Skincare Basics

SB: Hello Alexa! Thank you so much for joining us for this skincare interview series. Your insights are incredibly valuable, and we truly appreciate your contribution. Every person’s skin is unique, and we all have our own personalized skincare routines. By sharing your experiences and tips, you’re helping our readers learn and improve their own practices. We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to hear from you and bring your voice to our community of skincare enthusiasts.

AM: Thank you for having me. This is a great opportunity to share my knowledge, and to be seen and heard. I am really glad that I can share my passion for work with everybody.

Before we dive into the skincare questions, would you mind telling us a bit about yourself?

AM: I am a skincare and haircare expert at Sephora. I work in the store, and I am also a trainer for both new joiners and for more advanced information.

I am 33 years old. My hobbies are quite relaxing. I like listening to music often, and I enjoy cleaning up and organizing the house; it relaxes me. I also enjoy creating skincare routines for myself and my boyfriend. He is very open-minded, and I usually test some products on him 🙂 I have a hamster and a fish tank. I love animals of all kinds. I also like driving, travels and discovering new places and cultures. Let’s not forget the fact that I am in love with the sea.

Additionally, how has life been for you lately? What’s been keeping you busy these days? Are there any projects or special endeavors you’re working on that you’d like to share with us?

AM: Well, I finished 3 Sephora University EME programs: Skincare, Haircare, and Digital Champions. In Digital Champions we learn tips and tricks on how to create videos and social media content. I also attended lots of other masterclasses with prestigious brands, trainings, workshops, and also a facial massage course in Paris. The class was with Delphine Langlois, co-founder of Academie des facialists.

I am a trainer for these 2 axes: Skincare and Haircare and also sharing our Sephorian DNA to the new joiners. I work in the store as well, I love being connected with my peers and also with the customers and experience on the floor with everything that comes with that. 

SB: Tell us about one of your regular mornings.

AM: My daily schedule varies based on my work shifts. Sometimes I work in the morning, and other times in the afternoon. Every day, I wake up at least one hour earlier to have time for showering, drinking my coffee, smoking a cigarette (even though I know smoking is not healthy for my skin), and doing my skincare routine. During this hour, I spend time in the shower and apply everything on my hair and face. I believe it is important to have the right mindset when going out. If I do not have this time for my whole routine, I just cleanse, hydrate and SPF but I don’t feel as great as I feel when I take my time.

SB: Since our face is the most visible part of our body, facial skincare is especially important to most people. Could you share your facial skincare practices with us?

AM: In the morning I start with a gentle cleanser because I always double cleanse at the end of the day. I follow with an essence because I love the feel of it, eye serum, eye cream, face serum, face cream, lip care and last but not least SPF. The evening routine is more elaborate, I use also tools as the gua sha or face roller and I absolutely love masks, they give me the coocooning moment after a long day. I adore Sephora Collection Colourful masks for face, eyes, feet and hands. Let’s not forget, I do love to exfoliate once or twice a week. Bodycare and haircare are also a must! 

I usually change products because I like trying new things as part of my profession. My go-tos are Guerlain and Lancôme. I love luxury skincare because it makes me feel more bougie. I don’t like unscented products because I enjoy the holistic feel of a fragrance.

SB: We heard a lot that skins evolve during aging. You are in your early 30s now, how was your skin in your early 20s, and how do you see the evolution of your skin in the last decade?

AM: Well, I was a very lucky teenager because I had no acne. I had glass-like skin and loved my face so much. I didn’t want to use any heavy make-up products but that’s all we had back then. We just had heavy foundation like Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse that was always the wrong shade for me. I used Avon skincare because I just discovered all the products, being a representative for them.

For me, not much has changed. However, I have noticed that the redness on my cheeks has become more visible compared to my 20s. I also have a bit of fine lines around my eyes. It’s normal because I always squeeze my eyes due to poor vision, and I hate wearing my glasses, so it’s my fault 🙂

SB: Have you ever experienced in-office treatments, such as botox and needling? If not, what is your opinion about them?

AM: I think everybody is free to experience those things, but I do not want to use those techniques at this age. Maybe in my 50s, I might need them. However, I do not recommend them to people with great skin. Because I work in the store, I see many girls in their 20s, and I think it is too early for them. These kinds of procedures should be applied only when you cannot achieve a result with creams and skincare. I am not against them, but I do not advise them unless you have really tried a proper skincare routine first.

SB: Are there any other skincare products you use daily? Such as Vitamin C products, hyaluronic acid, or any other products from the retinol family?

