“Earlier than there have been ready-to-wear designers, the entire wealthy women in Venezuela would go to a pleasant material retailer and have a tailor make them a customized look. My grandma owned a high-end luxurious retailer; she would journey forwards and backwards to Europe and import materials that had licenses for designers like YSL and Valentino. Rising up round that was a magical factor, however I didn’t essentially consider trend as a profession possibility. I come from a really tutorial household, so I assumed that I might find yourself in a extra academically-driven position. However once I was 15, a pal inspired me to get a job on the mall. I began working at American Attire, the place I ended up staying till I used to be 25. I actually grew up with the corporate. I began as a gross sales affiliate and ended up dropping out of faculty as a result of they provided me a job in LA—on the time I used to be in Canada, the place my household immigrated. By the point I left the corporate, I used to be operating their print advert campaigns and girls’s design division.
I used to be somewhat bit disenchanted by trend at that time. Instagram was beginning to play a serious position in individuals’s lives, and I felt like trend had began to show into one thing that was extra for Instagram than for actual life. Tendencies began shifting actually quick. Even the massive trend homes that I cherished began to really feel like quick trend to me. I began shopping for classic as a result of I misplaced curiosity in all of it. Because it turned out, the toughest half about shopping for classic was discovering good fundamentals, the necessities that you’ll want to put collectively an outfit. When American Attire fell in 2017, it actually left this void and I wished to fill it with garments that felt extra like ‘me.’ That’s why I began Gil Rodriguez in 2018, my model of easy, but elevated, necessities. Plus, having labored at AA on this very holistic setting—my workplace was actually on the manufacturing facility ground—I had discovered a lot so beginning my very own firm felt like the following pure step.
SKINCARE
I used to be an enormous product junkie in my early-20s, however I developed perioral dermatitis once I was 25 and I’ve had it ever since, which suggests I’ve to be actually cautious with the merchandise I placed on my pores and skin. Utilizing much less helps—I focus extra on what a product doesn’t do versus what a product does—however greater than something, engaged on my inner well being—sleeping properly, hydrating—made the largest distinction.
I exploit Tata Harper’s Regenerating Cleanser within the morning, which I wasn’t doing till I heard Tata herself on a podcast and he or she beneficial utilizing within the morning. Your pores and skin is ‘regenerating’ in a single day so that you need to do away with that build-up. I used to be apprehensive my pores and skin could be too delicate as a result of some individuals say you shouldn’t cleanse within the morning you probably have POD, however I truthfully assume that my pores and skin seems to be higher since I began doing that. It seems to be more healthy. At evening, I really like iS Medical’s Cleaning Complicated. It’s so impartial and does not depart my pores and skin feeling stripped in any approach.
By way of focused remedies, I simply began utilizing the Triphala Pigmentation Corrector from Sachi. I’ve some freckles and pigmentation from the solar, and a pal beneficial it for delicate pores and skin. I get nervous introducing new merchandise into my routine, however I haven’t had any flare-ups. Andrea Amez, a pal who occurs to be a tremendous facialist right here in LA, and I’ve been by way of a lot with my dermatitis. She beneficial Dr. Loretta’s Intense Replenishing Serum to appease my pores and skin. It looks like a hug to your face. I’ve 5 bottles in my home proper now. [Laughs]
With regards to face lotions, I really like the Calming Crème from Tata Harper. I began utilizing it once I was pregnant, and I cherished how impartial it was—not too heavy or mild. I exploit it within the mornings, however at evening, I really like the Lacto Cream from Ruth’s Skincare. I found it across the time I left American Attire. I hadn’t began my line but, so I used to be doing random gigs to earn a living. I received a modeling gig for a skincare marketing campaign, however I had a giant POD rash round my mouth. It actually harm to smile, and I keep in mind telling a pal I must again out of the job. She informed me about Ruth’s, which was a facial spot on Melrose that doesn’t exist anymore, and the facialist gave me the Lacto cream and informed me to place it on 5 instances a day. Inside 48 hours, my pores and skin was fully clear.
