Blog

All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Perioral & Periorbital Dermatitis: Treatment Tips from Kristina Holey

Kristina Holey — Marie Veronique's Director of Skin Health, and a perioral dermatitis whisperer — agreed to share some of her go-to treatments with us. You’ll want these tips.
All About Skin

Retinoids, retinol, retinal: making sense of it all

Retinoids: retinol, retinoic acid, and the retinaldehyde that falls in between. We guide you through the world of Vitamin A in skincare.
Thursday Notes

Bach Flower consultations with Gérard

The founder of Les Fleurs de Bach is offering Bach flower consultations to all of you! Grab one of these spots while you can.
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Gentlerist

YÜLI was always a brand that was somewhat shrouded in mystery. Its founders were, relative to others, almost reclusive. (Press interviews? Never. Selfies on Instagram? Nope. TikTok videos? Please.) Their products also had a whiff of mystique to them. (Did...
Thursday Notes

Preteen & young-teen skincare

There’s been quite a bit of talk lately about the intense skincare interest among preteens these days. Some of it is a little exaggerated, but — as the parent of a 12-year-old myself, shown here with me at the Barbie...

Nora's Guide to Valentine's Day 2024

February 14, Valentine’s Day — and also may I mention Ayla’s 13th birthday (!) — has always had a special place in my heart. I have the best memories of hanging hearts from the ceiling of our dining room on...
Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

Herbal infusions: why we love them

Whatever you do, don't just call it "herbal tea."
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: La Ferme Saint-Sylvain

La Ferme Saint-Sylvain is a small family farm in the Vienne department of France, part of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine (Europe’s leading agricultural region, and its second-largest in terms of organic farming). The Maupin family has lived and cultivated the land in...
Inside Our Brands

Dr. Macrene Alexiades shares her Macrene Actives routine

Dr Macrene Alexades discusses the exact way she uses the Macrene Actives lineup on her own skin. No one knows these products better than she does, so it’s a method you may want to follow. 
Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

Omni-Biotic Balance: the immune-support probiotic

Learn all about Balance, Omni-Biotics immune-support probiotic (which also happens to be amazing for constipation and yeast infections).
Hair & Scalp Inside Our Brands

Top natural curly hair care tips from Bouclème

It can take a good amount of experimentation to get curly hair care just right. We asked Michele Scott-Lynch, the founder of Bouclème, for a curly hair care primer — including guidelines for different types of curls. 

Our Holiday 2023 Gift Guide

Check out our 2023 holiday gift suggestions, thoughtfully put together by our lead Guide, Emi.
Inside Our Brands

TWELVE Scalp Cure: behind the formula

Dara: We’ve been pestering you about a scalp care product ever since you first gave us a tour of the SF Botanical garden and pointed out specific plants that help promote hair growth! What prompted you to create The Scalp...
Inside Our Brands

Omni-Biotic Hetox: the story behind this powerful probiotic

A few members of our team — and many of you — have become full-fledged, fervent devotees of Omni-Biotic’s wondrous Stress Release probiotic supplement: it truly delivers improvements in cognition, mood, and focus, and it has multiple clinical studies to...
Inside Our Brands

Introducing MyHavtorn’s Botanical Oil Serum

  MyHavtorn is a brand that’s been very close to our hearts since we became their first US retail partners ten years ago. While “farm to face” had a brief, trendy moment, what we love about MyHavtorn is that they...
All About Skin

Gua Sha: tips from Erica Randlett

MyHavtorn's go-to skincare therapist and product expert, Erica Randlett, is deeply trained in Gua Sha — she’s the person who first told us about it years ago — along with massage, lymphatic drainage, and meditation. Having spent five years as...
All About Skin

Skincare product pilling: why it happens and what to do

We couldn't think of a better person than Dr. Pedro Catalá to expound on the topic of skincare and makeup product pilling, which is quite common, quite annoying, and quite the mystery to most people except for skincare product formulators. 
Inside Our Brands

Hyperpigmentation: how marine ingredients can help

Hyperpigmentation is one of those skin conditions that increasing numbers of us struggle with, and it can be downright diabolical in many ways.
All About Skin

Marie Veronique on Soothing B3, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid

Niacinamide: long ignored, soon to become the cool kid? Marie Veronique chats with Dara about why that might be — and bashes a TikTok myth about hyaluronic acid at the same time.
Fun with Color

Eye makeup tutorial with Eye of Horus: liquid & pencil eyeliners

Our makeup artist, Melissa, shows us how to apply Eye of Horus pencil and liquid liners in one eye makeup tutorial.
Inside Our Brands

Hormonal skincare: how flare-ups during pregnancy, menopause, and ovulation are related

Annee de Mamiel explains how a variety of hormonally-related skin challenges are related — and how her Phyto-P Elixir works across all of them.
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Omni-Biotic probiotics

Omni-Biotic, Europe’s leading probiotic brand and one of the most trusted, reliable probiotic brands worldwide, is developed by an Austrian company that takes science very seriously. Each probiotic strain they work with is deeply researched; they then combine the most promising ones in...
Body & Mind

Introducing our Holistic offerings

We’ve been strong believers in the link between great skin and everything that lies beneath it since we first opened in 2011: our skin is, after all, often the first thing to reveal what’s going on inside of us. So...
Inside Our Brands

Ava Isa Every Morning: behind the formula

Sara Dudley, CEO of The Sunscreen Company, is one of our favorite sunscreen experts: she really knows what she's talking about, and she tells it like it is. Here, Sara and Dara dig into her newest product, Ava Isa Every Morning...
Fun with Color

Manasi7's Summer 2023 Makeup Tutorial

We asked Susanne to create a 2023 summer makeup tutorial for us, and she graciously sent us this detailed list of easy-to-follow instructions.
All About Skin

Building hydration and moisture through your skincare routine

In this post about Hydration & Moisture (an essential pre-read), we suggested getting a combination of hydrating and moisturizing ingredients involved in your skincare routine. So, in case you’re looking for some more specific product suggestions, we’ve put together some...
All About Skin

All about moisture, hydration, and everything in between

Do you need hydration, moisture, or both? Both. It's a little complicated...but not too much.
Inside Our Brands

Tips for the smoothest shave from Dr. Natalie

Dr. Natalie Lindner shares her top tips for a smooth shave that leaves you with skin that’s soft and soothed, too.
All About Skin

Brightening facial massage tutorial with Annee de Mamiel

Annee de Mamiel shares a brightening face massage that's just the thing when your skin feels a little tired or you want to bring a little extra radiance to your skin.
Inside Our Brands

de Mamiel Salvation Body Oil: behind the formula

Find out what makes de Mamiel's Salvation Body Oil so special in Dara’s conversation with Annee.
Body & Mind

Dry brushing technique for the lymphatic system

Annee de Mamiel shares a dry brushing technique to give the lymphatic system a boost.
Inside Our Brands

Summer hair: the secret to a great air-dry

So we asked Boris Oak, who shared these game-changing golden rules of hair styling, to tell us the secret to a great air-dry.
Inside Our Brands

Reverie EROS hair mask: behind the formula

Find out how and why Reverie created their Eros hair mask in our interview with Hillary Markenson.
Inside Our Brands

European pharmacists: what makes them different, and how that translates to skincare

Dr. Pedro Catalá of TWELVE Beauty describes his European pharmacy training, one of the credentials that makes him unique.
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Clark's Botanicals

We fell in love with the story behind Clark's Botanicals even before we tried the products — so when they arrived for us to test, we had especially high expectations. Thankfully, they exceeded them all (especially Invisible Hero SPF 30,...
All About Skin

Antioxidants in skin care: why they're important

An explanation of antioxidants: what they are, what they do, and why we need them in our skincare (and in our diets).

The Dara Kennedy Sea Serum: our team's reviews

Find out what our team members noticed after 1-2 months of Sea Serum use. You’ll notice that everyone’s experience is a little different, which, to us, is one of the most exciting things about this unlike-any-other product. 
Inside Our Brands

Dr. Macrene Alexiades on her Skyros body care products

We've long loved Macrene Actives formulas on our faces, but we wished our bodies could get the same attention. Now, thanks to the Skyros collection, we can.

Introducing the Dara Kennedy Sea Serum

Everything comes full circle: find out how the Sea Serum came to be and how to use it.

The Dara Kennedy Sea Serum & Climate Changemakers

1% is nice...but 5% is even better. That’s how much of every Dara Kennedy Sea Serum sale we give to Climate Changemakers, a nonpartisan climate action network that equips volunteers to advance equitable, science-based policies. Learn more from Eliza Nemser, PhD, their co-founder...
Inside Our Brands

27 Rosiers: French skincare with a holistic perspective

Why have beauty supplements been so popular in France for so long? For a Parisian perspective, we spoke with Kevin, the co-founder of 27 Rosiers.
Inside Our Brands

Marie Veronique on healthy skin while traveling

Marie Veronique discusses how we can think about our skin’s needs as we travel, especially as the weather gets warmer through spring and summer — and in general.
Letters from Dara

My first podcast interview

Dara got to be a guest on the fantastic Yogaland podcast — listen to it here.
Inside Our Brands

Augustinus Bader: The Interview

Get an in-depth look at Augustinus Bader in our interview with the team at Augustinus Bader HQ and Professor Bader.
Letters from Dara

Are you sleeping in your sunscreen? If so, I have thoughts.

Find out which cleanser is always our first recommendation for removing sunscreen at the end of every day.
Inside Our Brands

TWELVE Dara’s Water, decoded

"I would like to decipher for you, in plain Spanglish, why Dara's Water is the black horse in the cleansing category." Pedro, we can't wait.
Inside Our Brands

Natalie's Smooth and Better Aging Body Lotions

Natalie's Cosmetics Smooth and Better Aging Body Lotions are the brand's best sellers, and we're thrilled to have them at Ayla. Learn more about these special formulas in Dara's interview with Natalie.
Hair & Scalp

Golden rules of hair styling from EVOLVh’s Founder

Boris Oak, founder of EVOLVh, told us his four golden rules for hair styling — and they're gems. Check them out here.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Marie Veronique's Multi-Retinol Night Emulsion: Q&A with Kristina Holey

We had so much fun at our Instagram Live Q&A with Kristina Holey, the Director of Skin Health at Marie Veronique. Missed it? Watch the video here.
All About Skin

Dark circles, puffiness, wrinkles, eye bags: Dr. Macrene covers it all

In our masterclass, Dr. Macrene Alexiades told us all about eye area care: how the skin around the eyes is different, ingredients to look for and avoid, and dermatological treatments she often recommends. Watch the video here.
Inside Our Brands

Dara's Oil: What Marie Veronique loves about it

We love Dara's Oil, obviously. But have you wondered why Marie Veronique loves it? We have…so we finally asked her.
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: M Picaut

M Picaut is one of the Sweden's best-selling skincare brands. Find out what we love about it in our Brand Spotlight.
Inside Our Brands

Kahina Giving Beauty: one of our first partners

Kahina’s founder, Katharine L’Heureux, tells us about her journey as a pioneer in organic skincare — and what inspires her ever-forward-thinking mind these days.
Inside Our Brands

de Mamiel Multi-Active Hydramist: behind the formula

Find out why Annee de Mamiel upgraded her mist formula— and why she thinks her products are never fully put to bed.
Body & Mind

Meditation for calming the mind

Our friends at Therapy Lab put together this 7-minute guided meditation to usher in a calmer, more peaceful, more grounded moment whenever you need it.
Hair & Scalp Inside Our Brands

From hair loss to hair longevity: EVOLVh Better Roots

Scalp care has been (deservedly) trending for some time, but we think scalps could still use a little more love — especially when it comes in the form of a product that’s this good. 
All About Skin

How To Layer Skincare Products

We love answering customer questions, and we’ve answered a lot of them over the past several years. One of the most popular: How do I layer skincare products?
Inside Our Brands

Marie Veronique Multi-Retinol Night Emulsion: why it's so good

We're thrilled to have Marie Veronique's Multi-Retinol Night Emulsion on our shelves. To find out why Marie herself loves it so much, check out her musings on our blog.
Body & Mind

Holiday stress: a therapist’s suggestions for finding peace

Why does this time of year tend to feel so stressful for so many of us? We asked our favorite therapist, Dr. Chandler Chang — founder of TherapyLab — to not only help explain this, but also help us find a sense...
Fun with Color

Top makeup tips for natural-looking brows

We admire makeup pro Melissa McMillan’s brilliance with all things color-related, and she has a particular gift with brows. We asked her to share some of her top tips for filling them in.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Why we need eye cream: an expert opinion from Dr. Macrene Alexiades

Do we really need to use eye cream? Star dermatologist Dr. Macrene Alexiades fills us in — and tells us what makes her new High Performance Eye Cream so special.
Body & Mind

What Dara's listening to: classical music for the season

Find out why this playlist could help you take a moment to slow down, focus, and (hopefully) start 2023 off with a sense of peace, joy, and discovery.
Inside Our Brands

de Mamiel Soothe Bath Soak: the story behind it

de Mamiel Soothe Bath Soak was designed to showcase the stress- and anxiety-relieving Soothe formula in the form of a calming salt bath. Learn the story behind it directly from its creator in Dara’s interview with Annee.
Body & Mind

An easy breath exercise from Annee de Mamiel

Annee de Mamiel shares a diaphragmatic breathing exercise — a reminder that, yes, in fact, we could probably breathe a bit more deeply in our everyday lives.
Inside Our Brands

TWELVE Plant Perfection: behind the formula

An interview with Dr. Pedro Catalá Our friend, Dr. Pedro Catalá, recently told us, “No one is spared from the loss of skin flexibility and firmness…and unfortunately, the use of mobile devices and less-than-optimal posture further aggravate the situation.” We...
Inside Our Brands

A guide to masks from Luzern

Why are masks so good for us, and what’s the best way to fit them into our schedules? We asked Lisamarie DeLucia, Luzern’s resident skin expert, to weigh in.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Marie Veronique on hormonal acne

What is hormonal acne, exactly, and what can be done about it? We figured the perfect person to dig into this would be Marie-Veronique Nadeau.
Inside Our Brands

Marie Veronique protocols for hormonal acne

Wondering what products to use for hormonal acne? Check out these protocols from Marie Veronique.

de Mamiel Fatigue Fix: a deep dive into the formula

An interview with creator Annee de Mamiel Every year, it feels as though the pre-holiday weeks just get busier and busier. And that busy-ness can have an annoying habit of announcing itself to the world through our skin: “Guess who’s...
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

de Mamiel's Fixes for stress — and how to know what your skin really needs

An interview with Annee de Mamiel Every batch of de Mamiel products we sell passes through creator Annee de Mamiel's hands, and we can tell. Her line of "Fixes" represents 13 years of work with chronic stress and its impact on...
Fun with Color

Fall 2022 makeup tips from Manasi7's founder

Susanne Manasi Persson is a Stockholm-based makeup artist who’s our oracle for seasonal makeup trends: everything she suggests — and creates through Manasi7 — is utterly modern, sophisticated, and wearable. The surprise this season? Go for it and pair a...
All About Skin

Vitamin C in skincare: do we really need it?

Vitamin C is a great ingredient to look for in skincare; it’s one of our favorites. But is it a must? Without it, will we end up aging decades before our time? Should we all be using vitamin C forevermore?
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Should we change our skincare with the seasons?

As seasons shift, many of us find that our skincare routines could use a little adjustment. Dara asked Pedro to weigh in on the topic.

Lifting eye massage with Annee de Mamiel

Revered skincare therapist Annee de Mamiel shares a lifting and de-puffing eye massage using her Essential Eye Fix.
Inside Our Brands

The story behind de Mamiel Eye Fix

de Mamiel Essential Eye Fix is one of those introductions that make you think, “Yes! This is exactly what this product lineup needed!”
Inside Our Brands

Hand care from Natalie's Cosmetics

Natalie's Cosmetics has hand care! Find out what prompted Natalie to create her two new products and learn what makes their formulas special in her interview with Dara.
Fun with Color Inside Our Brands

Kosas Revealer Foundation Shade Finder

If you're already a fan of the Kosas Revealer Concealer, this shade guide can help you figure out which Kosas Revealer Foundation shade is right for you.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Marie Veronique on why skin barrier repair matters

Marie Veronique + Kristina Holey's Barrier Repair Serum and Balancing Hypotonic are longtime best sellers. Here, Marie digs into the reasons why — and why skin barrier health is so important.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Different ways stress affects the skin — and how de Mamiel's Fixes can help

Stress takes a variety of pathways that result in different symptoms on the skin. Learn more about what form stress can take on the skin, and what you can do about it, in Dara’s interview with Annee de Mamiel.
Inside Our Brands

de Mamiel Gravity Fix: behind the formula

Annee de Mamiel has such impeccable timing that we sometimes wonder if she might be able to see the future. She is, after all, preternaturally gifted in many ways, with an ability to not only treat the skin on a...
Inside Our Brands

de Mamiel Lip Rx: behind the formula of the new Rosey Lip Balm

We were thrilled when we heard that de Mamiel's Rosey Lip Balm was back, in a formula that was even better: Lip Rx. Find out how Annee went about tweaking her lip treatment formula in this interview with Dara.
Inside Our Brands

Brand Spotlight: Natalie's Cosmetics

Dr. Natalie Lindner saw a need for science-focused body care products that are as rich in active ingredients as high-end facial serums. We're so proud to be the first US retailer for this unique brand.
Inside Our Brands

New scalp care and hair care solutions

A quick review of our latest additions from Augustinus Bader & TEK
Inside Our Brands

TWELVE Beauty Glow Island: behind the formula

Glow Island from TWELVE Beauty isn’t like any other product we’ve seen. In the words of its formulator, Pedro Catalá, it’s like “an Instagram filter without coverage: it gives you a nice, subtle tone without makeup for a quick, fresh-faced...
Inside Our Brands

de Mamiel seasonal face oil: Summer

de Mamiel’s seasonal facial oils are a great example of creator Annee de Mamiel’s unique approach to treating the skin; read on to learn about the Summer Oil.
All About Skin Body & Mind

Natural rosacea treatment with herbs

Dr. Anna Hsieh Gold discusses how natural herbal treatments can work with topical solutions to address redness, flushing, and rosacea — and why ROSY works so well.

Brand Spotlight: Elave

Elave is made by a family-run pharmaceutical company in Ireland that has been dedicated to sensitive skin care since 1934. Read on for the full story behind this longtime Ayla favorite.
Body & Mind

A quick guide to our go-to supplements

Looking for internal support for your skin — or your immune system, gut, or mood? Here’s a quick guide to our go-to supplements by category.
Inside Our Brands

Our quick guide to Luzern's Serums

Luzern's serums are some of the best targeted treatments we've ever experienced. Not sure where to start? Here’s what we love about each one.
Inside Our Brands

Marie Veronique on sunscreen

Sunscreen is very close to Marie-Veronique Nadeau’s heart. Here, she weighs in on must-know topics in sun protection with her signature thoroughness and wit.
Thursday Notes

An ode to Marie

Why I'm endlessly grateful to Marie-Véronique Nadeau and her team at Marie Veronique.

TWELVE formulator Pedro Catalá on his Ideal Brightening Corrective Serum

Pedro Català — founder and formulator of TWELVE Beauty — is one of the most thoroughly educated founder-formulators we know; he has not only a pharmacy degree, but also a PhD in Natural Product Formulation. As one beauty editor put it, "What Pedro doesn't know...
Inside Our Brands

Lagom: a Swedish philosophy we love

Lagom (lah-gum) is a Swedish term that means “not too little, not too much”: it’s all about balance, and it’s infused throughout Swedish culture. We see it in our own Guide, Emi, whose Swedish family’s influence can be seen in...

Self-compassion: tips for parents of teenagers

Many parents who shop in our SF studio have at some point mused, “My teenager is just starting to get a few breakouts, and I’d love to get something that might help them. Where should I start? And when should they start...
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Sudtana

Sudtana is everything we had hoped to find in Thailand, a place that is very close to our founder’s heart. These products have a way of transporting you directly to a spa in the “land of smiles” — find out why they're so...
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Diet and Skin: a top dermatologist’s perspective

The brilliant Dr. Macrene Alexiades chats with Dara about not only what foods to avoid in cases of acne, rosacea, or skin aging, but also what to reach for.
Inside Our Brands

Clinically-tested body care from The Organic Pharmacy

The Organic Pharmacy, founded by pharmacist and homeopath Margo Marrone, is one of the few brands that have been on our shelves since we opened our virtual doors in 2011. In case you don’t already know their story, The Organic...
Inside Our Brands

de Mamiel Spring Oil: behind the formula

de Mamiel’s seasonal facial oils are a great example of creator Annee de Mamiel’s unique approach to treating the skin; read on to learn how she thought about the creation of the Spring Oil.
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Ava Isa, from The Sunscreen Company

Hear the story behind The Sunscreen Company, learn what makes Ava Isa sunscreens different (they really are!) and what we should be looking for in a daily sunscreen. 
All About Skin

How long does it take skincare products to work?

