Alina Baikova was waitressing in her hometown of Kirovograd, a small city in the center of Ukraine, when a model agent told her she had a future. “It was my way of escape. I had to learn so much in a small amount of time,” Baikova explained of her hasty move to Paris at the age of 17, where she walked the likes of Hermes, Dior, Lanvin, Giambattista Valli et al. “It’s been an interesting journey,” she said. But she hasn’t abandoned her roots—Baikova avidly supports her fellow Ukrainian designers, and will walk in shows as favors to friends, such as Flow the Label, Gasanova, and Anna K for Mercedes Benz Kiev Fashion Days. Here, the 27-year-old model tells us the best advice she got from Pat McGrath and why she swears by tea tree oil.
One beauty product you cannot live without:
I use the Biologique Rechercher set; I cannot live without it!
Night time beauty routine:
I always wash my face, no matter how tired I am.
Look for a night out on the town:
Make-up wise, I use a goldish brown eye shadow from Chanel and for the skin as I don’t use a full face foundation I use Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra Cushion corrector to cover up the spots, so it looks natural. Clothing wise, it depends on my mood and place I go, but I wear a lot of Ukrainian designers like Gasanova, Omelya, Anna K, WeAnnaBe, Jiri Kaflan, and Flow.
Best advice from the pros:
I would have to say that the best advice I got was from Pat McGrath—she taught me that I shouldn’t be scared of makeup no matter what! Sometimes if I have an easy look, I’ll go for crazy make up. I know it’s never too much as she would totally go for it.
Alina Baikova
Beauty advice from mum:
To sleep more.
Favorite New York spa-cation:
Core Club in New York, their facials are amazing. I also do their thirty minute workout called #My30minutes. It’s a workout in an electric suit that shocks and stimulates your muscles when you’re moving.
Most underrated beauty product:
Tea tree oil works miracles to heal the skin. It is amazing for break outs and red spots, and it also helps to whiten the skin. I put it on whenever I get a sunburn, it totally heals it!
The products you never leave home without:
Some kind of hand cream, and a sample size eye cream by Biologique Rechercher.
Describe your style:
I’m very open for anything. I can be very casual in t-shirts and jeans when I’m with close friends, or elegant with heels when I’m on a date at a nice restaurant.
Alina Baikova
What is your secret to good skin?
I constantly moisturize. I seriously put cream on my hands or face almost every 20 minutes. I drink tons of water, and as little alcohol as I can.
Exercise routine:
Everything, I exercise a ton! In New York I do Rumble Boxing, Modo Yoga, Barry’sBootcamp, and I also run.
Favorite way to hydrate:
During the day I head to Cha Cha in New York and get an unsweetened iced matcha. Champagne for evening. Favorite scent:
A scent by Fuegulia, which is a perfumery from Buenos Aires.
Words to live by:
Never give up even when nobody believes in you.
Related: Let Kri Luna, Ukraine’s Most Rebellious Pop Star, Be Your Kiev Travel Guide
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