Carolyn Murphy: “Gratitude is an important element of beauty”

She has been called the invisible model, because Carolyn Murphy, 46, angelic and serene beauty with golden hair and eyes as clear as aquamarine, she has always counterbalanced life in the fashion world with a private away from the spotlight, reserved, withdrawn and in close contact with nature. In 2021 she celebrates an important anniversary, twenty years as role model and ambassador of a beauty brand, Estée Lauder, who in turn turns 75 in 20021 and who chose her for the first time in 2001, continuing to do so for the following two decades.

A long-lasting relationship, as long as a marriage, made up of fidelity and loyalty based on the sharing of the same values.

Carolyn Murphy is one of the supermodels of the 80s who lived between travel, luxury and the jet set, but she who had started by chance thirty years ago – had been spotted during a fishing course that her mother had enrolled her to overcome. her shyness – was different from the others. Her life despite the many covers on Elle, Vogue, Marie Claire, and the appreciation of the stylists of the fashion system has always been enriched by many other passions besides fashion, from the history of art that she studied at university, to design , to gardening, to organic farming, to cultivate his garden, to animals. She believes in profound respect for nature and its cycles and as a single mother who has taken care of her daughter Dylan Blue by herself, and has always tried to keep everything in balance by resorting to meditation that gives her that calm and serene aura. that distinguishes it. We reached her with a zoom call at home and she told us a little about herself.

Who is your favorite model?
“It has always been Christy Turlington, from the new generation I like Grace Elizabeth, she has an accent and loves fishing like me”.

And your favorite actress?
“Cate Blanchett, she has played so many roles!”

Has the fashion world influenced your personal lifestyle?
“How it couldn’t, it’s my job. I love an outdoor life, in nature, I’m a bit of a tomboy, but I love playing with clothes and getting ready with special looks. Thanks to what I do, I have a nice wardrobe compared to what I would have had if I hadn’t worked in fashion ».

Her skin is beautiful how does she achieve this?
«My mom taught me how important it is to have a complete beauty routine that starts with cleansing with a cleanser and a toner, complemented by a moisturizer, and combined with lots of water to drink and healthy food. In addition to looking after the appearance, I believe in being kind and laughing often, these are other components that affect beautiful skin ».

The biggest mistake you can make?
“I would say too much makeup, as a young man I fought with cystic acne and now, as an adult, I realized that trying to cover too much is a big mistake”.

What’s your favorite perfume at the moment?
“I’ve always been obsessed with Beautiful by Estée Lauder and when the collaboration with Andy Warhol for Beautiful Absolu I started wearing it again ».

What’s your favorite color?
“It’s green like trees and nature, in all its nuances, and I also love orange”.

Is there a beauty product that you think has yet to be invented?
«I would like something without side effects, which would give a rested face like after eight hours of sleep. I am convinced that sleep plays an important role in the beauty routine. For me it is never enough when I sleep. Especially in this period that sleep is more disturbed because in the situation we are experiencing we feel more vulnerable ».

Do you think fashion is still important for your personal expression?
«Well, this morning I got up at 5 in the morning and despite the tiredness I put on my jeans, put on a pair of heels and I felt better. Fashion can also be used for this ».

How does it feel to have worked with Estée Lauder for 20 years?
“Thinking about it, it’s bizarre that it’s been so long, I signed the contract when my daughter was born. Today I feel as honored and excited as on the first day. “

How much has she changed in all this time?
«I had a daughter in the meantime, my life has changed like the brand, which has evolved, with innovations, design. Having been part of this process with Estée Lauder makes me very proud ».

How did you manage this period in the pandemic?
“I’ve always lived in contact with nature and I’ve always said I love my time alone, but now I’m tired of my own company. In the future I will say yes to many more things. It has been difficult for all of us to have to lock ourselves up, it’s one thing to choose to do it when you have the freedom and it’s something you want, but if you’re forced to stay in lockdown it’s a challenge. In this period I have greatly appreciated the use of technology that has allowed me to stay connected with friends and family, I have made many calls and I have also meditated a lot to maintain serenity. Even if sometimes I feel that nothing really works ».

How has the fashion world changed in light of the positive body movement and the focus on inclusiveness?
«When I started there was already a bit of diversity, not like today, there was Kate Moss who was shorter than the others. There were models representing a range of different looks, but now it’s incredible. I love young women like Paloma Elsesser and Ashley Graham, but also Alec Weck, all so different and so beautiful. Now that I am close to 50 and can still work, together with 20-year-old models of whom I could be the mother, I am grateful for this movement, which is also inclusive of age ».

