Dear Muses & Heroines - Meet Today's Guest and Muse, Shirin Bueeler
Dear Muses, Welcome to the holistic and empowering Muse & Heroine Self-Love Club! We would like to take this chance to get to know a little bit better our beloved and most loyal supporters from all over the world. Today's muse is Shirin Bueeler @_thismodernmuse
As you may know, at Muse & Heroine we’re all about empowering and enhancing the female perspective on beauty, health and general wellbeing, so we have asked one of our most loyal supporters a few questions about her lifestyle, clean beauty obsessions and general self-care rituals.
If I won the lottery, I would own every single product Muse & Heroine has to offer!
Here is Shirin's exclusive Muse & Heroine Interview!
First of all, please introduce yourself to the Muse & Heroine community. Where do you live and what do you do?
My name is Shirin, I live in Zurich, Switzerland, and I am in the process of enjoying the last months in my thirties. As a mother of two, a self-taught photographer and creative soul I am probably not your usual «Swiss Miss». Rather, I am a blend of many things. Making duality a playful part of myself is probably my greatest superpower.
What is your general lifestyle like? Hectic and fast-paced – or are you able to have some «me time» every now and then?
As a Mom, wife, working girl and woman of many trades, constant juggling and struggling is part of my everyday life. Wearing many hats is as much a blessing as it is a curse. Finding balance in chaos is not always easy, but I do make it a priority to nurture certain rituals that make me feel centered. Many of them are small things like brewing tea in the morning in a beautiful glass pot from Ichendorf Milano that I splurged on recently. We also have a diffuser in our home with blends that cater to my moods. I actively choose to spend time away from my family. Even though motherhood is the biggest blessing I could have wished for, it is important for me to remember that I was an entirely independent individual before I met my partner or became a mother.
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What do you like most about Muse & Heroine?
I love how Janine is creating a sense of community and brings skincare and wellness experts on So many things. First of all, the endless selection of high-quality clean beauty products and supplements. I am a sucker for all things beauty. It is probably the one addiction I will never be able to get over. her IG where they share their knowledge and educate people on holistic living.
What is your usual skincare routine? Do you have a self-care secret you would like to share with us?
In the morning I have to be quick. Everyone needs to be out the door by 8 a.m. I start with a glass of water, lukewarm with lime. Hydration, inside and out, is key, especially now that I am approaching my forties. A few times a week I dry-brush before I hop into the shower. To make it feel a bit more luxurious we usually have a branch of eucalyptus hanging in the shower. The steam will extract the essential oils from the plant which provides for a little pick me up in the morning. I continue with a dust of rose water all over my body and a body cream or oil – in winter I use both as my skin tends to be super dry.
For my face, I use a toner, followed by a vitamin C serum – my beloved «Radiant Rani» from Ranavat – eye serum, a good moisturizer and sunscreen with SPF 50 – no exception! I am super anal about this. If I am puffy from a bit too much wine or salt the night before, I like to give myself a little lymph drainage. It is super easy and fairly quick once you get the hang of it.
On Sundays, I love to indulge in applying several different masks and put my NuFACE device to good use. I enjoy sharing this ritual with my 4-year-old daughter. She is already a pro when it comes to using a jade roller and applying moisturizer in a gentle tapping motion.
At this point in my life I am committed to keeping my skin looking and feeling healthy so I refrain from wearing heavy make-up. I have gotten it down to only a few products like stick foundation, blush, a highlighter that doubles as eye shadow, mascara and a good lip balm. I almost exclusively use make-up by Westman Atelier. I am so impressed with how Gucci Westman has created her own line. It is incredibly intuitive to use while being packaged super sleek.
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What is your favorite way to unwind and relax after a long day or a stressful time?
Ideally, I would be able to meet friends by the lake for an aperitif and a swim in summer. There is nothing more nurturing for the soul than spending time with people you love and who inspire you. My husband often wonders what I am doing for what must feel to him like hours on end in the bathroom before going to bed. For me, it is again about creating a ritual. I always double cleanse, no matter how tired I am. I can’t sleep with make-up on like I used to do in my 20s. It is a deadly sin and wreaks havoc on your skin’s nightly renewal process. In the evening, I really take my time to massage in the products I use. I religiously use the Augustinus Bader rich cream. I am not gonna lie, it costs a small fortune and I am well aware that this is not something that every budget allows for. But I will say this: It is magic in a bottle! Five nights a week I apply a prescription retinol on top and a bit of eye cream. Right now, I am really loving the Agent Nateur eye serum. Whatever is left on my fingers, I apply around my lips as the skin there is equally delicate and therefore prone to aging prematurely. At night, I always use a good amount of a rich lip balm and hand cream so I don’t feel dehydrated in the morning. And lastly, I like to use just the tiniest amount of natural perfume. I only use scents by labels like Heretic or Hermetica these days, as many of the commercially available perfumes are highly disruptive to your hormonal system. Then I kiss my sleeping kids goodnight and slip into bed with my husband. We have been together since high school but we still like to hold hands while falling asleep. Some might call us boring, but I think he is probably the only man who can deal with my craziness and has an understanding for my need for freedom. I am trying to go to bed earlier these days, as sleep is vital for your body’s regeneration process and therefore crucial if you want to feel your best during the day.
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If we would look into your beauty cabinet, what are the three (or more) type products that you cannot live without?
SPF, moisturizer and mascara.
What are your hero products from the Muse & Heroine selection and why?
It is as if you would ask me to name my favorite child. If I won the lottery, I would own every single product Muse & Heroine has to offer. But if I had to pick, it would definitely be the «Radiant Rani» and «Mighty Majesty» from Ranavat. It is unlike anything I have tried before and I use them religiously. The scent, the textures, the packaging – it is truly a royal ritual. I am in awe of Michelle Ranavat, the founder of Ranavat Botanics. The way she has developed her brand and what it stands for, is truly inspirational. I am of South Asian heritage that for many years I felt wasn’t a part of me that I wanted to let shine. Coming of age in Switzerland in the nineties and noughites, there was no such thing as diversity or celebrating melanated skin. Quite the opposite, actually. It made me feel excluded and like an outsider, like I would never be able to fit European beauty standards . People like Michelle Ranavat and their brands are breaking glass ceilings for us women of color by creating products that are suitable for us and are inspired by our rich heritage. It also inspired me to start creating a beauty product of my own. That baby hasn’t seen the light of day yet but I will let you know as soon as it does.
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Don't forget to follow Shirin Bueeler @_thismodernmuse on Instagram
Credits Ph: Shirin Bueeler @_thismodernmuse
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