Nostalgia Through Scent: Meet Melody Lim, Founder of Mala The Brand

October 6, 2020 Despina D

Scents are nothing but a direct vessel to nostalgia, and what a feeling it is to be so present but be brought back all at the same time.

2020-10-05_Mala The Brand_Profile_desseydoll_4.JPG

Candles bring moments of peace, serenity and desire all at once. They emit memories that linger throughout your headspace, mentally and physically. They ignite unique feelings, past or present. Melody Lim, founder of Mala The Brand, creates magical scents inspired by the everyday with eco-friendly, hand poured soy candles.

Handcrafted in Vancouver, Canada, Melody’s mission to not only shop small but ethically stems from her drive to provide a stimulating and eco-friendly shopping experience with Mala The Brand. From sourcing sustainable packaging without sacrificing quality to a minimal aesthetic, for every candle purchased, a tree is planted. Read more about the process here.

I recorded an awesome podcast episode with Melody as she discusses her journey with Mala that you can listen to here on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

2020-10-05_Mala The Brand_Profile_desseydoll_13.JPG

2020-10-05_Mala The Brand_Profile_desseydoll_3.JPG

I met Melody through socials, of course, and I truly felt a connection from day one. As a fellow Canadian, I was so excited to support a small business not only with a beautiful product but with a powerful vision. Last year, she reached out to send me some candles to test out, and by now you know that they’re a staple in my bedroom as I’ve purchased many myself. From Mala’s sustainability mission, romanticizing a unique home experience with candles while doing it all with a deep connection to her consumers has been so incredible to see flourish.

What makes Mala The Brand unique? The experience. Everything from the wood-wick burn and cozy crackle, lighting one of Mala’s candle just ignites a very special feeling in me each time, uniquely with each scent. I have to say, these candles have the best throw in a candle I’ve ever experienced. Even when not lit and cover off, the scent lingers so lightly and leaves for an aromatic welcome when entering any room. Without a doubt, Mala The Brand has my heart and they’re my favourite candles. Period.

2020-10-05_Mala The Brand_Profile_desseydoll_12.JPG

Cereal — C$30.00

Cereal is just something special. Reminiscent to sitting at the kitchen table with a bowl of Froot Loops, the throw is just a wave of memories. Sweet enough able to pack a punch but not overwhelmingly strong to make you feel nauseous. I only say that because we’ve all experienced overly sweet scents too well.

Some of my current favourites: Fireside - Milk and Sugar - Silk - Sunrise - Garden Party — Sweet Fig — Strawberry Shortcake — French Kiss (LE collaboration with Emma Leger) — Creamy Cashmere (LE collaboration with Janice Joosetma)

2020-10-05_Mala The Brand_Profile_desseydoll_14.JPG

2020-10-05_Mala The Brand_Profile_desseydoll_11.JPG

2020-10-05_Mala The Brand_Profile_desseydoll_9.JPG

2020-10-05_Mala The Brand_Profile_desseydoll_6.JPG

I’m a Mala The Brand affiliate which means I have a 10% off code that you can use on your purchase at checkout: DESSEYDOLL — I do make a commission when you use my code.

2020-10-05_Mala The Brand_Profile_desseydoll_8.JPG

Let’s chat! What’s your favourite Mala The Brand candle(s) and which are you most excited to try?

Fur You: A Conversation With Shane of @dermatologram

August 2, 2019 Despina D

May we go deeper and discover the ingrowns of our stories.

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that it’s up to me. If it’s my life, then nobody gonna tell me how to live it. They can’t see the way I see it through my eyes.”

— Tinashe Kachingwe, Shane of @dermatologram's favourite quote at the moment.

Enjoying his iced oat milk latte with AirPod’s in— or should I now say Bose’s in, blasting Nicki while walking the streets of New York, Shane, founder of @dermatologram, continuously basks in all things dew, kindness and love, in and out of his beautiful universe.

This is Fur You, a two part series sponsored by Fur, where I have the privilege to introduce you to two very important people close to me and share their beautiful shots, from wellness to music, and well, what fur really means to them.

