I’ve always looked forward to Sephora sales but they’ve taken on a whole new meaning now that I’m a beauty brand founder. I’ve tried so many brands and products in the last year that I know exactly what I’m looking for. I want non-comedogenic products that won’t break me out, I need color products that last for the entire day, and I want innovative textures and formulas that deliver something new and different. I care equally about my skin’s health and how good I feel when I’m wearing a product. I only want products that I’m genuinely excited to use, products that bring me a bit of joy in my morning or evening routine. Our forthcoming Annadea products remain my favorites in my makeup bag, but here are my other go-to’s, all available at Sephora.

Sophie Pavitt Face Omega Rich Moisturizer

I interviewed Sophie Pavitt last year and have been obsessed with this moisturizer since. It feels indulgent without being greasy, occlusive, or overly rich. I can put whatever makeup I want over it, or I can wear it without makeup and still get that dewy glow. I’ve even got Kyle addicted to it!

Tatcha Essence

This is the first thing that touches my face after I cleanse. It’s formulated with a trio of fermented Japanese superfoods that are proven to hydrate, resurface, soften, and plump skin. It’s pricey but it delivers!

Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist 2-in-1 Hydrator & Finishing Spray

I love a good mist, and this one is incredible. It smells wonderful (I’m usually anti-fragrance but this one is light and refreshing and doesn’t give me a headache). My skin is always dewy and hydrated after a few spritzes.

Rhode Glazing Mist

This is one of the only mists I own that has an immediate cosmetic benefit. It’s formulated with emollients that create a glazed skin appearance and it is so pretty. Kyle also likes to steal this one ;)

Dr. Dennis Gross Vitamin C Serum

I’ve used this serum for seven years. It is my ride or die. It’s formulated with lactic acid to increase absorption–I always look for this in Vitamin C products–and it delivers on its brightening promise.

Sofie Pavitt Face Mandelic Clearing Serum

Another product from New York’s Acne Whisperer, this serum is my holy grail for clearing breakouts. As soon as I feel one come on I reach for this!

Westman Atelier Contour Stick in Biscuit

I think Westman Atelier is the first clean brand that understands the difference between a warm bronze and a color contour; as a result, this is the perfect cool tone for contouring. The formula is creamy, blendable, and user-friendly. I only buy the small version because it lasts for a very long time.

Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks in Petal

The ultimate everyday blush. It’s creamy and blendable like the contour stick, and the shade is perfect (all of their shades are on point). It’s the blush I wear most often.

Rhode Pocket Blush in Toasted Teddy

I understand why this is one of their top-selling shades. I didn’t think the color would be right for me but I was proven wrong–it’s a gorgeous, warm, bronzey terracotta. It’s almost a blush-bronzer hybrid. Rhode’s blushes also have a long wear.

Kosas Cloud Set in Breezy

This is another product I was dubious about but man, it is stunning. My pores disappear–it’s blurring and not cakey at all.

Tower28 Sunny Days in Melrose

You’ve heard me talk about Tower28 over and over again, and this is my go-to everyday complexion product. It has SPF30 which fits my mostly indoor lifestyle. (For a day outside I’d prefer SPF 40 or 50.) The coverage is light and natural, but also hides complexion imperfections very well.

Tower28 Swipe All-Over Hydrating Serum Concealer

This product is in every makeup artist’s kit and I understand why. This hydrating concealer performs incredibly well, doesn’t look cakey or creasy, and lasts all day.

Refy Lip Gloss in Rosewood

This has been my favorite lip gloss for two years in a row. It’s the perfect neutral shade, it feels hydrating but not tacky, and makes you feel instantly put together.

Merit Brow 1990 Ultra Fine Eyebrow Gel Pencil in Taupe

Ultra fine is accurate! This little pencil allows you to make the most delicate eyebrow strokes.

Patrick Ta Blush in She’s Wanted

This is not a clean brand, but the wear and performance of this blush are incredible. I get compliments every single time I wear it–it gives you that first-kiss-flush–and it’s so pigmented that it’ll last me for a very, very long time.

Rhode Lip Shape in Twist

I bought this on a girls’ trip into Sephora and I’m so glad I did. The blunt end does a great job of creating a soft, smudgy lip line that is forgiving and more undone. My lips have never looked fuller.

Westman Atelier Mini Petite Lit Up Glassy Gel Highlighter Stick in Nectar

The perfect amount of targeted highlight when I want to look glowing and radiant for the camera. Just a bit on the cheek bones, lids, and tip of my nose. I especially like this paired with a fuller coverage, more matte foundation to bring life back to my skin.

Haus Labs Triclone Skin Tech Medium Coverage Foundation

It says medium coverage but for me this is a full coverage moment. This non-comedogenic formula doesn’t break me out and doesn’t feel heavy on my skin.

Tower28 ShineOn Lip Jelly Hydrating Non-Sticky Lip Oil in Cashew

They describe this shade as a milky rose brown and I think it’s the perfect neutral lip shade. It’s high-shine and very hydrating.

Make Up Forever Artist Color Pencil Long-Lasting Lip Liner in Anywhere Caffeine

This shade is described as a “warm caramel nude” and has been my go-to since a makeup artist used it on me two years ago. I’m also going to pick up the other cult favorite shades Endless Cacao and Wherever Walnut.

m.ph Lip Ciggy Sheer Lipstick Balm in First Base

Hydrating and lightweight with a sheer wash of color, I love the balmy formula and its unique blurring effect on my lips. And the packaging is so chic. I will also be trying the shade Love Bites, described as a “sheer black currant” now that it’s back in stock!

Tower 28 Beauty Make Waves Mascara in Drift

I am usually underwhelmed by clean beauty mascaras but this one is volumizing and not flaky. My one critique is that it’s a bit hard to get off, but trust that it’s longwearing! I have it in black and brown but have been loving the brown (shade Drift) for a softer makeup look.

m.ph Le Skin Weightless Serum Foundation

I’ve seen this all over the internet from so many artists and influencers who I deeply trust, so I’m excited to try it. It’s marketed as lightweight, breathable, and hydrating–all words I love to hear when it comes to complexion products. It has one comedogenic ingredient (polyglyceryl-4 isostearate, which has a low comedogenicity) but I know my skin well enough to know that this ingredient won’t break me out.

Westman Atelier HydroBalm Sheer Tinted Lipstick

I’ve been waiting for the Sephora sale to try this–as you can see from my other recommendations, I love Westman’s formulas and I’ve heard great things about this one. It’s pricier, which is why I’m waiting for it to go on sale!

Refy Skin Base Hydrating Gel Skin Tint

I’m drawn to the finish of this product, despite the fact that I think there’s a hygiene issue with putting brushes in contact with the primary packaging. The formula is described as nearly undetectable coverage, which I love to hear as a natural makeup girl.

Summer Fridays Blush Butter Balm Hydrating Cream Blush in Sweet Rosé

This formula is infused with skincare ingredients and looks so dewy and hydrating. This formula has 3 comedogenic ingredients in it which would usually be a flag for me but I know that 2 of them do not break me out and the third, when formulated correctly, does not clog pores. So I’m banking a bit on this being the correct formulation.

U Beauty The SUPER Tinted Hydrator Tinted Moisturizer

I have been wanting this for months but keep talking myself out of it because of the price tag! Someone de-influence me if it’s not as great as all the influencers say it is…

What are you stocking up on?!

Let me preface this post by saying that if you think I’m just a little nuts by the end of this newsletter, you’re probably right–I decided to build a brand new company in a new-to-me industry while 6 months pregnant and in the thick of creating my first real cookbook. I remember the Friday night that Kyle and I dreamed up this crazy idea–we were on our weekly date night, talking excitedly about everything that 2025 would bring, and I threw the suggestion out there. He loved it. We’d talked about so many ideas in the past and none of them really stuck, so I half expected this would be the same. This was an industry that neither of us had any experience in, and one that Kyle doesn’t even really participate in as a consumer. Buoyed by his positive response, I texted my business coach who happened to be in town for SXSW and asked for an urgent meeting on her last day in Austin.

I distinctly remember wearing my favorite pink summer dress, rushing from an influencer event at SunLife Organics (still carrying my rainbow colored smoothie), and taking the elevator up to the rooftop restaurant of my coach’s downtown hotel. I was sure she’d tell me this was a bad idea. She had often cautioned me against getting too excited about distracting projects that didn’t make sense and I figured this was no different. We sat down, I steeled myself for her pushback and doubled down on my pitch.

“Amy,” I said, “I want to start a beauty company.”

She smiled, leaned forward, and said “I think that’s a great idea!”

Pleasantly surprised, I asked her why–she was on the early team at Glossier and had experience building billion dollar beauty brands. Why me? I’m a food content creator and my only corporate experience was at PwC working in consulting. She explained that my journey into beauty simply made sense–as someone who found their way into recipe creation as a means to heal their skin, creating beauty products that would similarly keep my skin happy and glowing was a natural evolution. She also shed light on how rewarding and fun the beauty industry can be–if done well, you get to make a positive impact in a woman’s life, every single day. I was heartened to hear her confidence in my leadership abilities and my creative vision and I became more and more excited to talk about product ideas. She jumped straight into helping us think through the right team we’d have to assemble, ideal launch timing, and some go to market strategies.

So now we’re here–five months out from launching our beauty company, Annadea. I’ve been working on this in secret for the past ten months and it has provided some of the highest highs and lowest lows. As always, in this newsletter I will be transparent with you about what it’s actually like to build a new company from scratch. There have been many moments where I’ve wanted to simply give up because the challenges seemed insurmountable, where I’ve questioned myself and felt immense imposter syndrome, and where I’ve found myself realizing just how little I know about the beauty industry. At the same time, I’ve never felt so creatively stimulated, energized, and inspired.

