Beauty and wellness routines: a summer with Nathalie Dendura from Atelier green

On her logbook, Atelier Green, Nathalie Dendura talks about natural beauty, DIY and ethical fashion. Meet her.

Who are you?

My name is Nathalie, I'm almost 46 years old and I'm the mother of an 8 year old pirate. I work in web marketing and I try to give more meaning to my daily life.

You are passionate about natural beauty: what is your number one beauty tip for the summer (and the holidays)?

It may sound obvious, but don't forget to remove your makeup (to get rid of any leftover sunscreen) and your skin care. Whatever your age or gender, don't forget to take care of yourself and set up a beauty routine.

By the way, what does yours look like?

I start the day in bed with some facial yoga moves before sitting down to do some stretching. Then I get up for my 30 minutes of yoga! Then I head to the bathroom where I refresh my face with ice water before applying my natural cosmetics. I do it with self-massage movements to enjoy a moment of relaxation and to let the active ingredients penetrate well. I have breakfast in a quiet place and then I go to work!

And in the evening?

I start with a three-step make-up remover to remove the day's impurities with organic oil, a foam and a toner. I then apply an organic oil (wheat germ, apricot, etc.) and add an eye contour after a little drainage. Later, I lie in bed for my second facial yoga session of the day, pressing acupressure points to tone my face. I'm working on my new project for the fall: to offer all these exercises on my website.

Your summer essentials...

I'm a fan of the "in and out" beauty principle, so I always make sure my plate is coloured with foods full of vitamins. Of course, I avoid exposure to the sun during the hottest hours and I never forget my sun cream. I love to take care of my face with moisturizing masks after sunbathing. And I never forget to moisturize my skin... and my body.

Can you tell us more about face yoga?

I know it sounds like a lot, but I practice every day for at least 30 minutes. I advise you to start with ten minutes a day or three times a week: it's hard at first, but you quickly get hooked! you can find many videos on Insta(like those of Aurelia Del Sol) to motivate you.

What is your ritual before going to sleep in the summer?

I apply essential oils to my wrists: a little bit of true lavender and noble chamomile, and sometimes neroli if I've had a stressful day. I read and take a few drops of bach flower just before going to sleep. This is my daily routine and I try to stick to it on holiday, even if I sometimes give myself a break.

And finally, what are your favorite things to read before going to sleep?

It's hard to choose! But I loved Good Vibes Good Life by Vex King, The Best Medicine is You! by Dr. Frederique Saldman and Reveal Your Glow by Claire Andreewitch. And as a bonus, I love the podcast Holidaymie with Delphine Langlois: it's good for your mood and your skin.