Ming Lee Simmons, Mannequin | Into The Gloss

“I’ve all the time wished to work in style as a result of I watched my mother work in style my complete life. Proper now I assist my mother with artistic path at Child Phat. It is actually enjoyable as a result of my mother, my sister, and one in all my finest buddies and I work collectively. I even have my very own little social media platforms the place I make lots of style and sweetness content material, and I’ve modeled for manufacturers like Good American, Skims, and Glossier, too. It’s an thrilling time to mannequin. My mother all the time talks about her modeling days, and the way fashions needed to keep a sure dimension. There’s nonetheless a few of that stress within the business, however I’m excited that manufacturers are on the lookout for individuals of all totally different configurations and dimensions and colours to characterize them.

An evening out, whether or not it is in LA or New York, all the time contains an espresso martini. If I haven’t got one I’m not going anyplace. And that is primarily as a result of I am a drained girlie. [Laughs] Once I was in LA just lately, I went to Lavo with my finest good friend, they usually had a very good espresso martini. However my favourite meals is sushi, and in New York, my favourite spot is Kissaki. You may get sake pairings, and I will be trustworthy, each time I’m going and get the sake, I find yourself obliterated and that’s my complete evening. I additionally love going to Cipriani and American Bar.

SKINCARE
I had actually dangerous cystic zits in the course of the pandemic, so I began seeing aesthetician Sarah Ford, who I discovered via my mother. I like her Mild Enzyme Cleanser. It exfoliates my pores and skin with out stripping it, so I can use it daily. I take advantage of a cleaning balm from Farmacy to get off my make-up although. I will be trustworthy, more often than not if I am going out and I come residence and I am somewhat drunkie, that is most likely the one skincare that I do.

I take advantage of Skinbetter’s Mystro Lively Stability Serum as a result of Sarah tells me to. She additionally really helpful Osmosis’ development issue serum, although I do not solely know what it does. I’ve simply observed that if I do not use it, I get away extra. I’ve been utilizing it for a 12 months, and it’s the final serum I apply earlier than Augustinus Bader’s Wealthy Cream. I began with Augustinus Bader’s common cream, however as my zits acquired worse and I wanted extra astringents, I wanted extra moisture and converted to The Wealthy Cream. I like that it doesn’t have a scent.

For sunscreens, I change between two—the Hyaluronic Acid Watery Solar Gel from Isntree and Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Glow SPF 45. They each depart me so glowy, so I’ll generally use them at evening as a result of they act like a shiny base—and I all the time need to be dewy, by no means matte.

MAKEUP
Once more, the objective is to glow, so I begin with Dior’s Glow Veil primer and Glow Recipe’s Dew Drops. For basis, I like City Decay’s Face Bond. It’s matte, however it stays glowy for me once I use my primer combo. However I actually find it irresistible due to its packaging. It doesn’t leak, and I journey so much. I alternate it with Hourglass’ Pores and skin Tint Basis. It’s actually hydrating and fairly. Then I’m going in with the Radiant Creamy Concealer from Nars. It’s been my absolute favourite since I stole it from my mother’s make-up bag. It blends out effectively, and it’s actually so creamy. I take advantage of Tiramisu to hide spots and Crema Catalina for my underneath eyes. If I need extra protection although, I take advantage of Hourglass’ Vanish Airbrush Concealer in Beech. All of that is being blended with a BeautyBlender, which I really feel like provides me extra of a margin for error. I do know individuals say you will get dupes on Amazon, however none of them examine to the unique. However, if I don’t have one with me, I like Hourglass and Patrick Ta make-up brushes.

