Beauty is this intangible, inarticulable feeling. It is, in a sense, when you feel most alive and completely yourself. We all arrive at this in our own way. I find that everyday rituals are a way for me to return to myself, to reconnect, and allow myself to look inward. So my personal beauty philosophy is twofold. Of course, there is ‘less is more’, but I also really follow a philosophy of ‘ritual, not routine’.
What does Beauty mean to you?
On Skincare
I have really sensitive skin, so I am very specific about what I use. In the morning I start with our LESSE Calming Cleanser, which I apply with a quick lymphatic massage. Then I apply our LESSE Regeneration Mist, a few drops of the Ritual Serum, a dab of the Awakening Eye Cream, and then our Essential Moisturizer. My skin has become far more dry in my 30s. I allow that all to soak in for a full minute before I apply our LESSE Every Tone SPF 30. In the evening, I follow the same ritual but I add a second cleanse by starting with our LESSE Refining Cleanser, and I increase how much of the serum, eye cream, and moisturizer that I apply. Twice a week, I also use our LESSE Bioactive Mask for around 20 minutes, and I use our LESSE Sculpting Tool to gua sha a few times a week. It works beautifully in tandem with our LESSE Ritual Serum, and I notice such a difference when I’m consistent with it. For my body, I love the Body Stone from my friend Kate McLeod’s line as a moisturizer. It keeps your skin deeply hydrated even in the depths of a New York winter. When I workout, I use a natural deodorant another friend’s line, CORPUS.
In Neada's File
‘It’s the perfect Vitamin C moisturizer for sensitive skin. You truly notice a difference in the look, feel and function of your skin within a week.’
‘I was born and raised in Australia where sun protection is so ingrained in our culture. I spent my entire life searching for a non-nano zinc formula that truly blends to invisible, leaving no white cast. I wear this every day.‘
‘If I’m going out, I’ll add a swipe of the BYREDO kohl pencil in the shade Bhoora Bhoora at the outer edge of my lash line and then smudge it inwards.’
‘This contains two types of medicinal mushrooms that we grow and wild harvest ourselves. This instantly soothes my skin when it feels sensitive or irritated, and has been the secret to repairing and strengthening my skin barrier.’
On Haircare
I have really thick hair from my mother’s Spanish side of the family, and is impossible to tame at times. I always use a leave-in conditioner, from ROZ, Crown Affair, or Bumble and Bumble. I also love the hair oils from Sandor and ROZ. In the summer, I use the texture mousse from Crown Affair after a swim in the ocean and, anywhere I go, I bring our LESSE Everyday Comb. It’s handmade in Milan from a sustainable cellulose created from paper pulp. As my hair starts to dry, I’ll brush it out with a Tangle Teezer, the best brush for those with thick, naturally wavy hair like mine.
On Makeup
I am very light on makeup but use a Tower 28 concealer in the shade Noho under my eyes and the ILIA multi-stick in the shade Dreamer on my cheeks and just under the tip of my nose, which brings back some colour even in the depths of winter. Then a light application of the ILIA translucent powder with a small brush from SAIE, and I finish with an eyelash curler from Ere Perez and the Anastasia clear eyebrow gel. If I’m going out, I’ll add a swipe of the BYREDO kohl pencil in the shade Bhoora Bhoora at the outer edge of my lash line and then smudge it inwards along with some SAIE black mascara.
On Health and Wellness
I go to acupuncture once a week to help treat my autoimmune disease. Every visit, I also pick up a fresh custom blend of medicinal herbs. It changes weekly depending on how my body is functioning, and I take this morning and night. I also take a multivitamin and Vitamin D supplement from Thorne, and I take their magnesium in the evenings if I’m having trouble sleeping. Most mornings I have an Amina Mundi turmeric latte and Par Olive collagen powder in a smoothie or blended with some warm almond milk.
This year, I’m trying to meditate. I just ordered this large red light panel which we set up and meditate in front of which sounds a bit out there, but the proven benefits of light therapy are truly incredible.
I also go to yoga at SKY TING and reformer Pilates at New York Pilates, or Fluidform when I’m back in Sydney.
‘This is the first product we launched and the formulation completely healed and transformed my skin. It’s my hero product to this day.’