How to Make Your
Skin Look Youthful
and Glowing

NEW

Elizabeth Grace Hand, Founder, Ställe Studios

“I only went to aesthetician school because I wanted to learn about skin, but when I was there, I discovered that I loved giving people treatments. I got a job with Dr. Barbara Sturm as a market specialist after I graduated, which then led to me doing facials, which then led to me developing the facial program for a couple of med spas and derm practices. Throughout it all, I wasn’t thinking of these jobs as stepping stones to my own business. The reason I ended up opening Ställe Studios was because we did a Sturm pop-up and all of my clients still wanted facials when it closed. At the time, I lived with Jon—my then boyfriend, now husband—in a one bedroom apartment where I’d do facials. Jon went to work during the week, but on Saturdays and Sundays I’d tell him to leave from 10 to 7, so he’d be stuck roaming the streets all day. [Laughs] Eventually he told me he needed our apartment back. I was terrified of committing to a lease, but I found a shared office space whose landlord let me start off with a three-month commitment. Time passed and I brought on employees and leased another room, and when they started to be fully booked, too, I knew it was time to look for what’s officially now Ställe Studios in Soho. My philosophy is all about consistency versus intensity. Growing up, I would get facials because I had pretty bad acne, but I would always leave looking horrible. But at Ställe Studios you don’t have to leave all red and blotchy. Even if we do intense extractions, you’ll always leave with glowy, dewy, lifted skin—except for when we do microneedling, of course. SKINCAREMy skin is on the oiler side. I have visible pores in my T-zone no matter what I do, and I’ve always been prone to breakouts. To cleanse, I love Bioeffect’s micellar water because it takes everything off my face without me having to scrub, and it doesn’t leave a film—a lot of micellars do. Bioeffect makes my favorite gentle cleanser, too. The trick is to put it on dry skin, massage it in, and then add water to turn it into a milky consistency. It leaves my skin so soft. Auteur’s Enzyme Cleanser is great for gentle exfoliation, and I love Dr. Loretta’s Micro-Exfoliating Cleanser because it has a little bit of salicylic acid. Twice a week or so, I leave it on my skin for a minute or two so it can really work its magic. It’s especially good in the winter for the acne girls or guys because it won’t dry you out. I spray the May Lindstrom jasmine garden mist either at the beginning of my routine or at the end—or sometimes both. It just makes me happy and smells so good. My friend, Gracie Wiener, loves the Isla elixir, and when I finally tried it, I became addicted. My skin looks brighter and better when I use it. When I want an exfoliating toner though, I go for Royal Fern’s Phyto Active essence—someone told me it was as if P50 and SK-II’s essence had a baby. It’s so underrated, especially for people who are prone to redness and need gentle exfoliation. Speaking of exfoliation, if I want my skin to look particularly good the next day, I use Retrouve’s Skin Brilliance Priming Pads. They’re sneaky because they’re not harsh at all but extremely effective at sloughing off dead skin. And to keep my acne at bay, I switch between Sofie Pavitt’s mandelic serum and Sachi’s Complexion Clarifying Accelerator. I love them so much. When I’m lazy and I don’t want to do anything but cleanse and moisturize, I slather on my Monastery Attar. In the summer I like to use Bioeffect’s Day Serum, which is a gel, as a lighter moisturizer. And in the winter Retrouvé’s Intensive Moisturizer is the best rich cream I’ve ever found. It doesn’t break me out, which is so rare for a product that rich. I use Bioeffect and Retrouvé for my eyes, too. I love the Bioeffect eye serum because it has a roller so it depuffs as you apply it. Retrouvé’s eye concentrate is my go-to when I need something thicker. Even when I put it on at night, I wake up and my eyes are still dewy. I use Dr. Loretta’s replenishing serum when I want my skin to look like glass and need extra moisture. I use it in my facials and almost every client asks about it—the other day someone told me that it feels like cashmere. Bioeffect’s 30 Day treatment is my go-to to fight fine lines, and I like to alternate it with Eighth Day’s Regenerative Serum, which has growth factors and peptides. For treating pigment, Sachi’s Triphala Corrector is really good, especially for post-inflammatory erythema, the red marks after breakouts—normally, you have to get those lasered off. And I’m not loyal to one retinol, but I’m really liking the Dior RetiShot right now. I can’t use prescription-strength retinol because my skin is very sensitive, but I haven’t had issues with that one. My skin looks resurfaced without any purging at all. Of course, I never go without sunscreen. The Auteur Sun Drops are great because they feel like oil but dry down in this beautiful glassy way. For a mineral option, I like Odacité’s Mineral Drops. They don’t dry you out and leave a beautiful glow. The tinted mineral drops are nice, too, especially when I don’t want to wear makeup. As far as masks, The Activist Manuka Honey Mask is anti-inflammatory, so it’s great for breakouts. Noble Panacea’s Overnight Chronobiology Peel is another one I like to use when I want my skin to look especially good the following day—or if I’m feeling lazy. Every once in a while, I’ll use CO2Lift’s pro mask. It increases oxygen in the skin by 117 percent. I use it in treatments, actually. And oh my God, my newest mask obsession is Uguisu’s poo mask. It’s made from Japanese nightingale droppings. It’s incredible for breakouts. Because I worked at a med spa and got everything free, I probably had every inch of my face injected, but I stopped doing that because it made me look not so nice. I’m reformed. [Laughs] Now I only get a little bit of lip filler and Botox on my elevens and my neck because I have a really strong platysma. I go to Plump every four to six months. And finally, tools! I love my Lyma laser for tightening, my Medicube for penetrating all of my juicy serums deeper into the skin, and my Celluma Pro for calming and brightening. The Celluma is a bit hard for me because you need to sit under it for 15 minutes at least three times a week to see results and I have things to do. [Laughs] For depuffing, I depend on Beautology’s cryo tools. They’re shaped like gua shas and stay cold for so long. For an actual gua sha, I use my Retrouvé x Ställe one of course. It’s stainless steel, so it’s really hygienic because it’s non-porous. And I’m obsessed with the PureLift Pro Plus. It uses three different kinds of frequencies to sculpt. Your face moves like crazy when you’re using it, but it lifts you like nothing else. I always use it with pure aloe vera before events or photoshoots when I need a pick-me-up. Oh, and the Cecily Braden lymphatic brush is a must-have. It’s so soft—unlike other dry brushes—and so pretty. MAKEUPI usually just finger paint my face. For everyday, I love Chanel’s Les Beiges Water-Fresh Tint in Medium Light because it’s so glowy. If I want a little more coverage, I switch to the Clé de Peau cream foundation in Light Ocher. I started using it in my acne girl days because it covers breakouts well—and I was bougie at that age I guess. [Laughs] And during the summer, I switch to the Hermès Plein Air Complexion Balm in shade 10. If my eyes look extra dark, I’ll do a light layer of the Clé de Peau Radiant Corrector in Ivory. Otherwise, I just use their concealer in Ivory or Ocher, depending on the season. It’s my go-to for breakouts, too. But for a singular pimple, I turn it into a beauty mark with Marylia Scott’s Spot On in Light-Dark. I have a different beauty mark all the time. [Laughs] I think my lips look the best when it looks like I ate a popsicle, and that’s what the Dior Addict Lip Glow in Rosewood gives me. It’s the perfect little flush. And then I like to play what I call ‘musical blush,’ meaning I just grab whichever one. I love Rhode’s Pocket Blush in Piggy, Freckle, and Toasted Teddy. If I want powder, or if I want to top off the Rhode, I like the Hermès Silky Blush in Rose Pommette. As for bronzer, the Chanel Les Beiges Sun-Kissed powder has a little bit of shimmer, which I love. I only really use it over my cheeks when I’m going out. I keep getting compliments on my lashes, and it’s because I’ve been using the Sweed eyelash growth serum since July. It’s the only lash serum that has ever worked for me—all the others make my eyes red. For mascara, I recently discovered Lisa Eldridge’s Kitten Lash, but I’ve been using Trish McEvoy’s tubular one for ages. I tend to get raccoon eyes—I think it’s the way my eyes are shaped—but I’ve never had a problem with either one of these. Both give me a great curl, but the Kitten Lash also separates them. When I’m extra motivated, I start off by curling them with my Shiseido lash curler. And I’m not really loyal to one brow product, but I’ve always loved Glossier Boy Brow and come back to it a lot. I just brush up my brows and that’s that. Easy. I don’t contour heavily, but I like to give myself a bit of definition. The Westman Atelier Face Trace stick in Biscuit is so good. It’s the same color as a shadow. And I’ve been liking Saie’s Sun Melt in Fair Bronze recently—it’s a little warmer than Biscuit. The Victoria Beckham Contour Stylus is really nice because it’s so skinny. I’ll even use it on my eyelids to create a little shadow—Travertine is my go-to shade. For actual eyeshadow, I love Chanel’s longwear liquid in Desert Wind, a bronze-y purple that makes my eyes look so blue, and the Healthy Glow palette in Medium. Westman Atelier has really beautiful eye pods, too. I have the Toujours collection. Sometimes I dip a little brush into the darkest shade for eyeliner. HAIRNothing compares to the Iles Formula shampoo and conditioner when it comes to making my hair soft without heat. If I want volume, I use the Gold Lust shampoo from Oribe and I also prefer their Transformative Masque. I’ve been liking the Rôz Foundation shampoo and conditioner, too. I don’t know if you’re supposed to apply Rôz’s Milk serum on dry hair, but I put it on my ends while my hair's still wet so they get less frizzy. The same goes for Crown Affair’s leave-in. And sometimes I’ll use the Balmyard Siren oil instead, but only a tiny amount or else my hair gets greasy. I’m not so good at doing my own hair, but I can always achieve a beautiful, bouncy blowout with the T3 Airebrush duo. When I want a professional blowout, I go to Reagan Baker at House of Reagan. She always does the best cuts. Her whole thing is about being a ‘low maintenance bombshell.’ She’ll give you a cut and you only have to come back to her maybe every six months or so. She was the one who recommended I get a Mason Pearson brush, which I’ve had for years now. I don’t know if it transfers the oils down better, but it makes my blowouts last a lot longer when I brush my hair the next day. I never use it on wet hair though. For that, I have an Officine Universelle Buly Traditionalist comb. And when it comes to color, I’ve been seeing Becca Kraeger at Spoke and Weal for years. We met years ago during our single days when someone introduced her to me as the queen of blondes—and she is. BODYI don’t always remember to use it before getting in the shower, but the Lilis Instant Peel is so cool and it’s great for people with keratosis pilaris. In the shower I love Lilfox’s pink tonka and yuzu body cleanse in the mornings. The smell is so invigorating and wakes me up. If I want something more neutral, I reach for my Nécessaire body wash. But, after a hard day, I love running warm water with Natureofthing’s Floral Bath, which has magnesium. I add flowers to my baths—either fresh petals if I have a bouquet around the apartment, or dried flowers from Amazon. I know that’s very extra, but it’s a small little way to elevate my baths… and it makes me feel fancy and delicate. [Laughs] Out of the shower, the Kate McLeod Body Stone is my obsession. There’s no water in it, so I find that I have to use less of it. Also, if I’m wearing a low-cut top and my chest is showing, I do a swipe for a beautiful glow. My other favorite is Buly’s Lait Virginal in Mexican tuberose. First of all, it’s so beautiful; I’m obsessed with old school packaging that looks like something you’d find in an apothecary. But oh my God, it has my favorite scent in the world. It’s powdery and clean and a little bit sweet. Sometimes I mix it with Costa Brazil’s Kaya Jungle oil, but the most luxe body oil I own is from Retrouvé. It’s thicker than the Kaya Jungle oil, so I definitely let it soak into my body before I put on clothes, but my skin is so buttery when I use it. I almost don’t want to tell anyone about the massages at The Spa at Chelsea Hotel; they’re that good and it’s so beautiful there. I also have a masseuse, Ilaria, who comes to my apartment once a month. I learned about her from one of my clients because she doesn’t advertise—people only know about her through word-of-mouth. She’s this tiny woman with the strongest hands ever. For a good lymphatic drainage massage, I go to Gracia Imboden at Ricari Studios. She’s like a fairy with the best healing energy. And I’m obsessed with dry needling with Dr. Monique Carnevali at FoodPharmacy. She uses the same needles that are used in acupuncture, but they go deeper to the point where your muscles spasm. It’s intense and hurts, but it relieves muscle pain like no massage ever could.” —as told to Daise Bedolla Photographed by Shana Trajanoska in New York on November 17, 2024

