This insanely gorgeous girl is Barbara Paz, ex-Minneapolitan currently residing in Brazil. I met her at June Resale one night and will never forget a) her boots and b) how sweet and instantly warm and personable she was. I consider Barbara one of the nicest, most genuine chicks I’ve ever met. (As well as one of the most naturally beautiful.) Having seen her amazing apartment in the North Loop in Minneapolis, I knew her makeup stash would be just as pristine and chic. And it totally is.

When did you start wearing make-up?

I think I started wearing make-up when I was 14 or 15. I would only put it on when going out with friends at night, specially during my vacations in Brazil. Being from Brazil, I grew up believing make-up was only necessary for special occasions. Brazilians hardly ever wear it to work or school. This made me grow up thinking of make-up as glamorous, specially when I saw my older sister’s and my mother getting it done professionally for weddings or big parties which is very common in Brazil. I’ve always thought of it as a luxury, not a necessity.

Who taught you/what products did you use?

I believe I taught myself how to do my own make-up. I’d watch my sister’s putting it on and then I’d eventually play around with their products once they left the house, I guess in some ways they did teach me. I remember looking through tons of necessaires in our bathroom, all filled with products by Chanel, Nars, YSL, Shu Uemura, Kevyn Aucoin, etc. At that time I had no idea how much make-up cost —That I came to find out when I accidently spilled a full bottle of foundation all over our bathroom.

What is your greatest beauty strength?
People often compliment my eyebrows. They tell me they look like they’ve been drawn on specially after they’ve been professionally tweezed. I try to keep them clean but definitely never thin. I always tell whoever is tweezing them that I’d like them straight across and still thick.

What is you daily beauty routine? 
When I wake up, I wash my face with Shiseido’s Pureness deep cleansing foam and then I either use Shiseido’s Pureness anti-shine toner or Sisley’s Grapefruit toning lotion; both are fantastic for combination skin. As lotion, I apply a tiny bit of Shiseido’s Pureness matifying moisturizer which is oil-free and perfect for warmer weather.

On my hair, one product that has stuck for a while now is the Moroccan Oil Treatment. I use it everyday and I think it really helps with split ends. Recently I have also been substituting it at times with Rodin by Recine’s Olio Lusso which is also a hair oil I am fond of but unfortunately it’s pricier than the Moroccan Oil. Both are fantastic natural hair products that leave my curls shiny and strong! 
 
What are your favorite products?

Deborah Lippmann is probably my favorite nail polish line. I have tons of nail polish by her. I love Chanel colors and I always buy their latest shades but they do tend to chip easily. With Deborah Lippmann you can always count on a long-lasting manicure.

For my lips, a product I absolutely LOVE is Sugar Plum Tinted Lip Treatment with SPF 15. It’s perfect for my skin tone and it hydrates my lips like no other. The Rosé color is also lovely!

On my body, two products I have recently fallen in love with are Sisley’s Energizing Foaming Exfoliant and Sisley’s Slimming Complex lotion which combats fat deposits, drains, smoothes and firms silhouettes! I’ve recently started working out a lot as well as dieting correctly, these two products make it so my skin stays firm as I shed the extra pounds!
 

What can’t you live without?

Serge Lutens, Diptyque, and Santa Maria Novella perfume! I’m obsessed! Specially Olene Eau de Toilette by Diptyque, Chergui by Serge Lutens, and Melograno by Santa Maria Novella. I guess you could say those are my three signature scents. A friend once said Chergui is my party fragrance! I wear it whenever I go out. He foresees trouble as soon as I put it on.

As for makeup, three products I can’t live without are Guerlain’s Terracotta powders, La Mer’s The Powder, and Laura Mercier’s Smooth Focus Pressed Setting Powder. I put on the La Mer powder first and soon after I use the Guerlain Terracotta powder for a healthy glow. To seal the deal I use Laura Mercier’s Smooth Focus Powder so my makeup lasts all night! Although pricey, these three products last forever and are flawless!  
 
Who are your beauty icons?
Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. I don’t think there’s ever been someone with more elegance and grace than Jackie O, not to mention her impeccable taste!
Helena Christensen. She barely wears any makeup and still always looks gorgeous.
Natalia Vodianova. She always looks perfect; it’s almost frightening.


What’s a beauty trend you’d like to see disappear forever?
The Jersey Shore tan. I really don’t understand how someone can leave their home looking like a pumpkin. Let’s be real, no person is actually that color. Why do some people still think that’s a good look??? Very confusing.