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What It Costs to Be Me: Artist Krista McCurdy


These days it’s nearly impossible to know what women are spending on the way they look. Someone with Instagram-flawless contouring might have honed her craft using the finest from the drugstore aisles, and the utterly makeup-free type might be spending thousands on laser treatments or face serums. Enter our series “What It Costs to Be Me,” where we’re asking interesting women for radical transparency.

Up this week: Krista McCurdy, a 36-year-old artist from Portland, Oregon. Her annual total? $17,293

For artist Krista McCurdy, who creates wonderfully dreamy, atmospheric botanical prints, beauty math is pretty straightforward: put money into one-time expenses (tattoos) or treatments that contribute to overall health and wellbeing (Pilates, massages, barre classes), and save on everything else. The sleeve tattoos, which she designed herself, are an extension of her art: “I never really thought about getting tattoos as making a statement or necessarily for beauty, they were just important images to me that seemed right on my body,” she says. “I do think they’re beautiful, though, and I love them!” As for why she’s willing to pay for Pilates: “It works!” she says. And she believes so much in its rehabilitative powers that she became a rehab Pilates instructor herself: “Pilates literally changed my body and gave me self-confidence.”

My Body Art: $950

I got my right sleeve—the flowers—about nine years ago at FTW Tattoo Parlor ($700). They were traced directly from one of my drawings. My left one, a sycamore tree silhouette that I created for silkscreening years ago ($250), was a gift from my boyfriend. I also thought about it for years before I was ready, even though I’d loved it for a long time. Any tattoo I get has to be of my own design, and I have to be dead sure about it. It’s pretty funny, how people see me [as a badass with these tattoos and piercings]. They’re surprised when I tell them that I have a J.Crew soul!

My Exercise Routine: $15,490 a year

I turned to Pilates to regain mobility after an accident that broke my collarbone and shoulder blade—and to fix my bad posture. What’s so great about it is the full mind-body integration and the fact that it creates changes you can actually feel and see. For me, private rehab sessions at Studio Blue ($70-90) and Pacific Northwest Pilates ($60-90) once a week are so important because you have the instructor’s full attention and they’re tailored to your specific body and needs. On top of that, I’ll try and sneak in a weekly Pilates group mat class ($19). I started going to Barre 3 classes ($23) last year, and you can really tell in my butt! I try to go at least twice a week. Plus, I have a climbing gym membership at Planet Granite ($80 a month). I also go to physical therapy once a week at Element Wellness ($140), and a couple times a year, I’ll do a 60-minute massage with therapist Carissa Conner at Studio Blue ($115).

My Shower Essentials: $40

I shampoo and condition my hair whenever I take a shower; right now I’m using Head & Shoulders Classic Clean ($12) and the John Frieda Brilliant Brunette Color Deepening Conditioner ($8), which really does enhance brown hair! Duke Cannon Supply Co. Heavy Duty Hand Soap Pumice For Deep Cleaning ($10) is a retro brand that’s modeled on soap supplied to GIs during the Vietnam War. It’s got very fine pumice, not scratchy at all, and it comes in lovely thick 10-ounce bars. Both my boyfriend and I have loved it ever since he bought a bar about four years ago. When the store that carried it discontinued them and was selling off their stock at 50% off I bought all 10 bars they had left. We’re finally on the last bar now. I love that soap. I’ll even wash my face with it if I take a shower in the morning, just for convenience sake. Any shaving cream I use is for sensitive skin, typically on sale in the men’s department like Barbasol Thick & Rich Shaving Cream with Soothing Aloe ($2). Women’s shaving creams are the biggest ripoff and way more expensive than men’s. I mean, I do not need a pink container. And I prefer men’s razors, too. Gillette Mach3 Turbo Men’s Razor ($8) is pretty awesome.

My Hair Styling Must: $34

I try to towel off as much water from my hair as possible post-shower, but I usually end up blow-drying it to speed up the process. Every so often I’ll use the Remington flat iron ($20) I bought at the drugstore and I always carry the travel size Bumble & bumble dry shampoo ($14) with me during the day because my bangs get greasy; that stuff really works.

My Morning Skin Care Routine: $22

I usually wash my face in the shower, but if not I’ll use Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser ($9). I had amazing skin until my thirties, then I developed rosacea and melasma. But the rosacea is mild and I’ve just come to accept the melasma and hope it looks like freckles! I apply CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion SPF 30 ($13) to help protect against more melasma. I don’t use body products. I really don’t! My skin’s always been pretty fine without them.

My Daytime Makeup: $199

I’ve never worn very much makeup, and I find as I age, more makeup actually makes me look older. To be honest, I feel like I need to put more work into my beauty routine; with my physical health issues this past year I just haven’t felt that great about myself. I’m fairly low-maintenance, but I’ve really slacked off this past year.