You still might be wondering, why me? Haven’t we seen enough influencer brands? Do we need another beauty brand? There are plenty of skincare and makeup products out there, many of which are really good. But I do believe there’s room for something better, both from a product and a brand perspective. Beauty has come a long way, but it’s still an industry driven by expert marketing and occasional fear-mongering tactics. I’ve learned that many of the formulas we see on shelves are just slight iterations of each other, but sold as totally different products. I’ve learned that a lot of companies buy stock formulas and slap a brand on them, not being intentional about how they’re crafting their products and more importantly, who they’re crafting them for. I still feel like I have to make compromises about what I use–either I’m optimizing for skin-safe ingredients or I’m optimizing for performance. If I’ve got a big event or photoshoot that I want to look camera-ready for, I brace myself for the inevitable skin flare-ups that will crop up in the subsequent days. If I’m trying to treat my skin well, I know I’ll have to touch up my makeup at least a couple of times throughout the day.

The journey of going from an avid consumer to an informed founder will be one that continues for years into this venture, but the most important thing I’ve done to ready myself for our upcoming launch is to hire a small but mighty team of people who have expertise that complements my own. We have a leader of product development, a supply chain and ops consultant, a Chief Brand Officer, a Chief Financial Officer, a creative and marketing operations lead, and Kyle and myself. We all have our areas of expertise, but we collaborate on almost every decision we make.

I’ve also spent hundreds if not thousands of hours burying myself in research and testing. I had ChatGPT put together an educational training program for me, I’ve read and listened to every beauty article and podcast I can find, I’ve called friends and professional contacts who work in or around the beauty industry, and I’ve tested all the products I can find in our competitive set. I know I’ve only touched the tip of the iceberg in terms of everything there is to know and understand about product development but I’ve never been more excited to learn something.

My entire entrepreneurial career has revolved around figuring out how to heal my skin and treat my body right from the inside out. It’s why I started cooking, why I started experimenting with different diets, and why I started filming and sharing the recipes I loved. It’s also why I have been buying and trying skincare and makeup products for years, desperate to find a brand that would fulfill my high standards and expectations around the stuff I put on my face. As we send our first three formulas into final production, I can confidently say that these are the best three beauty products in my makeup bag right now. I can’t wait to share them with the rest of the world, soon.

Follow @annadeabeauty for the BTS of building the brand (including our team introduction video)!

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If you’ve been here for a while, you know that Tower 28 makes my favorite tinted mineral SPF. I use it every single day and it consistently makes my skin glowy and even-toned, and it never breaks me out. Since finding and falling in love with the tinted SPF, I’ve tried almost everything else they make and have been similarly enamored with the products. So when I learned that they were expanding the SOS line and launching a new body wash, I was already intrigued. When the team offered me the chance to sit down with their founder and CEO, Amy Liu, to talk about how she thinks about product development and building a modern beauty brand, I knew it was the perfect way to start a new year of Extra Scoop.

I care a lot about what I put on my skin, but I care just as much about who is behind the products. As a founder myself, I am endlessly interested in the people who are steering the brands we see on shelves and in our feeds—how they make decisions, what they choose to prioritize, and how they navigate the space between integrity and growth. Beauty, for most of us, is a very personal category. When I recommend a product, I am not just talking about a formula; I am also, in a small way, endorsing the philosophy of the company that made it.

While I love a polished brand story, what I value even more are the candid reflections that rarely make it into a press release. I want to hear about the messy parts: the seasons of uncertainty, the scrappy early days, the projects that almost didn’t happen, and the people who made the difference. Conversations with women like Amy are important to me because they offer a more complete picture of what it actually looks like to build something enduring in an industry that moves at the speed of trend cycles.

As we step into 2026 together, it felt right to highlight a founder who sits at the intersection of so many things we talk about here: sensitive skin, clean formulations that actually perform, and thoughtful, values-driven growth. Now, let’s get into my Q&A with Amy.

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Is Tower 28 your first entrepreneurial venture? What prompted you to take the big leap to start your own company?

Yes! I started Tower 28 because of my own sensitive, eczema-prone skin and the struggle I had to find products that were effective, safe and fun. I wanted to create a brand inclusive of all skin tones, skin types, budgets, and beauty philosophies with products that were clean, high-performing and most importantly safe for sensitive skin. I spent over 20 years working as a beauty executive building some of the fastest-growing prestige brands, so I saw launching my own brand as an opportunity to create products that I knew were needed but didn’t exist yet.

I strive to share content that gives readers an honest look at the content creator industry and to help aspiring creators learn more about what goes into becoming a full-time content creator--not just the fun stuff you see on socials. Can you share some of the “messier” moments that have gone into building Tower 28? What kept you going during times of uncertainty or stress?

Entrepreneurship in general is messy and I often think about how different Instagram is vs. reality. We have always been a small but mighty team. I remember the first time we were invited to go to a Credo event that was essentially a ticketed meet and greet for customers to meet brands. Timing was tight and so was money. Our tiny team of 5 at the time literally looked up ideas on Pinterest and constructed our booth ourselves in my backyard. Think giant board games, coolers and a photowall branded using our Cricut machine for decals and spray paint. I had to go to an important Sephora meeting so I could barely even help. I came home to my yard covered with purple and sunset red plus the team wearing hazmat suits with goggles. One of the girls drove everything up in our family minivan and we used a piping system we bought from Home Depot to hold up the “walls”. It was super stressful because it was incredibly precarious structurally and we barely pulled it off in time, too. Honestly, in retrospect those are some of the memories I cherish the most.

What keeps me going is the team. I always said one of the reasons I wanted to start my own business is so I could choose who I work with and I have the best team in the business. Kind, high performance people who care about what we do and want to do it together.

Your tinted mineral SPF is my favorite tinted SPF on the market. I wear it every day! I’ve heard that mineral SPFs are famously difficult to make--can you tell us more about how this product came about and what it took to get it launched?

Formulating SunnyDays™ Tinted SPF 30 was definitely a challenge because mineral SPFs are especially tricky–whitecast is an issue, texture can be thick, tacky and hard to spread and can also make eyes sting. But we knew we wanted 100% mineral protection as it’s gentler on sensitive, problem-prone skin. It took a lot of iterations and we also used titanium dioxide as both an SPF active but also a pigment to ensure there is no grey or white cast. Finally, we created a formula that performs like high end makeup but also gives you the SPF protection you need and won’t break you out. It’s a true cult favorite and a first of its kind tinted SPF that has real coverage. We also worked closely with celebrity makeup artist Kirin Bhatty to provide her expertise on the formula as well as develop the shade range, with special attention paid to the medium to deep tones that often get overlooked.

I’m sure this is like picking a favorite child but which of Tower 28’s products was your favorite to formulate?

Right now, it’s probably the Swipe Serum Concealer. As a working mom of three (and a middle aged woman!) I feel like I truly understand how important concealer is. Making something that is both hydrating and has coverage but lasts is hard. Concealer is a crowded category and I don’t want to launch anything where we cannot offer something new and different and better. It’s become a real hero product for us, and one is sold every 21 seconds globally. It’s been really incredible to see it grow! I love that it really works and gives people confidence in their own (sensitive) skin!

The SOS Rescue Spray is also a favorite because it’s one of the first products I formulated and has so many amazing uses and benefits for the skin.

What has been your experience working with influencers and how much does Tower 28 utilize influencer marketing? (You won’t offend me if you aren’t a fan! I have a lot of creators and aspiring creators in my community and we are always interested to hear from the brand side.)

We love influencers and are truly grateful for all the love. The social landscape is ever changing, but we always try to stay true to our ethos of being authentic and working with creators who genuinely use and love the products. This year we are really doubling down on affiliate because I subscribe to having skin in the game. In 2025, we actually launched our first-ever influencer-led product development with content creator Toni Bravo, aka “the CEO of Blush.” We co-created two new GetSet Matte Powder Blush shades, which addressed tonal gaps in Toni’s personal 100+ blush collection.

I remember when your SOS Spray was going viral on TikTok during the pandemic. I’m assuming you didn’t design the product for virality, you designed it for efficacy and it took off because it was such a good product. How do you toe the line between being trendy and being classic as a modern beauty brand?

The virality of SOS spray was the best shock of my life! More than a trend, SOS spray went viral because it really works and the community had the receipts to show it, including celebs like Hailey Bieber and Mila Kunis. SOS Spray was first created out of my own personal need to treat my eczema, and then after people began using it to treat their maskne during COVID it really took off. We always formulate with efficacy at the forefront and all our products meet the National Eczema Association’s guidelines. The SOS line also has the seal of approval from the National Psoriasis Foundation and the National Rosacea Society.

We think of trend in terms of promotion - how we move at the speed of culture with content and collabs. For product, I really just want it to stand the test of time and be something you will always keep wanting to use.

As a beauty company CEO with behind-the-scenes access to the entire industry, what do you wish more women knew about their beauty products?

One thing I was shocked to discover after I founded Tower 28 was how much lip product the average consumer ingests in their lifetime. It’s not something I really thought that much about as a consumer, but now that I know I would urge women to really choose your products that you put on your lips and skin wisely.

Because my content is centered around healing my skin and body through a gluten, dairy, and refined-sugar free diet I’d love to know if you have any routines outside of your skincare routine that help you feel your best?

For me, it’s the little things. I try to get outside for walks, spend time with my family, and love shopping at the farmer’s market for fresh produce. My life is really busy, so I try to take a moment to pause throughout the day whether that’s playing with my dog or just a few quiet moments alone in the morning.

And of course, I have to ask--which of the beauty products in your routine is your ride-or-die right now?

I’ve been using our new SOS Rescue + Relief Body Wash nonstop on me and my daughter! It keeps my eczema at bay, and is still gentle enough to use every day. I’ve always been recommended bleach baths by dermatologists, but they’re super intimidating and inconvenient. This delivers the same clinically proven results in a gentle, easy-to-use form.

Is there a beauty product that you wish existed but doesn’t currently?

Yes, but I can’t say because it’s currently in R&D!

For those who are going to go out and buy their first Tower 28 product, which would you recommend (or which 3 if you can’t choose 1!)?

Definitely the SOS Rescue Spray. I recommend it to everyone! For color products, the Swipe Serum Concealer and ShineOn Lip Jelly are some of our bestsellers. We are actually the Sephora Birthday kit this year so if it’s your birthday and you are a member of the Sephora BI program, you can try our SOS spray and Lip Jelly for free!