Shane is a dear friend to me, one that I connect with on different wavelengths I could’ve never imagined, but here we are. A true friendship knows no distance, despite ours. I wanted to go deeper and discover the ingrowns of his story, so, I did.

All quoted lines are by Shane.

“I’m 23, living in NYC, and currently a marketer in the beauty industry. I find marketing interesting, but my happiest moments in my job are always when I’m overseeing content creation.”

Wellness is wellness. What does wellness mean to you?

“To me, overall wellness includes wellness of the mind, body, and soul. I can eat all of the healthy food I want, and go to the gym 7 days a week, but if I am not taking care of my mind + mentality, then I wouldn’t consider myself “well” overall.”

Body, baby. Tell me what it means to you. How do you take care of it?

“Taking care of my body means getting at least 8 hours of sleep a night (although I prefer 9-10), hydrating regularly throughout the day, stretching, and limiting my coffee intake.”

How do you wish to break barriers and stigmas about body hair?

“I just want everyone to mind their own business when it comes to body hair. As long as we’re all practicing safe methods of hair removal, I really think that someone else’s body hair is nobody's business but their own, period. If you think otherwise please see a therapist.”

We often hear “boys in beauty.” What does that mean to you?

“I guess to me, “boys in beauty” just means the small % of men that contribute to the beauty community. I’m honored to be one!”

Ohhhh, Fur. Talk to me about your fave.

“My favourite Fur product is the Fur Oil! I love using it on my neck after shaving, or on my pubic area when I trim. It helps relieve + prevent the post-shave irritation I usually experience!”

Shop Fur Oil here.

Your 10 year-old self is listening. What are you telling him?

“I used to want to be hairy so badly, haha. So I guess I would tell him, “Relax. Not being super hairy isn’t necessarily going to be a bad thing when you’re older.”

If you could shout one thing to the rooftops, what would it be?

“Can mercury get the f*** out of retrograde already. A bitch is going through it.”

X-TRA Moisture

Love you for all of you, love you for all you do and all you are. Fur you, forever.

Discover more of Shane here.

Fur You: A Conversation With @christina.kassi

August 1, 2019 Despina D

May we go deeper and discover the ingrowns of our stories.

“I’m someone who comes off as a really strong person, but in reality I’m super sensitive. People tend to see me as kind and composed, even elegant, but to those closest to me I’m actually more neurotic and a perfectionist.”

— Christina Kassi of Beauté Défilé

Currently planted on the sand and beach in Greece, Christina Kassi, founder of Beauté Défilé, is basking in the eternal pursuit of an endless summer and indulging in the warmth of the Greek sun.

This is Fur You, a two part series sponsored by Fur, where I have the privilege to introduce you to two very important people close to me and share their beautiful shots, from wellness to music, and well, what fur really means to them.

As someone who I connected to instantaneously after starting my skincare journey and sharing it online, Christina and I grew and blossomed into friends that bonded and continue to bond over beauty, jewelry, skincare and fun projects together. I wanted to go deeper and discover the ingrowns of her story, so, I did.

All quoted lines are by Christina Kassi.

“I’m someone who comes off as a really strong person, but in reality I’m super sensitive. People tend to see me as kind and composed, even elegant, but to those closest to me I’m actually more neurotic and a perfectionist. I want people to know that no one is who they seem to be, and everyone has their own battles to fight whether internally or with what life throws at them.”

I asked her to share what wellness means to her.

“Wellness is actually kind of subjective when you think about it. To me wellness is being and feeling healthy, laughing, eating well, being with people you love and that love you. Wellness has nothing to do with beauty or with what you’re wearing, but things like skincare and clothes can actually make you feel better and express yourself more openly.”

Body. What does body mean to you? What does taking care of it mean to you?

“Sleeping at least 7 hours every night, drinking too much water, the mediterrenean diet, a type of exercise that makes you feel good after, and lots of exfoliation!"

How do you wish to break barriers and stigmas around body hair?

