Hi I’m Kate, writing you from my house in Highland Park, Los Angeles. Most days I work with a small roster of clients on a mix of creative direction, brand development and campaign production.

I also model and recently wrote a book of poetry. Winter in LA can be especially problematic for my skin and hair so I like to keep my routine pretty low maintenance, focusing in on hydration. Natural oils and toners really help. I try to read up on what products are made of and where they come from, avoiding artificial ingredients, perfumes, dyes or anything heavily produced in mass.

Right now I’m working on more water, less caffeine. I’ve also had to check myself on morning screen time. I’m all for it in moderation, but prolonged Instagram exposure feels up there with UV rays as an aging agent.

Margherita Delphine Pearl Clip

This pearly white acetate shell hair claw is my new go-to* when I want to look polished but don’t have a lot of time to get ready. It holds my thick hair well whereas other clips tend to break mid wear. It also has a fun, nostalgic quality from adolescence.

*Great minds alert: Alice Betts’s of Acne Studios makes a solid case for hair clips here.

Navajo Blue Corn Body and Hair Bar

This blue bar is the best shampoo bar I’ve tried. I put my whole head under the shower faucet and once my hair is drenched, I rub the bar right on my scalp. It’s made with sage, olive, coconut and yucca. The ground blue corn gives it an exfoliating quality to also gently scrub my neck, arms and elbows.

Kindred Black’s Organic Oils

Kindred Black’s slow skincare line has changed the way I think about beauty products. Each item comes in a handmade glass bottle — they’re recycled, reusable and plastic free, a rarity today, especially for packaging. I use the Zdravetz essential oil with rosehip vial sparingly once or twice a week under my eyes. The hemp CBD oil is a cure-all and really good for anxiety. I like to use a couple drops of the Sonora jojoba oil in damp hair to help with frizz. It’s also a natural astringent experiment with that is next on my list.

Figs Underwear Hand Mirror

My friend Scarlett started a line of beautiful intimates and tools called Figs. Her hand mirror came about when she realized she wasn’t alone in her feelings and fears around looking at herself. Taking ourselves in with compassion instead of shame is a real practice that takes time. This mirror is a nice start.

RMS Beauty Lip2Cheek

Every morning out of the shower I dab this dusty rose luminiser on the apple of my cheeks for a healthy day glow. A little goes a long way so each tin lasts forever. For a night out I’ll add a little more to accentuate my cheekbones.