Guest Star: Dana Veraldi, Artist and Doula
An NYC Cool Girl's Beauty Must-Haves
GUEST STAR
Extended interviews with our most inspiring friends
Dana Veraldi (@danaveraldi), Artist, Founder of Deer Dana (@deerdana), Doula (@deerdoula), and the Ultimate NYC Cool Chick
Dana Veraldi really might be the coolest person I know. This art school grad’s distinctive art style can be seen everywhere from her t-shirts (yes, you need some) to Tappan. She’s also a true girl’s girl and champion to all of her friends (fun fact: she was VANITIES’ very first subscriber!).
Aside from achieving tremendous artistic success, Dana is also a birth doula (she was mine) and somehow has time to cook the most magnificent meals you’ve ever tasted, both for her doula clients and her friends, including at her color-themed dinner parties (@nijiclubnijiclub).
If you’re not following Dana already, definitely do—her life and work are full of joy and are endlessly inspiring, and she always happens to know about cool new things before anybody else.
Q: What’s your skincare routine?
I use mostly Monastery products with some Biologique Recherche mixed in and Clark's Botanicals. Rose water in the AM followed by SkinCeuticals vitamin C serum and either Clark's Botanicals cream or Embryolisse or Monastery Flora serum with Gold oil. Evening cleanse with Monastery Sage or Rose (I like to keep Sage in the shower and Rose by the sink!) then Monastery Rei Gentle Retinol Cream or BR P-50 followed by Vernix Cream or La Mer Crème de la Mer :) I also LOVE the Patrick Ta softening lip masque before bed. And lots of water!
Q: Who is your beauty inspiration?
Monica Bellucci, Frida Khalo.
Q: What’s in your bag?
By Terry rose lip balm, Rare Beauty mascara, mini bottle of Carnal Flower perfume by Frédéric Malle, Lipstick Queen Frog Prince Blush (also can be used on lips! my fave), Charlotte Tillbury lipstick in Wedding Belles, Japanese mint spray, acupressure hand balls, Italian pine throat lozenges and Flamingo Estate Hinoki Hand Sanitizer.
Q: Desert island products?
Monastery Attar balm! That's all you need.
Q: Favorite drug store buy?
Lanolin ointment (usually sold as a nipple cream!)—great for lips, cuticles or a glossy eyelid.
Q: Most expensive beauty items you’re ever purchased?
Frederic Malle perfumes or La Mer.
Q: Do you have a beauty secret?
Rose water all the time. My favorite is called Sacred Rose Water (from Erewon) or Sun Potion. I have it in most rooms of my house.
Q: What’s your favorite beauty look?
Clean bright dewy skin, bold lashes, stained lips with a tiny bit of blush.
Q: What inspires you?
Nature, animals, travel, and my friends.
Q: Love language?
Cooking! And handwritten letters.
Q: What’s your signature scent?
I rotate between a few—currently it’s Myrrh & Tonka by Jo Malone.
Q: Do you have a hidden talent?
I am a birth doula!
FROM THE KIT
The products and trends worth knowing about now
Chanel Baume Essentiel Multi-Use Glow Stick
If this one looks familiar, it’s because I’ve talked about it before—but it now has some new Spring colors I love! The Transparent shade is essential, but there are three new shades for Spring that I’m really into: Dragée is a pretty pink, Lilas is a fresh lilac, and Rouge Frais a juicy strawberry. It’s easily applied with fingers, straight from its stick applicator, or with a brush. Use on eyes, lips, and face—anywhere you want to add some fresh glossy color.
I tried the Lashify at-home lash extension Control Kit this week. It was easy! I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to apply the lashes to myself since most of my experience has been in applying lashes to other people, but turns out I could do it. These lashes (or “gossamers” as they call them) come in basically every combination you can think of to create the custom lashes of your dreams without an appointment or any lash damage. When I applied them this week, they lasted three days (and they can last even longer). It’s so nice to not have to apply mascara in the morning! I’ll be doing a lot more experimenting with these.
Up next week: how to Spring clean your makeup bag!