Welcome to the Milk Fam Diaries. At Milk Makeup, we believe it’s not just about how you create your look; it’s what you do in it that matters. We see your creativity on our feeds and hear your support in our comments daily, but we wanted to dream up a way to share a few more pages from your stories. That’s how this series was born.
In these diaries, we chat with members of our community about their inspirations, self-expression, beauty faves, and so much more. Get to know the faces behind our campaigns who are as inspiring off camera as they are on. This week, we speak to Lali, who starred in our spring Lip + Cheek campaign. Find out a little bit more about the model, Taurus, and indoor plant designer.
Lali knows exactly what fruit she would be if given the option: a passion fruit. It’s a fitting choice for our Lip + Cheek model, who has a soft spot for sunrises and bright colors. “I grew up having that,” she says. “Real passion fruit juice from the passion fruit.”
Raised in Venezuela, Lali eventually made her way to New York after a stint in Houston. Now, you can find her face at the Nike store in Soho, or modeling our Lip + Cheek in Smirk, a shimmery pink that matches her signature hair shade. While it seems like she’s had it forever, the bright hair is actually a recent change, a spontaneous decision she made a year and a half ago.
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“Pink changed my life,” she says. There’s the career stuff (a Target commercial, a Lululemon collaboration, the aforementioned campaign), but also more transformative effects. “I feel so powerful,” she says. The simple switch from bleached blonde to pink ended up reconnecting her to her essence and inner child. Now, it shows up in every part of her life. There’s an influx of color in her personal style, a touch of playfulness in her approach to beauty, and a renewed determination to be herself without worrying about what anyone else thinks. That last one probably predates her hair color, though. At her core, Lali is a true Taurus. “I’m super stubborn,” she says. “I like to admit it, obviously.” Her determination to live on her own terms seems to be working out just fine. Below, get to know Lali’s thoughts on the best waterproof mascara, personal style, and the life-changing power of pink hair. How would you describe your personal style?I would say that I’m like Sporty Spice. I’m always wearing some type of athleisure or I’ll find a way to make an outfit sporty. I enjoy movement, so that comes out in the way I dress. During the pandemic, I took on a workout method that completely transformed me and is the reason why I’m even here today. So I have a really deep connection to movement and the importance of having that in your life. I spent so much time dressed in activewear that I mix that with other things I wear. Especially in New York, you have to be comfortable. So activewear is usually good. |
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What was the workout method that transformed you?
I started doing The Class by Taryn Toomey. I was always so curious but scared because it just looks super intimidating. During COVID they were offering it online, so it was the perfect opportunity for me to try it in the privacy of my home. You use sound as release in the practice, and it’s so good at getting you in your body. These are types of things that you would normally feel uncomfortable doing, and you’re in this space where it’s completely normal. You find that you need to do those things. Shaking your body or your head—just letting it out is so good. It’s a nice moment of good music, being with yourself, connecting to your breath, and getting into your body.
What’s your daily relationship with beauty?
I love natural beauty. I appreciate people’s natural features. I see someone on the street and I’m like, wow—their eyes or their skin or whatever it is about their face. That’s something that I try to highlight in my beauty routine. Very natural, glowing from the inside out. I love cream products and something that’s easy to apply on the go. And something that you can be a little bit playful with too. Cool, fresh vibes.
How long have you had the pink hair for?I’ve had pink hair for a year and a half. It wasn’t something that I was planning on doing. I had a lot of moments in life tied to my hair. I cut my hair really short when I was younger as a way of shedding something. I used to color my hair in secret. When my mom would travel, I’d go to the beauty supply store, lock myself in the bathroom, and do stuff to my hair. Then she would come back and I’d be in so much trouble. At one point when I was growing up, my mom had to hide everything and I found a way to cut my hair with nail clippers. I was just wild with the hair. I think in reconnecting with my essence, I really haven’t done anything with my hair in a while. I felt safe in what my hair looked like: bleached platinum blonde. One day I just called the spot next to my house. They’re like, “We actually have an opening if you want to come.” She gave me bangs, which I never thought I could have. I went home and cried all night. But then I washed it and I was like, oh my god, I love my hair! A couple of weeks after I cut it, someone came up to me and was like, "Can I dye your hair for some pictures?" This was before I began modeling at all. I was already thinking about how I would get the color out of my hair because it was not even a thing that I was going to do, and then she made it pink. And pink changed my life. |
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How did it change your life?
I’ve done so many crazy things that I never expected to be doing. I just filmed a Target commercial that was playing on TV so many times—my mom would text me. I did some stuff for Lululemon. I was on the Nike store out here in SoHo. Huge jobs from ever since I dyed my hair. I feel so powerful. And I definitely feel like I’m the closest to my inner child. The other day I was hanging out with my friend and he was like, “You remind me of you when you were 14.” When I was 14, I was me. I didn’t want to be anyone else but me. That’s how I feel now, and it’s really cool.
Has your makeup also changed along with your hair?
Everything changed. My relationship with color has completely shifted. I didn’t used to be someone who would buy or wear color. Now I’m like, purple with pink? Yes. Orange, blue, green? Yeah, why not? With my makeup too. I never wear blush, but I like pink blush with my pink hair. I also use pink eyeshadow. It’s just living in the pink moment. I think I’m going to explore more things.
You starred in our spring beauty shoot! What did you think of the new Lip + Cheek shades?
I’m wearing Smirk. It’s amazing. I’m going to wear this for the rest of my life.
If you could only use one Milk product for the rest of your life, what would it be?
KUSH Mascara. I love the way it makes my lashes look. I’ve used it for so long—I got it as a gift and then kept repurchasing. I’ve run out of it again and again and again. I like the waterproof version, it’s the best. I can get it off my face at night; it stays on but washes off easily. But I can wear it all day and literally dance in the rain, and it’s still on.
How do you #LiveYourLook?I live my look by finding joy in expressing myself through color. I’m very authentically me in every way. I feel like I don’t hold back when it comes to being me and the ways that I show up in the world. If you could have a one-way ticket anywhere, where would you go?Bali. I’ve always wanted to go! I’ve never been and feel like it’s such a great place to connect with nature’s magic. That’s what I see. What would your dream day look like?I wake up early in the morning because I’m a lover of the sunrise. I watch the sunrise. I listen to some music. We have a little dance party, get some movement in, like a proper workout. Maybe make a smoothie. And then I’d spent some time in the sunshine. If I were close to the beach, I’d be at the beach. Take a dip, have some delicious food, spend time with friends. And some time alone. A lot of my days can look like that so it’s good. Are there any projects you’re working on that you want to share with our Milk Fam?I’m an indoor plant designer. I don’t really post on Instagram because it’s been a word-of-mouth thing that just blew up very randomly. I started doing it during COVID because a lot of people started asking me about plants. I was spending so much time on it. And then I was like, is this a job? It’s just been crazy. That’s something that taught me to always follow your heart in everything. I felt a calling to be closer to plants, and that’s what came out of it. I think there’s like so much power in plants and having them in your space can truly transform the energy. Taking care of a plant is really therapeutic. That’s something that I deeply believe in. |
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What’s your favorite hobby?
I’ll read all day. I recently read Just Kids by Patti Smith. So good and inspiring and beautifully written. If you haven’t read it, I highly recommend it. I’m walking around with three books in my bag. I love love love books.
If you could have any superpower, what would it be and why?
It might be a little nerdy, but if I could have any superpower, it’d be that when I read, time stops. It’s time that’s not taken away from the rest of the day. I could read endlessly.
Follow Lali on Instagram @yesitslali.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
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