RAQUEL ALVAREZ
Designer of WYMANN.
THE BEAUTY TALK
WHAT IS YOUR DAILY BEAUTY/HAIR ROUTINE SINCE YOU LIVE IN BRAZIL ?
My hair in Brazil is completely different. When I was in Europe, I was known for having very, very healthy hair; when I was a model, there was a lot of things to do with my hair. And here in Brazil, suddenly I realized I couldn’t have the same routine. For example there, I always used to blow dry my hair to be straight. Here, after all the work because you have a lot of hair, you go out and in two seconds it’s like “paaaaak!”. So I embraced the fact that I have kind of a “witch” hair and I kind of like it because it is natural, and wavy… So now, I don't blow dry it anymore and I think I haven’t dried it for years, I think I have a hairdryer but doesn’t work anymore… And also I just wash it with cold water to get rid of the frizz…
I am also obsessed and always was, about cleaning my face. I’m kind of a freak about it. If I use cheap products, my skin is getting very bad. I can only use the more pharmaceutical brands, which work for my very sensitive skin. The only “mainstream” brand that I use is an eye make-up remover because it has an oily formula which works for my skin. It is the Nivea double action. I really like it. As I am obsessed with having a clean face, I would never go to bed with my make-up on. I clean my face at least twice a day, sometimes three. So after the make-up remover, I clean my face with the Avène Cold Cream Soap-Free Cleansing Bar. I have been using Avène products since my modeling days and my dermatologist always told me that they were on the verge of being medicine products, which is perfect for my sensitive skin. I was using the toners and all the other products of the range but when I discovered the soap bar I felt I didn’t need the others anymore. The soap bar works so amazingly alone for me, plus it’s practical using it under the shower.
And then I also use the hydrating day cream which has sunscreen protection of 20 SPF inside which is great because I have a very light skin and I live in Brazil… And now that I am older, I use a base which is from Clinique, which I mix together with the hydrating cream because I hate when something looks cakey. So this makes it even lighter and it never gets dry on my skin. I prefer to shine rather than have dry skin. So it is just that.
And then I put some mascara, I use the classic green and pink Great Lash from Maybelline, after all these years, it is the one that works for me. Then for my brows, I use an old mascara brush to get a tiny bit of color and shape. Brazilian women are obsessed with treatments: they go to the hair salon all the time for example… So when I first moved to Brazil, I tried some of these treatments and the only thing I was happy with, was a brow designer. Her name is Larissa. She is like the typical salon girl: she’s all about the gossip, she talks a lot but she really does a great job! Once I understood what was the best eyebrow shape for me, and because it was a budget indeed which didn’t allow me to do it all the time, I started to do them myself.
And then I put some lipstick on. One lipstick particularly from Chanel, Rouge Allure Velvet in "la somptueuse" color. But they don’t make it anymore unfortunately so I’m using it with a pencil and I’m very scared of finishing it! I love the color, it’s like Bordeaux but not too dark to wear it during the day, and it works also at night. I actually hate having a lot of stuff so it is perfect to have a lipstick that can do both. Sometimes when I go out I use golden eye shadow and apply it on my cheekbones, in the middle of my nose and a tiny bit on my chin. Just to catch the light. But I don’t use eye shadow on my eye lids and I hate blush. I used to have one since forever from Estée Lauder but once it finished I didn’t buy a new one.
But I don’t wear a lot of make-up and I hate when someone touches my face. Whenever it happens, I get a pimple automatically. That is why I like taking care of my skin, as I think when you have a nice skin, great eyebrows, white teeth… you’re done. You don’t need so much.
WHAT SPECIFIC TIP/HABIT THAT BRAZILIAN WOMEN USE DO YOU THINK IS GREAT ?
Brazilians have great teeth hygiene! I use a very specific swiss toothbrush that is kind of expensive for a toothbrush, but along with my Avène products are the only “expensive” products I use. Ah and also my perfume. It is Tam Dao from Dyptique, which I love! Before that I would only wear Chanel Chance, so every Christmas, until today, my father gets me a bottle of Chance. Brazilian women have also a great conscious of treating themselves: they go to the salon, they get their nails done, etc… They give themselves this time to take care of themselves, of their body. They are very aware of the latest “en vogue” treatments for their eyebrows, for their hair: how to hydrate them because we have this problem here with the weather… Something that I love is getting a lymphatic massage to get rid of the toxins, my body feels amazing afterwards.
WHAT PRODUCTS DO YOU ONLY FIND IN BRAZIL ?
There is just one: it is a perfume that I actually don’t use on me but as a home fragrance or even in the drawers. It is from the grand-mother of my best friend (again grand-ma… I feel like a grand-ma!); it is called “l’eau de Gly” because her name is Glycia, it has a very intense smell that reminds me of my childhood, I don’t know why… She doesn’t manufacture it, but you can find it in some events in Rio because her grand-daughter sometimes sells it, but I feel very special for having one myself from the Gicovate family.
BEST BEAUTY SECRET?
Salt! because in Brazil, we have these great spiritual beliefs. Salt is something that absorbs. And bad energy comes out of your body through your feet. So for example whenever I feel really stressed out or tired and out of balance, I put rosemary and salt mixed together in a feet bath: it is the perfect combination to feed energetic points that are located in the feet. This makes physical sense !
YOU’RE A VEGETARIAN. DO YOU FEEL WHAT YOU EAT HAS A DIRECT IMPACT ON HOW YOUR SKIN LOOKS?
Absolutely! Some years ago I even lived as a vegan for three months and I really felt a big difference! Your hair gets thicker, skin is better, sleep is better! Even if you eat less heavy, you feel stronger and with much more energy. Nowadays it is much easier to be a vegetarian because I think people are opening their minds about this and you find more options here. Although in supermarkets here I sometimes find it complicated to find simple veggies like broccolis… In the USA or anywhere in Europe it is much more easier to cook the way we were taught to. So I guess you have to be more creative, depending on what you find in the shops. But as for roots and beans here, it is amazing, especially for a vegetarian!
WHAT DO YOU THINK MAKES YOU BEAUTIFUL?
I think that I finally understand now what my kind of beauty is, what looks good on me and what doesn’t. For example I know that eye shadow doesn’t look good on me because I have small eyes, or if I show my waist and my arms it works for me, but if I show my legs, not so much. So I guess what makes me beautiful is knowing who I am and accept my strong points and my weak points.
THANK YOU, BEAUTIFUL RAQUEL.
(more on Raquel here and here!) x