For blush, I like Uncommon Magnificence’s Smooth Pinch in Glad or Bliss—they’re so pigmented. However my new favourite is the Unreal Liquid Blush from Hourglass in Scene. I feel I’ve blush blindness, however I don’t care—I need all the blush I can get. I’ve actually almond eyes and I like to make use of blush to intensify them, so I place it on the higher corners of my cheeks and mix it into my forehead bones. That’s additionally nice as a result of I’m very dangerous at precise eyeshadow. Then I prefer to sculpt with Make-up by Mario’s SoftSculpt Pores and skin Enhancer. It’s very easy to mix. I take advantage of Darkish as a result of it’s cooler and I like to provide myself a extra sculpted look.

I prefer to layer my liquid merchandise with my powders to make the whole lot keep longer. After I set my face with powder from Hourglass, I add in Mac’s powder blush to my cheeks. I’ve been utilizing Burnt Pepper, a reddish-brown colour, for eight or 9 years. I additionally love Dior’s Rosy Glow in Berry, a darker, purple shade. It’s form of just like Burnt Pepper, however it’s a bit extra cool. Then it’s time for bronzer from Gucci. I used to completely use Marc Jacobs Magnificence’s O!Mega bronzer—after it was discontinued I had like 5 from eBay for some time. A good friend really helpful Gucci’s in its place as a result of it’s not streaky and I’ve been utilizing it ever since.

If I really feel prefer it, I’ll put on eyeliner. I couldn’t actually let you know which one although. I simply choose up no matter’s round, generally on my flooring. [Laughs] Or generally I’ll dip an eyeliner brush into my bronzer. I don’t put on mascara as a result of I get lash extensions from Martina Tjokronolo in New Jersey. I used to solely put on the thickest of thickest lash extensions, and it’s actually arduous to search out somebody that may try this as a result of they’re not good for you. I discovered her on Instagram and she or he was understanding of her home on the time. She’s wonderful—and my lashes aren’t too thick anymore, by the way in which.

For highlighter, I take advantage of one from Uncommon Magnificence in Mesmerized and Profit’s powder highlighter in Cookie. I truly simply began utilizing powder highlighters once more. For some time, individuals had been saying we had been achieved with highlighter—that it was so 2016—however I need to be shiny. I solely place it on the tip of my nostril and the bridge of my nostril.

In terms of lips, Make-up by Mario’s suede lip pencils are my absolute favourite. I put on Common Earth each single day. I prime it off with any plumping gloss, however I actually like Mac’s Squirt gloss stick.

Setting spray is the very last thing I take advantage of. I spray Mac’s Repair+ and I’ve somewhat fan that I take advantage of to dry quicker. I really feel prefer it actually melts my powders. Then I do a mist of Hourglass’ setting spray, which provides a glow. Once I actually need my make-up to remain, I take advantage of One/Measurement’s On ‘Til Daybreak setting spray, however I can’t use it daily. It appears like hair spray in your face—your make-up isn’t going anyplace.

HAIR
Earlier than a blowout, I’ll add one million warmth protectants to my soaking moist hair. Kerastase’s Résistance warmth protectant and Oribe’s Straight Away blowout cream are my quantity ones. Oribe’s is very good as a result of I can use lots of it with out making my hair greasy. I don’t know learn how to do a blow out the standard manner, with a blow dryer and a spherical brush, so the blow-dry attachment from my Dyson Airwrap does all the heavy lifting. If I’m straightening it, I’ll go in with my Dyson Airstrait. If I’m carrying my hair up—when my hair is soiled—I want two issues: Emi Jay’s Angelstick and Got2B’s hair spray. With this mix, my hair isn’t going anyplace.

FRAGRANCE
I’m obsessive about smelling actually good. I’ve all the time liked Glossier You, however Rêve is even higher as a result of it’s sweeter and sexier. My go-to is something with vanilla, however I can actually odor the plum butter notes, which I like. I additionally put on Boulangerie’s Soufflé Vanille fragrance mist so much. Oh, and I all the time be certain that to placed on physique lotion earlier than I spray on my perfumes as a result of the lotion makes the scents final a lot longer.”

—As advised to Daise Bedolla

Photographed by Alexandra Genova in New York on August 1, 2024