The ultimate tips from beauty guru Paula Begoun
Confession time: I always find it quite nice to start the morning with a cooling facial roller. A little rolling from left to right, once my face is cleansed and moisturized. I received a digital corrective nudge from Paula Begoun, the woman behind the skincare brand. Paula’s Choice. Because, well, that's really not wise to do. I had the opportunity to interview her one-on-one, and besides skincare tips that you will definitely benefit from, she also gave me the recipe for her favorite Martini.
What is the biggest nonsense you have heard about skincare?
‘There is so much that is really not good for your skin. Let's start with the sun, which is actually your biggest enemy. Who decided that the sun is nice? It is responsible for most skin diseases, skin damage, and skin aging. And you thought the sun was nice, right? Always apply at least SPF 30. And if you're going to Hawaii? Then at least SPF 50.
I really don't understand the trends you see everywhere: rollers, skin icing, microneedling, facial makers, and perhaps the worst of all: witch hazel. Especially the last one. If you have oily skin, you have probably tried a product that contained hazel. This is often a temporary solution because with this ingredient, you ultimately make it only oilier and worse. You just don't want this in your skincare. Why you shouldn't use the rollers? Your skin shouldn't move. It is elastic but not so elastic that you can keep pulling and pushing it for years. Flexibility decreases with age, and if you keep touching it every day, it doesn't work stimulatingly. The same goes for a hair tie that also doesn't bounce back as well after a while. You need to handle your skin carefully: pat your skin dry and apply your care, that just works best. I think face masks are a waste of your time: use nice serums and other products that suit your skin, then such a mask is not of added value. We already have so little time, let alone for a twenty-minute mask. It is a relaxing moment because you literally can't do anything, which is nice sometimes, but if you do it for your skin, I would especially let it be.’
What are your tips against an impure skin when it comes to a face mask?
‘Wear it as little as possible, but we have to when we are outside, so it is very important to look at the material. You can gain a lot with that. Those disposable masks are of course not so nice for your skin, and those made of satin aren't either because this material blocks everything. One hundred percent cotton is better; those masks are often completely natural. No matter how nice your mask looks, if it is made of synthetic material, there is a high chance of skin irritations. I wouldn't change much in terms of skincare; you can choose to apply certain serums or oils locally and not over your entire face. Definitely don't scrub. Preferably use no scrub but an exfoliant and don't touch it with dirty hands. Just don't touch it and give it time to recover.’
Your favorite cocktail?
‘It's not so good for you, and I certainly don't want to advise it, but every now and then you have to enjoy it. I only drink it on special occasions like during the holidays ‘because it immediately makes you drunk’. Besides the original James Bond Martini, which makes me very happy, this is definitely the drink you want to have right now.
One of my favorite cocktails is the Candy Cane Martini, and this is the recipe:
A cocktail shaker filled with ice and add:
45 cm vodka
15 cm white crème de cacao
A little bit of vanilla extract
Peppermint schnapps (amount to taste)
Shake well and then strain. Then pour it into the cocktail glass (you can dip the rim in sugar first if you want it sweeter). And the best part: use a peppermint candy as a garnish. Cheers!
