Designer.

THE BEAUTY TALK

DO YOU THINK BEING A WOMAN IS A POWER?
Yes, it’s empowering. I love being a woman, I think we have so many layers that men don’t have; we’re very sentimental, we think too much, we’re deeper human beings. Aesthetically it is more fun too: if you’re short you can wear high heels (laughs).
I think I find it empowering when I feel good about myself. I’m not saying that in a vain way; I don’t have a sculptured body and I’m always juggling between being fatter and being thinner… I love to eat! I’m a real person. But I like when I am in control and focusing on what’s good for me, like when I’m doing exercise. I’m in this period now. That is empowering me.

YEAH, I SEE THAT! YOU DOCUMENT IT A LOT ON YOUR INSTAGRAM.
I think it is important I feel good about my body. I’m only noticing that now though, because so far I didn’t give it this much attention.

WHAT TRIGGERED THIS CHANGE OF PERCEPTION? DO YOU FEEL THE PRESSURE OF THE MEDIA DESCRIBING WHAT THE IDEAL WOMAN SHOULD BE?
Yeah maybe… I was always complaining about this ideal actually. But weirdly enough, I think in a way I feel better when I actually follow some of what we are told should be the norm; when I’m taking care of my skin or my hair, when my career is on tracks, when I work out…

I FEEL THE SAME! THE "IDEAL WOMAN" DEPICTED OUT THERE IS SUCH A STRONG IMAGE THAT WE CANNOT IGNORE THE PRESSURE TO FIT IN.
Here in Brazil, it’s even more difficult. Usually, you get out of your parents’ house when you meet someone you are going to marry. You don’t have that “alone” time that allows you to know yourself better. 90% of the girls I went to school with, were married by 23 years old. I was also following that path: I had a boyfriend for eleven years, we were about to get married but three months before the wedding I called it off. Just imagine people’s reactions here. Everyone was telling me I was crazy. But I had to follow my heart. My parents were very supportive telling me that I was completely free to do whatever I wanted to and that I was still so young. I was 28 when we broke up.

WOW, YOU WERE TO MARRY SOMEONE YOU WERE DATING SINCE YOU WERE 17 YEARS OLD. THESE ARE THE YEARS DURING WHICH YOU CHANGE THE MOST AND YOU BECOME YOUR ADULT SELF. I ADMIRE PEOPLE WHO MEET SO YOUNG AND STILL MANAGE TO MAKE IT WORK.
When we met I was a young girl in love. He was five years older than me; he used to take care of me. And then I started to change, to have different opinions… I became a woman.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FEATURE TO EMPHASIZE?
I think my hair and my eyes. I always wear mascara. Everyday. I love Hypnôse from Lancôme.
And I think my hair gives me confidence.

WHAT IS YOUR BEAUTY ROUTINE?
It’s kind of simple but I have to do more regarding hydrating my body.
I recently learned about the importance of cleaning your tongue. So when I wake up, it is the first thing I do now. I brush my teeth and wash my face with Actine because my skin is very oily. I use the exfoliating one and the regular one that I mix together. And then I apply the blemish+age defense serum from Skin Ceuticals. It works really well; as soon as you apply it, your skin reacts. It’s like plastic surgery.
After that I put sunscreen on. I use Shiseido. Not so long ago, I didn’t care about sunscreen at all. I used to tan a lot; I was even pouring Coca-Cola on my face to get darker and Urucum, which is an oil from Brazil. I was crazy.
Then I apply some eye shadow, some blush ("orgasm" from Nars) and that’s it. Sometimes I scrub my body with Argan oil. For my hair, I really don’t do anything specific. I just wash it and I never blow-dry it. Oh and something I do every morning is taking four drops of Vitamin D, which is good for the skin, as well as hot water with lemon.

TELL ME MORE ABOUT YOUR SPORT’S ROUTINE, AS WE SAID BEFORE, YOU ARE VERY COMMITTED THESE DAYS…
No, I’m super committed! But I don’t go to a gym or a club. As I live near the beach, I just go for a run in the sand from Leblon to Ipanema and twice a week I do boxfit. It’s like boxing and crossfit mixed together. At the end of a session you are dead but the sensation you get out of it is really good. The fact that I do that at the beach also allows me to take a swim in the sea right after a session. Then I come home, take a shower and I feel ready for the day. That’s priceless.

IS THERE SOMETHING THAT DEFINES BRAZILIAN BEAUTY FOR YOU?
I think we are a very mixed country. Although Brazil is known for being the country of plastic surgery, I think we’re more natural looking in Rio. I know it’s a bit contradictory but I feel a natural vibe, maybe because it is tropical all the time.

I AGREE WITH YOU. I FEEL RIO HAS A SPECIAL VIBE AND I REALLY LIKE THE CARIOCA STYLE.
Yeah we have a laid back style. Here on a Saturday you can go to the beach and right after go to lunch in your beach clothes. In São Paulo you will never see anyone without heels. I love Rio’s style.

THANK YOU BEAUTIFUL BETINA x
CHECK OUT BETINA'S BRAND NEW SITE TO DISCOVER ALL HER LATEST COLLABORATIONS.
WWW.BETINADELUCA.COM

Photographer : Nayara Barros
Creative Direction : Lisa Debatty
Production : OuiSimone