When Mariana Diez couldn’t find what she was looking for when it came to the best in beauty in her hometown of Mexico City, she took matters into her own hands. In 2014, she revealed an online shop called Olivine, a niche and luxury beauty e-tailer stocked with efficacious and aesthetically pleasing products. 

This month, In Fiore launches at Olivine online and in-store at their beautiful new shop in Polanco. 

Here, we spoke with Mariana about her curation process, what she’s currently loving from the Olivine assortment, and what the newly revealed in-store experience looks like in their Polanco-based space. 

Did you always work in the beauty industry? What was the impetus to launch Olivine?

Prior to opening Olivine, I wanted to create something of my own. I started in design working at Pucci and then began working for my father and realized it wasn’t the right path. My journey in beauty started with the goal of finding a natural deodorant. Every time I went to the United States, I’d buy deodorant because we didn’t have any options here in Mexico that were effective and without aluminum. 

I’ve been working in beauty for the last eight years. It was quite a journey, and Olivine has became a place to find natural products. However, once I opened, our mission shifted and now we focus more on niche beauty and luxury. It doesn’t need to be 100 percent natural. What we really look at is performance and good, innovative formulas. 

What was the importance of keeping Olivine so curated?

It's vital for our business. We don’t want our clients to be married to one brand. We believe every brand we carry has amazing products that target different problems and work for different skin types. I wanted to have a place where all brands could coexist. In Mexico, you don't have many offerings for beauty. You have the big retailers and you have Sephora, but no small stores, like in the United States. So it was a no-brainer because we don't have any competition. I would say one of the biggest challenges has been how to share these brands and explain to clients that they're effectiveness and have science behind them.


Where does the name come from?

My daughter’s name is Oliva. It’s a family name, my grandmother’s name. I was really in love with my grandmother and I love the name, so I thought it worked really nicely.


How do you decide what you want to bring into Olivine? Are there certain parameters or specifics you look for in terms of your curation?

We look for performance, sustainability, the philosophy behind the brand, packaging, design, and where it’s selling. We truly look at everything. We look at the price point and ingredients. But we don’t ban ingredients. We test and make sure the formula is good and it works. 


What are some of your favorite new brands that you’ve recently brought in and why?

I like the fragrance brand Vyrao, it’s philosophy, packaging, and of course, the scents. Inside each bottle has a supercharged, ethically sourced Herkimer diamond crystal that’s really energetic. Of course, I love In Fiore. It’s a brand I really enjoy. I use everything, but the body balms are one of my favorites.


You recently opened a physical space. What will the experience look like?

It’s a big step from being purely online. Skincare is easy to buy online, but perfume and makeup, is more complicated. So we wanted to have a space to provide an experience. Our customers can come inside, smell the products, try them on, and get shade matched. But I would equate our store more to a showroom because our core business is still online. We plan to do events and invite in makeup artists to offer master classes. The whole experience is about going inside and seeing everything. I also like to be there and get to know the customers.


What’s next for Olivine?

I always hoped to have a physical space, and that day has finally arrived. I'm going to nurture that. 


Favorite scent?

I love Lemon Verbena, it is one of my favorite scents. I grow this plant in my house and like to make tea with this. It happens to also have some nice health benefits.

Favorite beauty food?

I’m really into Holi (mane). I put it in my smoothie everyday or even in water. It’s a routine for me and I’ve seen a difference in using it.


Do you have any tips for long-haul flights? 

I usually carry a lip balm because my lips get really dry. I always use a nose spray and usually carry a mist, sometimes the floral essence from Tata Harper or any mist I have on hand.


Do you have any vices?

I really enjoy food and I don’t have any restrictions on what I eat. I enjoy wine. I enjoy chocolate. I enjoy everything. It’s not that I have wine every day. Maybe on the weekend. All of that is the pleasure of life. 


Do you have any charms or talismans?

There’s a ring that I never take off. It’s not my wedding ring, but for me, it’s meaningful and I never take it off. 

Emilio Castelar #149, Planta Alta, Col. Polanco, CP. 11550, CDMX

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