In this latest instalment of our holi (grail) series, we catch up with Melinda Anna Farina, founder of Integrated Aesthetics Consulting Inc. and Beauty Brokers, Inc. Her wealth of experience and expertise has made her a much-lauded consultant, groundbreaker and absolute girl boss in the health and beauty business, where she acts as a match-maker, connecting clients wanting cosmetic procedures with surgeons who can help them achieve their aesthetic goals. 

1. What’s your skincare and beauty routine?

I’ve been religious with monthly microcurrent, exfoliating, and hydrating facials. Lily from Yasmine Djerradine Spa and Joanna Czech keep me clear. I also recently started four times yearly moxi BBL treatments.

On a daily basis, I like to switch it up, depending upon how my skin feels. I have pretty hypersensitive rosacea-prone skin, even though I am of Mediterranean descent and have thicker, olive-toned skin. Joanna put me on Environ pre oil cleanser and Environ cleansing lotion - and now I am obsessed! I follow with Royal Fern’s famous toning essence, and follow that with Restorsea Pro 10x. 

In the summertime I like a good vitamin C serum and I have been using the Clarins Double C Serum or Joanna Czech Vitamin C - I love how it feels on my skin. On days where I feel more inflamed I use Vanicream ONLY - it seriously does the trick with calming down redness for me - a simple, easy drug store buy. Most days I love Babor Skinovage Balancing cream 5.1 or Environ Defense Cream. I use Ultraviolette SPF from AU. It’s difficult to find - I buy mine at Harrods. Yasmine also turned me on to Institut Esthederm Sun Protection on days when I am not outside too much.

At night, I use Environ C Quence series 2 - two pumps with my moisturizer. 

2. What are your current favorite products?

I’m really into the Environ Youth Essentia line right now. 

3. How do you prepare to look your best for a big event?

I hire a village! Haha no no I will always get a great facial before an event. The Biologique Recherche remodeling facial is my favorite. I will always prep with a lymphatic drainage massage two weeks before an event at IMD spa. I stick to a high protein and green diet. 

I’m really loving Gucci Westman blush sticks and have been keeping my makeup lighter than usual for events these days. I carry her tint sticks everywhere I go, and her glosses too! I’m a cult user of Armani Luminous Silk Foundation - it never lets me down. Angelina Jolie turned me on to it!

4. Are there any challenges to your beauty routine - work, home, travel etc? Have you ever made any lifestyle changes to support your wellbeing? 

The challenges are the older you get, the more frequently you need maintenance - gray hairs are my enemy these days so I’m counting on Jena’s new spermidine products to save my soul! With my demanding daily schedule and booked-out calendar it’s difficult to find the time for so much upkeep. Andre Davis keeps my mane under control monthly. I lean on meditation, excellent sleep, non toxic friends and a loving beau, plus a great diet to keep me young. If I have one glass of wine a month that’s a lot for me! I get about 15k steps in a day, spending quality time with the pup by the ocean. And I have Dead Sea salt baths 3x a week. 

5. What’s your go-to healthy snack?

Cherries, blueberries and greek yogurt with a drop of honey - sometimes I’ll chuck some granola in if I’m feeling adventurous lol!

6. When you were younger, who was your beauty icon? Who inspires you now?

Oh gosh! Monica Bellucci has always been my personal beauty icon. She’s just got that classic beauty that is timeless. My Nonna also thought she was so beautiful and my Nonna was my whole world, so that always stuck with me. 

Nowadays I appreciate, am inspired by and am grateful for any woman who is kind, caring, polite, genuine and smiles - it’s rare these days. I work with women all day every day - trust me on this one.

7. Any ‘tweakments’ (skincare and non-surgical) procedures you’d recommend or have planned for ‘one day’?

The facelift and necklift are coming soon folks! Maybe in the next year. I’ll definitely be the gal who gets ahead of it early and I plan on doing two in my lifetime. I’ll post the journey. No shame in this game - nobody is exempt from aging and thank God for exceptional and talented plastic surgeons! 

8. What is your go to / favorite beauty look to create and what inspired this look? 

I love Pat McGrath’s smokey eye makeup looks, or a classic clean and bronzy Scott Barnes glowy face. I am a girly girl and love a good makeup application but these days I’m doing bare faced often and the focus has been on clean, thick brows and polished lashes with a glossy lip. Less is more as you get older. The 40’s have been interesting for me. 

9. Biggest beauty mistake?

The worst mistake I ever made was allowing a crooked derm to inject Silicon 1000 into my lips when I was 18. I kick myself everyday for the mistakes I made when I was a teen - WHAT WAS I THINKING?!

10. And finally… what can you NOT do without? What’s the holy grail of the products you use?

The holy grail in my cabinet is currently my Environ C Quence 2 Serum, Aluram Leave-In Conditioner and Milbon hair Oil … hmm oh and a great whitening floss!