Introduce yourself!
Hi! I’m Chanel, a skincare enthusiast, beauty strategist, self taught cook, and passion driven entrepreneur. I’ve been living in NYC for almost 9 years but I was born and raised in a Chicago. I went to Spelman for undergrad, Columbia for my MBA, and I currently work for Estée Lauder Companies. I’m also one of the Co-Founders of TRIBE (tribe_org) which is a professional collective that celebrates Black women in beauty, fashion and CPG.
How do you express yourself creatively?
Instagram Stories is a huge creative outlet for me, I love curating content. Also cooking, I’ll watch a cooking show and then try to recreate the meal without using a recipe, it’s therapeutic and fun!
Describe an insecurity that you had while growing up. Has your perspective changed? If so, how did you overcome this insecurity?
I was really insecure about my hyperhidrosis. It caused my sweat glands to be overactive, specifically the glands that control moisture in my hands and feet. I was terrified of holding hands with people in church and would never handhold with boyfriends. Even getting my nails done at the salon was an issue because people always assumed I was nervous and then there would be banter about it making me a spectacle to the employees and customers. I ended up having surgery because it really impacted my social behavior. The surgery worked but wasn’t permanent so many of the symptoms came back. Eventually it was something I grew to accept because it was and is a part of me.
Define Beauty
Beauty is many things, it’s how we feel about ourselves, it’s nature, it’s experiences, it’s love....beauty comes in so many forms. True beauty to me is what is on the inside and how that flows to the outer. Beauty is not the definition that it has been for centuries, it’s not European, it’s not fine features, it’s everyone and everything. I’m happy we are crushing old standards of beauty and reinventing / demanding new ones, especially within the industry. We are seeing way more diversity and inclusivity than we ever did and brands are being held to a much higher standard to ensure that are representing more than one version of who we are.
How would you describe your skin-type?
My skin type is combination, very oily t-zone and dry around the outer parts of my face. I’m also acne prone, I developed adult acne about a year and a half ago and the breakouts left me with a lot of discoloration and dark marks.
How do you combat your personal skincare problems?
I combat my problems a few ways, but one was finding a dermatologist that could treat my acne and then developing a skincare routine that would help me achieve hydrated, even toned skin with a natural glow. I’m a product junkie and love the hunt for a new product that will help with healthy skin.
What are some of your skincare beauty secrets?
I don’t have many secrets, especially because I share so many on my IG page, but what I’ve found works best is 7-8 hours of sleep per night, drinking lots of water throughout the day, at least 8 cups, taking probiotics daily and being disciplined about a morning and nighttime regimen.
2 do’s for skincare? Exfoliate and Moisturize.
2 don’ts for skincare?
I don’t really have don’ts but being mindful of diet and trying to err on the healthier side of things as it relates to foods you put in your body and chemicals in the products you put on your face.
What motivates you to practice self-care consistently?
Treating myself to a massage or facial when I’m feeling tight or congested. It’s masking and amping up my skincare routine every Sunday as a part of #selfcaresunday. It’s reading for pleasure and working out. It’s getting together my girlfriends I haven’t seen enough. Selfcare for me is whatever I need it to be in that moment and the fact that selfcare has become such a movement is amazing, especially for our generation.
What city/country do you represent? NYC & Chicago
Instagram @buymechanel / @tribe_org / @lemonsandthings
Comments