The Lineup is a monthly series where we’re giving you an inside peek at the beauty lineups of cool fashion people, editors, makeup artists, hairstylists, and aestheticians—all the people we trust the most. Get ready for a behind-the-scenes look at all the can’t-live-without products that make their worlds go ’round.
This may come as a shock to all of my fellow Gen Zers out there, but I do not have that entrepreneurial spirit that our generation is always applauded for. Don’t get me wrong—I still get a ton of light-bulb moments, which I save in my Notes app, and I follow tons of entrepreneurs on every social media platform. But unlike the people with thriving businesses on my Explore page, I’m not so great at the execution. (Maybe there’s a little more to it than that, but let’s save that conversation for another day.) When I discover people who take a light-bulb moment and transform it into a successful and effective business model, I have no choice but to extensively research them and tell all of my friends. And recently, one person has caught my attention: Hope Smith, the founder and CEO of Mutha.
Eight years ago, Smith was on the hunt for the best products to help prevent stretch marks during her pregnancy, but to no avail, so she took matters into her own hands. “I turned my kitchen into a science lab and started experimenting with my mixer, only using ingredients that fit the EU’s standards, which has banned over 1000 chemicals from beauty products while the U.S. has only banned 11,” she says. After logging hundreds of hours of intense research and five years spent developing body butter batch by batch, Smith created what is now the award-winning Mutha Body Butter. “What was born in a kitchen in 2014 was more than a stretch-mark cream. It was a desire to honor women, parenthood, and our bodies in a brand new way,” she says. Since the long days of formulating in her kitchen, Mutha has become a celeb-loved brand that beauty fanatics all over can’t stop recommending. So it’s only right that I chatted with Smith about the beauty products that she swears by. And after hearing her top beauty picks, I can confirm that Mutha knows best. If you want an insider look at what this badass mother, esthetician, social media personality, and entrepreneur is loving right now, just keep scrolling.
“If I’m wearing a lot of makeup, I’ll use Then I Met You’s Living Cleansing Balm or Augustinus Bader’s The Cleansing Balm because I feel like it really pulls off the makeup. If I’m wearing makeup, I always do a double cleanse at night and a single cleanse in the morning.”
“I use the Summer Fridays Super Amino Gel Cleanser, too, as it doesn’t strip your skin of moisture like most gel cleansers. I typically never go for foaming cleansers because those are usually way too drying.”
“I love essences, and I’m truly a big believer in my own creation, Mutha Cell Rejuvenating Essence, which I typically use when my skin is drier.”
“For serums, I apply Mutha No. 1 Serum practically every day. What is so unique about this product is that it contains our proprietary Muthaload Core Technology, which includes four molecular weights of hyaluronic acid, rice peptide complex, and rice kefiran. Our bio-fermented blend allows the clinically proven ingredients to be absorbed easily and enhance results. Stabilized vitamin C (THD), which is 50 times more effective than other forms of vitamin C, helps reduce pigmentation, increase collagen, and prevent UVA/UVB damage. It’s your complete protecting, hydrating, and repairing treatment. I’m somebody that gets hyperpigmentation in the sun, so this keeps my skin free from it because I use it year-round.”
“I also enjoy using the Skinmedica TNS Advanced Serum, which I alternate with the No.1 Serum.”
“During the day, I use Mutha Up All Night Eye Cream because it is clinically proven after four weeks to reduce dark circles. This product also contains our Muthaload Core Technology, and it really helps increase radiance and diminish the appearance of dark circles.”
“Before going to bed, I apply SK-II Ultimate Revival Eye Cream. The texture of the product is seriously amazing. This is great to apply before serum. The skin underneath your eye is thinner, so I apply the serum following my eye cream so it can fully absorb.”
“I am a big fan of the SkinCeuticals retinol. As you know, retinol can be strong, so you can use half a percent, which is what I do.”
“For my face masks, I love 111 Skin’s Y Theorem Bio Cellulose Facial Mask. The brand also has a Rose Gold Illuminating Eye Mask that I enjoy applying.”
“SPF is a must. I alternate between EltaMD untinted sunscreen and Supergoop!’s Glowscreen. If I am looking to use makeup and SPF together, I’ll use EltaMD, but if I’m going for that no-makeup glow with SPF, I apply Glowscreen. I have also been loving the Summer Fridays Shadedrops, which have proven to be a go-to under makeup.”
“Jones Road has this great Hippie Stick Everywhere Balm, which is such a great go-to product that you can literally use anywhere.”
“I am a big fan of Nuface. With this tool, you can really start to see a difference with continued use.”
“After applying Mutha Cell Rejuvenating Essence, I complement it with an ultrasonic exfoliating skin spatula from Essia.”
“In regards to body products, I will always be a fan of my first product, Mutha Body Butter. It’s clinically proven to hydrate after 48 hours and really was my saving grace for stretch marks when I was pregnant. Recently, however, I have been religiously using my Mutha’s The Nudist Body Scrub. It leaves my skin incredibly silky smooth without the tightness and helps buff away dead skin cells to reveal soft and glowing skin.”
“Prior to makeup, I always apply the Mutha No. 1 Serum. It serves as a great hydrator and allows the makeup to apply smoothly. I use various foundations, but lately, I have been using Lawless Clean AF Foundation because it doesn’t get cakey and it doesn’t get in the smile or eye lines, so it’s a very lightweight and impressive formula.”
“I am absolutely obsessed with the Westman blush sticks, and I love her brushes, too. I use the blush in ‘petal’ and the contouring bronzer in stick form.”
“Pat McGrath has the best eye shadows because they’re super pigmented.”
“I am a big fan of Makeup by Mario’s Master Pro Pencil because you really only need one stroke of it. You don’t have to go over it, you can’t see through it, and you have total control because of the applicator.”
“I always use Anastasia Beverly Hills setting spray. It has this gold, glittery package, but it doesn’t have too much of a shine.”
“Olaplex’s full line really helps my hair. I have curly hair, and I go in phases where I’m only wearing my curly hair for three months. If I’m not in my curl routine, I’m doing a lot of conditioning. I use Olaplex’s full line because I do think it helps my hair. I love Color Wow’s Dream Coat when I’m down in Palm Beach because it’s more humid here or during New York summers, and you can coat your hair with it and blow it out.”
“I like Virtue Shampoo when I’m not doing Olaplex-type treatments. Something I started using on curl days and straight days is K18. I think it’s made my ends so much nicer. Also, Bumble and Bumble has a curl butter, and my hair does well with it for curly-hair days.”
“When blowing my hair out, I either use the round Moroccanoil Ceramic Brush with my T3 blowdryer or Dry Bar’s blow-dry brush that’s all in one.”
“I am one to switch out my go-to perfume frequently, and lately, I have been using a lot of Byredo, and I love Lil Fleur. Its limited edition color cap is so chic on my vanity.”
Next up: I Might as Well Have a PhD in Glossy Skin—Tips for the Most Luminous Complexion