I invest in a good foundation and concealer like the Makeup For Ever Ultra HD Concealer ($28). Mascara not so much, but I love Benefit Benefit They’re Real! Lengthening Mascara ($25). Sometimes that’s all I use. Other times, I’ll put concealer on and the E.L.F. High Definition Setting Powder ($6) on top, which kind of smooths everything out. For eyes, the Colourpop Double Entendre Pressed Powder Eyeshadow Palette ($16) is definitely worth it. It is so easy to put on with your fingers, and it lasts forever. I also love the Nudes palette from Maybelline ($7) and MAC’s Sumptuous Olive Luxe Pearl Eyeshadow ($16). It’s a subtle kind of khaki that looks good on my skin tone. If I use eyeliner, I smudge it along my upper lashes with my finger, since I’m not very good at making clean lines. My favorite is Rimmel ScandalEyes Waterproof Kajal Eyeliner in Brown ($4). A layer of Benefit They’re Real! Tinted Primer ($24) underneath helps keep it from migrating throughout the day. Sometimes I smudge a little iridescent white Rimmel pencil ($4) on the inner corners and along the waterline of my lower lashes to open up my eyes. Then I do some Boy Brow by Glossier ($16). For lips, I’m into Lipstick Queen’s colors, especially Frog Prince ($25), which is green but gives lips this bright, natural shade of pink and Medieval ($24), a sheer, deep rose. I love that they’re moisturizing. Aquaphor Lip Repair ($4) is a staple in my bag for dry or chapped lips.

My Nighttime Makeup: $159

At night I’ll use the same products, but I might mix a little Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer ($24) with some Vanicream moisturizer ($13) and apply the mixture with a BeautyBlender ($19) for extra glow. I get the hype around that sponge, because it fucking blends! And I love its little sibling ($18). It’s genius for applying concealer.

My general makeup philosophy has always been less is more, although for evening, it’s fun to wear blue or green eyeshadow—just something a little different. I like how pigmented the Colourpop Super Shock Shadows ($5) and Maybelline Color Tattoo Gel shadows ($7) are. To finish, I use Coty Airspun Translucent Face Powder ($6), applied with the E.L.F. Kabuki Brush ($5). It works well and is super cheap. Then for touch-ups, I’ll stash the green-tinted Laura Mercier setting powder ($38) in my bag to counteract any redness in my skin.

My Evening Skin Care Routine: $39

I swear by the Almay eye remover pads ($5) to get rid of everything from concealer to heavy-duty eye makeup. After that, I’ll wash my face with Cetaphil ($9). From there it varies: Sometimes I’ll put on prescription Retin-A, but am usually too impatient to put anything on top. If I do, it’s The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid ($7). My go-to for the last few months has been a cream from a skincare brand that my coworker’s mother runs in Egypt called Black Lotus. It has jojoba oil and essential oils—no idea which ones!—and it’s super-emollient. I’ve been fighting a battle with dryness on the sides of my nose for years, and nothing really worked. I dug this cream out (it had been a holiday gift) and tried it…and it worked! My skin is so soft in the morning. It’s amazing. If I don’t use that, then I’ll use Mizon All In One Snail Repair Cream ($18).

My Periodic Skin Fixers: $20

Twice a month, I’ll use Alpha Skincare Enhanced Renewal Cream ($13) to get rid of any flakiness. I used to use a bunch more facial creams, but my skin had adverse reactions to something last winter, so since then I’ve defaulted to Vaseline ($7), and am crazy careful with what I use now.

My Hair and Brow Touchups: $340

I get a haircut every eight weeks or so, but sometimes I’ll go several months in between. I go to Paramount Hair Salon in Portland; one of my clients reccomended them. A haircut is $50. When I’m in the Bay Area I try to go to the Benefit store in Berkeley to get my eyebrows shaped and tinted ($40 once a year), but most of the time I just chase stray hairs at home.





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Twitter Users Promise to Protect Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at All Costs After SCOTUS Shakeup


After Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his retirement from the bench this week, questions quickly surfaced about what his exit means for the future of women, people of color and the LGBTQ community, whose rights are often on the line in high-profile cases that come before the justices.

But there was one other person the internet immediately focused their attention on: Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Kennedy’s retirement sent Twitter into a full panic spiral, as people worried that perhaps RBG, who is 85, might also be planning her exit. Ginsburg is the oldest Supreme Court Justice, and she’s already five years past the average age at which most Justices have retired.

“Protect RBG at all cost!” tweets flying across social media read, with many users promising to send her vitamins, prayers, and even 24/7 security detail. “I’m buying Ruth Bader Ginsburg an Anytime Fitness membership, 10 years of Vitamins, and a lifetime of Smoothies…” one Twitter user wrote. “I’m becoming an organ donor but only if my organs are going to Ruth Bader Ginsburg,” someone else said.

