Coffee is undeniably one of life’s little pleasures, made better with the addition of perfectly frothed milk. When Nespresso debuted its Vertuo system last year, it garnered a nationwide following for a good reason — the machine boasts café-quality brews that rival those of Kiwi baristas. Delightfully, Vertuo’s capsule offering has just been extended to the Barista Creations for Milk range, promising perfect all-day-long coffee moments.
We know that New Zealanders love their coffee with milk (whether dairy or plant-based) for an exceptionally smooth, sometimes sweet touch. And Barista Creations for Milk are highly complementary to this way of living — each capsule’s flavour is masterfully blended and roasted to complement and enhance the addition of milk.
For those wondering which of the Barista Creations for Milk best suits their tastes, Bianco Piccolo is a rich, nutty coffee that brings out the milk’s creamy texture, best poured in a short cup (think lattes). Bianco Doppio has a sweet and caramel-like profile enhanced by milk, making it ideal for the iconic New Zealand double-shot flat white experience at home. Lastly, Bianco Forte is impressively intense, with rich, roasted and cereal-like notes that endure with just a dash of milk.
Ultimately, something just feels indulgent about a perfectly crafted coffee with milk. The Barista Creations for Milk finesse the experience, and not just because of the sleek, dome-shaped capsules made specifically for the Vertuo system. The intelligent machine reads each capsule’s barcode to extract the perfect brew, whether you desire a flat white, cappuccino, latte or iced coffee — the list goes on. All you need to do is place your chosen capsule into the machine and extract the coffee with the touch of a button. Next, froth the milk with your Nespresso milk device and add it to the coffee.
Whether you’re a seasoned coffee drinker or just getting started, we can tell you that Nespresso’s Vertuo Barista Creations for Milk . For those who prefer their coffee sans milk, rest assured that the Vertuo does it all, from long blacks to third-wave coffee, like Carafe Pour-Over style. To guide your at-home café-quality coffee further, Nespresso’s array of recipes will elevate the experience.
Vertuo Barista Creations for Milk are available online and in-store at Nespresso Boutiques.
When you think of a croissant, flakey, buttery pastry is the first thing that comes to mind. Without the buttery flavour, it’s never quite the same — until now. Thankfully, we’ve stumbled across Auckland’s first-ever plant-based patisserie, Maison des Lys, serving vegan croissants every bit delightful as their traditional predecessors.
You may have noticed the line of people wrapped around the block in Grey Lynn on Sunday for Maison des Lys’ soft opening, news of its brick-and-mortar excitedly splashed across social media feeds. Much of the loyal crowd first encountered Maison des Lys’ stall at The Shed Collective Markets, in operation since 2020. Two years later, while the patisserie still plans to continue its hotly anticipated market appearances, the new location provides Owner and self-taught Pastry Chef Drissilla David a dedicated space to create her confections, channelling her love for her native France through patisseries with a plant-based twist.
Right: Pain Au Chocolat.
A serendipitous series of events encouraged Drissilla to fulfil her vision of a vegan patisserie. The humble yet beautiful space has been a labour of love (much like the pastries it serves), taking nine months to come to fruition. Having previously worked at a local architecture firm, Drissilla dedicated a year during maternity leave to formulate the perfect plant-based croissant. In her home kitchen (and dining room, where up until very recently, she was still baking), she rolled the pastry by hand and produced batch after batch of dough in her beloved cake mixer. The game-changer finally came about a year into the process when she discovered the perfect butter alternative. Made with a blend of shea, coconut, rapeseed and almond oils, you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s the real thing. We’ve done the diligent task of putting them to the test, and honestly, we can’t taste the difference.
After Drissilla executed the plant-based basics, anything became possible. Take the ham and cheese croissant, a Kiwi bastardisation of the French delicacy and a beloved treat. Maison des Lys offers a plant-based take, a delicious snack-on-the-go that Drissilla reiterates is one of the most popular offerings, known to sell out frequently alongside her almond croissants. Her favourite, however, is the pain au chocolate — not fresh out of the oven but served cold — and with an eightthirty coffee that’s of course brewed on site.
Drissilla David of Maison des Lys.
