Eliana Rodriguez, Designer, Gil Rodriguez

“Earlier than there have been ready-to-wear designers, all the wealthy women in Venezuela would go to a pleasant material retailer and have a tailor make them a customized look. My grandma owned a high-end luxurious retailer; she would journey backwards and forwards to Europe and import materials that had licenses for designers like YSL and Valentino. Rising up round that was a magical factor, however I didn’t essentially consider style as a profession possibility. I come from a really tutorial household, so I assumed that I might find yourself in a extra academically-driven function. However after I was 15, a good friend inspired me to get a job on the mall. I began working at American Attire, the place I ended up staying till I used to be 25. I actually grew up with the corporate. I began as a gross sales affiliate and ended up dropping out of school as a result of they provided me a job in LA—on the time I used to be in Canada, the place my household immigrated. By the point I left the corporate, I used to be operating their print advert campaigns and girls’s design division.

I used to be a little bit bit disenchanted by style at that time. Instagram was beginning to play a significant function in folks’s lives, and I felt like style had began to show into one thing that was extra for Instagram than for actual life. Tendencies began shifting actually quick. Even the large style homes that I cherished began to really feel like quick style to me. I began shopping for classic as a result of I misplaced curiosity in all of it. Because it turned out, the toughest half about shopping for classic was discovering good fundamentals, the necessities that it is advisable to put collectively an outfit. When American Attire fell in 2017, it actually left this void and I needed to fill it with garments that felt extra like ‘me.’ That’s why I began Gil Rodriguez in 2018, my model of straightforward, but elevated, necessities. Plus, having labored at AA on this very holistic setting—my workplace was actually on the manufacturing unit ground—I had realized a lot so beginning my very own firm felt like the subsequent pure step.

SKINCARE
I used to be an enormous product junkie in my early-20s, however I developed perioral dermatitis after I was 25 and I’ve had it ever since, which suggests I’ve to be actually cautious with the merchandise I placed on my pores and skin. Utilizing much less helps—I focus extra on what a product doesn’t do versus what a product does—however greater than something, engaged on my inner well being—sleeping nicely, hydrating—made the largest distinction.

I exploit Tata Harper’s Regenerating Cleanser within the morning, which I wasn’t doing till I heard Tata herself on a podcast and he or she really helpful utilizing within the morning. Your pores and skin is ‘regenerating’ in a single day so that you wish to eliminate that build-up. I used to be fearful my pores and skin can be too delicate as a result of some folks say you shouldn’t cleanse within the morning you probably have POD, however I truthfully suppose that my pores and skin appears higher since I began doing that. It appears more healthy. At evening, I really like iS Medical’s Cleaning Advanced. It’s so impartial and does not depart my pores and skin feeling stripped in any manner.

By way of focused remedies, I simply began utilizing the Triphala Pigmentation Corrector from Sachi. I’ve some freckles and pigmentation from the solar, and a good friend really helpful it for delicate pores and skin. I get nervous introducing new merchandise into my routine, however I haven’t had any flare-ups. Andrea Amez, a good friend who occurs to be an incredible facialist right here in LA, and I’ve been by means of a lot with my dermatitis. She really helpful Dr. Loretta’s Intense Replenishing Serum to appease my pores and skin. It looks like a hug to your face. I’ve 5 bottles in my home proper now. [Laughs]

In relation to face lotions, I really like the Calming Crème from Tata Harper. I began utilizing it after I was pregnant, and I cherished how impartial it was—not too heavy or gentle. I exploit it within the mornings, however at evening, I really like the Lacto Cream from Ruth’s Skincare. I found it across the time I left American Attire. I hadn’t began my line but, so I used to be doing random gigs to earn money. I bought a modeling gig for a skincare marketing campaign, however I had a giant POD rash round my mouth. It actually damage to smile, and I keep in mind telling a good friend I must again out of the job. She instructed me about Ruth’s, which was a facial spot on Melrose that doesn’t exist anymore, and the facialist gave me the Lacto cream and instructed me to place it on 5 occasions a day. Inside 48 hours, my pores and skin was utterly clear.