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My skin has been breaking out more than usual lately, so earlier this week I shared on my Instagram stories what my regimen is when my skin flares up. It got me thinking in general about the little extra skincare rituals, products, and treatments that I do outside of my daily skincare routine (which I shared in my YouTube video here and wrote about in my Substack here) and I wanted to share these skincare extras with you.

I’ve mentioned this before, but I’m not a high-maintenance person when it comes to treatments. I don’t have a standing laser appointment, and I’ve never had Botox or fillers. I believe in the compounding effect of simple habits and a routine that respects your time and your budget. Still, there are targeted rituals I return to when I need an extra lift–before an event, after travel, in the middle of a demanding week, or on mornings when I need a clearer slate than my sleep provided. Consider these my “Skincare Plus” choices: small, deliberate additions that refine results without costing thousands of dollars and many, many hours in a treatment room.

When I want skin that looks rested and glowy–before an event, after a flight, or at the end of a long week–I reach for hydrolyzed collagen or peptide-rich sheet masks. They’re straightforward: cleanse well, apply a hydrating toner or essence, then the mask for 10–20 minutes (or overnight if I’m really looking to boost results). I finish with a simple moisturizer to seal in the water I just invited back into my skin.

The result is quick and visible: elevated hydration, a softer appearance of fine lines, and a smoother surface for makeup. Think of this as a short-term, high-impact intervention–useful precisely because it’s not complicated. If you don’t keep masks on hand, repeated gentle layers of a humectant toner followed by moisturizer can approximate the effect.

Puffiness is the first to arrive and the last to leave after a late night or interrupted sleep. I keep under-eye patches in the refrigerator and use them while making breakfast or reviewing the day’s schedule. Cooling alone is corrective: it constricts, encourages lymphatic movement, and wakes the orbital area without tugging at it. I’m not particular about exotic ingredients here; I look for hydration, soothing botanicals, and a fit that doesn’t slide. The result is less shadow, less swelling, and makeup that sits cleanly rather than gathering.

If patches aren’t your preference, chilled teaspoons or a cooled roller can produce a similar de-puffing effect.

In Austin, I book the “Signature Facial + Dermaplaning” at Laurel Corrinne Studio. I don’t always make it monthly; life doesn’t always allow that cadence. But a semi-regular professional reset delivers outsized value for me. Thoughtful exfoliation, extractions when necessary, and dermaplaning to remove vellus hair and surface buildup create the kind of smoothness I can feel immediately and that makes everything else I apply more efficient.

Dermaplaning in particular is underrated for how it improves texture and product absorption without harshness. The key is a practitioner who tailors the service to your skin rather than to a preset menu of add-ons. If you’re deciding whether it’s worth it, ask what the esthetician recommends for your current state, how your at-home routine should be adjusted before and after, and what to avoid to protect your barrier. “More” is not the goal; better is.

A couple of years ago I completed three sessions of a Broadband Light (BBL) facial series and would repeat it. The benefit was cumulative: smoother texture, more even tone, and a sturdier barrier that didn’t react to every small provocation. When I commit to a series, I simplify my at-home actives, commit to consistency, then let the results breathe rather than stacking new treatments on top. This mindset keeps spending and expectations reasonable. It also prevents the back-and-forth that happens when we chase a fleeting, “perfect” finish that can only be maintained by constant intervention.

If I had unlimited time, I’d do red light daily. It’s one of the few at-home tools I consider both elegant and pragmatic. It’s low risk, non-invasive, and easy to stack with existing habits. I use a red light mask at home for short, regular sessions. The payoff for me is calmer skin and a subtle, sustained skin clarity that makes everything else read as healthier. The ritual itself helps: a few minutes under a warm glow signals my nervous system to slow down. The skin mirrors that shift.

Recently, I added brief cold immersion for the face to my morning wake-up routine. (Maybe a sleep-deprived, new parent cry for help?!) I fill a bowl with cold water and ice, then submerge my face for ten to fifteen seconds. I repeat this a couple of times to really let the effect soak in.

It is direct and effective: my circulation increases, skin puffiness reduces, and my skin tone looks clearer. It also resets my focus on mornings when discipline needs a nudge. If a full dunk feels impractical, a long, deliberate rinse with cold water or an ice facial massage reaches the same outcome with less setup.

What are some of your favorite skincare “extras” that make a big difference and also add a little something special to your skincare routine?

I’ve been experimenting with beauty products for all of my adult life (even teenage life, thanks to seemingly incurable acne) but this year I’ve both tried and loved more new products than ever before as my passion for skincare and makeup has become my favorite creative outlet. I subscribe to beauty Substacks, follow beauty creators, listen to beauty podcasts, and, as you may have noticed, have even enjoyed creating my own skincare and makeup tutorial and recommendation content.

2025 has been the year of:

• Finding the best tinted mineral SPF because I love a multitasking product that can double as sun protection and a glowy, natural base.

• Searching (in vain) for a non-comedogenic self-tanning drop for my face but finding an alternative I like even more.

• Delving into the underhyped category of face mists — I now have quite the collection and use multiple of them daily for different purposes.

• Allowing my lip product obsession to run amuck until I found my favorite gloss ever.

• Discovering my new favorite moisturizer to wear under makeup. I feel like it really moisturizes and primes my skin without interfering with my complexion products.

• Doing my makeup a new way every day for 30 days until I found my go-to daily look. (Highly recommend trying this. My makeup has never looked better and I credit all the techniques, products, and looks I was trying.)

• And so much more!

As it happens, Sephora is having a big sale October 31st - November 10th so I’d like to mention a few products that I LOVE that will be available at a good price now.

Since living in San Diego between the ages of 18-26 I developed a love for that just-back-from-vacation bronzy glow that was so common in Southern California. It’s effortless, beachy, radiant and, for a girl who grew up in the rainy Pacific Northwest, enviable! I spent far more hours than I would like to admit chasing a forever bronze (without sun protection, which now makes me shudder, ha). Sun protection is now one of the most important parts of my skin health routine so I now lean on bronzing/tanning products as a staple in my routine.

This spring, bored with my liquid bronzer, I decided to dip into the world of face self-tanning drops. I tried everything–clean products and the hero products that everyone raves about, but all of them broke me out. After talking to a product development expert in the beauty industry I realized that I’m probably allergic to DHA, the ingredient in self-tanner that gives the bronzed effect. Luckily, Westman Atelier came out with their new bronzing drops around this time and after trying a sample in Sephora, I knew I had found my new go-to bronzing product. My next door neighbor and good friend, who also happens to be a top-notch makeup artist, explained to me that the Westman Atelier drops are one of the few products that have a cool undertone. Most bronzers are very warm, which can sometimes give the orange-y, unnatural tone that I try to avoid. These days I mix it with the Saie Glowy Super Gel in Rose Gold because it gives it more of a serum-y finish, makes it much easier to apply, and boosts the radiance. I love it so much that I wrote an entire post about it, which you can read here.

Speaking of tinted SPFs, I’ve talked about my journey to find the best one here. Funnily enough, when I originally wrote the post I hadn’t yet tried Tower 28 SunnyDays. The brand was on my radar but for some reason it wasn’t in my line up. The second I tried it, I knew it was the winner. The formula is perfectly pigmented. It has enough coverage to even out my skin tone, but doesn’t look unnatural. The formula stays on my face throughout the day with very little fading or smearing and it works well with my moisturizer and other complexion products. Oh, and it does not oxidize! I’ve been using it for months and have never broken out or experienced any sort of reaction, most likely because of the rigorous testing that all of their products go through for sensitive skin.

Finally, there’s my new favorite concealer, from Haus Labs and a recently discovered blush–Patrick Ta cream and powder blush duo in She’s Wanted –that have become the latest additions to my everyday essentials. The Haus Labs concealer is hydrating, doesn’t crease, and is noncomedogenic. They have a very extensive shade range, which can feel overwhelming at first, but leads to a perfect shade match if you have the patience to test a few different shades (Sephora does have a great return policy…). The Patrick Ta Cream and Powder Blush in She’s Wanted is the perfect flushed cheeks color. Makeup artist Kelli Ann Sewell recommended this one specifically, and although I was nervous at first because of how pigmented the blush is, she was spot on with the recommendation. Makeup by Mario Soft Pop Plumping Cream Blush in Perfect Pink is, as the shade suggests, the perfect cool tone pink. It’s feminine and flirty, and is my go-to option for giving my cheeks that pop of freshness. My other longstanding favorite blush is the Westman Atelier Baby Cheeks Blush in Petal . It’s clean, noncomedogenic, high performance, and long wear. The color is universally flattering and it’s super easy to apply. It’s my current favorite clean beauty blush!

Early in the summer, a friend texted me enthusiastically about the Medik8 peptide serum: “it literally looks and feels like I’ve had a facial plus Botox everyday; my skin is hydrated, smooth, and looks fresher and younger.” My response was, “I have never ordered something so fast!” After a few weeks of using it daily, I knew it was one of the best skincare products I’d ever tried. My friend was right–my skin felt dewy, hydrated, and plump. I haven’t had any Botox treatments but the immediate smoothening of my skin seemed reminiscent of what women achieve with Botox. Relatedly, I’ve never had a skincare product deliver on its promised results so quickly.

After the Medik8 serum, I use my favorite moisturizer from Sophie Pavitt. I interviewed her a few months ago after trying some of her products. I was intrigued by her deep expertise treating acne-prone skin and I appreciated her approach of reducing the number of products used rather than adding many different treatments. I love everything I’ve tried from her eponymous line, but the moisturizer has become my go-to. It’s hydrating enough so that my skin feels genuinely nourished, but it is very sensitive and doesn’t irritate or break me out at all. As I mentioned above, it is also my favorite moisturizer to wear under makeup products. For all of the above reasons, the Sofie Pavitt Omega Rich Moisturizer has been an immediate repurchase for me.

The Rhode Glazing Mist is one of my favorite products in my line up, hands down. I don’t know if it’s actively improving my skin, or making it consistently better over time, but I can tell you that I enjoy using it every single day. If my skin is feeling dry, stretched, tight, or tired I spritz this mist all over my face. Even when it’s not, I walk into my bathroom and give myself a few sprays anyway because I so enjoy how my skin feels after I use it. It’s an instant pick-me-up and it feels like a treat to use.

