Chantal Fernandez, Options Author, The Reduce

“Rising up, I believed I’d do one thing writing-related, however even in faculty, I figured there was no use worrying about it. That was actually scary at instances, nevertheless it was additionally useful to not really feel so hooked up to anybody factor. And because it goes, one factor led to a different and I ended up working for Self-importance Honest, Fortunate, and Fashionista earlier than I went on to The Enterprise of Style, the place I spent six thrilling years studying as a lot as I may concerning 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 guide, Promoting Horny: Victoria’s Secret and the Unraveling of an American Icon. We wished to discover how the corporate obtained so huge, and the way it grew to become so polarizing. It’s in keeping with my new position on the Reduce, which I joined earlier this yr. There, my focus is on longer tales about trend. I get to attach my background in enterprise reporting with what’s taking place in tradition to interrupt down why we purchase what we purchase. For the autumn trend subject, I wrote about VICs, or prime luxurious purchasers, and the way their ardour for trend has became a life-style, and the way manufacturers are catering to them by way of present invites and even flying them out to particular dinners in different international locations. In writing the piece, I used to be so desirous about understanding these clients—what drives them, and what their interactions are like with the manufacturers. Huge luxurious manufacturers are all about management, however you possibly can’t management clients as a result of they’re really making purchases, so there are these fascinating rigidity factors.

SKINCARE
Considered one of my earliest recollections of interacting with magnificence was by way of the lens of zits. If a product promised to remove zits, I needed to give it a strive. I attempted all the pieces—antibiotics, Accutane, Proactiv. I even used a concealer that was really useful for masking tattoos, and if I bodily didn’t have it with me always, I’d have a panic assault. Extra just lately, spironolactone is what’s helped me probably the most with my zits, although I’ll say that spiro wasn’t wonderful for me till I began double cleaning. I look again now and I’m like, ‘Oh, I wasn’t totally taking my make-up off.’ Cetaphil’s light 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 just lately 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 admittedly good and possibly the vitamin C serum I’d all the time use if cash was no issue. That mentioned, Allies of Pores and skin’s 35% vitamin C serum is cheaper, although not massively totally different, and I actually really feel and see its impact. Clindamycin phosphate gel and an azelaic acid gel have additionally been nice at enhancing my pores and skin texture and maintaining my zits at bay whereas I take a break from spiro. I don’t know if the mix is a long-term answer, however I actually wished to change issues as much as see how my pores and skin was doing after taking the remedy 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 just a little bit, nevertheless it’s not too loopy.

I really like good moisturizers that do not break the financial institution. I’m continually wanting on the cost-per-ounce as a result of I veer on the aspect of placing on so much. Not too long ago, 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 obtained a tester of Supergoop’s Unscreen sunscreen earlier this yr and I actually favored it. It’s nearly like a make-up primer as a result of it has a type of blurring impact in your pores and skin.

I’m going by way of waves with my units. I’ve had a Nuface for a number of years now. I get fairly puffy, and I do assume it helps, however generally I exploit it extra as a face massager, which is completely not the purpose of it. Actually, 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 crimson—I’ve rosacea—I obtained 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’m going perhaps twice a yr, however there have been years I’ve skipped it fully. Actually, I wasn’t nervous a lot about wrinkles, however reasonably, my elevens had been sore. I all the time say I’ve a ‘resting studying face.’ I maintain quite a lot of rigidity 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 very 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 Ceaselessly Pores and skin Glow basis in 2N. It doesn’t go on heavy, and it’s nice at masking my redness.

On my cheeks, I principally put on Make-up by Mario’s Gentle 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 very refined manner. The contour stick from Westman Atelier in Biscuit works very well with my bronzers, too. Talking of which, I just lately purchased Make-up by Mario’s Softsculpt bronzing serum in Mild. I really like the way in which it goes on—it seems actually pure and is really easy to mix in.

I’ve gone by way of a journey with totally different eyelash curlers, and I actually really feel like curling my lashes relies on after I’m making an attempt to twist 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 concerning the model typically. I’ve a very onerous time sticking with one mascara. For some purpose, I really feel like they cease working after some time, though perhaps meaning 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 healthier for elongating them although.

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

Rising up, my lips had been actually crimson and I used to be self-conscious about them. I even have an enormous smile and might appear 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 great lady who did my make-up obtained me to make use of Charlotte Tilbury’s Cheat Liner in Pillow Discuss, and it actually matches my lip coloration so I nonetheless apply it to event. And just lately, 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 guide. I wished one thing actually refined, 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 noticed that I used to be primarily dyeing it my pure coloration. It is like after I was in center college and I straightened my hair after which someday I used to be like, ‘Oh, my hair is straight. What am I doing?’ I principally care that it’s shiny and that I’m utilizing a shampoo and conditioner which can be working for, and never in opposition to, me. The final time I obtained a minimize—I’m 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 per 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 all the time have a halo of hair development round my face—however I tame it with R+Co’s Dart pomade stick, which is a latest discovery. R+Co’s Two-Method Mirror oil is fairly nice, too. I exploit a tiny bit on my ends after they look just a little 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 crucial 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 on me—however at a sure level, I made a decision I used to be going to be an individual who doesn’t have coloration on their fingers. Additionally, as a author, I really feel like my fingers are concerned in so much, and manicures felt like much more work. I’m actually joyful about this choice. 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