When you’re studying to be an esthetician, you tend to know what’s what when it comes to skin. And, for Chelsea Hunter Harrison, the 30-something, Georgia peach (sorry, we couldn’t resist) with a passion for keeping all things simple at home and in life, a well-balanced and undemanding routine is paramount. Today, we’re asking all the good questions and digging deep into Chelsea’s at-home practices because A.) we’ve got an expert on our hands, B.) we want to know the secrets to our healthiest skin yet, and C.) if we can do so in just ten minutes, then yes, Chelsea, we’re going to copy you! But enough from us, let’s get straight to it.
Tell us about your morning routine: “I wake up and make coffee and sit quietly for a while, and then pack my lunch and [my son] Luc’s. I try to maximize this stillness as long as I can, which makes the second part of the morning a bit of a rush. Then, I throw on some clothes, quickly do my skincare routine, and brush my teeth. I pour some coffee to go, and I’m out the door.”
How long does your morning routine typically take you from start to finish? “Getting ready takes five to ten minutes max, but I sit for 30 minutes to an hour first.”
Shower in the morning, at night, or both? “Whenever I can. I don’t like to go to sleep with my hair too wet, so usually morning or afternoon.”
Tell us a bit about your (AM) skincare routine: “I don’t do a full cleanse in the morning. I just wipe my face with a cotton round soaked in micellar water. Then, I press P50 into my skin. It’s a daily chemical exfoliant, and it’s incredible. I like to mist my skin with Marie Veronique’s Pre+Probiotic Daily Mist to add some hydration before I seal it in with a moisturizer. Then, I might put on a serum — sometimes hyaluronic acid or Vitamin C. Next, I moisturize and put on SPF. I love Elta MD. It goes on smooth and is a mix of physical and chemical sunscreen.”
Shop Chelsea's Skincare
Biologique Recherche Lotion P50
"The best chemical exfoliator out there. Everyone says it smells terrible, but for some reason I like it."
Biologique Recherche , $68
Bioderma H2O Sensibio
"I use this for my first cleanse. It’s a gentle way to remove makeup."
Bioderma , $15
EltaMD UV Clear Broad-Spectrum SPF 46
"This goes on smooth and has niacinamide to help with breakouts."
EltaMD , $35
Kristina Holey x Marie Veronique Barrier Restore Serum
"I started using this once when I tried a product that over-exfoliated my skin. It’s so soothing and healing that my skin felt better after one use."
Kristina Holey x Marie Veronique , $110
Solaris Labratories Gua Sha Facial Massage Tool
"When I’m feeling like doing something extra, I use this to massage my skin. It helps with circulation and brings me a lot of relief when my face and neck muscles are tight during migraines."
Solaris Labratories , $25
Biologique Recherche Masque Vivant
"This is my very favorite face mask. It smells like cat food, but is incredibly balancing. Leaves my skin glowy and controls oil where I’m oily, while adding hydration instead of drying — it’s incredible."
Biologique Recherche , $71
Golde Lacuma Bright Superfood Face Mask
"These are less active than some of the other masks I’ve tried, so they are awesome for while I’m in esthetics school and am doing a lot to my skin. They’re super gentle and made from superfoods that you could technically eat if you wanted to."
Golde , $34
Slightly obsessed with: “Waffle Hankies by State the Label [currently unavailable]. I use these to remove my masks instead of a washcloth. They are so much softer than most towels and gentle on the skin.”
Tell us a bit about your makeup routine: “If I feel like wearing any makeup, I usually use Glossier Lash Slick mascara, a bit of concealer, and Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer. I’m pretty low-maintenance on makeup. If I’m feeling really fancy, I’ll throw on a little blush or lipstick.”
Shop Chelsea's Makeup
Glossier Lash Slick Mascara
"The best mascara hands down — natural, never clumps or crumbles, and easy to wash off."
Glossier , $16
Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask
"The only product that even begins to tackle my extremely dry lips."
Bite Beauty , $26
Laura Mercier Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20
"I use this instead of a foundation. Every once in a while I’ll try something new, but I keep coming back to this one."
Laura Mercier , $46
Tell us a bit about your haircare: “I’m terrible about taking care of my hair. I pretty much only remember to brush my hair right before I shower to avoid knots. I shampoo and condition and then air dry. I often pull my hair back to brush my teeth and forget to touch it again all day.”
Tell us a bit about your body / beauty from the inside / wellness habits: “I used to walk and do yoga a lot. Right now, I don’t have time for that in my schedule, but I will in the future. I don’t really have specific wellness habits, but I think my lifestyle is pretty healthy by default.”
Tell us a bit about your (PM) skincare routine: “I pre-cleanse with micellar water on a cotton pad. Then, I wash my face. I just got the Biologique Lait U, and I’m enjoying it. Then, I use the P50 to exfoliate. For a while, I was using the P50V, but now that I know more about the brand I realized that’s not right for my skin type and had to switch — oops. I then use any serums. Right now, the Marie Veronique Barrier Restore Serum, and then some moisturizer. In the winter, I seal it all in with an oil on top.”
Biggest beauty secret / advice? “If you have trouble remembering to wash your face in the evening, do it before you’re tired. I used to fall asleep forgetting to wash my face, but now I frequently wash my face right around dinner time, while I still have the energy to do it all.”
Any ace skincare tips you swear by? “Ice! It costs nothing and does the most for redness and inflammation. If you feel a pimple coming on, ice it!”