Every day you can expect the Maison des Lys cabinet to be stocked with the classics, alongside danishes, pastries, and delicacies inspired by seasonal produce. Think savoury croissants stuffed with pesto, spray-free tomatoes, vegan feta, micro greens and truffle oil, or their sweeter counterparts overflowing with Biscoff. Coffees are served with dairy milk alternatives, and should you be lucky enough to nab a table, the Great North Road corner spot makes the perfect place for people-watching.
Despite never undertaking any formal viennoiserie training, Drissilla showcases an intrinsic knowledge and appreciation of the complex process. Anyone who has ever tried to make croissants will understand just how intricate it can be, and at this Grey Lynn address, the pastries are truly of the highest calibre. As Drissilla tells us, “they’re not just for vegans; they’re really delicious pastries too.” Having tried them fresh out of the oven, we’re inclined to agree — and we recommend visiting ASAP.
Opening hours: Friday, 7am until 1pm. Saturday — Sunday, 8.30am until 1pm. Initially closed Monday — Thursday.
While we love RevitaLash Cosmetics for its unparalleled lash-enhancing serums, it is a company whose ethos and values are on par with its reputation as one of the best in the industry. And this October, in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the brand is inviting us to support its philanthropic vision of a world without this disease, all while helping us up the ante on our daily beauty routines.
It’s hardly surprising considering that the company — a true industry disruptor — is built on sincerity. Back in 2006, ophthalmologist Michael Brinkenhoff M.D. saw an opportunity to produce a lash serum for those who needed it the most. At the time, his late wife Gayle had been diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer at just 32, and began treatment.
Most of us have seen how harrowing chemotherapy and radiation can be. For many, hair loss throughout the treatment process brings with it unnecessary stress at such a vulnerable time. Watching his wife experience this firsthand, Dr Brinkenhoff began the formulation process of RevitaLash Cosmetics’ now iconic lash serum we all adore. And sixteen years on, supporting those living with breast cancer remains a significant driving factor at the heart of the company (reflected in the more than $4million they have donated to breast cancer research and support), even as it continues to surprise us with new and innovative products.
And so, each October (Breast Cancer Awareness Month), RevitaLash Cosmetic’s recognisable blue boxes don a pink sleeve, which reflects the company’s commitment to the cause. Here in New Zealand, the brand supports Look Good Feel Better, a local initiative that runs programs and workshops to help those navigating the effects of cancer treatments. For every pink sleeve product sold throughout the month, a month’s supply of lash or brow product will be donated to those who need it the most.
RevitaLash Advanced & RevitaBrow Advanced
Here in Auckland, we can also support the brand’s valiant efforts by booking a spot at the annual Eat Drink Pink affair at Harbourside, a delicious affair for a very good cause. The experience benefits Pinc & Steel, who, in turn, offer support to Auckland women with breast cancer through their incredible cancer treatment rehabilitation programmes. (Tickets and further details can be found here.)
On top of that, this year internationally, RevitaLash Cosmetic’s sales will be diverted to supporting the City of Hope’s Ethiopia Breast Cancer Initiative, with the vision of bringing breast cancer screening and treatment to women and their families in places that suffer some of the highest mortality rates from the disease in the world.
“It’s vital to us to help change the state of breast cancer in Ethiopia — with ripple effects felt around the world,” shares Dariel Sidney, Gayle Brinkenhoff’s eldest daughter (and the company’s VP of Philanthropy). “As a cause uniquely close to our hearts, the entire RevitaLash Cosmetics family is passionate about directly improving the lives of those dealing with a difficult diagnosis, and ultimately eradicating breast cancer.”
So as Breast Cancer Awareness Month arrives once more, we always strive to find ways to support the women and families affected by the trauma of the disease. Whether investing in a self-care routine that gives back to women in times of vulnerability or treating ourselves to a delicious day out, we find ourselves grateful that RevitaLash Cosmetics makes supporting such a deserving cause all the more beautiful.
Capturing the escapism and vibrancy of 1970’s club culture in Manhattan, Tiffany & Co.’s new campaign ‘Lose Yourself In Love’ features pop-culture icon and singer Beyoncé, the accompanying film set to the finale track ‘Summer Renaissance’ from her lauded album Renaissance. Drawing on a sample from Donna Summer’s everlasting ‘I Feel Love’, ‘Summer Renaissance’ epitomises the soul of New York City, a place Tiffany & Co. has long called home.
