Carissa Janes
Founder of Hourglass
My mornings are relatively busy. I wake up at 6am and drink a glass of water to hydrate before I have a coffee. I keep my phone turned off overnight and switch it back on when I wake up. I probably shouldn’t check emails so soon, but we have offices in the UK [Janes is based in California], and I need to know what’s going on. Then I get dressed and workout for an hour in the little gym I have in my house. I’m never in the mood to exercise, especially in the week, but I do it because it gives me clarity, wakes me up and centres me. I’ve discovered that for my body, lifting weights is the most transformative thing I can do. It’s helped my back, strengthened my core and I just look better. After working out, I eat a salad for breakfast—it’s the only thing that keeps me full until 1.30pm. I make it with broccoli, kale, avocado, a hard-boiled egg, carrots and cauliflower. I get all my greens in and then I shower. Three times a week I have someone come to my house to blow-out my hair. I’ll do my make-up at the same time. I apply Hourglass Veil Primer, our Vanish Stick…I use everything! Then I fly out the door to get to work as fast as I can.
My Workout Lesson
I had always been told “don’t lift weights, do cardio” because there’s this thought that your body is going to get bigger and bulkier, but that’s not the case. I’ve discovered that there’s something really empowering about getting stronger; it gives you more energy to get through the day. It makes carrying your bag and climbing stairs easier. Being strong is so amazing, it feels incredible.
Carla Oates
Founder of The Beauty Chef
I tend to work late, so during my mornings I like to eat well, do some exercise and have a bit of daydreaming time. I wake up thinking about a lot of different things—about what I need to do that week, work, the kids—so I get out of bed, have a drink of water and go for a run or a long walk through Centennial Park [in Sydney]. It’s meditation for me and a natural filing system for my brain. By the end of it, I feel organised and like I’ve solved all of my problems.
Back at home I’ll drink water with The Beauty Chef Glow Powder and Collagen Boost in it. That’s my inner-beauty routine. Some mornings I’ll put my beauty powders into a smoothie instead with avocado, berries, spinach and coconut water. Then I’ll potter around the house. I love to sit on my lounge with a pot of
tea and stare out at a nearby fig tree for 15 minutes. I think it’s really important to start your day feeling focused and taking that time out for yourself. After that, I’ll look at my emails and my workday begins.
My Clean Skincare
I love clean but active skincare. If I have the time, I’ll make my own cleansing balm with butters, beeswax and essential oils. However, there are a handful of brands I really enjoy. MV Organic Skincare has a moisturiser I love: it’s the Rose Soothing & Protective Moisturiser. Another brand I’m really into is Marie Veronique—the founder is a cool woman from California—I particularly love the Protective Day Oil. Another female-founded brand I buy is Sodashi [by Megan Larsen]. I use their Rejuvenating Serum all the time.
Melanie Gleeson
Founder of Endota
What time I wake up depends on how noisy the birds are outside. I sleep with all my windows open and I don’t set an alarm, but it’s usually between 5.30-6am. Then my boys [Fergus, 10, and Jimmy, seven] jump into my bed for a cuddle. Every morning, my dad sends an email to the entire Endota head office with a quote. Some are his original words and some are from other people. From bed I’ll read his email and then I get up. I’m lucky enough to live near a gorgeous beach, so I’ll go for a walk along it, sometimes I’ll do yoga, and sometimes I’ll go to a local fitness class instead. Exercise in the morning makes me feel so good; it sets me up in a positive frame of mind. I’m also very fortunate because my husband does the kids’ brekkie and school lunches. When I return home, I’ll eat scrambled eggs then jump in the shower and that’s where my beauty routine begins—but it’s quick! I exfoliate with our Daily Renewal Exfoliant and I wash my hair just once a week. Out of the shower I apply our Peptide 8 Serum. I don’t wear a perfume; instead I blend essential oils into a body oil. Then on my way to work I grab a coffee from a local cafe.
My Business Tip
If you want to launch a beauty brand, my advice would be to speak to people who are already in the industry, and ask a lot of questions. When I was starting out, people were so generous with their time and knowledge, and if I ever had a question or needed help, they were really willing to offer their experience.
This story originally appeared in the February 2020 issue of InStyle.
