Anastasia Soare on Morning Pampering Sessions, Silence, and Sleep Work
Welcome to Beauty Around the Clock, Marie Claire's weekly peek into the daily lives of the most influential women in their industries. How do these women manage to get through the day's work?
You've seen the obvious success of Anastasia Soar's empire, Anastasia Beverly Hills. But did you know that when she first tried to open an eyebrow service salon, she was told no. After a year of hard work and long nights, Oprah called and asked her to paint her eyebrows on national television. And now she runs the first ever beauty brand dedicated to eyebrows. Below, Pioneer takes you through her day in the life and how she gets her eyebrows done.
I wake up every day and immediately think. I must start now. Out of both habit and necessity, the first thing I do is reach for my phone and check Instagram. The Anastasia Beverly Hills (opens in new tab) platform has a strong community and seeing how young people are responding to and using our products is a constant source of inspiration. It is truly the start of my day.
For me, self-care is the preparation I need to work hard. I always have my mornings planned out. I listen to jazz over coffee, answer emails at home, schedule my day, take phone calls, and take time to get ready. This routine is rest, and it is essential preparation for whatever intensity lies ahead.
I also like to work out in the morning. I usually have a trainer come in three times a week. I like having someone who pushes me to work harder and build strength. Other days I do cardio on the treadmill.
I don't like being rushed when I get ready in the morning. So I usually have a good two hours to shower, do my makeup and hair, and pick out my outfit for the day.
I like to layer on products in the morning. My skin is always dry, so I use Dr. Barbara Sturm's Hyaluronic Serum (open in new tab), which gives me instant, unbeatable hydration. I also never miss her sunscreen (opens in new tab).
She washes her hair only once every few days, using Christophe Robin's Regenerating Mask (open in new tab) to keep it shiny and soft, and a Croc Italia hair dryer (open in new tab). If it's not wash day, it's a quick and easy way to style your hair: use ghd's Curve Curl Wand (opens in new tab) to create waves and body.
Definitely soft glamour, which to me means building brows, complementary neutral colors, and glowing skin. Anastasia Beverly Hills Hydrating Oil (opens in new tab) is quick and hydrating, and I love layering it under my Luminous Foundation (opens in new tab). Brows are always a must. Whether I'm out wearing a mask, hopping on a Zoom call from home, or whatever I'm doing, a good brow is so important. I use my new brow pen (opens in new tab) repeatedly. It's so easy to use and creates fuller, fuller brows with amazingly fine, realistic hair strokes throughout the brow and in sparse areas. The Soft Glam Palette (opens in a new tab) is the palette I use most often for the eye area. Then I just finish with Lash Brag Volumizing Mascara (opens in new tab). And finally, for the lips, I reach for the new lip stain in Dusty Rose (opens in new tab). It feels so natural, I almost forget I'm not wearing anything.
I'm not one to sit still. I am always out there, always thinking about the next three things I have to do or places I have to go. The last few months have been a master class in stillness and my self-care has been to embrace it. I settled into a routine, found a place to work morning and evening, and enjoyed long lunches and dinners with my mother. Self-care is about feeling like I have enough time to be still and that it's okay to be still.
I only wear Frederick Malle's "Portrait of a Noble Lady" (opens in new tab).
It's worth having a good esthetician shape your eyebrows regularly.
OPI's nail polish, Samoa Sand (open in new tab), is amazingly chic.
The scariest thing I ever did was come to America. I was away from my family and didn't understand the language, but in the spirit of pursuit. I wanted to do what I loved and what was important to me. I had always been interested in beauty, but I became an esthetician out of necessity. I was an immigrant, so it was a job I could do even if I couldn't speak the language. While working there, I noticed a glaring gap in the market: no one was paying attention to eyebrows. It occurred to me that if I applied the golden ratio I had learned in art school to the shape of eyebrows, I might be able to bring balance and proportion to my clients' faces. The concept took off. Later, when I realized that products for eyebrows didn't even exist, I was excited to fill that niche as well.
There were a lot of challenges, especially in the beginning. When I thought about eyebrows as an independent service, the salon I worked for was not convinced and I was forced to rent another location. When I wanted to open my own salon, I holed up in my landlord's office for two hours to convince him to rent me space. Those days were long and grueling. There were countless nights when I went home thinking about giving up because I wasn't sure if I could go on another day. Then I would wake up in the morning and start all over again. I love this quote from Mahatma Gandhi: "Every night when I go to sleep, I die. And when I wake up the next morning, I am reborn." I always believed in my vision and I was never confronted with a no. The year after I opened the salon, I received a call from Oprah asking me to paint her eyebrows on live television. After the episode aired, the phone calls didn't stop for months. At that moment, I felt I had truly succeeded.
The best business advice I ever received was from a trademark attorney who said the best thing I could do for the brand was to make Anastasia synonymous with eyebrows. So I did.
I am inspired by innovators, boundary pushers, and strong, vibrant women who strive to have it all. Many of these qualities are actually possessed by some of my longest standing clients: Oprah Winfrey, Naomi Campbell, Victoria Beckham, Michelle Obama.
Coco Chanel - she was a revolutionary.
I usually spend 30 minutes at night taking care of my skin. Even if I am tired. I am also diligent about removing my makeup. I use Toucha One Step Camellia Cleansing Oil (open in new tab) to take it off. After showering, I use Anastasia Beverly Hills Hydrating Face Oil (opens in new tab). Then I use Sturm Face Cream (open in new tab). Whenever I have time, I wear a mask. When I get home at 11:30 PM, it's a bit too much. But on the weekends, I like to stay home, so I mask. Right now, I like the Oh K. Korean Glowing Skin Gold Dust Hydrogel Face Mask (opens in new tab) and the Mediheal Airpacking Mint Wrap Mask (opens in new tab).
I try to feel calm by 11:30 p.m. and fall asleep within an hour if possible. The last thing I do before bed is check my schedule for the next day. I always expect my mind to work on my thoughts while I sleep.
To read more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.
Sign up here
.
Comments