Styled by Marni Senofonte and Patti Wilson for the campaign, Beyoncé wears head-to-toe custom creations and iconic pieces from the luxury house. These include a Tiffany Setting engagement ring in platinum with an internally flawless, round brilliant diamond of over 10 carats and pieces by legendary Tiffany & Co. designer Jean Schlumberger. The dancers in the film also wear Tiffany & Co. adornments in unexpected and innovative ways, making a whimsical case for the unconventional use of jewellery.
Through Grammy-Award-winning director Mark Romanek’s interpretation, the campaign film evokes the Studio 54-era thriving disco in New York City, showcasing joyful expression and Tiffany & Co.’s creative prowess.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAe4H5LcjpE
‘Lose Yourself In Love’ is also a reflection of Tiffany & Co.’s ongoing partnership with Beyoncé and husband Jay-Z. Titled Tiffany Atrium, the initiative funds scholarships for students in creative fields at historically black colleges and universities to serve underrepresented communities better.
Ultimately, the campaign is an amplification of Tiffany & Co.’s enduring brilliance and uplifting ethos. The custom Tiffany HardWare necklace created for the campaign will be available to purchase — a true collector’s item that, like the respective legacies of Tiffany & Co., Beyoncé, and New York City, will continue to endure.
To flout the mid-century modern archetype that is synonymous with Palm Springs is a bold statement for any home in the desert, which is why a project like Desert Palisades could only have been undertaken by someone with a clear vision and a clever eye. It is hardly surprising then, that it was Brett Woods (of Los Angeles-based architectural studio Woods + Dangaran), who conceived the four-bedroom house as a weekend getaway spot for his family that would offer a true escape from the city. As such, Desert Palisades has been carefully designed to work in harmony with its surrounding landscape and to offer a fresh perspective on the Palm Springs we know.
Surrounded by rocky boulders, the Desert Palisades home stands proudly on a hillside that offers views over the city below. With a facade that combines generous glass windows with large brass panels (designed to patina with time) the structure is as striking as it is perfectly suited to its unique landscape, where the exterior invites light reflections that make it shimmer and almost disappear at times and the long, linear shape punctuated with natural materials hints at the area’s mid-century pedigree.
Capitol Complex chairby Pierre Jeanneret for Cassina from Matisse.
Piedra Black and White Onyx sconce by L’Aviva Home.
That said, Woods was clear on wanting to create something that felt like the antithesis of Palm Springs’ iconic design language, an objective that informed the home’s material palette and finishes. Here, many of the interior design cues have been taken from the landscape, including the use of travertine flooring, muted tones like sage green, dusty pink and sandy brown, and materials like walnut, teak, leather and natural stone. On details like lighting and furniture, pieces such as L’aviva Home’s Piedra Collection sconces and a modern re-edition of Cassina’s Capitol Complex Armchair deliver a kind of contemporary sophistication that really anchors the home in the now.
And while it might defy the area’s common architectural tropes, this home truly embraces its Palm Springs locale via a paved terrace and swimming pool that offer outdoor living at its finest. Here, the use of concrete acts as a connector between the interior and exterior spaces, from the exposed CMU blocks on internal walls to the use of concrete around the pool, the considered use of this material actually saw the home receive the Concrete Masonry Design Awards’ Grand Award earlier this year, a testament to the architect’s unique, innovative vision.
Both a warm family home and a bastion of cool, contemporary design, Desert Palisades embraces a new kind of Palm Springs lifestyle without disregarding its context completely, and is the ultimate place to escape.
Since the unfortunate, Covid-forced closure of La Cigale Markets in Parnell, there has been a market-shaped hole in our hearts that few things have managed to fill. But lovers of sourdough and stracciatella can finally celebrate in style with the announcement that the beloved foodie market is set to return this weekend, with a fresh new face at the helm and a delicious new approach to boot.
Rebranded as Parnell Gastro Markets to reflect the variety of cultures and cuisines on offer (it is no longer French-skewed), the markets will continue to offer much of the same delicious splendour that made them so beloved by Aucklanders for nearly 25 years, and will be open on both Saturdays and Sundays for the foreseeable future.