When asked, “How long does it take to see if a skincare product really works for me?” we always answer, “It depends!” To find out what it depends on and why, check out Dara’s latest interview with Pedro.
Inside Our Brands

Addio Cleansing Oil and Ganache Balm: tips from Olio E Osso’s founder

Olio E Osso’s founder, Paola LaMorticella, has been the go-to makeup artist and stylist for top athletes for the past 25 years. Here, Paola chats with Dara about her two newest introductions.
Inside Our Brands

Video introduction: Festina Lente Home

Festina Lente Home was born just as the pandemic started to spike for the first time in Italy, when everyone started to spend a lot more time at home — and scent took on a whole new level of mood-improving power...
Brand Spotlights Inside Our Brands

Brand Spotlight: Festina Lente Home

Festina Lente Home was developed by Marta Mondelli, an actress and writer who worked with one of the best noses in Italy to create scents that are both comforting and modern. Learn about the brand here.

Our discoveries

Because we’ve valued our own cheerleaders so much, we love filling that same role for the brands that find a space on our shelves. Here are some of the brands that we’ve been the first beauty retailer to celebrate.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Dry & dehydrated skin: how to treat it

Tussling with dry and/or dehydrated skin? Marie covers the difference between transient and chronic dry skin, types of ingredients to look for, and how to most effectively layer products for better skin nourishment.

Dry winter hair: expert tips

Boris Oak, founder of Evolvh, recently popped into our SF studio to chat with Dara about a topic that vexes many of us: dry winter hair.
Inside Our Brands

Winter skin tips from MyHavtorn of Sweden

For some winter-skin inspiration, we asked MyHavtorn co-founders Robin and Ingrid to tell us which products they're using most these days during the long Swedish winter.
All About Skin

Do you really need eye cream?

Do you absolutely, positively need an eye cream? Here are perspectives from both Dara and our friend, Dr. Pedro Catalá.
Thursday Notes

A brightening, plumping mask that's perfect for winter

The mask I’ve been using the most these days is actually a blend of two products I already had in my bathroom cabinet: the de Mamiel Restorative Cleansing Balm and Brightening Cleanse & Exfoliate.
Hair & Scalp

Treatments for dry, itchy, flaky scalps that inspire healthier hair growth

Winter: it’s not so great for the hair. Locks can get dry and brittle, and they often resist all efforts to seek the elusive volume at the crown that so many of us long for. And, vexingly, as the season...
Inside Our Brands

How to get healthy, glowing skin with a simple routine

Dr. Pedro Catala shares his quick tips to get healthy, glowing skin using a simple routine. He also includes a trick to keep skin hydrated under your sunscreen, all day long.
Inside Our Brands

de Mamiel Winter Oil: how it works with the seasons

An interview with creator Annee de Mamiel A frosty winter sunrise at Annee's farm in England Below, founder Annee de Mamiel describes the development process of her Winter Facial Oil, the first seasonal oil she ever created: she blends each batch herself,...
Inside Our Brands

27 Rosiers on the perfect pair for dry skin: Ma Creme & Glow For Good

One of the things we love most about 27 Rosiers is that their products’ textures are uncommonly beautiful — and as a result, they turn skincare into a simple daily ritual that you’ll genuinely look forward to. Co-founders Stephanie and...

Dr. Macrene Alexiades on cosmetic procedures & skincare products: what to expect

Where cosmetic procedures (lasers, injectables, plastic surgery) are concerned, our team members tend to sit on the no- or low-intervention side of the spectrum. We all have different reasons for this; we also don’t view those who fall on the...
Inside Our Brands

YÜLI's perspective: Gua Sha for face and body, and which oils to use with it

YÜLI co-founder Eddie Zhao shares his perspective on Gua Sha for both body and face, and which oils he finds work best with these techniques. 
Inside Our Brands

TWELVE Beauty body care: an inside look

Find out why Dr. Pedro Catalá decided to expand his TWELVE lineup to include daily body care.
Inside Our Brands

de Mamiel Pure Calm Cleansing Dew: insider tips from Annee de Mamiel

Annee de Mamiel shares all of her Cleansing Dew secrets: how she developed it, how she suggests using it, and how it can be used as a redness-relieving mask, too.
Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

de Mamiel's Altitude Bath: what makes it so addictive?

Interview with creator Annee de Mamiel de Mamiel Altitude Bath Soak was designed to showcase the marvelous Altitude Oil in an ideal context: folded into a deeply grounding and calming — yet, somehow, perfectly rejuvenating — salt bath. Here, creator...
Inside Our Brands

Bare Hands: the story behind The Natural Pedicure

Read about Bare Hands founder Suzanne Shade’s journey as she experienced instant success with her first product and developed her follow-up hit, The Natural Pedicure.
Inside Our Brands

Winter wellness secrets from Mette Picaut

M Picaut's founder, Mette, shares her secrets to keeping skin, body, and spirit healthy through the cold winter months in Sweden.
Inside Our Brands Thursday Notes

How we found Fueguia 1833

A few years ago, I happened upon a shop in New York that I’d never seen before. It was in a building set apart from others, painted a beautiful, deep shade of blue, and on the door was printed “Fueguia...
Inside Our Brands

Introducing Fueguia 1833

Watch this beautiful video for a greater understanding of just how special this fragrance brand is.
Inside Our Brands

Brand Spotlight: Fueguia 1833

Fueguia 1833 is an artisanal laboratory that creates limited-edition perfumes using a palette of over 1200 botanical ingredients — some of which have never been used in perfumery before. The brand is named for the meeting of three figures in...
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Different acids, enzymes, and retinol in skin care

What are the different acids to look for in a formula, and why? How are they different from enzymes? And what about retinol? Marie Veronique makes sense of it all.
All About Skin

Gua Sha tutorial for brow tension and fine lines

In this quick and easy-to-follow video tutorial, our esthetician, Sarah, uses a rhodonite Gua Sha tool to address fine lines and relieve brow tension. 
All About Skin

Gua Sha tutorial for tired, puffy eyes

In this quick and easy-to-follow video tutorial, our esthetician, Sarah, uses a rose quartz sculpting spoon to help remove puffiness from the eye area. 
Body & Mind

Why breathing is important

Why is our breath so effective at calming us when we're stressed? Dr. Alex Tanner wrote this excellent explanation for us — and shared a simple breathing exercise we love.  
Inside Our Brands

de Mamiel Autumn Oil: how to use it

Annee de Mamiel describes treating skin seasonally in clinic and her suggestions for a home routine with the wonderful de Mamiel Autumn Facial Oil.
Inside Our Brands

de Mamiel seasonal face oil: Autumn

de Mamiel’s seasonal facial oils are a great example of creator Annee de Mamiel’s unique approach to treating the skin; read on to learn how the Autumn Facial Oil came to be.
Inside Our Brands

Rose and oat extracts for skin

Formulator Dr. Pedro Catalá describes the benefits of rose and oat extracts in skincare — and why he chose to use both in the product he made just for us, Dara's Water.
Inside Our Brands

MyHavtorn: 2021 sea buckthorn harvest update

Every year, we look forward to the sea buckthorn harvest update from Robin and Ingrid at the MyHavtorn farm in Bollebygd, Sweden.
Inside Our Brands

End-of-summer skincare: a top dermatologist's perspective

Lately, we’ve received a lot of questions about the best ways to get end-of-summer skin back into shape. We asked Dr. Macrene Alexiades to provide us with her expert perspective.
Brand Spotlights Inside Our Brands

Brand Spotlight: J.M. Generals

Jeffrey Monteiro tells us how J.M. Generals began — and the lengths to which he goes in order to stay true to his original vision of a business that deeply integrates design, technique, and sustainable values.
Inside Our Brands

BioRecept's founder on switching skincare products, rosacea, and other FAQs

Biorecept founder Anne Dupouy-Camet discusses skincare with Dara: why switching products can be helpful, what she suggests for rosacea and periomenopausal skin, and whether or not to exfoliate.
All About Skin

Essential oils, flower waters, and plant extracts: what's the difference?

Expert formulator Pedro Catalá, PhD guides us through world of plant extracts, explaining how essential oils and floral waters differ and why different types of plant based ingredients are used in skincare.
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Paloroma

Paloroma's designed-in-Brooklyn, made-in-Vermont products boast soothing, gentle, fragrance free formulas that appeal to delicate skin of all ages.
Fun with Color Inside Our Brands

Manasi7 makeup tutorial: summery makeup, all year long

Susanne Manasi Persson is a Stockholm-based makeup artist whose approach is deeply thoughtful and refreshingly boundary-crushing. She created this fun summer makeup tutorial for us featuring Manasi7 colors.
Inside Our Brands

Orcé Cosmetics: Foundation, Setting Powder, and Perfecting Makeup Sponge for a flawless finish

Yu-Chen Shih created Orcé to celebrate a broader range of Asian skin tones with specific makeup shades that weren't offered by other beauty brands. Its Come Closer Foundation also works across a number of non-Asian skin tones and, in the...
Inside Our Brands

The story behind Dara's Water

Our founder, Dara, had been looking for a cleansing water that could easily clean every (truly, every) skin type for over ten years. To our delight, TWELVE founder Dr. Pedro Catalá created Dara’s Water: everything we’d been looking for, and more. 
All About Skin

Skin cleansing: why and how should we wash our faces?

Dara asks Dr. Pedro Catalá, founder and master formulator for TWELVE Beauty, all about cleansing: why is it necessary, what makes a good cleanser, and what type of cleanser is best?
All About Skin

Rosacea: typical causes and suggested treatments

We caught up with famed skin care therapist Kristina Holey, an Ayla favorite, to chat about rosacea. Here's her point of view about typical causes of this condition and treatments she frequently suggests.
Inside Our Brands

de Mamiel Dewy Facial Mist: behind the formula

Dara interviews Annee de Mamiel, creator of de Mamiel's Dewy Skin Mist, to learn the secrets behind this super-hydrating formula.

How to use de Mamiel First Fix

An interview with creator Annee de Mamiel Every batch of de Mamiel products we sell passes through creator Annee de Mamiel's hands, and we can tell. Her newest product, First Fix, represents 13 years of work with chronic stress and...

de Mamiel First Fix: The story behind this special product

Created by a skincare therapist who brings serious training in physiology, aromatherapy, and Traditional Chinese Medicine to the clinic table, the products in de Mamiel’s lineup have not been designed in the usual way — and their results are so...
Body & Mind

Stress and skin: tips from Annee de Mamiel

Dara interviews Annee de Mamiel to learn more about this revered skin healer's approach to chronic stress in clinic and her suggestions for home routines.
Thursday Notes

Better sleep: tips & products that can help

Still not sleeping well? You've got company. Many of us have spent the last year just trying to make it through, and when faced with a relaxing of pandemic vigilance, it can be hard to…relax. I’ve found this to be...
Inside Our Brands

TWELVE's Charcoal Peace Calming Cleanser: the story behind the product

It’s always exciting when TWELVE Beauty introduces a new product, so it came as no surprise when multiple TWELVE fans called us to ask, “Is the new Charcoal Peace Calming Cleanser here yet?” while it was in transit from Valencia...
All About Skin

Preservatives in skincare: a natural approach

Dr. Pedro Catalá — founder and formulator of TWELVE Beauty — is one of the most thoroughly educated founder-formulators we know; he has not only a pharmacy degree, but also a PhD in Natural Product Formulation, a subject that he...
Hair & Scalp

Refresh your hair between washes

When you don’t want to spend too much time styling your hair, one of the easiest ways to avoid it — while still ensuring your hair looks good — is to extend your time between styling sessions. This often requires a...
All About Skin

Face oils for summer

We’re still running around in layers in SF, but for many of you as well as these residents of nearby Santa Cruz, summer weather has already arrived. And with those deliciously long, warm days almost always comes the desire to...

Eczema treatments that work: three favorites

You may have noticed that we don't have product reviews on our site. We made this decision mainly because we've found everyone's skin, hair, skin tones, makeup, and fragrance tastes to be so different that quick product reviews often don't...

LIHA Ose Gidi Soap: the story behind a best seller

LIHA Ose Gidi Soap is one of the products that first drew us to this British brand. Handmade in small batches, it’s LIHA’s extra-nourishing take on traditional Nigerian black soap, which is typically made only with plantain ash, shea butter,...
All About Skin

Our 2023 sunscreen guide

Sunscreen: we know. It’s so easy to say, “Wear sunscreen! It’s the best thing you can do to keep your skin healthy.” True, but does that matter if sunscreen is so annoying, generally, that you just don’t wear it that much?...
Inside Our Brands

Dr. Pedro Catalá: Ingredients to look for when going outdoors

One of our favorite formulation and ingredient experts is Dr. Pedro Catalá, founder and formulator of TWELVE Beauty. He knows his stuff: Pedro has not only a pharmacy degree, but also a PhD in Natural Product Formulation, a subject that...
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Kinfield

Kinfield Golden Hour is the only bug spray we carry — and when you come across an “it’s the only one of its kind that we carry” situation with us, it’s a sure sign of two things: This is an...
All About Skin

Skin care during perimenopause & menopause: a top dermatologist's advice

We’ve heard from you — frequently — that there isn’t a whole lot of information out there on perimenopause, menopause, and the skin changes that accompany both stages. Which, of course, made us want to double down on this fascinating...
Body & Mind

Self-esteem and confidence: a psychologist’s reflections

We've noticed lately that many of us seem to feel less confident than usual. It’s come up so frequently in conversations and consultations that we wondered at a recent team meeting, "Is this becoming a worrying trend? And if so,...
Inside Our Brands

Luzern: innovation update from one of the originals in clean beauty

We always love the originals — the ones who see the truths around the corner before they become trends. They remain endlessly fascinating and inspiring to us because they keep thinking ahead of the masses, exploring those truths more deeply...
All About Skin

Gua Sha tutorial: jawline & cheekbone sculpting

Gua Sha is a traditional healing technique from China that involves a small, smooth stone board that is pressed against the skin to gently massage facial fascia, muscles, and skin while stimulating specific energy points. This encourages healthy circulation, releases...
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Congested skin & clogged pores: advice from Kristina Holey

We asked famed facialist Kristina Holey how she thinks about congested skin and clogged pores: why are so many of us struggling with them, and what can we do? Read on for her expert perspective.
Inside Our Brands

LIHA's unique & beautiful approach to fragrance

LIHA's beautiful British products blend West African botanicals with traditional English aromatherapy in formulas that feature carefully sourced ingredients, multipurpose usage possibilities, and a keen focus on sustainability from start to finish. In this quick video chat between our founder, Dara, and...
Inside Our Brands

Ellis Brooklyn's founder on SALT, BEE, and Iso Gamma Super

Ellis Brooklyn was created by Bee Shapiro, a chic mom who happens to be a style columnist for The New York Times. These sophisticated, multilayered scents, developed in collaboration with the perfumer behind Byredo and other star perfumers, take non-toxic fragrance to...
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Augustinus Bader

More often than not, we’re early adopters where products are concerned. We love discovering new or under-the-radar brands and being among the first to bring them to you: this was the case with such favorites as MyHavtorn, TWELVE, Vintner’s Daughter, Kosas, Ellis Brooklyn, Macrene (formerly 37)...
Inside Our Brands

LIHA: the story behind the brand

Liha and Abi, the two friends behind the LIHA brand, are not only deeply thoughtful but also candid and fun, which makes learning more about their entrepreneurial story all the more delightful. 
Thursday Notes

Do you need a toner?

The best ones turn my answer from "Well..." to “Yes. Yes, you do.” It’s been a strange start to spring. Some years, this season effortlessly breathes fresh energy and unbridled optimism into the air. This year, though — with every...
Featured All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Kristina Holey on skincare routines at home

In the view of famed facialist Kristina Holey, strategic at-home skincare has always been — and always will be — much more important than in-person treatments. Here, she shares specific practices that we can all adopt in our home care routines.
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Unsun

Unsun was created by Katonya Breaux, a longtime business owner (she ran a custom-home construction company for two decades) and mother (of Frank Ocean, as it happens). As she shares with us below, Unsun grew out of a personal need...

Insomnia and Traditional Chinese Medicine: a deep dive into Dr. Anna Gold's BUILD SLEEP

We couldn’t think of a better expert than the gifted Dr. Anna Gold to solve the complicated problem of troubled sleep. Read on to learn more about the innovative BUILD SLEEP formula.
All About Skin Body & Mind

Collagen supplements for skin: do they work?

Collagen supplements: do they actually benefit our skin or not? To broaden our lens, we asked Sara Gottfried, MD for her opinion. Our take: collagen supplements aren't the magical answer to all your problems, but studies increasingly indicate that they can benefit skin and joints in particular.
Hair & Scalp Inside Our Brands

EVOLVh InstaVolume Mousse: insider info & styling tips

EVOLVh InstaVolume Volumizing Mousse is an innovative, alcohol-free styling foam that gives hair weightless volume with a soft, clean feel. We talked to EVOLVh founder Boris Oak about what makes this mousse so different; he also shares some great tips for using...
Hair & Scalp Inside Our Brands

EVOLVh WonderBalm: the story behind the ingredients of this stellar frizz fighter

EVOLVh WonderBalm is a silicone-free, fragrance-free serum that nearly defies belief in its ability to fight frizz. To learn more about how WonderBalm’s ingredients and how they outperform silicone, we caught up with EVOLVh's founder, Boris Oak
Inside Our Brands

White genepi, TWELVE Beauty's hidden antioxidant hero

White genepi is a powerful antioxidant that's found in the majority of TWELVE Beauty's products. We asked TWELVE creator and master formulator, Dr. Pedro Catalá, to tell us why white genepi deserves a headline of its own. 
Inside Our Brands

Bach flower baths: a simple way to enjoy these essences

A bath with Bach flowers can feel like a spiritual hug — and it's so easy. Here, our founder, Dara, and the founder of Les Fleurs de Bach, Gérard Wolf, discuss the practice of bathing with Bach flowers.

Kahina's Beldi Soap brings us inside the Moroccan hammam

Katharine Phillips L’Heureux started Kahina after a trip to Morocco, where she first learned about argan oil; since then, she has developed a full line of products inspired by her many subsequent trips to this beautiful country. In our minds,...
Inside Our Brands

Astaxanthin, a low-key star of YULI's Ambrosia Beauty Nectar

One of our favorite under-the-radar antioxidants, astaxanthin, happens to be one of the key ingredients in one of our favorite products, YÜLI’s Ambrosia Beauty Nectar. Here, YÜLI co-founder Eddie Zhao tells us what he loves about this ingredient.
Inside Our Brands

Facial massage with de Mamiel's Cleansing Balm

de Mamiel Restorative Cleansing Balm is a favorite for our entire team. We asked our esthetician, Sarah, to put together a video to show us how to use it for a deeply relaxing and restorative facial massage.
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: de Mamiel

Every batch of de Mamiel products we sell passes through creator Annee de Mamiel's hands, and somehow, that's palpable. Read on to learn more about her fascinating approach to skincare.
Inside Our Brands

MyHavtorn's Liquid Hand & Body Wash: an inside look

MyHavtorn’s Sea Buckthorn Soap has been a sensation at Ayla: it seems nearly impossible to keep it in stock. What we are equally excited about is its liquid version, the new MyHavtorn Liquid Hand & Body Wash — offered exclusively...
Hair & Scalp Inside Our Brands

Hair styling tutorial with Reverie: long, wavy hair air-dry

In this video, hairstylist Mandy Wray shows us how to pre-wash, wash, condition, and air-dry long, wavy hair using Reverie: CAKE, EVER, SHAMPOO, CONDITIONER, MILK, RAKE, and MARE.
Hair & Scalp Inside Our Brands

Hair styling tutorial with Reverie: short hair refresh

Want to see Reverie products in action? In this video, hairstylist Lo Shabino shows us how to give short hair a refresh using CAKE, MARE, & RAKE.
Inside Our Brands

Blue light and skin: Dr. Pedro Catalá on antioxidant protection

Pedro Catalá— founder and formulator of TWELVE Beauty — is one of the most thoroughly trained founder-formulators we know; he holds a pharmacy degree, a Master's degree in Botany, and a PhD in Natural Product Formulation. As one beauty editor put it,...
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Garrett Markenson's Reverie

If we had to pick one single reason for our love of hairstylist Garrett Markenson’s Reverie product line, it would be this: it actually inspires you to love your hair. These flexible, foolproof products invite experimentation and what we think...
Fun with Color Inside Our Brands

Olio e Osso: the new January 2021 collection at Ayla

Olio E Osso is a small, Portland-based company that makes beautifully simple and versatile skincare and makeup products. Olio E Osso’s founder, Paola LaMorticella, has been the go-to makeup artist and stylist for top athletes for the past 25 years. In...
Thursday Notes

Some favorite songs of peace, hope, and inspiration for your bath

2021 has not yet proven to be less crazy than its predecessor, has it? Perhaps because of this, I’ve taken a bath almost every evening this year: whether due to the news, the weather, or something else, I seem to crave...
All About Skin Thursday Notes

My favorite rosacea tips

One of my oldest friends asked me recently what she could do about a rosacea flare-up. She’s a lawyer who’s been working like mad to prepare for a trial and, like many a working mom these days, packed up her...
Body & Mind Thursday Notes

A peek into the hidden world of Bach flowers

If you’ve been following us for some time, you may already know how much I love Bach flower remedies. They didn’t sweep me off my feet right away; rather, I was swept off my feet by a beautiful body scrub...
Thursday Notes

The value of a farm visit

About five years ago, I went through a phase where the amount I was spending on groceries each week seemed outrageous. I’m not sure what I was comparing it to, exactly, but it just seemed like a lot. And it...
Thursday Notes

One step that can wake skin up again

Have you been feeling a little dragged-down? The inevitable settling-down that comes after a period of intensity — combined with the arrival of cold weather and earlier darkness — can pose a challenge even to the most motivated. Especially, I imagine, if...
Body & Mind Thursday Notes

Do tinctures really work? Yes. Good ones do.

