Michelle Lee’s Everyday Skin, Hair And Makeup Routine
The former editor-in-chief of Allure and Nylon turned Netflix executive MICHELLE LEE is also a bona fide beauty pro. Here, she tells MALENA HARBERS how she’s tackling hair loss, why she’s fanatical about SPF, and shares the most-trusted products in her daily beauty arsenal
My skincare routine constantly changes
I work in beauty, so I’m constantly trying new things. I subscribe to the idea of a skincare “wardrobe’, where you think about what your skin needs on any given day and tinker with your routine accordingly. For example, I have very dry skin and a lot of hyperpigmentation, so, if my skin is feeling very dry and looks dull, I’ll introduce different serums and top everything off with an oil. I’ll typically alternate between La Roche-Posay’s Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser and a cream cleanser from CeraVe. I also like what I call a juicy serum, such as Cosrx Advanced Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence. And I love a vitamin C-based serum, too.
I’m diligent about wearing sunscreen every day
If I’m out and about, I make sure to reapply SPF all the time, as that is key for me. That said, I recently had blood tests done and found that I had a vitamin D deficiency. We were going for daily walks and I was covered up, especially during the winter because it was chilly outside; I’d have my whole face covered with SPF, so I wasn’t getting enough sunlight. My dermatologist said it’s OK in the morning light – to get out for 15 minutes and get some sun on your body. So, I’ve been doing that and I’ve also started taking vitamin D supplements. On top of other factors, hair loss can be related to a vitamin deficiency.
I always finish my morning and evening routine with a face oil
I’ve been using RéVive’s Moisturizing Renewal Oil, which is fabulous – it makes me look super-hydrated. Then I apply a sunscreen over the top during the day. I love RéVive’s moisturizers – they’ve been my favorites for years and I’ve used nearly all the ones that contain SPF. I’m currently using the Moisturizing Renewal Day Cream with SPF30, because it wears really well under makeup. I don’t always wear foundation because I work from home, but if I do wear makeup, my biggest peeve is skincare that pills under it. So, I love a moisturizer that wears well under makeup and looks a bit glowy.
My favorite time of day is when I play with my toddler
It’s the very first thing I do when I wake up, every morning, for about 20 or 30 minutes. I have three kids: a three-year-old, a 15-year-old and an 18-year-old – so, because my older ones are much older, I value my time with my toddler so much.
I bought myself a starter espresso machine and it’s been life-changing
I used to start the day with a boring ‘drip coffee’ at home; then, six months ago, I bought this machine. I truly enjoy the process of learning how to make either a latte or cappuccino in the morning. When I take that first sip, I feel like I’m giving myself a little treat. It’s wonderful to be able to do something so simple for myself – where I’m starting the day off with something that’s just that little bit more luxurious.
I’ve been dealing with hair loss for a while now
After I was pregnant with my three-year-old, I had a lot of hair loss; then, about a year and a half ago, I had hair loss again after catching Covid. So, I got a hair-loss solution from my dermatologist from a company called Hairstim, which offers a customized mix of different ingredients, including minoxidil [a medication used to treat hair loss]. I use this in the morning every day after washing my face.
I’ve started using silk and satin pillowcases…
…because they make a difference when it comes to reducing hair breakage and protecting your skin. It sounds so simple, but regular elastics cause a lot of breakage, so I’m very diligent about using Slip silk hair ties, as they won’t snag hair. I’m very concerned about keeping my hair healthy, but, when I was younger, I didn’t always use heat protection on my hair when I was using hot tools. Now, any time I dry my hair, I always use a heat protectant – I’m loving Oribe’s Royal Blowout at the moment.
I’m strictly a shower girl
My husband loves a bath, but I’m too impatient to sit in one. In the shower, I exclusively use hair masks – not regular conditioner. I have very dry skin and hair, so I love the idea of using a hair mask because I feel like I’m getting that extra hydration. I only shampoo every other day, so I use a hair mask every other day, too. I love Chris Appleton + Color Wow’s Money Masque and Mielle’s Strengthening Hair Mask, which smells like peppermint.
I’ve tried a lot of face tools
The ones I keep going back to are NuFace’s Trinity+ microcurrent tool – I use it quite a lot – and a red-light LED mask. I really believe in the power of microneedling, too. I’ve had professional microneedling before and, of all the professional services I’ve had, this one gave me some of the best skin results. I have an at-home microneedling tool as well, but I don’t use it enough. That’s the only issue I have with at-home devices – they’re only as good as [how often you] use them; you have to find something you’ll stick with.
Beauty treatments are worth the spend
I really believe you can be more low maintenance every day if you get a few beauty services done. For example, brow microblading – I’ve had it done a couple of times. It doesn’t sound like such a time-saver, but it’s wonderful because I don’t have to fill in my brows every day, as they’re already done. I don’t have to worry that my brows will wash off if I go swimming, either, because they’re done. So, things like that, where you spend once on a service every couple of years and it helps you in your daily life, can be such a time-saver.
I have very straight, short lashes that don’t hold a curl well
It’s very typical of Asian lashes. I know a lot of people love the Shu Uemura lash curler, but the curve of Shiseido’s is a bit more shallow and works better for me. I have gone through hundreds of mascaras trying to find the best mascara, too. Initially, I used drugstore formulations, but then I found that Asian formulations work best for my lashes. There’s a Japanese brand called Heroine Make and I use its waterproof mascara, which is the greatest thing ever. I also love a chunky blush stick – Westman Atelier’s Baby Cheeks Blush Stick in Minette is a beautiful peach color. I’ll do foundation, blush and mascara, and that’s my minimal makeup routine. My favorite foundation for years has been Clé de Peau Beauté The Foundation. It’s a skincare and makeup hybrid, and there’s nothing I’ve come across that wears as beautifully as this formula does.
If I want to instantly look pulled together…
…I put on a pair of earrings. I could be wearing a T-shirt and sweatpants, but with earrings I feel polished. If I really want to up the ante, I’ll put on lipstick, too. It somehow makes any ‘bad’ face day instantly go away. Near my house at the Century City shopping center in LA, there’s a place called the Lip Bar, and they let you make a custom lipstick. I’m a child of the ’90s, and a beautiful brownish-nude shade was popular back then, and I just couldn’t find that shade anywhere, so I made it. That’s been my go-to.
I use prescription skincare at night
It’s something new I’ve gotten into this year. I’ll use hydroquinone every night because I have hyperpigmentation, but I’ll skin cycle with tretinoin and use it on alternate nights. I’ve been using the products from Musely, which is a teledermatology company. That said, with tretinoin you have to be careful using acids, and I’ve found that my skin responds better if I take a break every now and then. So, I’ve put them on pause this month, as I have been using the RéVive Moisturizing Renewal Cream, which has a gentle glycolic acid in it. When I was younger I was overdoing it when it came to exfoliation, but now I appreciate a gentle acid, since you’re getting that same exfoliating effect over time.