I’ve been calling my Refy lip gloss, specifically in shade Rosewood, which they describe as a “medium, warm pink”, my “emotional support product”. It’s that product you bring with you in the car, always carry in your purse, have next to you on work calls, and apply before you head out the door for date night. I recently lost my tube of it and reordered immediately even though I knew the Sephora Sale was coming and I should probably wait. I couldn’t. I appreciate the subtle hint of color that shows up and stays put, but I also believe that it makes my lips more hydrated and soothed in general. It’s firmly in the gloss category–not a balm or anything with rigorous skincare claims–but it doesn’t feel drying like some glosses do after they rub off. The gloss itself isn’t glittery or sparkly, but it’s shiny enough that it’s fun and joyful to apply.

What are your favorites of the year? Are there any products you’ve already got in your Sephora cart?

Welcome back from the long holiday weekend! I hope everyone is as excited for the fall season as I am. I’m returning back from maternity leave with big plans on the horizon–a paid subscriber chat, more in-depth and vulnerable Substack posts, an announcement about a huge venture I’ve been working on, and much more.

I want to thank those of you who’ve been reading these posts each week, and also explain more about my paid community. I started the paid membership because I wanted to create a place where my community could speak freely–to me, and with each other. The internet can be a discouraging place (you don’t even want to know the DMs I get every day about how I’m parenting my newborn all wrong) but by and large, I’ve been lucky to gather a group of people who are kind, compassionate, eager to learn, and curious about the world they’re living in. Being part of the paid membership helps me understand your intention and commitment to this safe and encouraging space, and gives me the freedom to speak my mind a little more honestly and vulnerably. For example, on Sunday I’m going to give a very honest reflection on how my first 12 weeks post-partum have gone. I’d love to welcome you into this part of the community so if it feels right to you, you can upgrade your subscription below.

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Now onto this week’s deep dive on how I approach the ever popular anti-aging movement with my skincare routine!

When Allure banned the term “anti-aging” from its pages in 2017, it was a clear line in the sand for the beauty industry: aging was something to be embraced, not something to fight. After all, aging is inevitable (and a blessing!) so anti-aging technically doesn’t even make sense. Despite the bold editorial move, however, the anti-aging skincare industry is alive and well. The product names are couched in subtler messaging but the sentiment remains the same: aging skin is undesirable, and it’s advisable to spend thousands of dollars per year to do everything you can to chase youth.

Truthfully, I stand divided on the anti-aging industry. I’ve spent my fair share of money on collagen-boosting serums, wrinkle-erasing peptide creams, and skin-brightening treatment products. I haven’t ventured into Botox or other aesthetic procedures. I notice my skin’s elasticity changing and I see the fine lines creeping into the corner of my eyes but I also don’t actively have a problem with these things. The part of me that’s interested in beauty products and wellness more generally is also interested in doing whatever I can to make my skin the best it can be.

I take the same approach to beauty as I do to wellness: preventative is always my preference, nourishment is my goal when it comes to ingredients (specifically with skincare, though I try to be mindful that my makeup is at least not aging my skin), I treat it as a self-care ritual, I fit it into my version of a full life rather than making it the whole point of my life (sorry but I’m not spending hours a day and thousands per month on beauty treatments), and I practice routines that make me feel joyful, not burdened.

As part of my prevention philosophy, one thing I do fervently stand behind is skin protection. Living in Austin and enjoying lots of walking and cycling around the city means my skin is often in the sun, and nothing ages skin faster than prolonged, unprotected sun exposure. For the past few years I’ve been obsessive about finding SPF products that truly work against sun aging and won’t break me out. A few months ago I wrote about my quest to find a tinted mineral SPF that won’t break me out. I wear a tinted SPF most days, regardless of how much sun I think I’m going to get. If I know I’ll be outside for several hours, I’ll also wear an SPF product as a base before I put on tinted SPF. It might be overkill—and in fact, SPF diehard Charlotte Palermino recently posted a video talking about how sometimes SPF might not be necessary at all (like if you’re spending most of your day inside, working at your desk)—but now that I’ve found my favorite brands I’m happy to take the precautions.

Nowadays you can find all sorts of products with SPF in them—blushes, lip tints, bronzers, even face mists—but I question 1) how necessary those are and 2) if they even work. On one of my favorite beauty podcasts, Gloss Angeles, they talked about a face mist that launched a few months ago that claims to have SPF 30 protection. The hosts called into question if this is even possible: you need a large amount of product to even get the full SPF effect (experts say it’s ¼ of a teaspoon to adequately cover your face) and it seems unlikely that you’d get that much product from a few spritzes of a mist. I wonder the same things about an SPF blush. How much product would you need to apply for the SPF to really kick into effect?

Another part of my skin aging routine (I prefer to call it what it is rather than deny the facts!) is using products that boost collagen production. These days, I’m paying more attention to ingredients that help support collagen naturally—like copper peptides, niacinamide, and bakuchiol. I’m not militant about it, but if I’m going to invest in skincare, I want to make sure it’s doing more than just sitting on the surface.

A few products I’ve been using and really like:

• Barefaced Overachiever Multi-Peptide Serum

• Clearstem Hydraglow Moisturizer

• Medik8 Liquid Peptides Advanced MP Face Serum

They feel good on my skin and check the box on ingredients that encourage collagen maintenance over time. Again, it’s not about reversing aging—it’s about supporting what my skin is already doing and giving it a little extra love along the way.

And finally, I use a lot of antioxidants. I also eat a lot of antioxidants, as they’re a critical part of a healthy, skin-loving diet. You’ll find ingredients like CoQ10, resveratrol, and sea buckthorn oil in some of the topical products I rotate through, but I also load up on antioxidant-rich foods because I genuinely believe in the inside-out approach. Bright berries, wild salmon, leafy greens, olive oil—they all matter. I think of antioxidants like armor for the skin. They help defend against daily stressors like UV exposure and pollution, and for me, they’re one of the most low-effort, high-reward habits in my routine.

I want to embrace every season of my life instead of worrying too much about what’s ahead of me or pining for what has passed. Like everyone, I get caught up in self-conscious thought spirals about all the things I could or should be doing differently, but I’d characterize my skin aging routine as being all about skin protection and health. I believe that if I take very good care of my skin now, I’ll give it the strongest fighting chance of maintaining its glow throughout the years. I’ve stopped believing in magic treatments or products that will change the entire trajectory of my face; instead, I prioritize sun protection, collagen and skin elasticity, and antioxidants (through both skincare products and food). I’d love to hear how you approach aging gracefully!

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Back when I was on the hunt for the best tinted mineral SPF that wouldn’t break me out (you can read all about that journey here), I was also desperate to find a self-tanner for my face that would give me the perfect bronzed glow without upsetting my skin. While I love a good day in the sun, I wear so much SPF that I know a nice face tan will never come naturally. I’m doing my best to maintain my skin without Botox or other aesthetic treatments and I know that too much (or even just a little) sun exposure would come between me and the healthy skin I’m trying to protect. 

I must have tried dozens of self-tanning drops on my face. I tried the cult favorites, the products mentioned deep in the Reddit threads, the brands that other influencers who I trust swear by, and everything in between. I put the ingredients into ingredient-checking websites to ensure they were either completely non-comedogenic or had low comedogenicity and I prioritized super clean brands. Despite all of the experimentation and fact-checking, I was always left with two options: a self-tanner that didn’t actually change the color of my skin at all, or one that broke me out. It was so frustrating that I got to the point of considering whether I should try making my own because it seemed like the perfect–or even just good enough–product simply didn’t exist. When I spoke with expert product developer Melissa Souto, who I interviewed here, she suggested that I might be allergic to dihydroxyacetone (DHA). DHA is the sugar-derived compound found in almost every self-tanning product, and it is responsible for reacting with the amino acids in the top layer of your skin, darkening it temporarily. 

Given that finding a DHA-free self-tanning product with any kind of efficacy would be close to impossible, I decided to pause my search. I relied on my Saie Dew Bronze to give me the glow I was looking for, though I wasn’t always excited to use it. 

A couple of weeks later, I discovered the best bronzing product I’ve ever used: Westman Atelier Sun Tone Bronzing Drops. It turns out I wasn't the only devoted obsessee because these drops were sold out everywhere for months. When I first heard about them, I drove to Sephora only to find out that they were completely sold out in my shade (and the two closest to my shade) but they still had some in their tester bottles. The store associate gave me two samples to take home with me and I stretched those for as long as humanly possible. The drops were sold out on Amazon, Sephora, Westman Atelier’s website, and all other beauty retailers that carried the brand. Luckily for all of us, they’re back now!

What I immediately loved about the Westman Atelier drops was that they were a cooler tone of brown. Almost every other bronzer has warm undertones, giving that orange-y tint that screams “this tan isn’t real”. The product is also very blendable and buildable. You can use it as a targeted bronzer, as I often do, or you can mix it into your tinted SPF or moisturizer for an all-over glow. A friend uses a drop or two in her foundation during the summer months so that it matches her summer tan! While the colors look a little intense online, they’re pretty sheer in real life which makes them highly buildable and customizable to get just the right shade. I’ve found that it’s one of my longest-lasting makeup products (so many clean beauty brands have products that are wonderful but only for the few hours that they stay on) and that my skin almost feels better after using it. It works perfectly with my other products (tinted SPF, blush, and highlighter) and the bronze glow is so natural I can almost trick myself into thinking I just spent an afternoon by the pool instead of inside, working. 

If it’s not already obvious, these bronzing drops are the highlight of my glow routine. I’m still on the lookout for a highlighter that doesn’t have too much glitter or shimmer and isn’t too sticky, and a blush that has all-day staying power, but I’m thrilled to have found a bronzer I love. The only way it could get any better is if it actually had skin-enhancing qualities, but for now I’m happy with it just the way it is. And just for any avoidance of doubt–Westman Atelier did not ask me to write this review. I’m just that excited about sharing this recommendation with you. 

Do you have any favorite glow-enhancing products? I’d love to fall in love with even more products the way I have with this one!