May 28, 2025

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Madeline Brewer, Actor

"I was extremely excited to join the cast of You because I’ve been a big fan of the show from the start. My character’s a bit of a mystery, and that’s going to keep people guessing. From what I’ve seen online, fans definitely have their favorites when it comes to Joe’s past lovers, and I don’t think Bronte will be a welcome addition right away–if anything, they’ll probably love to hate her, which I’m prepared for. Being on hugely popular TV shows like You and The Handmaid’s Tale is funny because it came about by happy accident. I did my first play when I was 7, which stemmed from the fact that my dad had done some theater. I wanted to take a stab at it too, and really, there’s no other feeling quite like being on stage. When I graduated from school, my agent sent me on an audition for what I thought was a web series—streaming didn’t exist at the time, and Netflix still only had DVDs. When I landed the role of Tricia Miller in Orange Is The New Black, I got to set and the production was way bigger than I had imagined. That’s when I realized I had the wrong idea and it was a pretty big thing. The rest is history. The show, along with House of Cards, forever changed the way we watch TV. I wasn’t a big beauty girl growing up. I mean, I started paying attention to how I looked in my early teens, but beyond the grooming aspect of things, beauty wasn’t on my radar. The biggest thing for me was that I wanted bone straight hair instead of my curls. Nowadays I just want longer hair. I did two or three jobs back-to-back—You being one of them—that required a short hairstyle, so I’ve been on a journey to grow it back for my wedding, but also just for life. I started washing my hair more frequently—making sure to shampoo twice each time. The first wash breaks up all of the oils and grime on the scalp. The second wash actually cleanses the scalp and opens up the follicles. Once a week, I use K18’s Peptide Prep Shampoo for a deeper scalp clean. I also discovered Bur Bur Growing Season hair oil—TikTok swears it helps with growth and strength. You’re supposed to apply it a couple of times a week before you shower. And of course, there’s the protection element to growing out your hair. I use Frizz Ease's Heat Defeat spray if I’m using a hot tool on it. I also love the Rōz Santa Lucia hair oil, which is also a heat protectant, and the K18 Molecular Repair hair oil, too. I have an incredible hair color stylist, Craig Moir from Salon Dew, in Toronto—he’s been doing my color for The Handmaid’s Tale for eight years. But I’m currently in between appointments, and red is so hard to keep—it literally washes out in three washes. So, in an effort to bring it back to life, I decided to dye it myself. Craig wrote down the formula for me, and I got all the stuff. It’s probably a big no-no, but I think it turned out great. When it comes to skincare, I’m particularly fanatical about sunscreen. I’m the person in my family who’s always asking, Do you have enough sunscreen on? Do you want me to put some on your back? When did you last reapply? I’ve come a long way from slathering on baby oil and baking in the sun—or worse, the tanning bed. But I’m from Jersey, so you can’t blame me. [Laughs] I love Beauty of Joseon’s Relief Sun for everyday wear. Every other sunscreen makes my eyes incredibly watery, and a lot are also sticky and mess with my makeup. If I’m going to the beach, I bring a big fat bottle of Blue Lizard’s mineral SPF 50. For my body, I like Shiseido’s Ultimate Sun SPF 50, which is a little creamier than the Relief Sun. That goes on after Palmer’s cocoa butter lotion, which I’ve been wearing for years. I’ve tried other things, but I always come back to it. I love the texture and the scent so much—someone once told me I smelled like hot chocolate. Overall, I’m prone to redness, texture, and breakouts. Maybe the redness and texture is a result of not exfoliating enough. Everyone says chemical exfoliation is the way to go, but I like a physical one and have been using the Joanna Vargas exfoliating mask to help my skin. I think I have acne because I touch my face too much, especially when I’m stressed. The Solawave 4-in-1 wand has really helped the cystic breakouts on my chin—10 minutes on a cyst and the swelling and pain are mostly gone. But my holy grail is Murad’s Deep Relief Acne Treatment in combination with Hero’s Mighty Patch pimple stickers. That’s what finally stopped me from picking at my skin and trying to pop my zits. People say that the stickers aren’t noticeable but they totally are—I just don’t care because my skin is more important. Of course I’m a double cleanser girl. My first cleanse is always with Farmacy’s Green Clean balm—it warms up in your hands and has the perfect slip. Then I’ve been using the Youth To The People Antioxidant cleanser, although I also really like Murad’s Essential-C cleanser. In the mornings, I use Dr. Jart’s Brightamin serum, then alternate between Kiehl’s Ultra moisturizer and Youth To The People’s Air-Whip cream. At night, I use Mad Hippie’s Triple C cream. One of The Handmaid’s Tale makeup artists told me about it and I’ve seen a big difference in my skin tone. I’ve been making an effort to wear more makeup, which has been great for my mental health. Before, I used to save things for important moments, but now I feel like every day is worth dressing up for, and makeup is a part of that. I always wear Chanel’s Noir Intense or Cassis eyeliner. Cassis is a plum shade that I picked up after wearing it as Bronte on You. The purple really brings out the blue in my eyes. For mascara, I go drugstore—Maybelline’s Great Lash really separates my lashes and never clumps them. My mom uses it, too. However, I like Make Up For Ever’s Smoky Extravagant mascara for a thicker lash. It was my character’s mascara in The Handmaid’s Tale, when she worked in a night club. Sometimes I’ll put blush on my eyelids for a monochromatic look, but usually I just place it from the apples of my cheeks up to the bottom of my eyes because one time I went out running and noticed that my natural flush sat there. Saie’s Dew blush in Dreamy and Carolina Herrera’s Good Girl blusher in Plum Tulip, are favorites. For my complexion makeup, I love Saie’s Slip Tint concealer in shade 6 with the Glowy Super Gel in Starglow—it really makes my face pop. Then I do my brows with the Benefit Gimme Brow gel. I’ve used my tube so much that the label on it has completely worn off. I like Benefit’s Precisely, My Brow pencil in shade 3, a warm light brown, too. I’ve been loving Anfisa’s Ân-Gloss lip treatment lately. It’s so hydrating and makes my lips feel luscious. Then I always wear Charlotte Tilbury’s Lip Cheat liner in Iconic Nude. It’s a perfect color, pretty similar to Chanel’s lip pencil in Nude Brun. Both pair beautifully with Chanel’s Le Rouge Duo in Tender Beige, which has a liquid lipstick on one side that dries down sort of matte, and a gloss on the other end. And yes, I did steal Bronte’s go-to lip—the YSL Candy Glaze Gloss in Showcasing Nude—from my makeup artist, Sasha Borax. [Laughs] A few random things to know about me is I have a Listerine breath spray and strip addiction that is fully influenced by Elizabeth Moss. When I can’t find a strip, I panic a little. [Laughs] Also, I’m obsessed with Cocofloss because teeth are bones that need protecting, too. And I really love Essie’s cuticle oil. It leaves your fingers so soft and smells like apricot. I used to bite my nails and I learned that nail health starts at the cuticle in the same way that hair health starts at the scalp. That means you’ve got to get down to the root of things—your cuticles—to fix the problem. For fragrances, I have four scents that I pretty much stick to. Occasionally, I’ll wear Good Girl from Carolina Herrera—it’s my most feminine scent. I also love Gabrielle by Chanel, which I initially bought for my mom but ended up keeping. My other favorite is Arizona from Proenza Schouler, which is now discontinued. I’ve had the same bottle since I was 19—it’s probably expired by now—because I only do one spritz when I wear it to avoid running out. Sometimes I’ll mix it with Le Labo’s Thé Noir 29 for a really nice mixture of florals and musk. I’ve been wearing Thé Noir 29 since, oh, God, years now. I’ve smelled it on other people and asked if they’re wearing it, and it’s funny because they’ll tell me the name of another perfume because they want to gatekeep. I say it’s the perfume that brings all the boys to the yards, because when I was a single girl, my lovers remembered it. My fiancé loves it now, too.” —As told to Daise Bedolla Photographed by Brittany Bravo in Los Angeles on March 27, 2025