For sunscreen, I’ve been utilizing EltaMD for years. I exploit each the tinted and untinted variations—neither leaves a bizarre residue on my face. If I need a little bit extra protection, I put on Iris & Romeo’s sunscreen. The consistency is tremendous good. Saie’s Slip Tint SPF 35—I exploit shade 4—can also be actually good, however it’s a little bit extra makeup-y.

I’m not a giant toner individual—I wish to be as a result of I like the concept of constructing positive there’s no residue left on my face after cleaning—however I neglect about it. I do hold a bottle of Thayers’ rose toner round however principally as a result of it’s the one one I keep in mind to purchase as a result of it’s bought at my grocery retailer. I exploit it possibly as soon as each two weeks.

My NuFace is one other factor that I are likely to neglect about over time, however I’m utilizing it day by day proper now. After I gave start, I felt ‘compressed.’ [Laughs] My neck felt three inches shorter by some means. My posture was off, which didn’t assist my jawline. I began doing quite a lot of facial massages, specializing in lengthening my neck and undoing all the pressure that I used to be holding. That began my journey with units like my NuFace and gua sha—mine is from the Backyard Membership at Palm Heights.

My largest skincare expense is PRFM, which stands for platelet-rich fibrin matrix—I get it at The Issues We Do. They draw your blood and extract the platelets, that are then mixed with different components to create progress components which are then injected again into your face to assist with fantastic strains and quantity and stimulate collagen. It’s principally subsequent technology PRP, or platelet-rich plasma.

BODY
Physique-wise, I like to dry brush earlier than I bathe day by day. I’ve tried a bunch of them and Goop’s is the one one which I like as a result of the bristles are stiffer than the others. Once you’re accomplished utilizing it, you actually really feel like all the cells in your physique are tingling. It makes me really feel alive, although the primary time I used it? Ow. I’ve seen a discount in cellulite since utilizing it, however I see dry brushing as a extra of a holistic observe. It’s one of many many issues I do to maintain myself. Nécessaire’s physique retinol helped loads with the keratosis pilaris on the again of my legs and common irritation on my butt. And I like to rub myself down with Flamingo Property’s Euphoria physique oil, too. It smells so fucking good. Since I can’t use important oils on my face, after I get to make use of them on my physique, I get a fantastic, backyard of Eden feeling. [Laughs]

MAKEUP
On a day-to-day foundation, I solely put on my tinted sunscreen. If I’ve a gathering, I’ll put on a little bit of RMS Un Cowl-Up concealer in 22.5. I’ve most likely been utilizing it for over 10 years—and I really found it on Into The Gloss. Erin Wasson mentioned in her Prime Shelf, ‘It’s essentially the most wonderful magnificence product ever created. It’s like pores and skin.’ If I need extra protection, Armani’s Luminous Silk Concealer is de facto good and nonetheless appears pure.

RMS discontinued Lip2Cheek as soon as and introduced it again—besides they didn’t convey my favourite shade, Diabolique, again. I’ve been hoarding my final little pot. The product actually appears like dried blood within the pot, however whenever you put it in your cheeks, it actually provides you the looks of blood dashing to your face. It’s so natural-looking and highly-pigmented. I’m desperately looking for a dupe if anyone on the market has a suggestion. Chanel’s Rouge Coco Baume in Fall For Me might be the closest factor I’ve discovered. It’s meant to your lips, however you need to use it all over the place for that ‘just-blushed’ look. Talking of lips, Victoria Beckham’s Lip Definer in No. 04 is the one lip liner that doesn’t make me look insane. I don’t know if the colour of my lip is bizarre or one thing, however so many lip liners look loopy on me. Discovering good shades for my lips is tough on the whole truthfully—quite a lot of nudes look unusual. Chanel’s liquid powder lipstick in Avant-Gardiste is ideal for me, however it was additionally discontinued. It’s so unhappy.