We have not discussed this, you and I. But I imagine that if you’re not already a devotee of Dr. Anna Gold’s ingestible tinctures, you might view them with a modicum of skepticism: “Are they just another thing for me to...

Activist Manuka Oil: what it is & how to use it

Our entire team adores Activist Manuka, so we were thrilled when we learned that they’d created a Manuka Essential Oil to add to their lineup. To learn more about it (and get a fantastic face mask recipe), we caught up...
Inside Our Brands

Activist Manuka Honey: Frequently asked questions

We caught up with Activist co-founder Gabrielle before her family left for their annual trip back to New Zealand to ask a few frequently asked questions about their phenomenal honey.

Facial oils — or creams and lotions? Dr. Pedro weighs in.

 “Should I use a facial oil, or a face cream?” Oh, how we love meaty and complicated questions like this. We were lucky to get the perspectives of the founders of both Marie Veronique (Marie-Véronique Nadeau) and YULI (Eddie Zhao)...
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Face oils — or creams and lotions?

We’ve written many times of our love of the combination of a hydrating serum with a moisturizing facial oil in our email newsletter. The face serum + face oil combination (like Dara's own favorite combination, shown above) isn’t necessarily better...
All About Skin Body & Mind

Diet, skin, & inflammation

Debra Jaliman, MD shared this list of foods and other lifestyle factors that can exacerbate inflammation. Spoiler alert: Red wine is on the list. Tragic, we know.
Inside Our Brands

How to wash your face: A top derm dishes

Washing your face: not so basic. Dr. Macrene Alexiades pointed out to us that improper cleansing methods and products can cause unnecessary harm to skin. 
Inside Our Brands

Maskne solutions from Luzern Labs

Luzern’s head of education, Lisamarie DeLucia, recently shared the brand's thoughtful perspective on maskne with us; read on for her top tips on keeping skin healthy these days.
Brand Spotlights

Brand spotlight: Luzern Labs

Luzern Labs has been one of our founder's favorite skincare brands since 2003, and it's beloved by our team and customers at Ayla. We asked cofounder Jen Herbert-Coste to tell us just what makes these products so spectacular.
Inside Our Brands

Two of Dr. Pedro Catalá's favorite products from TWELVE right now

Don't you often want to know what a founder's favorite products are? At the start of a long winter, TWELVE founder Dr. Pedro Catalá leans on the Ideal Rebalancing Facial Serum and Intelligent Frontier Facial Oil.
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: TEK Brushes

Our founder's scouting trip to Italy all began with an Italian hairbrush that she had fallen deeply in love with after stumbling upon it in a little shop in France.
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Biofficina Toscana

Our founder flew to Florence, along with her rebellious hair, in search of the secret to those healthy, voluminous locks seen on the likes of Monica Bellucci and Claudia Cardinale. 
Inside Our Brands

Happy Tea: 2020 production update from MyHavtorn

We are delighted that this year’s batch is finally here, and to celebrate, Robin and Ingrid shared some pictures of the 2020 Happy Tea harvest and production. 
Inside Our Brands

MyHavtorn's Sea Buckthorn Soap: an inside look

For many, spring 2020 heralded a time of slowing down. For Robin Johansson, co-founder of MyHavtorn, it was time to make soap — which we couldn't have been happier about. 
Thursday Notes

Thursday note: my favorite fall ritual

Thursday notes are sent to regular readers of our email newsletter. This is my first one, focusing on my favorite fall ritual.
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Bare Hands, a truly natural nail brand

Learn about the cool story behind the Bare Hands Dry Gloss Manicure and its creator’s top tips for using the kit. Which, truly, you have to get. 
Body & Mind

Dr. Anna Gold on nail health

When we were looking for advice on encouraging nail health, one of the first people we turned to was, naturally, Dr. Anna Gold: Chinese Medicine views the nails as a window into the health of the body overall.
Body & Mind

Nail health: an Ayurvedic perspective

When we introduced the Bare Hands Dry Gloss Manicure Kit, we wanted to dig deeper into nail health. Dr. Anna Gold provided us with a fascinating perspective on both Eastern and Western approaches to nail health; while discussing nail conditions...
Inside Our Brands

Bare Hands Dry Gloss Manicure Tutorials

Bare Hands creator Suzanne Shade teaches our team member, Ellen, how to use the Dry Gloss Manicure Kit with her dominant hand as well as her non-dominant hand.
Inside Our Brands

Kahina’s founder on the myriad uses of Moroccan Rose Water

Katharine Phillips L’Heureux started Kahina after a trip to Morocco in 2007, where she learned that argan oil — rich in vitamin E, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids — has great calming, hydrating, anti-aging effects.  We’ve been fans of Kahina...
All About Skin

Make skin glow naturally: solutions for dull skin

We’ve been hearing this phrase more than ever: “My skin has really lost its glow these days. What’s going on?” Like many things right now, it’s a little complicated — a few different things tend to contribute to dull skin,...
Brand Spotlights

Brand spotlight: LIHA

Abi Oyepitan and Liha Okunniwa met in 1998 while at Brunel University London, where they became fast friends. What we find particularly interesting about their story is that the two women were drawn to elements in one another that would...
Featured

Ayla featured by Google as a small business story of resilience

We were delighted to be chosen by Google's Small Business Team for a highlight video about resilience, and watching it just makes us want to give you and all of our incredible partners a big hug.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Dr. Macrene Alexiades on dermatological procedures and daily skincare

Dr. Macrene Alexiades has long been an Ayla inspiration for many reasons, starting with her list of accomplishments. She has a BA, MD, and PhD in genetics from Harvard, where she was a Fulbright scholar; a bustling dermatology practice on...
All About Skin

TWELVE Beauty's founder on caring for skin in pollution, heat, and smog

TWELVE Beauty's founder, Dr. Pedro Catalá, kindly shared some tips with us a few weeks ago as we were first thinking about the transition from summer to fall and how it might affect the skin. Now that fall is here,...
Letters from Dara

On Bach Flowers and 2020

For some time, I’ve been thinking that the world of beauty and wellness needs to place greater emphasis on the health of our minds and spirits. I’ve been thinking about this since before I started Ayla, actually: it was one...
Body & Mind

Mental health during the pandemic and how self-care fits in: a psychologist's perspective

Chandler Chang, PhD, is the Founder & Clinical Director of Therapy Lab, a California practice that offers science-based teletherapy from the comfort of home. You may have heard about Dr. Chang in the LA Times or on Cheddar TV; our...
Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

Les Fleurs de Bach: the story & devotion behind this brand

We’ve been the exclusive US partners of Elixirs & Co and their Les Fleurs de Bach brand since our founder met their team in Paris in 2015 — after having stumbled upon their absolutely perfect body scrub in a shop in the Marais....
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

TWELVE's Dr. Pedro Catalá on Healthy Skin Barrier Function

Shifts in temperature and humidity can lead to changes in the way your skin’s barrier functions: during these times, skin has to work harder to stay in balance, particularly where hydration is concerned. This is a frequent struggle in the...
Inside Our Brands

The Ayla Sea Soak: Reef Check update

We’re proud to donate 5% of all our Sea Soak sales to Reef Check Foundation, an incredible “citizen science” nonprofit that educates and empowers anyone who’s SCUBA certified to help with marine conservation efforts. Reef Check has chapters in 40...
Inside Our Brands

MyHavtorn: 2020 harvest update

Every year, we look forward to the harvest update from Robin and Ingrid at the MyHavtorn farm in Bollebygd, Sweden. Read their latest news below, and to learn more about the harvest in general (it's fascinating!), check out this interview...
Inside Our Brands

Sea buckthorn harvest time at the MyHavtorn farm

MyHavtorn's sea buckthorn products are fresher, purer, and packed with more sea buckthorn than any others we've tried. Want to know more about how these berries are grown? 

Aplat Mask FAQs

Aplat shared these FAQs about their masks, which we thought would be helpful to pass along to you.

Maskne tips: causes and solutions

For a thoughtful perspective on the causes of and solutions for maskne, we asked Dr. Pedro Catalá — founder of TWELVE Beauty — to share his thoughts.
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Aplat

It is easier to deal with maskne if you’re wearing a mask that’s more breathable — and maskne is less of an issue to begin with. Our favorites are designed and sewn by a cool San Francisco company called Aplat.
All About Skin

Facial Massage for Puffiness

Our magical esthetician, Sarah, is a master at de-puffing massage, and she’s shared a routine that you can do at home in just a few minutes here.
Brand Spotlights

Brand spotlight: 27 Rosiers

We've known the delightful duo behind 27 Rosiers, Stephanie and Kevin, since they first visited Ayla in fall 2018; we've met them in their hometown of Paris, too.  Read on to learn more about their story and their uniquely French-Californian philosophy.  
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Orcé Cosmetics

Orcé founder Yu-Chen Shih now lives in Los Angeles, but she grew up in Singapore — where, given her Polynesian roots, she spent most of her childhood being teased for her darker complexion and curvy build, which stood in stark...
Letters from Dara

On Asian skin tones and Orcé

Hanging out in Thailand with my big brother in 1983…and actually seeking out sun exposure. Hello, freckles. (By the way, I must find that vintage Wonder Woman t-shirt.)

Kristina Holey + Marie Veronique on skin conditions in perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause

Kristina + Marie share a general overview of what’s happening in the skin during this time of transition, along with a menu of suggested products

Dr. Anna Gold on herbal supplements for menopause & perimenopause

Dr. Anna Hsieh Gold, one of the Bay Area’s most sought-after practitioners of TCM, happens to specialize in fertility and hormone related issues. So, when she developed her line of Dr. Anna Gold (formerly Arcana) herbal tinctures, it was only...
Body & Mind

Perimenopause and Menopause Symptoms: Q&A video with Tamara Neuhaus, MD

We’ve been fascinated by the topic of perimenopause and menopause for years — as have many of you, given how popular this interview about menopausal skincare (one of our personal favorites) has been. As always, we found ourselves wanting to...
Inside Our Brands

Dr. Pedro Catalá on TWELVE Clear Beginning Hand Spray

When COVID-19 swept the world, many cosmetics manufacturers pitched in by making hand sanitizers to alleviate shortages. TWELVE’s founder, Dr. Pedro Catalá, wanted to help, too — but in typical Pedro style, he wanted to make the best hand solution...
Letters from Dara

On kindness, compassion, and solidarity

We’re currently living through what some historians have described as “a trifecta of awful”: a global pandemic, economic turmoil, and stark reminders of the systemic racism affecting Black communities, in particular, across the country. Like so many right now, we’re trying...
Body & Mind

A simple exercise to support love, compassion, and joy

Try this invigorating exercise, a yoga-class favorite, to focus on your heart—your center of love, compassion, and joy. (Kids will love this one, too.)
Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

Natural deodorant: how it works, and why it's worth it

Between its three stellar, distinct, and incredibly efficacious natural deodorant formulas — Hoppin’ Fresh, Base Layer, and Sublime Sage — Ursa Major is likely to be the one brand that will make you switch over from your “eh, it may...
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

A natural remedy for blackheads: Dr. Pedro Catalá presents a kinder, gentler solution

A quick Google search for “blackhead removal” will reveal a variety of devices ranging from those that look fairly medieval to those that look like a miniature Dyson vacuum cleaner. In our view, none of them will be the answer...
Hair & Scalp Inside Our Brands

EVOLVh founder Boris Oak on InstaVolume volumizing haircare

We adore Boris Oak, the creator of our favorite hometown haircare brand, EVOLVh. He always bounces in the door with so much enthusiasm that, when we can all gather for a big bash again, it's clear he’ll need to join...
Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

Stress & anxiety relief through herbal remedies: Dr. Anna Gold on BALANCE

The past few months have been trying times for everyone, filled with stress and anxiety for many. We interviewed Dr. Anna Hsieh Gold, one of the Bay Area’s most sought after practitioners of TCM and the creator of Dr. Anna...
Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

Boosting the immune system naturally with herbs: Dr. Anna Gold weighs in

Virus prevention on your mind? Wouldn’t you know it — ours, too. We interviewed Dr. Anna Hsieh Gold, one of the Bay Area’s most sought after practitioners of TCM and the creator of Dr. Anna Gold (formerly Arcana) herbal tinctures,...
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Collagen in topical and ingestible skincare: a top dermatologist's advice

Collagen is an endlessly fascinating topic to us, and to many of you, too — especially these days, when we’re spending a little more time than usual looking at our skin in bathroom mirrors and Zoom meetings and perhaps wondering...
All About Skin Body & Mind

Perimenopause and menopause: an OB/GYN weighs in on skin and body symptoms

Tamara Neuhaus, MD is an OB/GYN who specializes in menopause and perimenopause at The Cusp, where she serves as Chief Medical Officer.   Hormones wreak havoc on skin, particularly once women reach their late forties and fifties: Perimenopause and menopause...
All About Skin

How to read ingredient labels on cosmetics: an expert guide

Have you ever thought, “Someone should put together a guide on how to read these ingredient labels”? We hope so.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Natural DIY mask recipes from Dr. Pedro Catalá

DIY beauty is not our favorite trend, simply because there are many ways it can go wrong. But homemade face masks are so tempting, aren’t they? Here are some that are formulator-approved. 
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Natural homemade remedies for dry hands from Dr. Pedro Catalá

Frequent washing and sanitizing is leaving many of us with dry, cracked hands. For some natural home remedies, we approached Pedro Catalá, founder and formulator of TWELVE Beauty.
Body & Mind

Simple meditation instructions from Juniper

Juniper Meditation Center shares their simple steps for meditation that can be done on a daily basis for a calmer and more disciplined mind.
Body & Mind

Breathing exercise for better sleep: Viloma Pranayama

Pranayama is the yogic exercise of controlling the breath. Viloma Pranayama is a simple exercise that can be done at bedtime — or anytime — to achieve a sense of calm and balance.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

A conversation with Kristina Holey & Kristy from Marie Veronique

If you missed Dara's Instagram Live chat with Kristina Holey and Kristy Moore-Jeffress at Marie Veronique HQ in Berkeley, you can watch the full video here
Brand Spotlights

Brand spotlight: RiseWell

RiseWell is one of those brands that just fell into our laps, as if some sort of dental angel looked at our shelves and thought, “The poor dears, they don’t have a toothpaste brand in there, do they?”
Body & Mind

All about the lymphatic system and lymphatic drainage

Lisa Brinker is the go-to Manual Lymphatic Drainage expert in San Francisco — the one who is consistently recommended by other massage therapists and bodyworkers for her particular expertise in this specific discipline. Since we've recently introduced products that speak...
Inside Our Brands

TWELVE founder Dr. Pedro Catalá shares the secrets behind his new Reverent Antioxidant Dry Body Oil

TWELVE founder Pedro Catalá shares the secrets behind his new Reverent Antioxidant Body Oil, a firming body oil infused with botanical extracts that act as a second skin while also stimulating the lymphatic drainage system.
Brand Spotlights

Brand spotlight: Kahina Giving Beauty

Kahina’s story is a rich one, and we love the team behind these beautiful products, so we asked Katharine to share more of their story — and some of the secrets behind their new products — with you.

Brand spotlight: Dr. Devgan Scientific Beauty

Lara Devgan, MD is the go-to board-certified plastic surgeon of New York’s chicest set and the creator of two of our newest favorite products. We caught up with this accomplished mom of 6 (!) to learn more.
Brand Spotlights

Brand spotlight: Max & Me

In this thoughtful, thorough interview, Max & Me creator Tanja Gruber covers Austrian farming history, tales of visits to suppliers in far-flung destinations, and secrets to lasting love. 
Letters from Dara

A letter about love

We opened our virtual doors at aylabeauty.com on Valentine’s Day nine years ago, and every year, our birthday prompts the question: why that particular day?
Inside Our Brands

The story behind Guldkorn Cream

Guldkorn Cream was created just for us in Sweden by our wonderful friends at MyHavtorn. Read more about its development in our interview with Robin, MyHavtorn's charming co-founder.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Marie Veronique on why you need Vitamin C

“I think I need a Vitamin C serum.” It’s something we hear from a lot of you, and you’re right: you probably do. But finding the right one can be tricker than it may seem. We asked the brilliant Marie Veronique to...
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Marie Veronique on Exfoliation 2.0

Marie-Veronique Nadeau is something of a folk hero in the healthy beauty world. Here, she reveals how we can all be thinking about exfoliation differently. 
Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

How to use your Sea Soak & Straight Up Seaweed as a fertilizer after your bath

Our seaweed forager, Ian, tell us how we can use the kelp from our Sea Soak and Straight Up Seaweed products as a fertilizer once we've taken our baths.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

TWELVE Beauty creator Pedro Catalá tells us why we need mature skin cells

If you suffer from perioral or periorbital dermatitis, or simply have sensitive skin, you’ll want to read Pedro's explanation of why mature skin cells are your friends.
All About Skin Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

Kristina Holey & Anna Gold on the Dr. Anna Gold Tinctures

Dr. Anna Hsieh Gold, the creator of a line of herbal tinctures, is a key collaborator of star facialist Kristina Holey's. Here, these two superwomen discuss their work together and how Dr. Gold's tinctures fit in. 
Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

Mija Superstar: behind the supplement with Sarah Koszyk, MA, RDN

MIJA Superstar was developed by a registered dietitian with serious credentials: Sarah Koszyk, MA, RDN is one of the most well-respected nutritionists in the Bay Area. Naturally, we were full of questions for her. 
Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

Mija Superstar smoothie recipes

We asked Sarah Koszyk, MA, RDN to share some of her favorite smoothie recipes with us — because one of the best things about her Mija Superstar supplement is how nicely it works in your morning smoothie. 
All About Skin

What Dara's using on her face: December 2019

In answer to our customers’ most frequently asked question when Dara’s not in our studio, she's sharing which skincare products she uses every day. 
Body & Mind

Astrologer Rose Theodora on what to expect as 2019 comes to a close

As we approach the end of the decade, we asked celebrated astrologer Rose Theodora to tell us what to expect from an astrological perspective.
Inside Our Brands

Dermatologist Macrene Alexiades on her new Macrene Actives line

We've been enthusiastic supporters of Dr. Macrene Alexiades and her 37 Actives product line since its very beginning. And we're delighted to now be one of the first retailers to introduce her updated product line, which includes new formulas, new...
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

A humectant glossary, inspired by San Francisco, from Dr. Pedro Catalá

We were delighted to have Dr. Pedro Catalá, creator of TWELVE Beauty, visiting us from Spain this month. During his time here, he wrote this absolutely lovely journal and invited us to share it with you as a guest blog...

