The first time I met Valentina was at the relaunch of the & Other Stories makeup collection, which she represents and whose philosophy she aligns with deeply. Just like the products from this makeup line, Valentina is a versatile artist who enjoys enhancing natural features through her art, her makeup.

As soon as we met, we talked about blush, lipsticks, incredible mascaras, and eyelash serums that have become indispensable. I immediately thought I’d like to talk more with her, portraying her through our eyes as we saw her: a multifaceted artist who expresses herself through makeup, music, surfing (and knitting), with both complexity and simplicity.

With Valentina, we also talked about time, which never seems to be enough, about how the face changes and transforms, but above all about the strength and courage to follow one’s own path without necessarily conforming.

What is your first “beauty” memory?

My first beauty memory is when my mom put red lipstick on me for Carnival when I was about six years old. I was dressed in a traditional flamenco costume, and with that red lipstick on my lips, I felt beautiful. I associate this image with my mom, who, when I was little, always wore red lipstick with her curly hair. So, for me, lipstick became a symbol of beauty.

One of the first gifts I gave my mom, with her money, was a lipstick. I remember going to the pharmacy and saying, “Give me the reddest lipstick you have.” I wrapped it in the receipt and gave it to her.

And as you grew up, what was your first beauty obsession?

My first obsession, which still is, is mascara. I can’t live without it; I could live with just mascara. I love enhancing eyelashes and eyes, and even when I was younger, when there was less beauty awareness among girls than today, I found it the easiest thing to use.

I only used bronzer, but it was my mom’s, who has much more olive and darker skin than mine. I put it all over my face and went to school with an orange face. That was my look, but I felt amazing! I looked in the mirror proudly and said to myself, “Valentina, you’ve done a great job…” [laughs].

That’s wonderful! [laughs] It’s so cute when you’re young and unaware.

Yes, it is. What’s the first product that touches your face in the morning?

Cleansing milk. I wanted to be more philosophical and answer “water,” but the truth is, I could drink cleansing milk. It’s something I’ve discovered only in recent years. I’ve always loved taking care of my face, taking care of myself through advice from others who taught me skincare, and for me, cleansing milk is fundamental. I use it not only to wash my face in the morning but also throughout the day: if I’ve been out for a long time or in the city center, I feel the smog on my skin and need to wash everything off, and I do it with water and cleansing milk.

“The truth is, I could drink cleansing milk”

I like to hydrate my skin a lot, and the makeup I choose is always very luminous because I have dry skin, but in the morning, I wash my face only with water…

It also depends on the brands: I use Biologique Recherche’s cleanser, which helps me when I have small skin issues like enlarged pores or pimples. It helps me a lot. When I use it, I feel my skin is very plump; it’s a product I can’t do without. I’m particularly attached to brands like Biologique Recherche, Augustinus Bader, and SkinCeutical to the point where the idea of changing scares me.

What is your skincare routine before going to bed?

Even if I’m not wearing makeup, in the evening, I use micellar water to remove smog, sweat, and impurities because having clean skin is essential for me; cleansing milk; the essence from Augustinus Bader, which is another must-have for me. Then the eyelash serum from Sweed—it’s a must. Sometimes I stop there; other times I also apply moisturizer, depending on how my skin feels: if it needs hydration, I apply the cream; if I want it to breathe, the essence is enough because it’s very hydrating on its own. I finish with a lip balm.

“…depending on how my skin feels”

When you find the products that work for you, it’s the best thing because you can be confident and have a more minimal skincare routine.

Yes, and it’s convenient when traveling because you know what to do and what to bring without overthinking. When one of my favorite products is running out, I despair [laughs].

In the beauty world, awareness is often talked about. Growing up, was there a part of you that was difficult to accept? How did you face it?

