English Version | The secret of youth

Which doesn't mean that you can't help the process with suitable cosmetics. After all, a morning and evening ritual, which are also gestures of pampering ourselves, are part of self-care that is central to maintaining self-esteem. But it's important to realize that comparing yourself to other women is useless because the concept of beauty is constantly changing - except for the realization that a woman who is confident in her skin will always have an aura perceived by everyone as positive and that is immutable. ISDIN knows this: as a reference in the area of ​​Beauty with its products that strive to maintain the best possible complexion, it defends a philosophy that is based on self-love and the celebration of all types of women. That's why, in their ambassadors, they look for the credentials of names that call the shots in their area, instead of a specific physicality. One of these ambassadors is Maria Pimentel, who, with more than 10 years of experience in Marketing & Luxury Fashion, reinforces the Spanish dermatological brand's panel of spokespeople as a reference image in the feminine universe. An image that also translates into her words: “In my professional career as a brand consultant, in the last ten years limited to luxury, I have come across aesthetic standards of all types, and for thousands of years what is considered beautiful has changed cyclically ”, reinforces one of the faces of ISDIN. “Beauty is not uniform. There is not just ‘one’ beauty, it is a deeply plural and fluid concept. There is, however, something that never goes out of style: the confidence of being comfortable in our skin. Loving the skin we live in is perhaps one of the greatest prerequisites for achieving happiness. To achieve a healthy relationship with our reflection and to educate future generations to love themselves as they are, we need to build a new beauty literacy. A literacy that values ​​diversity, that celebrates authenticity and helps us realize that happiness, like beauty, begins within us.”

And it also starts with knowing how to take care of ourselves, creating moments that are ours alone. And Beauty routines are very much like that, particularly at night: we may tend to neglect that step before bed, because our energy is running out throughout the day, because there is too much hustle and bustle, because we have put off until the last moment and want to go to sleep, but with Retinal Intense night serum, all these arguments will no longer make sense. Luxurious and enhancing the self-love you feel on the outside, this two-phase serum (the two-phase texture means that it mixes the ingredients when used, preserving their freshness and effectiveness for greater results) at night, with retinaldehyde, which helps to accelerate skin renewal, visibly reduces wrinkles by 43% and improves firmness for smoother, more uniform and younger-looking skin. Retinaldehyde is part of the retinoid family, like retinol or retinoic acid, which are some of the most effective anti-aging ingredients, according to cosmetic experts. Retinaldehyde is 3 times more potent than retinol and converts to retinoic acid 11 times faster in the skin. All of this with optimal tolerance, thanks to SoothingComplex, a complex with calming properties, for a feeling of comfort, even on sensitive skin. A step that Pimentel would certainly support: when we ask her for the best beauty advice anyone has ever given her, she is quick to point out her mother, “with her attentive but never obsessive care for her beauty. The biggest beauty advice she gave me was the importance of taking care of your skin daily, with balance and naturalness, always finding time in your busy life for this act of self-love that is reflected in our well-being and the way we feel.” The alliance between Maria and the Spanish brand is not, in fact, random. “The opportunity to collaborate with a renowned pharmaceutical group, with almost 100 years of history, a solid reputation, and values ​​that are perfectly aligned with what I believe”, admits the consultant about accepting the invitation for a happy relationship with the house. “It has been a privilege to join this journey with the Isdinceutics team, contributing my know-how to the formation of the teams and positioning of the brand. Luxury, like beauty, is plural. It encompasses several dimensions and materializes in the most diverse ways, including skin care and the way we view the passage of time. The rigor with which ISDIN approaches these topics, through exhaustive clinical tests, investment in high-quality formulations and research into innovative textures, has made the brand recognized among the medical community since the beginning. I am at a stage in life where the themes of beauty and aging have increasingly piqued my interest and this partnership has been deeply enriching, both in terms of my personal and professional discovery.”

Above all, we believe, the mystery that always surrounds topics like this, which contain so much to discover and learn, arouses her interest, but the fear of aging does not move her. “I’m passionate about action sports. I am especially scared by the physical limitations that aging will bring and that will prevent me from continuing skydiving, kitesurfing, wakeboarding, skiing, diving…”, admits the ISDIN ambassador. “Aging does not mean giving up beauty, but celebrating it differently at each stage of life. Fortunately, with advances in dermatological care, we are able to delay these signs of aging more gracefully while keeping our skin healthy. I’m counting on Retinal Intense to delay the process as long as possible!”, she concludes. And certainly counts on it every evening, religiously following this third step of the evening beauty routine. The brand recommends that, if it is the first time you use a retinoid, it is important to go through a period of retinization: in the first week, apply it three nights a week; on the second one, every other night; from the third, if no irritation appears, you can increase the number of applications. It is possible, according to ISDIN, that during the first applications it may cause itching, redness and even peeling, as your skin needs a period of adaptation. And don't forget sunscreen the next morning.

Furthermore, it means letting your inner tranquility be reflected on the outside, without comparisons and always paying homage to your uniqueness. “For me, feminine beauty is the plurality of shapes, expressions and personalities that make each woman unique”, shares Maria Pimentel, a challenge that all women should follow. “It is something that reflects from the inside out, a combination of character, energy and authenticity that complements one's physical traits. It’s about taking care of ourselves, to be in harmony inside and out”, she shares. So that we can finally understand that, as the book Love Your Skin, from the Beauty brand, points out, “we are not the woman we see in the mirror. We are the woman who’s looking at it.”

Translated from the original in Vogues Portugal’s “The Mystery Issue” Issue, published October 2024. Full stories and credits in the print issue.