Ming Lee Simmons, Mannequin | Into The Gloss

“I’ve at all times wished to work in trend as a result of I watched my mother work in trend my complete life. Proper now I assist my mother with artistic path at Child Phat. It is actually enjoyable as a result of my mother, my sister, and one in all my greatest buddies and I work collectively. I even have my very own little social media platforms the place I make numerous trend and wonder content material, and I’ve modeled for manufacturers like Good American, Skims, and Glossier, too. It’s an thrilling time to mannequin. My mother at all times talks about her modeling days, and the way fashions needed to keep a sure dimension. There’s nonetheless a few of that stress within the trade, however I’m excited that manufacturers are on the lookout for folks of all totally different styles and sizes and colours to symbolize them.

An evening out, whether or not it is in LA or New York, at all times contains an espresso martini. If I haven’t got one I’m not going anyplace. And that is primarily as a result of I am a drained girlie. [Laughs] Once I was in LA lately, I went to Lavo with my greatest buddy, they usually had a very good espresso martini. However my favourite meals is sushi, and in New York, my favourite spot is Kissaki. You may get sake pairings, and I will be trustworthy, each time I am going and get the sake, I find yourself obliterated and that’s my complete evening. I additionally love going to Cipriani and American Bar.

SKINCARE
I had actually unhealthy cystic zits through the pandemic, so I began seeing aesthetician Sarah Ford, who I discovered by way of my mother. I like her Mild Enzyme Cleanser. It exfoliates my pores and skin with out stripping it, so I can use it daily. I exploit a cleaning balm from Farmacy to get off my make-up although. I will be trustworthy, more often than not if I am going out and I come dwelling and I am somewhat drunkie, that is most likely the one skincare that I do.

I exploit Skinbetter’s Mystro Lively Steadiness Serum as a result of Sarah tells me to. She additionally really useful Osmosis’ development issue serum, although I do not solely know what it does. I’ve simply observed that if I do not use it, I get away extra. I’ve been utilizing it for a yr, and it’s the final serum I apply earlier than Augustinus Bader’s Wealthy Cream. I began with Augustinus Bader’s common cream, however as my zits obtained worse and I wanted extra astringents, I wanted extra moisture and converted to The Wealthy Cream. I like that it doesn’t have a scent.

For sunscreens, I swap between two—the Hyaluronic Acid Watery Solar Gel from Isntree and Glow Recipe’s Watermelon Glow SPF 45. They each go away me so glowy, so I’ll generally use them at evening as a result of they act like a shiny base—and I at all times wish to be dewy, by no means matte.

MAKEUP
Once more, the purpose is to glow, so I begin with Dior’s Glow Veil primer and Glow Recipe’s Dew Drops. For basis, I like City Decay’s Face Bond. It’s matte, but it surely stays glowy for me after I use my primer combo. However I actually find it irresistible due to its packaging. It doesn’t leak, and I journey quite a bit. I alternate it with Hourglass’ Pores and skin Tint Basis. It’s actually hydrating and fairly. Then I am going in with the Radiant Creamy Concealer from Nars. It’s been my absolute favourite since I stole it from my mother’s make-up bag. It blends out effectively, and it’s actually so creamy. I exploit Tiramisu to hide spots and Crema Catalina for my beneath eyes. If I need extra protection although, I exploit Hourglass’ Vanish Airbrush Concealer in Beech. All of that is being blended with a BeautyBlender, which I really feel like offers me extra of a margin for error. I do know folks say you may get dupes on Amazon, however none of them examine to the unique. However, if I don’t have one with me, I like Hourglass and Patrick Ta make-up brushes.