May 28, 2025

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Michelle Monaghan, Actor

“The White Lotus is comedic, dramatic, satirical, and melancholic all at once, so as an actor, it’s really exciting to show that range and nuance. I auditioned for my role like everyone else on the show, and I won’t lie, it was a big shock when I got the job. I’m so excited I got to play Jaclyn. Sometimes I draw inspiration from animals for my roles, and to me, Jaclyn’s a butterfly. She’s bright and colorful. She drops in and likes to stir things up and create a scene. There’s a lot to discover about her. She’s even an Erewhon girl, and that was fun to bring to the table because there’s nothing hotter in Hollywood than Erewhon. She’s probably angling for her own smoothie to give Hailey Bieber a run for her money. I’m U Beauty’s first-ever ambassador, which is so exciting because I was already using their products when they reached out to me. I was first introduced to the brand when a makeup artist recommended the Resurfacing Compound. I’ve struggled with dark spots from past sun damage, and when you’re on digital film, all of these imperfections show up. But within a week of using the Compound, both my sunspots and pores looked smaller. When the brand called, I was so excited to meet Tina Chen Craig because I felt really aligned with her mission. Several years ago, I was diagnosed with melanoma, which was a game-changer for me. I started paying more attention to the ingredients in my products. I also wanted a streamlined skincare routine. I’m perimenopausal, which means my skin changes throughout the day, while I’m traveling, and with different seasons. But I’m a busy person, and I don’t want to be spot-treating multiple things at once. The genius of U Beauty’s products is that they are designed to benefit your skin exactly where it needs it, so I can improve my skin without complicating my routine. Overall, sunscreen is the number one thing for me in my skincare routine and health, and their sunscreen is really great, too—it has such a beautiful, sort of blurring finish and is great under makeup or as a moisturizer replacement in the morning. Sunscreen was especially important when we were filming The White Lotus in Thailand. Jaclyn has a fake tan in the show courtesy of St. Tropez’s Self Tan Bronzing Mousse (self-tanning was my Sunday night ritual during filming), but I was constantly reapplying sunscreen every two hours. I recently discovered the Foreo Luna 4 and I’m hooked. It has these little silicone bristles that vibrate as you move it over your face, and you can set it on a timer. I thought it was going to be kind of bullshit, but it’s not. I’ve been wearing a lot of makeup lately because I’ve been working non-stop, and this little device gives me such a great cleanse. I like to pair it with the Mantle Conditioning Wash, but I start off by taking off my makeup with the Bioderma micellar water, which I cannot live without. Once I dry off my face, I have an instant glow. Speaking of devices, I love the Shani Darden Facial Sculpting Wand. It’s sleek, so I can throw it in my carry-on. You can use it with any product that gives you a good slip, like a face oil, and it really smooths and lifts your skin. I use it to lift my nasolabial folds and depuff my eyes. I really need to get a facial with Shani herself at some point. For now, I’ve been getting face and body lymph massages from Shirlei at Shila Beauty Center. She’s amazing. She even does my masseters, and she’s not shy—she really gets in my mouth to loosen everything up. I found her about three or four months before I landed Jaclyn, so I haven’t been able to see her as regularly as I’d like. Ideally I’d get a massage at least once a month, but realistically, it’s probably every four months when I’m in LA. I told Tina I hadn’t worn body moisturizer since 1994, when I was getting ready for prom. I’m not joking. [Laughs] I’m a minimalist, and I was never attached to body lotion. I just got up and went places. But when I tried the Super Body Hydrator, I was sold. It’s super hydrating and it leaves a nice sheen without being greasy. I’m impressed by people who do more than just apply lotion. I’m always saying that to my husband because he dry brushes every night. I go, ‘You really care.’ [Laughs] Somebody usually does my makeup for me, but on a regular day, I like to wear concealer on any spot that needs covering. I don’t leave home without my Clé de Peau concealer SPF 27. It’s been my staple for 20 years—as long it’s been out, probably. I go between Ivory and Beige depending on the color of my skin at the time. Then I love Glossier's Boy Brow in Brown. It’s always in my makeup kit. I also like the RMS Lip2Cheek because it’s another multi-tasker. I’ve been using Beloved, a poppy red color, and it’s great. I always start with Charlotte Tilbury's lip liner in Pillow Talk. Then I tap, tap, tap the RMS on, and with that, I’m done. On the show, one of the products Jaclyn wears—and that I love—is U Beauty’s Plasma Lip Compound. I use the Universal shade, but I wanted Jaclyn to have a pop of color to play up my blonde hair. I went with Rose, a beautiful shade of pink. And because I’m an SPF queen, I love Ciele Cosmetics—all of their products have SPF. I used their Tint and Protect foundation religiously on The White Lotus set. Since I had a fake tan, we had to warm up my skin to match my face. Their Filter and Protect powder is also amazing. We were touching up our makeup constantly because of the humidity—and consequent sweat—and it comforted me to know they were applying more SPF on me at the same time so I could keep up the two-hour reapplication rule. And one thing I’ll say about the humidity: We were all really sweaty, hot messes, but at one point, our makeup artist said we had to give in to the humidity because the makeup mostly wouldn’t stay. At least our skin was plump and juicy. You have to take the wins where you can. I need to give a massive shout-out to Tracey Cunningham. I’ve always had great colorists—they’ve all really looked after my hair and kept it healthy—but when Mike asked me to go blonde, that was a big deal. I knew that Leslie Bibb, who plays Kate in the show, had been seeing Tracey and she’d be able to go out to Thailand and look after our hair. Mike also wanted us to be in the same blonde family, to be ‘one big blonde bob,’ so it was a no-brainer to get my hair colored by her. She used Olaplex and Schwarzkopf products. I kept the color for nine months before she brought my back to brunette for another role. Do blondes have more fun? Well, I can definitely say that Jaclyn did. [Laughs] I’ve been a longtime fan of Redken’s All Soft shampoo and conditioner. As a kid I had long hair down to my bum, and every Sunday, my mom would use Redken’s CAT system on me. It’s such a beautiful memory now. I have nice hair, and maybe that’s why—my mom really nurtured it. I like the natural texture of my hair—it has a little bit of a wave to it—so when I get out of the shower, I towel dry my hair, take a quarter size of Olaplex Bond Smoother No.6, run it through the ends, put it in a bun, and let it air dry. When it comes to scents, I’m definitely a woodsy gal. I do love tuberose but I don’t like sweet florals. Give me a lavender. Give me an amber—I think I just want to smell like Christmas. [Laughs] A friend of mine gifted me a Ginger Flight Therapy from Aēsop, and now I think everybody should have it. It has ginger, obviously, but also lavender and geranium. I carry it with me everywhere I go—it’s even in my makeup kit on set. It’s subtle, so it’s not offensive to anyone who might be close to me. I think they called it flight therapy because it’s supposed to be—and is—really relaxing. And then I’m obsessed with Reisfields candles. The brand is a new discovery of mine. Their candles all smell amazing—I buy No.1 and No.3 a lot—but what I really love is their stoneware. You spend a little extra on your initial candle, and then they have these great sustainable wax inserts to refill. I love that, because so often, you buy candles in plain glass containers and end up throwing them away. That always feels wasteful to me, so I’m happy to have found these.” —As told to Daise Bedolla Photographed by Shana Trajanoska in New York on March 18, 2025

May 28, 2025

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Sophie Carbonari, Aesthetician