The good news for nervous RBG fans is that she’s still going strong. While many predicted she might call it quits during the Obama administration, the planking heroine of an octogenarian has kept on. She even hinted earlier this year that she hoped to follow the path of former Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, who retired at the age of 90. According to the Los Angeles Times, she also said that she’s in “very good” health and that “as long as I can do the job full steam, I will be here.”

Plus, there’s recorded proof of her fitness level here, which means Twitter users can rest easy.

While the world went full-blown Liam Neeson in Taken over the Notorious RBG, she was busy reacting to Kennedy’s news like the boss she is. Kennedy, who was considered the Supreme Court’s key swing vote, could throw off the conservative-liberal balance of the bench with his retirement, but there was no trace of anxiety in Ginsburg’s sweet tribute to him.

“I will miss the pleasure of his company at our Conference, his helpful suggestions on circulating opinions, his recommendations of art exhibitions to visit with my chambers staff, and much more,” she said in a statement. “For the good he has done during the 43 years he has served as a member of the federal judiciary, he has earned a rousing Bravo.” She also called Kennedy a “true gentleman, a caring jurist and a grand colleague in all respects.”

What a class act. (But also, please never retire.)

Related Stories:

A Reminder That We Won’t Need a Full Repeal of Roe v. Wade for Abortion to Be Restricted

How Justice Anthony Kennedy’s Retirement From the Supreme Court Could Erode Women’s Rights





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What It Costs to Be Me: Lynn Le, Founder of Society Nine


These days it’s nearly impossible to know what women are spending on the way they look. Someone with Instagram-flawless contouring might have honed her craft using the finest from the drugstore aisles, and the utterly makeup-free type might be spending thousands on laser treatments or face serums. Enter our series “What It Costs to Be Me,” where we’re asking interesting women for radical transparency.

Up this week: Lynn Le, 29, founder of women’s boxing brand Society Nine, from Portland, OR. Her annual total? $3,929.

My Everyday Makeup: $265

I didn’t start wearing makeup until I was 18 years old, so I feel like I’m so new to a lot of beauty tricks and ideas. Even now, I wear very little makeup—I’m proud to embrace what makes me unique. So the products I use are pretty simple. For my face, I love Smashbox’s Photofix Primer ($36), MAC’s Studio Fix Powder ($30), and Bobbi Brown Bronzer ($44). They’re not too cheap, not too expensive—just great staples. I’m also into NYX’s Precision Brow Pencil ($10) and Tarte’s Skin Twinkle Lighting Palette Vol 2 ($42) for a natural look. If I have to go to a meeting or an event, I’ll typically add a few extras to make my makeup stand out slightly more. I’m so sad they discontinued Urban Decay’s Naked Smoky Palette ($54)—it’s the best for a subtle, smoky eye. That plus a flick of Benefit’s They’re Real Mascara ($24). And then I’ll do a light—very light!—contour with Fenty Beauty’s Match Stix ($25). It’s not a look you want to overdo.

My Morning Skin Care Musts: $56

My morning skin care routine is very low key, because I tend to get more intensive with skin at night. So all I use are two products: Mario Badescu Vitamin C Serum ($45), which gives your skin an amazing glow, and Alba Botanica Hawaiian Aloe + Green Tea Oil-Free Moisturizer ($11).

My Shower Essentials: $146

I shower every day, but I only wash my hair every three to four days. Not My Mother’s Dry Shampoo ($5) is amazing—it makes my third-day hair look super voluminous. Then I’ll add a little Goldwell Elixir Versatile Oil Treatment ($23) to my ends if they feel dry. I’m not super picky about shampoo, conditioner, or body wash so long as they hit my list of “free-of” ingredients: they can’t contain parabens, SLS, or triclosan. Otherwise, it comes down to smell. I like beachy scents, like seaweed or sea salt. And I’m a sucker for nice packaging. Ulta, Target, and TJ Maxx usually have great options under $10.

For body lotion, I like anything that smells like roses. I am obsessed. My favorite at the moment is Philosophy’s Amazing Grace Firming Body Lotion ($39). It’s a treat-myself thing. If I feel like splurging, I’ll buy the lotion or the perfume ($49).

My Hair Routine: $200

My hair is about as simple as my makeup. I get a haircut once every three or four months—just a simple trim of long layers. As a personal rule, I don’t spend any more than $50 on a haircut, which is why I love going to this locally owned chain called Bishops. It’s basically a barber shop.

