Interview with Paola Lamorticella: the Essentialism of Olio E Osso

When you see an Olio e Osso product one thing is inevitable: you want to try it. And when you try it something just as inevitable happens: you will fall in love with it. The founder of this amazing, minimal and super-essential beauty line is Paola Lamorticella, an Italian-American woman who put her love for olive oil into her brand, creating a new cult in such an exciting era for the beauty industry.

A line made by colored balms, from the bronze to the mauve blush, the (very) ultimate multitasking product.

We had the chance to chat with Paola about the future of the beauty industry, the community around Olio e Osso and, of course, her makeup and beauty routine.

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Olive oil is the main ingredient of all your products. How did you get the idea and how did you develop it?
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Growing up in an Italian American family, Olive Oil was always the go to for… well really for everything. Food obviously, but I learned at a very young age that it is beautiful for your skin as well. It has been a constant and nourishing part of my life.

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You are what we call a girlboss, a woman who made herself with her own hands. Who is a woman who inspired and inspires you and what was, in the process, the most difficult and challenging part of your work?
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Yes.. so many strong women… I have to give you a few.

Katharine Graham who inherited a media empire and ran it beautifully despite being a woman in a notoriously hostile, male dominated world. I had the honor to meet her in my teens and was struck by her straight forward take on situations and the generosity she showed in taking time to answer my questions.

Hedy Lammar the stunning actress who worked on inventions in her free time and is now credited with discovering/creating the basics for Bluetooth in 1942!!! She is fascinating. If you don’t know about her you should look her up.

Julia Child the chef who reinvented herself and started a huge and very influential career in her late 40’s. That’s three.

As far as the most challenging part of my work, hmmm, maybe not listening to doubters. Sometimes they are loud!

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What was the most rewarding reaction or comment to your products?
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Until very recently I didn’t tell my clients that Olio was mine when I used it on them. I felt that if people knew they wouldn’t give me their honest opinions of the products. It has been super rewarding to get positive reviews and even be asked if I could get more of it for them. I, of course, always said I would make a call and see what I could do… ha!! Cats out of the bag now.

“As far as the most challenging part of my work, hmmm, maybe not listening to doubters. Sometimes they are loud!”

“Growing up in an Italian American family, Olive Oil was always the go to for… well really for everything.”

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If you could use just one sentence to describe Olio e Osso, to all the people out there, what would it be?
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Olio E Osso is a simple, essential line of beauty and skincare.

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We think that brands such as Olio e Osso are really shaping the industry. What are, in your opinion, some other brands that are doing the same?
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It’s a really exciting time in our beauty space. There are a lot of great companies. I think RMS, Ilia, Goop, W3LL People to name a few.

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“Versatile” is one of the words that, for us, are most connected to your brand. And we think that versatile and multitasking are the words to describe beauty in these days. How do you see the beauty industry in the future?
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I’m not sure about the rest of the industry but I know we will continue to make simple, beautiful and essential products in a thoughtful way.

“…we will continue to make simple, beautiful and essential products in a thoughtful way.”

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Beauty should be simple. It could be also a life mantra. Have you always had, also as a makeup artist, this idea of “less is more”? 
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Yes!! I have always thought that it’s beautiful to look real – just a little more polished. ( Minus my angsty punk rock years of course…)

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We know how beauty should be according to you. But what is beauty for you?
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Confidence.

BEAUTY

=

CONFIDENCE

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Regarding your (stunning) balms: “A hue for every mood.” What is your mood wearing Berry, Crimson and French Melon? 
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Ahhhh. I usually have mixed moods and the benefit of owning all the balms. Some of my favorite combos are: Crimson/Shimmer, Crimson/Current, Berry/Spring, Berry/Bronze, Current/Shimmer, Current/Spring, Persimmon/Crimson, Persimmon/Shimmer, Tea Rose/Bronze and I like to use Netto No. 0 with all of them!

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And what is your favorite way to use Balm No.6 Bronze, your first balm with a little bit of shimmer? 
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I use it as a bronzer on the high points of my face, on my brow bones and on my lips alone or layered over one of the other colors.

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What’s on the top shelf of your skincare bathroom cabinet? 
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Our Oil Cleanse and our Finishing Oil.

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And on the one for the makeup?
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Our Lustero Body Oil for the body and our Bronze:6 and Tea Rose:10.

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Describe us your super quick 3 minutes makeup routine. 
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If it’s morning I just splash my face with water, pat dry, apply our Finishing Oil, spot cover with RMS Uncover-up, brighten and highlight with our Bronze:6 and Tea Rose:10, a little W3LL People mascara on my lash’s and super lightly on my brows and finish up with a swipe of Clear No.1 to hold my brows in place and some Netto No. 0 on my lips.

“One of the beautiful behind the scenes parts of Olio is the team we have and the community we are building while making these essential, lovely products.”

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What are the main products of your skincare routines? 
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Our Oil Cleanse and Finishing Oil.

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What’s the product that you’re sure to need in your purse? 
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I always have both clears – No. 0 and No. 1 and a small tester size of our Finishing Oil to freshen up as needed.

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What’s your Rêve for Olio e Osso?
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My dream for Olio E Osso? One of the beautiful behind the scenes parts of Olio is the team we have and the community we are building while making these essential, lovely products. I suppose my dream is to continue to grow our community and our line. We have some amazing things coming soon.

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