Jennifer Hawkins first shot to international fame on the world stage, a shining example of quintessential and traditional “Australian beauty". It’s the Amazonian height, chiseled golden limbs and tumbling flaxen locks that made Elle a household name several years before her. Like Elle, Jen’s rise was fast and furious. At 20, she nabbed the covetable Miss Universe crown.
When she returned home after a stint in New York attending film school, she worked her way through of a variety of TV hosting gigs on Channel 7 before becoming a judge on Australia’s Next Top Model and a Myer ambassador. Instead of slipping into the ‘where-are-they-now-files' that befalls many pageant winners, she has demonstrated astute ambition, building a business and property empire with long-term partner and husband Jake Wall. She and Jake have just launched a tequila label called Sesion, adding to her two other brands – Cozi by Jennifer Hawkins swimwear and Jbronze self tan – which she spent a great deal of time developing and testing on herself and her celeb friends. We caught up with the burnished beauty at the iconic Palm Beach property Rockridge and went through a stash of her favourite things and learnt some of the secrets behind her perennial luminescence.
Jennifer's Low Maintenance Approach
"I think low maintenance beauty is best…
For timing purposes – when you start playing with different products it can be overwhelming. Having a clean canvas with your skin to start with is important so it’s all about exfoliation and cleansing for congestion. I think it’s really important to have a strict skincare regime so you don’t break out. I’m obviously really into a tan, but other than that, during my everyday life I just wear Jbronze on my face and some mascara. If I’m going out at night, I like to wear make up.
JEN RELIES ON HER SIGNATURE GLOWING TAN OVER LOTS OF MAKEUP. SHE WEARS LITTLE JOE WOMAN DRESS.
JBRONZE, AVENE AND NUDE SKINCARE ESSENTIALS
Jennifer's Self-Tan Secrets
I started Jbronze because I couldn’t find a great face tanner.
It’s so easy to apply, you literally just have to put it on your T-zone and on the contour line of your cheek. I don’t put it on the lower half of my face. I always start with a blank canvas [with clean, exfoliated skin] and put it on my forehead and cheeks – but not on my chin area. I find if you put it all around your chin area you get a build up and it looks unnatural. After a few days it fades off nicely and easily.
I never put tan over an existing fake tan.
That’s how you become orange. I’m shooting all the time so I make sure I have a fresh tan for each shoot. The beauty with Jbronze is that after four days you can scrub it off or leave it for the full seven days. I use the Jbronze mitts when applying my tan so I don’t get streaks. When I travel overseas I found certain tans would make me break out from the build up. The Jbronze tanning formula helps to eliminate streaking and breakouts too.
SHE TAKES A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO BEAUTY AND HEALTH. SHE WEARS LINE & DOT JUMPSUIT
A FEW OF JEN'S FAVOURITES STASHED IN HER CHANEL
Jennifer’s Skincare Favourites
I’m a fad girl with beauty, I swap up my products quite a bit.
I love certain products but then I’ll swap them. One thing I always use is coconut oil because I love the smell and I love it in my hair when I go to the beach. I also use Ultraceuticals skincare and this Live Clean moisturiser, which I found on a random shelf in a chemist. I initially used it because of the amazing smell. As for facial treatments, I like blue LED light, but I haven’t found a facial that I trust completely just yet.
In terms of makeup, I use a lot of mineral.
I use Ellis Faas foundation for television because I like the texture. Usually, I alternate between Youngblood, Ellis Fass and Nude by Nature mineral makeup. I use Becca lip and cheek tint and Jbronze on my cheeks. For eyes, I love Maybelline Great Lash Mascara, Chantecaille Eyeshadow Palettes and rms eye creams. To finish I give everything a spray with Avene mineral water spray.
JENNIFER LOVES MINERAL MAKEUP AND A NEUTRAL PALETTE
THE SECRET TO JEN'S BEACHY WAVE IS TO ADD A FEW WAVES AND SLEEP IN THEM
Jennifer's Hair Care Routine
I curl my hair and then leave it for four days.
I have straight hair naturally so if I kink it then it has this sexy beach vibe. I use Melrose coconut oil in my hair when I’m at the beach and even when I’m shooting, it’s amazing. I use ‘Hydrate Me’ shampoo and other volumising products by Kevin Murphy, and O&M style guru styling cream sparingly, just mainly on shoots to give my roots a bit of volume. I also use Evo Moisture and Protein treatments and L’Oreal Elnet hairspray.
Less is more, especially when it comes to having blonde hair
I try to steer clear of products that weigh my hair down. I can’t really use too many products in my hair anyway because I recently found out that I react to parabens and bee pollen – which is in a lot of product.
SHE PROTECTS HER BEACHY BLONDE LOCKS BY KEEPING PRODUCTS TO A MINIMUM
JEN OPTS FOR A NO-POLISH, BUT WELL MAINTAINED, NAIL. WEARING LACAUSA TANK, ABRAND SHORTS AND LOVISA JEWELLERY.
I don’t wear nail polish.
I was put off it when I read up on the nasty chemicals in them. I love a natural nail and because it’s summer time I’ve just gone with it. I do love a pedicure though, I’ve got a girl that comes to my place and I find it really relaxing. She does a leg massage, and she'll do a manicure but no nail polish.
Jennifer's Fitness Routine
I run quite a bit.
I’ve got a treadmill at home so I’ll go for a run for thirty minutes a day, four times a week, with loud music so I can just zone out. I do yoga probably once a week with a teacher, and pilates twice a week. I find it hard to meditate, so it’s easier when I’m running or doing yoga because I’m moving. Once a month I usually have a day off and I’ll get my yoga instructor to come and make a day out of sport and full body massages. I also see a chiropractor regularly.
HER FITNESS MUST-HAVES: A RESISTANCE BAND, MUSIC, A MASSAGE BALL AND RECOVERY ROLLER.
DAIRY AND PROCESSED WHEAT ARE NO-NO'S FOR JEN
Jennifer’s Diet and Wellness
I don’t eat dairy because it doesn’t agree with me.
I also try to stay off wheat as much as I can but it’s in almost everything, so I just stay away from processed wheat. I eat a well balanced diet, I love brown rice, quinoa and gluten free toast. Jake and I cook together, I don’t really enjoy it. It’s more for practical reasons – we’ll cook to eat. I prefer to cook my meals so that I know what I’m eating.
I do a technology detox from 6 or 7pm every night.
Just so I can have dinner and be present with Jake, or whoever else is around – even to be with your pets. It’s really good for your body. Technology hypes me up and makes me alert. My work never stops, if I haven’t seen my emails for a day then they begin to build up."
JEN WEARS BODYSUIT BY SEED HERITAGE, COZI HAT AND ABRAND SHORTS
Story by Sigourney Cantelo. Arranged by Claudia De Berardinis. Photography by Tāne Coffin. Hair and Makeup by Liz Kelsh. Styling by Marina Didovic.