A Pro's Holiday Makeup Tips for 2019

We asked SF makeup artist Melissa McMillan how to freshen up your look this holiday season — whether you’re just looking to spice things up for everyday or just to add a little glitter for evening events.
Inside Our Brands

The Science Behind TWELVE's new Clementine Cleansing Balm

The Clementine Cleansing Balm is the latest addition to the stellar TWELVE lineup. Here, creator Dr. Pedro Català explains why it works so well with just five ingredients.
Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

Traditional Chinese Medicine 101 with Dr. Anna Gold

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is one of the oldest forms of medicine; it’s been practiced for over 5,000 years. Even more awe-inspiring, to us, is the fact that it is not only still widely practiced, but also increasingly used to...
Inside Our Brands

Introducing the Sea Soak

Our first product has so many fascinating stories attached to it — and we’re so incredibly excited about it — that it’s hard to know exactly where to begin. So we’ll start with what it is: the Dara Kennedy Sea Soak...
All About Skin

All about hyperpigmentation

Hyperpigmentation is a real problem for many, and an annoyance for many more. Elizabeth K. Hale, M.D. gives us an unbiased expert perspective on what it is, how it can be prevented, and the best treatments.
Inside Our Brands

Brand Spotlight: S5

S5 has been designed to address chronic skin stress — a common culprit behind redness, sensitivity, and adult acne. Laura, S5's founder, tells us the story behind S5.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Lycoconfort & skincare during chemotherapy: thoughts from BioRecept’s founder

Anne Dupouy-Camet created her best-selling Lycoconfort de Peau moisturizer for her mother during her chemotherapy treatment. “It was the only thing that could soothe her skin,” she noted — and it’s our go-to for those whose skin is so parched...
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Skincare during cancer treatment: TWELVE founder Pedro Catalá weighs in

Dr. Pedro Català started creating his TWELVE formulas while working as a pharmacist at a London oncology clinic. It’s no wonder his products are so wonderfully soothing — and he's full of excellent advice on how to care for skin during cancer...
Hair & Scalp Inside Our Brands

Natural products & styling secrets for curly hair

We asked Michele Scott-Lynch, the founder of Bouclème, to answer the most frequently asked questions of our biggest Bouclème fans. Here, she covers secrets to getting more volume at the crown; making curls last all day; and refreshing curls the...
Body & Mind

Rose Theodora on astrology basics & Scorpio season

Rose Theodora is a celebrated astrologer who currently resides in Spain. We're thrilled that she will visit Ayla for a residency at the end of October — just in time for Scorpio season.
Fun with Color Inside Our Brands

Summer-to-fall makeup tips with Susanne Manasi Persson

Manasi7 creator, makeup artist Susanne Manasi Persson, shares her top tips on the summer-to-fall transition — which can be a tricky one from a makeup perspective. 
Hair & Scalp Inside Our Brands

Tips for curls from EVOLVh founder Boris Oak

Much to our delight, EVOLVh’s founder, Boris Oak, popped in for a visit to our SF studio. Even more delightful? He told us his secret to keep curls frizz free. Read on for his tips and an introduction to the...
Body & Mind

How stress affects your skin

According to Dr. Amy Wechsler, one of a handful of doctors in the United States board-certified in both dermatology and psychiatry, stress can have a major impact on the condition of our skin — particularly as we age.
Inside Our Brands

TWELVE formulator Pedro Catalá on in-flight skincare and humectants

Pedro Catalá — founder and formulator of TWELVE Beauty — is one of the most thoroughly educated founder-formulators we know; he has not only a pharmacy degree, but also a PhD in Natural Product Formulation, a subject that he also teaches at...
Fun with Color

A guide to our favorite healthy mascaras

We're a very, very picky bunch; you may know this already. It's one of the reasons why we keep our product collection so tightly edited. Another reason is that we don't want to overwhelm you unnecessarily with choice — but still,...
Brand Spotlights Inside Our Brands

Brand Spotlight: Manasi7

Manasi7 was created by Susanne Manasi Persson, a Stockholm-based makeup artist. It has an approach to makeup products that is at the same time deeply thoughtful and refreshingly boundary-crushing, inspiring us to mix and match and play.
Hair & Scalp Inside Our Brands

Tricks for more volume from EVOLVh's founder, Boris Oak

EVOLVh does many things well; one of the first things we noticed was how beautifully volumizing their products can be. No crunch, no dryness — just bouncy, shiny, touchable hair. So we had to ask their founder, Boris, “How do...
Hair & Scalp Inside Our Brands

Tricks for better hair color from EVOLVh's founder, Boris Oak

Much to our delight, EVOLVh’s founder, Boris Oak, popped in for a visit last week with some new products that are not only excellent, but also might fall under the “where has this been all my life” category — especially...
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Air pollution's effects on skin

A clear link between air pollution and accelerated skin aging has been demonstrated in a number of studies in recent years. We asked Parisian pharmacist, skincare researcher, and chemist Anne Dupouy-Camet to weigh in.
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Activist Manuka

Activist Raw Manuka honey is in a class of its own. We hadn’t spent too much time thinking about honey before spring 2019, to be candid. Then Activist came to us, and everything changed.
All About Skin

Retinol, Retin-A, and other retinoids: what they do and how to use them

Is an over the counter retinol product enough, or do you need to get a prescription retinoid like Retin-A? To get the straight scoop, we consulted Seth Matarasso, MD, our favorite West coast dermatologist.
Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

Happy Tea: A closer look at Ayla + MyHavtorn sea buckthorn tea

We fell hopelessly in love with the delicate, health-boosting sea buckthorn leaf tea that our friends at MyHavtorn make from the sea buckthorn trees on their Swedish farm. So we asked them if we could buy all of it. 
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Niacinamide in skincare: key benefits and the latest news

Pedro Català, founder of TWELVE Beauty, is one of our most trusted resources for ingredient information; he is constantly evaluating new raw materials and is known for his exacting standards. These days, he's particularly excited about niacinamide.
Fun with Color Inside Our Brands

Brand spotlight: Olio E Osso

Olio E Osso’s founder, Paola LaMorticella, has been the go-to makeup artist and stylist for top athletes for the past 25 years. Here, she shares application tips for her best-selling Tinted Balms along with various secrets about her fascinating life.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Marie Veronique on mitochondria, cellular respiration, and skin health

When we asked the brilliant chemist Marie Veronique about what's new in skincare, she said, “It’s all about the mitochondria.” (Mitochondria: it's the new microbiome.)
Hair & Scalp

Tips for healthy hair and scalp from a top dermatologist

We asked nationally recognized hair loss expert Diane Berson, MD a question that we figured most of you would have: "How can we keep our hair and scalps healthy so that we don't lose our hair in the first place?" 
Inside Our Brands

Brand Spotlight: Ursa Major of Vermont

There's just something about Ursa Major's healthy, gently-priced, and active-lifestyle-minded products from Vermont that we love. So what's the story behind this cool brand? Read on for the inside scoop from Emily Doyle, one of its founders.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

TWELVE formulator Pedro Catalá’s tips for dehydrated skin

Dehydration: it's the common link between combination and dry skin conditions, and it's the reason why Pedro Catalá created his marvelous moisture serums.
Inside Our Brands

Brand spotlight: EVOLVh hair care

If you don’t already know the story behind this company, it’s a great one: EVOLVh is a partnership between Boris Oak and Gary Smith, the chemist responsible for such hair product superstars as Jhirmack, Jheri Curl, Frizz-Ease, and KMS.
Inside Our Brands

Vintner's Daughter: The formula behind the results

Vintner's Daughter Active Botanical Serum has been called many things: "Unicorn Tears," "The Face Oil to End All Face Oils," and "The Best Natural Beauty Product of All Time." Why is it so effective? We got the scoop from its creator.
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Marie Veronique

Marie-Veronique Nadeau and her eponymous skincare line had been on our radar for some time. But it wasn’t until someone described her as a “mad scientist with a heart of gold” that we really sat up and paid attention.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

DIY beauty: expert tips & words of caution

DIY face masks are a lot of fun. But as founder-formulator Dr. Pedro Català of TWELVE puts it, “Natural product formulation is a science, not an experiment.” Who better to ask for a perspective on the DIY craze?
All About Skin

Sunscreen tips from a top dermatologist

To understand what we need to know about sunscreen and clear up a few frequently asked questions, we spoke to Elizabeth K. Hale, M.D., a leading expert in the field of dermatology with a particular passion for sun protection.
Inside Our Brands

Product combining with May Lindstrom

May Lindstrom is often referred to as a "Skin Chef," and one of the things we love about her products is how well they work when mixed together. We asked May to lead us through her favorite product combinations. 
Inside Our Brands

Brand spotlight: May Lindstrom

We’re delighted to be the first and only SF retailer for May Lindstrom, the much-swooned-over line of gourmand skin treats. These remarkable, luxurious formulas make skincare not only results-oriented, but also truly pleasurable. Read on for the story behind them.
Fun with Color

Makeup tutorial: Kosås Color & Light duos

Want to learn how to use the beautiful Color & Light duos from Kosås? At Ayla's SF studio, makeup artist Melissa McMillan demonstrates the use of these palettes featuring wearable, blendable blush, bronzer, and highlighter colors. 
Inside Our Brands Letters from Dara

The story behind Foot Therapy

We've been hunting for an excellent exfoliating foot cream since 2011. Learn more about that search — and the beautiful product that MyHavtorn created for us as a result — here.
Letters from Dara

The story behind our name

Ayla, pronounced ā-lah, is an old Irish name that means “bearer of light.” The reason why we chose an Irish name for our business is one of our founder's own models of brighter beauty; learn more about her here.  
Hair & Scalp

Frizzy, limp hair: How to tame it

Bradley Crane is not just one of San Francisco's best stylists. He’s also a truly excellent teacher who understands how to break techniques down for real people dealing with real life situations: time-crunched mornings and San Francisco fog, for starters.
All About Skin

Kristina Holey & Marie Veronique on perioral dermatitis

Two of our favorite skin gurus, Kristina Holey & Marie Veronique, recently visited the Ayla studio together to share some of their wisdom about perioral and periorbital dermatitis: what it looks like, common triggers, and suggested approaches.
All About Skin

Video: A top dermatologist's acne tips

In this video, the brilliant Dr. Macrene Alexiades shares her top acne tips: understanding key external causes, considerations when choosing anti-acne skincare products and prescription treatments, and ways to prevent acne scars.
Inside Our Brands

Brand Spotlight: BioRecept

BioRecept was created by one of France’s top skincare formulators (pictured above, during a visit to Ayla) as her personal passion project. These hyaluronic acid-infused formulas leave skin glowing — and we're thrilled to offer them exclusively in the US.
All About Skin

A natural approach to clogged pores

Clogged pores and blackheads plague most of us at least some of the time. We asked Julia March, master facialist for such clear-skinned beauties as Linda Evangelista and Liv Tyler, to tell us her most surefire solutions for clogged-pore aggravation.
Brand Spotlights Body & Mind

Brand Spotlight: Les Fleurs de Bach

We didn’t know much about Bach flower essences before we stumbled upon Les Fleurs de Bach during a recent trip to Paris, but now that we do, we just have to tell you about them.
Letters from Dara

Letter from Bangkok

A note about "otherness," inspired by a visit to Bangkok at the end of 2018.
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: MyHavtorn Organic Skincare

We were delighted to be selected as the first online retailer in the US to carry MyHavtorn's sea buckthorn-infused organic skin care products. Why are we such ardent fans of MyHavtorn? Let us count the ways.
Hair & Scalp

Hair loss: What's normal, and when to be concerned

While washing your hair, do you sometimes stop and wonder if so much of it should be going down the drain? We do. So we asked Diane Berson, MD, a leading dermatologist and national hair loss expert, for advice. 
Brand Spotlights Inside Our Brands

Brand spotlight: TWELVE Beauty

We’re always very excited to introduce a brand to the US for the first time —especially when it has considerable pent-up demand and a founder who’s also the formulator (because then we can ask all kinds of questions). 
Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

Fragrance 101 with the creator of Ellis Brooklyn

Ellis Brooklyn was created by Bee Shapiro, a chic Williamsburg mom who happens to be a style columnist for The New York Times. When we wanted to get a little Fragrance 101, Bee was naturally the first resource we thought of. 
Body & Mind

Ian Marber on nutrition basics — and his daily diet

Leading nutrition consultant Ian Marber represents a voice of reason in the world of nutrition, a realm that can be confusingly contradictory. During his visit to our SF studio, he helped us reset with a few pieces of advice for everyone.
Fun with Color Inside Our Brands

Kosas Shade Finder

Kosas put together a brilliant chart to help you figure out which lipstick and Color & Light palettes (Creme or Pressed) might work best for you. Still torn? Call us.
All About Skin

Skin changes during menopause: A top dermatologist's guide

Many of our lovely customers come to us for help with skin care challenges related to perimenopause and menopause, so we approached top dermatologist ad menopausal skin expert Jeannette Graf, MD, for advice on the best solutions.
All About Skin

All about rosacea, eczema, redness, & sensitive skin

Red, irritated skin can be a mystery. Is it rosacea? Eczema? Are you simply a delicate flower? Leading dermatologist Elizabeth K. Hale, MD, helps us sort out the differences.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

TWELVE formulator Pedro Catalá's secrets to better toning

Pedro Catalá — founder and formulator of TWELVE Beauty — is one of the most thoroughly educated founder-formulators we know; he has not only a pharmacy degree, but also a PhD in Natural Product Formulation. As one beauty editor put it, "What Pedro doesn't know...
Hair & Scalp Inside Our Brands

How often should you shampoo, and does shampoo stop working?

Shampoo: It seems like it should be the simplest step in hair care, yet contradictory advice about it seems to be coming out of everyone's ears. To clear things up, we approached Josh Rosebrook, celebrity hair stylist.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Dermatologist Macrene Alexiades, MD on skin firmness and elasticity

Firmness and elasticity are top of mind for many of us these days. For more on this topic, we interviewed Dr. Macrene Alexiades — the revered dermatologist with three Harvard degrees and one of the most enviable CVs in her field. 
Inside Our Brands Letters from Dara

The story behind Dara's Oil

One of our founder's favorite products was whipped up specifically for her sensitive complexion by Marie Veronique herself. Marie tucked “Dara’s Oil” into our shipments from her lab from time to time, to be discovered with a squeal of delight.
Letters from Dara

Non-toxic beauty products: why they matter

Whether you call it clean, nontoxic, green, or — our favorite — healthy, this part of the beauty world has been our sandbox since the day we launched in 2011. Here's a closer look at the why and the how.
Inside Our Brands

Brand spotlight: Kristina Holey + Marie Veronique Skincare Collaboration

Marie Veronique is one of our most beloved brands; Kristina Holey is one of the most celebrated facialists in the country. Anything they do together is bound to be extraordinary. 

Kristina Holey & Marie Veronique on product layering

Two of our favorite skin gurus, Kristina Holey & Marie Veronique, recently visited the Ayla studio together to share some of their wisdom. In this quick little video, they discuss product layering: when it can be helpful to layer serums...
All About Skin Body & Mind

Gua Sha facial tutorial

In this tutorial, you'll learn a simple facial Gua Sha routine that you can perform on yourself at home with our rainbow fluorite tool. 

Marie Veronique on Natural Acne Treatment

Marie-Veronique Nadeau has developed a well-deserved reputation in natural and non-toxic beauty circles as something of an acne-fighting wizard. Read on to learn more.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Perioral & Periorbital Dermatitis: Treatment Tips from Kristina Holey

Kristina Holey — Marie Veronique's Director of Skin Health, and a perioral dermatitis whisperer — agreed to share some of her go-to treatments with us. You’ll want these tips.
All About Skin

Retinoids, retinol, retinal: making sense of it all

Retinoids: retinol, retinoic acid, and the retinaldehyde that falls in between. We guide you through the world of Vitamin A in skincare.
All About Skin

Gua Sha: tips from Erica Randlett

MyHavtorn's go-to skincare therapist and product expert, Erica Randlett, is deeply trained in Gua Sha — she’s the person who first told us about it years ago — along with massage, lymphatic drainage, and meditation. Having spent five years as...
All About Skin

Skincare product pilling: why it happens and what to do

We couldn't think of a better person than Dr. Pedro Catalá to expound on the topic of skincare and makeup product pilling, which is quite common, quite annoying, and quite the mystery to most people except for skincare product formulators. 
All About Skin

Marie Veronique on Soothing B3, niacinamide, and hyaluronic acid

Niacinamide: long ignored, soon to become the cool kid? Marie Veronique chats with Dara about why that might be — and bashes a TikTok myth about hyaluronic acid at the same time.
All About Skin

Building hydration and moisture through your skincare routine

In this post about Hydration & Moisture (an essential pre-read), we suggested getting a combination of hydrating and moisturizing ingredients involved in your skincare routine. So, in case you’re looking for some more specific product suggestions, we’ve put together some...
All About Skin

All about moisture, hydration, and everything in between

Do you need hydration, moisture, or both? Both. It's a little complicated...but not too much.
All About Skin

Brightening facial massage tutorial with Annee de Mamiel

Annee de Mamiel shares a brightening face massage that's just the thing when your skin feels a little tired or you want to bring a little extra radiance to your skin.
All About Skin

Antioxidants in skin care: why they're important

An explanation of antioxidants: what they are, what they do, and why we need them in our skincare (and in our diets).
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Marie Veronique's Multi-Retinol Night Emulsion: Q&A with Kristina Holey

We had so much fun at our Instagram Live Q&A with Kristina Holey, the Director of Skin Health at Marie Veronique. Missed it? Watch the video here.
All About Skin

Dark circles, puffiness, wrinkles, eye bags: Dr. Macrene covers it all

In our masterclass, Dr. Macrene Alexiades told us all about eye area care: how the skin around the eyes is different, ingredients to look for and avoid, and dermatological treatments she often recommends. Watch the video here.
All About Skin

How To Layer Skincare Products

We love answering customer questions, and we’ve answered a lot of them over the past several years. One of the most popular: How do I layer skincare products?
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Why we need eye cream: an expert opinion from Dr. Macrene Alexiades

Do we really need to use eye cream? Star dermatologist Dr. Macrene Alexiades fills us in — and tells us what makes her new High Performance Eye Cream so special.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Marie Veronique on hormonal acne

What is hormonal acne, exactly, and what can be done about it? We figured the perfect person to dig into this would be Marie-Veronique Nadeau.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

de Mamiel's Fixes for stress — and how to know what your skin really needs

An interview with Annee de Mamiel Every batch of de Mamiel products we sell passes through creator Annee de Mamiel's hands, and we can tell. Her line of "Fixes" represents 13 years of work with chronic stress and its impact on...
All About Skin

Vitamin C in skincare: do we really need it?

Vitamin C is a great ingredient to look for in skincare; it’s one of our favorites. But is it a must? Without it, will we end up aging decades before our time? Should we all be using vitamin C forevermore?
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Should we change our skincare with the seasons?

As seasons shift, many of us find that our skincare routines could use a little adjustment. Dara asked Pedro to weigh in on the topic.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Marie Veronique on why skin barrier repair matters

Marie Veronique + Kristina Holey's Barrier Repair Serum and Balancing Hypotonic are longtime best sellers. Here, Marie digs into the reasons why — and why skin barrier health is so important.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Different ways stress affects the skin — and how de Mamiel's Fixes can help

Stress takes a variety of pathways that result in different symptoms on the skin. Learn more about what form stress can take on the skin, and what you can do about it, in Dara’s interview with Annee de Mamiel.
All About Skin Body & Mind

Natural rosacea treatment with herbs

Dr. Anna Hsieh Gold discusses how natural herbal treatments can work with topical solutions to address redness, flushing, and rosacea — and why ROSY works so well.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Diet and Skin: a top dermatologist’s perspective

The brilliant Dr. Macrene Alexiades chats with Dara about not only what foods to avoid in cases of acne, rosacea, or skin aging, but also what to reach for.
All About Skin

How long does it take skincare products to work?

When asked, “How long does it take to see if a skincare product really works for me?” we always answer, “It depends!” To find out what it depends on and why, check out Dara’s latest interview with Pedro.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Dry & dehydrated skin: how to treat it

Tussling with dry and/or dehydrated skin? Marie covers the difference between transient and chronic dry skin, types of ingredients to look for, and how to most effectively layer products for better skin nourishment.
All About Skin

Do you really need eye cream?

Do you absolutely, positively need an eye cream? Here are perspectives from both Dara and our friend, Dr. Pedro Catalá.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Different acids, enzymes, and retinol in skin care

What are the different acids to look for in a formula, and why? How are they different from enzymes? And what about retinol? Marie Veronique makes sense of it all.
All About Skin

Gua Sha tutorial for brow tension and fine lines

In this quick and easy-to-follow video tutorial, our esthetician, Sarah, uses a rhodonite Gua Sha tool to address fine lines and relieve brow tension. 
All About Skin

Gua Sha tutorial for tired, puffy eyes

In this quick and easy-to-follow video tutorial, our esthetician, Sarah, uses a rose quartz sculpting spoon to help remove puffiness from the eye area. 
All About Skin

Essential oils, flower waters, and plant extracts: what's the difference?

Expert formulator Pedro Catalá, PhD guides us through world of plant extracts, explaining how essential oils and floral waters differ and why different types of plant based ingredients are used in skincare.
All About Skin

Skin cleansing: why and how should we wash our faces?

Dara asks Dr. Pedro Catalá, founder and master formulator for TWELVE Beauty, all about cleansing: why is it necessary, what makes a good cleanser, and what type of cleanser is best?
All About Skin

Rosacea: typical causes and suggested treatments

We caught up with famed skin care therapist Kristina Holey, an Ayla favorite, to chat about rosacea. Here's her point of view about typical causes of this condition and treatments she frequently suggests.
All About Skin

Preservatives in skincare: a natural approach

Dr. Pedro Catalá — founder and formulator of TWELVE Beauty — is one of the most thoroughly educated founder-formulators we know; he has not only a pharmacy degree, but also a PhD in Natural Product Formulation, a subject that he...
All About Skin

Face oils for summer

We’re still running around in layers in SF, but for many of you as well as these residents of nearby Santa Cruz, summer weather has already arrived. And with those deliciously long, warm days almost always comes the desire to...
All About Skin

Our 2023 sunscreen guide

Sunscreen: we know. It’s so easy to say, “Wear sunscreen! It’s the best thing you can do to keep your skin healthy.” True, but does that matter if sunscreen is so annoying, generally, that you just don’t wear it that much?...
All About Skin

Skin care during perimenopause & menopause: a top dermatologist's advice

We’ve heard from you — frequently — that there isn’t a whole lot of information out there on perimenopause, menopause, and the skin changes that accompany both stages. Which, of course, made us want to double down on this fascinating...
All About Skin

Gua Sha tutorial: jawline & cheekbone sculpting

Gua Sha is a traditional healing technique from China that involves a small, smooth stone board that is pressed against the skin to gently massage facial fascia, muscles, and skin while stimulating specific energy points. This encourages healthy circulation, releases...
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Congested skin & clogged pores: advice from Kristina Holey

We asked famed facialist Kristina Holey how she thinks about congested skin and clogged pores: why are so many of us struggling with them, and what can we do? Read on for her expert perspective.
Featured All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Kristina Holey on skincare routines at home

In the view of famed facialist Kristina Holey, strategic at-home skincare has always been — and always will be — much more important than in-person treatments. Here, she shares specific practices that we can all adopt in our home care routines.
All About Skin Body & Mind

Collagen supplements for skin: do they work?

