CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES
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Monday, December 9, 2024

Mei Kwok, DJ + Co-Founder, Dune Suncare


“I used to be born in Hong Kong, however my mother moved me and my brother to New York once I was 4 years outdated. Rising up right here, I assumed I needed to be a cartoonist, however I acquired actually into trend and ended up going to FIT. Straight out of school, I used to be the PR supervisor at Archetype Showroom. I believe I made one thing like $28,000 a yr; I used to be a hostess at Bond Avenue making an attempt to make ends meet on the similar time. Instantly after that I dipped my toes into different manufacturers, like Pamela Love and Kimberly Ovitz, and shortly realized that trend was not my factor. I went on to be the manufacturing supervisor at Paper’s Additional Additional, one of many first experiential advertising businesses on the market, after which later landed a manufacturing director function at The Gathery, the place I helped scale occasions, from small intimate dinners to large-scale conferences like Sophia Amoruso’s Girlboss Rally. The occasions trade is hard although, and I suffered from burnout nearly instantly. I had been DJing as a facet hustle too. I’ve been fortunate sufficient to DJ for a number of the best-in-class manufacturers like Valentino and Lamborghini, however on the time, I used to be exhausted. I acquired actually into wellness and caring for myself, and I began studying the right way to surf in Rockaway Seaside. After that, I give up my job to open up my very own pop-up surf store known as The Notion within the Rockaways. The surf trade was—and nonetheless is—so dominated by males, and I needed to create an area for feminine surfers.

I moved to Los Angeles in 2019, however quick ahead to March 2020, I went to Puerto Rico on a weekend lengthy surf journey and acquired caught there for 3 months due to COVID. The primary month and a half was particularly difficult as a result of Puerto Rico was so strict. You couldn’t even stroll on the seashore. I known as my buddy and now co-founder Emily Doyle, who had expertise within the magnificence recreation, and mentioned, ‘That is the time to construct our dream firm. We’re not going to have this time and house once more.’ As a surfer, suncare was certainly one of my private ache factors throughout the magnificence trade. I refused to purchase a sunscreen that was $50 for a 1.7 ounce bottle. However the drugstore manufacturers marketed as clear would go away me with a white solid. It was very troublesome discovering a product that was reasonably priced, modern, clear on my pores and skin, and simple to entry. Enter: Dune Suncare, the place we provide every part from face sunscreen to physique SPF in various formulation.

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SKINCARE
I battled loopy pimples as an adolescent. It’s in my household DNA. I went on Accutane in my twenties—positively didn’t get the information about how dangerous it’s for you then—and it labored, although my hormones nonetheless break me out each infrequently. Which means I’m continually in search of skincare with non-comedogenic formulation. Ease can also be vital to me; I like two-in-one formulation.

Within the morning, I exploit my Osea Ocean cleanser, adopted up by the iS Medical Professional-Heal serum. It’s a vitamin C serum, and it’s helped me a lot. I’ll admit that I’m a pores and skin picker and I like the solar, which implies I’m the prime suspect for hyperpigmentation. I’ve lately began utilizing the Topicals Pale. I’m hoping to see some modifications with that, however I’ve to be trustworthy, it doesn’t odor one of the best. I’m dedicated to it although; I do know consistency is essential. I end off the morning with the Dune Mug Guard SPF 30.

Since I don’t put on an excessive amount of make-up on the day by day, I simply use my Osea cleanser once more at evening. Then I both use the iS Medical Lively serum, which is basically good for pimples, or the Sunday Riley Good Genes. The Lively serum feels just a little cool and tingly while you put it on, which makes me really feel prefer it’s working higher, and the Good Genes has been unimaginable with my nice traces. I just like the iS Medical Lively Peel Remedy System, too. And, like my mother taught me, I at all times put on eye cream. I just like the iS Medical Eye Advanced, which I at all times apply with my ring finger. I like Colleen Rothchild’s Weightless moisturizer. It’s really very gentle. And I like to roll my face with the ReVive contouring therapeutic massage curler. It actually helps intensify my cheekbones.

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I journey rather a lot, so my pores and skin is at all times feeling dehydrated and dry. I lather on Summer season Fridays’ Jet Lag masks on planes. I even apply it to my arms, and I put it on high of my sunscreen. And I at all times have Lucas’ Papaw ointment on me. I exploit all of it day lengthy.