For blush, I like Uncommon Magnificence’s Delicate Pinch in Comfortable or Bliss—they’re so pigmented. However my new favourite is the Unreal Liquid Blush from Hourglass in Scene. I feel I’ve blush blindness, however I don’t care—I need all the blush I can get. I’ve actually almond eyes and I like to make use of blush to intensify them, so I place it on the higher corners of my cheeks and mix it into my forehead bones. That’s additionally nice as a result of I’m very unhealthy at precise eyeshadow. Then I prefer to sculpt with Make-up by Mario’s SoftSculpt Pores and skin Enhancer. It’s very easy to mix. I exploit Darkish as a result of it’s cooler and I like to offer myself a extra sculpted look.

I prefer to layer my liquid merchandise with my powders to make the whole lot keep longer. After I set my face with powder from Hourglass, I add in Mac’s powder blush to my cheeks. I’ve been utilizing Burnt Pepper, a reddish-brown shade, for eight or 9 years. I additionally love Dior’s Rosy Glow in Berry, a darker, purple shade. It’s type of much like Burnt Pepper, but it surely’s a bit extra cool. Then it’s time for bronzer from Gucci. I used to solely use Marc Jacobs Magnificence’s O!Mega bronzer—after it was discontinued I had like 5 from eBay for some time. A buddy really useful Gucci’s as a substitute as a result of it’s not streaky and I’ve been utilizing it ever since.

If I really feel prefer it, I’ll put on eyeliner. I couldn’t actually let you know which one although. I simply choose up no matter’s round, generally on my flooring. [Laughs] Or generally I’ll dip an eyeliner brush into my bronzer. I don’t put on mascara as a result of I get lash extensions from Martina Tjokronolo in New Jersey. I used to solely put on the thickest of thickest lash extensions, and it’s actually arduous to seek out somebody that can do this as a result of they’re not good for you. I discovered her on Instagram and he or she was understanding of her home on the time. She’s wonderful—and my lashes aren’t too thick anymore, by the way in which.

For highlighter, I exploit one from Uncommon Magnificence in Mesmerized and Profit’s powder highlighter in Cookie. I truly simply began utilizing powder highlighters once more. For some time, folks had been saying we had been completed with highlighter—that it was so 2016—however I wish to be shiny. I solely place it on the tip of my nostril and the bridge of my nostril.

In relation to lips, Make-up by Mario’s suede lip pencils are my absolute favourite. I put on Common Earth each single day. I high it off with any plumping gloss, however I actually like Mac’s Squirt gloss stick.

Setting spray is the very last thing I exploit. I spray Mac’s Repair+ and I’ve somewhat fan that I exploit to dry quicker. I really feel prefer it actually melts my powders. Then I do a mist of Hourglass’ setting spray, which provides a glow. Once I actually need my make-up to remain, I exploit One/Measurement’s On ‘Til Daybreak setting spray, however I can’t use it daily. It seems like hair spray in your face—your make-up isn’t going anyplace.

HAIR
Earlier than a blowout, I’ll add 1,000,000 warmth protectants to my soaking moist hair. Kerastase’s Résistance warmth protectant and Oribe’s Straight Away blowout cream are my quantity ones. Oribe’s is particularly good as a result of I can use numerous it with out making my hair greasy. I don’t know the way to do a blow out the normal manner, with a blow dryer and a spherical brush, so the blow-dry attachment from my Dyson Airwrap does all the heavy lifting. If I’m straightening it, I’ll go in with my Dyson Airstrait. If I’m sporting my hair up—when my hair is soiled—I want two issues: Emi Jay’s Angelstick and Got2B’s hair spray. With this mix, my hair isn’t going anyplace.

FRAGRANCE
I’m obsessive about smelling actually good. I’ve at all times cherished Glossier You, however Rêve is even higher as a result of it’s sweeter and sexier. My go-to is something with vanilla, however I can actually scent the plum butter notes, which I like. I additionally put on Boulangerie’s Soufflé Vanille fragrance mist quite a bit. Oh, and I at all times be sure to placed on physique lotion earlier than I spray on my perfumes as a result of the lotion makes the scents final a lot longer.”

—As advised to Daise Bedolla

Photographed by Alexandra Genova in New York on August 1, 2024