Collagen supplements: do they actually benefit our skin or not? To broaden our lens, we asked Sara Gottfried, MD for her opinion. Our take: collagen supplements aren't the magical answer to all your problems, but studies increasingly indicate that they can benefit skin and joints in particular.
All About Skin Thursday Notes

My favorite rosacea tips

One of my oldest friends asked me recently what she could do about a rosacea flare-up. She’s a lawyer who’s been working like mad to prepare for a trial and, like many a working mom these days, packed up her...
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Face oils — or creams and lotions?

We’ve written many times of our love of the combination of a hydrating serum with a moisturizing facial oil in our email newsletter. The face serum + face oil combination (like Dara's own favorite combination, shown above) isn’t necessarily better...
All About Skin Body & Mind

Diet, skin, & inflammation

Debra Jaliman, MD shared this list of foods and other lifestyle factors that can exacerbate inflammation. Spoiler alert: Red wine is on the list. Tragic, we know.
All About Skin

Make skin glow naturally: solutions for dull skin

We’ve been hearing this phrase more than ever: “My skin has really lost its glow these days. What’s going on?” Like many things right now, it’s a little complicated — a few different things tend to contribute to dull skin,...
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Dr. Macrene Alexiades on dermatological procedures and daily skincare

Dr. Macrene Alexiades has long been an Ayla inspiration for many reasons, starting with her list of accomplishments. She has a BA, MD, and PhD in genetics from Harvard, where she was a Fulbright scholar; a bustling dermatology practice on...
All About Skin

TWELVE Beauty's founder on caring for skin in pollution, heat, and smog

TWELVE Beauty's founder, Dr. Pedro Catalá, kindly shared some tips with us a few weeks ago as we were first thinking about the transition from summer to fall and how it might affect the skin. Now that fall is here,...
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

TWELVE's Dr. Pedro Catalá on Healthy Skin Barrier Function

Shifts in temperature and humidity can lead to changes in the way your skin’s barrier functions: during these times, skin has to work harder to stay in balance, particularly where hydration is concerned. This is a frequent struggle in the...
All About Skin

Facial Massage for Puffiness

Our magical esthetician, Sarah, is a master at de-puffing massage, and she’s shared a routine that you can do at home in just a few minutes here.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

A natural remedy for blackheads: Dr. Pedro Catalá presents a kinder, gentler solution

A quick Google search for “blackhead removal” will reveal a variety of devices ranging from those that look fairly medieval to those that look like a miniature Dyson vacuum cleaner. In our view, none of them will be the answer...
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Collagen in topical and ingestible skincare: a top dermatologist's advice

Collagen is an endlessly fascinating topic to us, and to many of you, too — especially these days, when we’re spending a little more time than usual looking at our skin in bathroom mirrors and Zoom meetings and perhaps wondering...
All About Skin Body & Mind

Perimenopause and menopause: an OB/GYN weighs in on skin and body symptoms

Tamara Neuhaus, MD is an OB/GYN who specializes in menopause and perimenopause at The Cusp, where she serves as Chief Medical Officer.   Hormones wreak havoc on skin, particularly once women reach their late forties and fifties: Perimenopause and menopause...
All About Skin

How to read ingredient labels on cosmetics: an expert guide

Have you ever thought, “Someone should put together a guide on how to read these ingredient labels”? We hope so.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Natural DIY mask recipes from Dr. Pedro Catalá

DIY beauty is not our favorite trend, simply because there are many ways it can go wrong. But homemade face masks are so tempting, aren’t they? Here are some that are formulator-approved. 
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Natural homemade remedies for dry hands from Dr. Pedro Catalá

Frequent washing and sanitizing is leaving many of us with dry, cracked hands. For some natural home remedies, we approached Pedro Catalá, founder and formulator of TWELVE Beauty.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

A conversation with Kristina Holey & Kristy from Marie Veronique

If you missed Dara's Instagram Live chat with Kristina Holey and Kristy Moore-Jeffress at Marie Veronique HQ in Berkeley, you can watch the full video here
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Marie Veronique on why you need Vitamin C

“I think I need a Vitamin C serum.” It’s something we hear from a lot of you, and you’re right: you probably do. But finding the right one can be tricker than it may seem. We asked the brilliant Marie Veronique to...
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Marie Veronique on Exfoliation 2.0

Marie-Veronique Nadeau is something of a folk hero in the healthy beauty world. Here, she reveals how we can all be thinking about exfoliation differently. 
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

TWELVE Beauty creator Pedro Catalá tells us why we need mature skin cells

If you suffer from perioral or periorbital dermatitis, or simply have sensitive skin, you’ll want to read Pedro's explanation of why mature skin cells are your friends.
All About Skin Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

Kristina Holey & Anna Gold on the Dr. Anna Gold Tinctures

Dr. Anna Hsieh Gold, the creator of a line of herbal tinctures, is a key collaborator of star facialist Kristina Holey's. Here, these two superwomen discuss their work together and how Dr. Gold's tinctures fit in. 
All About Skin

What Dara's using on her face: December 2019

In answer to our customers’ most frequently asked question when Dara’s not in our studio, she's sharing which skincare products she uses every day. 
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

A humectant glossary, inspired by San Francisco, from Dr. Pedro Catalá

We were delighted to have Dr. Pedro Catalá, creator of TWELVE Beauty, visiting us from Spain this month. During his time here, he wrote this absolutely lovely journal and invited us to share it with you as a guest blog...
All About Skin

All about hyperpigmentation

Hyperpigmentation is a real problem for many, and an annoyance for many more. Elizabeth K. Hale, M.D. gives us an unbiased expert perspective on what it is, how it can be prevented, and the best treatments.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Lycoconfort & skincare during chemotherapy: thoughts from BioRecept’s founder

Anne Dupouy-Camet created her best-selling Lycoconfort de Peau moisturizer for her mother during her chemotherapy treatment. “It was the only thing that could soothe her skin,” she noted — and it’s our go-to for those whose skin is so parched...
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Skincare during cancer treatment: TWELVE founder Pedro Catalá weighs in

Dr. Pedro Català started creating his TWELVE formulas while working as a pharmacist at a London oncology clinic. It’s no wonder his products are so wonderfully soothing — and he's full of excellent advice on how to care for skin during cancer...
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Air pollution's effects on skin

A clear link between air pollution and accelerated skin aging has been demonstrated in a number of studies in recent years. We asked Parisian pharmacist, skincare researcher, and chemist Anne Dupouy-Camet to weigh in.
All About Skin

Retinol, Retin-A, and other retinoids: what they do and how to use them

Is an over the counter retinol product enough, or do you need to get a prescription retinoid like Retin-A? To get the straight scoop, we consulted Seth Matarasso, MD, our favorite West coast dermatologist.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Niacinamide in skincare: key benefits and the latest news

Pedro Català, founder of TWELVE Beauty, is one of our most trusted resources for ingredient information; he is constantly evaluating new raw materials and is known for his exacting standards. These days, he's particularly excited about niacinamide.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Marie Veronique on mitochondria, cellular respiration, and skin health

When we asked the brilliant chemist Marie Veronique about what's new in skincare, she said, “It’s all about the mitochondria.” (Mitochondria: it's the new microbiome.)
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

TWELVE formulator Pedro Catalá’s tips for dehydrated skin

Dehydration: it's the common link between combination and dry skin conditions, and it's the reason why Pedro Catalá created his marvelous moisture serums.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

DIY beauty: expert tips & words of caution

DIY face masks are a lot of fun. But as founder-formulator Dr. Pedro Català of TWELVE puts it, “Natural product formulation is a science, not an experiment.” Who better to ask for a perspective on the DIY craze?
All About Skin

Sunscreen tips from a top dermatologist

To understand what we need to know about sunscreen and clear up a few frequently asked questions, we spoke to Elizabeth K. Hale, M.D., a leading expert in the field of dermatology with a particular passion for sun protection.
All About Skin

Kristina Holey & Marie Veronique on perioral dermatitis

Two of our favorite skin gurus, Kristina Holey & Marie Veronique, recently visited the Ayla studio together to share some of their wisdom about perioral and periorbital dermatitis: what it looks like, common triggers, and suggested approaches.
All About Skin

Video: A top dermatologist's acne tips

In this video, the brilliant Dr. Macrene Alexiades shares her top acne tips: understanding key external causes, considerations when choosing anti-acne skincare products and prescription treatments, and ways to prevent acne scars.
All About Skin

A natural approach to clogged pores

Clogged pores and blackheads plague most of us at least some of the time. We asked Julia March, master facialist for such clear-skinned beauties as Linda Evangelista and Liv Tyler, to tell us her most surefire solutions for clogged-pore aggravation.
All About Skin

Skin changes during menopause: A top dermatologist's guide

Many of our lovely customers come to us for help with skin care challenges related to perimenopause and menopause, so we approached top dermatologist ad menopausal skin expert Jeannette Graf, MD, for advice on the best solutions.
All About Skin

All about rosacea, eczema, redness, & sensitive skin

Red, irritated skin can be a mystery. Is it rosacea? Eczema? Are you simply a delicate flower? Leading dermatologist Elizabeth K. Hale, MD, helps us sort out the differences.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

TWELVE formulator Pedro Catalá's secrets to better toning

Pedro Catalá — founder and formulator of TWELVE Beauty — is one of the most thoroughly educated founder-formulators we know; he has not only a pharmacy degree, but also a PhD in Natural Product Formulation. As one beauty editor put it, "What Pedro doesn't know...
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Dermatologist Macrene Alexiades, MD on skin firmness and elasticity

Firmness and elasticity are top of mind for many of us these days. For more on this topic, we interviewed Dr. Macrene Alexiades — the revered dermatologist with three Harvard degrees and one of the most enviable CVs in her field. 
All About Skin Body & Mind

Gua Sha facial tutorial

In this tutorial, you'll learn a simple facial Gua Sha routine that you can perform on yourself at home with our rainbow fluorite tool. 
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Gentlerist

YÜLI was always a brand that was somewhat shrouded in mystery. Its founders were, relative to others, almost reclusive. (Press interviews? Never. Selfies on Instagram? Nope. TikTok videos? Please.) Their products also had a whiff of mystique to them. (Did...
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: La Ferme Saint-Sylvain

La Ferme Saint-Sylvain is a small family farm in the Vienne department of France, part of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine (Europe’s leading agricultural region, and its second-largest in terms of organic farming). The Maupin family has lived and cultivated the land in...
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Omni-Biotic probiotics

Omni-Biotic, Europe’s leading probiotic brand and one of the most trusted, reliable probiotic brands worldwide, is developed by an Austrian company that takes science very seriously. Each probiotic strain they work with is deeply researched; they then combine the most promising ones in...
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Clark's Botanicals

We fell in love with the story behind Clark's Botanicals even before we tried the products — so when they arrived for us to test, we had especially high expectations. Thankfully, they exceeded them all (especially Invisible Hero SPF 30,...
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: M Picaut

M Picaut is one of the Sweden's best-selling skincare brands. Find out what we love about it in our Brand Spotlight.
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Sudtana

Sudtana is everything we had hoped to find in Thailand, a place that is very close to our founder’s heart. These products have a way of transporting you directly to a spa in the “land of smiles” — find out why they're so...
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Ava Isa, from The Sunscreen Company

Hear the story behind The Sunscreen Company, learn what makes Ava Isa sunscreens different (they really are!) and what we should be looking for in a daily sunscreen. 
Brand Spotlights Inside Our Brands

Brand Spotlight: Festina Lente Home

Festina Lente Home was developed by Marta Mondelli, an actress and writer who worked with one of the best noses in Italy to create scents that are both comforting and modern. Learn about the brand here.
Brand Spotlights Inside Our Brands

Brand Spotlight: J.M. Generals

Jeffrey Monteiro tells us how J.M. Generals began — and the lengths to which he goes in order to stay true to his original vision of a business that deeply integrates design, technique, and sustainable values.
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Paloroma

Paloroma's designed-in-Brooklyn, made-in-Vermont products boast soothing, gentle, fragrance free formulas that appeal to delicate skin of all ages.
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Kinfield

Kinfield Golden Hour is the only bug spray we carry — and when you come across an “it’s the only one of its kind that we carry” situation with us, it’s a sure sign of two things: This is an...
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Augustinus Bader

More often than not, we’re early adopters where products are concerned. We love discovering new or under-the-radar brands and being among the first to bring them to you: this was the case with such favorites as MyHavtorn, TWELVE, Vintner’s Daughter, Kosas, Ellis Brooklyn, Macrene (formerly 37)...
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Unsun

Unsun was created by Katonya Breaux, a longtime business owner (she ran a custom-home construction company for two decades) and mother (of Frank Ocean, as it happens). As she shares with us below, Unsun grew out of a personal need...
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: de Mamiel

Every batch of de Mamiel products we sell passes through creator Annee de Mamiel's hands, and somehow, that's palpable. Read on to learn more about her fascinating approach to skincare.
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Garrett Markenson's Reverie

If we had to pick one single reason for our love of hairstylist Garrett Markenson’s Reverie product line, it would be this: it actually inspires you to love your hair. These flexible, foolproof products invite experimentation and what we think...
Brand Spotlights

Brand spotlight: Luzern Labs

Luzern Labs has been one of our founder's favorite skincare brands since 2003, and it's beloved by our team and customers at Ayla. We asked cofounder Jen Herbert-Coste to tell us just what makes these products so spectacular.
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: TEK Brushes

Our founder's scouting trip to Italy all began with an Italian hairbrush that she had fallen deeply in love with after stumbling upon it in a little shop in France.
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Biofficina Toscana

Our founder flew to Florence, along with her rebellious hair, in search of the secret to those healthy, voluminous locks seen on the likes of Monica Bellucci and Claudia Cardinale. 
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Bare Hands, a truly natural nail brand

Learn about the cool story behind the Bare Hands Dry Gloss Manicure and its creator’s top tips for using the kit. Which, truly, you have to get. 
Brand Spotlights

Brand spotlight: LIHA

Abi Oyepitan and Liha Okunniwa met in 1998 while at Brunel University London, where they became fast friends. What we find particularly interesting about their story is that the two women were drawn to elements in one another that would...
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Aplat

It is easier to deal with maskne if you’re wearing a mask that’s more breathable — and maskne is less of an issue to begin with. Our favorites are designed and sewn by a cool San Francisco company called Aplat.
Brand Spotlights

Brand spotlight: 27 Rosiers

We've known the delightful duo behind 27 Rosiers, Stephanie and Kevin, since they first visited Ayla in fall 2018; we've met them in their hometown of Paris, too.  Read on to learn more about their story and their uniquely French-Californian philosophy.  
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Orcé Cosmetics

Orcé founder Yu-Chen Shih now lives in Los Angeles, but she grew up in Singapore — where, given her Polynesian roots, she spent most of her childhood being teased for her darker complexion and curvy build, which stood in stark...
Brand Spotlights

Brand spotlight: RiseWell

RiseWell is one of those brands that just fell into our laps, as if some sort of dental angel looked at our shelves and thought, “The poor dears, they don’t have a toothpaste brand in there, do they?”
Brand Spotlights

Brand spotlight: Kahina Giving Beauty

Kahina’s story is a rich one, and we love the team behind these beautiful products, so we asked Katharine to share more of their story — and some of the secrets behind their new products — with you.
Brand Spotlights

Brand spotlight: Max & Me

In this thoughtful, thorough interview, Max & Me creator Tanja Gruber covers Austrian farming history, tales of visits to suppliers in far-flung destinations, and secrets to lasting love. 
Brand Spotlights Inside Our Brands

Brand Spotlight: Manasi7

Manasi7 was created by Susanne Manasi Persson, a Stockholm-based makeup artist. It has an approach to makeup products that is at the same time deeply thoughtful and refreshingly boundary-crushing, inspiring us to mix and match and play.
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Activist Manuka

Activist Raw Manuka honey is in a class of its own. We hadn’t spent too much time thinking about honey before spring 2019, to be candid. Then Activist came to us, and everything changed.
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: Marie Veronique

Marie-Veronique Nadeau and her eponymous skincare line had been on our radar for some time. But it wasn’t until someone described her as a “mad scientist with a heart of gold” that we really sat up and paid attention.
Brand Spotlights Body & Mind

Brand Spotlight: Les Fleurs de Bach

We didn’t know much about Bach flower essences before we stumbled upon Les Fleurs de Bach during a recent trip to Paris, but now that we do, we just have to tell you about them.
Brand Spotlights

Brand Spotlight: MyHavtorn Organic Skincare

We were delighted to be selected as the first online retailer in the US to carry MyHavtorn's sea buckthorn-infused organic skin care products. Why are we such ardent fans of MyHavtorn? Let us count the ways.
Brand Spotlights Inside Our Brands

Brand spotlight: TWELVE Beauty

We’re always very excited to introduce a brand to the US for the first time —especially when it has considerable pent-up demand and a founder who’s also the formulator (because then we can ask all kinds of questions). 
Hair & Scalp Inside Our Brands

Top natural curly hair care tips from Bouclème

It can take a good amount of experimentation to get curly hair care just right. We asked Michele Scott-Lynch, the founder of Bouclème, for a curly hair care primer — including guidelines for different types of curls. 
Hair & Scalp

Golden rules of hair styling from EVOLVh’s Founder

Boris Oak, founder of EVOLVh, told us his four golden rules for hair styling — and they're gems. Check them out here.
Hair & Scalp Inside Our Brands

From hair loss to hair longevity: EVOLVh Better Roots

Scalp care has been (deservedly) trending for some time, but we think scalps could still use a little more love — especially when it comes in the form of a product that’s this good. 
Hair & Scalp

Treatments for dry, itchy, flaky scalps that inspire healthier hair growth

Winter: it’s not so great for the hair. Locks can get dry and brittle, and they often resist all efforts to seek the elusive volume at the crown that so many of us long for. And, vexingly, as the season...
Hair & Scalp

Refresh your hair between washes

When you don’t want to spend too much time styling your hair, one of the easiest ways to avoid it — while still ensuring your hair looks good — is to extend your time between styling sessions. This often requires a...
Hair & Scalp Inside Our Brands

EVOLVh InstaVolume Mousse: insider info & styling tips

EVOLVh InstaVolume Volumizing Mousse is an innovative, alcohol-free styling foam that gives hair weightless volume with a soft, clean feel. We talked to EVOLVh founder Boris Oak about what makes this mousse so different; he also shares some great tips for using...
Hair & Scalp Inside Our Brands

EVOLVh WonderBalm: the story behind the ingredients of this stellar frizz fighter

EVOLVh WonderBalm is a silicone-free, fragrance-free serum that nearly defies belief in its ability to fight frizz. To learn more about how WonderBalm’s ingredients and how they outperform silicone, we caught up with EVOLVh's founder, Boris Oak
Hair & Scalp Inside Our Brands

Hair styling tutorial with Reverie: long, wavy hair air-dry

In this video, hairstylist Mandy Wray shows us how to pre-wash, wash, condition, and air-dry long, wavy hair using Reverie: CAKE, EVER, SHAMPOO, CONDITIONER, MILK, RAKE, and MARE.
Hair & Scalp Inside Our Brands

Hair styling tutorial with Reverie: short hair refresh

Want to see Reverie products in action? In this video, hairstylist Lo Shabino shows us how to give short hair a refresh using CAKE, MARE, & RAKE.
Hair & Scalp Inside Our Brands

EVOLVh founder Boris Oak on InstaVolume volumizing haircare

We adore Boris Oak, the creator of our favorite hometown haircare brand, EVOLVh. He always bounces in the door with so much enthusiasm that, when we can all gather for a big bash again, it's clear he’ll need to join...
Hair & Scalp Inside Our Brands

Natural products & styling secrets for curly hair

We asked Michele Scott-Lynch, the founder of Bouclème, to answer the most frequently asked questions of our biggest Bouclème fans. Here, she covers secrets to getting more volume at the crown; making curls last all day; and refreshing curls the...
Hair & Scalp Inside Our Brands

Tips for curls from EVOLVh founder Boris Oak

Much to our delight, EVOLVh’s founder, Boris Oak, popped in for a visit to our SF studio. Even more delightful? He told us his secret to keep curls frizz free. Read on for his tips and an introduction to the...
Hair & Scalp Inside Our Brands

Tricks for more volume from EVOLVh's founder, Boris Oak

EVOLVh does many things well; one of the first things we noticed was how beautifully volumizing their products can be. No crunch, no dryness — just bouncy, shiny, touchable hair. So we had to ask their founder, Boris, “How do...
Hair & Scalp Inside Our Brands

Tricks for better hair color from EVOLVh's founder, Boris Oak

Much to our delight, EVOLVh’s founder, Boris Oak, popped in for a visit last week with some new products that are not only excellent, but also might fall under the “where has this been all my life” category — especially...
Hair & Scalp

Tips for healthy hair and scalp from a top dermatologist

We asked nationally recognized hair loss expert Diane Berson, MD a question that we figured most of you would have: "How can we keep our hair and scalps healthy so that we don't lose our hair in the first place?" 
Hair & Scalp

Frizzy, limp hair: How to tame it

Bradley Crane is not just one of San Francisco's best stylists. He’s also a truly excellent teacher who understands how to break techniques down for real people dealing with real life situations: time-crunched mornings and San Francisco fog, for starters.
Hair & Scalp

Hair loss: What's normal, and when to be concerned

While washing your hair, do you sometimes stop and wonder if so much of it should be going down the drain? We do. So we asked Diane Berson, MD, a leading dermatologist and national hair loss expert, for advice. 
Hair & Scalp Inside Our Brands

How often should you shampoo, and does shampoo stop working?

