It is thanks to Cordelia Guajardo, Managing Partner of Hela Spa Mexico, that I am little by little discovering Mexico City, a dynamic, busy, active city that right now is gorgeously gray and green (it’s the rainy season). It is thanks to her also that I am learning my spa words in Spanish… Her spa, Hela Spa Mexico, in the Intercontinental Hotel in Polanco, is my first client in Mexico, and the only spa in Mexico City that carries Alchimie Forever. I find this somewhat ironic, given that Hela Spa in Georgetown was one of my very first partners in DC when I launched Alchimie Forever in 2004… I love that symmetry!

AP: What city were you born in? CG: I was born in Monterrey, in the North of Mexico, just south of Texas.

AP: What city to do you live in? CG: I live in Mexico City, Mexico.

AP: What is your middle name? CG: I have none. Cordelia is enough!

AP: What is your astrological sign? CG: Libra, October 11, my birthday is coming up soon, it’s a big one, so I’m throwing a big party!

AP: What is your favorite thing about the beauty industry? CG: I love getting facials and massages as “research,” and learning about and trying all of the product lines.

AP: Least favorite thing? CG: The financial part of owning a spa . I hate the accounting and financial analysis part of my job!

AP: What is your most prized possession? CG: Do I have one? Yes! My contract with the Intercontinental Hotel Polanco, which enabled me to open my spa! It took me a year and a half to get it… I have never worked so hard for anything in my life!

AP: What is something about you most people don’t know? CG: I sleep with a blanket that I have had since I was born… and I always travel with it.

AP: Do you wear a watch? CG: No, never ever. I don’t want to be stressed about the time.

AP: Diamonds or pearls? CG: Diamonds, but I can only afford pearls… right now anyway!

AP: If you could have dinner with the person of your choice, who would it be? CG: Bono. He is the coolest guy ever!

AP: What is your secret to work/life balance? CG: I love the beauty industry and love owning a spa. Even though I work all the time, since I love what I do it doesn’t feel like work (except the accounting part!).

AP: What are your three top tips for travel? CG: 1. Always travel with a change of clothes in your carry on, in case the airline loses your luggage. 2. Wherever I go, I check out Tripadvisor first. 3. I never wear makeup when I travel, I feel my skin looks worse when I do.

AP: What is your favorite book? CG: La Fiesta del Chivo by Mario Vargas Llosa.

AP: What is your cocktail of choice? CG: Tequila and diet coke. Or margaritas. I am a tequila fan. I like Jose Cuervo Traditional the best!

AP: What is your #1 beauty secret? CG: I have a facial ever month. Religiously, no matter what else is going on in my life.

AP: What fragrance do you wear? CG: Jo Malone, Vetyver.

AP: Botox or not? CG: Not. Not yet…

AP: Hair color: natural or not? CG: I have been getting blond highlights for the last 10 years. I love Jacques Dessange’s colorist Armando. He is the best.

AP: 3 songs on your ipod right now. CG: “Somebody that I used to know” by Gotye. “What’s my name?” by Rhinanna. And my all-time favorite, “Sleeping with a broken heart” by Alicia Keys.

AP: Quote to live by. CG: “You can only be young once, but you can be young at heart indefinitely.”

AP: Who is your mentor? CG: I don´t have one. Maybe I need one…

AP: Words of advice for young women starting their careers today. CG: Do what you love. The world needs people doing things that they are passionate about. If you love what you do, you will succeed.