If there’s one thing I love about LA, it’s how easy it is to connect with like minded people. One of my good friends Ang (who I actually interviewed a few weeks back, read that here) introduced me to Kristen. Throughout my adult life I always go back to running and Pilates. It’s fair to say I haven’t been to many classes since I moved to LA as I tend to run more thanks to the weather being so delicious outside, but I’ve always found Pilates so graceful and quite an elegant form of movement. Kristen, being a pro, reminded me of how much I used to love it. I went to see her at her studio where she teaches to brush up on my technique, and to find out what beauty products stand the test of a long day in the studio. Over to you Kristen…
Pretty much my adult life has always been teaching Pilates, I’ve been doing it for 14 years. I had been living on my own after college, and I was thinking what was I going to do, and then I moved back to Kenuticut, right after 9/11. I thought I wanted to move into the city, but after living in nature and after 9/11, the city was a strange place. I thought I would be in business, advertising or finance, because that’s what people did in my town. I hadn’t thought about it a lot. I was just thinking, I’ll figure it out one day.
I love movement, and I love working with people. I was a gymnast, a diver and a dancer growing up, so Pilates seemed like a natural fit and I tried it when I was in Jackson, and was immediately drawn to it. I didn’t really think about doing it as a career I just enjoyed doing it, and then when I moved back to my parents house I had to do a lot of soul searching, and I tried a lesson in the city, I really enjoyed it and kind of jumped in with my eyes closed.
I have to be at work pretty early, so often I’m racing out the door. I make a smoothie, take it with me, and I hate to say this but I do my makeup in my car at the parking lot. I’m very much a minimalist, I always put lotion on, I’ve been doing rose water before the lotion and that’s my favourite new thing.
During the day its no makeup or minimal makeup. Maybe a little concealer, little eyeshadow, earthy tones, mascara and a little blush but I like to keep it natural. I like my eyes, and again I’m a minimalist but when I do put on makeup, I really try to do stuff around my eyes, cause it’s more fun. For evening I might add a little more sparkly eyeshadow, a darker eyeliner or a more smokey eye.
I feel really strongly that beauty at this point in my life is more about the person’s soul. It comes through in a glow people have. Kindness and compassion are beautiful. I look at it very differently than I use to. If we take it to a little more superficial level, beauty to me is also much more natural. I appreciate the natural beauty, less is more, and more effortless.
I feel the most beautiful when I’m mentally in a good place. I do struggle with mild depression, so depending what my mood is, I can feel not great and walk into a room and people can tell me ‘you look so pretty today’ and to me I’m like ‘really’, it really depends on what’s going on inside, but thats the truth.
When I put on makeup I do feel a little more put together, and like a grown up. I feel lighter.
As I’ve gotten to know more about the importance of what we put in our body, I find I’m making more decisions on how products are made, animal cruelty is a big thing for me and transparency. I’m really happy these things are becoming more in the fore front, it makes a difference with our health.
QUICK FIRE QUESTION ROUND
Eyes or Lips? Eyes
Three products that make you feel great when you use them? Rose water spray, Aesop body wash, Skin Ceuticals Hydrating B5 Gel
Best Beauty Tip? Because my hair’s so fine, my hairdresser told me that after washing my hair, when my hair is almost dry, to put them in buns, let them sit for like 45 minutes, make sure it’s dry, then when you take it out you have volume and waves.
Drugstore or high end? Highend
Favourite place to shop beauty? beautylish.com
Favourite place to shop for leisure wear? Carbon 38 online is amazing
Favourite song to get ready to? Taylor Swift shake it off is so fun
One thing we could all do to improve our flexibility? Honestly most people need to stretch their hips, which will help with the back. Think a figure four stretch, which is lying on your back, crossing one ankle over the opposite knee so it stretches the hips, because we sit so much, the hips can end up getting really tight.
Beauty trend you can get on board with? Minimalism in beauty
Beauty trend you wish would die? Anything the Kardashians do
One desert island beauty product, what would you choose? Lotion to hydrate or coconut oil
Do you have a beauty icon? Audrey Hepburn
Who is the most beautiful person you know? My friend Jackie, she’s naturally beautiful and she’s a great person and friend, and she’s one of the first people that comes to mind, and she’s a great mom too!
Photos by Me Using Olympus Pen F. Follow Kristen on Instagram here.
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