My Evening Skin Care Routine: $142

I don’t spend much on skin treatments, mainly because I’m blessed to have pretty healthy skin. But I do tend to put more time into it at night. I use an cleansing brush from Ulta (its Ulta Sonic Advanced Facial Cleansing System, $43) once a week to exfoliate. Otherwise, every night, I use Clinique’s Take The Day Off Cleansing Milk ($28)—I like the milky consistency)—Pixi Skintreats Glow Tonic ($15) to tone and gently exfoliate, and if my skin is being mean to me, I’ll use CosRx’s Advanced Snail Mucin Power Essence ($19) from Korea. Yes, I said snail mucin! It sounds weird, but if my cheeks are red or I’m starting to see unevenness in my skin, I’ll put this on, and wake up the next morning without any redness or bumps. It’s amazing. Lastly, I tend to bounce between two different moisturizers. Yes To Cucumber Night Cream ($15) is my more affordable favorite. Otherwise Mario Badescu’s Seaweed Night Cream ($22) is heavenly. I love that shit.

My Periodic Beauty Musts: $360

My ideal “treat yourself” splurge is getting a massage. Between running around for my business—either in meetings, at the warehouse, or traveling—massages save my life and make me feel like a brand-new person. Usually I’ll get a 30-minute one, but if I’m super-sunk, I’ll do 60 minutes. There’s a great place called Löyly where it only costs between $40 to $75. They also have an awesome massage package that makes it a little bit cheaper. I’ll buy a 5-pack, and use it at least once a month. Also, if I’m really overcome with stress, soaking pools are life.

My Wellness Routine: $2,760

My workout philosophy is that there’s nothing better than to lift heavy and punch hard. Strength-based training and boxing makes me feel like I can take on the world. I go to various combat sports gyms—boxing, kickboxing, Krav Maga. I usually just do day passes or punch cards ($10 to $20, three times a week), because I like to change it up. I do have a monthly membership to LA Fitness ($35 a month), though, because I can get a full range of weights and lifting equipment, as well as access to boxing heavy bags for cheap.

My Society Nine gloves are always in my gym bag and packed with me in the car, or in my carry-on if I travel—the shattered glass print is to celebrate women who’ve broken barriers. I want women to feel that every time they throw a punch. We all deserve to feel like Wonder Woman.





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What It Costs to Be Me: Maria Poni Silver


These days it’s nearly impossible to know what women are spending on the way they look. Someone with Instagram-flawless contouring might have honed her craft using the finest from the drugstore aisles, and the utterly makeup-free type might be spending thousands on laser treatments or face serums. Enter our series “What It Costs to Be Me,” where we’re asking interesting women for radical transparency.

Up this week: Maria Poni Silver, 39, rock band drummer turned designer of her own line, Black by Maria Silver, from Nashville, TN. Her annual total? $577.

My Morning Skin Care Routine: $18

I’m not really a product junkie, so I’m pretty low maintenance when it comes to beauty. Once I find something that works, I stick to it. Which is probably why I’ve been using some of the same products for years. I like to joke that after a decade of touring with The Ettes [editor’s note: she now performs in a side band called Kings of the F**cking Sea] and always being on the road, I needed stability somewhere in my life—maybe it was with my eyeliner! So the products I use are staples that you can find almost anywhere.

In the mornings, I use Cetaphil’s Gentle Skin Cleanser ($10) and Eucerin’s Daily Protection SPF 30 Moisturizing Face Lotion ($8). Years ago, I was in a dance troupe that did a performance with a drag show, and one of the drag queens stressed that I wear sunscreen every. day. For some reason, that really stuck with me, so I’ve been using that Eucerin moisturizer religiously for over 10 years. I like it because it’s thick and has a lot of coverage—though I do wish they had a tinted version. I used to have pretty bad acne that I just got a handle on, so too heavy of products don’t work for me. Also, it’s cheap.

My Quick Nighttime Skin Fixes: $72

I’m usually working super-late and am so exhausted that my regimen (if I even do it!) is pretty minimal. Usually, I’ll just use a face wipe to take off my makeup, and then sometimes I’ll put the teeniest bit of Shea Moisture’s Coconut Oil ($13) around my eyes. My favorite wipes are by MAC Cosmetics. They come in a pack of 100 for only $30. I never travel without them, since they work wonders on getting off my eyeliner. Some other wipes leave my face too dry, but these are actually moisturizing. I also recently got this Turmeric spot treatment stick from Cocokind ($9). I really like using it along my chin and jawline where I tend to break out.

After I shower, I’ll slather on the same coconut oil I use around my eyes on the rest of my body. It smells amazing and feels more moisturizing than most lotions. I also love using the Lavender Essential Body Oil from Little Seed Farm ($20), a local business here in Tennessee. I mostly use it at night because my morning showers are much more rushed and lavender helps me sleep.

