Eva Alexandridis Takes Us Inside Her Beauty Bag

When it comes to skincare, no one is doing it like 111SKIN. Known for its clinical-grade, results-driven formulas, the label has quickly sealed its status as an industry (and celebrity – Bella Hadid, Victoria Beckham, Priyanka Chopra and Paul Mescal are all notable fans) favourite. 111SKIN co-founder Eva Alexandridis set up the brand with her husband, plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr Yannis Alexandrides, back in 2012 – and has seen it grow from Harley Street beauty secret to global go-to. ‘For me, healthy skin is the best canvas and instils me with the greatest confidence,’ she says. ‘I think it’s beautiful to let your natural skin and glow shine through.’ Below, Eva Alexandridis takes us through her beauty bag and daily routine, and shares her personal beauty philosophy.

What’s Inside My Beauty Bag? With Eva Alexandridis

Eva Alexandridis

Let’s start with the bag itself – describe it for us?

I use our All Over Radiant Skin Set bag for all my daily necessities; it keeps all of my skincare and makeup handy while I’m on-the-go. It’s waterproof, unstructured and therefore quite flexible – meaning I can easily fit it into any other purse.

What’s your pre-makeup beauty ritual?

I have two beauty rituals, depending on the time of day:

In the morning, I love to be active – ideally, I start the day with a run outside, to get some natural light for a Vitamin D boost. I also love to support my skin from the inside out with a green juice. This ritual sets up my body, mind and soul for a busy day.

In the evenings, or when getting ready for an event, I love to start my beauty routine with an LED mask while I listen to a podcast. Jay Shetty is one of my favourites. This really helps my mind unwind and relax.

For me, skincare and makeup are selfcare – and we should try to savour the moments of stillness and reflection when we get ready.

Let’s break down your makeup routine – prep? 

111SKIN Exfoliating Enzyme Cleanser for resurfacing and smoothing the skin.

Face?

111SKIN Repair Serum NAC Y²™, Repair Day Cream NAC Y²™, always followed by Repair Sunscreen SPF50+.

Eyes?

For the skin, I use a 111SKIN Black Diamond Eye Mask and some Eye Lift Gel NAC Y²™, then I top up my lashes with Make Up By Mario’s Master Mascara.

Lips?

Le Phyto-Gloss by Sisley – it’s colourless and very hydrating

Finishing touches?

Cle de Peau Concealer and Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Liquid Foundation. These two products really work well in combination with my skincare routine; they layer just perfectly.

To set?

111SKIN All Day Radiance Face Mist for a dewy finish. I also love the sensorial feeling it gives me – the scent transports me back to the rose fields in my home country, Bulgaria.

Brushes and sponges?

Merit Brush No 1. We recently partnered with the brand and this brush has become a favourite since.

Which item instantly makes you feel made up?

For me, healthy skin is the best canvas and instils me with the greatest confidence. I think it’s beautiful to let your natural skin and glow shine through, rather than covering it up with makeup.

What’s the one piece of makeup you always carry in your handbag?

Lip gloss.

 

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What’s the most luxurious thing in your beauty bag?

My perfume: Portrait of a Lady by Frederic Malle and Dominique Ropion.

What about the hero product you can’t live without, and have used for years?

The 111SKIN Repair Serum NAC Y²™. It was the first ever product we launched. Multiple awards and five-star customer ratings later, it’s now our global best seller – and I still love it as much as I did back in 2012. My husband, plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr Yannis Alexandrides, initially developed it as a prescription-only serum to speed up the healing process post-surgery for patients at the 111 Harley Street Clinic. I can’t go without it for keeping my skin healthy and glowing – it’s the ultimate skin cure and it will forever have a permanent place in my beauty bag.

Tell us about a beauty trend you love?

I love the glass skin movement – dewy, glowing skin is a great skin of healthy skin. So for me, this is not a trend. We just released our own 111SKIN Glass Skin Facial using our Dark Spot Correcting Serum; it’s all about brightening, glow and evening skin tone and texture – for a healthy-looking complexion.

And one you can’t wait to see fall out of fashion?

Fast beauty! Just like fast fashion, there are so many products launching each week. It creates a throwaway culture. I believe beauty is about quality and longevity; great products require proper research and testing to achieve the best, long-term results. Your skin needs time to adjust and respond to ingredients; so if you’re constantly changing your routine and mixing too many different products, you might actually be doing more harm than good.

What’s something you did beauty-wise in your youth that you’d never do again?

I’m sure I’m not the only woman of my generation that used to cover herself in olive oil before sunbathing. I’ll definitely never do that again. Now, I’m very diligent about sun protection – this not only includes our new SPF50, but I also tend to cover up with appropriate clothing to shield my face and body.

 

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The best piece of beauty advice you’ve been given?

‘There is no single standard of beauty. True beauty doesn’t lie in uniformity, but in individuality. We all carry our own unique beauty, and that’s what makes us special.’ My grandmother Ivanka (who lived until she was 98) shared these wise words with me when I was young, and they’ve stayed with me ever since.

What’s your beauty philosophy?

Less is more. Enhance your natural beauty and let beautiful skin shine through.

What item do you think should be in every beauty bag?

I think everyone should carry a little notepad in their beauty bag, so that when you have a moment to yourself while you follow your beauty rituals, you can write down your thoughts, ideas or positive affirmations. I swear by this ritual.

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