The Whitter

Ever elegant and Parisian to a tee (with a dose of Lancaster thrown in), Victoire Melchiori sat down to share her views on beauty, self-care and how one can most often find strength in sharing human vulnerability. You can keep up with Victoire over on Instagram at @vicmelchiori. To find more of me, head on over to @whitterfresh. CREDITS Music: Paris Metro by Stuart Moore

In this week’s episode, my mother took to the microphone. Marina Whitton shares her stories about moving to England from communist-era Romania in 1982, starting her beauty business and building a new life. You can’t follow my mum on social media, but you can follow me (and yes, I’ll pass on any questions you have to her). To keep up with my newest news, click on over to @whitterfresh

In this week’s episode, I sat down with Yoginee Chetty: digital consultant, writer and friend. In the first part of our podcast, Yoginee talked to us about identity and confidence, exploring its links to her personal expatriate experience as well as tracing their relationship to her native Mauritius’ colonial past. In the second part of our podcast, which starts with a brief yet passionate rant about the eternal bane of shower-planning, Yoginee shared her beauty rituals. Highlights include her rekindled relationship with coconut oil after 20 years as well as her new-found love of The Ordinary serums. I can also personally vouch for holding power of Too Faced’s Peach Perfect Powder, which has been gracing my pores with its peachy-scented goodness since our episode. * * * * Things Yoginee mentioned: - Good Hair by Chris Rock https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qTsTyf2ESz4 - Virgin Coconut Oil https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vita-Extra-Virgin-Organic-Coconut/dp/B00OBDWFLO/ref=lp_6860925031_1_8_s_it?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1561758378&sr=1-8 - The Ordinary Alpha Arburtin 2% + HA https://theordinary.com/product/rdn-alpha-arbutin-2pct-ha-30ml?redir=1 - The Ordinary Caffeine Solution 5% + EGCG https://theordinary.com/product/rdn-caffeine-solution-5pct-egcg-30ml?redir=1 - The Ordinary Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate 10% https://theordinary.com/product/rdn-magnesium-ascorbyl-phosphate-10pct-30ml?redir=1 - The Ordinary “Buffet” https://theordinary.com/product/rdn-buffet-30ml?redir=1 - The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil https://theordinary.com/product/rdn-100pct-organic-cold-pressed-rose-hip-seed-oil-30ml?redir=1 - Too Faced Born This Way Foundation in shade Honey https://www.toofaced.com/face-makeup/foundation/born-this-way-foundation-honey/70140.html - Dior Diorskin Forever Undercover Concealer No. 50 https://www.dior.com/en_gb/products/beauty-Y0339200_F033920011-dior-forever-undercover-one-coat-camouflage-everlasting-concealer-waterproof?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqL_owZSN4wIVCpztCh2dFQyfEAQYASABEgJf0_D_BwE - Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara https://www.toofaced.com/eye-makeup/mascara/better-than-sex-mascara/80021.html - Too Faced Peach Perfect Powder https://www.toofaced.com/face-makeup/powder/peaches-and-cream---peach-perfect-setting-powder/70229.html - MAC Brow Set Gel in Clear https://www.maccosmetics.co.uk/product/13834/305/products/makeup/eyes/brow/brow-set#!/shade/Clear * * * * Here are a few books that Yoginee recommends as a starting point for exploring the conversation around identity: - The Rape of Sita by Lindsey Collen https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rape-Sita-Lindsey-Collen/dp/0747552452 - Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie https://www.amazon.co.uk/Americanah-Chimamanda-Ngozi-Adichie/dp/000735634X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=americanah&qid=1561758820&s=books&sr=1-1 - A Grain of Wheat by Ng?g? wa Thiong’o https://www.amazon.co.uk/Grain-Wheat-Penguin-Modern-Classics/dp/0141186992/ref=sr_1_1?crid=16KIVCG7D4058&keywords=a+grain+of+wheat+by+ngugi+wa+thiong%27o&qid=1561758839&s=books&sprefix=a+grain+of+wheat%2Cstripbooks%2C128&sr=1-1 * * * * You can discover Yoginee’s writing at @musings_of_a_brown_woman or follow her personal page at @iginee. You can find more of me over on Instagram at @whitterfresh. * * * * CREDITS Music: Paris Metro by Stuart Moore

Today’s guest is Vrinda Batra, all round beautiful friend inside and out, who shares her opinions on confidence, beauty and rituals, drawing on experience from her native India as well as experiences in her current home city, Paris. Vrinda’s tips: Under-eye area: - Aloe Vera gel, straight from the plant - Vitamin E oil with Almond oil Scars: - Tea Tree essential oil with Vitamin E as a carrier oil Hair oils: - Olive oil Hair masks: - Smashed avocado mask - Yogurt mask: leave in for 30 minutes to 1 hour and shampoo out - Whipped egg and olive oil. Leave in for maximum 1 hour and shampoo out - Virgin coconut oil: leave in for 1 (or a few) hours and shampoo out - Mashed banana mask: leave in 30 minutes to 1 hour and rinse out Hair tips: - Rinse with cold water after washing - Scalp massage and combing using fingers for 15 minutes in the morning Vrinda’s dad’s beauty ritual: - Chews a few Holy Basil leaves every morning: good for digestion and skin. For more of Vrinda, follow her at @vrinda672. You can find more of me at @whitterfresh. * * * * CREDITS Music: Paris Metro by Stuart Moore