PHOTO: Daniel Meigs

My Go-To Makeup: $162

Like my skin care, I don’t stray too much with my makeup. I’ve used the same stuff for forever. But my number one thing is my MAC Liquidlast Eyeliner ($21)—if you couldn’t already tell. It’s been my girl for over a decade because it stays on through everything. Back when I was touring, I’d put it on in the morning, and we’d be traveling, doing interviews, photo shoots, playing a show, and in the night it would still be perfect. I’ve even fallen asleep and woken up the next day, and I’m like, “Oh! There it is, nothing happened.” Even now, when I’m busy running around between the studio and shop, I put this on and I feel complete. It’s rare for me to go without it. I just really love the ’60s and early ’70s aesthetic—that Sophia Loren, Brigitte Bardot feel.

I recently switched from using MAC’s False Lashes Mascara to its Extreme Dimension 3D Mascara. They’re the exact same price ($24), but the 3D isn’t as extreme, despite the name.

The other big new addition to my makeup routine is Fenty Beauty’s Match Stix Matte Skinstick ($25). I kept reading about it, and I got so excited about the range of colors. The fact that there is more than one “medium” is mindblowing! Besides that, for the rest of my face, I’ll just dust a little MAC Studio Fix Perfecting Powder in Medium Dark ($29) around my T-zone, and sweep MAC’s Powder Blush in Pinch Me ($24) on my cheeks.

For my lips, I just use this $2 Vitamin E lip balm from Hair World, a local beauty supply shop where you can get extensions and whatnot. There’s no brand, it literally just says Vitamin E. It’s really cheap, but it’s always worked for me. It’s moisturizing and lasts all day. I just feel like lip balm isn’t something you need to spend a lot on. At night, sometimes I’ll go for a MAC lipstick. My two favorites are Lady Danger ($18.50) or Antique Velvet ($18.50), depending on my mood. Lady Danger is a bright coral-y, matte orange, and Antique Velvet has a ’90s chocolate-brown thing happening. I use it when I’m feeling a Living Color vibe. I always wanted to be a Fly Girl.

My Curly Hair Musts: $201

I definitely don’t indulge in treatments as much as I would like. I feel like my clothing business takes over and ponytails become a way of life. I wish I followed a “treat yourself” mantra better. I don’t dye it—in the ’90s I used to get my hair colored a lot, but two years ago I had an allergic reaction to the dye. It’s funny how your body changes. Now I’m kind of into my grays, so I’m trying to coax them to grow out in a really cool, gray curly streak. Typically, I’ll get my hair cut around twice a year ($70 per cut). My lovely stylist, Fatima, at Studio BBC always hooks me up and gets my curls bouncing again. She’s always so mad at me—she’s like, “You need to come in more!”

Product-wise, I love Shea Moisture for my thick, curly hair. It took me years of testing to find products that help maintain my curls and don’t dry them out. Shea Moisture’s Coconut and Hibiscus Shampoo ($10) and Conditioner ($10) are incredibly moisturizing. I’ve been loyal to them for five or six years now. And then once a month I try to use Shea Moisture’s Hair Masque ($8) for deeper conditioning.

To style my hair, I use a diffuser ($10) with a hairdryer on a low, warm setting—the bigger the diffuser, the better. I don’t have a particular one I’ve fallen in love with. I think I got mine at Sally Beauty Supply. Then I use Shea Moisture’s Jamaican Black Castor Oil Renewal Lotion ($10). Lastly, I’m into the classic L’Oréal Elnett Satin Hairspray ($13). It holds without giving me crunchy curls.

PHOTO: Daniel Meigs

My Favorite Fragrance: $24

I love Folie Apothecary’s Palo Santo Peru Balsam All-Purpose Mist ($24). My family is from the Dominican Republic, and palo santo is something that’s always been around. It means “holy wood,” and it’s for warding off evil spirits. You can spray it on your face to minimize pores, but I just like the scent—it feels fresh and bright. I spray it in the air and walk into it.

My Occasional Nail Maintenance: $100

Manicures are pointless—I don’t even try. I work with my hands too much for them, but I do get a pedicure if I’m going somewhere that involves sandals and sand. Usually, I’ll spring for a gel pedi at a local place called East Side Nails ($50, twice a year).

My Exercise Routine: $0

“I went through a couple of years of very limited exercise and noticed a drastic dip in my energy and overall attitude. So last year I started running. I’ve never been a runner before and I’m terribly slow, but it feels so good.”





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What It Costs to Be Me: NYC Bakery Owner Erin McKenna


These days it’s nearly impossible to know what women are spending on the way they look. Someone with Instagram-flawless contouring might have honed her craft using the finest from the drugstore aisles, and the utterly makeup-free type might be spending thousands on laser treatments or face serums. Enter our series “What It Costs to Be Me,” where we’re asking interesting women for radical transparency.