“My love of skin—and beauty in general—is in my DNA. My mom is a beauty addict with twice the number of products that I have. When I was a young, hyperactive child, she wanted to help me focus and learn to be delicate. So when I was eight years old, I started giving her ‘facials,’ which at that point was just me applying French pharmacy products on her face. She was my guinea pig. [Laughs] By the time I was 15, I had to make a decision: either go to high school or professional school. Being dyslexic I chose to train as an aesthetician, which was not a well-respected job at the time in France. Female-dominated and focused on the ‘superficial,’ it wasn’t considered to be a serious career. But I fell in love with the work after a week of training; it really gave me the sense that I wanted to do it for the rest of my life. After graduation, I started my own practice in Provence, where I grew up. But at 21, I was too young and immature to run a business. I closed it after a year, moved to London to immerse myself in the language—up until then I didn’t speak English well—and found a job at a local spa. Some time later, I learned about a beautiful Japanese wellness center in Central London that took a more holistic approach to wellness and considered how stress, food, and overall lifestyle can affect the skin. I worked there for about two years before moving to New York for a short while and built up a healthy client base while working in a spa, which, for reasons, I’m not going to name. When I returned to Europe, I began working at a friend’s spa in Aix-en-Provence. It was there that I created my own protocol, which focuses on treating both the skin and the fascia—the connective tissue that surrounds our body—without pain and for maximum results. I started working for myself again in 2019 and have been splitting time in Paris and London, which is great because I get to see clients like Naomi Campbell, Penelope Cruz, Lady Gaga, and Lenny Kravitz, but also Caroline de Maigret, Marion Cotillard, and Camille Cottin. SKINCAREStress really manifests in a physical way for me. When I have anything stressful going on, I get cystic acne; when everything is going well, my skin is fine. The good news is that, as an aesthetician, I now know how to stop the process and only suffer for days instead of weeks. I try to stay consistent with my routine. My body tends to be very dry, so I like to use La Roche-Posay’s Lipikar AP+ cleansing oil as a body wash in my morning shower. For my face, I use the iS Clinical Cleansing Complex or Irene Forte’s almond cleanser. The iS Clinical one is great when I want a deeper clean—gentle yet effective at clearing away any congestion without drying me out—while the Irene Forte one is my go-to when my skin feels extra dry or sensitive. If my skin feels OK out of the shower, I apply my Hadalabo Gokujyun hyaluronic acid milk to instantly plump my skin. But if I have a little bit of inflammation, I reach for the kombucha essence from Fresh. I always layer my S Serum afterward, which has vitamin C and hyaluronic acid, as well as centella asiatica to help calm the skin. During the day, I love wearing RéVive’s hydrogel water cream, but at night, I switch to the Ultra Vital cream from Cellcosmet, a Swiss brand. The Ultra Vital is much thicker, so it’s perfect during the colder months. Sometimes I pat on a couple of drops of Vintner’s Daughter. For sunscreen, I use one from Lancaster’s because it doesn’t leave a blueish tint on dark skin. I love Lightsaver’s mineral sunscreen, too. Dr. David Kim, the founder, is a brilliant dermatologist. I get really chapped lips and La Mer’s Lip Volumizer is one of the only products that not only keeps them hydrated but repairs them, too. It has a really pretty finish. I also buy a lot of Rhode’s Peptide Lip Treatment. The team sent me samples before launching in France, and when they finally did, I bought a bunch to put in my bags. Now they’re everywhere, in all of my bags, in all of my pockets, you name it. And I’m working on my own eye cream right now, so I’ve tried at least 50 because I want to make sure that what I create isn’t already out there. Only two have impressed me: one from a Korean brand that no longer exists, and Sisley’s Black Rose Eye Contour Fluid, which is so light and great under makeup. When I need a facial myself, I go to Joanna Vargas. She’s the kindest person and is always sending her clients to me when they’re in Paris. But what I really love is mesotherapy, which involves getting a cocktail of vitamins, antioxidants, and enzymes via injections. I’ve been doing it two to three times a year since 2019 with Dr. Mihai Gorj. It’s good at keeping—and preventing the loss of—elasticity, and for hydrating and tightening the skin. I’ve even noticed that it’s improved my hyperpigmentation. It’s a game-changer, and I would go as far as to say that it’s a good alternative for people who don’t want to get Botox or fillers and just have good skin quality. MAKEUPSince my work is all about helping people feel confident with their skin, I don’t love to wear a lot of makeup myself. I only really wear it on occasion, like if I go out for cocktails. I always start off with my S Serum as a primer. Then I use Charlotte Tilbury’s Hollywood Flawless Filter as a sort of spot corrector, especially on my dark circles. I like to work it in with my fingers to really melt it into my skin. I follow it up with one pump of the Pat McGrath foundation, which has the perfect amount of coverage and lasts all night. To keep my skin looking natural, I take my time blending it with an It Cosmetics #7 brush—it blends everything seamlessly without streaks, and I love that it has a smaller end for concealer, too. I like to use Charlotte Tilbury’s lip liner in Pillow Talk instead of actual eyeliner on my waterline. The color is super nude and really intensifies my eyes without looking weird. I’m lucky that my lashes are naturally curly, so I just finish off with my Lisa Eldridge mascara. It perfectly separates my lashes and never smudges. And Westman Atelier’s Lit Up Highlight Stick in Brûlée is one of my favorite products ever. It gives such a beautiful glow and is perfect for my cheeks, eyelids, and brow bones. I always carry one in my purse to quickly refresh my makeup throughout the day. I also love putting Chanel’s Lip and Cheek Balm in Lively Rosewood on my cheeks—and the middle of my lips—for a slight flush. At night, I switch to the Charlotte Tilbury Collagen Lip Bath gloss in Pillow Talk Medium because I love a slight gold shimmer on my lips. It’s also slightly plumping. And I always finish off with a quick spritz of Evian. It’s boring but does the job. HAIRI don’t play too much with my hair. I either keep my afro or do protective styles—B-Nova in Paris is really good for that. But something happened last year—probably a mix of constant travel, stress, and hormonal changes—and my scalp became extremely dry and I started losing a lot of hair. Luckily, when I was in Los Angeles for the Oscars, Hårklinikken, which is known for its hair growth system, reached out to offer a consultation at their clinic. I didn’t really believe in the line at first; I didn’t believe that a Danish brand would work for my type of hair—but it has. My entire routine is now Hårklinikken. I use the balancing shampoo when I just need a gentle cleanser, but when my scalp feels irritated or if I’ve used a lot of product, I go for the stabilizing shampoo. No matter what, I always follow up with their hair mask to make sure my curls stay hydrated. I also use their Hair Gain Extract daily, which has noticeably improved my hair’s thickness, softness, and overall scalp health. NAILSI’m particular about my nails because I touch people all day, and I know that people look at my hands, too. I get Russian manicures at Pur in Paris—my best friend goes there and introduced me to it. I always get Chanel polish in Ballerina because it goes with any outfit. I always have a bottle at home or in my bag when I travel, so even if I can’t go to the salon, I can still apply two coats for the appearance of a full manicure. Then it’s all about keeping my hands moisturized. I love Byredo’s Tulipmania hand lotion after I wash my hands—ideally with the Byredo Tulipmania hand wash. It smells really fresh, though I avoid it when working with clients because I don’t want the scent on them. My hands can get pretty chapped from touching acids and exfoliants all of the time, and I’ve found that the best solution is to use paraffin gloves. Mango butter is also great. It costs nothing, but it’s crumbly since it’s raw, so you have to warm it up to melt it on your skin like a balm. I think it’s helped my nails grow faster, too. FRAGRANCEWhen I was a kid, my mom would spritz orange blossom or lavender on my pillow. I’ve picked up the habit, but I upgraded to Frederic Malle’s Dans Ton Lit linen spray, which has orange blossom in it and reminds me of those childhood nights. I also find it grounding, helping me disconnect from the day and guiding me through my dreams. In general, I love heavy, musky, grounding scents—I don’t like anything too light, which is funny because jasmine is one of my favorite smells. I guess you could say I prefer unisex perfumes—Patchouli Ardent from Guerlain and Bal d’Afrique and Mumbai from Byredo are some of my favorites. And I can’t get enough of Eau de Protection. My friend, Rossy de Palma, collaborated with État Libre d’Orange on it. With Bulgarian rose, patchouli, incense, ginger, and black pepper, it’s perfect. Honestly, I’m the perfect client for perfume. I wasn’t looking for a new fragrance when I wandered into the Astier de Villatte shop in Paris, but a sales rep introduced me to Le Dieu Bleu. It’s a recreation of the oldest known perfume in the world, used in Egypt more than 3,000 years ago. After hearing that, I wanted it immediately. [Laughs] ” —As told to Daise Bedolla Photographed by Joséphine Leddet in New York on March 7, 2025

May 28, 2025

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Dylan Mulvaney, Actor + Author