Not just when I was little, but even now, working in fashion and beauty, there are always challenges to face. There’s not as much awareness as we’d like; we’re on the right path, but we’re not there yet, unfortunately. Sometimes, I fear we still fall into stereotypes, attaching too much to “that’s trendy,” or “I want to look like that.” It’s a shame because perhaps self-acceptance should be the path to take in a world like this.

The hardest part for me to accept is probably aging, seeing my face constantly change. On the one hand, I like it, but on the other, I realize that as soon as I start accepting it, it changes again. It’s normal because we change daily depending on how the day goes.

Accepting what I see is challenging for me.

What makeup do you like to do on yourself? Your “signature makeup”?

At this point in my life, it’s the nude look: I feel more comfortable with a fresh face that isn’t too made-up.

But I also feel like many people; it’s not that I don’t understand who I am, but depending on how I wake up, there are days I see myself “nude”, days I don’t want to wear makeup, and days of “red lipstick for breakfast”. Still, I think the nude world is mine, even though red lipstick has been a recurring character over the years—it’s always been a constant, starting with my mom, as we said: I find it very feminine, and considering I often don’t dress “feminine”, it gives me that extra touch. Sure, sometimes I get tired of lipstick, and don’t want to see it for a while, but it always comes back. It’s a love that ebbs and flows.

And what’s your favorite red lipstick?

The one from NARS and Kat Von D. The latter is a classic red, while NARS’s is a slightly darker red. Since discovering it, it has become my lipstick.

It’s hard to find the right red…

I believe that everyone looks good with red lipstick. You just have to find the right shade, the right tone, but it’s not possible for it to not suit someone.

How was your journey with & Other Stories? What products surprised you the most, and how did they fit with your personal makeup philosophy?

It’s been a beautiful journey because I already knew the brand, but working with them made me discover what’s inside. I find the compositions of the products very valid: they’re all natural ingredients like jojoba oil, vitamin E, vitamin A. In a period when I feel aligned with this philosophy, I enjoyed finding it in a brand.

Regarding products, what surprised me the most was the Cream Highlighter: I don’t know if it’s a must-have of & Other Stories, but for me, it has become one. I immediately put it in my suitcase because, in addition to using it on myself, I’m also using it in various photoshoots—it has a wonderful effect. Plus, cream highlighters are super versatile because you can use them as eyeshadow or as a highlight on the lips. I enjoy when a product is used not just for its intended purpose but for something else, making it your own in this way.

What do you have too much of?

As a makeup artist, I think I have too much of everything.

But it’s a “too much” that’s never enough. Maybe I have too many foundations, but I like having them because, both on myself and others, I don’t follow a predefined path; I proceed according to what I find in front of me and what I want to achieve. For example, sometimes I look at myself and feel the need for more coverage, so I use a more covering foundation; other days, I want to be lighter, so I use something less covering. I have my must-haves that I always use, but I like to change. Same with my makeup suitcase: I like to vary and achieve different effects depending on the shoot.

“I have my must-haves that I always use, but I like to change”

Together with blush, foundation is my favorite product. It amazes me how it can transform your skin without masking it too much.

I don’t know if it’s my favorite product because, honestly, I can live without foundation. However, I like changing them. Maybe it’s a platonic love I never understood.

In the beauty world, we often talk about acceptance and body positivity. What does feeling comfortable with yourself mean to you?

It’s a matter of acceptance and perfection not intended as such but as uniqueness. Accepting that we are people with well-defined and unique traits, each with their own skin type, strengths, and flaws, I believe, is the right path, the right journey.

Sometimes I think, “How boring it would be if we were all the same”…

Unfortunately, we’re heading in that direction, where aesthetic medicine is a bit out of control. I’m not against it at all; everyone should be free to do what they want. But it saddens me when I see it becoming a trend rather than something done for oneself. Even though I am sometimes tempted to do certain things, but then I pull back because I’m anxious about becoming like others. The idea of being a cookie-cutter terrifies me. In the end, I always try to work on my mind and accept my peculiarities, even trying to beautify myself in “other” ways. Then one day, who knows…

And there would be nothing wrong if, as you said, it’s something you do for yourself…

Exactly, it must be an awareness, not something you do to look like someone else. Uniqueness, in my opinion, is what distinguishes us and the real path to take.

