Vanity Affairs: Stella Simona On How Motherhood Has Changed Her Beauty Routine

Yes, hello, we’ll take one of everything.

Welcome to Vanity Affairs – an editorial series where we document the early morning beauty routines of notable men and women.

There are some people who have an I-can’t-put-my-finger-on-it kind of glow – a certain je ne sais quoi, if you will. You know the ones – their hair falls just right, their skin is dewy but never shiny, and they exude confidence without being arrogant.

In the interest of public service, we’ve set about tracking these aforementioned unicorns down to find out their secrets. So far, GP has spoken to personal shopper Gabriel Waller, fashion designer Lillian Khallouf, Queer Eye’s resident grooming expert Jonathan Van Ness and supermodel Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (among others).

Today’s guest? None other than influencer and co-founder of Amarilo Jewellery and Haati Chai Jewellery, Stella Simona.

If you’re not familiar with the Bengali beauty, allow us to introduce you now. A mother of two, Stella is known for her unbelievable photography, inspiring content and realness on a platform that is known for being a highlight reel. Since giving birth to her second son, Liam, in March this year, the designer has opened up about everything from pumping breast milk to her changing body and everything in between – a refreshing perspective on social media.

With two little ones, Simona has streamlined her beauty routine. “Motherhood certainly makes you think more efficiently,” she says. “I love simple products that are multi-purpose because they save me time.”

Being a mother means she is more conscious of the products she uses and the ingredients that comprise them. She is a passionate advocate for clean beauty products, minus the nasties. But what does she use, specifically? We thought you’d never ask. Here, every single product you’ll find in her morning beauty routine. 

“I am definitely a bit of a beauty junkie, so I am always trying new products. But, to keep my skin from freaking out, I always keep my favourite three on rotation and add in anything new I want to try. To cleanse I love the Ravanat Luminous Cream Cleanser because it is dual purpose. Aside from cleansing my face, I’ve also been known to leave it on for about five minutes as a bit of a moisture mask. I then use the Futurna Eye & Skin Serum which works wonders brightening my complexion and making my skin feel extra supple. I then top it all off with the Summer Fridays Lip Butter Balm. My lips are always chapped so this helps to keep them hydrated throughout the day. Oh, and I can’t forget the Kosas Tinted Face Oil. This is great for lighter days when I don’t want to wear makeup.”

“I love wearing makeup, even though it seems like a foreign thing to do these days. I always start with the Anastasia Beverly Hills Luminous Foundation in shade 430w as it matches my skin perfectly. I will then conceal with the Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Liquid Concealer in Topaz which is perfect for under the eyes and for covering dark spots.”

“I am a sucker for brushed up brows so I will then go in with the Suratt Expressioniste Brow Pomade. This helps me style my brows really easily which, as a mother of two, is essential. Then I add the Manasi 7 All Over Colour in Kobicha to my lids, lips and cheeks. This is a clean beauty product and I love it so much. It’s a great shade for all skin tones.”

“To finish I will use the Saie Beauty Mascara. This mascara really helps to enhance my lashes without making them clumpy. I also just love the wand as it’s designed perfectly for all over application on both the top and bottom lashes.”

“When it comes to fragrance I don’t like anything too heavy, so I have a few that I rotate between. For day-time I love either the Sigil Anima Mundi scent or the Maison Louis Marie No. 4 Bois De Balincourt. For night-time or going out, I like to go a little fancier so will opt for either the Tom Ford Soleil Blanc or the Chloé Eau De Parfum.”

Who would you like Gritty Pretty to interview next? Tell us in the comments section below!