“I was either going to be a fashion designer, a creative writer, or a musical theater actor. I thought I could only pick one, so I ended up going to the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, where we ate, slept, and breathed musical theater. When I graduated, I played Elder White in The Book of Mormon tour, and then I moved to LA, where I did stand-up. That’s the world I lived in before I started Days of Girlhood, my TikTok series where I talked about my transition and new life. It was really interesting when publishers began to reach out because I almost felt like I needed permission from someone to write a book. In some ways, voicing my urge to write was even more intimidating than transitioning because I have such a deep admiration for the medium. To me, few things are more prestigious than being an author. Paper Doll: Notes From A Late Bloomer is based on Days of Girlhood, and the book is a lot more vulnerable, a lot darker, and more adult than I could have imagined. Writing it was extremely cathartic, especially because I was so intimidated after ‘Beergate.’ As someone who is perceived as a very positive person, I actually found it very freeing to be able to talk about suicidal ideation and the dark thoughts I was having. A lot of people in my industry are scared to tap into that, but if we don’t, we let things fester and build within us. Paper Doll is my release into the world, and while some people might see it as a memoir, I think of it more as a time capsule of a certain part of my life. It’s messy and real. BEAUTYMAC was the only makeup brand I really knew growing up because that’s all my mom used. So when I was 14, I went to the MAC counter, and because I was too embarrassed to ask for help with shade matching, I grabbed the most orange foundation imaginable and caked it over my acne. Let me tell you: I thought I was serving. That just goes to show that no matter your skill level or technique, makeup has the power to make you feel good. And that’s what I’ll say about beauty: It’s frustrating when people reduce transness or trans femininity to just makeup, hair, or aesthetics. Yes, those things make me feel beautiful and more confident—but that’s not about gender. It’s about doing something that makes me feel good, that harms no one, and that has actually connected me to an amazing community. I’ve met some of my best friends through my love of beauty. I’ve had to let go of any guilt tied to people trying to shame me for embracing hyper-femininity. And I get it: it’s easy to judge something you’ve never tapped into, but at the end of the day, we all like to feel good—some people just take pride in pretending they don’t care. Sure, sometimes I wonder how much more I could accomplish if I weren’t spending hours in a glam chair. But then I remind myself that that’s not what this chapter of my life is about. Maybe one day I’ll have my Pamela Anderson no-makeup-at-fashion-week moment. But right now? We’re full-face, babes. SKINCAREI had really bad acne as a teenager and I went on Accutane when I was 16 and then again at 22. It worked for me the second time around and I’m really grateful for that—I don’t think I could have handled transphobia and severe breakouts at the same time. Overall my skin is pretty dry, and I like products that aren’t stripping. When it comes to cleansers, I’m a Cerave girl. It’s simple—it doesn’t even foam—and it does the trick. At night, I use Versed’s cleansing balm to melt everything on my face first. Ole Henriksen’s Strength Trainer moisturizer has been my favorite moisturizer for a long time, and I love Drunk Elephant’s marula oil at night. Then maybe once a week or so I’ll slug with a light layer of Aquaphor. I started doing that during my Accutane days and I never gave it up. If I’m feeling up to it, I’ll use Lush’s bubblegum lip scrub first. By the time I wake up, my skin and my lips are so soft. I don’t wear sunscreen every day, but I should—I’m going to put that on my vision board for the year. Sometimes I’ll feel wild and use a face mask. Usually it’s because I have the Sunday scaries or I’m really hungover or I’m trying to get everything out of my skin if it’s been a long makeup week. Also, sometimes it’s just an aesthetic decision if I’m in my bathtub. [Laughs] I want a face mask that feels like an experience—I don’t necessarily care what it does. I want to look in the mirror and look like Elphaba more than anything. Ole Henriksen used to have a great Cold Plunge face mask that looked Smurf blue when you put it on. I’m bummed that they discontinued it. I almost didn’t want to tell anyone about the Jack Black Beard Lube shaving cream because it feels so unfeminine, but no, there are women who have to shave their faces. I’m going through the process of electrolysis hair removal now, but in the meantime I use that shaving cream on all parts of my body. When I was in The Book of Mormon before I transitioned, I had to shave my face two times a day. This was also when I was having bad breakouts, so I was having to shave on top of breakouts, and this was basically the only shaving cream that wouldn’t actively hurt me. It’s marketed towards men, but women need to know about it. It’s sort of similar to how I still use male razors because they’re so much better. My dream would be to have one… but pink because I want a pink product, but at the end of the day, the male razor is just better. I am such a Lush girl. I worked at Lush as a 16-year-old. I would literally spend my entire paycheck; I had every product. I feel like it’s such a twink staple of the community. [Laughs] I discovered their Rose Jam shower gel way back when and it’s been my go-to for probably 10 years. I also loved Snow Fairy, the bright pink bubblegum one, too [Editor’s note: discontinued]. But Snow Fairy is girlhood and Rose Jam is womanhood. I feel so lucky because I was able to collaborate with Lush on my very own bath bomb, the Late Bloomer, for the launch of my book. It's shaped like a rose—and has dried rose petals and glitter—and smells like rose and citrus. MAKEUPEarly on, I really struggled covering up my facial hair. I was using a really dark shade of orange color corrector from Nikita Dragun’s beauty brand [Editor’s note: discontinued] to get rid of my five o’clock shadow, but I wasn’t blending it properly. When Donni Davvy, the founder of Half Magic and head makeup artist for Euphoria, entered my life, she told me that she always used Kryolan’s Dermacolor Camouflage Creme because it covers up anything for TV. Even though I don’t have a lot of shadow anymore, I still like to put on a light layer. But for all of my trans girlies, this really is the best tried-and-true color corrector. Trust me. Of course Lady Gaga is my girl—she has always been such an inspiration for me. When Haus Labs came out, I thought it was such a serve. Sarah Tanno, Gaga’s makeup artist and the brand’s global artistry director, used the Triclone foundation on me one time, and my skin looked so healthy and full of life. It covered what I needed to be covered but it felt like my skin could still breathe. Donni also loves using this foundation on me. She designed my makeup for my one-woman show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, so I was using that every single day and it always lasted through the night. I also know that Gaga’s wearing it on stage, so if it’s good enough for Gaga, it’s good enough for me. Mario Dedivanovic’s brand Makeup by Mario has a really yummy cream blush. My favorite is Perfect Pink, a very Sabrina Carpenter shade. I also love Dior’s Rosy Glow blush in Pink—it’s my tried-and-true. Then I fuck so hard with Hourglass’s Unlocked tubing mascara. It’s buildable but lightweight. I don’t know whether science can back me up here, but it feels gentler on my eyes because it comes off easily with water. And one of my makeup artists, Kelly Christensen, introduced me to Givenchy’s setting powder. It’s one of those products that’s pretty pricey but worth it. In general, I’m not a big fan of powder, but this one is velvety and my skin has never felt cakey when I’ve worn it. I use Voile Rosé. Patrick Starrr did my makeup for Mikayla Nogueira’s wedding, and at the end, he sprayed my face with On ’Til Dawn setting spray from his brand One/Size. I danced all night long with Chris Olsen and my makeup never budged. Also, as a performer who is on stage under hot lights, I can say that’s always held up there, too. I mean, everyone needs to watch that viral video of Patrick swimming with a full face of makeup and setting spray on. My sweet makeup artist friend, Ayman Syed, introduced me to Charlotte Tilbury’s K.I.S.S.I.N.G lipstick in 90’s Pink a couple of months ago. If you asked me three months ago, Pillow Talk—which is still an everyday go-to for me—would’ve been my main girl but 90’s Pink is a little deeper and a bit more Barbie in a way that feels sexier and more fun. I also love the satin consistency. Honestly, it’s hard not to talk about every single Charlotte Tilbury product because she makes some great shit. That might be another bucket list thing for me, having my makeup done by Charlotte Tilbury. HAIRI was blonde for the last two years and returning to brunette feels like coming home. I was so nervous because I’m blonde on the cover of Paper Doll and I thought it might be confusing if I promoted a book with a different hair color. But I’m so happy now. I feel so much more like myself. Angelina Panelli is my girl. She not only colors my hair, but she also styles it for a lot of events. She’s a one-stop shop. By the way, I used K18’s Molecular Repair mask throughout my blonde era to keep it healthy. And I tend to oscillate between shampoos. I’m not very particular. I always get the little travel-size bottles when I’m walking through the checkout aisle at Sephora. Olaplex’s No. 4 Bond Maintenance has been great. For a while, I was using K18’s Peptide Prep Detox and Paul Mitchell’s Awapuhi. As far as tools go, the Dyson Airwrap is a pricey girl, but it’s such a worthwhile investment. I think hair is deceptively more difficult than makeup, and the Airwrap gave me the confidence to do my own hair—so while I still don’t really know how to use traditional hair tools, I do know how to get my signature retro flip with the Airwrap. FRAGRANCEI was a Chanel Chance girl for a very long time—until I went to Paris last year. I met a man named Marc who told me he owned a perfume company. I was like, ‘Eh, whatever,’ but he kept insisting that I try it. Then he mentioned it was Maison Kurkdjian. I told him the name sounded familiar, and when I looked it up, I realized it was the famous brand behind the TikTok-viral Baccarat Rouge 540. Later, when I performed with Alan Cumming at a pop-up cabaret, Marc, who I now know was CEO Marc Chaya, gave me a bottle right after I finished singing. I tried it, and it immediately became my new scent. Thinking about it now, I feel like Chanel Chance defined my girly pop moment, but Baccarat Rouge represents my womanhood. It’s sexy without being overpowering; it gives me everything I need.” —as told to Daise Bedolla Photographed by Brittany Bravo in Los Angeles on February 12, 2025

May 28, 2025

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Karah Katenkamp, Curve Model

