SonyaI recently met Victoria Radford at her Yorkville Studio in Toronto and was in awe of not only how she made me feel comfortable in my own skin but also because she’s a treasure trove of knowledge. As a medically trained esthetician and celebrity make up artist, she has built her brand based on a foundation of understanding what is good for the skin. Okay, she also knows how to highlight the best features on any face. Truly. That meeting by the way, was sheer luck, my luck. She wasn’t scheduled to be in at the Studio when I was there to experience a light treatment but when I surfaced from a peaceful bliss to just have a make up touch up, she was there.
I had recently begun using a few of her products — BUFF is seriously my hands-down favourite daily exfoliants EVER. And then there is her TINT Daily Skin Perfector that is pure magic — hey, when others notice that your skin is looking smoother and pores seem to have diminished that’s a good sign!
Radford’s beauty and skin care line is founded on the idea of real beauty, made simple. I loved learning one of her messages is that skin should looks like skin… only better! (honestly, no filter needed)
Inspired by the contrast of bold empathy and ingredients that work better together, Radford aims to create a community for modern, natural beauty through refined formulas, responsible production, and simplified steps that help your best self shine through. Collaborating with leading scientists and manufacturers across the globe, Radford has created a collection of only what’s needed. Clean, cruelty-free, vegan skincare and makeup that’s skincare. The collection can be personalized based on your skin and beauty needs.
Radford’s TINT is a tinted moisturizer that offers a sheer hint of coverage. It’s unique oil-free formula features Hyaluronic Acid and Ceramides known to improve hydration and skin texture. Retinyl Palmitate helps to promote skin cell turn over and aids in unclogging pores. Licorice Root Extract helps with excess melanin to naturally brighten skin tone. Plus an added mineral suns screening nanoparticles of Titanium Dioxide help protect the skin’s surface reflecting harmful UVA and UVB rays without irritating sensitive skin.
TINT is the focus this week as I’ve learned that Radford is teaming up with Canadian illustrator Iveta Karpathyova with an interactive community activation in celebration of the expansion offering even more shades as part of Yorkville Murals Festival in collaboration with The Other Art Fair.
Iveta is an award-winning artist known for her work as an animator and illustrator. She’s worked with Netflix and Vox as well as being a guest lecturer at Google, UC Berkeley Extension, and the California College of the Arts. Most recently she was the senior animator for the Undone television series on Amazon Prime. Her client roster is equally celebrated having worked with New York Times, Entertainment Weekly, Grey Goose, World Wildlife Fund, and Holt Renfrew to name a few.
To highlight the story of diversity in beauty, Radford has contracted the Canadian illustrator to animate a portrait of the community titled “Nouveau Glow”. Taking inspiration from TINT’s unique formula featuring spherical pigments that reflect skin’s natural undertone, Iveta’s illustration represents a reflection of cultural beauty bursting and overflowing with love. The spectrum of Radford’s TINT shades were juxtaposed in a unified mosaic composition.
The illustration features sections which the community is encouraged to engage with by coming together to paint the bigger picture. The mural will be located inside The Oval at Yorkville Village, and guests are welcome to participate in painting it on September 24, 2021 between 11:00am EST to 3:00pm EST. Nouveau Glow will also be featured on limited edition sweatshirts, totes and postcards to amplify the message across the community. Tint shade expansion launches September 28th, 2021 at 8:00am EST on Radfordbeauty.com
Toronto’s Yorkville Murals is an annual three-day cultural event that celebrates contemporary muralism and public art. It will take place from September 24-26th. Through the creation of artistic murals in Yorkville, and the implementation of cultural activations such as artist installations, speaker panels, and movie screenings, this project focuses on making Yorkville a landmark in Toronto for public art and an ultimate tourist destination.
For more information, visit www.yorkvillemurals.com,