Stella Jones

Born and raised in the midst of London’s creative scenes, to parents in prominent positions in music and film, it’s beautiful to hear model Stella Jones share her grounded and curious angle on beauty. There is a purity to Stella that seems untouchable as she proves that being in and near the spotlight from a young age can, on the contrary, bring more clarity on what is and isn’t of value.

Stella shares how the most beautiful moments are those connecting with others, and for her, that’s the point of it all. Even though she and her friends have grown up on social media and are very much the darlings of London’s digital world, Stella is actually pretty unfazed about the pressure or recognition that comes along with it. She knows that connection is far more beautiful than comparison, and her focus lies on avoiding the negativity and hate online, advocating for the fact that tearing each other down from behind screens is pathetic and a waste of energy.

Now based in New York and studying psychology alongside her stunning modelling work, Stella keeps her routine simple, her circle close, and her values intact. She understands the power of staying grounded, noting that her daily walks are one of the biggest joys in her life, as well as the focus and care she brings to her studies, family and friends. Simplicity always takes reign, as the quality in Stella’s beauty routine proves.

Beauty to me is in everything we see around us every day, human connection in particular. Whether that be witnessing a connection of two strangers on the street, or you’re meeting someone for the first time and connecting with them. I feel like that is so beautiful and the way that makes us feel, but then also the way that like our environment and the physical nature of the world makes us feel and the emotions attached to it.

In the morning, the first thing I do is cleanse my face. At the moment, I’m using the Chanel La Mousse cleanser. Then I’ll ice my face – just with ice cubes in hand, the old-fashioned way, before I start with skincare. Then for serum, I love the Barbara Sturm hyaluronic serum. Then I’ll use the Face Gym Vitamin C oil before finishing with the Embryolise moisturiser. That’s it. 

At night, it’s the same – except sometimes I’ll use a light exfoliant -like Orogold.

In the evening, I’ll use my red light Current Body mask. I try to do it three times a week. I will also do face masks once a week; the MediCube ones are amazing. I also use the Barbara Sturm eye patches all the time. If I want really deep hydration overnight, I’ll use the MediCube products, like the vitamin C cream and the jelly moisturiser. They are so thick and really sink into your skin. They are all Korean products, which are so great. 

Then I moisturise my body with Caudalie!

I use my skincare as a base, and then the Rhode glazing milk (before the moisturiser). Then with my moisturiser, I’ll mix in the Drunk Elephant bronzing drops which are great to give that extra glow. It’s a shiny, bronzy layer for your skin, like a tinted moisturiser. I love it. And then I’ll conceal with my NARS concealers. I usually just use my finger for that, and then I’ll bronze with either the Ilia or the Chanel bronzers. One I’m still using, which I’ve been using since I was like 13, is the chocolate, Too Faced bronzer. It has real cocoa powder in it, and smells so good. Honestly, it’s like the best thing, all my friends borrow it when we’re doing our makeup together. It’s one of those great classics.

Then I’ll use some blush, namely, the Rhode blush. They’re also great because you can put them in your bag. Right now I’m using the shade ‘Date Cake’. They are strong colours, so you don’t need much.

After that, I just curl my eyelashes and do mascara. 

Then, for lip liner, I’ll use either Rhode or Charlotte Tilbury.  I’ve been using Pillow Talk from Charlotte Tilbury forever, and sometimes I use a more brownish one like Hot Gossip. Then I’ll use some lip balm or lip gloss – mainly the Rhode ones. Sometimes I’ll use Chanel Rouge. That’s basically my makeup routine. 

If I’m doing a no makeup day, which most days I do, I’ll just curl my lashes, and use the Laneige lip balm.

I love the Rhode lip liner and lip glosses; this is like my go-to for the day or a casual night out. If I’m going out, I’ll often do a red lip, and I use this Burberry- the kisses liquid one – it dries matte, which is great, and I love to mix it with the Charlotte Tilbury red. This is the killer combo. It’s great.

Now I see beauty as more about what’s inside – the kindness of people and the gestures people make and things people say. That’s what makes someone beautiful. Whereas, when I was younger, I considered people’s looks more when I thought of beauty, sadly.

There is much more to it.

Honestly, not really. I think I’m very good at compartmentalising different things in my life, and I’ve always had some inner confidence. I’m good at not comparing myself to people. But maybe that’s also because you see it all the time; the constant hate comments and how everyone is just mean to each other online. So now, when you see people being genuinely nice to each other, especially in real life, it feels so much rarer. I think that makes it even more beautiful.

Well, one side is when I do my makeup and I’m in the mirror and feel great, but really when I feel most beautiful is when I take it all off and I’m getting into bed. When I’ve just had the best shower, and I feel so clean, and I’m fully moisturised, I’ve done my skincare, or my mask, or whatever, and my hair’s in a braid, and I’m in my clean sheets, I feel great. That is beauty.

I recently got one of those red light face masks. I love it, and can genuinely feel it almost calming me down – it’s 10 minutes of pure relaxation. I don’t know if it’s helping my skin or doing a lot, but I love using it. I think the red light masks are a long-term, trust the process situation. 

Walks are the big one for me. Every time I need to clear my head or think about anything, I’ll go for a walk. I live in New York, and when I’m there, I walk along the river. I love walking. I get my 10,000 steps in every day. 

I also love going to pilates. I try to go twice a week, but during the summer, I always kind of fall off the wagon. I’ll do green juice in the morning. And I love getting a massage, but I don’t do it enough.

My favourite at the moment is the Diptyque Do Son. I love it, it just smells great. I used to always wear Chanel Mademoiselle because that was the one that my mum bought me, and I’ve used that for years, but then I ran out and was sent the Diptyque one, and have used that ever since. I keep repurchasing it, it’s beautiful, and the bottle is beautiful too.

A beauty tip that’s really stuck with me – which is honestly the whole premise of how I do my makeup now – comes from being on set and seeing how much time goes into skincare and prep before makeup. The massaging of the skin with the products, the icing, the face masks –  and the difference it makes is crazy. Now I’ll ice my face in the morning, or if I don’t have ice, I’ll rinse with cold water. It wakes you up, makes you feel less puffy, and apparently tightens your pores too.

I always wake up, wash my face, and curl my lashes. Someone told me about an eyelash curler when I was very young, and when I would go to school, I would only do that. You feel the difference, it gives that extra boost of confidence.

I keep getting told to wear SPF. I don’t think I’m taking it seriously enough. I do wear it in summer, but in winter I don’t really think about it that much. Still, there’s no better feeling than coming home from the beach after being in the sun all day. You’ve had all that vitamin D, you’ve showered, you’re lying in your towel in bed, a bit rosy—it’s my favourite thing. I always wear sun cream at the beach.

I love going to Pilates. In London, I’ve been going to Heartcore, which is great. It’s quite intense, but it’s great.

In New York, there’s a place called Other Ship, which is a sauna and cold plunge with group meditation and classes. It’s guided meditations with different themes – basically, you’re all in a room, meditate, hop in the ice-cold plunge and then you go back in the sauna – and it’s amazing. I was so scared at first, and not good at it, but I ended up doing the two minutes, which they recommend. I only did that twice, as normally, I’d jump out before. The hot ones are the best, and so fun when you get to go in the same room with your friends. You’re given a gua sha, and encouraged to gua sha your body. It’s really cool.