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As someone who has spent years researching skincare, beauty, and how to treat sensitive and acne-prone skin in a long-lasting way, Sofie Pavitt has been on my radar for quite a while. For those of you who don’t know her, she’s a beloved esthetician based in New York (though originally from Wales) and she’s known to cure and clear even the most challenging skin. She also recently created her own line of products that center around her ethos of paring back your skincare routine and focusing on the three steps that matter most: cleansing, treating, and hydrating.

I’ve always admired her extremely informed and research-backed approach to skin treatment. It’s clear that she consumes as much information as she can about acne, and the physiology and science behind skincare problems, but she also delivers this information to women in a way that’s easy to understand. From a beauty consumer perspective, I personally dislike when brands use fear as a motivator; Sofie takes the opposite approach and helps empower women with the information they need to make good choices about their skin.

In my continued quest to learn more about skincare, I interviewed Sofie and asked her all of my burning questions about acne and sensitive skin. I was surprised to learn about why salicylic acid is put in every acne product, just how little you really need to have a great skincare regimen, and that it’s best to keep your active ingredients in a separate treatment step. I hope you enjoy reading the full interview below, and please drop your questions in the comments! 

For the readers who haven’t been to your studio or tried your products, can you give us a quick summary of your ethos and approach to skincare?

Yes! First and foremost, I'm an esthetician. I founded the Sofie Pavitt skincare studio in NYC and have an incredible team of 6 estheticians who work alongside me. We see over 450 people each month in the studio, which is also my R&D department for the Sofie Pavitt Face line. Every product that we develop for the line comes from a need we see from our clients–it's intentional and edited. 

My skincare philosophy comes from my treatment philosophies: “take the path of least resistance” has always been my motto. Do less, optimize treatments. We're most well-known for our skin clearing transformations; we specialize in clearing breakouts and getting people to where they want to be with their skin, no gimmicks or upselling. We have a 12 week acne program that really targets clearing your skin within a three month period and includes monthly facials and homecare.

Though I haven’t been lucky enough to visit you in New York yet, I love that you encourage women to ask questions during their appointments and have a real conversation to get to know their skin better. What are some of the most common questions that you get that you wish you could answer for every woman?

I think the biggest thing is that everyone is confused by what to use and when to use it, and if they even need it. There are so many ingredients that get trendy on social media, so many hot takes being marketed incessantly. The truth is that you need a couple of targeted treatments, a great cleanser, and a hydrator that supports your skin while you treat your concern. It's not complicated once we decide which ingredients are going to be best suited for getting your results.

I love that your focus is on paring back a skincare routine. I’ve read many interviews where you talk about significantly reducing the number of products a client uses. Can you go a little deeper on that and talk about how you evaluate the products, if there’s a magic number of steps for an acne-safe skincare routine, and if there’s one product or step in particular that you see a lot of women using that doesn’t actually help?

When I first start working with a client I like to really pare them back so I can see what's going on with their skin. Traditional topical acne care is pretty aggressive, and often a client will come in with a compromised skin barrier as well as acne–sometimes it's hard to see where the acne ends and the irritation begins. An easy rule of thumb for AM and PM is CLEANSE, TREAT, HYDRATE. Three steps every morning and night. Once you’ve done this for a few weeks and your skin has calmed down then you can start boosting your routine as needed.

The one product I think which has a huge following but doesn't do anything for inflammatory acne is tretinoin. This is a hot take! This really ruffles a lot of feathers on the internet. But the reason why I take people off retinols when I first start working with them is because retinol increases your cell turnover, and if you're predisposed to acne your cell turnover is already pretty fast. By getting the right exfoliation and hydrators in place first, and stabilizing the breakouts, you can slowly add it back in. But one of the first questions I ask when someone comes to me with persistent breakouts and they're on tretinoin is, “How's that going for you?”

Is there an ingredient that you think is the unsung hero of an acne or sensitive skin regimen? We see niacinamide, peptides, retinol, hyaluronic acid and other ingredients peppered in almost every beauty product out there right now. Is there something else we should be focused on?

Mandelic acid is the UNSUNG hero for acne-prone skin. Obviously I'm biased with my mandelic clearing serum but it's the one ingredient that I put everyone on. It's a large molecule-sized AHA that dissolves the bonds between dead cells and healthy skin underneath, it has anti-bacterial properties and it brightens PIH/PIE. It’s gentle enough for daily use and won’t dry you out like salicylic acid.

Fun fact: do you know why salicylic gets put in every acne product? It's because it's a monographed ingredient for acne (like benzoyl peroxide and sulfur, but salicylic is the easiest one to use in formulas, that's why everyone uses it). If it's monographed you can market 'acne' in your product. But believe me when I say mandelic is infinitely better for acne.

How would you define “sensitive skin” for the average woman who hasn’t done a lot of research into skincare and is newer in her beauty routine, and perhaps doesn’t realize that her skin might be sensitive? 

If anything stings, burns, or your skin feels dry, irritated, and tight when applying products, you may have sensitive skin. If you use a lot of actives and this is the case you may have sensitized skin due to the actives.

Let’s talk about actives for a minute. I think technically “actives” are OTC (over the counter)-designated ingredients, but sometimes brands speak to certain ingredients as being “actives” to reference any ingredient that has hard-hitting efficacy. How do you define actives and more importantly, how should we think about them with regards to our skincare routine?

When I think about actives I don't necessarily think they are OTC. Actives can describe acids such as AHA, BHA, or Vitamin C, retinol, or OTCs like benzoyl peroxide or prescription topicals like clyndamicin, or soolantra (both used for acne and rosacea). Always consider using an active as an individual step–keep your cleanser and moisturizer without any actives, and use a serum treatment step with your active in it. 

When you have sensitive or acne-prone skin, trying new products once you have a routine that works feels daunting; at the same time, it’s exciting to see beauty brands continue to put out innovative formulas that are advancing skincare. What advice do you have for women who want to try new products but not disrupt a routine that works?  

I recommend only adding one product at a time to a routine and then you can see which product in your routine is causing the issues, if any. I also follow non-comedogenic rules: copy and paste the ingredients list into our pore clogging search engine at sofiepavittface.com and it will tell you if there's anything in there that may cause issues.

In this Vogue article, I thought it was interesting that after using your acne-safe regimen, when hormonal acne appeared the author’s skin and pores rebounded a lot faster. What’s the science behind that?

Low and slow daily exfoliation keeps pores clear, so when the oil levels rise due to hormonal acne, the pores are clear. That means oil has somewhere to go and the acne bacteria doesn’t have a food source to keep growing.

As someone with extensive product and treatment knowledge, how did you hone in on just a handful of products to develop for your own line? 

I wanted to develop a system to help people clear their skin–and maintain it–but would also be super easy to use. We color-coded the products (cleansers are always green, treatments are always warm tones, hydrators are always blue) which makes it easy to pick your steps and customize each of the three steps (cleanse, treat hydrate).

What was the most surprising part about going from a treatment provider to making your own products? What did you learn about the beauty industry or product development in that process?

I started out my professional career in fashion as a handbag designer so product development actually is very familiar to me. It's my secret superpower because when I started out, none of our factories knew that I know what it takes to develop a product. I knew timelines, ops and planning language, and all of the other things that can be overwhelming to someone who has never done anything like this before. I’m grateful for my prior experience helping me here! 

Is there anything I haven’t asked you about skincare or acne that you want to share with readers? 

You can follow me at @sofiepavitt and ask me anything on Instagram. Our brand site is sofiepavittface.com and you can book skincare treatments with us in NYC at sofiepavitt.com.

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I’ve been trying and loving Sofie Pavitt Face Mandelic Acid Exfoliating & Clearing Serum, Fridge to Face Blemish Defense Cooling Mist, and Omega Rich Moisturizer! If I was going to suggest just one, I would start with the Mandelic Acid Serum—it’s her most popular product for a reason! Sofie has also kindly extended a 10% off discount for readers—simply check out on her website and use the code OLIVIA10.

I’m going to drop a little hint about baby girl’s name. A wee Easter Egg for those who have made it this far into the newsletter. Her name is also a type of fabric! 

I would love your help curating a “to read” and “to watch” list for postpartum. I’m looking for fairly mindless books, movies, and TV shows and would love your recommendations!

If you’ve been following me for a while, you know how much I love talking about skincare. It’s been a huge part of my personal journey—from healing acne to now caring for my skin during pregnancy. I’m not someone who just naturally has great skin, it’s something I’ve had to work at through diet, routine, and lots of trial and error. And especially now, with summer in full swing and my skin changing daily with pregnancy, I’ve had to adjust and rethink a few things.

Before we dive in, I always like to mention that how I eat is a foundation for my skin health. A gluten-free, dairy-free, refined sugar-free diet—focused on whole, minimally processed foods—has been transformative. Lots of antioxidants, probiotics, anti-inflammatory foods, and a rainbow of fruits and veggies have made a noticeable difference. (If you're curious, I actually wrote an entire ebook full of skin-supportive recipes!)

But today, I want to walk you through my summer skincare routine and the products I’ve come to love and rely on.

My mornings are all about gentle hydration and protection. I always start with a clean face, and one of the staples in my summer (and now pregnancy-safe) lineup is the Dr. Dennis Gross Vitamin C Serum. It’s packed with stabilized Vitamin C, lactic acid for gentle exfoliation, and tranexamic acid to help with discoloration. It’s been incredible for keeping my skin tone even and bright, especially now when hormonal changes can cause unexpected pigmentation.

After that, I layer on Barefaced’s Overachiever Multi-Peptide Serum. It’s a lightweight serum that does a little bit of everything—hydration, firming, strengthening the skin barrier—thanks to ingredients like bakuchiol, peptides, hyaluronic acid, and niacinamide. During pregnancy, my skin has needed extra support, and this serum has helped maintain elasticity without feeling heavy in the summer heat. Also, importantly, bakuchiol is a retinol alternative that’s pregnancy safe (since retinol is not)!

For the delicate skin around my eyes, I use Clearstem's Stem Cell Eye Gel. It’s brightening, firming, and super lightweight—perfect for those warm mornings when you want hydration without feeling sticky. I’ve noticed it really helps with puffiness, especially when I keep it chilled.