Shampoo: It seems like it should be the simplest step in hair care, yet contradictory advice about it seems to be coming out of everyone's ears. To clear things up, we approached Josh Rosebrook, celebrity hair stylist.
Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

Herbal infusions: why we love them

Whatever you do, don't just call it "herbal tea."
Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

Omni-Biotic Balance: the immune-support probiotic

Learn all about Balance, Omni-Biotics immune-support probiotic (which also happens to be amazing for constipation and yeast infections).
Body & Mind

Introducing our Holistic offerings

We’ve been strong believers in the link between great skin and everything that lies beneath it since we first opened in 2011: our skin is, after all, often the first thing to reveal what’s going on inside of us. So...
Body & Mind

Dry brushing technique for the lymphatic system

Annee de Mamiel shares a dry brushing technique to give the lymphatic system a boost.
Body & Mind

Meditation for calming the mind

Our friends at Therapy Lab put together this 7-minute guided meditation to usher in a calmer, more peaceful, more grounded moment whenever you need it.
Body & Mind

Holiday stress: a therapist’s suggestions for finding peace

Why does this time of year tend to feel so stressful for so many of us? We asked our favorite therapist, Dr. Chandler Chang — founder of TherapyLab — to not only help explain this, but also help us find a sense...
Body & Mind

What Dara's listening to: classical music for the season

Find out why this playlist could help you take a moment to slow down, focus, and (hopefully) start 2023 off with a sense of peace, joy, and discovery.
Body & Mind

An easy breath exercise from Annee de Mamiel

Annee de Mamiel shares a diaphragmatic breathing exercise — a reminder that, yes, in fact, we could probably breathe a bit more deeply in our everyday lives.
All About Skin Body & Mind

Natural rosacea treatment with herbs

Dr. Anna Hsieh Gold discusses how natural herbal treatments can work with topical solutions to address redness, flushing, and rosacea — and why ROSY works so well.
Body & Mind

A quick guide to our go-to supplements

Looking for internal support for your skin — or your immune system, gut, or mood? Here’s a quick guide to our go-to supplements by category.
Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

de Mamiel's Altitude Bath: what makes it so addictive?

Interview with creator Annee de Mamiel de Mamiel Altitude Bath Soak was designed to showcase the marvelous Altitude Oil in an ideal context: folded into a deeply grounding and calming — yet, somehow, perfectly rejuvenating — salt bath. Here, creator...
Body & Mind

Why breathing is important

Why is our breath so effective at calming us when we're stressed? Dr. Alex Tanner wrote this excellent explanation for us — and shared a simple breathing exercise we love.  
Body & Mind

Stress and skin: tips from Annee de Mamiel

Dara interviews Annee de Mamiel to learn more about this revered skin healer's approach to chronic stress in clinic and her suggestions for home routines.
Body & Mind

Self-esteem and confidence: a psychologist’s reflections

We've noticed lately that many of us seem to feel less confident than usual. It’s come up so frequently in conversations and consultations that we wondered at a recent team meeting, "Is this becoming a worrying trend? And if so,...
All About Skin Body & Mind

Collagen supplements for skin: do they work?

Collagen supplements: do they actually benefit our skin or not? To broaden our lens, we asked Sara Gottfried, MD for her opinion. Our take: collagen supplements aren't the magical answer to all your problems, but studies increasingly indicate that they can benefit skin and joints in particular.
Body & Mind Thursday Notes

A peek into the hidden world of Bach flowers

If you’ve been following us for some time, you may already know how much I love Bach flower remedies. They didn’t sweep me off my feet right away; rather, I was swept off my feet by a beautiful body scrub...
Body & Mind Thursday Notes

Do tinctures really work? Yes. Good ones do.

We have not discussed this, you and I. But I imagine that if you’re not already a devotee of Dr. Anna Gold’s ingestible tinctures, you might view them with a modicum of skepticism: “Are they just another thing for me to...
All About Skin Body & Mind

Diet, skin, & inflammation

Debra Jaliman, MD shared this list of foods and other lifestyle factors that can exacerbate inflammation. Spoiler alert: Red wine is on the list. Tragic, we know.
Body & Mind

Dr. Anna Gold on nail health

When we were looking for advice on encouraging nail health, one of the first people we turned to was, naturally, Dr. Anna Gold: Chinese Medicine views the nails as a window into the health of the body overall.
Body & Mind

Nail health: an Ayurvedic perspective

When we introduced the Bare Hands Dry Gloss Manicure Kit, we wanted to dig deeper into nail health. Dr. Anna Gold provided us with a fascinating perspective on both Eastern and Western approaches to nail health; while discussing nail conditions...
Body & Mind

Mental health during the pandemic and how self-care fits in: a psychologist's perspective

Chandler Chang, PhD, is the Founder & Clinical Director of Therapy Lab, a California practice that offers science-based teletherapy from the comfort of home. You may have heard about Dr. Chang in the LA Times or on Cheddar TV; our...
Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

Les Fleurs de Bach: the story & devotion behind this brand

We’ve been the exclusive US partners of Elixirs & Co and their Les Fleurs de Bach brand since our founder met their team in Paris in 2015 — after having stumbled upon their absolutely perfect body scrub in a shop in the Marais....
Body & Mind

Perimenopause and Menopause Symptoms: Q&A video with Tamara Neuhaus, MD

We’ve been fascinated by the topic of perimenopause and menopause for years — as have many of you, given how popular this interview about menopausal skincare (one of our personal favorites) has been. As always, we found ourselves wanting to...
Body & Mind

A simple exercise to support love, compassion, and joy

Try this invigorating exercise, a yoga-class favorite, to focus on your heart—your center of love, compassion, and joy. (Kids will love this one, too.)
Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

Natural deodorant: how it works, and why it's worth it

Between its three stellar, distinct, and incredibly efficacious natural deodorant formulas — Hoppin’ Fresh, Base Layer, and Sublime Sage — Ursa Major is likely to be the one brand that will make you switch over from your “eh, it may...
Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

Stress & anxiety relief through herbal remedies: Dr. Anna Gold on BALANCE

The past few months have been trying times for everyone, filled with stress and anxiety for many. We interviewed Dr. Anna Hsieh Gold, one of the Bay Area’s most sought after practitioners of TCM and the creator of Dr. Anna...
Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

Boosting the immune system naturally with herbs: Dr. Anna Gold weighs in

Virus prevention on your mind? Wouldn’t you know it — ours, too. We interviewed Dr. Anna Hsieh Gold, one of the Bay Area’s most sought after practitioners of TCM and the creator of Dr. Anna Gold (formerly Arcana) herbal tinctures,...
All About Skin Body & Mind

Perimenopause and menopause: an OB/GYN weighs in on skin and body symptoms

Tamara Neuhaus, MD is an OB/GYN who specializes in menopause and perimenopause at The Cusp, where she serves as Chief Medical Officer.   Hormones wreak havoc on skin, particularly once women reach their late forties and fifties: Perimenopause and menopause...
Body & Mind

Simple meditation instructions from Juniper

Juniper Meditation Center shares their simple steps for meditation that can be done on a daily basis for a calmer and more disciplined mind.
Body & Mind

Breathing exercise for better sleep: Viloma Pranayama

Pranayama is the yogic exercise of controlling the breath. Viloma Pranayama is a simple exercise that can be done at bedtime — or anytime — to achieve a sense of calm and balance.
Body & Mind

All about the lymphatic system and lymphatic drainage

Lisa Brinker is the go-to Manual Lymphatic Drainage expert in San Francisco — the one who is consistently recommended by other massage therapists and bodyworkers for her particular expertise in this specific discipline. Since we've recently introduced products that speak...
Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

How to use your Sea Soak & Straight Up Seaweed as a fertilizer after your bath

Our seaweed forager, Ian, tell us how we can use the kelp from our Sea Soak and Straight Up Seaweed products as a fertilizer once we've taken our baths.
All About Skin Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

Kristina Holey & Anna Gold on the Dr. Anna Gold Tinctures

Dr. Anna Hsieh Gold, the creator of a line of herbal tinctures, is a key collaborator of star facialist Kristina Holey's. Here, these two superwomen discuss their work together and how Dr. Gold's tinctures fit in. 
Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

Mija Superstar: behind the supplement with Sarah Koszyk, MA, RDN

MIJA Superstar was developed by a registered dietitian with serious credentials: Sarah Koszyk, MA, RDN is one of the most well-respected nutritionists in the Bay Area. Naturally, we were full of questions for her. 
Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

Mija Superstar smoothie recipes

We asked Sarah Koszyk, MA, RDN to share some of her favorite smoothie recipes with us — because one of the best things about her Mija Superstar supplement is how nicely it works in your morning smoothie. 
Body & Mind

Astrologer Rose Theodora on what to expect as 2019 comes to a close

As we approach the end of the decade, we asked celebrated astrologer Rose Theodora to tell us what to expect from an astrological perspective.
Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

Traditional Chinese Medicine 101 with Dr. Anna Gold

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is one of the oldest forms of medicine; it’s been practiced for over 5,000 years. Even more awe-inspiring, to us, is the fact that it is not only still widely practiced, but also increasingly used to...
Body & Mind

Rose Theodora on astrology basics & Scorpio season

Rose Theodora is a celebrated astrologer who currently resides in Spain. We're thrilled that she will visit Ayla for a residency at the end of October — just in time for Scorpio season.
Body & Mind

How stress affects your skin

According to Dr. Amy Wechsler, one of a handful of doctors in the United States board-certified in both dermatology and psychiatry, stress can have a major impact on the condition of our skin — particularly as we age.
Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

Happy Tea: A closer look at Ayla + MyHavtorn sea buckthorn tea

We fell hopelessly in love with the delicate, health-boosting sea buckthorn leaf tea that our friends at MyHavtorn make from the sea buckthorn trees on their Swedish farm. So we asked them if we could buy all of it. 
Brand Spotlights Body & Mind

Brand Spotlight: Les Fleurs de Bach

We didn’t know much about Bach flower essences before we stumbled upon Les Fleurs de Bach during a recent trip to Paris, but now that we do, we just have to tell you about them.
Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

Fragrance 101 with the creator of Ellis Brooklyn

Ellis Brooklyn was created by Bee Shapiro, a chic Williamsburg mom who happens to be a style columnist for The New York Times. When we wanted to get a little Fragrance 101, Bee was naturally the first resource we thought of. 
Body & Mind

Ian Marber on nutrition basics — and his daily diet

Leading nutrition consultant Ian Marber represents a voice of reason in the world of nutrition, a realm that can be confusingly contradictory. During his visit to our SF studio, he helped us reset with a few pieces of advice for everyone.
All About Skin Body & Mind

Gua Sha facial tutorial

In this tutorial, you'll learn a simple facial Gua Sha routine that you can perform on yourself at home with our rainbow fluorite tool. 
Fun with Color

Eye makeup tutorial with Eye of Horus: liquid & pencil eyeliners

Our makeup artist, Melissa, shows us how to apply Eye of Horus pencil and liquid liners in one eye makeup tutorial.
Fun with Color

Manasi7's Summer 2023 Makeup Tutorial

We asked Susanne to create a 2023 summer makeup tutorial for us, and she graciously sent us this detailed list of easy-to-follow instructions.
Fun with Color

Top makeup tips for natural-looking brows

We admire makeup pro Melissa McMillan’s brilliance with all things color-related, and she has a particular gift with brows. We asked her to share some of her top tips for filling them in.
Fun with Color

Fall 2022 makeup tips from Manasi7's founder

Susanne Manasi Persson is a Stockholm-based makeup artist who’s our oracle for seasonal makeup trends: everything she suggests — and creates through Manasi7 — is utterly modern, sophisticated, and wearable. The surprise this season? Go for it and pair a...
Fun with Color Inside Our Brands

Kosas Revealer Foundation Shade Finder

If you're already a fan of the Kosas Revealer Concealer, this shade guide can help you figure out which Kosas Revealer Foundation shade is right for you.
Fun with Color Inside Our Brands

Manasi7 makeup tutorial: summery makeup, all year long

Susanne Manasi Persson is a Stockholm-based makeup artist whose approach is deeply thoughtful and refreshingly boundary-crushing. She created this fun summer makeup tutorial for us featuring Manasi7 colors.
Fun with Color Inside Our Brands

Olio e Osso: the new January 2021 collection at Ayla

Olio E Osso is a small, Portland-based company that makes beautifully simple and versatile skincare and makeup products. Olio E Osso’s founder, Paola LaMorticella, has been the go-to makeup artist and stylist for top athletes for the past 25 years. In...
Fun with Color Inside Our Brands

Summer-to-fall makeup tips with Susanne Manasi Persson

Manasi7 creator, makeup artist Susanne Manasi Persson, shares her top tips on the summer-to-fall transition — which can be a tricky one from a makeup perspective. 
Fun with Color

A guide to our favorite healthy mascaras

We're a very, very picky bunch; you may know this already. It's one of the reasons why we keep our product collection so tightly edited. Another reason is that we don't want to overwhelm you unnecessarily with choice — but still,...
Fun with Color Inside Our Brands

Brand spotlight: Olio E Osso

Olio E Osso’s founder, Paola LaMorticella, has been the go-to makeup artist and stylist for top athletes for the past 25 years. Here, she shares application tips for her best-selling Tinted Balms along with various secrets about her fascinating life.
Fun with Color

Makeup tutorial: Kosås Color & Light duos

Want to learn how to use the beautiful Color & Light duos from Kosås? At Ayla's SF studio, makeup artist Melissa McMillan demonstrates the use of these palettes featuring wearable, blendable blush, bronzer, and highlighter colors. 
Fun with Color Inside Our Brands

Kosas Shade Finder

Kosas put together a brilliant chart to help you figure out which lipstick and Color & Light palettes (Creme or Pressed) might work best for you. Still torn? Call us.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Perioral & Periorbital Dermatitis: Treatment Tips from Kristina Holey

Kristina Holey — Marie Veronique's Director of Skin Health, and a perioral dermatitis whisperer — agreed to share some of her go-to treatments with us. You’ll want these tips.
Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

Herbal infusions: why we love them

Whatever you do, don't just call it "herbal tea."
Inside Our Brands

Dr. Macrene Alexiades shares her Macrene Actives routine

Dr Macrene Alexades discusses the exact way she uses the Macrene Actives lineup on her own skin. No one knows these products better than she does, so it’s a method you may want to follow. 
Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

Omni-Biotic Balance: the immune-support probiotic

Learn all about Balance, Omni-Biotics immune-support probiotic (which also happens to be amazing for constipation and yeast infections).
Hair & Scalp Inside Our Brands

Top natural curly hair care tips from Bouclème

It can take a good amount of experimentation to get curly hair care just right. We asked Michele Scott-Lynch, the founder of Bouclème, for a curly hair care primer — including guidelines for different types of curls. 
Inside Our Brands

TWELVE Scalp Cure: behind the formula

Dara: We’ve been pestering you about a scalp care product ever since you first gave us a tour of the SF Botanical garden and pointed out specific plants that help promote hair growth! What prompted you to create The Scalp...
Inside Our Brands

Omni-Biotic Hetox: the story behind this powerful probiotic

A few members of our team — and many of you — have become full-fledged, fervent devotees of Omni-Biotic’s wondrous Stress Release probiotic supplement: it truly delivers improvements in cognition, mood, and focus, and it has multiple clinical studies to...
Inside Our Brands

Introducing MyHavtorn’s Botanical Oil Serum

  MyHavtorn is a brand that’s been very close to our hearts since we became their first US retail partners ten years ago. While “farm to face” had a brief, trendy moment, what we love about MyHavtorn is that they...
Inside Our Brands

Hyperpigmentation: how marine ingredients can help

Hyperpigmentation is one of those skin conditions that increasing numbers of us struggle with, and it can be downright diabolical in many ways.
Inside Our Brands

Hormonal skincare: how flare-ups during pregnancy, menopause, and ovulation are related

Annee de Mamiel explains how a variety of hormonally-related skin challenges are related — and how her Phyto-P Elixir works across all of them.
Inside Our Brands

Ava Isa Every Morning: behind the formula

Sara Dudley, CEO of The Sunscreen Company, is one of our favorite sunscreen experts: she really knows what she's talking about, and she tells it like it is. Here, Sara and Dara dig into her newest product, Ava Isa Every Morning...
Inside Our Brands

Tips for the smoothest shave from Dr. Natalie

Dr. Natalie Lindner shares her top tips for a smooth shave that leaves you with skin that’s soft and soothed, too.
Inside Our Brands

de Mamiel Salvation Body Oil: behind the formula

Find out what makes de Mamiel's Salvation Body Oil so special in Dara’s conversation with Annee.
Inside Our Brands

Summer hair: the secret to a great air-dry

So we asked Boris Oak, who shared these game-changing golden rules of hair styling, to tell us the secret to a great air-dry.
Inside Our Brands

Reverie EROS hair mask: behind the formula

Find out how and why Reverie created their Eros hair mask in our interview with Hillary Markenson.
Inside Our Brands

European pharmacists: what makes them different, and how that translates to skincare

Dr. Pedro Catalá of TWELVE Beauty describes his European pharmacy training, one of the credentials that makes him unique.
Inside Our Brands

Dr. Macrene Alexiades on her Skyros body care products

We've long loved Macrene Actives formulas on our faces, but we wished our bodies could get the same attention. Now, thanks to the Skyros collection, we can.
Inside Our Brands

27 Rosiers: French skincare with a holistic perspective

Why have beauty supplements been so popular in France for so long? For a Parisian perspective, we spoke with Kevin, the co-founder of 27 Rosiers.
Inside Our Brands

Marie Veronique on healthy skin while traveling

Marie Veronique discusses how we can think about our skin’s needs as we travel, especially as the weather gets warmer through spring and summer — and in general.
Inside Our Brands

Augustinus Bader: The Interview

Get an in-depth look at Augustinus Bader in our interview with the team at Augustinus Bader HQ and Professor Bader.
Inside Our Brands

TWELVE Dara’s Water, decoded

"I would like to decipher for you, in plain Spanglish, why Dara's Water is the black horse in the cleansing category." Pedro, we can't wait.
Inside Our Brands

Natalie's Smooth and Better Aging Body Lotions

Natalie's Cosmetics Smooth and Better Aging Body Lotions are the brand's best sellers, and we're thrilled to have them at Ayla. Learn more about these special formulas in Dara's interview with Natalie.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Marie Veronique's Multi-Retinol Night Emulsion: Q&A with Kristina Holey

We had so much fun at our Instagram Live Q&A with Kristina Holey, the Director of Skin Health at Marie Veronique. Missed it? Watch the video here.
Inside Our Brands

Dara's Oil: What Marie Veronique loves about it

We love Dara's Oil, obviously. But have you wondered why Marie Veronique loves it? We have…so we finally asked her.
Inside Our Brands

Kahina Giving Beauty: one of our first partners

Kahina’s founder, Katharine L’Heureux, tells us about her journey as a pioneer in organic skincare — and what inspires her ever-forward-thinking mind these days.
Inside Our Brands

de Mamiel Multi-Active Hydramist: behind the formula

Find out why Annee de Mamiel upgraded her mist formula— and why she thinks her products are never fully put to bed.
Hair & Scalp Inside Our Brands

From hair loss to hair longevity: EVOLVh Better Roots

Scalp care has been (deservedly) trending for some time, but we think scalps could still use a little more love — especially when it comes in the form of a product that’s this good. 
Inside Our Brands

Marie Veronique Multi-Retinol Night Emulsion: why it's so good

We're thrilled to have Marie Veronique's Multi-Retinol Night Emulsion on our shelves. To find out why Marie herself loves it so much, check out her musings on our blog.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Why we need eye cream: an expert opinion from Dr. Macrene Alexiades

Do we really need to use eye cream? Star dermatologist Dr. Macrene Alexiades fills us in — and tells us what makes her new High Performance Eye Cream so special.
Inside Our Brands

de Mamiel Soothe Bath Soak: the story behind it

de Mamiel Soothe Bath Soak was designed to showcase the stress- and anxiety-relieving Soothe formula in the form of a calming salt bath. Learn the story behind it directly from its creator in Dara’s interview with Annee.
Inside Our Brands

TWELVE Plant Perfection: behind the formula

An interview with Dr. Pedro Catalá Our friend, Dr. Pedro Catalá, recently told us, “No one is spared from the loss of skin flexibility and firmness…and unfortunately, the use of mobile devices and less-than-optimal posture further aggravate the situation.” We...
Inside Our Brands

A guide to masks from Luzern

Why are masks so good for us, and what’s the best way to fit them into our schedules? We asked Lisamarie DeLucia, Luzern’s resident skin expert, to weigh in.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Marie Veronique on hormonal acne

What is hormonal acne, exactly, and what can be done about it? We figured the perfect person to dig into this would be Marie-Veronique Nadeau.
Inside Our Brands

Marie Veronique protocols for hormonal acne

Wondering what products to use for hormonal acne? Check out these protocols from Marie Veronique.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

de Mamiel's Fixes for stress — and how to know what your skin really needs

An interview with Annee de Mamiel Every batch of de Mamiel products we sell passes through creator Annee de Mamiel's hands, and we can tell. Her line of "Fixes" represents 13 years of work with chronic stress and its impact on...
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Should we change our skincare with the seasons?

