LIVELY's Founder and CEO, Michelle Cordeiro Grant, on understanding, honoring and celebrating the needs and comforts of women
With a heartfelt and tender commitment to women’s physical happiness and integrity, LIVELY provides outstanding undergarments (and beyond) designed to empower women with comfort, community, and dependability! So, it’s really no surprise that while Michelle’s skincare and makeup routines are endowed with a varied range of amazing products, her best beauty advice begins with a healthy heart and mind!
Among being LIVELY’s fearless leader, Michelle is also a full-time mom and podcast host. Though she doesn’t have much time to spare, her commitment to emotional, mental and physical health is never subrogated, even if, on some days, it needs to be a little compressed. But don’t worry, she’s not afraid to really sink into a long routine when she has the time.
Name:
Michelle Cordeiro Grant
Profession:
Founder & CEO of LIVELY, rookie podcast host, mom, and angel investor
Skin type:
Oily
Hair type:
Thick, full, wavy (and a little out of control if I don’t blow dry it)!
How much time do you set aside for your self-care and beauty routines?
Depends on the day! Between being a mom, founder, podcast host (among all the other things), I’m typically on the go and no day is ever the same. On those days with little to no time, I can squeeze my non-negotiables into 10 minutes or less. On the weekends or on days where I’m practicing extra self-care (necessary for those days/weeks that are pure madness), I love to really indulge in my beauty routine and be intentional with it, which takes about 30 minutes. An hour if I treat myself to a bath!
Walk us through your daily beauty routine!
My routine always starts with a sweat sesh, which lately has been a run on the beach followed by a quick Melissa Wood Health flow. I’ve never been one that resonates with traditional meditation, but I’ve found that running gives me a very similar mental clarity and perspective and is a necessary energy release being a type A entrepreneur, so I make it a point to get a run in daily.
Post-run, I’ll hop in the shower and do my hair routine. I’m currently loving Ceremonia’s Aceite De Moska and Pequi Curl Activator for pre- and post-shower. My go-to shampoo and conditioner at the moment is Briogeo, and I love their masks. Everything is very clean - no harsh sulfates, silicones or parabens, which I love. Nancy is also an incredible entrepreneur and a dear friend of mine (I recently shared all the reasons I’m obsessed with her on my weekly IG Live Series: Founder Chats -- Babba too!), and I always love to support female founders I love!
My current skin care routine must-haves are: LIVELY’s All.You. Face Mist to start off, a cleanser, Vitamin C Serum and sunscreen!
What is your philosophy on beauty?
Having been at the center of an industry that for so long pressured women to look a certain way and fit a certain mold really opened my eyes to the fact that we’re actually the most beautiful and confident when we’re embracing and celebrating our human uniqueness and individuality.
Humans are most beautiful when they’re just that - humans! The reality is that trying to be something you’re not is exhausting (I’ve lived it!), and when we open up to the fact that each of us are different in our own amazing ways (I like to say we’re all snowflakes), that’s when we unlock a passionate, purposeful and confident life.
What are your 3 must-have products and why?
goop The Martini Bath Soak: I’m a huge bath girl and The Martini Soak is my go-to for the ultimate relaxation. It’s the best way to unwind at the end of a long day, or to self-care on the weekend.
Zitsticka Goo Getter: These patches are tried and true for treating any stress-induced zits (because.. entrepreneurship/motherhood), and I love that they’re not super noticeable and easily stick to your skin so they don’t hold me back from doing anything I need to get done while I’m wearing them.
LivOn Lypho-Spheric Vitamin C: Their packets are super easy to add to your water and take on the go with you, so I never miss a day! Starting the day off with at least one good habit sets the tone for the day and usually inspires me to do more good things for myself.
What is your best beauty advice?
That beauty starts from within! When you feel healthy and strong both mentally and physically, there’s no doubt that you shine on the outside too.
For me, I never feel more confident/beautiful than when I’m outside in nature, spending quality time with my family, have gotten a sweat sesh in, am eating healthy and am staying on top of my wellness routines.
A few non-negotiables for me that always add up to the most beautiful version of myself are: Arrae’s calm pills (their bloat pills are amazing too for those days when you indulge, because it’s all about balance!), making sure I’m extra hydrated, and my daily elixir recipe which is full of amazing greens, turmeric and ginger. When I’ve gotten all of that in, it’s a good day.
I also always tell my kids to “catch the sun.” Basically, whenever they’re starting to lose it or sweat the small things, we tell them to pause and breathe before doing anything else. Whenever I feel like I’m at a breaking point or frustrated, I follow my own advice too. The power of your breath can’t be underestimated! That’s the best beauty tool I can recommend.
What is the best beauty advice you’ve ever been given, and by whom?
The best beauty advice I’ve ever gotten came from Bobbi Brown while recording an episode of the LIVELY podcast.
When I asked her the best piece of advice she could share that she’s learned throughout her career, her response was to play offense on your marriage just like you do in your work. It’s not something you hear every day from someone in business, so it caught me off guard. But ever since then I’ve put this motto into practice day in and day out and have seen first-hand that when my husband and I are in sync and playing offense, everything else falls into place. Whether it’s a spouse, family member, or a dear friend, make the time and show them love, and I guarantee the rest will work out.
This goes back to my advice that beauty starts from within! You can’t have true beauty without putting your mental health first.
Do you have any special tips or techniques for how you apply a product to get the best results?
I always start my beauty/makeup routine with LIVELY’s All.You. face mist to make sure I’m working with a clean, fresh face!
What’s the biggest beauty mistake you’ve ever made?
Because I have oily skin, I thought that I needed products to reduce the oiliness (like toners), but I’ve learned I actually need products that embrace the oiliness, mainly moisturizer. Game changer!
What do you love most about your job?
Getting to know our community! Those moments when they share stories about how LIVELY has affected them, and getting to give them a platform to share their own voices, passions and side hustles, seem small at the time but they make the largest impact for me. These interactions are close to my heart because they're when I know we're doing something really special and are actually making a difference in peoples’ lives.
I have a few, but one of my favorite moments in LIVELY history is when we started to do pop ups in our earlier days. We were doing one in San Francisco, and an amazing woman came by and said, “Wow, I just need to be with the LIVELY community today. I lost my job, my boyfriend broke up with me, and being here with like-minded women is truly what I needed. I actually have 6 LIVELY bras so did not even come to shop!”
Community has always been LIVELY’s number one priority, and to see that come to life in such authentic and vulnerable moments like this one is an unexplainable feeling.
What are your workout bag beauty essentials for when you are on the go and have to be at a meeting right after a workout?
LIVELY All.You. face mist and lip balm, Recess deodorant wipes and charcoal wipes for the hair, Drybar shampoo, and Wander Beauty’s Drift Away Cleanser. Lipstick and mascara are pretty much all I need makeup wise! My go-tos right now are Wander Beauty’s Mile High Club mascara and Nars Gipsy for the lips.
What is your favorite spa activity? Why?
Facial! I recently treated myself to one at Onda in Sag Harbor and it was an amazing reminder of how much I love them! I love that they double time, which is not only amazing for the skin, but also major R&R.
I highly recommend the signature facial at Onda in particular. The spot is a gem and the products are extremely clean. Absolute heaven!
The best skincare advice you have received and who was it from?
Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! I’ve heard this one from just about everyone I know, but it never gets old and cannot be underestimated!