Publish-surf, my physique is so salty, so I exploit the Dune Lifeguard, our tackle after-sun gels. It’s aloe-based and doubles as a moisturizer. However regularly, as an alternative of standard physique lotion, I exploit our Dune Bod Guard as a result of I dwell in LA and get plenty of daylight. It’s SPF 30, actually hydrating, and smells just like the ocean. Osea’s Undaria algae physique oil is basically hydrating, too. It offers you just a little glow.

I used to be 35 once I first acquired Botox. Kim Kardashian impressed me to start out—simply kidding. [Laughs] I am going to Cienega Med Spa now. I prefer it for my crow’s ft, frown traces, and on my brows for just a little carry. And I simply acquired the TheraFace masks, so I can’t communicate to it an excessive amount of, however I’m excited to make use of it. It’s supposed to assist with nice traces and wrinkles. It has each crimson and blue gentle, and it vibrates, which feels nice.

I used to be given a present card for The Issues We Do lately. It’s a cute spa. I went in for his or her ‘full peel’ and I had a five-day restoration interval. The primary day after, I used to be like, ‘My pores and skin is just too sturdy for this peel. Nothing is occurring.’ However oh my God, on the second and third day, my pores and skin was flaking off in items. Then I appeared nice. [Laughs] I usually go to Pores and skin Laundry for resurfacing facials, which use a fractional laser. It hurts and also you peel with it, too, however the glow is price it.

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MAKEUP
I like an easy-breezy make-up look, so I don’t use plenty of merchandise each day, but when I’ve a giant gig, I’ll rent a make-up artist and ham up the seems to be. I’ve been loving Ilia’s Pores and skin Rewind stick in Cypress 24N. It’s matte however buttery and velvety while you put it on. It’s additionally buildable, so if I would like extra protection, I can add extra. The complexion brush actually makes you look airbrushed. It’s unimaginable. After which for my lips, I’m obsessive about Glossier’s G Go well with in Lane. It’s this rosy, maroon-ish shade that’s excellent.

A cat eye is my go to liner look. Ilia’s liquid liner is basically good for this as a result of the tip is tremendous pointy and doesn’t smudge simply. And I can’t dwell with out my eyelash extensions. I’ve been going to Jen Barrera for 5 years. At this level, she’s so fast as a result of she is aware of my eye form very nicely—I’ve a standing appointment together with her each two weeks. I like that I don’t want to curve my lashes and put on mascara with them, however I nonetheless look awake and nice.

HAIR
For 10 years, since I turned 30, I’ve had loopy hairstyles. I went from black to a platinum blonde bob in a single session. I simply don’t give an F about hair. It’s so cool to showcase your persona by way of shade. I used to be platinum for 5 years, and naturally, it ruined my hair. Finally the breakage was so dangerous that I needed to cease—however I did go pink earlier than I went again to black. 4 years in the past, I rocked the craziest child bangs for some time. Then final September I used to be feeling crimson. The subsequent day, I booked an appointment. Nancy Contreras at Framed Salon in Santa Monica is an unimaginable colorist. She does enjoyable stuff; a few of her purchasers have rainbow streaks or leopard spots. For cuts, I am going Kristen Shaw. Demi Willis at Trim on Most important Avenue cuts my bangs.

I exploit Gem Lites Ruby Crimson Colorwash to refresh my hair, however I additionally attempt to not shampoo rather a lot. Once I surf, I put Crown Affair’s leave-In conditioner in my hair. I’ve discovered from my years of getting bleached hair that in the event you layer it with a conditioner earlier than you go into the ocean, you’ll get much less injury. Once I get out of the water, I exploit a Moist Brush detangler and add in Andrew Fitzsimons’s AF1 10-in-1 leave-in. I’ve been utilizing the Crown Affair hair oil lately as a result of my strands are beginning to get just a little crunchy. I like Crown Affair’s dry shampoo, too.

FRAGRANCE
Flowerbomb by Viktor & Rolf has been my scent for over a decade. Seeing an advert bought me, and I’ve by no means used anything. In terms of my residence, I hate paying for scented candles. As an alternative, I like Diptyque’s Baies room spray. I’m like, ‘Oh, this spray would final me in all probability six months versus burning this candle that’ll final me two weeks and prices $80.’ I’m at all times enthusiastic about effectivity.”

—As instructed to Daise Bedolla

Photographed by Brittany Bravo in Los Angeles on April 17, 2024



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