Up this week: Erin McKenna, 42, founder of Erin McKenna’s Bakery, a gluten-free and vegan bakery in New York City, Los Angeles, and Orlando (with more locations on the way). Her annual total? $8,101.50.

My Hair Routine: $5,260 a year

I’m meticulous about my hair because I believe if your hair looks great, you can let some of the little things slide if you have to—and when you have three kids, you often do. I get my hair cut by Sera Sloane. She’s the kind of stylist you can just sit down with, and she’ll do whatever works best on you based on length you’re looking for. Her cuts grow out magically, so I only need them three times a year ($150). And then I get my highlights done four times per year with Aura Friedman at Sally Hershberger Salon ($500). She’s incredible. The highlights she does grow out so natural-looking—I get stopped on the street about my color all the time. I actually set aside money on a monthly basis for it, so I’m prepared for the cost. I also get a blowout once a week at cheap place in Manhattan called Hair Mode NY. They do a quick blow dry for $35, and then I always tip $10 at least. When I don’t have a blowout, I wash with R+Co’s Analog Cleansing Foam Conditioner ($30)—it’s gentle and doesn’t dry my hair out—and dry with the Dyson hair dryer ($400). Then put big hot rollers in my hair. I’m a big fan of John Frieda’s Jumbo Ceramic Rollers ($40)—I have to use the ceramic kind over Velcro or else I’ll tangle my hair. Otherwise I don’t like much else on my hair—most product makes it too gritty, so I keep it natural.

My Shower Routine: $42

I take a military-style shower, since my kids are usually screaming outside the door. I’m lucky if I can get an exfoliating glove on or shave my legs. I also grew up one of 12 children, so I’ve been conditioned to speed through showering as fast as possible, which means I don’t spend too much on the few products I use in there. I already touched on what I use for my hair (the R+Co, that’s it), otherwise for my body, I use a brand called Beaute Nouveau that my sister turned me on to. We both have really sensitive skin—for example, if we touch a fabric that’s synthetic, our skin screams. So this brand’s Citron Dream Body Cleansing Oil ($24) and Citron Dream Milk and Honey Soap ($18) are gentle but hydrating—so much so that I don’t need to moisturize after my shower.

My One Daily Skin Care Item: $48

I’ve always had pretty good skin, so I abused it for years. I never really cared what soap or moisturizer I used, just as long as my skin was clean and not cracking. Now in my forties, I’m just beginning to see the damage. I’m intending to start using Retin-A, and I also desperately want to try microneedling. But at the moment the only thing I regularly use is Everyday Oil’s Mainstay Blend ($48) on my face and body. It smells so good, and I absolutely see the difference in my skin.

My Every-So-Often Skin Care Saviors: $342

I’m filing these guys under “once in a while,” because it’s my goal to use them regularly, but I don’t have much flex spending. When I have enough money to splurge, I go straight to CAP Beauty (it has a great online store) and get May Lindstrom’s The Blue Cocoon moisturizing balm ($180). It was described to me by another shopper once as “the thing I would grab before leaving a burning house.” Sold! I pair this with her The Youth Dew serum ($140) and I am set. I’ll also use Glossier’s Mega Greens Galaxy Pack Face Mask ($22) from time to time, whenever I need something more detoxifying.

My Daytime Makeup: $314.50

I have exactly seven minutes to do my make up every day, and I use Tom Ford for just about everything. The line is so luxurious, and it lasts a while because the products are so pigment-heavy—a little goes a long way, and the colors are brilliant. I’ve found it’s worth investing in his compacts versus other makeup lines where the colors look nice in the pan but look a bit off when they’re on. I start with Glossier’s Boy Brow ($16) followed by Tom Ford’s Brow Sculptor ($45). Other go-tos include his Concealing Pen ($53) and Eye Color Quad in Orchid Haze ($85). It’s got great plums and pinks. I love Trish McEvoy’s High Volume Mascara in Jet Black ($31.50). It’s easy to swipe on. As are Bobbi Brown’s Blush in Desert Pink ($30) and Tom Ford’s Wild Ginger Lip Color ($54). It’s this amazing bright red-orange color.

My Periodic Beauty Services: $1,555 a year

About three times a year I try to treat myself to a 60-minute facial at CAP Beauty ($210). They tailor the treatment to exactly what your skin needs. Before I had kids, I used to get my nails done once a week. Now I’m lucky if I make it in to Valley Nails for a mani-pedi five times a year ($85). I also love going to Shari Auth ($250, twice a year) for acupuncture and a massage. I can’t really put into words how good she is—she’s an intuitive bodyworker, and she uses a combination of acupuncture, acupressure, and massage to make you feel whole again. I don’t go often because my schedule doesn’t allow it. But I found it incredibly helpful when I had postpartum pain.