AM: In the cold season, I use retinol. I am in love with Drunk Elephant because it is really gentle on the skin and doesn’t cause breakouts. If I use something stronger, I break out really fast due to my very sensitive skin. I am open to using retinol, but if you are not used to retinols, use it only in the evening, take it gradually, and don’t forget SPF.

I think Vitamin C is a great antioxidant that works really well for brightening the skin and giving it a healthy glow. However, it needs to be used with sunscreen. Using Vitamin C with an SPF increases the SPF’s effectiveness in protecting our skin, so melanin production is significantly reduced.

Disclaimer: In the name of full transparency, please note that this post contains affiliate links and any purchase made through such links will result in a small commission for us.

SB: There is a rising interest in sunscreen products these days all over the world. What is your practice in this?

AM: If I am working in the office, I apply SPF twice a day, and I reapply it before I go out every time. I mostly keep my curtains shut most of the time because I don’t want the sun to come in, as UVA rays penetrate glass.

When I am at home, I also wear SPF because sometimes I want the sun to come in; it helps with Vitamin D production, which we need.

I started using SPF in my 20s. I didn’t use it in my teen years. When I turned 21, I noticed a spot around my left eye and realized I was not doing enough to protect my skin. I used to use mass-market SPF but I hated the heavy feeling of them. Now there are so many brands offering unique solutions for different skin types. Supergoop is one of my favorites because they have makeup bases with SPF.

For reapplying, I use sprays that don’t disrupt my makeup and apply smoothly.

SPF every day, no matter what.

SB: What are some essential products that you carry in your bag wherever you go?

AM: I have a lip balm because I bite my lips and they get really chapped. Givenchy and Dr. Dennis Gross are my favorite brands. I don’t want to inject hyaluronic acid in my lips, but I use products that have it in them.; I use plumping products to get bigger lips, which I think is healthier for me.

I have hand disinfectant and hand cream because you never know when you’ll need them. I also carry a small mascara just in case, especially since I tend to cry because I usually cry when I’m happy as well.

SB: What is your everyday make-up?

AM: I usually do my makeup at home. It is very minimal. I don’t leave the house without doing my eyebrows because they are very thin—I was a victim of the ’90s fashion trends. I fill in my eyebrows, apply a bit of mascara, and maybe a little eyeliner.

In the summer, I usually go with BB cream or nothing at all on my face. I love highlighter and use it even when I’m not wearing foundation.

Of course, I use lip liner, gloss, and lipstick depending on my mood. If I want to be more bold, I always use RED lipstick. it’s really a mood changer.

I love Givenchy makeup. I also like Sephora Collection, Tarte, Guerlain, and Dior.

SB: What is your favorite fragrance?

AM: I do not think fragrance is bad for the skin. Even though I have sensitive skin, I do not experience any irritation from fragrances in skincare products. I am a fan of fragrance and want to specialize in it as well.

Moschino Couture is no longer on the market, which makes me very sad. This one used to be my favorite fragrance.

Must de Cartier and Juliette has a gun – Lady Vengeance, are my favorite fragrances as well.

SB: What is your night skincare routine?

AM: The first thing I do when I enter home is get into the shower. I double cleanse with Drunk Elephant Slaai melting butter cleanser and Checks and Balance Frothy face wash from Origins. I use a toner depending on my needs at the moment, thermal water from Uriage or grape water from Caudalie.

Next, I apply my essence, serum, and cream. I use a mask every 2-3 days. I always massage my face. I have a gua sha and a roller, but I usually use my fingers. I’ve learned some techniques from different brands. I usually massage my face at night, as stimulating blood circulation can enhance the effectiveness of the products I use.

SB: What do you think about haircare?

AM: Having a haircare routine is also very important. Hair is really powerful; I’ve seen people lose their hair due to a lack of proper haircare routines. I truly believe that taking care of our scalp is just as important as taking care of our face. Using high-quality products for your hair will also improve your overall well-being. In Romania, we have a saying: if we just wash our body, it’s just a shower, but if we wash our hair, we’re truly bathed. I think this saying is really powerful because it reflects how we communicate with our hair, which is important for non-verbal communication.

SB: One last question. What do you think about the mental impact of skincare on our lives?

AM: Well, I think that wellness is really important. I believe in the power of mental well-being because I suffered from depression in my teenage years. I understand how the mind works and how it can affect us. If I view my skincare routine not as a chore but as a moment of relaxation and connection with myself, it makes everything work better. You achieve a glowing face because you feel good in your skin and relax your mind. For busy people, it might be just 10 minutes, while for me, it’s 30 minutes or more. However, everyone should take that moment to connect with themselves. Well-being in this stressful society we live in is really important.

Disclaimer: In the name of full transparency, please note that this post contains affiliate links and any purchase made through such links will result in a small commission for us.