“I used to be born in Hong Kong, however my mother moved me and my brother to New York after I was 4 years outdated. Rising up right here, I assumed I wished to be a cartoonist, however I obtained actually into style and ended up going to FIT. Straight out of school, I used to be the PR supervisor at Archetype Showroom. I feel I made one thing like $28,000 a 12 months; I used to be a hostess at Bond Avenue attempting to make ends meet on the identical time. Instantly after that I dipped my toes into different manufacturers, like Pamela Love and Kimberly Ovitz, and rapidly realized that style was not my factor. I went on to be the manufacturing supervisor at Paper’s Additional Additional, one of many first experiential advertising and marketing businesses on the market, after which later landed a manufacturing director position at The Gathery, the place I helped scale occasions, from small intimate dinners to large-scale conferences like Sophia Amoruso’s Girlboss Rally. The occasions trade is hard although, and I suffered from burnout nearly instantly. I had been DJing as a aspect hustle too. I’ve been fortunate sufficient to DJ for a few of the best-in-class manufacturers like Valentino and Lamborghini, however on the time, I used to be exhausted. I obtained actually into wellness and taking good care of myself, and I began studying methods to surf in Rockaway Seashore. After that, I stop my job to open up my very own pop-up surf store referred to as The Notion within the Rockaways. The surf trade was—and nonetheless is—so dominated by males, and I wished to create an area for feminine surfers.
I moved to Los Angeles in 2019, however quick ahead to March 2020, I went to Puerto Rico on a weekend lengthy surf journey and obtained caught there for 3 months due to COVID. The primary month and a half was particularly tough as a result of Puerto Rico was so strict. You couldn’t even stroll on the seaside. I referred to as my pal and now co-founder Emily Doyle, who had expertise within the magnificence recreation, and mentioned, ‘That is the time to construct our dream firm. We’re not going to have this time and house once more.’ As a surfer, suncare was one in every of my private ache factors throughout the magnificence trade. I refused to purchase a sunscreen that was $50 for a 1.7 ounce bottle. However the drugstore manufacturers marketed as clear would go away me with a white forged. It was very tough discovering a product that was reasonably priced, modern, clear on my pores and skin, and straightforward to entry. Enter: Dune Suncare, the place we provide every little thing from face sunscreen to physique SPF in various formulation.
SKINCARE
I battled loopy zits as an adolescent. It’s in my household DNA. I went on Accutane in my twenties—undoubtedly didn’t get the information about how unhealthy it’s for you then—and it labored, although my hormones nonetheless break me out each from time to time. Which means I’m always on the lookout for skincare with non-comedogenic formulation. Ease can be vital to me; I like two-in-one formulation.
Within the morning, I exploit my Osea Ocean cleanser, adopted up by the iS Scientific Professional-Heal serum. It’s a vitamin C serum, and it’s helped me a lot. I’ll admit that I’m a pores and skin picker and I like the solar, which suggests I’m the prime suspect for hyperpigmentation. I’ve not too long ago began utilizing the Topicals Pale. I’m hoping to see some adjustments with that, however I’ve to be trustworthy, it doesn’t scent one of the best. I’m dedicated to it although; I do know consistency is essential. I end off the morning with the Dune Mug Guard SPF 30.
Since I don’t put on an excessive amount of make-up on the every day, I simply use my Osea cleanser once more at evening. Then I both use the iS Scientific Lively serum, which is absolutely good for zits, or the Sunday Riley Good Genes. The Lively serum feels just a little cool and tingly while you put it on, which makes me really feel prefer it’s working higher, and the Good Genes has been unbelievable with my nice traces. I just like the iS Scientific Lively Peel Remedy System, too. And, like my mother taught me, I at all times put on eye cream. I just like the iS Scientific Eye Complicated, which I at all times apply with my ring finger. I like Colleen Rothchild’s Weightless moisturizer. It’s actually very gentle. And I like to roll my face with the ReVive contouring therapeutic massage curler. It actually helps intensify my cheekbones.
I journey quite a bit, so my pores and skin is at all times feeling dehydrated and dry. I lather on Summer season Fridays’ Jet Lag masks on planes. I even apply it to my fingers, and I put it on prime of my sunscreen. And I at all times have Lucas’ Papaw ointment on me. I exploit all of it day lengthy.
