"Wellness is the way we treat ourselves."
โTina Chow Rudolf
Whatโs your approach to self-care?
I believe that true self-care is the practice of creating a life from which you donโt want to escape. Itโs as much about being comfortable in your own skin as it is about being comfortable in your own life.
Self-care is about creating integrity around what makes you feel the best about yourself, so that you can be the best version of yourself, and live your best life. Remember, it's not about what you do...but how you do it.
Why did you create a skincare line?
When I dreamed up Strange Bird, I wanted to build a line that made it easy for women to put their emotional wellness first. The five or ten minutes it takes to clean my face and moisturize has always served as a meditation and celebration for me. In these moments, I can check in with myself, reflect on the day I had or the day ahead, and celebrate my unique beauty through self-attention. I believe that your skincare practice can help you to feel better about yourself and your impact on the world. Along with this, we donate 1% of sales to supporting organizations that focus on womenโs mental health.
I also created Strange Bird for my daughter because I want her to grow up in a world where she is represented. When I was a child, I never saw faces like mine in the mediaโnot on TV, not in magazines, not in the brands I purchased from. I believe that representation is not only a human right but a birthright. It is a birthright to be seen, heard, and validated in the world around you. Human beings need connection in order to thrive, but, without representation, women of color will continue to feel marginalized. Our vision of diversity and inclusion is reflected in the women we choose to represent our brand, in our hiring practices, in our language and the lens we operate from. There is no wellness without representation.
What drew you to the beauty industry?
My fascination with beauty and skincare really originates from watching generations of mothers before me. I remember my grandmother giving my mother facials using egg whites, cucumber, ginger, and ginsengโall ingredients from our kitchen cabinet.
Now that I have my own kidsโa 5 year old girl and a 3 year old boyโI want to make sure I instill them with positive self rituals. I want them to understand that this practice is connected to a culture, a community, and a lineage of self care and self attention.
What type of magic do you have?
Line magicโI breeze right through every line and by the time Iโm checked out, the line has grown 10, 20, 30 people long!
Expansion of time magicโsomeone always cancels or time frees up whenever I need it the most.
Spiritual magicโwhenever Iโm feeling stuck, some lesson comes my way that moves me and gets me to where I need to go.
11:11 magicโwhenever I need a sign that Iโm on the right path, I see 11:11 or 1:11.
Favorite quote right now?
โLife shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage.โ - Anais Nin