BEAUTY TALK

’90s supermodel, mother, philanthropist, and face of Dior Capture Totale – the Slavic beauty juggles life with grace.

Dior Capture Totale face Eva Herzigová shares her secrets

Yours is an incredible success story: How were you discovered? A photographer Tono Stano saw me and asked to take some pictures of me when I was 16 years old, so I went to Prague. The day after, a friend of mine was going to some beauty contest and asked me to accompany her. So I went and she asked me to participate but I felt uncomfortable and left. The owner of a Paris modelling agency ran after me and asked if I would like to go to Paris! Quite a proposal during the communist era. It took six months to get permission from the government. Two months later, after my arrival in Paris, the velvet revolution took place and everything thing has changed. Canal+ asked me to go back home with them and filmed me and nd my family during this historical moment. It’s quite a documentary! Who is your role model? Muses were not part of my culture; I never grew up with posters, or people I wanted to be like. But I do admire people who devote their entire life to a cause. A fashion icon? I always admired Françoise Sagan, the way she walked, her casual attitude. I love her style and freedom from dress codes: everybody would be all dressed up and she would be wearing a big man’s sweater, and be so ... inspiring. It was so rock ’n’ roll! More than a woman, she represented a lifestyle, an allure. What is “ageless beauty” to you? It’s all about feeling good in your skin. Literally. But “ageless beauty” also brings up another idea, an extra touch of intelligence. It takes a certain talent to express timeless, ageless beauty. Your daily beauty routine? I cleanse, morning and night. And I moisturise. I wash my face with super cold water, but with my eyes open. I don’t know if it has anything to do with it, but people say I have a very white inside of the eye.

When did you start getting serious about skincare?

The first time I came to Paris, I went out to buy Dior Capture Totale eye cream. That’s the cream I have always used since. I remember going to the store and they would say, “It’s not for you, Madame; it’s for ladies.” I said, “I don’t care, I want it!”

Your best-kept secrets?

To be honest, I don’t have many. I rarely get a massage. I have my nails done every week; there’s something very purifying about the whole process. And I don’t drink coffee or tea, just herbal teas.

Your tip for perfect skin?

Don’t go out! Usually, you look great the morning after. It’s the day after that.

What’s in your survival kit?

Mascara, blush, and a cleanser, of course.

Do you do your own make-up for official appearances?

I do. I sometimes prefer to do it myself.

Your signature fragrance?

I wear plenty and I mix them all! But I do love vanilla as a base. When you have some perfume on, it should remain a very intimate feeling. I spray it in the air, and I walk through it. I never put it on directly.

A moment to re-capture?

Meeting my husband again. It was from afar, but he caught my attention. It was in Italy. It was sunset and it was September. It was beautiful – I couldn’t breathe, it really felt like that. My heart was beating hard and I had to kind of run away.