What is the creative phase of your work that excites you the most?

I am an overthinker but also very impulsive.

It’s a side of me that I like because, for creative projects, I do a lot of research and mood boards, but the beauty is when I realize them because I completely overturn the plans and create something entirely different. It’s while creating that I’m really creating. I’ve always been like this, even when I did projects at school; I always had last-minute ideas because, being an impulsive person, I can’t go on command. Creativity, of course, needs to be stimulated, but every now and then, I have flashes of genius while doing something, and I overturn everything I had thought of before.

What is your favorite makeup texture?

I go through phases. Right now, I love the glass skin look, which is why I fell in love with & Other Stories products. It’s a moment when I love hydrating the skin, using oils, and all the products that give me a luminous effect on the face. It’s also a bit of the trend of the period, and I admit I got carried away, but having healthy, hydrated, and slightly “dewy” skin is important to me now.

What are the must-haves in your kit?

In my makeup suitcase, there must always be many creams, always and anyway, because skin preparation is fundamental. If you don’t do a good job preparing the skin, it’s hard to work afterward, so you always have to start with the base.

Concealers are also essential, which I sometimes use instead of foundation, so they’re fundamental for me, as well as mascaras, powders, and bronzers—they make me feel safe.

And what are your favorite products to use on yourself?

I could go out with just concealer, mascara, and eyebrow gel. I could even go around without makeup, but the eyebrows, in particular, must be in place.

Blush is also important. A while ago, I had a period of obsession with blush: sometimes my colleagues laughed and teased me because I looked like a light bulb with the amount of blush I wore, I looked like Heidi [laughs].

The blushes I like the most are the red one from Gucci, which drives me crazy because I use it everywhere—cheeks, eyes, lips—and I also really like the Liquid Blushers by & Other Stories, equally versatile.

What is the bravest thing you’ve done so far?

This is a beautiful question and also a bit difficult.

I tend to be a “people pleaser“, always trying to accommodate others; when something is wrong and I manage to express it, to truly be myself, I believe that is my act of bravery. It’s not easy to be yourself nowadays, and being able to keep oneself alive is an act of courage.

What do you do when you need to disconnect, perhaps even from your presumably hectic job?

Besides being a makeup artist, I’m also a DJ. I like to switch things up, not because I’m afraid of doing just one thing, but because I have so many things I enjoy. I love everything related to the world of art and music.

To disconnect, I often draw, and during the COVID period, I drew a lot; but when I need to completely disconnect, not think about anything, not even music or art, I knit. It’s a repetitive task, doing the same movements over and over, which brings you into a sort of meditation that clears your mind, and I find it incredibly fun. Over the past three years, it has been my way to clear my head. This summer, I went on vacation to Amalfi, and during the six-hour train ride, I started knitting to get ahead for the winter!

When do you feel strongest, most confident, in your work?

I began to feel more aware when I realized that my work was not just a job, but my passion. Before, I lived it with anxiety, but when I understood that it was a passion and part of the art of drawing, I gained awareness and started to enjoy it. Since we’re not robots, we don’t always function the same way; obviously, there are days when you feel good and days when you feel less so, but it’s important to be aware of your abilities and understand that nothing is irreparable. When I became aware of this, I learned to approach work almost as a game, because it gives me the chance to draw and create something, which has calmed me. Now I enjoy my work even more.

What is your happy place?

First of all, when I’m with my boyfriend and my cat. If I have to choose a physical place, though, I love the ocean, so my big happy place is the Atlantic coast of France, and my small happy place is Biarritz.

