Beauty to me now means something different than when I was younger. I used to think beauty was perfection, especially when I first started modeling. Now, beauty to me is comfort. Being comfortable with yourself, being comfortable with aging. I find it very graceful and alluring.
What does Beauty mean to you?
On Skincare
I like to use simple but effective products. Protect in the daytime, exfoliate and repair at night. I’ve been using Kleos and Klea Onisi vitamin powder and iO mineral spray (you mix them to make a potent vitamin paste) in the daytime under my Beauty of Joseon SPF 50. I am religious about sunscreen. I’ll reapply after 2 hours, I slather it everywhere. Now that I have a pixie I’m better about putting it on my ears. At night, I use prescription tretinoin, 0.1%, every other day, and Caudalie Resveratrol-Lift night cream. It’s a lovely product that’s very hydrating but not greasy. My shower routine is constantly changing, but I do like the Augustinus Bader foaming face wash.
In Dayna's File
‘Puts a gorgeous and hazy real life filter on your face.’
‘It smells like a gorgeous organic cake, it’s the highest quality vitamins in a super potent powder to paste mixture – there’s nothing like it.’
‘Your lashes look a mile long, and I always think brown looks soft and natural.’
‘The best piece-y shine!’
‘I try to do it every other night.’
On Makeup
I pretty much do the same makeup for any occasion, and I rarely wander from my favorites. I love the Armani Luminous Silk foundation, Chanel blushes (they have the most beautiful shades with just the right amount of shimmer – which to me is not much), Maybelline sky-high mascara in brown, Chanel loose powder, and I love a lip stain. ETUDE Dear Darling 02 water tint is lovely.
On Haircare
When you have a ‘pixie’, the whole hair game changes. The day to day maintenance is low, but you need to constantly get it cut. I’ve learned to cut my own hair because I would need to go to the salon every two weeks. My hair grows very fast. I do it myself and then go to my guy every six or so weeks to reset. I wash my hair with whatever is in the shower to be honest, every few days. Afterwards I use a Davines hair paste and Cer-100 Hair Muscle essence oil. I just scrunch it and shift it around, piece my bangs down, and let it air dry.
On Health and Wellness
I had back pain for many years, and pilates dramatically helped. I will probably do pilates for my entire life. The clients I see who have done it regularly for decades look fantastic. If you don’t have access to a studio – having a set of light and medium hand weights at home (I like 5 & 10 lbs), ankle weights, and a Youtube account, is more than sufficient to feel great. In terms of diet, I’m a pescatarian. Most meals at home are vegan or vegetarian, and I like to get nice fish when I’m out. It’s a balance that feels right for me. For supplements, I take iron, DIM for hormone synthesis and a clean liver, and NMN for healthy aging.
On Rituals
I get massages regularly. I like an insanely strong, deep massage. If I had to prioritize any treatment, it would always be massage. There are some wonderful places in Chinatown. I also love a buccal facial, which is a deep facial massage where they go in your mouth to relieve jaw tension. My whole face always feels lifted and rejuvenated.
On Fragrance
Fragrance has taken center stage in the city lately. You can smell the change walking down the street. Many more men and women are wearing fragrance than they used to, and more of it. Many are quite stringent, some are quite lovely and unique. There’s been more social media marketing around fragrance as well. I became enthralled by this fragrance whirlwind last year, and really built up a fragrance wardrobe. I read books about it, the history of it. Did you know, in Roman bath houses, they would adorn the wings of doves with fragrance and let them loose to spread the fragrance with their flight? Amazing! I love a powdery floral musk. My favorites lately are Frederic Malle Iris Poudre, and Radical Rose by Matiere Premiere.
Your Beauty Secrets
I do love my red light therapy mask. I try to do it every other night. It’s mostly a mental thing, like ‘Oh this is repairing the damage of the day’ and it checks off that box. I also will gua sha or do a little face massage while I watch a movie, it makes the time feel a little more optimized. It’s all about optimization now isn’t it!
What is always in your handbag?
I always have a Blister SPF 15 lip balm. Lips need sunscreen too. I’m sure there are more natural ones, but I can always get one of these in a pinch at Duane Reade. Hawaiian Tropic also makes a sunscreen powder SPF 30 that I carry around to reapply over makeup.
Dayna's Directory
My top recommendation is Ricari Studios. They do a full body and face lymphatic drainage treatment in SoHo NYC. I’ve also been to their London location, and can attest to every esthetician being highly skilled at both the body and facial portion. It’s very space-age. You put on these moon boots, and they use a vacuum-like machine to tend to the entire rest of your body. You feel like a million dollars afterwards. It’s the perfect treatment that covers all the bases.
‘The most nonexistent texture, no white cast.’