“I grew up in a town of 100 people in rural Ohio—the nearest mall was an hour away—but when I was 13 my dad won a trip to New York City. He was allowed to bring one person and he picked me. I was obsessed with the city from the moment we took our first taxi ride. I got scouted on that trip, but being from rural Ohio, my dad said, ‘Absolutely freaking not.’ I got scouted again at a coffee shop in Cincinnati. I signed up for an old school modeling school that taught you things like how to walk and do your makeup. When I got my first job modeling nursing scrubs, which was really exciting, the girl who was running the project offered to connect me to people. She sent me to New York to meet with agencies and here I am, still modeling and doing jobs for brands like Fenty Beauty, Calvin Klein, Skims, and Aerie, which was incredible because the billboard appeared in Times Square. Seeing myself three stories high? Just thinking about it makes me emotional because I think of that 13-year-old who came to the city for the first time and what she would’ve thought if she saw herself. At the end of the day, I’m a model, but it’s important for me to continue saying that I’m a curve model to emphasize that we’re still in the industry and representing curvy women. I never saw that growing up. I even remember Googling curvy models to see girls who looked like me but I could never find any. And by the way, I don’t mind being called ‘plus-size.’ I’ve always been strong and thick. When I came to New York, I had an agent ask me about my ‘weight gain story’ and that really threw me off because I’d always been this size—and it’s that way for a lot of women. There’s not necessarily something that ‘happened.’ We are women. We are curvy. That’s it. So, how did I get here? Well, I was just born. [Laughs] I’ve had to learn to take care of my skin well since I’m on set a lot. That means I don’t use a lot of active or really intense ingredients because I have eczema and psoriasis, and my skin can flare up pretty easily. That said, one of the best parts about being a model is that I get to try all sorts of products. Every makeup artist swears by different things, and somewhere along the way I heard about La Roche-Posay’s Cicaplast Balm. It’s changed the game for me. It’s so thick and hydrating, so I slather it on overnight when my skin is unhappy, and by the morning, my skin’s texture is a lot better. I always go back to Bioderma’s micellar water to take off my makeup—it never leaves a film. My eye makeup remover—the Bi-Facil from Lancôme—is a little oily though. It’s what I grab when I wear heavy eye makeup at work, but it’s gentle at the same time. Osea’s Ocean cleanser is really gentle, too—and it smells really good. My aesthetician—I see Gosia at Williamsburg Beauty Spa every two months or so—recommended that I use Biojuve’s Living Biome serum once a week because it has live probiotics, which are helpful with rosacea. I follow it up with the Activating mist, which is supposed to ‘activate’ the serum. And Weleda Skin Food Light is my go-to moisturizer year-round. It always leaves me with a beautiful base for makeup. I’m going to be honest: I don’t wear sunscreen every day. I’ve had a hard time finding one that doesn’t break me out. But if I know I’m going to be outside for more than 20 minutes, I like Supergoop!’s Every Single Face SPF 50. I love that it’s really watery and goes on smoothly. When it comes to body cleansers, I recently discovered Avène’s XeraCalm A.D cleansing oil. I feel like a lot of body washes leave your skin dry, but this one is not stripping at all. And I use Eucerin’s Eczema Relief Cream every morning and night, but especially when I have a photoshoot. It leaves this really beautiful glow on my skin but it doesn’t make me look shiny either. Oh, and the Aquaphor healing ointment? I use it on everything: on my lips, on my hands, on my elbows. Sometimes I use a tiny bit to slug if my face is super dry. By the way, I self-tan every two weeks, maybe a little bit more frequently in the winter because I’m typically shooting summer campaigns then so I need to have some color on me. I’m a pro at tanning by now. My favorite is the St. Tropez Self Tan Express Bronzing Mousse. It fades so gradually, it’s great. Tools-wise, I love my TheraFace. I use it to prep for shoots. It has so many attachments, but my favorite is the cold ring. I use a lot of ice on my face—sometimes I’ll dip my head in a bowl of water with a bunch of ice—but if I have enough time, I’ll grab the TheraFace or my gua sha cryo sticks. The TheraFace also has a hot ring that feels so great on my masseters, which tend to hold a lot of tension. And I love the Omnilux contour red light mask so much. I try to use it for 10 minutes every night and it helps so much with my rosacea. Even if I have windburn, if I use it before heading to bed, it’s gone by the next day. On a normal day, I don’t wear makeup. I like to let my skin breathe and have a rest from all the makeup at work. If I do wear something on a day off, I just curl my lashes and apply lip gloss and mascara. But I only wear tubing mascara because I struggle with raccoon eyes. The first time I discovered it, I literally wanted to cry because I used to carry around concealer and makeup wipes with me every day. Caliray and No7 make great ones. Caliray goes on a bit thicker so I use that one for more glam looks, whereas No7 is better for castings because it’s less dramatic. It helps too that I tint my lashes every two weeks. I never thought I would do that myself, but then I had a makeup artist tell me it was really easy and she was right. It takes five minutes, too. And Fenty Beauty makes my favorite gloss, the Gloss Bomb in Fu$$y. The shade’s not that far off from my actual lip color—and I never want to stray too far. Oh, and for a little extra touch because I don’t have defined lip lines, I love Mac’s liner in Stripdown. It’s a ‘90s classic. If I’m wearing a bit more makeup for a casting, I go for the Nars Soft Matte concealer. It blends really well and gives me good coverage. I have a couple of different shades because I like to mix them to really match my skin. Then I use the Nars Laguna bronzing cream in Laguna 02 on my eyelids. I picked this up from another makeup artist: If your eyelid is a little bit darker than your under eye, you look like you don’t have dark circles. The tails of my eyebrows don’t grow as thick as I’d like, so I fill them in with the Kosas Brow Pop Nano pencil in Medium Brown. Then I do a little touch of Merit’s highlighter in Bounce, too. It’s a little pink and not too shimmery. For blush, I love Nudestix’s blush stick in Bare Back, a cool nude that looks so, so natural on me. And I like to depot all of my face products and lipsticks into Vueset containers. It’s so much easier to travel or go to castings with two containers that are smaller than index cards than to pack a bunch of bottles. On the hair front, I go to David Bullen at Pearlita for cuts. But I don’t dye it—anymore. I went through a phase in high school where I dyed the bottom half of my head in all kinds of colors—the bottom was mom saying ‘yes’ to dyeing it and the top was to make my dad happy. But pink, blue, purple… You name it, I had it. That was enough for a lifetime. [Laughs] I wash my hair almost every day, but if I wasn’t on set all of the time, I would wash it twice a week. I love the Pacific Salty Wave shampoo and conditioner. They’re my secret find. A bottle of each is only $10. They don't have sulfates or parabens, but the shampoo still lathers, which is important to me because I don’t feel like I actually washed my hair otherwise. And the saltiness gives my hair great shape and volume. For styling, Redken’s Max Hold is the best. I love the nozzle because it sprays in a triangular mist, so it’s not too aggressive. And the ends of my hair really love the Badger herbal oil. It smells like almonds, which honestly is probably what really gets me. On the fragrance front I love citrus-y, musky-but-light scents. I ultimately want something that blends well with my skin and doesn’t stand out too much. I recently discovered Lunamaris from Diptyque. It’s supposed to remind you of moonlight—it’s inspired by the moon reflecting on the ocean—and I guess it does. It has pink peppercorn, incense, and rockrose. I’m quite conservative in spending, but it was worth the splurge. The same goes for Santa Maria Novella’s Cinquanta. I bought it in Florence last November. It’s meant to be a blend of Japanese and Italian culture, so it’s got bergamot, grapefruit, and orange blossom as a nod to Florence and green tea as a nod to Kyoto. I found the brand through TikTok actually—everyone was posting about it in Florence—and it was my first real introduction to high-end fragrance. It’s insane that they’ve been around since 1221. 804 years? That’s crazy.” —As told to Daise Bedolla Photographed by Shana Trajanoska in Brooklyn on February 18, 2025

May 28, 2025

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How Tracey Cunningham Colored 17 Stars’ Hair For The Oscars

Very few people can say they were as busy as Tracey Cunningham last week. Leading up to the Academy Awards, the celebrity colorist worked with 20 clients in a five day sprint. There was Amy Poehler, who walked the Oscars’ stage in a Cunningham dye-job as she presented two Academy Awards. There was also Emma Stone, who got a last-minute touch-up in her hotel room the night before. In between, Cunningham visited Kris Jenner, J.Lo, Lindsay Lohan, and Julia Louis-Dreyfus. The Mèche Salon founder and Omi chief innovation officer took us through her whirlwind week—from her many appointments, Erewhon pitstops, and the coffee combo that powered her 4AM wake-up calls, below. Wednesday, February 26Some mornings are meant for slow, luxurious wake-ups. This was not one of them. My alarm went off at 7AM—later than usual, but justifiable. The night before, I’d been at Nicole Richie’s for a house call, which meant I allowed myself the rare indulgence of sleeping in. But now I needed coffee, so I made my usual: Danger coffee (organic and mold-free) laced with Garden of Life MCT oil (for brain health). At 9AM sharp, my assistant Burke arrived ready for the day ahead. We picked up Ashley, my other assistant, at the Calabasas Erewhon, where I ordered a Brainstorm smoothie with extra protein. Because mornings should always come with a little kick, I added a shot of espresso. Then we were off. Destination: Montecito, to see the one and only Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Highlights, lowlights, base. Afterward, she suggested Bettina for lunch, but life had other plans in the form of a “Closed” sign. Before heading to Merci, we made a quick stop at Doên, where I fell in love with (and obviously bought) the most perfect navy blue cashmere sweater. There’s something about a good cashmere sweater that makes the day feel instantly better. At Merci, I had the most perfect red lentil soup, chicken, and chicory salad. And because I am who I am, I also had an iced matcha, no milk. After I ate, I took my Omi hair growth peptide capsules because if I’m committed to anything, it’s good hair. They’ve given me stronger, healthier, and fuller hair since I started taking them a few months ago. We arrived at Anastasia Soare’s house at 6:15PM. Yes, that’s the eyebrow queen herself. Everything about her home was effortlessly elegant, as you’d expect. She made delicious decaffeinated tea and served it in Hermès teacups. Her Shark Speed Style caught my eye, and because Anastasia is Anastasia, she simply handed me an extra one. Our last stop of the day was with Jennifer Lopez. We did her base and then balayage highlights—just enough to brighten up her signature honey-dark locks. After we rinsed, I applied Olaplex No. 4 shampoo and No. 1 Bond Multiplier [Ed. note: only sold to salons for professional use! No. 3 is similar and formulated for at-home use] and she hopped in the shower. Just like that, our job was done. By 10, I was home. No scrolling. No late-night distractions. Just bed. Because at 4AM, my alarm would go off again, and at 6AM, Kris Jenner would be waiting. Thursday, February 27There’s something about waking up before the world does that feels almost cinematic—if only I weren’t so groggy when it happened. I made my Danger coffee with a dash of OMI Skin Matrix peptides [Ed. note: not available yet] because collagen doesn’t maintain itself, and another splash of my MCT oil. Feeling a little depleted before the day had even begun, I took a salt bath with Saint Jane Deep Sleep bath salts and a generous pour of Kneipp arnica bath oil—it does wonders. Then, at precisely 5AM, Burke arrived, and off we went to Calabasas to see Kris. She got Schwarzkopf Igora Royal at the base and Vibrance on the ends. And then Kris got a blowout, as always, with the Olaplex blow dry mist. Afterwards, while making our way to Mèche, we made the mandatory pilgrimage to the Beverly Hills Erewhon. I ordered my usual—a Brainstorm Smoothie with extra protein and an espresso shot because, well, it was early. We arrived at the salon right on time—9:45—and I walked into a full day of clients. The Highlights, literally and figuratively: —Ashley Tisdale came in looking effortlessly cool as always. We did a full head of highlights, an Olaplex treatment and a 4-in-1 moisture mask [Ed. note: this is only available to hair professionals] to keep her hair healthy and luminous. —Maria Bakalova arrived to get ready for her Oscar parties. We did a soft smudge, which is a delicate way of breaking the base, using Schwarzkopf Igora Royal 9-1 with 30 volume, followed by 8-11 with 20 volume at the roots. We left it on for six minutes—enough to lift the color without making it obvious. Then, we made it a little lighter with an Olaplex treatment and then finished with a Olaplex deep conditioner. The result? Ethereal. —Amy Poehler stopped by because, you know, Oscars. We made sure her blonde was Oscars-ready with Schwarzkopf BlondMe and an Olaplex treatment. A little polish, a little strength—exactly what a big night like this calls for. —Shiri Appleby was looking for a richer color. We used Schwarzkopf Igora at the root and Vibrance on the ends. It’s a subtle shift but the kind that makes all the difference. —Becki Newton, who is currently filming season 4 of The Lincoln Lawyer (one of my favorites!), came in for a quick smudge—enough to keep everything seamless on camera—using Schwarzkopf Igora Royal. At some point between foils and finishing sprays, we ordered lunch from Leora. I had the tuna sandwich—simple, perfect, satisfying, my favorite. It’s the kind of sandwich that reminds you that life’s little pleasures are often the best ones. Then I took my Omi peptides because, if I’m going to keep everyone else’s hair in top shape, I should probably start with my own. By 6PM, it was time to step out of the salon and into something a little more celebratory. Naomi Whittel, the founder of Omi, and I headed to Chez Mia for a dinner honoring a longevity doctor—because who doesn’t want to live forever, or at least look like they do? It was one of those whirlwind days. Friday, February 28I woke up at 7AM, which, for me, is practically sleeping in. Coffee. Always coffee. I decided to go with the Hiker vanilla and added a generous pour of my MCT oil, because that’s who I am now. And because every good morning ritual should come with a beauty boost, I took one scoop of my Omi Skin Matrix peptides, too. I ordered breakfast on the way to work, but, in classic me fashion, I didn’t touch it for hours. Cold eggs, room-temp avocado toast… Delicious. Next was Zoey Deutch, who was ready for some fresh color. We went with Schwarzkopf Igora Vibrance Rich, the kind of shade that turns heads. Then, Kyle MacLachlan came in, looking every bit the leading man. He’s filming season 2 of Fallout, the post-apocalyptic series that took everyone by surprise last year. The first season was a massive hit, blending dark humor with sci-fi elements, a bit like Twin Peaks meets Wasteland. We touched up his hair, keeping it effortlessly rugged for the role. Up next: Lindsay Lohan. She was in the mood for a little glow-up. First, we smudged her roots to soften her base, added highlights, and finished with an Olaplex 4-in-1 deep conditioning treatment to keep her hair healthy and luminous. Sophie Thatcher was next. She’s been making waves with her roles in Yellowjackets and Companion. She came in blonde but left with a deep auburn. I then sent her off to get a facial with Athena Hewett, the founder of Monastery Skincare who was in town for Oscars weekend. Then it was Melanie Griffith’s turn to sit in the chair. We kept her her classic blonde. I also had Mona May, the brilliant costume designer behind Clueless. Nearly 30 years later, they’re adapting the movie into a stage musical set to debut in the West End. I can’t wait.Once I got home, I applied my Olaplex No. 5 scalp treatment and added the No. 3 Hair Perfector on my ends. I braided my hair, had a nice long soak in the bathtub, and went to bed. Saturday, March 1I woke up, made my special coffee blend, and took my supplements because consistency is key. Then I fed my four cats, who acted like they hadn’t eaten in days. I got a workout in, just enough to feel accomplished. Then Ashley picked me up and we headed to Emma Stone’s hotel to color her hair: 20 minutes with Schwarzkopf Igora Vibrance followed by a rinse with Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance shampoo and a little Olaplex No. 5 leave-in to finish. (The night of, Mara Roszak did her hair and Rachel Goodwin was on makeup duty. See below.) One house call, and I was done. I went to a birthday party in Santa Monica with a few friends later that night. It was fun until my friend broke her toe, so we called it early. I came home, got cozy, and rewatched the second season of The White Lotus. It was the perfect ending to a quiet day. Sunday, March 2Some Sundays are full of plans and some are about settling in. Today was the latter. I spent the morning with Maya Rudolph, which is always a good way to begin the day. After that, I got a workout in, and then I came home, turned on the TV, and let the hours pass, waiting for the Oscars. I, like everyone else, watched half-invested in the speeches, fully invested in the gowns. A good Sunday. Simple, easy, and just the way I like it. Photos courtesy of Tracey Cunningham and Rachel Goodwin

