A (Busy) Day in the Life of a Top Beauty Executive

Patrice Vani, Dermstore's chief marketing officer, was supposed to be recording the day's diary; Marie Claire's annual Power Trip - a conference that usually takes place on a weekend and brings together influential women from across the country - had recently Like most of the previous ones, it was held on Zoom.

Dubbed the Power On conference, the celebrity-hosted video event on October 8 featured female leaders (opens in new tab) from a variety of industries. Vani, who leads one of the country's top digital beauty retailers, was chosen to moderate a panel on wellness and work. Here's a little peek into the lives of these busy and highly successful beauty industry executives.

6:30 am. Vani, who lives in Chicago but is about to make the big move to California, wakes up with her mind buzzing with excitement. Her pre-game strategy: "I drink jasmine tea in my favorite little room by the window. Then I do a guided meditation to help me face the day with energy and flexibility."

7:00 a.m. She goes for a 4-mile run, followed by a few minutes of stretching and a warm shower.

8:20 a.m. She begins the most important part of her morning routine." In the age of Zoom, I have become more focused on my skin," she says. Plus, for the panel, she says, "I want to feel my best and really be in the moment, instead of worrying about whether my face is shiny or not." [opens in new tab] Wash with iS Clinical Cleansing Complex (opens in new tab). Then I use SkinCeuticals Phloretin CF (opens in new tab)." It's a serum formulated for oily, breakout-prone skin like mine, and it leaves my skin glowing and even-toned. Next, she layers on Eminence Mangosteen Gel Moisturizer, which "moisturizes without making the skin soggy," and adds Skin Medica Instant Bright Eye Cream (opens in new tab).

She finishes with EltaMD UV Clear Tinted Broad-Spectrum SPF. Not only does this keep her skin safe with SPF 46 (important since skin cancer runs in her family), but it also provides light coverage and doubles as a tinted moisturizer. The rest of the makeup is done with a swipe of mascara and a light finish with a lip pencil that is similar to the color of her lips. Finally, I change into the outfit I chose the night before: a nice blouse and a simple pair of jeans, since I'll only be visible from the waist up at the meeting. [9:00 a.m. Zoom's marathon of continuous phone calls begins. With time running short, she eats breakfast while she works. Today's menu is eggs, a side salad from the morning, and coffee. On days when I can't prep homemade eggs, I use Vital Farms pastured eggs, which can be microwaved for 60 seconds. When I need a caffeine fix, I'll have a little cold brew, lots of macadamia nut milk, a few drops of vanilla extract, and ice."

12:00 p.m. Her relentless meeting schedule continues, leaving no time to break for lunch, but she doesn't mind. 'But she doesn't care. So far, she has had one-on-one meetings with the Chief of Staff and also with the Dahm Store CIO focused on the 2021 plan.

2:30 pm. After her creative meeting about infusing the Dahm Store brand into the digital channel and her weekly business update with her boss, she unplugs to mentally prepare for the event, and to keep her energy up, she has a slice of tangerine and nibble on an almond.

"Before a big event, our amazing team explains to me who is in the audience, what they care about, how we will connect, and what a good event looks like for everyone involved. Then, in the 30 minutes before we begin, I focus on the conversation, on the preparatory work the team has gathered, and on calming my mind. Then you dive in, always remembering to be yourself, learn from others, and have fun."

3:00 p.m. The conference began with Marie Claire Editor-in-Chief Sally Holmes leading a chat with author and comedian Phoebe Robinson. This was followed by a keynote address on the importance of nurturing mental health (opens in new tab). Then journalist Joy Reid spoke about building a career with few role models like her. 'Everything was motivating and inspiring. The energy was amazing," Vani said.

4:25 p.m. Break into small groups and move to breakout chats, including Vani's "Wellness and Work" panel. She leads a conversation about how the group is balancing the hardships of the year. A woman who leads a medical company talks about how she put checks in place for her employees. 'What do you need? Childcare. Mental health help' and 'cleaning services. ' I was impressed that they listened to what their employees really needed," says Varni.

4:55 p.m. Back on the main stage, more speakers like Vanessa Pappas, interim global head of TikTok; Sadie Lincoln, founder of Barre3, stretches in a "power pose" with her arms extended like a starfish She will lead an exercise session. Barni follows along, laughing, "My neighbor is raking leaves out the window and looking at me in bewilderment."

5:15 pm. She jumped down for a zoom call before more speakers arrived. Varni was disappointed, but she knew the team needed her. Her call lasted into the evening.

8:00 p.m. Dinner time. She eats a salad of chicken, vegetables, and arugula.

9:00 p.m. She finally relaxes. I snuggle up on the couch and finish reading "More Than Enough" by Elaine Welteroth. A good end to a power-on day.

At 10 p.m., she begins her bedtime routine. She starts with the same iS Clinical Cleansing Complex. Then, "I exfoliate with Eminence Strawberry Rhubarb Dermafoliant. I use it twice a week and my skin feels smooth and happy". Following that with SkinCeuticals Equalizing Toner, "I feel like I'm 'cleaning up' after exfoliating, balancing my skin and preparing it for the cosmetics I use at night"

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She then uses SkinCeuticals Retinol 0.5 Refining Night Cream three nights a week, massaging it in, and the other four nights she uses Neocutis BioSerum Firm Rejuvenating Growth Factor and Peptide Treatment. Replace. I have found that using (retinol) every night is overkill, but three times a week will help with acne. The serum plumps and protects the skin."

The final touch: the same Eminence mangosteen gel moisturizer as in the morning and Neocutis Micro Eyes Tightening Eye Cream.

With her brain buzzing from a hectic day, she relies on her "super tools" to unwind before bed: CBD oil, 10 minutes of meditation, and 15 minutes of reading.

Lights out at 10:30 pm.

"I try to get eight hours of sleep. I need it more than ever."

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