My Exercise Routine: $540 a year

I used to be a member of Equinox, but I had to downgrade to save money. I now go to a neighborhood gym ($45 a month) five days a week before the kids wake up. I use exercise just to boost my mood and calm my nerves. I freak out if I can’t get there. It’s hard to get out of bed when it’s still dark out, but I’m always glad I did.





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Health

What It Costs to Be Me: Zanita Whittington


These days it’s nearly impossible to know what women are spending on the way they look. Someone with Instagram-flawless contouring might have honed her craft using the finest from the drugstore aisles, and the utterly makeup-free type might be spending thousands on laser treatments and serums. Enter our series, “What It Costs to Be Me,” where we’re asking interesting women for radical transparency.

Up first: fashion photographer and creative director Zanita Whittington, 32, who lives in New York City. Her annual total? $4,256.94.

My Morning Skin Care Routine: $1,179

The only thing that’s consistent about my beauty routine is that I’m inconsistent. I tend to bounce around and try new things. But my skin care is where I really invest—great products are expensive, and I just want to have baby skin. For face wash, I use an oil cleanser. I’ve been going back and forth between Bobbi Brown Extra Balm Rinse ($67) and Kiehls Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil ($32), which smells great—like lavender. Sometimes, if I need extra exfoliation, I’ll use Bobbi Brown Buffing Grains ($46) for my face, which I mix with the Bobbi Brown oil cleanser. I like to do that when I’m in the shower. It’s nice because my skin is really dry. I’ve also been using Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 ($101) when I get out of the shower. It’s an acid exfoliant that works wonders on evening out texture.

Serums more than anything are my must, and I’m willing to pay for a great one. In the morning, I use Genaissance de La Mer The Serum Essence ($630). It’s worth every penny. All my creams are really thick, proper heavy creams. I rotate between those as well. I love Crème de la Mer ($170). It’s thick and feels so luxurious. And I also like Kiehl’s Rosa Arctica ($60). I got Huxley’s Secret of the Sahara Anti-Gravity cream ($44) in a gift pack and cycle that one in occasionally too.

The last thing I put on is Kiehl’s Creamy Undereye Treatment with Avocado ($29). I get really dry around my eyes, and you can see fine lines at my age if you don’t moisturize.

My Evening Oils and Serums: $293

I used to go out on a Friday night, come home 4 A.M., and still moisturize. I’m that committed. I use a lot of the same daytime products at night, but I like to add more oils in. They’re great when I’m feeling lazy—I just throw one on and go to bed. Sometimes I’ll rotate through them, sometimes I layer. You get to know if your skin feels a certain way and which ones are best to put on. I love Vintner’s Daughter Active Botanical Serum ($185). It has all these beautiful botanicals for overnight. I like to think the active ingredients are the little soldiers working on my skin while I sleep. Tata Harper’s Retinoic Nutrient Face Oil ($48) is also really nice—it makes my face look smoother. And then in the summer when I need something lighter, I like Kiehl’s Nightly Refining Micropeel Concentrate ($60).

My Alternating Mask Collection: $356.95

I try to do masks about once a week. They’re worth the extra expense because I can really tailor the treatments according to how my skin looks. When I’m really dry, I use the Cosmedix Restore Moisture Risk Mask ($54). I love Charlotte Tilbury’s Goddess Skin Clay Mask ($55) after getting off a flight. It cleans your pores and gives you an amazing glow. Tata Harper’s Clarifying Mask ($68) is a great clay mask for breakouts. Plus, it’s fun because it’s bright green. When I need the really heavy-duty stuff, I’ll call in La Mer The Intensive Revitalizing Mask ($170). It’s great for dryness, dullness, and fine lines. Also, I like to DIY a brightening mask occasionally. It’s very cheap and easy: I’ll make a mask from lemon juice and caster sugar ($9.95), which has extra-fine granules. I rub it all over, rinse it off, then put on heaps of oil. It’s aggressive, but works. I love it for my hands and arms as well.

My High-Low Hair Products: $993.99 a year

My hair is curly and I don’t do much to style it, so as long as I don’t get a terrible cut and color, I’m cool not spending too much money on it. I recently cut my hair myself and dyed it pink (using L’Oréal’s Colorista Semipermanent Color in Pink, $11), and it looks pretty punk. I wanted to do it to shake things up. About three times a year, I’ll actually go in for a pro cut and color at Bumble & Bumble, which costs around $300. I just sit down and leave it up to them to decide what to do. They’ll probably hate me when they see that I went pink myself! But I tend to leave haircuts to the very last minute, so sometimes I’ll go to an affordable haircut chain—one that’s, like, $25—in a frantic moment. Otherwise, the only styling product I use regularly is Batiste Dry Shampoo ($7.99). I blast a ton of it just on my roots. I have really strong regrowth, so it looks greasy faster.

