Beauty to me is something very subjective… I personally feel most beautiful when I am content and happy… I know it’s cliché to say beauty comes from the inside but I do believe that your inner strength and positive mindset affect how other people perceive you.
What does Beauty mean to you?
Isabelle's File
“I am obsessed with this Sunceutical SPF 50 Mineral Face Cream. In summer, I can skip the moisturiser step as this product is kind of 2-in-1 and my skin tends to be less dehydrated in the summer months.”
“It’s all I need to give my skin that luminous, healthy glow that I’m after.”
“This never clogs!”
“I start every morning by taking The Nue Co Prebiotic + Probiotic pills. I have been for 5 years now, and feel much more resilient since.”
“This is my favourite. I love the smell of it, as it reminds me of the lipstick my mother wore when I was a kid.”
On Skincare
I follow quite a basic but strict routine, as I’m constantly travelling.
AM
I wash my face with a mild cleanser – Tata Harper’s Nourishing Oil Cleanser is great, but I also love Emma Lewisham’s Illuminating Oil Face Cleanser.
I follow with a vitamin C serum – Pers vitaminC 10% serum is my latest find, but I often go back to IS Clinical’s Pro Heal Serum Advance.
Then moisturiser – IS clinical moisturising complex is great because it really hydrates my skin, but I equally love Barbara Sturm’s Face Cream Rich.
Then SPF – I am obsessed with the new one by Emma Lewisham, Sunceutical SPF 50 Mineral Face Cream, which means in summer I can skip the moisturiser step as this product is kind of 2-in-1 and my skin tends to be less dehydrated in the summer months.
As a final touch, I use Victoria Beckham’s Cell Rejuvenating Illuminator, which gives me the little glow I am after. I promise you, it’s been life changing!
PM
I do a 2-step cleansing: firstly, the Tata Harper’s Nourishing Oil Cleanser + Regenerating Cleanser for a very light daily scrub. I also love Lesse’s Refining Cleanser as another soft scrub alternative.
Serum Supernatural Vitale Elixir by Emma Lewisham, I might imagine it, but I do believe that my forehead fine lines have softened since using this!
As a night cream, I often choose Augustinus Bader’s The Rich Cream – this has become a classic for me, especially in the dry winter months.
Every other day, I use the AlphaRet Overnight Cream. My facialist Cynthia in New York suggested using this instead of the serum/cream combo.
I only started using eye cream recently, after being heavily told off for refusing to do so for so long! Now I am totally hooked on LESSE’s Awakening Eye Cream. Even after a bad night’s sleep, this one helps take down my under-eye circles
Once or twice a week, I’ll put on Barbara Sturm’s Face Mask overnight instead of a night cream. If I have a long-haul flight, I’ll use it instead of a moisturiser for extra hydration.
On Makeup
Victoria Beckham’s Cell Rejuvenating Illuminator – as explained above, it’s really all I need to give my skin that luminous, healthy glow that I’m after.
Merit’s Flush Balm – this is a perfect way of giving you that cheek blush without much fuss when on the go.
Chanel’s 3-in-1 Eyliner-Kohl-Pencil in Rouge Noir, or Victoria Beckham’s Satin Kajal Liner in Cocoa – super easy to draw that perfect creamy line.
Hermès’ Revitalizing Care Mascara in Noir Fusain, it never clogs!
Celine’s Le Rouge 13 La Peau Nue Satin lipstick is my favourite. I love the smell of it, as it reminds me of the lipstick my mother wore when I was a kid.
On Haircare
Depending on which city I am in, and the water characteristics, I either shampoo + condition or only shampoo… I just got the Supa Thick Shampoo + Conditioner from NueCo, a friend recommended it, and I have to say it really does make my hair feel even more voluminous and nourished at the same time! A classic go-to shampoo, though when I travel, it’s Pantene’s Pro-V Repair & Protect travel size, which you get at most mini markets worldwide.
When in London, I often use the Barbara Sturm Repair Hair Mask instead of a conditioner. I make sure to brush the mask or the conditioner through my hair with the Tangle Teezer detangling brush before washing it off.
Then once it’s all clean, I brush my hair one last time before towel-drying it. After that I don’t brush my hair again, as I have wavy hair so am lucky I don’t really need to do much else, I do add a teaspoon of Authentic Beauty Concept’s Replenishing Mask into my palms, warm it a little and then crunch it into my curls’ ends, never to the roots, and that’s it – I let it air dry and leave the house. Some people tell me I’m crazy for leaving my house with wet hair, even in winter months, but a hairstylist friend told me it’s all a farce that you’d get sick by doing so, and so I chose to believe him to save myself a lot of time in the morning.
On Health and Wellness
I start every morning by taking The Nue Co Prebiotic + Probiotic pills. I have been for 5 years now, and feel much more resilient since. Given that I travel so much for my work and private life, requiring me to be 3-4 times a week on a plane or train, my doctor said it’s okay for me to take them throughout… I only put the treatment on pause during August when on holidays.
Each morning, I also always have 2 glasses of water plus one cup of warm water with a squeezed lemon, before I even allow myself my first cup of coffee.
I’m sure that thanks to this morning routine of my pre/probiotics and my morning water intake, it has helped improve my gut health tremendously, and is why I very rarely get sick, despite my insane travel schedule.
I used to have trouble falling asleep, but lately I have been taking the Magnesium Gut Barrier, also by NUe Co, just before bedtime. My Oura ring shows my sleep quality has improved ever since, so I guess it’s helped me calm down my nervous system at night.
I try to do 3 times a week pilates/ callisthenics with my personal trainer Iphigenia Karapanagioti on FaceTime… I started working out rather late in life, but it’s been life-changing ever since. My workouts are less about getting that beach body in but rather focusing on my long-term health goals, to still be fit and active in my 80s hopefully!
On Fragrance
Tobacco Mandarin by Byredo has been my favourite for the last few years now. I love the contrast of the tobacco warmth with the freshness of the mandarin. As an ex-chain smoker, I hope this has no Freudian secondary meaning..
One Beauty Tip you swear by?
Good sleep and plenty of water (and yet I do/ get too little of both!) and good music! Nothing boosts your mood like a good playlist!
Isabelle's Directory
FACE
In New York, I see facialist Cynthia Rivas. She always manages to give my skin a thorough refresh. No facial with her is ever the same, her hands are magical. She is also the one I discuss my routine/products with. Luckily, she holds a residency in Paris twice a year during shows, so I get to see her almost regularly.
In London, I’ll try every couple of months to have either the Hydraglow Facial or Oxygen Infusion Facial at Costas Papageorgiou’s space at the Wellness Clinic. These facials are incredible, and the Hydraglow especially has helped me fight the congestion and milia I sometimes struggle with.
HAIR I always stick to these two people in Paris:
For colour I only go to Remy, he gets the tone that works best for my olive skin like no one else…
And for cuts, I only trust Ismerie, she’s been cutting my hair now for the last 15 years! And a cut is so important when like me all you do is leave your house with wet hair…
BODY
I try to get a massage in as often as I can, which lately hasn’t been too regularly sadly… I do love the Valmont Spa at Le Meurice in Paris, they offer this slimming massage that is a kind of their own way of sculpting and toning the body. This feels especially great after a long flight!
“As a night cream, I often choose Augustinus Bader’s The Rich Cream – this has become a classic for me, especially in the dry winter months.”