Chantal Fernandez, Options Author, The Minimize

“Rising up, I believed I might do one thing writing-related, however even in school, I figured there was no use worrying about it. That was actually scary at instances, however it was additionally useful to not really feel so connected to anyone factor. And because it goes, one factor led to a different and I ended up working for Vainness Honest, Fortunate, and Fashionista earlier than I went on to The Enterprise of Trend, the place I spent six thrilling years studying as a lot as I might in regards to the enterprise finish of the trade.

Whereas I used to be at BOF, Lauren Sherman and I reported on Victoria’s Secret, which then led to our e-book, Promoting Horny: Victoria’s Secret and the Unraveling of an American Icon. We wished to discover how the corporate received so huge, and the way it turned so polarizing. It’s in keeping with my new function on the Minimize, which I joined earlier this 12 months. There, my focus is on longer tales about vogue. I get to attach my background in enterprise reporting with what’s occurring in tradition to interrupt down why we purchase what we purchase. For the autumn vogue difficulty, I wrote about VICs, or high luxurious shoppers, and the way their ardour for vogue has become a life-style, and the way manufacturers are catering to them via present invites and even flying them out to particular dinners in different nations. In writing the piece, I used to be so curious about understanding these clients—what drives them, and what their interactions are like with the manufacturers. Large luxurious manufacturers are all about management, however you may’t management clients as a result of they’re really making purchases, so there are these fascinating pressure factors.

SKINCARE
One in every of my earliest recollections of interacting with magnificence was via the lens of pimples. If a product promised to remove pimples, I needed to give it a strive. I attempted all the pieces—antibiotics, Accutane, Proactiv. I even used a concealer that was really helpful for protecting tattoos, and if I bodily didn’t have it with me always, I might have a panic assault. Extra not too long ago, spironolactone is what’s helped me probably the most with my pimples, although I’ll say that spiro wasn’t superb for me till I began double cleaning. I look again now and I’m like, ‘Oh, I wasn’t absolutely taking my make-up off.’ Cetaphil’s mild cleanser and Bioderma’s Sensibio H2O are my baseline go-tos, however there have been instances I’ve cleansed with each and nonetheless had make-up on my face. That’s why I not too long ago launched the oil cleanser from Skinfix into my routine—it’s a extra environment friendly technique to get all the pieces off my face.

SkinCeuticals’ C E Ferulic is de facto good and doubtless the vitamin C serum I might at all times use if cash was no issue. That mentioned, Allies of Pores and skin’s 35% vitamin C serum is cheaper, although not massively completely different, and I actually really feel and see its impact. Clindamycin phosphate gel and an azelaic acid gel have additionally been nice at bettering my pores and skin texture and conserving my pimples at bay whereas I take a break from spiro. I don’t know if the mixture is a long-term resolution, however I actually wished to change issues as much as see how my pores and skin was doing after taking the medicine for a decade. Oh, and about as soon as a month, I exploit Drunk Elephant’s Sukari Babyfacial, particularly round my T-Zone. It stings slightly bit, however it’s not too loopy.

I really like good moisturizers that do not break the financial institution. I’m consistently wanting on the cost-per-ounce as a result of I veer on the facet of placing on quite a bit. Lately, I’ve been alternating between Laneige’s Water Financial institution, which I have a tendency to make use of extra at evening, and Skinfix’s peptide cream. So far as sunscreens, I received a tester of Supergoop’s Unscreen sunscreen earlier this 12 months and I actually appreciated it. It’s nearly like a make-up primer as a result of it has a form of blurring impact in your pores and skin.

I am going via waves with my units. I’ve had a Nuface for a number of years now. I get fairly puffy, and I do suppose it helps, however generally I exploit it extra as a face massager, which is totally not the purpose of it. Truthfully, if I’m actually in a pinch, placing my face in a bowl of ice and even beneath chilly faucet water is nice. And since I get fairly purple—I’ve rosacea—I received an Omnilux LED masks, which has really made a distinction.

I get Botox in my elevens at Tribeca Park Dermatology. I began getting it in 2019, proper earlier than the pandemic. I am going perhaps twice a 12 months, however there have been years I’ve skipped it solely. Truthfully, I wasn’t fearful a lot about wrinkles, however fairly, my elevens have been sore. I at all times say I’ve a ‘resting studying face.’ I maintain plenty of pressure there to the purpose the place it’s painful.

MAKEUP
I don’t put on that a lot make-up day-to-day. Kosas’ Revealer concealer in 2.3N works rather well for me, and I attempt to repair my eyebrows in order that they don’t look loopy. If I’m going to step it up a bit for an occasion or one thing, I really like Dior’s Perpetually Pores and skin Glow basis in 2N. It doesn’t go on heavy, and it’s nice at protecting my redness.