As seasons shift, many of us find that our skincare routines could use a little adjustment. Dara asked Pedro to weigh in on the topic.
Inside Our Brands

The story behind de Mamiel Eye Fix

de Mamiel Essential Eye Fix is one of those introductions that make you think, “Yes! This is exactly what this product lineup needed!”
Inside Our Brands

Hand care from Natalie's Cosmetics

Natalie's Cosmetics has hand care! Find out what prompted Natalie to create her two new products and learn what makes their formulas special in her interview with Dara.
Fun with Color Inside Our Brands

Kosas Revealer Foundation Shade Finder

If you're already a fan of the Kosas Revealer Concealer, this shade guide can help you figure out which Kosas Revealer Foundation shade is right for you.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Marie Veronique on why skin barrier repair matters

Marie Veronique + Kristina Holey's Barrier Repair Serum and Balancing Hypotonic are longtime best sellers. Here, Marie digs into the reasons why — and why skin barrier health is so important.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Different ways stress affects the skin — and how de Mamiel's Fixes can help

Stress takes a variety of pathways that result in different symptoms on the skin. Learn more about what form stress can take on the skin, and what you can do about it, in Dara’s interview with Annee de Mamiel.
Inside Our Brands

de Mamiel Gravity Fix: behind the formula

Annee de Mamiel has such impeccable timing that we sometimes wonder if she might be able to see the future. She is, after all, preternaturally gifted in many ways, with an ability to not only treat the skin on a...
Inside Our Brands

de Mamiel Lip Rx: behind the formula of the new Rosey Lip Balm

We were thrilled when we heard that de Mamiel's Rosey Lip Balm was back, in a formula that was even better: Lip Rx. Find out how Annee went about tweaking her lip treatment formula in this interview with Dara.
Inside Our Brands

Brand Spotlight: Natalie's Cosmetics

Dr. Natalie Lindner saw a need for science-focused body care products that are as rich in active ingredients as high-end facial serums. We're so proud to be the first US retailer for this unique brand.
Inside Our Brands

New scalp care and hair care solutions

A quick review of our latest additions from Augustinus Bader & TEK
Inside Our Brands

TWELVE Beauty Glow Island: behind the formula

Glow Island from TWELVE Beauty isn’t like any other product we’ve seen. In the words of its formulator, Pedro Catalá, it’s like “an Instagram filter without coverage: it gives you a nice, subtle tone without makeup for a quick, fresh-faced...
Inside Our Brands

de Mamiel seasonal face oil: Summer

de Mamiel’s seasonal facial oils are a great example of creator Annee de Mamiel’s unique approach to treating the skin; read on to learn about the Summer Oil.
Inside Our Brands

Our quick guide to Luzern's Serums

Luzern's serums are some of the best targeted treatments we've ever experienced. Not sure where to start? Here’s what we love about each one.
Inside Our Brands

Marie Veronique on sunscreen

Sunscreen is very close to Marie-Veronique Nadeau’s heart. Here, she weighs in on must-know topics in sun protection with her signature thoroughness and wit.
Inside Our Brands

Lagom: a Swedish philosophy we love

Lagom (lah-gum) is a Swedish term that means “not too little, not too much”: it’s all about balance, and it’s infused throughout Swedish culture. We see it in our own Guide, Emi, whose Swedish family’s influence can be seen in...
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Diet and Skin: a top dermatologist’s perspective

The brilliant Dr. Macrene Alexiades chats with Dara about not only what foods to avoid in cases of acne, rosacea, or skin aging, but also what to reach for.
Inside Our Brands

Clinically-tested body care from The Organic Pharmacy

The Organic Pharmacy, founded by pharmacist and homeopath Margo Marrone, is one of the few brands that have been on our shelves since we opened our virtual doors in 2011. In case you don’t already know their story, The Organic...
Inside Our Brands

de Mamiel Spring Oil: behind the formula

de Mamiel’s seasonal facial oils are a great example of creator Annee de Mamiel’s unique approach to treating the skin; read on to learn how she thought about the creation of the Spring Oil.
Inside Our Brands

Addio Cleansing Oil and Ganache Balm: tips from Olio E Osso’s founder

Olio E Osso’s founder, Paola LaMorticella, has been the go-to makeup artist and stylist for top athletes for the past 25 years. Here, Paola chats with Dara about her two newest introductions.
Inside Our Brands

Video introduction: Festina Lente Home

Festina Lente Home was born just as the pandemic started to spike for the first time in Italy, when everyone started to spend a lot more time at home — and scent took on a whole new level of mood-improving power...
Brand Spotlights Inside Our Brands

Brand Spotlight: Festina Lente Home

Festina Lente Home was developed by Marta Mondelli, an actress and writer who worked with one of the best noses in Italy to create scents that are both comforting and modern. Learn about the brand here.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Dry & dehydrated skin: how to treat it

Tussling with dry and/or dehydrated skin? Marie covers the difference between transient and chronic dry skin, types of ingredients to look for, and how to most effectively layer products for better skin nourishment.
Inside Our Brands

Winter skin tips from MyHavtorn of Sweden

For some winter-skin inspiration, we asked MyHavtorn co-founders Robin and Ingrid to tell us which products they're using most these days during the long Swedish winter.
Inside Our Brands

How to get healthy, glowing skin with a simple routine

Dr. Pedro Catala shares his quick tips to get healthy, glowing skin using a simple routine. He also includes a trick to keep skin hydrated under your sunscreen, all day long.
Inside Our Brands

de Mamiel Winter Oil: how it works with the seasons

An interview with creator Annee de Mamiel A frosty winter sunrise at Annee's farm in England Below, founder Annee de Mamiel describes the development process of her Winter Facial Oil, the first seasonal oil she ever created: she blends each batch herself,...
Inside Our Brands

27 Rosiers on the perfect pair for dry skin: Ma Creme & Glow For Good

One of the things we love most about 27 Rosiers is that their products’ textures are uncommonly beautiful — and as a result, they turn skincare into a simple daily ritual that you’ll genuinely look forward to. Co-founders Stephanie and...
Inside Our Brands

YÜLI's perspective: Gua Sha for face and body, and which oils to use with it

YÜLI co-founder Eddie Zhao shares his perspective on Gua Sha for both body and face, and which oils he finds work best with these techniques. 
Inside Our Brands

TWELVE Beauty body care: an inside look

Find out why Dr. Pedro Catalá decided to expand his TWELVE lineup to include daily body care.
Inside Our Brands

de Mamiel Pure Calm Cleansing Dew: insider tips from Annee de Mamiel

Annee de Mamiel shares all of her Cleansing Dew secrets: how she developed it, how she suggests using it, and how it can be used as a redness-relieving mask, too.
Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

de Mamiel's Altitude Bath: what makes it so addictive?

Interview with creator Annee de Mamiel de Mamiel Altitude Bath Soak was designed to showcase the marvelous Altitude Oil in an ideal context: folded into a deeply grounding and calming — yet, somehow, perfectly rejuvenating — salt bath. Here, creator...
Inside Our Brands

Bare Hands: the story behind The Natural Pedicure

Read about Bare Hands founder Suzanne Shade’s journey as she experienced instant success with her first product and developed her follow-up hit, The Natural Pedicure.
Inside Our Brands

Winter wellness secrets from Mette Picaut

M Picaut's founder, Mette, shares her secrets to keeping skin, body, and spirit healthy through the cold winter months in Sweden.
Inside Our Brands Thursday Notes

How we found Fueguia 1833

A few years ago, I happened upon a shop in New York that I’d never seen before. It was in a building set apart from others, painted a beautiful, deep shade of blue, and on the door was printed “Fueguia...
Inside Our Brands

Introducing Fueguia 1833

Watch this beautiful video for a greater understanding of just how special this fragrance brand is.
Inside Our Brands

Brand Spotlight: Fueguia 1833

Fueguia 1833 is an artisanal laboratory that creates limited-edition perfumes using a palette of over 1200 botanical ingredients — some of which have never been used in perfumery before. The brand is named for the meeting of three figures in...
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Different acids, enzymes, and retinol in skin care

What are the different acids to look for in a formula, and why? How are they different from enzymes? And what about retinol? Marie Veronique makes sense of it all.
Inside Our Brands

de Mamiel Autumn Oil: how to use it

Annee de Mamiel describes treating skin seasonally in clinic and her suggestions for a home routine with the wonderful de Mamiel Autumn Facial Oil.
Inside Our Brands

de Mamiel seasonal face oil: Autumn

de Mamiel’s seasonal facial oils are a great example of creator Annee de Mamiel’s unique approach to treating the skin; read on to learn how the Autumn Facial Oil came to be.
Inside Our Brands

Rose and oat extracts for skin

Formulator Dr. Pedro Catalá describes the benefits of rose and oat extracts in skincare — and why he chose to use both in the product he made just for us, Dara's Water.
Inside Our Brands

MyHavtorn: 2021 sea buckthorn harvest update

Every year, we look forward to the sea buckthorn harvest update from Robin and Ingrid at the MyHavtorn farm in Bollebygd, Sweden.
Inside Our Brands

End-of-summer skincare: a top dermatologist's perspective

Lately, we’ve received a lot of questions about the best ways to get end-of-summer skin back into shape. We asked Dr. Macrene Alexiades to provide us with her expert perspective.
Brand Spotlights Inside Our Brands

Brand Spotlight: J.M. Generals

Jeffrey Monteiro tells us how J.M. Generals began — and the lengths to which he goes in order to stay true to his original vision of a business that deeply integrates design, technique, and sustainable values.
Inside Our Brands

BioRecept's founder on switching skincare products, rosacea, and other FAQs

Biorecept founder Anne Dupouy-Camet discusses skincare with Dara: why switching products can be helpful, what she suggests for rosacea and periomenopausal skin, and whether or not to exfoliate.
Fun with Color Inside Our Brands

Manasi7 makeup tutorial: summery makeup, all year long

Susanne Manasi Persson is a Stockholm-based makeup artist whose approach is deeply thoughtful and refreshingly boundary-crushing. She created this fun summer makeup tutorial for us featuring Manasi7 colors.
Inside Our Brands

Orcé Cosmetics: Foundation, Setting Powder, and Perfecting Makeup Sponge for a flawless finish

Yu-Chen Shih created Orcé to celebrate a broader range of Asian skin tones with specific makeup shades that weren't offered by other beauty brands. Its Come Closer Foundation also works across a number of non-Asian skin tones and, in the...
Inside Our Brands

The story behind Dara's Water

Our founder, Dara, had been looking for a cleansing water that could easily clean every (truly, every) skin type for over ten years. To our delight, TWELVE founder Dr. Pedro Catalá created Dara’s Water: everything we’d been looking for, and more. 
Inside Our Brands

de Mamiel Dewy Facial Mist: behind the formula

Dara interviews Annee de Mamiel, creator of de Mamiel's Dewy Skin Mist, to learn the secrets behind this super-hydrating formula.
Inside Our Brands

TWELVE's Charcoal Peace Calming Cleanser: the story behind the product

It’s always exciting when TWELVE Beauty introduces a new product, so it came as no surprise when multiple TWELVE fans called us to ask, “Is the new Charcoal Peace Calming Cleanser here yet?” while it was in transit from Valencia...
Inside Our Brands

Dr. Pedro Catalá: Ingredients to look for when going outdoors

One of our favorite formulation and ingredient experts is Dr. Pedro Catalá, founder and formulator of TWELVE Beauty. He knows his stuff: Pedro has not only a pharmacy degree, but also a PhD in Natural Product Formulation, a subject that...
Inside Our Brands

Luzern: innovation update from one of the originals in clean beauty

We always love the originals — the ones who see the truths around the corner before they become trends. They remain endlessly fascinating and inspiring to us because they keep thinking ahead of the masses, exploring those truths more deeply...
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Congested skin & clogged pores: advice from Kristina Holey

We asked famed facialist Kristina Holey how she thinks about congested skin and clogged pores: why are so many of us struggling with them, and what can we do? Read on for her expert perspective.
Inside Our Brands

LIHA's unique & beautiful approach to fragrance

LIHA's beautiful British products blend West African botanicals with traditional English aromatherapy in formulas that feature carefully sourced ingredients, multipurpose usage possibilities, and a keen focus on sustainability from start to finish. In this quick video chat between our founder, Dara, and...
Inside Our Brands

Ellis Brooklyn's founder on SALT, BEE, and Iso Gamma Super

Ellis Brooklyn was created by Bee Shapiro, a chic mom who happens to be a style columnist for The New York Times. These sophisticated, multilayered scents, developed in collaboration with the perfumer behind Byredo and other star perfumers, take non-toxic fragrance to...
Inside Our Brands

LIHA: the story behind the brand

Liha and Abi, the two friends behind the LIHA brand, are not only deeply thoughtful but also candid and fun, which makes learning more about their entrepreneurial story all the more delightful. 
Featured All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Kristina Holey on skincare routines at home

In the view of famed facialist Kristina Holey, strategic at-home skincare has always been — and always will be — much more important than in-person treatments. Here, she shares specific practices that we can all adopt in our home care routines.
Hair & Scalp Inside Our Brands

EVOLVh InstaVolume Mousse: insider info & styling tips

EVOLVh InstaVolume Volumizing Mousse is an innovative, alcohol-free styling foam that gives hair weightless volume with a soft, clean feel. We talked to EVOLVh founder Boris Oak about what makes this mousse so different; he also shares some great tips for using...
Hair & Scalp Inside Our Brands

EVOLVh WonderBalm: the story behind the ingredients of this stellar frizz fighter

EVOLVh WonderBalm is a silicone-free, fragrance-free serum that nearly defies belief in its ability to fight frizz. To learn more about how WonderBalm’s ingredients and how they outperform silicone, we caught up with EVOLVh's founder, Boris Oak
Inside Our Brands

White genepi, TWELVE Beauty's hidden antioxidant hero

White genepi is a powerful antioxidant that's found in the majority of TWELVE Beauty's products. We asked TWELVE creator and master formulator, Dr. Pedro Catalá, to tell us why white genepi deserves a headline of its own. 
Inside Our Brands

Bach flower baths: a simple way to enjoy these essences

A bath with Bach flowers can feel like a spiritual hug — and it's so easy. Here, our founder, Dara, and the founder of Les Fleurs de Bach, Gérard Wolf, discuss the practice of bathing with Bach flowers.
Inside Our Brands

Astaxanthin, a low-key star of YULI's Ambrosia Beauty Nectar

One of our favorite under-the-radar antioxidants, astaxanthin, happens to be one of the key ingredients in one of our favorite products, YÜLI’s Ambrosia Beauty Nectar. Here, YÜLI co-founder Eddie Zhao tells us what he loves about this ingredient.
Inside Our Brands

Facial massage with de Mamiel's Cleansing Balm

de Mamiel Restorative Cleansing Balm is a favorite for our entire team. We asked our esthetician, Sarah, to put together a video to show us how to use it for a deeply relaxing and restorative facial massage.
Inside Our Brands

MyHavtorn's Liquid Hand & Body Wash: an inside look

MyHavtorn’s Sea Buckthorn Soap has been a sensation at Ayla: it seems nearly impossible to keep it in stock. What we are equally excited about is its liquid version, the new MyHavtorn Liquid Hand & Body Wash — offered exclusively...
Hair & Scalp Inside Our Brands

Hair styling tutorial with Reverie: long, wavy hair air-dry

In this video, hairstylist Mandy Wray shows us how to pre-wash, wash, condition, and air-dry long, wavy hair using Reverie: CAKE, EVER, SHAMPOO, CONDITIONER, MILK, RAKE, and MARE.
Hair & Scalp Inside Our Brands

Hair styling tutorial with Reverie: short hair refresh

Want to see Reverie products in action? In this video, hairstylist Lo Shabino shows us how to give short hair a refresh using CAKE, MARE, & RAKE.
Inside Our Brands

Blue light and skin: Dr. Pedro Catalá on antioxidant protection

Pedro Catalá— founder and formulator of TWELVE Beauty — is one of the most thoroughly trained founder-formulators we know; he holds a pharmacy degree, a Master's degree in Botany, and a PhD in Natural Product Formulation. As one beauty editor put it,...
Fun with Color Inside Our Brands

Olio e Osso: the new January 2021 collection at Ayla

Olio E Osso is a small, Portland-based company that makes beautifully simple and versatile skincare and makeup products. Olio E Osso’s founder, Paola LaMorticella, has been the go-to makeup artist and stylist for top athletes for the past 25 years. In...
Inside Our Brands

Activist Manuka Honey: Frequently asked questions

We caught up with Activist co-founder Gabrielle before her family left for their annual trip back to New Zealand to ask a few frequently asked questions about their phenomenal honey.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Face oils — or creams and lotions?

