Interview
In the bathroom with … with Estelle Lubino
Estelle lives in Paris, where she practices yoga in the morning, grabs coffee at the corner café, and hangs out along the Canal Saint-Martin.
Follow her Parisian life on @estellelbn – and get her take on pancakes and skincare in the interview below.
You work as a freelance social media manager and PR consultant, and you live in the 10th arrondissement – in the city of cities. Do you have any insider tips?
“I’m completely in love with my neighbourhood in the 10th arrondissement – that’s where you’ll find me most often, especially around Faubourg Saint-Denis and Rue des Petites Écuries.
I love how diverse it is: You can get the best stack of pancakes for breakfast, buy mangoes at the local African market, have a delicious Kurdish sandwich for lunch, enjoy a fancy dinner on the same street, and finish the evening with an ice cream along the Canal Saint-Martin.”
What does your skincare routine look like?
“People often think I use a lot of products, but for me, ‘less is more.’ My routine is always based on what my skin needs at that moment – I listen to it, and I think that’s important. I don’t follow trends but stick to one core routine, only swapping out a few products depending on the season.
The most important thing for me is how the products work together. If you apply skincare in the wrong order or don’t give it time to absorb, it can pill – and I want to avoid that.
Firming Therapy Moisturizer has been the best discovery for my skin. I also love all Rudolph Care’s sun products – they blend beautifully into dark skin. I use Sun Face Serum SPF 30 every day and always carry Sun Stick or Sun Balm SPF 50 with me.”
How do you integrate sun protection into your routine?
“Despite the myth, dark skin also needs sunscreen. I use SPF every day because even though our skin can be more resilient, it’s not immune to premature aging or sunburn after a lot of sun exposure.”
What does your body care routine look like?
“Dry brushing, a cold shower, body lotion – every day. The daily ritual feels like pure self-care. I can’t leave the house without applying body lotion – otherwise my skin gets dry during the day.”
What’s your relationship with your hair? How do you care for it?
“I wouldn’t call it a love-hate relationship – more a love and ‘let’s figure it out’ relationship. My hair has gone through many different textures, but over time I’ve learned to accept and appreciate it. I see it as a gift and listen to it now.
I don’t wash it too often, but because I work out almost every day, I rinse it frequently and only use shampoo when it feels greasy. A little care is all it needs to look and feel healthy and smooth. Braids or bohemian locks are my go-to. They save me so much time in the morning, and since I can be a bit lazy with my hair, they’re a game changer.”