We are so excited to partner with natural skincare company, Bold & Bare! A big thank you to their founder, Iana Bertini, for taking her time to answer all our questions, and teaching us how she manages to be bold, bare, and business-minded!

Meet Iana

Boss Babe Iana Bertini launched Bold & Bare in 2017 with one mission: to empower women to be bold about their real beauty. As a yoga teacher, wife, entrepreneur, and beauty devotee, Iana has always had a fascination with wellness, aesthetics and psychology. She studied business at University of Strathclyde and worked in finance and business development before launching Bold & Bare. By combining her passions, she created a collection of elevated products for women who love natural and minimalist skincare. Through Bold & Bare she wants to encourage women to be bold about who they are and go bare! Iana loves travelling, and splits her time between Dubai, US and Europe.

LBOR: Did you always know that you wanted to work in the beauty industry?

Iana: I have always had an interest in wellness and beauty, however I studied something more “practical” and had a corporate career until my 30’s. I wouldn’t say my interest was solely in beauty products, as I’m actually quite the minimalist when it comes to skincare and makeup. But I have always liked psychology, self-improvement and wellness. This resulted in always looking for more healthy alternatives. I became vegan and have been an avid yogi for about 8 years now. It was only natural to start taking care of what I choose to put on my body as well. I wanted simple to use, natural but effective products. I had noticed a gap in the market for this type of product, and this is how Bold & Bare was born. It combines all my passions and brings an important message into the world.

LBOR: What made you decide to go “all-in” and launch your own skincare brand?

Iana: In my late twenties, I started to feel less content than what I would have liked. I was having a successful career; however, something was lacking. I wanted a new challenge. I remember that I had always wanted to create something, and my job at that time was not fulfilling this need. It was also the big 30 that made me evaluate my life more closely, go on a yoga retreat and ask the hard questions. The name and branding came first… It just resonated so well with my idea and my values that I knew I needed to do this. I was lucky that my husband and my family were always very supportive and told me to go for it!

LBOR: You seem so confident and comfortable in your own skin. Where does this confidence come from?

Iana: Lots of self-enquiry and work. And of course, I have my days when I don’t feel 100%. But being comfortable in your skin really comes from knowing yourself intimately, from acceptance, and a deep knowing that we are all unique. Confidence doesn’t stem from others opinions or comparing yourself. It comes from being at peace with who you are, and knowing what you can bring into this world. It also comes from supporting and befriending yourself, rather than self-criticism. It’s really about being your own best friend and coach.

Conquer your fears, embrace the real you, and everything else will fall into place.

LBOR: You encourage women to “go-bare,” meaning to wear minimal to zero makeup. I’ll speak for myself and say that this feels kind of scary! Why is it important for us to try this?

Iana: I think it’s important to understand the reasons behind using makeup. If it’s something that you do for yourself, to enhance your features, then by all means go for it. I love a bright red lipstick myself. But in today’s society more often we see women hiding their insecurities behind makeup, or using it as a norm because they have to. So, at Bold & Bare we encourage women to embrace their natural beauty, to feel good about how they look, and not be afraid to show their bare face! You should try it, its totally liberating! We had some amazing feedback from women that did it and they really felt amazing. In fact, we are planning a Bare face campaign to inspire women to take selfies in different situations.

LBOR: Can you give us some tips on feeling more "bold" on a daily basis?

Iana: Boldness is really an attitude. And I believe this inner feeling can be built up. It’s like going to the gym. Do whatever makes you feel great. For me, it’s usually music, I love dancing and singing while getting ready. For you, it may be a yoga or boxing class, or reading positive affirmations. It’s important to point out that boldness doesn’t mean that “femme fatale” determination, sometimes it can be a quiet confidence, or even boldness to be who you are: shy or loud; eccentric and unique.

LBOR: Have you ever had your confidence shaken? Can you tell us what happened, and how you overcame it?

Iana: Yes, especially in my young years. I know how everyone is afraid of the big 30, but honestly, I feel like women become comfortable with themselves at this age. I’m sure I’ve had my confidence shaken quite a few times in my life, but the biggest period in my life that I remember was my big move to Dubai. The culture in the Middle East is quite shocking for any western woman. I was working for a local company at that time, and career women in Dubai are often regarded quite differently. I had to work 3 times harder and I would still be left unnoticed in my job. That was not a very empowering experience, and I know that there are a lot of women who deal with inequality in their work place. My advice would be to make a plan and exit that environment asap. Which I did.

LBOR: As women, our confidence is so connected to our external appearance. How do we overcome this?

Iana: By cultivating a different kind of confidence. It doesn’t come from external validation, rather with how we set the standard for ourselves. When you know who you are and you know what you want, you can build this amazing power inside of you. Then, opinions of others stop mattering, and you only compare yourself to you. It’s really about a deep understanding that we are all equal. We are all unique, and there’s no need to seek anything from outside.

LBOR: If you could give one piece of beauty advice to the woman reading this article, what would it be?

Iana: Take the time to learn about yourself, and don’t be scared to spend some time alone. We have one life, and we can’t hide from ourselves. So conquer your fears, embrace the real you, and everything else will fall into place.