Hey! My name is Joana, though on Instagram I go by Mignonette. I’m an image researcher and avid collector (of pictures and objects). As for my past, I grew up in Lisbon where the river meets the ocean, surrounded by its pastel-colored buildings and seven hills.

I have always been interested in skincare and beauty products ever since I can remember. When I was a teenager I didn’t have much money to spend, so instead, I would look at magazines like i-D for inspiration, and tended to keep things a bit lo-fi, with flushed, dewy cheeks and hair in double buns. I’ve always liked blusher ever since I can remember. That’s one of my trademarks: bare skin and a nice pink flush. Sometimes, I apply some lipstick on my cheeks and blend it well, mixed with highlighter drops.

As for beauty within, I believe it all goes back to how happy you are in life and how good you are as a person, but also with what you eat, so I have always paid attention to what I put in my body. I’ve been a vegetarian for 10 years and also try to make sure the food I buy is local, seasonal, and preferably organic.  Every morning, I drink a glass of water mixed with a spoonful of chlorella powder. I gave up on coffee and alcohol some time ago, so in lieu of both, I’m very fond of a good spicy turmeric latte with oat milk. And of course, my advice would be to always stay hydrated, though sometimes I forget.

We are all human, after all.

My Low-Key Obsession With Combs

I have an obsession with clear combs. Whenever I see one I have to get it. Simple. I think it’s such a beautiful object. The yellow one is from Italian heritage accessories house Jäneke. The clear one is actually by Jäneke, too, and I picked up recently at a very old and odd perfume store that was full of old ladies browsing the display cabinets. Denman is my favorite hairbrush. As for hair care, I try to avoid washing my hair too often, exclusively using Klorane Shampoo, applying an EVO Hydrating Moisture Mask once a week.

All About A Gentle Cleanser

Cleansers are one of my favorite beauty items. Boring, but true, but also a very important, not to mention an oft-overlooked part of one’s routine. I always wash my face in the morning and at night, then apply a toner and an oil or a serum (see below). I am also always changing beauty items and I have rarely been faithful to one, specifically. I guess as we change and grow as individuals, along with our hormones and the quality of our skin, our beauty products and choices also change. Currently, I’m loving Aliangé Daily Devotion Cleanser, Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser, Weleda Almond Cleansing Lotion and Sans [Ceuticals] cleansing bars.

Serums and Oils Over Moisturizer

Smelling Mystical and Masks That Heal

This is my favorite perfume right now. It’s called Shanti Shanti by Miller et Bertaux. It evokes the mysticism and spirituality of a journey to India, and it opens with the most delicious waft of Bulgarian rose. It’s one of those scents that instantly brings peace and joy. I’m also loving every face mask from Aliangé Skincare, especially their recent collaboration with Lilah Summer – it’s so beautiful for hydration. When I’m breaking out, I also love Aesop’s Chamomile Anti-Blemish Masque to calm my skin and draw out impurities. I find it super nourishing, especially if you spend a lot of time in air-conditioned environments.

AM + PM Makeup Looks

During my day-to-day, I tend to keep things quite simple. I brush my eyebrows, curl my eyelashes, add a few drops of Armani Luminous Silk Foundation as a base (a little goes a long way) and blend a little Glossier Cloud Paint in Puff over my cheeks. Sometimes, I blend it with a liquid highlighter (I use Nars) or lip gloss, for a shiny  Y2K look.

I’ve had dark circles under my eyes ever since I can remember, and I used to hate it and I was forever trying to disguise them with concealer. But now I’ve learned to embrace it and actually feel comfortable letting them peep through. I don’t wear mascara because my lashes are naturally quite long; it would look strange. At night, however, I like a good pop of colour on my eyes. Usually a cream eye shadow in baby blue or a minimal eyeliner in a primary color. I love the ones by 3INA Makeup, as they are inexpensive and cruelty-free. I love lipsticks and own many but I usually wear only pink tones, all the way from frosty to warm, which I usually apply with my fingertips to achieve a faded look. Finally, I’ll finish my look off with a swipe of Fluff Bronzing Powder.