Beauty Routine: Irene Kim

I love knowing people’s beauty routines, and I love my friends, so by the transitive property, I absolutely LOVE love knowing my FRIENDS’ beauty routines! First up, my beautiful, special, talented, smart, and funny friend, Irene Kim. Not only is she an ex-banker, mother of two, but also the founder of the company Box.  She is one of those people who does it all (and you want to hate her because of it, but she is too damn cute to do so). To read about her company, go here.

 

And she's got a rocking body. Check out those legs.

And she’s got a rocking body. Check out those legs.

What’s your beauty philosophy?

 

Get lots of sleep, drink lots of water, and wear a big hat.  Unfortunately, I am currently, a non practicing sleeper and don’t hydrate as often as I know I should, but I do wear a hat always since I live in SoCal and I can feel my skin baking as the day goes on.  As a result, I’m a huge fan of hat hair.

 

Hat on the San Diego Beach (why do I live in NYC?)

Hat on the San Diego Beach (why do I live in NYC?)

 

What is your daily skincare routine?

 

I actually don’t wash my face in the morning.  I’ll take a cotton pad and gently go around my eyes, but I have super dry skin and it’s getting drier as I’m getting older.  Plus, it’s not like I was dancing all night.  Those days are long gone.  The only club I go to now is club sheets and pillows.

 

Kisses

Kisses

 

What’s your bedtime skincare routine?

 

Since I have dry skin, I use oil cleansers.  I feel like nothing dissolves make up quite like an oil cleanser.  The two I am using right now: Tata Harper nourishing oil cleanser and Tascha camellia cleansing oil.

 

Glowing skin.

Glowing skin.

 

Do you splurge on any treatments, like facials or manicures?

 

No.  I should, but sadly. I do not.  I always say that I’ll get a facial every change of season, but I don’t.  I don’t get manicures because I don’t like my hands.  Oh, I get regular pedicures because if I don’t,  I scratch my husband with my gnarly heels as I get into bed, so I guess that’s a splurge!

 

Cuteness

Cuteness

 

Bath or shower?

 

Definitely shower!  I’m not good at the quick bath. If I draw a bath, I’m in there for a good hour and I don’t have that luxury right now.  Maybe in 15 years when my kids are in college.  Now, I’m just depressed!

 

Irene and her two kids: Phoebe and Luke

Irene and her two kids: Phoebe and Luke

 

What’s your daily makeup routine?

 

You know how some people are transformed by make up?  Like, they look SO good with a little this and a little that?  I’m not like that.  Make up can go very wrong very fast with my face.  Even for my wedding, my make up was exactly the same as every day except I had, like, 15 feet long lashes glued to my face.  My daily make up routine is Tata Harper’s blush in a pot, a little nude lipstick, and blue eyeliner.  I know, that blue eyeliner threw you for a loop, didn’t it?  But it’s a softer look on me than black.  After I got pregnant, all my lashes fell off.  It was a tragic side effect to being pregnant. Fortunately, the other side effect of being pregnant was getting kids, so all in all, it’s a fair trade, I’d say.  After I’m done nursing my second (at this rate, when he’s a sophomore in college), I will look into Latisse or something like that.  It has worked on a lot of my friends.

 

Kids worth it all.

Kids worth it all.

 

Do you have any weird little tricks that you swear by? 

 

It’s not a weird trick, but I always drink a glass of water with half a lemon in the morning and a spoonful of Barlean’s Omega Swirl Fish Oil.  My kids call it “fish sauce” and ask for it in the morning. It literally makes people gag to hear them say that at 6:30 in the morning, but it’s delicious and tastes like a smoothie.

 

Does a belly good.

Does a belly good.

 

Did you adopt any beauty tips from your mother?

 

Oh lordy. So many.

 

* Use your ring finger to apply any make up or cream under or around the eye (so as not to stretch the skin since it’ s a fairly wimpy finger).

* Splash your face with cold water after washing your face to close up the pores.

* Be Sun-Phobic (High SPF, hat, giant sunglasses, that Asian visor thing that goes in front of your face like you’re a welder).

* Wear a long glove on your left when driving a car (this is to prevent uneven arm tanning in CA.  Note, that I have never done this as I think it’s absolutely ridiculous).

* Always check the back of your head with a mirror.  Just because your hair looks good in front, it may be a hot mess in back.

* Foundation rarely looks good.  Use concealer and a powder. Or CC Cream.

* Sleep on your back so that you don’t get wrinkles on your face.

* Keep your eyebrows full (don’t over pluck!)

* Clothes that are too tight make you look fat.  (this is true)

* Clothes that are too big make you look small.  (is this true?)

* Perming your hair is always a good thing

 

Like mother, like daughter.

Like mother, like daughter.

 

Do you have any beauty guilty pleasures?

 

Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. I have to watch it when my husband’s not around because when he’s around and they are on, they sound trashy to me.  Which they aren’t.  I will defend them.  And myself.  I can have a college and a graduate degree and still watch Real Housewives!  I used to watch Vanderpump Rules but then I realized it made me want to fight with all of my friends, so I had to stop.

 

The real housewife of San Diego.

The real housewife of San Diego.

 

Are there any items you’re always on the lookout for?

 

Slip on shoes.  Anything that doesn’t require bending down and tying, velcro-ing, buckling.  Right now, I like these  which are a less expensive version of these.  if i didn’t have little kids spilling stuff all over me and daily treks to the sandbox, I’d invest in some of the martiniano ones!

 

Three generations of beauties.

Three generations of beauties.

 

What perfumes do you like?

 

My friend was wearing Coqui Coqui Orange Blossom the other day and smelled delicious.  I tried it on and smelled like a musty wet sock.  It was so disappointing!  I used to like the fresh florals, like Chanel Eau de Gardenia, but lately, I’m into just smelling clean…like Dove Soap and shampooed hair.  But then that means I have to shower every day which can be a challenge with two small children.  Speaking of children,  I love the way my kids smell.  I think it’s a mixture of California Baby soap and Moroccan Oil (which i use for my daughter’s hair which is fine and thick = rat nest in the morning!)

 

Princess.

Princess.

 

Any surprising recommendations?

 

I don’t think it’s surprising, but I recently discovered Cle de Peau Lip Serum and I love it.

 

Disneyland.

Disneyland.

 

What is your number-one piece of advice for feeling your best?

 

Maybe it’s because I am so sleep deprived, but I do feel like sleep is key to everything.  EVERYTHING.  I don’t care if you think you can operate on 5 hours of sleep.  you can operate BETTER on 8 hours. of sleep.  i also just came back from a girls trip and realized that surrounding myself with people who support me, love me, challenge me, makes me feel my best.

 

Irene looks like the big sister, NOT the mother.

Irene looks like the big sister, NOT the mother.

 

What advice would you give your younger self?

 

Don’t take your youth for granted.  Cherish and maintain everything you have now, because in time, your boobies will look very different.

 

Reeney.

Reeney.

 

I love you, Reeney! Thanks so much for being a wonderful and thoughtful friend, a creative and smart individual, and a caring and dependable person.

Anika Yael Natori, aka, The Josie Girl

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4 Comments

  1. Wow! She’s such a natural beauty! And she has an adorable family. I totally agree with her on getting more sleep. I got 8 hours last night and I feel so much more functional than I did yesterday, having slept much fewer hours. Thanks for sharing, Anika!

  2. She seems like a great friend. Naturally beautiful and smart! I love all her beauty tips.

  3. Couldn’t help but laugh at wearing a glove on one hand in the car to protect it from the sun! 🙂 Great beauty tips overall

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