Media manager Maria Konstantinidi about alopecia and favorite cosmetics
Under the heading "Cosmetic" we study the contents of beauty cases, dressing tables and cosmetic bags of interesting characters to us - and we show all this to you.
Interview: Margarita Virova
Photo: Alyona Ermishina
Maria Konstantinidi
media manager, leading the podcast "Is this sex?"
Pink is my base color in clothes, makeup and life
About work and study
Now I have a period of maximum load: I graduate from the HSE, I write a diploma about virtual influenzers (this is the first Russian-language scientific work about them), I will soon become a certified media manager. I also do practice in “Such Affairs” - I do SMM and make short explanation cards. At the same time, I invent texts in the journal L'Etoile and several other editions, and, of course, I am engaged in a podcast.
The concept of the project "Is it really sex?" I have been bearing for several years: I understood that the niche of sex journalism is practically free - there are either materials on Wonderzine, or inadequate columns in glossy magazines. In the podcast, we are trying to talk about sex in human language, without embarrassment, to raise important topics for us and to debunk the myths. We ourselves learn all of the above, and in this high.
About alopecia
I have alopecia alopecia for three years. Hair fell out completely twice, once there were only eyelashes. Alopecia is almost incurable, but here I am - in curls and smiling. I am very afraid that I will have to go through it again. Maybe it will, but I'm not ready to think about it yet.
At school I was hounded, at the university my hair began to fall out - you can guess what opinion I have about my body. Now, of course, with this simpler, but I could not accept myself bald. I even try not to use the word “bald” in relation to myself, I always say “without hair”. But you have to be ready for any scenario of the disease, we are working on this with a therapist.
Now I am on immunosuppressants - they suppress immunity so that it does not attack the hair follicles. This is an expensive treatment, and I may have to be on it all my life. The consequences of alopecia are few, but they are: I, for example, cannot be vaccinated - first I need to temporarily cancel the immunosuppressor; My allergies have increased, oral contraceptives can not be taken. But my self-perception suffers most: when I look at myself bald in a mirror, I do not recognize my own reflection.
About taking care of yourself
A year ago, I was once again thrown by a young man with whom I had a long unhealthy relationship. I spent a week on the bed, looking out the window - in the end, frightened by depression, I went to a psychotherapist. I think that I have made tremendous progress during the classes: I stopped reproaching myself for “extra” weight, I fell in love with myself, I got rid of the craving for co-dependent relationships. Now I am happy and in balance - I have a dog, a beloved man with whom I live, the best house, time to work and time for loved ones and activities.
I try to follow the body, but rather in order to care about health. Mom from adolescence taught me to track the cycle: at first I had a small calendar, and now the application. Almost the whole regime is in my smartphone: I count the steps, note the drugs taken, the amount of water and alcohol drunk, sleep. Recently started practicing yoga and meditation. While assiduity and motivation is not enough, but I try. The best part that I discovered in body care last year was massage and dry peeling. Massage helps to relax, but after it you don’t want to do anything at all. But with the peeling on the contrary - he walked on his own with a brush in the morning and seemed to be awake.
About makeup and care
At the age of two years, I twice raided my mother's cosmetic bag, and believe me, I invented lip gloss on my eyelids in 1999. I had a lot of children's cosmetics, I loved her very much, although I was much more fascinated by the process of painting my face with what belonged to my mother. Now everything is about the same: Mom for me is the ideal of beauty and balance in everything. I think mom is me in the future. For me, any conversation with her is a dialogue with an older version of myself. And I sometimes carry her cosmetics.
I’m a beauty journalist, but I don’t do my makeup at all, I don’t put on a tone for weeks, and then suddenly fall face down in my glitter. I didn’t study makeup artist, I used to paint on acquaintances for some time, but I realized that it wasn’t mine: I like smearing acid-orange shadows with my finger, looking in the rear-view mirror in a taxi, and then going to the party. As for me, carefully crafted make-up is nudyatina. But extensive care is about me. I am the main adept of masks on the ground, I even have a separate locker for them in the bathroom. Of course, I use acid tonic and moisturizing, but masks are my everything. Once a week I make myself a spa: I go to the bath, put five masks one by one, do peeling, put on oil - and here I am again ready for feats.
New for me was caring for curls. First, before the alopecia the hair did not curl, and secondly, I seem to have simply forgotten how to follow the hair. I picked up a good and inexpensive shampoo and balm, several different masks and a bunch of styling. But all this from the category of easy-to-use funds, I do not like troubles.
About pink
I was raised in a certain sense in a modern way: at the same time my dad kept saying “don't believe, don't be afraid, don't ask” and bought me pink dresses. In general, neither fish nor meat has grown: not a kid, but not a daddy's daughter. I think that I am strong enough, while adoring the pink color. In middle school, wearing it was somehow not prestigious, and I strongly denied my love for him. By the age of twenty this had passed, and now a more rosy person must be looked for. Pink is my base color in clothes, makeup and in life.