Expect to see the return of a number of favourite stallholders from the past that have been missing their usual spot, alongside a new cohort of vendors — many of whom have only been running their food businesses since lockdown.
Realised via the devoted vision of new owner Richard Casey, who recently opened the neighbouring Buono Deli (also serving up some of the most delicious, authentic Italian foods), and a few neighbouring friends, the Parnell weekend market promising to make a triumphant return to its former glory. Wholefoods refillery GoodFor, who closed its Parnell store earlier this year, will even be there every weekend with their entire refillery offering in tow — ruling out the need for a trip to the supermarket for your pantry essentials.
On the odd chance you don’t find what you’re seeking in the market stalls, of course, Buono Deli will be on hand to cater to all of your gourmet foodie needs, and then some. And as far as pastries and produce are considered… I, for one, can’t wait to get back to this beautiful weekend spot.
Opening hours: Saturday — Sunday, 8.30am until 2pm.
Parnell Gastro Markets
69 Saint Georges Bay Road,
Parnell, Auckland Central
While there is an abundance of supplements on the market that intend to provide a calming, restorative return to homeostasis, the recently-launched offering by BioKodeLab considers how we can elevate our everyday state of being to meet the constant demands of the current world and excel without compromising our health and wellbeing. Through three delicious, easy-to-take products, the benefits of these new products are impressive, and (as I discover) far deeper than anything else of this kind I have tried before.
BioKodeLab was born from a quest for optimisation that grew from the innovative minds at Fonterra, where Sales and Marketing Disruption DirectorCarl MacInnes began by asking how they could use their collective knowledge to change the future of brain health. After all, it’s no secret that we’re constantly under pressure to perform. In a world driven by a demand for more, and how we now have to keep up with the likes of AI, computers and robots, it’s hardly surprising that we’re collectively burning ourselves out — big time, MacInnes explains to me.
“So we went about asking ourselves, what is the fundamental thing we can do to change people’s lives?,” he shares. “How do we help humans perform better? How do we help our bodies to live and thrive in the modern world?”
That question prompted a deep dive into the effects of daily exposure to blue light and whether there was a simple way to effectively combat those effects. Blue light is something we are all increasingly exposed to, whether via the computers we use for our desk jobs (eight hours in front of a screen can’t be good for anyone) or the late nights we spend scrolling on social media (we know it’s bad, but we do it anyway). Not only is this leaving us chronically tired, but it disrupts our natural circadian rhythms — the body’s innate function that deciphers between night and day, basically telling us when we should be awake, and when it’s time to sleep.
BioKodeLab Probiotic Plus & Calm Plus
And excessive exposure to blue light does more than just hurt our eyes. It is capable of impacting mood, cognition, and sleeping habits and contributing to those secondary strains of headaches and computer-associated neck and back pain. “Our understanding of blue light’s impacts just keeps growing,” MacInnes explains. Internationally, some governments are even beginning to regulate blue light, with China restricting how many hours children can be exposed to blue light strain.
For this reason, the team at Fonterra created its own, innovative Pro-Sight™ filter — an ingredient bundle included in all BioKodeLab products to tackle the depleting effects of blue light on our bodies’ essential functions. This, MacInnes tells me, was the baseline on which the more specific BioKodeLab benefits were layered, with each product designed to address different issues. Carefully formulated with a potent mix of high-quality dairy and plant ingredients, BioKodeLab’s products are unlike anything else, and are putting research and cutting-edge science at the forefront.
For the user, BioKodeLab products are made to be stacked. “First we protect, and then we build,” MacInnes shares. Each product takes an area that high-performing people are known to struggle with and offers targeted ingredients to address it. Be it Focus Plus (a tropical flavoured powder that can be mixed in water, using ThinkSharp™ for alertness and clarity) for those who find themselves bending backwards to meet their job’s mental demands or Calm Plus (a similar powder with a delicious berry taste, using StresLes™ for mood and stress support) for those who need some assistance with their stress response. Probiotic Plus is another welcome addition in simple, daily capsules, formulated to support the digestion and immune health, which has been proven essential for our collective wellbeing. MacInnes confesses it is one of his favourites, too, for ease of taking. But he also stacks the products depending on what he wants to target, which (he tells me) allows him to make the most of the benefits.
