Being jealous of someone else’s life probably isn’t the healthiest of practices, but we can’t really help it when it comes to photographer/director/great human, Dana Boulos. She was the first person to introduce Lily-Rose Depp to the internet, having shot her first-ever editorial for Oyster Magazine in early 2015. Big achievement! HUGE!

When she’s not introducing us to Johnny Depp’s offspring or shooting beauty babes in their homes for THE FILE — thanks, angel! — you’ll find her shooting for titles like Badlands777, Oyster Magazine, Vogue Japan, and Vice, or making her mark as one of the best young auteurs coming out of L.A. right now. Seriously, if you’ve got 10 minutes to spare (heck, even if you technically don’t), you need to go and cop her short film Crimson Rose, featuring Kate Bowman and Lucas Bin. Centred on themes of youth and ambition, it’s truly something else.

Aside from making pure magic behind the lens, Dana is genuinely a super sweet person. We chatted to her in her L.A. home about anything and everything, from what prodz she likes to put on her face, to quitting her day job to become a full-time filmmaker. Here’s hoping you enjoy getting to know her as much as we did!

What’s your skincare routine (tell us about the products you swear by)?
My skincare routine is pretty simple. I usually wash my face with Vichy Normaderm Deep Cleansing Gel (which is great if you have any acne on your skin), before applying Dior Instant Cleansing Water as my toner. I live in Los Angeles, which is super sunny most of the time, so I never leave the house without sunscreen. I use Invisible Shield SPF 35 by Glossier. For my lips, I love the Dior Addict Lip Glow.

Do you wear make-up? What’s your go-to everyday product?
When it comes to make-up, I like to look super natural and bare. I usually wear a matte foundation by Chanel. Growing up, I’ve always loved bushy eyebrows, and would use clear mascara on my brows, but finally there are products on the market just for eyebrows. I usually switch between using Gimme Brow by Benefit or Boy Brow by Glossier. For my cheeks, I love to have that sunburnt type of look, and I use Cloud Paint by Glossier in the color Beam, which creates a peachy, sunburnt type of color on my cheeks. If I want to have a more of an 80s rose cheek, I use the Dior Rosy Glow blush. For lips, I keep it pretty simple. For day, it will be my Dior lip balm, and for night, I tend to wear a juicy matte red liquid lipstick by Chanel. I never wear mascara anymore, but when I did wear it, my favorite was Diorshow – I loved the fact that it smelled like roses.

What’s your haircare approach? And the products you use?
I recently chopped all of my hair off, and I’m still on the hunt for the right type of haircare. Recently, I’ve been using Kiehl’s Bath and Shower Liquid Cleanser with coriander, not only for my body, but also for my hair. It has a ton of oils, which means it doesn’t dry out my hair, and makes for the perfect shampoo. For conditioner, I usually use Herbal Essences with rose.

What’s the biggest beauty mistake you’ve made?
Plucking my eyebrows in high school!! Never again!

When do you feel your best?
Right after getting out of the pool.

How do you unwind?
I tend to go to swimming a lot; there’s something magical about the water.

What’s your favourite breakfast food?
I usually make a French omelette and mix in a bunch of vegetables, or sometimes fruit.

What’s that one word that you can’t stop saying at the moment?
LIT!

Favourite online shopping spot?
eBay!

Netflix or Spotify? And what are you loving right now?
That’s so hard,  because I do use both of them every day. If I had to choose between the two, I would go with Spotify. I listen to a ton of hip-hop (Kendrick Lamar as well as Future) and new wave French bands (La Femme as well as Clea Vincent). I’m currently writing a feature film that deals with a ton of punk music, so I’m revisiting bands I’ve loved since I was a teenager. One of my all time favorites would have to be The Cramps, and another artist I’ve been listening to non-stop is Cosmo Pyke.

What’s your favourite travel destination, and why?
Tokyo! I always cry in the airport when I have to leave. It’s the one country I feel like myself in.

Who was your first celebrity crush?
Nick Zinner.

What’s your earliest beauty memory?
Going into my grandmother’s room and playing with all of her Christian Dior make-up. I just realized why as an adult I always wear Dior!

If you could kill one beauty trend, what would it be?
Lip injections!!!!! I’m sick of seeing beautiful girls ruin their faces with duck lips.

What’s your most treasured item of clothing/jewelry?
I recently got these beautiful female figure earrings by Knobbly Studio in collaboration with artist Laurie Franck.

What does ‘beauty’ mean to you?
Natural.

What are you most excited for in 2017?
2017 is a special year for me! Most people know me as a photographer or owner of SUPER!, a consulting agency I started, which I decided to dissolve completely to chase my dream of directing full-time, and only working with people who believe in thinking outside the box.

Who is your biggest hero, and why?
My mum. She’s the strongest human being I’ve ever known.

Words, Madeleine Woon. Photography, Maxwell Clements.