Chantal Fernandez, Options Author, The Reduce

“Rising up, I believed I’d 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 hooked up to anybody factor. And because it goes, one factor led to a different and I ended up working for Self-importance Truthful, Fortunate, and Fashionista earlier than I went on to The Enterprise of Vogue, 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 e book, Promoting Horny: Victoria’s Secret and the Unraveling of an American Icon. We wished to discover how the corporate obtained so large, and the way it grew to become so polarizing. It’s in keeping with my new function 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 occurring in tradition to interrupt down why we purchase what we purchase. For the autumn trend difficulty, I wrote about VICs, or prime luxurious shoppers, and the way their ardour for trend has changed into a life-style, and the way manufacturers are catering to them by 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. Large 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 pressure factors.

SKINCARE
Considered one of my earliest reminiscences of interacting with magnificence was by the lens of zits. If a product promised to remove zits, I needed to give it a attempt. I attempted every thing—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 lately, spironolactone is what’s helped me probably the most with my zits, 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 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 lately launched the oil cleanser from Skinfix into my routine—it’s a extra environment friendly approach to get every thing off my face.

SkinCeuticals’ C E Ferulic is absolutely good and doubtless 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 conserving my zits at bay whereas I take a break from spiro. I don’t know if the mix is a long-term resolution, however I actually wished to modify issues as much as see how my pores and skin was doing after taking the treatment 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 somewhat bit, however it’s not too loopy.

I 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 aspect of placing on quite a bit. Just 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 obtained a tester of Supergoop’s Unscreen sunscreen earlier this yr 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’m going by 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 totally not the purpose of it. Actually, if I’m actually in a pinch, placing my face in a bowl of ice and even underneath 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 completely. Actually, I wasn’t fearful a lot about wrinkles, however relatively, my elevens had been sore. I all the time say I’ve a ‘resting studying face.’ I maintain quite a lot 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 so that they don’t look loopy. If I’m going to step it up a bit for an occasion or one thing, I like Dior’s Without end 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 method. The contour stick from Westman Atelier in Biscuit works rather well with my bronzers, too. Talking of which, I lately purchased Make-up by Mario’s Softsculpt bronzing serum in Mild. I like the best way it goes on—it appears actually pure and is very easy to mix in.

I’ve gone by a journey with totally different eyelash curlers, and I actually really feel like curling my lashes relies on once 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 concerning the model basically. I’ve a very exhausting time sticking with one mascara. For some cause, I really feel like they cease working after some time, though perhaps which means I simply have to purchase a brand new one. However up to now, 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 seem like Groucho Marx fairly shortly. I used to be utilizing Anastasia Beverly Hills’ forehead pomade, however I felt like my brows wanted somewhat extra filling out so I’ve come again to the Forehead Wiz pencil in Gentle Brown. I additionally use ABH’s Forehead Freeze gel. Aside from that, I get them carried out 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 a giant smile and might 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 girl who did my make-up obtained me to make use of Charlotte Tilbury’s Cheat Liner in Pillow Speak, and it actually matches my lip shade so I nonetheless apply it to event. And 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 e book. I wished one thing actually refined, and it has positively 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 primarily dyeing it my pure shade. It is like once I was in center college and I straightened my hair after which at some point 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 are working for, and never towards, me. The final time I obtained a lower—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. Possibly 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 once 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 current discovery. R+Co’s Two-Means Mirror oil is fairly nice, too. I exploit a tiny bit on my ends after they look somewhat 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 suggestion from my mother. It’s insanely absorbent. I then comply with that up with Crown Affair’s towel. I like its texture and it genuinely makes a distinction in how my hair dries. But when I run out of time or have to 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 appears on me—however at a sure level, I made a decision I used to be going to be an individual who doesn’t have shade on their fingers. Additionally, as a author, I really feel like my fingers are concerned in quite a bit, and manicures felt like much more work. I’m actually glad about this determination. However I do love pedicures with OPI’s Lincoln Park After Darkish.”

—As instructed to Daise Bedolla

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