I lately bought Ilia’s Multi-Stick in At Final. It’s an ideal coloration. I used to have the Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate—I like Depth 1—and I forgot about it till lately. It’s nonetheless a traditional—and so good for those who, like me, don’t actually know contour. The RMS Buriti bronzer is comparable in that it’s creamy. I all the time take it with me on trip and put it on my cheekbones, eyes, all over the place. It really appears actually good whenever you get sweaty. Oh, and Chanel’s Fleurs de Printemps blush and highlighter duo [discontinued] is possibly the prettiest recent pink blush I’ve discovered.

I really like a shiny eye, and I’ve been utilizing Chanel’s multi-use glow stick in Golden Mild for years. I’ve multiples—it’s that excellent. It provides you this type of ‘moist’—not shiny—and bronzy look. You want so little, so that you don’t find yourself with a goopy feeling in your eyes. After which the Les Filles en Rouje eyelash roller is one of the best for my eye form—and it doesn’t pinch me. I observe that with a swipe of Chanel’s Inimitable mascara. It’s dramatic, however it’s not too heavy—it leaves the correct amount of product on the lashes.

HAIR
I naturally have actually, actually darkish hair, and I’ve needed to settle for that it’s what it’s as a result of dyeing hair is such a dedication. Even haircuts really feel like a giant dedication for me. I’ve solely lower my hair as soon as in my life—and I regretted it for the six years it took to develop it out. Lengthy hair is simply ‘me.’ However I do get easy trims from James Burks. He lives in New York, which is de facto unlucky for me, however he taught me do my very own trims for these occasions I can’t get to him.

I used to have quite a lot of seborrheic dermatitis, and the rosemary shampoo and conditioner from Nêcessaire have been nice at cleaning my scalp but additionally maintaining it actually balanced. In addition they odor divine. Each on occasion, I placed on Crown Affair’s leave-in-conditioner to hydrate my hair, which will get fairly frizzy. It additionally doesn’t assist that LA is extraordinarily dry. And possibly as soon as a month, if I’ve an occasion, I exploit Crown Affair’s cleaning scrub. I lately found Rōz—I’ve been attempting the Basis masks, milk hair serum, and Santa Lucia styling oil—and truthfully, I do not suppose my hair has ever appeared or smelled higher.

I additionally love Crown Affair’s dry shampoo. I believe the comb applicator is so sensible as a result of earlier than this product got here alongside, I used to be actually placing unfastened powder in my hair with a make-up brush as a substitute of spraying an aerosol, which would depart a bizarre residue. The Ending gel is a game-changer, too, particularly you probably have frizzy hair. You should use it for a brilliant slick look and brush it out the identical day with out your hair feeling soiled. I don’t know the way they did it.

NAILS & FRAGRANCE
I see Ellie at Kure Spa for Gel-X manicures. Three out of 5 occasions, I’m going for OPI Huge Apple Crimson nails. Typically I combine it up with a lapis blue or a mango after I’m touring. I need my nails to appear like I’m in a Seventies nail polish advert, so I all the time go for almond, oval-y nails.

As for perfumes, there are only a few that I can dwell a full day in. I believe the difficulty is that I’m extraordinarily choosy. Even when I like a fragrance after I first odor it, as soon as I put it on my physique, I’m like, ‘Get it off me.’ That mentioned, I’ve worn Molecule 01 for years. I don’t actually odor it on myself, but when I spray it on a shirt, I discover it intoxicating. It’s not not like Glossier You, which I additionally discover actually delicate. I’ve worn it eternally, too. I really like Nuxe’s Huile Prodigieuse dry oil as a result of it’s so multi-purpose. Is your pores and skin dry? Put it on. Need to odor good? Rub some in. I picked it up from my grandma, who wears it day by day.”

—As instructed to Daise Bedolla

Photographed by Brittany Bravo in Los Angeles on August 23, 2024