“I have had a lot of trouble in coming to terms with my body hair. I have hair everywhere (literally). When I was seven I shaved my arms because they were too hairy with my grandpa’s razors. That’s when my unhealthy relationship with my body hair started. Since that day I have wished for laser treatments all over my body, haha. I finally got around to lasering my legs and that really did make me feel so much better. I used to get so hypersensitive about my bikini area and obsess during summer so that it looks “perfect”. Now I kinda don’t care anymore. I am definitely against waxing and brazillians. I think having hair there is super important for feminine hygiene. Also, think about when you’re older and things don’t look at great down there. You’re going to want a blanket!”

All about Fur, so tell me your favourite…

“I love both the oil and the ingrown concentrate for different reasons. The Fur oil is a great multi use oil and I love how it softens my hair. The Ingrown Concentrate is pure magic. Love treating my areas with it after shaving and it definitely helps fight ingrowns and bumps.”

Shop Fur Oil here and Ingrown Concentrate here.

Are we babies? Maybe. Talk to your 10 year-old self. What is she listening you say to her right now?

“Stop caring about what boys think of you, they have no power over you, be kind to yourself, don’t touch your eyebrows, and use sunscreen.”

If you could shout one thing to the rooftops, what would it be?

“I am so grateful for everything!”

Extra Layers of Hydration

Love you for all of you, love you for all you do and all you are. Fur you, forever.

Discover more of Christina Kassi here.

Jeong With Charlotte Cho

March 22, 2019 Despina D

“If I’m going to dedicate a chunk of my heart, a chunk of my whole being, I want to create something that goes beyond skincare.”

— Charlotte Cho, founder of Then I Met You

I used to read your adventures in my bedroom, bathroom and by the beach in the Bahamas, soaking in the sun with La Roche Posay Anthelios 60 SPF on my face, your book steady in my hand. Three years later, I met you, Charlotte Cho.

It’s the sentiment of longing, feeling this fathomless yearn for him or her, or them. It’s emotional and it can even get disturbingly confusing in the most beautiful way possible. Is it amorous? Charlotte Cho acquainted those feelings when she introduced the sentiment of jeong with launching her own skincare brand, Then I Met You. I thought to myself, “is it possible that someone is able to describe how I, and many others really feel when having a deep connection to someone or something, and just can’t describe it?” Don’t think too much, it’s how you choose to live it. Jeong is you.

“When I started Soko Glam, people started asking me at the very beginning when I’d start my own skincare line. The truth is, I wasn’t ready at the time even though it’s a natural next step for a retailer to create their own line. I didn’t know anything about formulation then. I had a lot of information, I loved curating all the products and I obviously knew what innovations were coming out in Korea, having an intimate connection with all the brands.” Intimacy, the root of all things connected.

Years in with Soko Glam, Charlotte had manifested some of the coolest collaborations with Cosrx, Manefit and Neogen. Inevitably, those became their best sellers. “I feel very confident now, I’ve been through this several times and I’m ready.”

And now, we welcome Then I Met You.

“These special stories can’t be told under the umbrella of Soko Glam. I want you to dive into a whole other side and dive deep into the community through Then I Met You.” When Charlotte was in Korea, she shared part of her five year journey in her book, The Little Book Of Skincare.Together, she opened up and dove a little deeper. “I learned two things when I was in Korea. K- beauty and jeong.” Jeong is something she experienced with family, friends and her work community, but was never able to put it into words. No one mentioned how important it was to her, especially in Korean culture. The concept of jeong is fascinating. It’s indescribable. It can’t be googled, neighboured or properly translated. It’s a feeling of deep connection that you make by interacting with someone or something deeply overtime.

“I want my passion to reach you. I’m so connected to Korea, and bringing both worlds together is special to me. I think one of the most impactful and touching moments in my life is when my husband and I received a small plaque from the Korean Economic Institute. It impacted us knowing that we’re able to infuse two countries together... And that’s when I knew I wanted my own brand to be something the world needs. Share this aspect of jeong. Have more emphasis on communication and face to face interaction. Let’s get to know each other better, prioritize each other and honour these moments of deep connection.”

