Tabloid
Maria Hatzistefanis' beautiful mission
tabloid! speaks to beautician to the stars Maria Hatzistefanis about her mission to bring her youthful secrets to the world.
- By Manjusha Radhakrishnan, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:46 October 26, 2008
- Maria Hatzistefanis is a walking, talking advertisement for her skincare products.
- Image Credit: Megan Hirons/Gulf News
Kylie Minogue swears by her deodorant, Hollywood actress Rachel Bilson applies her moisturising cream glamotox religiously and matinee idol Tom Cruise sent her a thank you note for the goodie bags.
But if you were to ask me, the creator of these potions, Maria Hatzistefanis (37), hardly needs any celebrity backing. With an unlined and blemish-free face, the glamorous Rodial cosmetics founder, and a mother of two, is a walking, talking advertisement for her skincare products.
Clad in an all-black ensemble with a toned body to boot, Hatzistefanis had achieved the golden gleam by merely applying the Rodial SPF 18 glamotox daily moisturiser on her face, Rodial creme de la creme moisturiser on her legs and a lab sample of her bum-lift cream (which she says can work wonders in slicing off inches from one's thighs, if all goes well).
But not one to sit pretty on her laurels, Hatzistefanis is on a constant hunt to scale new peaks. The Greek beauty is currently on a mission to help all those women who are unhappy with their décolleté. Her latest addition to the beauty counter, called boob job, works as a non-surgical bust plumper.
Available exclusively at Boutique 1 in Emirates Towers, Hatzistafanis says a blend of adolescent angst and her dissatisfaction with her own body led her to develop the asset-enhancing cream.
"For most of my life, I had B-minus boobs. It was always small and I had to rely on a Wonderbra. To make matters worse, I was way too chicken to go under the knife. So that got me thinking that there would be many women out there just like me", she says.
Boob job, which comes in a no-frills white bottle, promises results in less than two months.
"It contains an Asian root extract, and by applying the cream on your bust area you will block the fat that you eat in one particular area. In 56 days, you will find a noticeable difference. Your cup would increase by half a size."
Launched in the UK earlier this year, these bust-boosters have already drawn the attention of many celebrities.
Celeb following
"Scarlett Johansson uses it regularly. I have also received many testimonials from women on my website saying that the cream has transformed their life or that their boyfriends are very pleased with it. I am sure it will be very popular in this region too," says Hatztefanis, sipping on her green tea.
Johansson is not alone. Hotel heiress Paris Hilton is yet another celebrity who features on Hatzistefanis's burgeoning celebrity list.
"The biggest and the ultimate compliment was when Paris Hilton walked into my store and purchased a bottle of body sculpture. There was no prompting from our end, nor was there any goodie bag sent to her."
Surprisingly, it is not the soaring popularity of boob job that bolsters her confidence. The turning point in her life arrived with the success of her slimming product tummy tuck, says Hatzistefanis.
Touted as liposuction in a tube, the tummy-flattening product, meshed well with the masses and celebrities.
"It was our first serious project and we were nervous whether it would be accepted. Initially, many were skeptical that a product that goes under the same name as a plastic surgery procedure would work. But it was a winner and made us more confident to experiment. After that, there was no looking back," says Hatzistefanis, who pioneered the use of pomegranate in her skin-care range.
Grandmother's recipe
"When I was a kid, my grandmother used to mix beeswax, olive oil and pomegrante and apply it on my skin after a day in the sun. It worked wonders and that that's where it all started. Rodi means pomegranate in Greek," she explains.
Despite having a business degree from Columbia Business School, Hatestefanis branched out to developing her own skin-care range in 1999, based on her grandmother's recipes.
"Initially, pomegranate ellagic tannin, which is firming and collagen-boosting, was a main ingredient in all our products. Now, we are concentrating on using natural ingredients with zero minerals or synthetics. Even for the fragrance, we use essential oils," says Hatzistefanis, who is also a fixture in New York's well-heeled socialite circles and a favourite among Park Avenue princesses.
"What they love about me my products, is that unlike other skincare products, I don't come with a series of recommendations for toning, moisturising, sun-screen etc. It's perfect for a working woman who is strapped for time."
But Hatzistefanis is quick to add that no amount of expensive creams would do any good if it were not topped up by adequate sleep.
"From my experience, there's no replacement for sleep. If your skin is tired, no creams in the world can help you."
From the stables of Rodial, watch out for:
Rodial bum lift cream: Still in the experimental stages. If all goes well, Rodial will offer non-invasive hopes to the anatomically challenged.
Rodial A-list facial: In 2009, Maria is planning to introduce a Rodial facial treatment for an instant face-lift.
Did you know?
More than 70 women in Dubai have jotted their names down on the waiting list and are itching to get their hands on the non-invasive boob job.
Maria's two-point plan for well being in the Middle East:
Say goodbye to pita bread: "I love pita bread. But it's not the best for all those who are watching their figures. So go easy on it."
Say goodbye to foaming cleansers: "Many underestimate the use of cleansers. The root of most skin problems arises from using the wrong kind. Banish the foaming cleansers from your rack and opt for soft neutral ones. The stronger ones strip your skin of your natural oils."
Maria's take on:
Celebrity with the best skin: "Jennifer Aniston: She takes care of her skin beautifully. There's a natural, fresh glow to her skin. Nor, does she apply too much make-up."
Diet fads: "I have tried them all. Atkins, low carb… They don't work at all. The best way to lose weight is to eat healthy or eat small portions."
On plastic surgery and Botox: "I am not against them. But proceed with caution before you decide to go under the knife. And my products are directed at all those who find the idea of surgery drastic."
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