Moisturizer is non-negotiable, and I reach for Clearstem’s Hydraglow Moisturizer. It’s acne-safe, hydrating, and brightening without clogging pores. This one also has bakuchiol, truly one of my favorite skincare ingredients (pregnant or not)!

And of course, SPF is a pillar of my routine—pregnant or not, but especially now. Your skin becomes more prone to burning and pigmentation during pregnancy, so a good sunscreen is critical. I stick with tinted mineral SPFs only (chemical sunscreens are not pregnancy-safe). I have tested so many of these, but you can read this post to see my absolute favorites. Finding non-comedogenic options was a game-changer—no more sunscreen breakouts!

Evenings are when I really slow down. I always double cleanse, especially in summer when sweat, sunscreen, and city grime build up throughout the day.

I start with the Elemis Cleansing Balm. It’s rich, nourishing, and melts away makeup and SPF without stripping my skin. Ingredients like Padina Pavonica and elderberry oil leave my skin feeling moisturized before I even move on to my second cleanse.

Next comes the Eminence Clear Skin Probiotic Cleanser. This is hands down my favorite cleanser. It’s powerful yet gentle, packed with probiotics, tea tree oil, and cucumber juice to keep my skin balanced, clear, and calm.

Depending on the night, I might layer in some treatments. I use Clearstem’s Clearity Serum when I feel like my skin needs a gentle exfoliation. It’s powered by mandelic acid and turmeric and helps brighten without the irritation that can come from stronger acids.

Another product I love is Clearstem’s Bounceback Anti-Aging and Repair Serum. It’s full of peptides and botanical growth factors that help repair and strengthen the skin—a gentle alternative to treatments like Botox.

For hydration and calming, I turn to Primally Pure’s Soothing Serum. It’s packed with blue tansy and aloe vera—perfect for reducing redness and inflammation after a day in the sun.

I finish with another layer of Hydraglow Moisturizer, and top it off with YAARA Honey Oil. Honey, propolis, and sea buckthorn oil work together to deeply hydrate, repair the skin barrier, and regulate oil production—all things that are especially important during pregnancy.

Beyond my face, pregnancy brought a whole new focus: body care. I’ve been religious about moisturizing my belly, hips, and chest to support my skin as it stretches.

I’ve been using Nemah Revitalizing Belly Cream and Ever Eden Golden Belly Serum—both non-toxic and recommended by clean baby product guides. They’re packed with hydrating, skin-nourishing ingredients without any questionable additives. For body hydration overall, Primally Pure’s Blue Tansy Body Oil has been a dream. It’s lightweight but deeply nourishing, and it leaves my skin glowy without feeling greasy. And if you want a full list of non-toxic baby products, you can check out this resource.

Some days, I treat myself to a little extra. I love the iRestore Red Light Therapy Mask for collagen stimulation and calming inflammation, and I’ll pop on Wander Eye Patches when my under-eyes are feeling tired or puffy.

For masks, my favorites are Primally Pure’s Soothing Mask for calming inflammation, and a good collagen-boosting mask when I need a glow boost.

I love a hypochlorous acid spray like Clearstem’s Skin Spray All Day or Barefaced Clean Slate Spritz to refresh, hydrate, and neutralize bacteria. I swear by these sprays when traveling to avoid breakouts!  

At home in Austin, I treat myself to a Laurel Corrinne Signature Facial with dermaplaning. It’s like hitting reset on my skin—deep exfoliation, hydration, and just a total refresh. One treatment I’ve had to pause during pregnancy is any sort of laser facial. I was doing BroadBand Light facials prior, which are non-invasive, non-surgical skin treatments that use a broad spectrum of light energy to rejuvenate the skin.

Skincare during pregnancy (and during a Texas summer!) has taught me a lot about patience, flexibility, and really listening to my skin. After testing hundreds of products, I can attest that with the right products and mindset, you can nourish your skin to glow through every season of life.

If you have questions or favorite summer or pregnancy-safe products you love, please leave them in the comments!

Learning: So many good makeup tips from makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes! Incorporating what I learn from her simple videos has made me feel much more confident in my makeup skills. I especially love her complexion tips and “priming the brush” method that she shared in this video. 

Drinking: Beauty Electrolytes for hydration and anti-aging. Pique's BT Fountain is a beauty electrolyte that hydrates the skin from within with ceramides and hyaluronic acid! You can get 20% (for life) at my link for a limited time. #PiqueLife #PiquePartner

Searching for: A really nourishing, pretty lip balm I can wear as a gloss this summer. Think Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment but made with clean/nontoxic ingredients. I would LOVE your recs! And of course I will share my favorites once I’ve tried them. 

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Throughout my years-long quest to find natural, clean solutions for healing my acne-prone skin, I’ve tried hundreds (maybe thousands) of skincare products. I’ve committed myself to being the guinea pig that will put pretty much anything on my face in an effort to figure out what works for me–and then sharing my results with you. Eating a gluten-free, dairy-free, refined-sugar free diet was the biggest change I made to dramatically improve my skin but I’ve also noticed that the ingredients in beauty products play a major role in how much and how often I’m breaking out.

One of the things that has always confused me is what “clean” beauty really means. Does it mean vegan products? Non-comedogenic? Non-toxic? There are a multitude of certifications that beauty companies can slap on their labels and an even larger number of claims made about what’s best for your skin. 

As many of you know, my latest obsession is trying to find a tinted SPF that both works and won’t break me out. In my mission to immerse myself in the clean beauty world I had the fortune of meeting Melissa Coppola, a product development executive with years of experience in formulating some of the most popular–and cleanest–products on the market. If you’ve tried products from Glossier, One/Size, or Curology, then you’ve experienced her work! I interviewed her to learn more about the opaque yet incredibly lucrative industry that is clean beauty. Thank you, Melissa, for sharing your deep expertise with us!

Q: What is your personal story with clean beauty? What piqued your interest in creating good-for-you products?

I was fortunate enough to start my career in beauty right after graduating college (actually, even beforehand, since I interned the summer before and throughout my senior year at NYU). I quickly realized that most brands take a marketing-first approach to product development. While I loved the product and brand marketing parts of my job—like coming up with a product concept, name, and overall positioning (in the portfolio and market)—I was equally, if not more, interested in the process of designing the formulas themselves. When I finally got the opportunity to add Product Development to my scope of responsibilities, I decided I was always going to take a product-first approach (seems intuitive, right?). That ethos has been at the heart of my PD philosophy ever since. Then, when I got pregnant, my interest in understanding the products and ingredients I used reached a whole other level. The stakes felt even higher!

Q: Let’s get right to the point: how would you define “clean beauty”? Why are there so many different definitions out there, and how should shoppers figure out what’s best for their skin?

That is such a tough question. Many brands have framed  “clean beauty” as a cut-and-dried concept when it’s really just a marketing strategy. Since there is no official definition of what it means to be “clean,” brands are free to make up their own rules.  This becomes problematic when those rules aren’t grounded in evidence-based research or science; in those instances, “clean” claims are often nothing more than fear-based marketing designed to make a brand’s products more appealing. The reality is that every retailer (Sephora Clean, Target Clean, etc.) and every brand has their own idea of what it means to be “clean,” making it incredibly difficult for consumers to cut through the noise. Personally, I look for products that use evidence-backed, clinically proven ingredients–that’s my own definition of “clean.” As long as an ingredient has been studied and proven effective and safe, I’m ok using it! 

My advice is to first think about what is important to you when it comes to your beauty products. Is it that a product is vegan? Cruelty free? Non-comedogenic? For sensitive skin? After answering that, focus on buying from brands that are transparent about their definitions of “clean”—ones that don’t make you go digging through ingredient lists (unless you have an allergy, of course)  or decode chemical names. A brand that is right for you will be clear and upfront about what they stand for and how they approach their product development.

While the safest bet is consulting with a dermatologist on a personalized treatment plan, that’s not always realistic. Instead, I also recommend buying from brands that meaningfully involve dermatologists in their product development process.

Q: How do you go about creating a beauty product from scratch, and how long does it take? Walk me through the process from ideation to creation.

Timelines vary greatly from product to product. There are so many factors to consider—formulation complexity, product category (over-the-counter vs. cosmetic), testing requirements—but I’d say the average for most brands is 18 months from concept-to-launch. It can be as short as 6 months (essentially white labeling a brand onto a stock product that’s already been developed and tested) and up to 3+ years if it’s truly innovative.

Creating a beauty product from scratch is first about finding inspiration. When I’ve worked with founders in the past, I’ve found that creative spark often comes from asking two pretty simple questions: What don’t you like about the products you’re currently using, and what type of product do you wish existed today?  Chances are if they want a product like that, others will, too! After naming the problem, we dive deep into the world of products in that space, evaluating what we like and don’t like about the ones that are already out there. Slowly, it becomes clear what our solution is and why it could be better than what’s currently on the market.

From there, we work with partners (labs, suppliers, vendors) to find new and exciting ways to bring that solution to life. That includes everything from iterating on formula submissions to customizing packaging to testing for product claims. Best-in-class brands also do an exceptional job of involving their communities to understand what’s important to them and then incorporate that point of view into their product development process.

Q: How does that process change with a clean product vs. a more traditional or non-clean product?

Because the term “clean beauty” is more marketing than anything else, the process itself doesn’t massively change when developing a “clean” vs. “non-clean” product. The biggest “formal” difference is that clean brands tend to invest more time and energy on first defining their product standards and then working with third-parties to substantiate / validate / “prove” them. It’s really about feeling grounded in the mission / reason-for-being and ensuring each formula reflects their commitment to that ethos.

Q: Is there anything you wish people knew about beauty product development? What’s the “best kept secret” of PD?

It’s still wild to me that the majority of our beauty products come from the same handful of contract manufacturers. A lot of the things you see on shelves are virtually the same in terms of formulation. What’s different is the marketing. When a brand touts a “new technology” or “proprietary complex,” more often than not it’s to appear innovative rather than actually be innovative. It’s why I love a good dupe or drugstore product – price does not always equal efficacy, sometimes you’re just paying for good marketing!

