Portrait

From Mathilde Cabanas's makeup bag

Creative at heart, Mathilde Cabanas first drew for others before a cute kiss she scribbled between appointments became the signature of her own brand. Bold colors, a touch of mischief, and unbridled joy… That’s how you could sum up the world of this designer who’s a fan of (clean) beauty. A signature style you could easily imagine spilling over into her bathroom and makeup bag. And yet, when it comes to beauty, Mathilde is one of those self-proclaimed minimalists who advocates for skin that glows with its natural radiance. Let’s meet her…

Tell us all about yourself

“My name is Mathilde. I’m a designer, and I have four children and a partner who makes me laugh every day. I designed and sold products under my own brand for 10 years. Today, I continue to illustrate and create collections, but in collaboration with brands that inspire me. My favorite part of my job is making boring, mundane everyday objects fun. The phrase that best describes my brand is ‘everyday objects that bring a smile.’ I started my business in Paris, then moved to Nantes, and I’ve just fulfilled my lifelong dream of living in Spain—in Andalusia, to be exact—with my whole family.”

What's your very first memory of makeup?

“Mascara. I remember very clearly that it was THE makeup I dreamed of, and I started wearing it when I was 15. It’s funny, because these days I hardly ever wear it; I prefer to keep my lashes ‘natural.’”

How would you describe your philosophy on beauty and makeup today?

“I love putting on makeup and taking care of myself, but it has to be simple and natural. I think that’s reflected in my work—I get right to the point with my prints; there are at most three colors. I like it when people recognize my patterns; I change them, but there’s always a little nod to my work. It’s the same with makeup—I like trying new things, but I want to stay true to myself at all costs. When I do photo shoots, I often prefer to do my own makeup. Over time, I’m learning to know and accept myself 100 percent—to be as much “me” as possible. It’s the same with my drawings: no frills, just authenticity and joy.”

Your brand is an instantly recognizable graphic signature: the Kiss, the colors, the joy. Do you have a makeup signature of your own, too?

“In the summer and when school starts again, when I have a healthy glow, I keep it super simple but I always do the following: I tame my eyebrows with gel, then add a touch of blush and bronzer, and use a lip liner (I cheat a little and go slightly outside the lines to make my lips look fuller). Then, as a finishing touch, I apply a nude lipstick and dab it in to blur the edges, like the Bisou Balm Bêtises de Violette_fr.”

What's in your makeup bag right now?

“I’m in the middle of moving, so I don’t have everything yet, but since this is going to take several months, I’ve got a good foundation: I have a brown mascara (more natural than black, gentler on my light-colored eyes, the Blush PoudreOh My Cream Skincare, the Face Trace Contour Stick byWestman Atelier —I love its texture and packaging—an eyebrow gel, at least 28 lip pencils, and two of the Bisou Balm Violette_FR, an Eyeshadow Stick , and an brown in brown from Oh My Cream Skincare, and finally, a concealer for small pimples or scars.”

Are you the type who puts on makeup in three minutes flat, or the type who takes her time and goes with whatever she feels like in the moment?

“Just 3 minutes a day—unless I’m going out. I love going all out with my eyes or lips and taking forever to get ready.”

Is there a makeup product or texture that took you years to get the hang of?

“It comes and goes—I go through phases. For example, I was really into red lipstick and concealer for a while. Right now, I’ve completely ditched both. But I have a lot of fun making my eyes look more dramatic with a smoky eye, or going for a nude lip but applying it slightly outside the lip line to create a fuller look.”

And the skin underneath… How do you take care of it?

“For me, skin is the most important thing. Especially as I get older, I find that wearing too much foundation or trying to hide imperfections makes me look even older. I take great care of my skin and my overall lifestyle so I don’t have to rely as much on makeup. For example, I’d rather get a good night’s sleep and drink plenty of water than use concealer, which tends to settle into fine lines. Having beautiful, glowing skin is what matters most to me. Makeup is just the finishing touch.”

In the morning, I apply a vitamin C serum, followed by a day cream and sunscreen. At night, I never skip a double cleanse (makeup-removing oil + cleanser), a gua sha session, and I do 10 minutes of LED maskfor 10 minutes before applying a serum, night cream, and eye cream. I treat myself to a facial at a spa once a month, and otherwise I never skip an exfoliation and a sheet mask once a week.”

Beyond skincare and makeup, what are your wellness rituals?

“I do a combination of madero therapy and lymphatic drainage once or twice a month, and it makes a world of difference in how my skin looks. I used to have a massage therapist in Nantes, and since I was worried I wouldn’t be able to find the same thing in Andalusia, she trained my boyfriend. We bought all the equipment, and now he gives me treatments at home. What a luxury!

I do Pilates at home four times a week. I get up before everyone else, and it helps me a lot with everything—my mental well-being, my fitness, and my overall health. In the winter, I do a series of bone broth. I love the one fromAtelier Nubio. It’s packed with collagen and is super comforting.

I take dietary supplements all year round: magnesium, iron, collagen, and electrolytes with Combeau’s Hydrating Formula, and, from time to time, a zinc regimen when my skin feels sensitive or I have more breakouts than usual."

What's your go-to product for instantly restoring your skin's radiance?

“I love the Mega Plump and Mega Water from Talm or the Boum Boum Milk from Violette_FR”.

What's the one item that's always in your purse?

“Without a doubt, the Bisou Balm by Violette_FR. A must-have for that bitten-lip look.”

How has your relationship with makeup changed over the years?

“I’ve always liked a fairly natural makeup look. Although there was a time when I always wore a line of black eyeliner to look like the idol of every self-respecting millennial: Alexa Chung. But I quickly stopped: it always had to be perfect, or else I’d end up looking like a girl the morning after a night out. I also went through a two-year ‘gel nails’ phase that ruined my nails. I liked not having to think about my manicure and being able to choose a colour that would last at least three weeks. But when I took it all off and saw my nails were as thin as a sheet of paper again, I stopped doing it altogether. Nowadays, I don’t put anything on my nails, and I think it’s really pretty to have short, bare, and clean nails. Actually, whenever I try something that’s not in my nature, I stop right away. I’d rather focus on having beautiful skin and loving myself au naturel than resorting to artificial enhancements.”

If you could keep only one product for the rest of your life, which one would it be?

“An SPF, namely the Sunveil SPF50+ Anti-Dark Spot Sunscreen FluidTALM or the Everyday 50 SPF50 Face Fluid Mimétique.”

What's your secret to feeling good about yourself even on bad days?

“When I can’t stand the sight of myself, I love doing an ‘everything shower,’ which involves doing everything in the time it takes to take a shower: exfoliating, a face mask, shampooing, shaving, then moisturizing, blow-drying… A big pampering session for my body, face, and hair. Another thing that works well is waiting for it to pass and avoiding mirrors and photos. It’s often during or before my period, so I know it’s temporary. Three days when I’ll feel ugly, and in three days, fabulous.”

What's the best beauty tip you've ever been given?

“Girls, I’m really sorry to have to tell you this, because it’s definitely not the kind of advice we like to hear, but drink plenty of water and get as much sleep as possible. The good news is, it doesn’t cost a thing!”

Vendor