BioKodeLab Focus Plus
There is certainly an argument to be made that one might gain the same benefits from consuming whole foods, but you would have to drink 1.3 litres of milk to get the same amount of beneficial phosphatidylserine (one of the key ingredients for supporting cognitive function) as you would from a single serve of Focus. And that doesn’t even consider the other essential nutrients these supplements provide (personally, I’ve been noticing a number of significant benefits after only two weeks of taking them). With a background grounded in research and development of the highest calibre, each supplement is formulated to meet the right clinical dose to address our current needs. As MacInnes says, “Science is trusted. People deserve products that can be trusted.”
Given that BioKodeLab’s products have only just launched, it feels premature to ask what is next — but as MacInnes shares, he is most excited about where BioKodeLab goes from here. Whether it’s developing new flavours or diving deeper into their research of the human psyche. As part of charting your progress with the supplements (which is recommended, as lovers of hard data), BioKodeLab’s interface will host a range of key assessments you can undertake at your leisure that start to map the human brain and stack you up with how your strengths and qualities compare to others in your field. It all sounds a touch dystopian, but we would be lying if we said it didn’t excite us for the realm of possibilities to come. For now, we’ll continue to drink our delicious daily supplements. They have us feeling great, and is there anything more we could ask for?
From cushioned quilting to supple leather, handbags in pillowy silhouettes are putting a decidedly soft spin on the statement sac de jour. Spotted on fashion week runways and hanging off the shoulders of style-savvy individuals, these cloud-like pieces are beautiful in form and promise to add interest to any outfit. So, if you’re looking to invest in a new bag for your wardrobe, scroll on to see some of our favourite iterations of this sumptuously soft accessory trend.
From left: Loeweflamenco bag from Faradays. 22 bag from Chanel. Isabel Marant Luz Pillow bag from Workshop.
While drawing a bath is one of the most relaxing ways to unwind after a long day, it can be hard with our busy schedules to find time to actually sit back and soak. Here, we round up a selection of divine tubs that will transform your bathroom into a bona fide zen zone — and a place you will want to make time for, no matter how busy you are.
The centrepiece bath — Wave Bath by Meek Bathware from Plumbline Typically, baths are made from smooth, white porcelain (or something similar) to make them nothing more than a seamless addition to the bathroom — only noticed when in use. But the rise of design-led bathtubs is ushering in a new era. Recently, it is concrete iterations that have caught our eye, with pieces like the Wave Bath by Meek Bathware standing as both a bold design accent and a beautiful place to relax, with a unique shape and solid structure. It’s time to put the ‘bath’ in ‘bathroom.’
The built-in bath — Ofuro Bathtub by Antonio Lupi from Matisse Slipping into a bath should always make the world feel as though it’s melting away, which is something that Antonio Lupi’s Ofuro Bathtub from Matisse delivers in spades. Reminiscent of soaking in a natural hot spring, this bath is designed to be built into the ground and will bring a subtle touch of grandeur to any bathroom space. Trust us, this tub will remind you what true bliss feels like.
The classic bath —Warndon Freestanding Bath by Victoria + Albert from Robertson Made from smooth white Quarrycast (a finely-ground volcanic limestone and resin mix that is hand finished) and featuring a subtly-detailed rim, the Warndon freestanding bath is strictly symmetrical and flush with the floor. Sleek and sophisticated, this is the ultimate bath for the purists — those who will always opt for classic timelessness over anything overly ‘trendy.’
An essential part of embracing seasonal change is sloughing away the dulling effects that winter has imparted on our sad-looking skin (blame the colder climate and a lack of vitamin D). If we want to emerge into the new season looking (and feeling) fresh and rejuvenated, it is to the experts that we must turn — experts who prove time and time again the miracles they can perform with rigorous massage, cleverly-layered products and handy tools.
For that reason alone (although we really could find any excuse to justify a facial), we have decided to round up all the best, glow-giving facials in Auckland, in the hope of delivering some insider’s intel on what your skin actually needs this spring. Because after a season of sitting under a heat pump, or having your face whipped by the wind on your way to work, your skin deserves some TLC, and these are the treatments to deliver exactly that and then some.