Q: What are some shortcuts that beauty companies take when they don’t care about making the product clean?

There are many companies that do what we call “sprinkling in marketing ingredients”. That’s to say, they’ll take a stock formula (which means any brand could use the same formula and there is nothing custom or proprietary about it) and add in very, very low levels (a dusting, if you will) of “clean” ingredients just to be able to speak to them. You’ll see many brands put these ingredients at the front and center of their marketing even when they’re not at any effective level. Usually it’s the more luxurious or hi-tech sounding ingredients that companies put at the forefront of a product’s positioning. Ingredients like rosehip oil ($$) or collagen (not proven to work topically) come to mind. And you’ll notice that many times those ingredients are not at the top of the ingredient list, rather the middle or towards the bottom. That’s because in the US, regulations require a brand to list the ingredients in order of concentration. However, below the “1% line” is free rein, meaning they can list in whatever order they want. So, it’s really difficult to understand if an ingredient is at an effective level unless a brand is upfront about it.

Q: Where do you see there being even more innovation in the near future?

I see a ton of innovation already in the sunscreen space, which I imagine will only continue. There are already such great sunscreen filters outside of the US (Japan and Korea, in particular, have amazing sunscreens) that we’re hoping will be available for us to use here soon. Thankfully, sunscreen usage is on the rise (especially among younger people), and I think that demand is pressuring the market to level up its offerings. Hopefully heavy, greasy sunscreens will soon be a thing of the past!

Another area that’s growing tremendously is fragrance. That category has historically been a black box of sorts as brands have not been (and are still not) required to disclose the components of fragrances on ingredient lists (you’ll notice it only says “fragrance”—and you’d be amazed what they can hide in there). But it’s a space that is finally modernizing and becoming cleaner and cleaner. It’s cool to see so many fragrance brands evolve and new fragrance brands pop up.

Q: What are the ingredients that people should avoid without exception?

There are very few ingredients that everyone shouldn’t use. Luckily, those are typically restricted from being used already! If you’d like to be more conservative than the US standards, I’d opt for products that are compliant with EU regulations. For example, most parabens (thought to be endocrine disruptors) are banned (or at the very least restricted) in the EU but allowed in the US. And there are certain silicones (known as D4, D5, D6) that are not allowed in Europe but are widely used in US cosmetics. 

I’m all about making decisions that are evidence-based vs. out of fear. As we’ve already discussed, we see a lot of brands using fear-based marketing designed to make you feel like you have to buy their product because it doesn’t contain XYZ ingredient(s). In reality, it’s more nuanced than that. For example, not all fragrances are irritants for everyone, and silicones are actually not pore-clogging (they act as a wonderful skin protectant and barrier repair while providing amazing sensoriality). My advice is to choose what’s best for your skin—and, when in doubt, use products that have been formulated for and tested on sensitive skin.

Q: How does pregnancy affect the types of ingredients or products you should use or avoid? (Not only am I in my third trimester, but you recently had your first child as well!)

I’m going to be completely honest, this was such a hard area to navigate for me. And that was a big surprise because I thought it would be a lot easier given my background! My OBGYN provided me with a short list of ingredients to avoid (retinoids and chemical sunscreens), and that was really it, no other guidance. But I’m generally a very risk-averse person and this was a time where my risk tolerance was at an all-time low. So, to be extra safe, I did a lot of my own research and added a bunch more “no-nos.”

I focused on hydration and barrier protection while I was pregnant and dropped all of my more robust treatments. Instead, I purchased simple, pared down formulations that centered around a singular treatment ingredient. I used to be a religious tretinoin (prescription retinol) user. Every night, I would use Curology’s Custom Formula Rx (mine was a combination of tretinoin, azelaic acid, and niacinamide). In its place, I switched to using the Inkey List’s 10% Azelaic Acid Serum (my dermatologist said azelaic acid was the closest thing to tretinoin I could use while pregnant, but honestly nothing compares to that tretinoin glow ☹ ) + Kiehl’s Ultra-Pure High Potency 5.0% Niacinamide Serum. I traded out my moisturizer and replaced it with Curology’s Cream Moisturizer. Then I sealed it all in with a barrier balm (rotating selection).

An amazing resource for me while I was pregnant (and even now that I’m breastfeeding) was 15minbeauty.com. I look up every product on there, makeup and skincare. It’s a site where they review ingredient lists and categorize a product as “safe” or “not safe” for pregnancy and nursing. It also indicates what ingredient is the “offender.” After looking up so many products on there, I quickly began to form my list of ingredients to avoid and found safe-for-pregnancy alternatives. I still use several of those products and plan to continue using them, so I’m thankful for that discovery!

Q: What are some of your favorite clean beauty staples?

Even though I’ve always tried a ton of products for work, my own routine is surprisingly minimal. I always start with Agency’s Cloud Care Cream Oil Cleanser (included in my wedding welcome bags and was a big crowd pleaser) to remove impurities and light makeup. I use Skinceuticals CE Ferulic (it’s a cult classic for a reason) as my day treatment and apply a powerhouse night treatment before bed (I’m not yet back to my mainstay Curology, so I still have a rotating cast of products for this step). I moisturize with a basic moisturizer, since I find that more than does the trick: either Curology’s Hydro+ Gel Cream Moisturizer or Cream Moisturizer. For the day, I top off with a tinted mineral sunscreen to get that 1-2 punch (plus, I’m wearing so much less makeup these days as a new mom, this is functional and gives me some light coverage). I’ve also been inspired by your own skin journey and have been trying out a few of your favorites!  At night, I seal everything in with Aquaphor or Vaseline–very unfancy of me, but it’s made a significant difference in repairing my skin barrier and keeping my skin soft and glowy.

 Q: Are there some good resources for people to consult when they’re shopping for new products?

A good place to start is to find a creator that has similar skin concerns to you. They get to try a lot of products and can identify the good ones. I save a bunch of my favorite creators’ Tik Toks (I’ll basically buy anything Kelli Anne Sewell shares), keep a running list of products to buy, and then do a massive haul to test them all and see what works for me. Another under the radar resource is cosDNA.com. It’s pretty technical but is very comprehensive in showing the level of “clean” a product is so you can make confident decisions when curating your own beauty shelf.

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Thank you, Melissa! If you’ve got more clean beauty questions for us, drop them in the comments!

If I could go back in time and give college-me one piece of skincare advice, it would be this: Wear. Your. SPF.

Back then, I was basking in the San Diego sun, trading the reality that UV exposure was fast-tracking my skin to fine lines and pigmentation in favor of a year-round bronze. I was buying skincare products to “brighten” my skin and “prevent signs of aging” while ignoring that the number one protection we have against aging isn’t some $200 serum—it’s SPF.

Every dermatologist, skincare expert, and podcast I’ve ever listened to agrees: nothing ages the skin faster than unprotected sun exposure. Not even bad sleep, too much sugar, or stress.

The best time to start wearing SPF daily was 15 years ago. The second best time? Today! And luckily, I’ve tested so many tinted mineral sunscreens in my search to find the best ones—so you don’t have to.

If you’ve been on the hunt for a tinted mineral SPF that won’t break you out, plays well with makeup, and is great for daily wear, I’ve got you!

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Why Mineral Sunscreen?

Before we get into the results, let’s talk about why I stick to mineral vs chemical sunscreens for my face.

Here’s the difference:

• Chemical sunscreens absorb UV rays and convert them into heat before releasing them from the skin. Some studies suggest that certain chemical filters (like oxybenzone) can cause hormone and endocrine disruption.

• Mineral sunscreens (aka physical sunscreens) use ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to sit on top of the skin and physically block UV rays.

A common issue with mineral sunscreens is that most leave a white cast, which is why tinted formulas are a game changer. A good tinted mineral SPF can double as light coverage and even out skin tone, and my goal throughout this search was to find something that could be used as my base makeup.

What I Was Looking For

My priorities when it comes to SPF:

• ✅ Mineral, not chemical – Made with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide.

• ✅ Tinted – So it can double as light coverage on no-makeup days.

• ✅ SPF 30+ – Preferably SPF 50+ for full protection.

• ✅ UVA & UVB protection – Broad-spectrum is a must.

• ✅ Low or no comedogenic ingredients – Won’t clog pores or break me out.

• ✅ Doesn’t oxidize aggressively – Because I’m not trying to turn 3 shades darker by noon.

Bonus points for:

• ✨ Wears well under makeup

• ✨ Has skincare ingredients

• ✨ Lasts all day without turning greasy or flaky

• ✨ Ranks well when tested for clean ingredients

Results

🏆 Best Makeup Replacement for Everyday Wear- Tower28 Sunny Days

A Non-Greasy 2-in-1 Sunscreen Foundation with Broad Spectrum UVA/UVB SPF 30 Sun Protection and Light-Medium Buildable Coverage that leaves no white cast.

Perfect for everyday wear, this has become my go-to base makeup replacement. I don’t *love* having to layer face makeup on top of SPF so this is the perfect solution. It provides enough coverage to even my skin tone while still letting my natural skin shine through. Below are some stats and pros and cons from my experience.

• SPF: 30

• Cost: $32

• Color I got: #15 Melrose

• Pros:

  • Easy to blend and apply.

  • Provides light to medium coverage (buildable).

  • Best daily wear makeup replacement.

  • Great for sensitive skin!

• Cons:

  • Lower SPF.

  • Two pore-clogging ingredients.

🏆 Best Makeup Replacement for Higher Sun Exposure - Odacite Tinted Mineral Drops

A triple-action tinted mineral sunscreen that performs like skincare, protects like sun care, and perfects with natural, complexion-correcting coverage.

This was by far my favorite option to use as a base makeup on sunny days due to the higher SPF! I received several compliments on my complexion when I was testing this out and when I told people it was just my tinted mineral sunscreen they were shocked. I wear this one to film and it does a great job at smoothing my complexion and layering really well with makeup. Below are some stats and pros and cons from my experience.

• SPF: 50

• Cost: $48

• Color I got: 2 (I could have gone with shade 1 but I like the subtle bronze)

• Pros:

  • Serum-like skin tint.

  • Provides medium, glowy coverage.