On my cheeks, I largely put on Make-up by Mario’s Smooth Pop blush stick in Pale Petal. It’s this rosy, bubblegum pink that’s so fairly. And I even have Patrick Ta’s Main Headlines blush duo in Not Too A lot, which is a rosy taupe combo. In the meantime, I by no means do intense contouring, however I like Victoria Beckham’s Contour Stylus in Marble as a result of it’s so skinny and exact, and you should utilize it to contour in a extremely delicate means. The contour stick from Westman Atelier in Biscuit works rather well with my bronzers, too. Talking of which, I not too long ago purchased Make-up by Mario’s Softsculpt bronzing serum in Gentle. I really like the best way it goes on—it seems to be actually pure and is very easy to mix in.

I’ve gone via a journey with completely different eyelash curlers, and I truthfully really feel like curling my lashes depends on after I’m making an attempt to curve them. Is the room humid? Have I simply taken a bathe? Is it chilly? However I nonetheless discover that Shiseido’s is the very best for me. I purchased the Uncommon Magnificence mascara after listening to nice issues in regards to the model typically. I’ve a extremely exhausting time sticking with one mascara. For some motive, I really feel like they cease working after some time, though perhaps which means I simply have to purchase a brand new one. However to this point, I like how fluffy Uncommon’s makes your lashes. Tower 28’s mascara is best for elongating them although.

As for brows, mine are fairly intense. I’ve to watch out or I can seem like Groucho Marx fairly shortly. I used to be utilizing Anastasia Beverly Hills’ forehead pomade, however I felt like my brows wanted slightly extra filling out so I’ve come again to the Forehead Wiz pencil in Smooth Brown. I additionally use ABH’s Forehead Freeze gel. Aside from that, I get them accomplished at Carrie Lindsey Magnificence as soon as a month—I don’t contact them myself.

Rising up, my lips have been actually purple and I used to be self-conscious about them. I even have a giant smile and may seem like Ms. Pac-Man if I’m not cautious, so I wrote off lipstick. I had really determined I wouldn’t put on any lip merchandise for my wedding ceremony, however then the very fantastic lady who did my make-up received me to make use of Charlotte Tilbury’s Cheat Liner in Pillow Speak, and it actually matches my lip colour so I nonetheless apply it to event. And not too long ago, I purchased Violette_FR’s Bisou Balm in Batiste as a result of I knew I used to be going to be doing extra promotional work for my e-book. I wished one thing actually delicate, and it has undoubtedly delivered. It makes sufficient of a distinction that I really feel good.

HAIR
I dyed my hair for a very long time, till I spotted that I used to be basically dyeing it my pure colour. It is like after I was in center college and I straightened my hair after which sooner or later I used to be like, ‘Oh, my hair is straight. What am I doing?’ I largely care that it’s shiny and that I’m utilizing a shampoo and conditioner which might be working for, and never in opposition to, me. The final time I received a lower—I am going to Union Magnificence Salon in Park Slope—they used R+Co’s Tv shampoo and conditioner, and I liked how my hair air-dried afterwards. I used to be influenced. Perhaps as soon as a month I’ll use Briogeo’s Don’t Despair, Restore masks when my hair’s in want of some intense moisture. I wash my hair perhaps as soon as every week, so in between, particularly after I really feel prefer it smells like town, I spritz it with the Uncommon Magnificence perfume mist. It’s citrus-y and so good.

My hair will get fairly frizzy—I at all times have a halo of hair development round my face—however I tame it with R+Co’s Dart pomade stick, which is a current discovery. R+Co’s Two-Means Mirror oil is fairly nice, too. I exploit a tiny bit on my ends after they look slightly scraggly or simply want an additional dose of life. After which I air dry my hair about 99-percent of the time, so towels are essential to me. I often use Volo’s Hero towel, which was a advice from my mother. It’s insanely absorbent. I then comply with that up with Crown Affair’s towel. I really like its texture and it genuinely makes a distinction in how my hair dries. But when I run out of time or must tame a bizarre bump, I dry it with my Ghd dryer, or if I’m actually pressed for time, I’ll use the Revlon brush.

NAILS
There’s one thing about nail polish—perhaps how lengthy it lasts or the way it seems to be on me—however at a sure level, I made a decision I used to be going to be an individual who doesn’t have colour on their palms. Additionally, as a author, I really feel like my palms are concerned in quite a bit, and manicures felt like much more work. I’m actually completely happy about this resolution. However I do love pedicures with OPI’s Lincoln Park After Darkish.”

—As advised to Daise Bedolla

Photographed by Shana Trajanoska in New York on September 30, 2024