Submit-surf, my physique is so salty, so I exploit the Dune Lifeguard, our tackle after-sun gels. It’s aloe-based and doubles as a moisturizer. However regularly, as a substitute of normal physique lotion, I exploit our Dune Bod Guard as a result of I reside in LA and get plenty of daylight. It’s SPF 30, actually hydrating, and smells just like the ocean. Osea’s Undaria algae physique oil is absolutely hydrating, too. It provides you just a little glow.
I used to be 35 after I first obtained Botox. Kim Kardashian impressed me to start out—simply kidding. [Laughs] I am going to Cienega Med Spa now. I prefer it for my crow’s ft, frown traces, and on my brows for just a little carry. And I simply obtained the TheraFace masks, so I can’t communicate to it an excessive amount of, however I’m excited to make use of it. It’s supposed to assist with nice traces and wrinkles. It has each pink and blue gentle, and it vibrates, which feels nice.
I used to be given a present card for The Issues We Do not too long ago. It’s a cute spa. I went in for his or her ‘full peel’ and I had a five-day restoration interval. The primary day after, I used to be like, ‘My pores and skin is just too sturdy for this peel. Nothing is going on.’ However oh my God, on the second and third day, my pores and skin was flaking off in items. Then I regarded nice. [Laughs] I usually go to Pores and skin Laundry for resurfacing facials, which use a fractional laser. It hurts and also you peel with it, too, however the glow is value it.
MAKEUP
I like an easy-breezy make-up look, so I don’t use plenty of merchandise every day, but when I’ve a giant gig, I’ll rent a make-up artist and ham up the seems. I’ve been loving Ilia’s Pores and skin Rewind stick in Cypress 24N. It’s matte however buttery and velvety while you put it on. It’s additionally buildable, so if I need extra protection, I can add extra. The complexion brush actually makes you look airbrushed. It’s unbelievable. After which for my lips, I’m obsessive about Glossier’s G Go well with in Lane. It’s this rosy, maroon-ish shade that’s excellent.
A cat eye is my go to liner look. Ilia’s liquid liner is absolutely good for this as a result of the tip is tremendous pointy and doesn’t smudge simply. And I can not reside with out my eyelash extensions. I’ve been going to Jen Barrera for 5 years. At this level, she’s so fast as a result of she is aware of my eye form very nicely—I’ve a standing appointment together with her each two weeks. I like that I don’t want to twist my lashes and put on mascara with them, however I nonetheless look awake and nice.
HAIR
For 10 years, since I turned 30, I’ve had loopy hairstyles. I went from black to a platinum blonde bob in a single session. I simply don’t give an F about hair. It’s so cool to showcase your persona by means of shade. I used to be platinum for 5 years, and naturally, it ruined my hair. Ultimately the breakage was so unhealthy that I needed to cease—however I did go pink earlier than I went again to black. 4 years in the past, I rocked the craziest child bangs for some time. Then final September I used to be feeling pink. The subsequent day, I booked an appointment. Nancy Contreras at Framed Salon in Santa Monica is an unbelievable colorist. She does enjoyable stuff; a few of her shoppers have rainbow streaks or leopard spots. For cuts, I am going Kristen Shaw. Demi Willis at Trim on Principal Avenue cuts my bangs.
I exploit Gem Lites Ruby Pink Colorwash to refresh my hair, however I additionally attempt to not shampoo so much. Once I surf, I put Crown Affair’s leave-In conditioner in my hair. I’ve realized from my years of getting bleached hair that for those who layer it with a conditioner earlier than you go into the ocean, you’ll get much less harm. Once I get out of the water, I exploit a Moist Brush detangler and add in Andrew Fitzsimons’s AF1 10-in-1 leave-in. I’ve been utilizing the Crown Affair hair oil not too long ago as a result of my strands are beginning to get just a little crunchy. I like Crown Affair’s dry shampoo, too.
FRAGRANCE
Flowerbomb by Viktor & Rolf has been my scent for over a decade. Seeing an advert offered me, and I’ve by no means used anything. With regards to my house, I hate paying for scented candles. As an alternative, I like Diptyque’s Baies room spray. I’m like, ‘Oh, this spray would final me most likely six months versus burning this candle that’ll final me two weeks and prices $80.’ I’m at all times interested by effectivity.”
—As advised to Daise Bedolla
Photographed by Brittany Bravo in Los Angeles on April 17, 2024