You are passionate about art. What did you find artistic in fashion?
«Having studied art history at university I was resistant to the world of fashion, I saw it too superficial and empty, I thought it was focused only on aesthetics. I was a rebel soul and when I started working as a model and getting to know photographers, I became passionate about the history of fashion, all the references and inspirations that made up its wealth. I started studying it, also helped by the meetings I did and the trips that my work allowed me to do. So I managed to satisfy my thirst for art ».

What is your idea of ​​beauty in the digital age?
«For me it is the celebration of individuality, it is the security that a woman has in truly being herself, it is what makes her shine to the fullest. With Instagram you can use filters that change the shape of the face and body, it’s something that I find very strange because it sends wrong messages that are not true. Thanks to today’s greater inclusiveness, many more girls show themselves in a more realistic way without getting upset and I find the message more powerful ».

What kind of mother is she?
“My daughter is sitting here next to me, she should answer and give a different answer. It is not easy to be a parent, especially since I am the mother and father, financial support and I can make mistakes. I hope I have done a good job ».

As a brand ambassador you are a role model for many women, have you ever felt the responsibility for this role?
“Yes, I’ve heard it and in interviews I’ve always tried to give a voice to an image of beauty and fitness to let something real, true, pass through.”

She has always been a lover of nature. What are the sustainable gestures in her daily life?
“I was born in Florida to a family of farmers, my parents had a farm in Virginia, and living outdoors and in nature respecting the cycle of life is something that is part of my DNA. It’s interesting how much we all honored the planet more during the pandemic. What I do is choose products that are not against the environment, from the smallest things like not using cotton buds to creating my own compost, growing vegetables in my garden, cooking with ingredients at km o and supporting local producers “.

How has her beauty routine changed over the past twenty years?
«A lot, I use sunscreen a lot more, because when I was younger I didn’t pay much attention to it. I adapt my cosmetic routine to the seasons and adapt hydration. I believe in layering, you can’t get enough of beauty products ».

What are the inevitable steps in your beauty routine?
«The walk with the dog is inevitable and then I meditate every day, today I didn’t and I feel the difference. I have to do it every day, the ideal would be to meditate for twenty minutes, but if I can’t, even just five minutes in the morning are enough to start the day well by showing my gratitude. At the end of the day I take a hot bath every night ».

What beauty teachings do you want to pass on to your daughter?
“She loves shopping more than me, she is obsessed with the skincare routine and helps me organize my beauty products. It is more she who teaches me ».

What values ​​do you have in common with Estée Lauder?
“The value of the family and how much women are valued, Leonard Lauder has always said that behind the success of a man there is always a woman who has a different way of looking at things”.

What is the key to her “calm” beauty?
“I don’t know beyond appreciating nature and getting the best from small things, from meeting people, from gardening or just from looking at the ocean. Appreciating and being grateful is an important element of this serenity ».

How does it stand towards the passage of time?
«In terms of beauty I don’t have many worries, I like being able to embrace my age, I feel better now in my forties than when I was twenty or thirty. I hope to find joy and always remain optimistic. It is a challenge not to have so many distractions during this period because I have to spend a lot of time with myself, I believe more in cultivating love for oneself, rather than safety. It’s something I’m working on ”.

What diet do you follow?
«I cultivate my own garden, I grew up like this and I always eat seasonal food. Last night I ordered a take-away, fries with truffle oil, and today I felt bloated, I didn’t like my jeans. Sometimes I also eat chocolate, I think it’s important to know how to let go and not be too perfect ».

What are the products of your beauty routine?
«Cleaning the skin is essential. A couple of times a week I do an exfoliation and a mask that reopens the skin. Morning and evening I use my Advanced Night Repair Serum. And then I use my Re-nutrive cream every night. Then a secret of my beauty routine is having a humidifier next to the bed. I believe beauty comes from what you do. If you like what you do and who you are, you will look more beautiful. And what’s more, it’s important to be kind to yourself. “

If you’ve had a hard day what do you do?
“During this time, I take a hot bath and make a FaceTime call with friends, it’s a lifesaver to be able to connect with people, or I exercise to get rid of tension. Or I take a hot bath and put two drops of perfume in the tub, Youth Dew».

What question would you like to end this interview with?
“With something optimistic about the future. I really hope that this period of isolation will teach us to celebrate life and the planet more and to treat ourselves with more kindness ”.