Botox treatments, lash lift and brow lamination at Kristin Fisher Eyebrows and mani/pedis… I’d say every 2-3 weeks?

Last 1 — how do you course correct when you're feeling un-hot?

A spray tan always makes everything feel better.

Product of the week

Biologique Recherche PIGM sheet mask — wildly expensive but the best-ever sheet mask ever for instantly bright, cherub skin. Wedding day or in my case birthday skin.

Have a lovely rest of your weekend x