It started with Brows Twelve years ago, I opened my cosmetic tattooing studio, working one-on-one with clients on their brows, day after day. What I didn't expect was that this close-up, personal work would eventually lead me to build not one, but two beauty brands from scratch. "I just don't know where to start" About five years into my brow business, clients began to open up about a different kind of frustration one that had nothing to do with brows at all. Many of my mor

Buying foundation online has never been easier until you have to choose a shade. If you’ve ever stared at a shade chart wondering whether you’re Light Warm, Neutral Beige or Medium Cool, you’re not alone. Finding the right foundation shade online is one of the biggest challenges when shopping for makeup. The good news? There are a few simple things you can check before you buy. Or, you can skip all of that: send Nat, the founder of Max & Louie, a selfie and she’ll personally

If you've ever gone to bed in your makeup because "it's already 11pm and I'm too tired to properly cleanse," you're not alone and you're also not the problem. The problem is usually the cleanser. Most face washes are built to remove sweat and daily grime, not waterproof mascara, SPF, or a full face of foundation. That's where a cleansing balm earns its place as step one of any real skincare routine. What Is a Cleansing Balm, and Why Does It Matter? A cleansing balm is an oil-

Meta description: A New Zealand founder's take on Korean skincare, bakuchiol, and why Kiwi K-beauty deserves a bigger stage — tested across NYC humidity, flights, and Hamptons sun. One day I was crying in the middle of Times Square, wondering how any of this was actually happening. The next I was travelling alongside Bravo personalities, closing out late nights in jazz bars like Arthur's Tavern, then swapping skyscrapers for beach days in the Hamptons. Loud. Fast. Completely

Your foundation says SPF 30. Your setting spray says SPF 50. So you’re covered, right? Not quite. Here’s what the beauty industry isn’t telling you. SPF in makeup is one of those topics that sounds reassuring on the packaging and slightly more complicated the moment you start asking questions. And because sun protection is genuinely one of the most important things you can do for your skin not just for ageing, but for your health it’s worth understanding what you’re actually

K-beauty isn’t a trend. It’s a completely different way of thinking about your skin and once you understand the philosophy, you can’t unsee it. Korean skincare has taken the world by storm over the last decade and for good reason. But beyond the glass skin aesthetics and the 10-step routines that went viral, there’s a deeply practical, genuinely intelligent approach to skin health that Western beauty is only just starting to catch up with. Our entire Prepy ritual is built on

The Ingredient Your Skin Has Been Waiting For (And Why You Haven’t Heard of It. Yet.) Everyone’s talking about retinol. Vitamin C. Hyaluronic acid. But the skincare world’s most exciting ingredient? Most people can’t even pronounce it. The beauty industry loves a buzzword. And while the classics absolutely have their place, there’s a new generation of ingredient quietly doing some of the most intelligent work in skincare right now and it’s called an exosome. At Prepy, we’ve b

If you've been down the rabbit hole of trying to find genuinely clean, effective beauty products in New Zealand ….same here , for many many years . The good news? You don't need to purchase everything from overseas or spend a fortune to have a proper routine or visit large cosmetic stores that can feel completely overwhelming. Here's what we think a great clean beauty shelf looks like, from skincare first thing in the morning through to your makeup bag. Start with skin: The

It’s one of the oldest myths in beauty and it sells billions. Time to talk about it. Walk into any cosmetics store , scroll through any skincare brand’s Instagram, and you’ll be bombarded with the same promises: “firming”, “tightening”, “lifting”. It’s on serums, creams, eye treatments, and everything in between. And it’s convincing because the products look beautiful, the models look incredible, and the marketing is very, very good. Here’s the truth nobody in the beauty ind

The real reason we chose fragrance-free skincare - and why more people are rethinking fragrance too Fragrance-free skincare has become one of the biggest shifts in modern beauty, especially for people focused on sensitive skin, skin barrier health, and ingredient transparency. At Prepy, choosing fragrance-free formulas was intentional from the very beginning. Not because fragrance is “bad”. Not because we wanted clinical skincare. But because we wanted to create skincare focu

What is creamy makeup? Creamy makeup = formulas that melt into your skin instead of sitting on top. Think: CC creams Cream blush and bronzer Balm highlights It’s softer. More flexible. More forgiving. And it looks like you—just better. Why It Works (When Nothing Else Does) Cream formulas don’t fight your skin. They: Move with your face Don’t cling to dry patches Blend in seconds Wear more naturally throughout the day Basically… less effort, better result. Cream

Ever stood in front of the skincare aisle or online scratching your head, wondering what on earth the difference is between face milk and serum? You're not alone! These two products often get mixed up, but they each have their own unique charm and purpose. What Exactly Is Face Milk and Serum? Let’s Break It Down Before we dive into the nitty-gritty, let’s get clear on what these products actually are. Face milk is like the gentle hug your skin craves after cleansing. It’s a

If your feed feels like a constant scroll of dewy faces, peptide skincare routines, hydrating serums, and glazed skin tutorials popping up across New Zealand, you’re not imagining it. Searches around "barrier repair", "ceramide essences", "peptide lip treatments", and "minimalist skincare routines" have surged lately. More people are looking for skin that feels hydrated, supported, and quietly luminous. The Rise of Minimal Beauty Minimal beauty is back. Skin-first routines ar

If you’ve been googling “why is everyone obsessed with Korean skincare?”, “how to get glass skin”, or “what even is skin flooding?” — you’re not alone! The global beauty world has been swept up in K-beauty’s philosophy. This philosophy celebrates hydration, patience, and skin health over quick fixes. Now, that same ritual-first mindset has landed in New Zealand with Prepy by Max & Louie. This skincare range is quietly rewriting what it means to glow. From Korea to Aotearoa: A

Beauty is evolving. It is no longer confined to traditional standards or fleeting trends. Instead, it embraces authenticity, sustainability, and individuality. In this new era, brands like max and louie are leading the way by redefining what beauty means for everyone. This blog post explores how max and louie inspire a fresh perspective on beauty, offering practical insights and actionable tips to help you embrace your unique style and values. The New Face of Beauty: Authent

Dive into Skin Flooding: Your Guide to a Hydrated Glow! 💦 Hey there, beauty enthusiasts! Are you ready to take your skincare routine to a whole new level? Let’s chat about the hottest trend in skincare right now: skin flooding! Get ready to treat your skin to a refreshing drink that will leave it looking plump, radiant, and oh-so-hydrated! What is Skin Flooding? Picture this: your skin is like a little thirsty sponge, and skin flooding is all about giving it a fabulous dri

A Comparison of Max & Louie’s Setting Sprays Hey there, beauty enthusiasts! If you're anything like us at Max & Louie, you know that the...

Let’s get one thing straight: makeup over 40 isn’t about hiding anything — it’s about enhancing the good stuff, hydrating the rest, and...

Enter Max & Louie Hydra Shield Setting Spray. This revolutionary product not only protects your makeup but also hydrates your skin, all...

Hello and welcome to the official blog of Max and Louie! We’re excited to share our journey and mission with you. Our aim is simple yet...