We’ve written many times of our love of the combination of a hydrating serum with a moisturizing facial oil in our email newsletter. The face serum + face oil combination (like Dara's own favorite combination, shown above) isn’t necessarily better...
Inside Our Brands

How to wash your face: A top derm dishes

Washing your face: not so basic. Dr. Macrene Alexiades pointed out to us that improper cleansing methods and products can cause unnecessary harm to skin. 
Inside Our Brands

Maskne solutions from Luzern Labs

Luzern’s head of education, Lisamarie DeLucia, recently shared the brand's thoughtful perspective on maskne with us; read on for her top tips on keeping skin healthy these days.
Inside Our Brands

Two of Dr. Pedro Catalá's favorite products from TWELVE right now

Don't you often want to know what a founder's favorite products are? At the start of a long winter, TWELVE founder Dr. Pedro Catalá leans on the Ideal Rebalancing Facial Serum and Intelligent Frontier Facial Oil.
Inside Our Brands

Happy Tea: 2020 production update from MyHavtorn

We are delighted that this year’s batch is finally here, and to celebrate, Robin and Ingrid shared some pictures of the 2020 Happy Tea harvest and production. 
Inside Our Brands

MyHavtorn's Sea Buckthorn Soap: an inside look

For many, spring 2020 heralded a time of slowing down. For Robin Johansson, co-founder of MyHavtorn, it was time to make soap — which we couldn't have been happier about. 
Inside Our Brands

Bare Hands Dry Gloss Manicure Tutorials

Bare Hands creator Suzanne Shade teaches our team member, Ellen, how to use the Dry Gloss Manicure Kit with her dominant hand as well as her non-dominant hand.
Inside Our Brands

Kahina’s founder on the myriad uses of Moroccan Rose Water

Katharine Phillips L’Heureux started Kahina after a trip to Morocco in 2007, where she learned that argan oil — rich in vitamin E, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids — has great calming, hydrating, anti-aging effects.  We’ve been fans of Kahina...
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Dr. Macrene Alexiades on dermatological procedures and daily skincare

Dr. Macrene Alexiades has long been an Ayla inspiration for many reasons, starting with her list of accomplishments. She has a BA, MD, and PhD in genetics from Harvard, where she was a Fulbright scholar; a bustling dermatology practice on...
Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

Les Fleurs de Bach: the story & devotion behind this brand

We’ve been the exclusive US partners of Elixirs & Co and their Les Fleurs de Bach brand since our founder met their team in Paris in 2015 — after having stumbled upon their absolutely perfect body scrub in a shop in the Marais....
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

TWELVE's Dr. Pedro Catalá on Healthy Skin Barrier Function

Shifts in temperature and humidity can lead to changes in the way your skin’s barrier functions: during these times, skin has to work harder to stay in balance, particularly where hydration is concerned. This is a frequent struggle in the...
Inside Our Brands

The Ayla Sea Soak: Reef Check update

We’re proud to donate 5% of all our Sea Soak sales to Reef Check Foundation, an incredible “citizen science” nonprofit that educates and empowers anyone who’s SCUBA certified to help with marine conservation efforts. Reef Check has chapters in 40...
Inside Our Brands

MyHavtorn: 2020 harvest update

Every year, we look forward to the harvest update from Robin and Ingrid at the MyHavtorn farm in Bollebygd, Sweden. Read their latest news below, and to learn more about the harvest in general (it's fascinating!), check out this interview...
Inside Our Brands

Sea buckthorn harvest time at the MyHavtorn farm

MyHavtorn's sea buckthorn products are fresher, purer, and packed with more sea buckthorn than any others we've tried. Want to know more about how these berries are grown? 
Inside Our Brands

Dr. Pedro Catalá on TWELVE Clear Beginning Hand Spray

When COVID-19 swept the world, many cosmetics manufacturers pitched in by making hand sanitizers to alleviate shortages. TWELVE’s founder, Dr. Pedro Catalá, wanted to help, too — but in typical Pedro style, he wanted to make the best hand solution...
Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

Natural deodorant: how it works, and why it's worth it

Between its three stellar, distinct, and incredibly efficacious natural deodorant formulas — Hoppin’ Fresh, Base Layer, and Sublime Sage — Ursa Major is likely to be the one brand that will make you switch over from your “eh, it may...
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

A natural remedy for blackheads: Dr. Pedro Catalá presents a kinder, gentler solution

A quick Google search for “blackhead removal” will reveal a variety of devices ranging from those that look fairly medieval to those that look like a miniature Dyson vacuum cleaner. In our view, none of them will be the answer...
Hair & Scalp Inside Our Brands

EVOLVh founder Boris Oak on InstaVolume volumizing haircare

We adore Boris Oak, the creator of our favorite hometown haircare brand, EVOLVh. He always bounces in the door with so much enthusiasm that, when we can all gather for a big bash again, it's clear he’ll need to join...
Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

Stress & anxiety relief through herbal remedies: Dr. Anna Gold on BALANCE

The past few months have been trying times for everyone, filled with stress and anxiety for many. We interviewed Dr. Anna Hsieh Gold, one of the Bay Area’s most sought after practitioners of TCM and the creator of Dr. Anna...
Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

Boosting the immune system naturally with herbs: Dr. Anna Gold weighs in

Virus prevention on your mind? Wouldn’t you know it — ours, too. We interviewed Dr. Anna Hsieh Gold, one of the Bay Area’s most sought after practitioners of TCM and the creator of Dr. Anna Gold (formerly Arcana) herbal tinctures,...
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Collagen in topical and ingestible skincare: a top dermatologist's advice

Collagen is an endlessly fascinating topic to us, and to many of you, too — especially these days, when we’re spending a little more time than usual looking at our skin in bathroom mirrors and Zoom meetings and perhaps wondering...
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Natural DIY mask recipes from Dr. Pedro Catalá

DIY beauty is not our favorite trend, simply because there are many ways it can go wrong. But homemade face masks are so tempting, aren’t they? Here are some that are formulator-approved. 
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Natural homemade remedies for dry hands from Dr. Pedro Catalá

Frequent washing and sanitizing is leaving many of us with dry, cracked hands. For some natural home remedies, we approached Pedro Catalá, founder and formulator of TWELVE Beauty.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

A conversation with Kristina Holey & Kristy from Marie Veronique

If you missed Dara's Instagram Live chat with Kristina Holey and Kristy Moore-Jeffress at Marie Veronique HQ in Berkeley, you can watch the full video here
Inside Our Brands

TWELVE founder Dr. Pedro Catalá shares the secrets behind his new Reverent Antioxidant Dry Body Oil

TWELVE founder Pedro Catalá shares the secrets behind his new Reverent Antioxidant Body Oil, a firming body oil infused with botanical extracts that act as a second skin while also stimulating the lymphatic drainage system.
Inside Our Brands

The story behind Guldkorn Cream

Guldkorn Cream was created just for us in Sweden by our wonderful friends at MyHavtorn. Read more about its development in our interview with Robin, MyHavtorn's charming co-founder.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Marie Veronique on why you need Vitamin C

“I think I need a Vitamin C serum.” It’s something we hear from a lot of you, and you’re right: you probably do. But finding the right one can be tricker than it may seem. We asked the brilliant Marie Veronique to...
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Marie Veronique on Exfoliation 2.0

Marie-Veronique Nadeau is something of a folk hero in the healthy beauty world. Here, she reveals how we can all be thinking about exfoliation differently. 
Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

How to use your Sea Soak & Straight Up Seaweed as a fertilizer after your bath

Our seaweed forager, Ian, tell us how we can use the kelp from our Sea Soak and Straight Up Seaweed products as a fertilizer once we've taken our baths.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

TWELVE Beauty creator Pedro Catalá tells us why we need mature skin cells

If you suffer from perioral or periorbital dermatitis, or simply have sensitive skin, you’ll want to read Pedro's explanation of why mature skin cells are your friends.
All About Skin Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

Kristina Holey & Anna Gold on the Dr. Anna Gold Tinctures

Dr. Anna Hsieh Gold, the creator of a line of herbal tinctures, is a key collaborator of star facialist Kristina Holey's. Here, these two superwomen discuss their work together and how Dr. Gold's tinctures fit in. 
Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

Mija Superstar: behind the supplement with Sarah Koszyk, MA, RDN

MIJA Superstar was developed by a registered dietitian with serious credentials: Sarah Koszyk, MA, RDN is one of the most well-respected nutritionists in the Bay Area. Naturally, we were full of questions for her. 
Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

Mija Superstar smoothie recipes

We asked Sarah Koszyk, MA, RDN to share some of her favorite smoothie recipes with us — because one of the best things about her Mija Superstar supplement is how nicely it works in your morning smoothie. 
Inside Our Brands

Dermatologist Macrene Alexiades on her new Macrene Actives line

We've been enthusiastic supporters of Dr. Macrene Alexiades and her 37 Actives product line since its very beginning. And we're delighted to now be one of the first retailers to introduce her updated product line, which includes new formulas, new...
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

A humectant glossary, inspired by San Francisco, from Dr. Pedro Catalá

We were delighted to have Dr. Pedro Catalá, creator of TWELVE Beauty, visiting us from Spain this month. During his time here, he wrote this absolutely lovely journal and invited us to share it with you as a guest blog...
Inside Our Brands

The Science Behind TWELVE's new Clementine Cleansing Balm

The Clementine Cleansing Balm is the latest addition to the stellar TWELVE lineup. Here, creator Dr. Pedro Català explains why it works so well with just five ingredients.
Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

Traditional Chinese Medicine 101 with Dr. Anna Gold

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is one of the oldest forms of medicine; it’s been practiced for over 5,000 years. Even more awe-inspiring, to us, is the fact that it is not only still widely practiced, but also increasingly used to...
Inside Our Brands

Introducing the Sea Soak

Our first product has so many fascinating stories attached to it — and we’re so incredibly excited about it — that it’s hard to know exactly where to begin. So we’ll start with what it is: the Dara Kennedy Sea Soak...
Inside Our Brands

Brand Spotlight: S5

S5 has been designed to address chronic skin stress — a common culprit behind redness, sensitivity, and adult acne. Laura, S5's founder, tells us the story behind S5.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Lycoconfort & skincare during chemotherapy: thoughts from BioRecept’s founder

Anne Dupouy-Camet created her best-selling Lycoconfort de Peau moisturizer for her mother during her chemotherapy treatment. “It was the only thing that could soothe her skin,” she noted — and it’s our go-to for those whose skin is so parched...
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Skincare during cancer treatment: TWELVE founder Pedro Catalá weighs in

Dr. Pedro Català started creating his TWELVE formulas while working as a pharmacist at a London oncology clinic. It’s no wonder his products are so wonderfully soothing — and he's full of excellent advice on how to care for skin during cancer...
Hair & Scalp Inside Our Brands

Natural products & styling secrets for curly hair

We asked Michele Scott-Lynch, the founder of Bouclème, to answer the most frequently asked questions of our biggest Bouclème fans. Here, she covers secrets to getting more volume at the crown; making curls last all day; and refreshing curls the...
Fun with Color Inside Our Brands

Summer-to-fall makeup tips with Susanne Manasi Persson

Manasi7 creator, makeup artist Susanne Manasi Persson, shares her top tips on the summer-to-fall transition — which can be a tricky one from a makeup perspective. 
Hair & Scalp Inside Our Brands

Tips for curls from EVOLVh founder Boris Oak

Much to our delight, EVOLVh’s founder, Boris Oak, popped in for a visit to our SF studio. Even more delightful? He told us his secret to keep curls frizz free. Read on for his tips and an introduction to the...
Inside Our Brands

TWELVE formulator Pedro Catalá on in-flight skincare and humectants

Pedro Catalá — founder and formulator of TWELVE Beauty — is one of the most thoroughly educated founder-formulators we know; he has not only a pharmacy degree, but also a PhD in Natural Product Formulation, a subject that he also teaches at...
Brand Spotlights Inside Our Brands

Brand Spotlight: Manasi7

Manasi7 was created by Susanne Manasi Persson, a Stockholm-based makeup artist. It has an approach to makeup products that is at the same time deeply thoughtful and refreshingly boundary-crushing, inspiring us to mix and match and play.
Hair & Scalp Inside Our Brands

Tricks for more volume from EVOLVh's founder, Boris Oak

EVOLVh does many things well; one of the first things we noticed was how beautifully volumizing their products can be. No crunch, no dryness — just bouncy, shiny, touchable hair. So we had to ask their founder, Boris, “How do...
Hair & Scalp Inside Our Brands

Tricks for better hair color from EVOLVh's founder, Boris Oak

Much to our delight, EVOLVh’s founder, Boris Oak, popped in for a visit last week with some new products that are not only excellent, but also might fall under the “where has this been all my life” category — especially...
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Air pollution's effects on skin

A clear link between air pollution and accelerated skin aging has been demonstrated in a number of studies in recent years. We asked Parisian pharmacist, skincare researcher, and chemist Anne Dupouy-Camet to weigh in.
Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

Happy Tea: A closer look at Ayla + MyHavtorn sea buckthorn tea

We fell hopelessly in love with the delicate, health-boosting sea buckthorn leaf tea that our friends at MyHavtorn make from the sea buckthorn trees on their Swedish farm. So we asked them if we could buy all of it. 
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Niacinamide in skincare: key benefits and the latest news

Pedro Català, founder of TWELVE Beauty, is one of our most trusted resources for ingredient information; he is constantly evaluating new raw materials and is known for his exacting standards. These days, he's particularly excited about niacinamide.
Fun with Color Inside Our Brands

Brand spotlight: Olio E Osso

Olio E Osso’s founder, Paola LaMorticella, has been the go-to makeup artist and stylist for top athletes for the past 25 years. Here, she shares application tips for her best-selling Tinted Balms along with various secrets about her fascinating life.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Marie Veronique on mitochondria, cellular respiration, and skin health

When we asked the brilliant chemist Marie Veronique about what's new in skincare, she said, “It’s all about the mitochondria.” (Mitochondria: it's the new microbiome.)
Inside Our Brands

Brand Spotlight: Ursa Major of Vermont

There's just something about Ursa Major's healthy, gently-priced, and active-lifestyle-minded products from Vermont that we love. So what's the story behind this cool brand? Read on for the inside scoop from Emily Doyle, one of its founders.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

TWELVE formulator Pedro Catalá’s tips for dehydrated skin

Dehydration: it's the common link between combination and dry skin conditions, and it's the reason why Pedro Catalá created his marvelous moisture serums.
Inside Our Brands

Brand spotlight: EVOLVh hair care

If you don’t already know the story behind this company, it’s a great one: EVOLVh is a partnership between Boris Oak and Gary Smith, the chemist responsible for such hair product superstars as Jhirmack, Jheri Curl, Frizz-Ease, and KMS.
Inside Our Brands

Vintner's Daughter: The formula behind the results

Vintner's Daughter Active Botanical Serum has been called many things: "Unicorn Tears," "The Face Oil to End All Face Oils," and "The Best Natural Beauty Product of All Time." Why is it so effective? We got the scoop from its creator.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

DIY beauty: expert tips & words of caution

DIY face masks are a lot of fun. But as founder-formulator Dr. Pedro Català of TWELVE puts it, “Natural product formulation is a science, not an experiment.” Who better to ask for a perspective on the DIY craze?
Inside Our Brands

Product combining with May Lindstrom

May Lindstrom is often referred to as a "Skin Chef," and one of the things we love about her products is how well they work when mixed together. We asked May to lead us through her favorite product combinations. 
Inside Our Brands

Brand spotlight: May Lindstrom

We’re delighted to be the first and only SF retailer for May Lindstrom, the much-swooned-over line of gourmand skin treats. These remarkable, luxurious formulas make skincare not only results-oriented, but also truly pleasurable. Read on for the story behind them.
Inside Our Brands Letters from Dara

The story behind Foot Therapy

We've been hunting for an excellent exfoliating foot cream since 2011. Learn more about that search — and the beautiful product that MyHavtorn created for us as a result — here.
Inside Our Brands

Brand Spotlight: BioRecept

BioRecept was created by one of France’s top skincare formulators (pictured above, during a visit to Ayla) as her personal passion project. These hyaluronic acid-infused formulas leave skin glowing — and we're thrilled to offer them exclusively in the US.
Brand Spotlights Inside Our Brands

Brand spotlight: TWELVE Beauty

We’re always very excited to introduce a brand to the US for the first time —especially when it has considerable pent-up demand and a founder who’s also the formulator (because then we can ask all kinds of questions). 
Body & Mind Inside Our Brands

Fragrance 101 with the creator of Ellis Brooklyn

Ellis Brooklyn was created by Bee Shapiro, a chic Williamsburg mom who happens to be a style columnist for The New York Times. When we wanted to get a little Fragrance 101, Bee was naturally the first resource we thought of. 
Fun with Color Inside Our Brands

Kosas Shade Finder

Kosas put together a brilliant chart to help you figure out which lipstick and Color & Light palettes (Creme or Pressed) might work best for you. Still torn? Call us.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

TWELVE formulator Pedro Catalá's secrets to better toning

Pedro Catalá — founder and formulator of TWELVE Beauty — is one of the most thoroughly educated founder-formulators we know; he has not only a pharmacy degree, but also a PhD in Natural Product Formulation. As one beauty editor put it, "What Pedro doesn't know...
Hair & Scalp Inside Our Brands

How often should you shampoo, and does shampoo stop working?

Shampoo: It seems like it should be the simplest step in hair care, yet contradictory advice about it seems to be coming out of everyone's ears. To clear things up, we approached Josh Rosebrook, celebrity hair stylist.
All About Skin Inside Our Brands

Dermatologist Macrene Alexiades, MD on skin firmness and elasticity

Firmness and elasticity are top of mind for many of us these days. For more on this topic, we interviewed Dr. Macrene Alexiades — the revered dermatologist with three Harvard degrees and one of the most enviable CVs in her field. 
Inside Our Brands Letters from Dara

The story behind Dara's Oil

One of our founder's favorite products was whipped up specifically for her sensitive complexion by Marie Veronique herself. Marie tucked “Dara’s Oil” into our shipments from her lab from time to time, to be discovered with a squeal of delight.
Inside Our Brands

Brand spotlight: Kristina Holey + Marie Veronique Skincare Collaboration

Marie Veronique is one of our most beloved brands; Kristina Holey is one of the most celebrated facialists in the country. Anything they do together is bound to be extraordinary. 
Thursday Notes

Bach Flower consultations with Gérard

The founder of Les Fleurs de Bach is offering Bach flower consultations to all of you! Grab one of these spots while you can.
Thursday Notes

Preteen & young-teen skincare

There’s been quite a bit of talk lately about the intense skincare interest among preteens these days. Some of it is a little exaggerated, but — as the parent of a 12-year-old myself, shown here with me at the Barbie...
Thursday Notes

An ode to Marie

Why I'm endlessly grateful to Marie-Véronique Nadeau and her team at Marie Veronique.
Thursday Notes

A brightening, plumping mask that's perfect for winter

The mask I’ve been using the most these days is actually a blend of two products I already had in my bathroom cabinet: the de Mamiel Restorative Cleansing Balm and Brightening Cleanse & Exfoliate.
Inside Our Brands Thursday Notes

How we found Fueguia 1833

A few years ago, I happened upon a shop in New York that I’d never seen before. It was in a building set apart from others, painted a beautiful, deep shade of blue, and on the door was printed “Fueguia...
Thursday Notes

Better sleep: tips & products that can help

Still not sleeping well? You've got company. Many of us have spent the last year just trying to make it through, and when faced with a relaxing of pandemic vigilance, it can be hard to…relax. I’ve found this to be...
Thursday Notes

Do you need a toner?

The best ones turn my answer from "Well..." to “Yes. Yes, you do.” It’s been a strange start to spring. Some years, this season effortlessly breathes fresh energy and unbridled optimism into the air. This year, though — with every...
Thursday Notes

Some favorite songs of peace, hope, and inspiration for your bath

2021 has not yet proven to be less crazy than its predecessor, has it? Perhaps because of this, I’ve taken a bath almost every evening this year: whether due to the news, the weather, or something else, I seem to crave...
All About Skin Thursday Notes

My favorite rosacea tips

One of my oldest friends asked me recently what she could do about a rosacea flare-up. She’s a lawyer who’s been working like mad to prepare for a trial and, like many a working mom these days, packed up her...
Body & Mind Thursday Notes

A peek into the hidden world of Bach flowers

If you’ve been following us for some time, you may already know how much I love Bach flower remedies. They didn’t sweep me off my feet right away; rather, I was swept off my feet by a beautiful body scrub...
Thursday Notes

The value of a farm visit

About five years ago, I went through a phase where the amount I was spending on groceries each week seemed outrageous. I’m not sure what I was comparing it to, exactly, but it just seemed like a lot. And it...
Thursday Notes

One step that can wake skin up again

Have you been feeling a little dragged-down? The inevitable settling-down that comes after a period of intensity — combined with the arrival of cold weather and earlier darkness — can pose a challenge even to the most motivated. Especially, I imagine, if...
Body & Mind Thursday Notes

Do tinctures really work? Yes. Good ones do.

We have not discussed this, you and I. But I imagine that if you’re not already a devotee of Dr. Anna Gold’s ingestible tinctures, you might view them with a modicum of skepticism: “Are they just another thing for me to...
Thursday Notes

Thursday note: my favorite fall ritual

Thursday notes are sent to regular readers of our email newsletter. This is my first one, focusing on my favorite fall ritual.
Letters from Dara

My first podcast interview

Dara got to be a guest on the fantastic Yogaland podcast — listen to it here.
Letters from Dara

Are you sleeping in your sunscreen? If so, I have thoughts.

Find out which cleanser is always our first recommendation for removing sunscreen at the end of every day.
Letters from Dara

On Bach Flowers and 2020

For some time, I’ve been thinking that the world of beauty and wellness needs to place greater emphasis on the health of our minds and spirits. I’ve been thinking about this since before I started Ayla, actually: it was one...
Letters from Dara

On Asian skin tones and Orcé

Hanging out in Thailand with my big brother in 1983…and actually seeking out sun exposure. Hello, freckles. (By the way, I must find that vintage Wonder Woman t-shirt.)
Letters from Dara

On kindness, compassion, and solidarity

We’re currently living through what some historians have described as “a trifecta of awful”: a global pandemic, economic turmoil, and stark reminders of the systemic racism affecting Black communities, in particular, across the country. Like so many right now, we’re trying...
Letters from Dara

A letter about love

We opened our virtual doors at aylabeauty.com on Valentine’s Day nine years ago, and every year, our birthday prompts the question: why that particular day?
Inside Our Brands Letters from Dara

The story behind Foot Therapy

We've been hunting for an excellent exfoliating foot cream since 2011. Learn more about that search — and the beautiful product that MyHavtorn created for us as a result — here.
Letters from Dara

The story behind our name

Ayla, pronounced ā-lah, is an old Irish name that means “bearer of light.” The reason why we chose an Irish name for our business is one of our founder's own models of brighter beauty; learn more about her here.  
Letters from Dara

Letter from Bangkok

A note about "otherness," inspired by a visit to Bangkok at the end of 2018.
Inside Our Brands Letters from Dara

The story behind Dara's Oil

One of our founder's favorite products was whipped up specifically for her sensitive complexion by Marie Veronique herself. Marie tucked “Dara’s Oil” into our shipments from her lab from time to time, to be discovered with a squeal of delight.
Letters from Dara

Non-toxic beauty products: why they matter

Whether you call it clean, nontoxic, green, or — our favorite — healthy, this part of the beauty world has been our sandbox since the day we launched in 2011. Here's a closer look at the why and the how.