For sunscreen, I’ve been utilizing EltaMD for years. I exploit each the tinted and untinted variations—neither leaves a bizarre residue on my face. If I would like somewhat extra protection, I put on Iris & Romeo’s sunscreen. The consistency is tremendous good. Saie’s Slip Tint SPF 35—I exploit shade 4—can be actually good, but it surely’s somewhat extra makeup-y.
I’m not a giant toner particular person—I need to be as a result of I like the thought of creating positive there’s no residue left on my face after cleaning—however I neglect about it. I do maintain a bottle of Thayers’ rose toner round however largely as a result of it’s the one one I keep in mind to purchase as a result of it’s bought at my grocery retailer. I exploit it perhaps as soon as each two weeks.
My NuFace is one other factor that I are inclined to neglect about over time, however I’m utilizing it day by day proper now. After I gave beginning, I felt ‘compressed.’ [Laughs] My neck felt three inches shorter by some means. My posture was off, which didn’t assist my jawline. I began doing plenty of facial massages, specializing in lengthening my neck and undoing the entire pressure that I used to be holding. That began my journey with units like my NuFace and gua sha—mine is from the Backyard Membership at Palm Heights.
My greatest skincare expense is PRFM, which stands for platelet-rich fibrin matrix—I get it at The Issues We Do. They draw your blood and extract the platelets, that are then mixed with different components to create development components which are then injected again into your face to assist with effective strains and quantity and stimulate collagen. It’s principally subsequent era PRP, or platelet-rich plasma.
BODY
Physique-wise, I like to dry brush earlier than I bathe every single day. I’ve tried a bunch of them and Goop’s is the one one which I like as a result of the bristles are stiffer than the others. If you’re achieved utilizing it, you actually really feel like the entire cells in your physique are tingling. It makes me really feel alive, although the primary time I used it? Ow. I’ve seen a discount in cellulite since utilizing it, however I see dry brushing as a extra of a holistic observe. It’s one of many many issues I do to care for myself. Nécessaire’s physique retinol helped rather a lot with the keratosis pilaris on the again of my legs and common irritation on my butt. And I like to rub myself down with Flamingo Property’s Euphoria physique oil, too. It smells so fucking good. Since I can’t use important oils on my face, once I get to make use of them on my physique, I get a stupendous, backyard of Eden feeling. [Laughs]
MAKEUP
On a day-to-day foundation, I solely put on my tinted sunscreen. If I’ve a gathering, I’ll put on a little bit of RMS Un Cowl-Up concealer in 22.5. I’ve most likely been utilizing it for over 10 years—and I truly found it on Into The Gloss. Erin Wasson mentioned in her High Shelf, ‘It’s essentially the most superb magnificence product ever created. It’s like pores and skin.’ If I would like extra protection, Armani’s Luminous Silk Concealer is actually good and nonetheless seems to be pure.
RMS discontinued Lip2Cheek as soon as and introduced it again—besides they didn’t convey my favourite shade, Diabolique, again. I’ve been hoarding my final little pot. The product actually seems to be like dried blood within the pot, however while you put it in your cheeks, it actually offers you the looks of blood dashing to your face. It’s so natural-looking and highly-pigmented. I’m desperately looking for a dupe if anyone on the market has a suggestion. Chanel’s Rouge Coco Baume in Fall For Me might be the closest factor I’ve discovered. It’s meant to your lips, however you need to use it in every single place for that ‘just-blushed’ look. Talking of lips, Victoria Beckham’s Lip Definer in No. 04 is the one lip liner that doesn’t make me look insane. I don’t know if the colour of my lip is bizarre or one thing, however so many lip liners look loopy on me. Discovering good shades for my lips is difficult usually truthfully—plenty of nudes look unusual. Chanel’s liquid powder lipstick in Avant-Gardiste is ideal for me, but it surely was additionally discontinued. It’s so unhappy.
