BEAUTIFUL, BOLD AND NATURAL – GISELE BUNDCHEN
Gisele Bundchen and her mother appear in the new skincare campaign of Dior Capture Totale.
Tell us about the new Capture Totale campaign, what does the new color code stand for? The new campaign seems to be more powerful and more assertive; would you say that it’s the reflection of the Capture Totale woman?
This Capture Totale campaign is meant to reflect the strength of modern women – they are beautiful, bold and their natural beauty is timeless. We are on an endless path of self-discovery, always evolving and working to learn who we are and understand what we need to grow. In this journey, we will find out how inner strength and self-love contribute to confidence and outer beauty. We, as women, have infinite potential, endless power and a timeless radiance.
How do you maintain a well-balanced life?
It is important to find a routine that works for you. Maintaining balance in life takes work, focus, determination and discipline. It is essential to take time for yourself to reflect and connect to your mind, body and spirit. Personally, yoga, meditation and breathing exercises have helped me stay centered. Besides that, eating well, practicing sports and maintaining a harmonious relationship with people around me definitely contributes to me having more balance and joy in my life.
In your career as it relates to beauty, what advice would you give to your younger self?
‘Less is more’. My mother taught me that and I have carried it through every aspect of my life and career. Through the years, I found that beauty comes from within and how you feel on the inside will reflect on the outside. The best advice I can give regarding beauty is find what works for you. No one person is created the same, so a beauty routine should feel personal to you and make you feel your best. I always gravitate towards natural ingredient-based products like the Super Potent Serum to help protect my skin.
When you need to unplug, what are your favorite forms of self-care (i.e. beauty routines, meditation practices, cooking etc.).
Meditation and the act of mindfulness have brought so much clarity, calmness and peace to my life. I also discovered Pranayama breathing years ago and the practice has been lifechanging – focusing on my breath helps me feel centered and allows me to reflect. When I’m in this peaceful state is when I can take the time to listen to myself and identify what my body and spirit need. Being in nature also always helps feed my soul and allows me to rejuvenate.
You have a strong relationship with your mother, how was it to have her on set with you for the campaign? What is the best skincare advice you inherited from her?
Having my mother alongside me was the best part of the campaign. Everything I know about women’s power, I learned from her. She perfectly embodies the idea that beauty is ageless, and I feel so lucky to be able to share that experience with her. The best advice I inherited from her is to keep things simple – cleansing and hydration go a long way.
What does beauty consciousness mean to you and as a spokesperson, how or why do you feel that Dior meets that same philosophy?
Beauty consciousness to me means understanding the powerful impact our actions can have on our environment and our overall health. DIOR has been taking strides towards becoming more self-aware and mindful of their impact. I admire their continued efforts to incorporate natural ingredients and continuously search for new ways they can improve. Having major brands like Dior start to become more mindful of their actions and impact is what I consider hopeful progress. We need to keep that momentum going because nature is our most precious and vital resource. I hope the whole beauty industry can come together to look for more sustainable practices that support both people and nature.
What’s the biggest thing you’d like to see change in the beauty industry in the next decade?
I am happy to see the strides both the fashion and beauty industry have made throughout the years to improve their sustainability practices and the use of nontoxic ingredients. Of course, there is still a lot to be done and they have a long way to go. Brands must think outside the box and find innovative solutions. They have already started reducing their environmental footprint by using recyclable materials, plant-based inks and limiting the use of plastic. I hope to see an even bigger increase in the use of organic resources and less harmful chemicals.
What are your thoughts on beauty as a means of activism?
I believe any and all forms of activism are valuable. Small, meaningful steps such as focusing on brands who offer plastic- free packaging and natural ingredients is a great first step. I focus on supporting brands who make a commitment to maintain eco-friendly and sustainable practices and share my values. I try to incorporate sustainability in every aspect of my life, even if it is small. My family always keeps in the mind the 3 R’s – reduce, reuse, recycle. It can be challenging to know where to start, but the most important thing is recognizing you play a vital role in protecting mother nature.
If you have to shorten your beauty routine to 3 steps, how would it be?
My beauty routine is brief because my mornings can get so crazy! I wake up to meditate or do yoga before the kids get up which doesn’t leave me much time for makeup, but over the years I have learned that less is more. I’ll always start the day by washing my face and using a moisturizer, and now I’ve added the Super Potent Serum into my routine as well. It’s quick but effective, and perfect for people like me who are always on the go.
In addition to the Capture Totale routine, what other habits do you recommend implementing to take care of the skin?
To have healthy skin, I believe you need to go beyond the surface – drink a lot of water, make things that bring you joy and think positively. These all helps you feel good and consequently look better. If I am balanced on the inside, it shows on the outside.
Looking back early on in your career, what were some of the best skincare tips you’ve received as a working model?
Definitely never go to bed wearing makeup. I would work such long hours in all different kinds of makeup so the first thing I would do when I finished work was wash my face and make sure to go to sleep with cleansed skin. Sometimes I was so tired after working a long day that all I wanted to do was fall into bed, but I always kept an evening cleansing routine! It helped keep my skin looking fresh, no matter how many wild and fun looks I had during the day.
How has your approach to beauty and health changed during lockdown?
I have always looked at health as a combination of mind, body and spirit, but there has been so much uncertainty during this time and the fact is that we cannot always control what is happening around us. What I can control is focusing on being more loving, compassionate and understanding with myself, my family and the world around me. I’ve been trying to take this time to continue educating myself and my family on how we can be better and do more, because everyone has the power to inspire and implement change. Taking that type of control in my life has helped bring me a sense of positivity and acceptance.
What was/is your biggest skin concern? How did you overcome or improve it?
I have found that my skin is often a reflection of what is happing to me internally. If I am stressed or exhausted, I feel like that can be written all over my face. I never want my skin to look tired (even if I feel it!) so a combination of meditation, eating well, drinking lots of water and a simple beauty routine, no matter how busy I am, has been key to keeping my skin looking fresh and healthy.
