Despite the fact that I love makeup and embrace trying new products with possibly too much vigor, I absolutely sympathize with women that shy away from wearing bright lipstick. They undoubtedly make a big statement!!! (But do not worry if you do shy away because I have a good nude for you too) Everyday I am reminded how much I love lipstick. How it can singularly transform my entire mood. I mean really! Lipstick is the single product that can completely transform a woman’s face, and thus her attitude, confidence and it is indeed a whole mood game changer!

I have mentioned Madame Gabriela before in this post but I am so excited today to share a Q & A feature with the the founder! Madame Gabriela is a beauty brand developed to lead the culture of true clean and safe lipstick for informed and individualistic women around the world. They are dedicated to smart, strong & beautiful women who appreciate the art of style and spirit of travel.

Clean & Chic

“ I couldn’t find a lipstick that made me fall in love. So I created my own.”

— - Gabriela

Interview With Gabriela

-To say lipstick is your passion is an understatement. What is it about lipstick in particular that drove you to create this brand?

I couldn’t find a lipstick that I loved, so I created my own!

7 years ago my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, a year after that my sister suffered the same diagnosis at the age of 38 (they are both doing great now!) after this hit our family I turned into clean living as much as I could. I am a lipstick lover, my grandmother always said “never leave the house without applying lipstick first” but I couldn’t find a non-toxic safe formula that performed as a mainstream brand. I started Madame Gabriela with my business partner Geoffrey from Australia, we brought the cleanest Manuka Honey from his family of bee farms and voila…Madame Gabriela was born!

-What is your first memory of lipstick?

My grandmother always wearing a bright color and a necklace…first and last of her as I have a photo of her applying lipstick at age 98 a few weeks before she passed.

-What are some qualities that define a "Madame Gabriela girl”?

Chic, understated elegance, knows quality over quantity, aims for better products on her daily routine (food, beauty, fashion etc) and cannot live without lipstick!

-How do you concept new lipstick colors? What inspires you to create a new color? Is it a person or something more abstract, like a feeling? Or is a place?! We love that your shades have a bit of a wanderlust story to them!

Wanderlust is part of our brand DNA, we both (Geoffrey and I) love to travel, he is from Australia living in NYC traveled the whole world. I am from Mexico City, lived in Paris and now live in the US. We love how travel transforms you in every way. We named our first 3 shades after our 3 favorite cities. Paris is my second home so…being in Paris at 7PM is a dream! NYC is a place where we both work for many years ..cosmopolitan, street style, power, endless possibilities, chaos. Sydney is in homage of Geoffrey’s upbringing..clean and beauty lifestyle. More to come…

-Clean beauty in your lipstick and sustainability in your packaging is very important to you and the Madame Gabriela brand. Why did you want to make that one of your founding values?

As mentioned before, creating a safe non-toxic formula was a value that I knew we could not compromise on for obvious reasons - We could not go to sleep knowing that we are putting toxic chemicals on women’s lips/skin!!! We as women need to be an advocate for safer formulas on our makeup and beauty products.

Sustainability today is also a MUST. We sourced an almost plastic free tube, all our materials are recycled, vegetable-inc, certified etc (more info on our site). There is no planet B, is today or never and we can all to our part!

-What do you hope Madame Gabriela adds to the beauty industry?

We fight the common belief that clean cannot be chic or high performance such as the big brands like Dior, Tom Ford etc. Clean can be as chic, as high-performance and as fabulous..it just doesn’t have to be toxic!!

-What has been your biggest learning curve growing your business into the brand it is today?

We are in a perpetual learning curve. Patience is one, launching a small business takes a lot of patience and hard work. Educating the customer…we as women need to be aware of what we are ingesting and applying. We love our customer and we drive by their feedback and comments..so every day is a learning day!!

-Scent of a kiss box? Can you tell us more about this?

This is a one-off collaboration we did with @becomealover for the summer. We try to bring in collaborations with brand that are as clean and sustainable as us from time to time..

-Paris at 7PM… Tell us the backstory on this!

The lights of the city dance gently on the Seine. You’re in your favorite café. Waiting. Suddenly you look up. Your heart skips a beat. Your lips curl in a smile of anticipation. It’s 7:00 PM.

-And New York at 1 PM?!

Towering skyscrapers soar high above the city. You’re multitasking non-stop. No time for a break. Then you read your text. Your lips open slowly in a smile of amazement. It’s 1:00 PM

-Sydney at 8AM?? So curious on the times! We know these have a good story!

The sea and sky stretch beyond the horizon. You love the freedom of running on the beach cooled by the gentle spray of foam-topped waves. You gaze at the sun. Your lips open wide in a smile of brilliant promise. It’s 8:00 AM.

-What is next for the brand?

Can’t tell…fabulous surprise for the holidays soon!!

Ohhhhh we cannot wait Madame Gabriela!!!!

Here is a little bit more info about the 3 shades I am obsessed with!

PARIS AT 7PM

Redefining ingredient-driven beauty. Infused with healing antibacterial UMF 15+ Manuka honey, Shea butter, Avocado and Sunflower oil (for a dose of rich nutrients that support collagen production) in addition to the soothing effect of Chamomile flowers, Bergamot and Ylang Ylang. The Madame Gabriela lipstick satin-finish formula works to impart moisture and the perfect true red intense pigment; a lipstick that feels incredible on the lips. Because clean kisses count.

This is a classic elegant, powerful red that flatters all skin tones.

NEW YORK AT 1PM

Redefining ingredient-driven beauty. Infused with healing antibacterial UMF 15+ Manuka honey, Shea butter, Avocado and Sunflower oil (for a dose of rich nutrients that support collagen production) in addition to the soothing effect of Chamomile flowers, Bergamot and Ylang Ylang. The Madame Gabriela lipstick satin-finish formula works to impart moisture and the perfect true pink intense pigment. A lipstick that feels incredible on the lips.

This is a playful bright pink universally flattering on all skin tones.

SYDNEY AT 8AM

Redefining ingredient-driven beauty. Infused with healing antibacterial UMF 15+ Manuka honey, Shea butter, Avocado and Sunflower oil (for a dose of rich nutrients that support collagen production) in addition to the soothing effect of Chamomile flowers, Bergamot and Ylang Ylang. The Madame Gabriela lipstick satin-finish formula works to impart moisture and the perfect true nude pigment; a lipstick that feels incredible on the lips. Because clean kisses count.

This is a well balanced and lightweight nude with a pink undertone best for pale to medium dark skin tones. The ultimate swipe-on-and-go nude.

Get all three in the Jet Set too!

A tribute to the art of simplicity. Their 3 essential colors boxed as one complete set. Mix and match and create a new shade while applying a layer of one color on top of another one. Use code SUMMERKISS for 20% OFF Flash-Sale.

Go bold with statement red PARIS AT 7PM, a perfect pink pop with NEW YORK AT 1PM, or maybe some nude love with our best seller SYDNEY AT 8AM.

Shop here!