May 28, 2025

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The Thrill Of Your Best Friend’s Makeup Bag

All great love stories have a great beginning. Mine began with an email. Except, it’s not the kind of love story you’re thinking about. Mine is of great friendship with my best friend, Daniela Morosini, who you might know from her reporting at The Business of Beauty. The year was 2019, and I was working at New York’s The Cut as a social media editor and moonlighting as a beauty writer. Kathleen Hou, my then editor and now the Beauty Director at Elle, passed along Daniela’s name for Why Is Your Skin So Good, my column devoted to uncovering people’s skincare secrets. On October 8, I wrote to Daniela, “Hope you’re well. Could you tell me more about your skincare routine + beauty philosophy for consideration? Would love a list of the products that you use and how you got into skincare.” (It was only last year that I learned that she thought I was being passive aggressive from the tone of my email.) Little did I know that one short message would spark a years-long friendship that’s transcended an ocean—3,470 miles to be exact. You see, I live in New York City and Daniela lives in London, where she grew up. That means maintaining our relationship requires a bit more work than your average friendship. There’s the meticulously scheduled FaceTimes and phone calls, the surprising care packages and snail mail, and most recently, Locket, an iPhone widget that lets you share live photos directly on a person’s homescreen. It’s always a bright spot in my day when I unlock my phone and see that she left behind a silly little selfie or encouraging note. And of course, because we’re both beauty-obsessed girls, we’ve left each other plenty of product recs and reviews, albeit short ones (Locket only lets you leave a note under 25 characters!), along the way. Ahead of Galentine’s Day this year, we wrote each other letters expanding our thoughts on the ones we can’t stop gushing over. I hope they inspire you to write your own best friend a sweet note, too, beauty products included or not. Dear Daniela, light of my life, It’s another cold, windy day in New York without you—dramatic or not dramatic enough? I can’t wait for the day that you move here and we can grab coffee and talk endlessly without having to worry about the five-hour time difference. In the meantime, I need to catch you up on a few things. You already know that I fell down the huge flight of stairs in my building the other day (I’m bruised but fine!), but what I really want to tell you is that I think I might have a problem? I opened my purse yesterday and found that I had not one, not two, but 12 (!!) lippies inside. The Fara Homidi liner you gave me in LA last June was in there. You nailed it when you picked Minky for me. It pairs so beautifully with just about any one of my lip glosses, but lately, I’ve been topping it off with Eadem Le Chouchou in Burnt Malai or Ami Colé lip oil in Excellence. You know I’m a sucker for dusty rose shades and those two perfectly fit the bill. And by the way, I’m still obsessed with the Lily-Rose Depp combo of Chanel lip liner in Nude Brun and Rouge Coco Flash in Boy. But when I want something a teensy bit brighter (don’t laugh, you know I’m afraid of color!), I go for the Westman Atelier Squeaky Clean balm in Petal or the U Beauty lip compound in Rom Com, which I swear I manifested into the world; it’s wonderfully pink with the perfect amount of shimmer. I have one waiting for you in my apartment. By the way, every single part of my body is dry as a husk right now—sexy, I know—and the same goes for my lips. Keeping them moisturized and flake-free has been a process. But I have my arsenal: Dr. Dennis Gross’s lip treatment (which gives me a beautiful plump, too!), Anfisa’s Ân-Gloss (I have one in every single purse), Glossier’s Balm Dotcom (in Black Cherry obviously) and Retrouvé’s serum (it’s always first in my multi-step lip routine). This is what they meant when they said it takes a village, right? Meanwhile, I’ve been dry brushing my body like crazy with my Tronque brush, and if I’m feeling extra motivated or I’m not freezing before jumping into the shower, I’ll exfoliate with the Lilis Instant Peel. The true cherry on top is Kate McLeod’s daily body stone though. It’s incredibly buttery and leaves my skin so, so soft. I want a never-ending supply. I can go through them pretty quickly, so in order to make them last, Neutrogena’s light sesame oil is my girl. I keep a bottle in my shower and pat it on while my skin is still wet on the days I give my stones a rest. Keeping my face and hands moisturized is another story. I’ve been exfoliating with Danucera’s D22 Tonic every morning and night since I got a facial with Danuta at Rescue Spa—you have to go!—and that’s made a huge difference in the way my creams sit (and how my skin feels and looks). So the order goes: toner, face mist (I finished bottles of S’Eau Prima’s and La Prairie’s), eye cream (I ran out of my Bioeffect EGF power cream and opened my Augustinus Bader rich one), and moisturizer (I know you like the SkinFix Barrier+ cream, too). And then you know you got me hooked on Ultra Violette Supreme Screen years ago—I can’t count how many bottles I’ve gone through or that you’ve sent me across the pond. And for my hands? Generous layers of Koba’s hand cream and Dr. Dana’s cuticle oil—or Essies’ apricot roller when I want a little fragrance. I love that the oil comes in a roller because I’ve spilled so many dropper bottles before. Oh and don’t be alarmed, but I’m changing… You know how I used to hate perfumes on the sweeter side? Turns out I had just never found ones that resonated with me. I still wear Victoria Beckham’s Suite 302 for dates—it’s sultry and smoky after all—but for everyday, I’ve been loving Guidance 46 by Amouage, Ambra by Santa Maria Novella, and The Apartment by Abel, all mixed with my signature Vanilj by Maya Njie—Amber Grimes told me you have to confuse people with your scent and I took that to heart. None of them are cloyingly sweet, only cozy and warm, and with Vanilj? Ugh, I’m obsessed. BTW: I know you love Guidance 46; I think of you every time I wear it. Also! I know every beauty writer always says they get sooo many compliments when they wear a certain perfume, but that’s really the case here. I promise! Don’t worry, I'm not changing too much. I got a mani-pedi at Jin Soon in Tribeca this week—we’ll go when you’re here, my treat—and still got the classic Daise combo: Catbird Baby Pearl (I want pearl everything, always) on my hands and Jin Soon Crush (my replacement for Essie’s Clambake, RIP) on my toes. Some things will just never change, like my love for you. ILY, IMY,x Daise P.S. You were absolutely right about the Rhode pocket blushes. They really do live up to the hype. I’m newly obsessed with Piggy and Freckle. They leave behind the most perfect flush. What’s your favorite shade? My sweet baby Daise, This week I’ve spoken about you so much that one of my colleagues told me, and I quote, “I can tell how much you love her because of how you smile when you speak about her.” We are never beating the wifey allegations, and I’m OK with that. It’s just as grim in London as it is in New York—sludgy, aggressive rain and damp air that has made my sweater stick to my back even while I’m shivering. I spent all this week rattling around alone in my apartment binge-watching Law and Order: SVU before Netflix takes it offline in a few days here. I realize that when we’re not physically together, there are few other folks who I want to really spend that much time with. This is an issue to such an extent that my therapist told me I need to “find more Daises” (don’t worry; I fired him.) BUT talking to you is a ray of sunshine, especially when we’re gabbing all things beauty, our shared language, our starting point, our North Star. As you know, I just got back from a long trip to Melbourne, and packing for a trip is a great test of what beauty products you actually love. Here’s what I learned: There are many good conditioners on the market, including the eye-poppingly expensive Sisley Restructuring conditioner ($90!), which does make my hair feel like cashmere. But the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Glycolic Gloss conditioner is so good, too, and when I failed to pack enough for a three-week trip (because Cathay Pacific have some bizarro rule about three-ton vats in your checked bag), I was able to grab another in Chemist Warehouse and enjoy the same silky soft hair. I love it! Other things for my hair I couldn’t quit: Oribe’s Gold Lust mask, for extra TLC. But also! In Australia I rediscovered Kevin Murphy. Did you ever get into this brand? It was in the UK for a hot minute but seems to have disappeared, but as an Aussie brand, it’s thankfully still around Down Under. It’s… amazing?? Every product feels so pro, smells amazing and just WORKS. The Ever Bounce blow dry spray is my favorite right now. Now you know I’m a makeup girlie. One of the many things we have in common is a love of stuffing our purses so full of lip oils, balms, and tints that we are technically carrying a semi-lethal weapon. Right now, I think we both love our Summer Fridays lip balms—Iced Coffee is my go-to—but have you gotten into the Dream lip oils? They’re a holy grail for me. They give you color and shine but no stickiness. Blush Dreams and Pink Cloud are to die for. Also, I know we’ve both been swatching the Rhode Peptide Lip Shapes. I like Lift and Bend smudged together with balm in the middle. Try it! I also think the new Celine Le Rouge lipsticks are just really, really good. They clunk shut with a satisfying, just-closed-the-Benz plunk, have a chic gold tube, and a gorgeous, satin-y color payoff. I’ve been wearing Le 16 and La Peau Nue the most. Oh, and we’re still coordinating our Rhode Pocket blushes too, right? Toasted Teddy is my fave. It’s also good on your lips. (Speaking of pockets, please tell me you’ve tried the Chanel Le Lift hand cream now? It’s so adorably pocket-sized.) If you were staying at mine this weekend, here’s where we’d be right now: We’d be standing in front of my fridge, pulling out a bottle of wine and some chocolate covered fruit (I know you love that), and I’d be getting you to pick a sheet mask or two out of my cooler. My friend Ramòn stocked me up last week, so I have loads that he got in Korea: CosRx, Dr. Jart+, JM Solution... I would for sure let you use my La Mer Soft Cream—no one else though. Even if you said your elbows were dry, I’d offer you it. That’s how special you are! I would also let you use my Poems From The Lab Future Focus, which I get shipped from Canada. It is the best vitamin C, and Stephen Ko, who made it, is a genius. No weird smell, no oxidizing, just gorgeous, glowy, plump skin. Also, while I was in Australia, Alex Padgett, the founder of Educated Mess, gave me a bunch of her products. Freeze Frame is incredible. I feel so snatched after using it—you know I love a peptide… or eight. She’d just gotten her clinical trials back while we had lunch, and I could tell from how visibly emotional she was that they were good. I have lost count of how many toners/essences/milks I’m rocking with, but it’s pretty much Rhode Glazing Milk or the La Mer essence. For some reason, I have to apply lip balm while I do this? Any flavor of Laneige sleeping mask will do but ideally Vanilla. Finally, fragrance. You know that I love a naughty but nice scent: sweet but then not; feminine but then sharp; come closer and then step back. Right now, the one that’s doing it for me is Guerlain L'Art & La Matiere Tobacco Honey. It’s totally irresistible. But I also will never turn my back on Attrape-Rêves from Louis Vuitton, which smells like our trip to LA last year and you braiding my hair and us re-upping our sunscreen in Erewhon and and and and––––– Yours always,x Daniela P.S. Paddington says hi. Photos via Daise Bedolla and Daniela Morosini