Among the many things I love to do, I really enjoy surfing, so in the summer, my boyfriend and I often go surfing, and the coast between France and Spain is our favorite destination. I don’t enjoy going to the beach just to sunbathe—it bores me. I need to feel the water as an element, and being aware that we are nothing compared to the ocean, which can be calm one day and angry the next, makes me appreciate even more the fact that we are in this world. Water is really my element, perhaps because I’m a Pisces: I feel truly at peace in front of the ocean, even just watching it regenerates me.

With your job, where you often compare yourself with others’ personalities and traits and where there is ample room for creative thinking, I believe you might also come into contact with parts of yourself you didn’t know before. What is the last thing you discovered about yourself thanks to your job?

I’ve always thought of myself as a bit messy and chaotic, and I surely am, but when I’m doing makeup, I have a precision mania. I discovered this “late” and only because others started to point it out, and I began to notice it myself: I’m more precise than I thought. I live in chaos, really, but in work, I am precise.

What scares you the most?

I’m afraid of wasting time, even though I don’t have FOMO, that anxiety of overdoing or doing everything; I simply fear wasting time in the sense that I care about dedicating the right time to things, whether it’s work or rest. The idea of losing sight of this goal and not finding the right balance in my life terrifies me. Being a freelancer, I don’t have set hours, and I often find myself being more disorganized and working at odd hours; over the years, I realize that I increasingly need to maintain balance. I’m a workaholic, I work a lot, and I like it, just as I like not having fixed hours. However, I also enjoy dedicating the right time to things, and it scares me to waste time, for example, sometimes when I’m tired and lose time on my phone or spend too much time thinking about a project and not resting or even getting bored, which I believe can sometimes be the right way to stimulate creativity. Without the boredom phase, you can’t create anything; when your mind is too full, it doesn’t work. It’s the classic “empty the glass to fill it again”: if you don’t empty yourself, you can’t fill your head with other interesting things, and you’ll always be saturated and too contaminated by the rest.

I really relate to what you’re saying. It’s something that has always bothered me too.

Especially in big cities, perhaps also due to social media, there is this desire to show that you’re always doing a lot, for example, it seems like there’s almost a race to see who works more. I am firmly convinced that it’s right to work, but it’s just as right to dedicate time to mental and physical well-being because without that, you can’t move forward. Before, I thought I absolutely had to work a lot to prove something to I don’t even know who, but now I’ve realized that it’s right to go on vacation, to take time to relax and rest. Surely working is important also because it’s a good way to keep yourself busy, but so is dedicating some time to friends, lunches, and dinners.

In the beginning, when I founded The Italian Rêve, I used to work a lot, even at crazy hours; Saturdays and Sundays didn’t exist, and despite that, it always seemed like others were doing more than me, I always felt behind. I felt like I had to do more because otherwise, I wouldn’t reach my goal. However, in recent years, I’ve realized that work, which as you said, is also my passion and the job I chose, is certainly important, but mental health, taking time for yourself, saying “no,” is fundamental because we all need to disconnect, even if it’s difficult.

Yes, because if you do too much, you do it badly. It’s understandable to have periods where you invest in something, where you work more because you have a goal you want to achieve; but then there’s also the period where you rest more. Once the phase of intense work is over, managing to maintain balance is right, because if you consolidate the imprinting of “working a lot and only working,” you’ll never change.

Mental health is fundamental; without it, there is no beauty, no creativity, nothing because nothing will ever seem good if you’re not well; you won’t feel beautiful, neither with others nor with yourself, which is the most important thing.

What does feeling free mean to you?

It’s a bit like what I said before; it means being able to be myself. Besides being an act of courage, for me, it’s also freedom. Being able to be who we truly are is the greatest freedom we have, the freedom to choose who we want to be because everything else stems from that.

Photos by Johnny Carrano. 

Thanks to Karla Otto.

LOOK 1

Corset by & Other Stories

Earrings by & Other Stories

LOOK 2

Necklace by & Other Stories.