  • Wore really well throughout the day and was a great substitute for a base makeup.

• Cons:

  • Very dewy so you’d need to use powder on areas you don’t want shine.

  • One pore-clogging ingredient.

🏆 Best Fully Non-Comedogenic - Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection FLEX

Features innovative tone-adapting pigments that provide buildable color coverage, delivering a flawless, natural look while protecting against environmental aggressors.

This is my go-to for light, complexion-correcting coverage for casual makeup days. I wear this one on the weekends when I’m going to brunch and want a “no makeup makeup” look. It works well with my makeup products and I like the feel of it on my skin. The way the product adapts to your skin-tone when you apply it is pretty wild. Below are some stats and pros and cons from my experience.

• SPF: 50

• Cost: $54

• Color I got: Medium

• Pros:

  • No pore-clogging ingredients.

  • The finish isn’t too matte or too dewy. Gives the skin a nice subtle glow.

  • Plays well with makeup and can be worn as a “clean girl” makeup base.

• Cons:

  • Doesn’t rank super well when tested for non-toxic ingredients.

🏆 Best Clean Ingredient - Suntegrity 5 in 1 Tinted Sunscreen Moisturizer

This multi-tasking BB cream renews, hydrates, protects, primes, and covers the skin, providing a flawless, natural look while offering broad-spectrum protection.

This is my new go-to on days I’m not wearing makeup. I love that even though this product is the last step of my skincare routine, it feels like the first step of a “clean girl” makeup moment and offers very light coverage to even out my skin-tone juuuuust enough. I like that this isn’t mattifying but also didn’t need to be powered—the finish looks hydrated without being greasy. Below are some stats and pros and cons from my experience.

• SPF: 30

• Cost: $48

• Color I got: Golden Light

• Pros:

  • EWG ranking: 1.

  • Nice finish and light coverage.

  • Loved how it wore throughout the day. Not greasy and didn’t need to be powdered.

• Cons:

  • Only SPF 30.

  • Very light coverage so I wouldn’t wear this as a makeup replacement.

  • One pore-clogging ingredient.

What’s Your Go-To Tinted Mineral Sunscreen?

If you’ve found a holy grail mineral SPF, I need to know! Tap the link below to leave a comment—I love hearing your recommendations.

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xo,

Olivia

Recipes You May Have Missed:

1. Top Left: Turkey Meatballs with Mushroom Gravy

2. Top Right: Gluten-Free 30-Minute Seeded Buns

3. Bottom Left: Easy, Savory Breakfast Bowls

4. Bottom Right: Gluten-Free Spaghetti and Meatballs

My Hair Journey

My hair is the thickest, healthiest, and shiniest it’s ever been. It’s important to note, though, that this didn’t happen overnight!

I’ve always had long hair (my mom and sister both have very long hair as well), but I’ve gone through seasons where my hair was quite dull, and for most of my 20s I struggled with split ends and breakage.

Happy to report that is no longer the case!

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After much trial and error, I’ve found what works best for me and how to properly care for my mane in order to achieve my healthiest hair, all while coloring and heat styling it.

I don’t personally find the advice that “you shouldn’t color your hair” or “you should avoid heat styling it” in order to have luscious locks to be very helpful because of course those things are going to be damaging but I’d rather create a routine that supports coloring and heat styling in moderation and I think I’ve found that balance.

I find that a combination of good nutrition, a strategic hair care routine, and planned styling has transformed my hair for the better.

When these three buckets work together, my hair is at its best. I’ll dive into each of these topics below and, of course, will link all my favorite product recs throughout!

Nutrition & Diet

Let’s start with the basics — what you eat has a direct impact on your overall health and hair health is no exception.

I focus on a diet rich in whole or minimally processed foods, lots of high-quality protein, healthy fats, a diversity of plants, and plenty of complex carbs.

A non-negotiable for healthy and strong hair, skin, and nails (and just for my overall health) is ensuring that I’m eating adequate protein each day. For me that means around 100-120g of protein.

Eating a protein-rich diet contributes to stronger hair in part because hair strands are made of keratin, a protein that supports their structure, growth, and length.

Protein is also responsible for balancing hormones, which play a larger role in stimulating hair growth.

Protein is essential for the production of hormones and supports healthy hormone balance by slowing the absorption of sugar into the bloodstream, thus preventing blood sugar spikes (more on this topic later).

If you struggle to get enough protein in your diet, check out my ebook, Protein-Empowered, for one week of easy high-protein recipes.

I also focus on eating plenty of healthy fats, including avocados, nut butter, olive oil, flaxseed, and chia seeds (my Cinnamon Apple Breakfast Quinoa Power Porridge is a great make-ahead breakfast that is full of protein and healthy fats from seeds and almond butter).

Bone broth is another staple in my diet and is beneficial for gut health as well as hair health.

Since bone broth is a great source of collagen, drinking it daily can help your body produce more collagen which can stimulate growth.

Collagen also helps strengthen the hair, leading to less breakage over time.

You can make your own chicken or beef bone broth or buy high-quality, organic brands from the store (fond is one of my favs).

It’s a comforting drink to sip on in the colder months or you can use it to make a stew or soup or get super creative with it like in my Bone Broth Hot Chocolate recipe.

Along with eating nutritious, wholesome food, my hair health (specifically thickness) can also be attributed to proper blood sugar balance.

Skipping meals or eating sugary foods can cause an imbalance in blood sugar levels. Each meal should have protein, healthy fats, and complex carbs.

Oftentimes deemed the enemy, carbs are so incredibly nourishing to the body, providing you with much-needed energy and telling the body it is safe and at peace.

My hair was at its thinnest when I tried the keto diet and intermittent fasting a few years back.

With an imbalanced plate, your blood sugar can go on a roller coaster ride and blood sugar spikes can lead to increased cortisol, therefore creating dysregulation within the body.

Two primary causes of excess hair shedding are hormone dysregulation and stress. I work to target these issues through diet, lifestyle, and proper supplementation (I take Nutrafol).

Excess caffeine consumption can also lead to a spike in cortisol. Last year, I switched from drinking coffee to matcha after realizing that my daily double espresso latte was spiking my cortisol and taxing my adrenals.

I initially tested this swap as a one-month experiment, but it was so transformative that I’m now a self-proclaimed matcha girlie!

Matcha has less caffeine than regular coffee and is full of antioxidants, polyphenols, and Vitamin E — all of which can stimulate hair growth.

Hair Care Routine

Moving on to my routine, I’ve found a particular regimen that works best for my hair.

For reference, I have long, color-treated, fairly fine hair that tends to get oily quite quickly.

Of course, I try to stick with this routine as best as I can but if I’m traveling or have an event that I need to prep for, it may fall by the wayside.

Also, I’m very picky about the products I use! So many brands reach out and want me to test their products, but I turn most of them down because I don’t like to let my hair be the guinea pig.

I wash my hair every four days with either this salon-quality shampoo and conditioner I’ve been using since college or this salon-quality shampoo and conditioner that my hairdresser turned me on to.

They are on the pricey side, but I’ve found that drugstore brands just don’t do it for me. They tend to leave my hair feeling dull and brittle after prolonged use.

This one also might come as a shock, but I have had zero success with shampoos and conditioners marketed as non-toxic, so I avoid them *gasp*.

So far, every one that I’ve tried has stripped my hair and made it look very dull.

Trust me when I say I WANT to like them. If you have a good rec let me know!

Despite not being a non-toxic hair care girlie, I do choose products that are free from sulfates and parabens and are cruelty-free.

Heat

Moving on to how I use heat on my hair. I mostly air dry my hair but will occasionally use a quality blow dryer with a blow dry primer, especially if I’m getting ready for an evening out or an event.

Any time I blow dry my hair, I use a heat protectant. If I am air-drying my hair, I try to wash it at least two hours before bed to give it time to dry.

Hair is more fragile when wet, so I avoid brushing it when it’s wet as well.

I use a hair oil on the midsections and ends two times a week which helps keep it shiny.

And I brush my hair with a boar bristle to distribute my hair’s natural oils (as I said, my fine hair can get greasy quickly!).

Twice a month, I use a really nourishing hair mask. I always look forward to hair mask days as it feels like a luxurious indulgence, a true self-care day for my hair!

I’ve been using the same mask for over 8 years and I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve given it as a gift. It's the best!

Styling

I get a balayage and a trim every three months (I go to @hair.love.atx in Austin). Balayage is a lower maintenance style, which I’m all about! I don’t have time to get my hair colored all the time and I want the color to fade naturally.

On the first day after wash day, I will curl my hair with a curling iron and use hairspray for soft and bouncy curls.

Just a little spray goes a long way! I used to douse my hair in hairspray but have noticed that it dries my hair out so I opt to use as little as possible to do the trick.

On the second day after wash day, I’ll touch up the front curls with a curling iron, if needed. Mostly, I let the curls fall where they may and use a bit of texture spray and hairspray for them to hold their shape and volume.

On the third and fourth days after wash day, I’ll either put my hair in a clip or a slicked-back ponytail (though I do try to avoid wearing tight styles for extended periods).

I use these specific hair ties to avoid as much breakage as possible. And I use a specific hair brush to make my slicked-back hair super smooth along with this pomade stick to tame down flyaways. I do live in Texas, so the flyaways are a real thing!

A Few Other Tips

As I said, it’s impossible to transform your hair overnight. New growth takes time, as does training your hair to go longer between washes.

While some may immediately reach for dry shampoo, I personally use it sparingly since I’ve found that it can clog my pores. Some weeks I don’t use it at all.

I was once told to treat my hair like a luxury fabric. With this in mind, I am very gentle with my hair! I focus on fueling myself well, following a scheduled hair routine, and styling minimally to achieve the best, healthiest hair.

I hope this answers all of your hair questions! You can always reach me here on Substack or on Instagram @olivia.adriance and ask any additional questions you may have!

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Recipes You May Have Missed

• Top Left: Firecracker Glass Noodles & Meatballs

• Top Right: Gluten-Free Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

• Bottom Left: Crispy Chicken Caesar Kale Salad

• Bottom Right: Gluten-Free Dairy-Free One Pot Hamburger Helper