Charlotte has seen it disappearing, and wants to revive the word and sentiment of jeong. She’s doing it through skincare, as she sees K-beauty as a philosophy rather than a routine. “The story will always come first. I don’t get to talk in an intimate setting like this, or at least haven’t been able to. Whether it’s Seoul, a physical person or even you, I cherish jeong and want to share that with the world.”

Hugging her for the first time, my heart opened up to the warmth of Charlotte’s inviting energy and excitement to share her journey with me. I sat down in her office in New York City, basking in her warmth, smiles and luminous skin. I wanted to sit down, human to human, and discover what jeong really means to her. And not only did I discover it, but I felt it.

Discover my full review of the Then I Met You cleansing duo here.

Oh, also? Keep an eye out… Charlotte is writing a book about jeong releasing this year.

You are loved.

A Conversation With Greg Gonzales, Founder of Youth To The People

October 15, 2018 Despina D

“Be here for the people. Love the people.”

— Greg Arthur Gonzales, founder of Youth To The People

It’s 8:00 AM and you’re already dreaming of your green juice, your autonomous moment to indulge in all things wellness, but you skip your morning skincare. You skip it because you’re exhausted. You’re exhausted because you haven’t found “the one.” You haven’t found what’s right for you. And you’ve searched, long and hard, but nothing satisfies you anymore. You’re tired of ignorance and toxicity, drained of being fed nothing you’d ever put into your body.

You eventually discover Youth To The People, and you never skip a routine ever again.

Meet Greg Gonzales, founder of Youth To The People. Born and made in California, the company emits modernity, inspired by youth and powered by superfoods. All vegan. All genders. All skin types.

Skincare was always a family thing. Growing up together, Greg and his cousin and now cofounder, Joe Cloyes, were enthralled by their grandmother’s involvement in esthetics and skincare. Her passion for beauty and wellness led her to develop her own skincare line in 1979, which evidently, inspired many around her. As one of the first to bring botanicals and natural ingredients to the industry, her delivery enabled her to become a pioneer in the world of esthetics. Incredibly enough, she also started the first advanced Skin Institute in the US, aiding in writing the initial aesthetics curriculum for the California State Board of Cosmetology. “She is an image of success,” says Greg.

Growing up in the San Fransisco Bay Area and eventually moving out to Los Angeles, Greg discovered a sudden love and admiration for cold-pressed juicing. Why not take what nourishes the body with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals and apply them topically onto our skin? Carrying on his grandmother’s legacy, Greg’s pursuit to create a modernized skincare line quickly became a full-time career and dedication to create products that tie in science and superfoods. In the beginning, kale and spinach were the two main ingredients that were sourced in the United States with free-radical fighting antioxidants in mind. Cold-pressing plays a huge part in production, since it preserves all the nutrients and goodness in the fresh greens, all made in small batches onwards. Fun fact, Greg and Joe use the same chemist their grandmother used for over 20 years to design the line and ensure good formulations.

Youth To The People emulates a playful identity. Growing up as a Californian allowed Greg to take that identity and integrate it within his brand story and message. Trying to live as healthy and active as possible, all these life elements played such a huge role in the process of creating the company and trying to define its mission. Greg also has a love for music which allows him to take up space in many artistic fields. The entire team at Youth To The People bring something different as individual artists, continuously inspiring and supporting each other.

“I’m so thankful for the community. It’s amazing when we can grab somebody in. Working together truly becomes the perfect regimen.”

— Greg Gonzales

G R E G S A Y S . . .

Good skincare is nutrient rich.
Have fun.
Try products, see how your skin reacts.
Drink water.
Sleep is so important.
Be here for the people. Love the people.

Youth To The People is free spirited, loving and inclusive.

“Cleanse. Treat. Protect who you are. You are youth.”

A thank you to Greg for inspiring me beyond words. For taking the time to get on a call with me despite our time zone differences. Cheers to Jamie, Babs, Madeline, Hannah, Alysia and Laura for making me feel special. You are so loved.