LED Light Boot Camp at East Day Spa Nothing restores and renews the skin quite like concentrated LED light treatments (salon-quality LED, mind you), and there is irrefutable scientific evidence to prove it as well. Spring is the time we’re all about harnessing these rejuvenating treatments to inspire a new glow worthy of the season. East Day Spa knows this too, and as such, is offering a facial boot camp treatment that we’re obsessed with — three treatments over a week to relaunch your complexion. If you have a big event in the months ahead, the 28-day program is a completely transformative experience, and we couldn’t recommend it more.
ProCalm 60 at Skintopia Celebrating the shift of Skintopia to its new Herne Bay address, a suite of new Dermalogica treatments have been specifically designed to address skin of every concern. Under the guidance of Morgan and her wealth of knowledge, opt for the ProCalm 60 to shake off your winter shell and rehydrate any impaired barriers. Each treatment is slightly tailored and moves through three phases, including the employment of LED lights, relaxing massages and most importantly, deep, long-lasting hydration.
Augustinus Bader Methode 120 at Spring Spa Designed as a head-to-toe treatment, this facial morphs into a whole-body experience, with the welcome use of cult-favourite Augustinus Bader products that replenish tired complexions and deliver unparalleled hydration and rejuvenation. Bringing together a rigorous body brush and massage, using The Body Oil and The Body Cream, and a premium 75-minute facial with a combination of aloe vera, antioxidants, amino acids and Vitamin A, B and C, with a relaxing fascia massage and LED light — this treatment truly is the ultimate seasonal indulgence.
Buccal Massage at Skinography Nothing uplifts the face or leaves us feeling taut and about five years younger than this unique facial. Designed to get into every crevice and muscle of the face, the buccal massage is similar in nature to Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD), as it helps to move stagnant lymphatic systems and any associated puffiness away from the face. Specially-trained facialist Kate Michelmore (one of the only practitioners in New Zealand qualified to deliver this technique) will treat your face to a rigorous massage using repetitive strokes that awaken and lift your muscles and get rid of tension (particularly in the jaw and cheeks). We like to see this treatment as a ‘summer shred’ for your face because of the way it results in a noticeably slimmed-down and glowing visage. And while this is the perfect pre-event treatment, its effects are far more long-lasting when undertaken regularly.
Super Greens Algae Hydrojelly Mask at Society There’s a reason we fill our spring diets with delicious greens — they’re some of the most alkalising foods available, which help to ‘detox’ your body for summer. Of course, the same principles can be applied to skincare, and we gladly embrace any facials that incorporate greens into their process. Grey Lynn hair and beauty salon, Society, has garnered something of a cult following for their pretty hydrojelly masks, which look as beautiful as they feel. The super greens algae version is a sumptuous yet powerful treatment to book into for spring.
Deep Cleansing Facial at Tonic Room Tonic Room’s most beloved facial has been conceived with the intention of drawing those deep impurities from the layers of your skin to resurface an effortless, natural beauty for the summer months ahead. Dubbed ‘the ultimate skin transformation’, this facial is designed to eliminate the skin’s toxic load and restore its natural physiological functions with the considered use of the finest organic, naturally active botanical products. Be sure to follow it with Tonic Room’s signature massage and reiki experience for utter relaxation.
Sothy’s Micro Dermobooster Treatment at Exhibit Beauty It has been said that summer skin is made in winter, but there is still time for it to be made in spring too. The innovative new treatment from Sothy’s, conducted at Epsom’s Exhibit Beauty, is the kind of experience that transforms your skin for the better. Offering a trifecta of aesthetic microdermabrasion, controlled cosmetic microneedling, and a modelling massage, over six weekly treatments — the results are actually noticeable and long-lasting. Our Editor-in-chief confessed that she would do it again in a heartbeat, should she find the time in her self-care schedule. After reading about her experience, we’re inclined to embark on the process ourselves.
The Supernatural Emma Lewisham Facial at The Facialist With another focus on massage, The Facialist has joined with Emma Lewisham to offer a treatment that beauty aficionados can’t stop talking about. Reducing puffiness by adopting The Facialist’s signature massage technique and rehydrating through Emma Lewisham’s Supernatural Sleeping Mask and Skin Reset Serum, this facial offers a holistic approach in every way.
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