Ava Van Osdol

Beauty is an ephemeral feeling—sometimes it shows up physically, but I think it’s most delicious when fleeting. I don’t always feel beautiful, but my favorite moments are usually when I’m not even trying: swaying at a music festival, swimming topless at sunset, or whispering secrets in bed with a friend. Beauty feels like sleepwalking through glamour at its best—effortless and a little dreamy.

Mornings are low-effort: a mirror scan for surprises, a cup of buckwheat tea, maybe a light eyebrow / upper lip tweeze, and a generous slather of sunscreen. My friend, the amazing MUA Niko Jane, got me hooked on Isntree (a Korean brand), and I haven’t looked back.

At night, I keep it gentle—my skin is super sensitive and eczema-prone. I rotate between Cetaphil or CeraVe face wash, then go in with Eucerin Eczema Relief and topical steroids (sparingly). I also take supplements: fish oil, a multivitamin, progesterone, quercetin for inflammation, and Rinvoq (life-changing for eczema). I wash them all down with chamomile tea and magnesium powder—my secret sleep potion. I’ve warned friends: it may give you insane dreams.

Also, I sleep with my hair in a €3 satin bonnet after brushing it with a boar bristle brush. It looks hilarious, but I wake up with the same hair I went to bed with. Game changer.

Givenchy foundation – Feels like skincare, and the only one I’ve found without a yellow undertone.

Westman Atelier brown mascara – So chic, subtle, and perfectly understated.

Victoria Beckham brown eyeliner – My friend Chlita introduced me to this and taught me the tightline trick. Changed my life.
One of my biggest beauty hacks? Letting your makeup artist friends do your face, you always learn something new.

One of my biggest beauty hacks? Letting your makeup artist friends do your face, you always learn something new.

In-shower: basic. After-shower: extra. I use Head & Shoulders 2-in-1 (not sexy, but effective for my psoriasis). Then I layer K18 leave-in or Crown Affair conditioner (smells incredible), followed by K18 oil or Verb Ghost Oil. Since moving to Paris, I was also introduced to this hair mask called “Botox” by my friend Pirrie Wright. It gives you princess hair- soft and fluffy with an insanely good smell. 

My hair is fine but thick, and I’ve been every shade of red and blonde thanks to NYC color wizard Jackson Heller. He’s the king of the root melt—I’ve gone months without seeing him (sorry, Jackson). These days, I’m embracing my natural shade and doing DIY glosses between appointments.

Other legends:

John Allen in London gave me amazing face-framing layers

Stephen Thevenot at David Mallett in NYC is fab—I could hang in that salon for hours

I get baby trims every four months and am currently chasing belly-button-length hair.

Gentle consistency over all-or-nothing intensity. Supplements help, chamomile tea + magnesium is my nighttime religion, and I listen to my body, my friends (and my dermatologist). Massage has also been really incredible for me- I’ve become a pro at sleeping in economy on long-haul flights at the expense of my back. Wellness to me is a soft structure, not punishment.

I’ve always been obsessed with roses. We had a big rose bush outside the kitchen growing up—I used to clip it and leave little vases all around the house. It still feels soft and nostalgic to me. I love pairing it with a hint of musk. Raving Rose by Dries Van Noten is chef’s kiss.

For going out it’s something moodier, sexier. I love a grown-up Victoria’s Secret vibe—like what the hot girls in high school wore after sneaking a joint at lunch. Wet Cherry Liquor by Bohoboco scratches that itch: flirty, tart, and a little dangerous.

No one is thinking about your appearance as much as you are. Seriously—chill out.