My Shower Routine: $255

For as fairly low-maintenance as my cut/color/styling regimen is, the products I use to take care of my hair are more high-end. For example, Rahua’s Shampoo ($34) and Conditioner ($36). It’s a sustainable hair care brand, which I’m trying to get into more. I grew up on a farm, and now I’m becoming more conscious about environmentalism and what I’m putting on my body. To repair my hair from all the bleaching I’ve done to it, I turn to Kiehl’s Repairing Hair Mask ($25) and Christophe Robin Regenerating Hair Mask ($71). They’re both super hydrating. For cleansing, I love Dr. Bronners Almond Castile Soap ($16). It lasts forever, I can use it to shave with, and I can use it to clean my tub. My hair is pretty dry from all the bleach, so I also treat it with Ouai’s Hair Oil ($28) every day. I don’t use a hair dryer, just a wide-bristled comb that doesn’t pull my hair. Body lotion-wise, I keep it pretty simple: a little bit of Kiehls Crème de Corps ($30) all over and then Grown Alchemist’s Hand Cream in Vanilla & Orange ($15) when my hands feel rough.

My Ultra-Natural Makeup: $261.50

If it takes more than ten minutes for me to do my makeup, it’s taken too long. Occasionally I’ll just do a full face just for fun, but I don’t really recognize myself. I used to be a model, and that was the time when I’d get in character and put on a lot of makeup. Now I’m somewhere where I want to just be myself.

Becca’s Aqua Luminous Perfecting Foundation ($44) is kind of like blending a glowy primer with foundation; it’s a good cost-effective two-in-one product. Then if I want more coverage, I’ll use Dior’s Diorskin Foundation ($50). It’s super lightweight. For blush, I like anything that’s kind of peachy. Lately, it’s been Bobbi Brown’s Pot Rouge in Fresh Melon ($30). Essentially I want to make my skin look fresh, like I’ve just been through a light jaunt, but I haven’t jogged too far. It’s all a lie!

I have a Milk Makeup Holographic Stick ($28) for my cheekbones, and maybe my nose and top of my lip—just a little sheen. When I want a little more shimmer, I love Charlotte Tilbury’s Beach Stick Blush in Moon Beach ($45). I advocate for anything in a stick where you don’t have to have brushes.

I round out my makeup look with Victoria Beckham’s Estée Lauder Lash Ink Mascara ($45). It’s sold out now but this one is similar. It’s got this tiny, tiny brush that’s great for getting your little lashes on the ends. When that’s basically your whole look, you can focus on getting each lash. The last thing is my Kiehl’s Butterstick Lip Treatment ($19.50). It’s really nourishing and has a slight tint to it. I’ve got basically every shade in every bag.

My Occasional Makeup Add-ons: $137.50

When I do want to really do my makeup, I’ll wear lipstick. I love Victoria Beckham Estée Lauder Matte Lipstick in Black Cassis ($50). Generally I prefer matte lipsticks, but I feel like a good one is hard to come by. I also like Bobbi Brown Crushed Lip Color in Telluride ($29). It’s more moisturizing but not shimmery or shiny—I’ve been into rosy browns.

I find brow pencils in general dry out really quickly or the tones aren’t quite right. The only one I’ve ever really loved is Chanel’s Eyebrow Pencil in Blond Clair ($29). The pencil is long, so it’s easy to hold, and the color is the right ashy brown for my brows. And then for eyeshadow, I use Chanel’s Ombre Essentielle Soft Touch Eyeshadow in 112 Pulsion ($29.50), which is out of stock now. I just keep using this purple shade over and over when I go out. I’ll probably use it until it’s gone.

My Go-To Skin Treatment: $450

I got the IPL laser treatment ($150 per treatment, three times) and I love it. I’ve done it whenever I’ve had tickets back to Australia, but I would really like it here in New York too. It was great for reducing sun spots, and afterwards my skin was really even-toned, supple, and glowy.

My Affordable Beauty Luxuries: $330 a year

I don’t do my nails. They’re embarrassing. And I hate people touching my feet. I’m really tall, so I don’t look down at them anyway. About every other month, I’ll treat myself to a Thai massage ($25) somewhere affordable when I travel. Sometimes I’ll do an airport massage on a stopover home to Australia. Then I get a brow threading, tinting, and upper lip waxing ($30) at Precise Brows every two months. When I get them tinted it changes my whole face—like it’s like my sassy alter ego. I should do it more often, but it’s a lot of work.

My Exercise Routine: $0

When I was a model I worked out twice a day—sometimes a super-long walk, or an athletic class and yoga after, or a run and then a Pilates class. I’m mostly just too lazy to do exercise now, but if I can ever get away from the city, I really like hiking. I’ve always liked walking up stairs—a strange fetish!—so hiking is perfect. I like getting out in the wilderness. There are no distractions.





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