May 28, 2025

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Sophie Dalah, Chef, Sophie’s Table

“I grew up in Sydney, Australia, and I got really lucky in high school by booking a big acting job in Unbroken, the 2014 movie directed by Angelina Jolie. My role was completely cut in the end, but the job took me to LA and helped me get my visa. I did a few other films, but honestly, when I don’t feel passionate about a project it is hard for me to give it the attention it deserves. That’s all to say that I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, but I did know that I always loved cooking—I even had a food blog when I was younger. Then a friend of mine who was planning to open a cafe asked me to create their breakfast menu. I spent months doing that but nothing ever happened with that concept because the cafe never opened. But it was the first time that I developed recipes professionally and it made me realize that I wanted to do more of it, so I became a private chef. As I threw these amazing dinner parties, more people started hiring me. One thing led to the next and I opened my catering and production company, Sophie’s Table. Our events seat anywhere from 10 to 300 guests in LA and New York. I’ve been fortunate enough to work with brands like Rhode, Sezane, Oddli, Orebella by Bella Hadid, and Sephora. What’s really special is that in addition to allowing me to make food that I love, these events give me the opportunity to create beautiful tablescapes. When I worked with Thuma, the bedroom furniture company, we created an ice tower; we designed food trays that matched the color of their wood, which felt very poetic, and we had a florist create incredible designs with plants. On the menu level, since the company is San-Francisco based, everything was inspired by the city. The theme was ’sourdough.’ We had seafood, of course—oysters and skewers of mussels brined in tomato vinegar with Iraqi pickled carrots. The carrots were inspired by my dad. Growing up, we always had this big jar of pickles in the fridge that my dad would constantly stuff with food scraps. My dad has a catering company, too, so it was a full circle moment to include one of his dishes into a project of my own. SKINCAREI have dry skin that gets a little bit red and bumpy sometimes, so I try not to use too much on it. Sometimes I just splash water on my face in the mornings. If I do use a cleanser, it’s Biba de Sousa’s daily one. Lately, I’ve been spritzing myself with Goldfaden MD’s Mist Rx—it’s great after I’ve done my makeup, too—before doing a layer of Merit’s Great Skin serum. My skin really soaks it up. I have dark eye circles quite naturally that look sort of sunken—and I also don’t really like sleeping that much—so I always look tired, but I genuinely think Goldfaden’s Bright Eyes concentrate helps. Then I apply either Merit’s Great Skin moisturizer or Emma Lewisham’s Supernatural rich cream and let it dry. Emma’s from Australia, too. She also has this fantastic illuminating body oil that’s slightly bronzy and leaves me so glowy. And I do my best with sunscreen. Some of my makeup has SPF, but when I’m not wearing one with sunscreen, I like Lesse’s Every Tone SPF 30, which are these really light drops that leave me feeling fresh-faced. Oh, and the only lip mask I like is Ilia’s Lip Wrap. I’m quite reluctant with balms because they usually make my lips even more dry, but I love wearing a thick layer of this to bed and I always wake up with soft lips. And, that’s pretty much it. I don’t get facials—although I want to start—and I don’t do Botox. The one time I got lip filler, I panicked and got it dissolved two weeks later. I think I went a little overboard and my lips felt bumpy. By the way, getting lip filler hurt so much. It felt like I was getting my lips pierced. And then getting it dissolved? Just as painful. MAKEUPI always keep my skin pretty minimal, but I love Ciele’s serum foundation in Light Medium. It gives me some coverage but truly leaves my skin feeling like it’s still my skin and not like I’m wearing a mask. It also has SPF 50. The Saie Slip Tint concealer isn’t heavy either. I use shades 3 and 5 depending on the season. I mostly use it on my eyes, but I use it to cancel out any redness on my skin, too. The Rhode Pocket blush in Freckle is so beautiful on the apples of my cheeks. I also like my lips to look a little bit blushed rather than well-lined and this is the perfect product to achieve that. Otherwise, I love Merit’s Signature Lip in Court, a warm brick color, all over. Their Shade Slick in Sangria is also beautiful. One thing about me: I love a heavy eye and brow. Chanel’s brow powder is amazing. It goes on pretty lightly so you can build it up as much as you want. I’ve tried some others that were way too faint, but with this one, I can add more and still have control over the intensity so I never come away feeling like my eyebrows are two completely different colors or shapes. You can’t really fuck it up. Meanwhile, any old liquid eyeliner will do, although I recently tried NYX’s Epic Ink liner and I’m obsessed because it’s easy to put on and lasts forever. I’ve tried so many expensive ones that lasted me all of two weeks before fading or drying out, which makes it so hard to do clean lines. I always go for a brown shade. But as for mascara…I never wear it. I find it really hard to remove, and I already don’t have a lot of lashes so I don’t need to put them through the wringer. HAIR & FRAGRANCEI cut my own hair, which I learned by confidence and instinct—and a lot of bad haircuts. [Laughs] Sometimes it’s the best cut ever—I’ve had friends ask me to do their hair because I get it so right. I even had a friend who is a model ask me. I remember telling her I probably shouldn’t because she relies on her looks, but she was very happy in the end. To wash, I use the Davines Momo shampoo and conditioner. They smell so good, and I like the way my hair feels after I use them. I also recently got Uni’s hydrating shampoo and conditioner and I’m a fan so far. And the Crown Affair leave-in is a must. I have a lot of hair but it’s really fine, so it can get really knotty, especially when I’m in New York and I wear a jacket. I feel better having some sort of ‘protection’ on it. Serge Lutens discontinued Jeux de Peau for so long, but I’m so happy they recently brought it back. They’re going to disagree with me, but I reckon it smells like buttered popcorn. [Laughs] There was a nuttiness to it when I first smelled it, too. It’s so unique and has become my favorite smell. At home, I like to burn piñon incense because I love a woody, smoky smell. But I especially love the smell when I make a giant chicken stock and leave it on the stove for 12 hours.” —As told to Daise Bedolla Photographed by Brittany Bravo in Los Angeles on August 6, 2024

May 28, 2025

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