20 Questions with Irene Lara

@studio4lara

Hello gorgeous, Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I am a Spanish born girl living in London (for almost 15 years now!) and also a mother to the man of my life, Brooks, who just turned 9. I studied journalism and PR and started blogging 11 years ago when it all started. I love what I do and I keep enjoying it every day.

How would you define yourself in three words?
Loyal, passionate and easy going.

In what ways have you been incorporating self – care into your daily routine?
Since lockdown, my mental health has been my priority and main concern. It is such an uncertain time and taking care of this side is extremely important. I try to meditate every morning and every night right before bed time. I am also trying to stick to my skin care routine and drink plenty of water and have more fruit and veggies (which I never do).

What’s the most fulfilling part of your job?
Without a doubt, the people I meet and the places I get to know and all the adventures I live in them.

Can you tell us about an exciting time in your career?
There has been plenty… and many of them have been with my Modeliste family in some of the best places I have ever visited. But also, a campaign I filmed with my son for one of my favourite clothing brands last year in Portugal. It was dreamy to do such a cool thing with him!

What would you title this current chapter in your life?
“Getting to know myself”.

How do you educate yourself on ways of maintaining healthy skin?
I try to do my morning and night skin care routine and use face mist along the day as much as I need to. I also try to drink plenty of water and maintain a healthy diet which is a must for a healthy skin. Also, I use high SPF every day even when I don’t go out or I am exposed to the sun to keep my face from pollution and other external factors.

What do you love most about Pixi Beauty?
How good they are in both skin care and make up! I normally like a brand that is good for one aspect because it’s hard to have such great products in both ranges, but Pixi is just so good!

What are your top 3 favorite Pixi Beauty products?
Hard to choose only three but if I had to they would be the face mist (always and forever!), the H2O gel cream and all of their lippies!

What does the word empowerment mean to you?
It means getting to know ourselves and accepting and understanding that we all are beautiful and that, if we want, we can do whatever we dream of. It means respecting, loving and getting into the path of growth with us and the ones that are around us.

In what ways do you use your platform for the greater good?
I always try to give a real vision of what my life is. I think there is a very wrong message that many of us give to our audience because it looks sometimes that our lives are always perfect and this is far from reality. I try to show and express my feelings through my social media channels making clear that it is totally ok to have ups and downs and that this is a part of our human nature.

During these tough times, what has kept you motivated?
Meditating has massively helped me. My family and friends have also been my main support. And also seeing how this situation has taken out the best of many human beings and how people have helped and got involved with others more than I have ever seen before has been so inspirational.

How do you remain fit, active, and healthy with stay-at-home orders intact?
I am not a person that works out everyday I have to say, but I do walk A LOT and I do yoga or pilates now and then. I am also a very active person when it comes to doing things around the house, so I guess this has helped with the extra calories I have been taking these months!

As a creative in quarantine, how have you found inspiration and ways to create?
I have been in Spain most of the time during this lockdown. As my hometown and one of my fave places in the world, Costa del Sol has so much to offer and every single place inspires me when I am here. I also love to stay at home, and at mine -London or Malaga- I find myself being super creative.

What and/or who has had the most influence on your growth and why?
My father! He has always been my inspiration and role model because he is the most loyal, respectful and genuine person I have ever met.

How can you as an individual actively take part in fighting a system of oppression and standing in solidarity with your peers of color to amplify their voices?
I have always fought for human rights and I have been super aware of the things that need changing in our society. I still keep educating myself and hearing the voices of those who suffer the system. Of course, I use my platform and influence to do what I can and also learn and listen.

How have you found ways to educate yourself and those around you?
I have been mainly reading about the past, about how it all started. I have been watching documentaries with my son and discussing them after and it is amazing how the mind of an 8 years old simply cannot understand why someone can be treated differently just because of the color of their skin.

What do you think are ways that others can help society and our surrounding communities?
In my opinion, we should all start by looking inside at ourselves and at how we have dealt with the situation during our lives until these days. It is completely true that many of us could never imagine what is like being treated differently. By doing a deep and honest analysis then we should start changing those small things that are in our hands to see a big impact in the community.

In what ways has your life changed due to current events?
My life has actually changed completely. From moving for a few months back home after almost 15 years in London to changing my daily routine. I think there are so many positive things to take out of this. The main change has been not traveling, and I have enjoyed being at home and spending so much time with my friends and family.

What advice do you have for someone who aspires to create a career like your own?
Be yourself ALWAYS. Be genuine and don’t be afraid to show the world who you are and how you are, with your ups and down. Be real and be constant. There’s no bigger truth that hard work pays off!