WHAT IS YOUR SKINCARE ROUTINE?

I follow the Vivre mantra of: Clean. Prep. Treat. Seal
I change products as my skin changes with seasons & environments but currently:

AM: V-Enzyme Nettoyant Cleanser, ZO Self-Activating Vitamin C, ISDIN K-OX Eyes, ISDIN Eryafotona Ageless Sunscreen .

PM: V-Enzyme Nettoyant Cleanser, Radiante Tissu prep pads, Skinbetter Alpharet (my holy grail retinol), Skinbetter EyeMax, CBD Vita Hydratant

WHAT IS IN YOUR MAKE-UP BAG?

I don't carry a make-up bag  or make-up with me unless im traveling. If you have good skin, there is no need for a lot of make-up. I'm always on the go, tinted sunscreen and a whisper of bronzer.

POWER STATEMENT/PERSONAL MOTTO?

If you can dream it ... you can do it. 

FALLBACK CAREER?

A wedding planner. Turning romantic, magical visions into life. Or a handbag designer, I actually designed a capsule collection of evening bags when I was 12 years old with pashmina I found in Nepal. 

DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONAL STYLE

I am super girlie and I never follow trends. I just have my own style that works for me. I love dresses, whites & pinks. Ribbons, ruffles & bows ... That is pretty much my whole closet.

GUILTY PLEASURE

Cakes, mochi, marzipan & shoes! 

ROLE MODEL / ICON

Jacqueline Kennedy,  she is a symbol of impeccable style & unparalleled beauty. But what I admire most about her is her depth of character, sense of being, her worldly demeanor and most of all, her ability to carry on life despite of it being punctuated by tragedies. 

HOW DO YOU DE-STRESS?

Listening to music in the car while I'm driving.

ANY CHARITIES OR CAUSES THAT ARE NEAR & DEAR TO YOU?

Stand Up 2 Cancer and Dystonia Medical Research Foundation. 

The urgency to cure cancer is dire. I have lost too many people in my family and my life to cancer, including my niece who was like my sister and best friend. Stand Up 2 Cancer is one of the very few foundations that puts 100% of their received donations towards groundbreaking cancer researches. And Dystonia is a rare disease that has no cure. I have had it since I was 17, but it went undiagnosed by the countless doctors and specialists all my life until a year ago. It is a truly debilitating disease with so much unknown. It affects my daily life, my body and mental state as well. 

FAVORITE VSL ITEM & WHY?

They are all my babies, how do i just pick one?! But I truly cannot live without the Radiante Tissu skin prep pads. they give me that glow that just doesn't go away. Who doesn't want that? And they keep me from breaking out.

TRAVEL ESSENTIAL?

I cannot travel without my cashmere shawl. I use it as an extra blanket or extra pillow when I roll it up for my back ... and lots of iphone/ipad chargers & cords.

DREAM TRAVEL DESTINATION?

There isn't really anywhere I want to go that I haven't been, but Capri will never get old. I'd really like to spend a couple weeks of do nothing time on the island of Capri following by sailing down the French Riviera. 

DO YOU HAVE ANY SPECIAL SKINCARE THAT YOU USE FOR TRAVEL?

When I travel, I simplify my regimen significantly, but I must have our CBD Vita Hydratant. I formulated that for selfish reasons. Between changing temperatures and different external triggers, the motion of traveling can put a lot of stress onto our skin. CBD Vita Hydratant has a lot of benefits but one of which is really for calming, balancing and protecting stressed skin. 

GO TO DERMATOLOGIST OR FACIALIST
I don't have time for facials ... but in the very rare chance that I do, Jennifer from Lueur MD has magic hands. And when it comes to dermatologist, the only physician I would trust with my face and my skin would be the only best dermatologist in the country, Dr. Jeffrey Hsu from Oak Dermatology. 

WHAT IS YOUR IDEA OF BEAUTY?

To me, beauty is beyond good looks & nice clothes. Beauty is something that comes from within, the substance that one carries: their manner, their kindness, compassion and their individuality, ideas and point of views are all so important. That makes up who you are. Beauty isn't just a face.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO CREATE VIVRE?
In my clinic, we have been known for our ability to restore skin health. However, despite of the so many amazing medical grade skincare lines out there, they seem to be very cookie-cutter which doesn't work for everyone. so we began curating regimens for patients, but in that process, we found that there were holes and gaps in these regimens because certain target-based skincare items would be missing. Out of frustration, I created VivreSKIN Laboratories. 

WHAT IS ONE LESSON YOU LEARNED FROM WORKING FOR YOURSELF?

Everything is a work in progress. Everything can always be better, or refined. And sometimes no one will understand your vision, but none of which are reasons to give up. You just charge on. You don't give up. You take a breather and you continue. 

Follow Mina!