Rosie Huntington-Whiteley talks about how motherhood changed her approach to beauty

Spy"We all have flaws. I have congested skin half the time and pimples... I love women who have quirks and flaws that make them unique"

By Tish Weinstock

When it came to launching her beauty brand, Rose Inc, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley knew exactly where to start: the ingredients. As someone used to fighting acne, the model and soon-to-be mother of two knows firsthand how important it is that products respect the health of the skin. That is why the 10 treatments in her inaugural collection are made with the best plant-based ingredients and non-comedogenic formulas. The brand's latest release, its Tinted Serum, is no exception. Contains micro-encapsulated spheres that release a luminous pigment as it melts into skin, providing the perfect amount of coverage without clogging pores. The beauty businesswoman tells us how her relationship with cosmetics has evolved and what her motherhood has meant to her.

As a child, what importance did you give to cosmetics?

"I grew up in the country, on a very rustic farm in Devon, in a family where it was important to bring different points of view; with a great sense of humor and enthusiasm. Cosmetics did not have much to do with that lifestyle. I think "My earliest beauty memories are of watching my mother get ready at night. To me, she was the most glamorous person I had ever seen. She would let me sit on the edge of her bed to watch her get ready. I think what I always what struck me was the transformative power of beauty, seeing her go from looking very rural on the farm to putting on lipstick, combing her hair and putting on a nice outfit and seeing her demeanor and self-confidence change. to work as a model at the age of 16, and hair and makeup are the center of everything you do. That's when I started to get more interested, checking again that transforming capacity of beauty, either to become the character of an edit rial or to sell a certain image. That was 20 years ago."

How did you decide to embark on your own beauty brand?

"It came from how much I love beauty products and how much I love doing my own makeup and having makeup done on me, and then I was drawn to creating my own brand and telling the story around that brand. Nothing gratifies me more, after all." After all, when someone taps me on the shoulder and says, "My God, your products have changed my life. And that's what I love about beauty; it's very universal."

How do you approach beauty?

“I believe that in beauty there are no rules. I remember my mother telling me that makeup should enhance what you have, not hide it. At the time, I didn't understand it, but it stuck with me. When you put on makeup you have to celebrate what you have instead of worrying about your flaws. In my case, I have traits that I like to play with. I have big lips and I love to enhance my lashes. We all have defects. I have congested skin half the time and breakouts, other people have other things that make them insecure. I love women who have quirks and flaws that make them unique."

You mentioned acne and congestion, how do you take care of your skin?

“My skin changes from day to day and so it has been an odyssey to find a skincare that works for me. Over the years, I have talked to many experts and have learned a lot. One of the biggest revelations of the last two years was changing all my products to ones that were non-comedogenic, meaning formulated without ingredients that can clog pores. With this I managed to control acne. That for one thing. I also really like using exfoliating acids, because they help renew the surface of the skin. What I've learned from acne-prone skin is that it's often due to slow cell turnover. For this reason, the use of acids or manual exfoliants helps the skin cells renew themselves and minimizes the accumulation of fat. I also use the clarifying toner from my first release. It is wonderful to be able to create products for myself and at the same time serve the client.”

Tell us a bit more about your latest product, Tinted Serum. How did the idea come about?

"I wanted to create a light, sheer formula that would give me some coverage, but also a very luminous finish. It works really well in combination with my Softlight Luminous hydrating concealer from our first release. It contains microencapsulated spheres that carry the pigment in small capsules When it comes into contact with the skin the pigments are released and you get a gorgeous glow There are 14 shades in the collection but they are very flexible so I can use two or three colors depending on if I want to feel a little more tanned or if I want to completely match my skin tone. For two two years, of course with the Covid, but a little before even, it began to be excessive for me to use a heavy makeup base every morning. Especially being a mother, what happened to me day running to the office or down the street, I'd look in the mirror in the middle of the day and think, "My God, it's all sunk," so I wanted to create something lighter for the face and save the heavier foundation for events or when applied by a professional. It is also a very quick and easy formula to apply; it is impossible to do wrong. I love how comfortable it is and how well it fits. I never feel like I'm wearing too much makeup."

You just talked about motherhood, how has your approach to beauty changed since you became a mother?

“When you become a mother, you run out of time. You no longer have time for yourself, nor can you lock yourself in the bathroom in the middle of the day and play with a thousand products. I used to do it long before my son was born. Now, many times I have to decide: it's 9 in the morning and I can only do my hair or make up, what do I do today? Normally I choose to put on makeup because I can put my hair up and that's it. And then on an emotional level, I think you start to see the world through your children's eyes. You start thinking about what you want to instill in them. And you think what impression they will have of beauty and me when they grow up. In my house we were not conceited, we did not pay much attention to our appearance. I don't want to give too much importance to beauty and appearance. But at the same time, it's an important part of my job. It is an interesting topic that I think will continue to evolve and that I will have to continue to control when I have more children.”

Beauty largely depends on self-care. Is there a specific self-care ritual that you cannot miss in your life?

“Exercise regularly. Sleep well. Eating a balanced diet, not depriving myself of a plate of chips if I feel like it one day, but also controlling things. When I manage all these things well, my confidence skyrockets and I feel very comfortable with my body. Mental health plays an important role in making your relationships work. When I am very busy and overwhelmed with work, and with running the house and being a mother… all those things, it is very important to make time for myself. It is also very important to spend time with my partner, and also to catch up with friends, which is something that I can hardly do now. It's all about balance."

One last question, when do you feel most beautiful?

“I feel prettier when I feel fit and healthy. But also when I have close to the people I love the most: my partner and my son, especially when my son says something super nice to me and gives me a hug. I also feel great when I'm on the beach with salty hair, sand sticking to my legs and a nice tan. Or when I'm in the hands of a wonderful makeup artist who is doing a beautiful job for me to go out on the red carpet. In short, you feel beautiful when you are happy”.

This article was originally published on Vogue.co.uk

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