You know those skin-care and beauty products that you use until the very last drop? The ones that you’ve spent entire brunches/text threads/email chains, telling your friends about? They’re the best of the best…so amazing that you’d never risk putting them in a piece of checked luggage. At Well+Good, we call those our Beauty VIPs (you know, Very Important Products). In this series, we ask women in wellness and the public eye what beauty products they use every single day and why—with an entire Internet of options to choose from—these items stand out.
Whether you know her for spending roughly a decade in the New York City Ballet or for creating the Ballet Beautiful fitness empire—there’s no question that Mary Helen Bowers exudes grace and elegance (just ask fans the likes of Alexa Chung, Miranda Kerr, and Lily Aldridge). In NYC, women flock to her two dreamy studios for ballet-inspired workout classes, which also happen to be streamable—so that you can work out with Bowers no matter the time of day or city you happen to be in.
On the heels of her new website launch and the release of her new book, I caught up with Bowers to get the details on the beauty products she keeps in regular rotation. The former ballerina-turned-lifestyle-icon shares how she embraces the natural look, her go-to products that take her from the studio to work, and the multi-taskers that she can’t live without.
Keep reading to find out Mary Helen Bowers’ favorite beauty products.
Kora Organics Noni Glow Face Oil, $68
“A lot of times I’ll incorporate the Noni Glow Oil from Kora Organics into my skincare routine. It’s all organic and lovely. At night time, I’ll put that on as a final layer,” she tells me. “Sometimes in the morning I’ll mix a little bit of that with my moisturizer and follow it with a sunscreen.”
Fresh Crème Ancienne Eye Cream, $125
“This is a really nice, very moisturizing cream. With two kids and another on the way, I really feel like I have to make up for the lack of the sleep,” she says. “Sleep is probably the best thing you can do for your skin, but I just don’t have that much control over that part of my life, unfortunately.”
Supergoop Everyday Sunscreen SPF 50, $32
“My skin is quite fair and sensitive so I really try to protect it. Even if it’s snowing outside, or pouring rain, I wear sunscreen every single day,” Bowers tells me. “I’ve been using it since I was in my early twenties, with the idea that the better care I can take of my skin now, the fewer problems I’ll have later.”
L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Original Mascara, $10
“I usually get my mascara at the drugstore. I have one that’s waterproof and one that’s regular. I rotate those depending on if I’m working out, exercising, or shooting— based on what my day’s going to be. I’ve been using it for like 20 years.”
Tata Harper Volumizing Lip and Cheek Tint, $36
“I don’t wear a lot of heavy lipstick, but I like this lip stain from Tata Harper a lot. It’s a really pretty berry color. So I’ll use this and a little Egyptian Magic on top and it’s a really pretty look that’s natural,” she tells me. “It’s closer to a stain so it lasts longer, and it looks more natural than an obvious heavy lip, which is not my everyday look. You can also use it on the cheeks as well.”
If you need more ballet-inspired beauty tips, here’s how to style a bodysuit like a ballerina, and try this 10-minute ballet-inspired workout.
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