'My name is Oisin Orlandi, [@oisinorlandy], I'm Irish Italian, and I grew up in a little village by Milan. Currently, I’m living in Paris, where I work as an Art Director at L'Officiel.
Moving to Paris actually made me a beauty junkie. The pharmacies here are just amazing—they stay open until late and you can find so many good products. I've been here for three years now and I could still test new finds every month. But I don't because I finally feel like my skin is in a good place and I really don't want to mess it up. Aging was actually the best thing that could happen to my skin—I stopped going out late and falling asleep with my makeup on. The first thing I bought when I got here was Bioderma Crealine!
I've learned the hard way that you need to find the routine that suits your skin. I had very bad skin for a long time and couldn't manage to make it better until I found a good process that changed everything. I start the day with a big glass of warm water with a spoon of apple cider vinegar and a lemon squeeze. It's a good way of putting order and discipline in my life. Then I wash my face with Neutrogena Visibly Clear Spot Stress Control [ed note: not available in the US], it's a daily scrub that cleans the skin and prevents breakouts. You find it in supermarkets, it's very cheap. I use Clinique Anti-Blemish Solution Clarifying Lotion all over my face and when it dries in, I use the Kiehl’s Blemish Control Cream on the t-zone, and I moisturize with Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cream all over before makeup. Sometimes I use Rose Water Tonic by Roberts before moisturizing, but only because it reminds me of my mother—smells like home!
For my body, I only use Johnson's Baby Oil. It's very gentle, my skin absorbs it quickly, and it doesn't have a strong perfume, which is good because all I want to smell of is Tom Ford Tuscan Leather. That scent sticks with me for days. I have a thing for fragrance—I want people to smell it when I walk in the room, or else I don't see the point in wearing it. I also layer perfumes together if I want the scent to be stronger. Tom Ford Santal Blush and Byredo 1996 are actually a really good combination. And I always spray some in my hair, too. Another smell I love is the Uka Cuticle Oil—it smells like lavender and makes your hands look perfect even when you don't have time for a manicure. Overall, very relaxing indeed.
I don't really understand women who make a big deal over not wearing makeup...what's wrong with getting a little help? All I want to do is make the best of what I am. And once you know what works best for you, it's so easy to look better and correct imperfections without even thinking about it. As a foundation, I use Clinique Anti Blemish Solution Liquid Makeup in Ivory. I am very pale so I need to be careful and they have the very perfect shade for my skin with good coverage but a fresh feeling. Plus it contains salicylic acid for when you get little breakouts. Then I press some Chanel Natural Finish Pressed Powder in Pale on my t-zone. For eyebrows, I use Maybelline Brow Drama, because I find that gel looks more natural than powder.
I'm very into curled lashes with very heavy, dark black mascara—and only on the top lashes. Sometimes I use blue mascara and top it with blue eye shadow to make it brighter. I have blue eyes, so it turns into a total blue look which is fun. I do the same with green and pink, but blue is my favorite.
Until university, I would wear any lipstick I could find in the house—the cheaper the better, like stuff from H&M. Then my friend introduced me to designer makeup with a stick of MAC Ruby Woo. I was so excited I couldn't stop talking about it once I got home. The shade and the long stay...it's still one of my favorites.
Being in fashion really makes me want to try new things all the time. I find that I'm really inspired by what I'm seeing around me—I went back to Ireland and all I wanted was a tan and fake lashes. Then I'll see Lara Stone and think about bleaching my brows. And I'm always learning new things, too—like tongue scraping! A few months ago I went to Christian Louboutin's house to shoot his bathroom and interview him. He is a true beauty junkie, the place is filled with products! And he showed us this tongue scraper and how to use it with a full demonstration, so now I’m doing it, too.”
—as told to ITG
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