I just lately received Ilia’s Multi-Stick in At Final. It’s an ideal shade. I used to have the Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate—I like Depth 1—and I forgot about it till just lately. It’s nonetheless a basic—and so good in the event you, like me, don’t actually know how you can contour. The RMS Buriti bronzer is analogous in that it’s creamy. I all the time take it with me on trip and put it on my cheekbones, eyes, in every single place. It truly seems to be actually good while you get sweaty. Oh, and Chanel’s Fleurs de Printemps blush and highlighter duo [discontinued] is perhaps the prettiest recent pink blush I’ve discovered.
I really like a shiny eye, and I’ve been utilizing Chanel’s multi-use glow stick in Golden Gentle for years. I’ve multiples—it’s that good. It offers you this type of ‘moist’—not shiny—and bronzy look. You want so little, so that you don’t find yourself with a goopy feeling in your eyes. After which the Les Filles en Rouje eyelash roller is the perfect for my eye form—and it doesn’t pinch me. I observe that with a swipe of Chanel’s Inimitable mascara. It’s dramatic, but it surely’s not too heavy—it leaves the correct amount of product on the lashes.
HAIR
I naturally have actually, actually darkish hair, and I’ve needed to settle for that it’s what it’s as a result of dyeing hair is such a dedication. Even haircuts really feel like a giant dedication for me. I’ve solely reduce my hair as soon as in my life—and I regretted it for the six years it took to develop it out. Lengthy hair is simply ‘me.’ However I do get easy trims from James Burks. He lives in New York, which is actually unlucky for me, however he taught me how you can do my very own trims for these instances I can’t get to him.
I used to have plenty of seborrheic dermatitis, and the rosemary shampoo and conditioner from Nêcessaire have been nice at cleaning my scalp but additionally conserving it actually balanced. In addition they scent divine. Each every now and then, I placed on Crown Affair’s leave-in-conditioner to hydrate my hair, which will get fairly frizzy. It additionally doesn’t assist that LA is extraordinarily dry. And perhaps as soon as a month, if I’ve an occasion, I exploit Crown Affair’s cleaning scrub. I just lately found Rōz—I’ve been attempting the Basis masks, milk hair serum, and Santa Lucia styling oil—and truthfully, I do not assume my hair has ever seemed or smelled higher.
I additionally love Crown Affair’s dry shampoo. I feel the comb applicator is so sensible as a result of earlier than this product got here alongside, I used to be actually placing unfastened powder in my hair with a make-up brush as an alternative of spraying an aerosol, which would depart a bizarre residue. The Ending gel is a game-changer, too, particularly you probably have frizzy hair. You should utilize it for a brilliant slick look and brush it out the identical day with out your hair feeling soiled. I don’t know the way they did it.
NAILS & FRAGRANCE
I see Ellie at Kure Spa for Gel-X manicures. Three out of 5 instances, I’m going for OPI Large Apple Crimson nails. Typically I combine it up with a lapis blue or a mango once I’m touring. I would like my nails to appear like I’m in a Nineteen Seventies nail polish advert, so I all the time go for almond, oval-y nails.
As for perfumes, there are only a few that I can reside a full day in. I feel the problem is that I’m extraordinarily choosy. Even when I like a fragrance once I first scent it, as soon as I put it on my physique, I’m like, ‘Get it off me.’ That mentioned, I’ve worn Molecule 01 for years. I don’t actually scent it on myself, but when I spray it on a shirt, I discover it intoxicating. It’s not not like Glossier You, which I additionally discover actually refined. I’ve worn it ceaselessly, too. I really like Nuxe’s Huile Prodigieuse dry oil as a result of it’s so multi-purpose. Is your pores and skin dry? Put it on. Need to scent good? Rub some in. I picked it up from my grandma, who wears it every single day.”
—As informed to Daise Bedolla
Photographed by Brittany Bravo in Los Angeles on August 23, 2024