Sarah Lee makes up one-half of the team behind Glow Recipe, a K-beauty e-retailer turned extremely covetable and highly-Instagrammable skincare brand (the one with the pastel pink glass jar belonging to their best-selling Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask). From launching in 2014 to starting their own eponymous brand in 2017, business has been booming for Glow Recipe, which is all giving you your best glow with juicy, fruit-powered ingredients like watermelon and pineapple. It’s meant international expansion into countries like Germany and Australia, a diffusion line at Target called Sweet Chef, and a whole lot of traveling for Lee alongside co-founder and co-CEO Christine Chang.
100 ML caught up with Sarah Lee to chat about her travel schedule this year, in-flight rituals and beauty secrets.
How often do you travel in a year?
I’d say a couple of times a month. In September, I traveled every single week. I try to combine trips that are regional. For example, when I go to L.A., I try to go to San Diego and Las Vegas at the same time. This was a busy year because we launched in Douglas in Germany and we launched in Sephora Canada last year. This year, I went to Canada once, then different cities in Germany in the spring of this year, and then to Korea for a few times because we’re always inspired by the different technologies and my family lives there. I try to travel back for work, but also stay with my family whenever I’m there.
How often do you go to Korea?
At least three or four times a year. It used to be more when we were curating and importing Korean brands. Now that we’re focused on our private-label brand, we go there more for inspiration, trend-hunting, meeting our network of friends, people we know in the beauty industry and some of our manufacturers who are there.
What are your beauty-related travel essentials?
Because I travel so much and most of the time for work, my goal is to always look prepared for meetings. Sometimes I’m going directly from the airport to a meeting or conference. As a founder of a skincare brand, I want to make sure that my skin looks good and not tired. Physically, traveling really wears you down.
In my skincare pouch, I have miniature sizes of all our products. I always have a cleanser. Typically, I cleanse before I board because sometimes the water in the airplane may not be the most hygienic source. As soon as I cleanse, I use my Watermelon Mist to keep my skin hydrated and balanced. Before I use it, I ask my neighbours if it’s okay. The great thing about the mist is that it’s so fine so it doesn’t abruptly spray on everyone. Everyone enjoys the scent of watermelon. If anything, I share it around me. It’s kind of a social beauty moment, which is fun. We have a brand we launched that’s a younger sister to Glow Recipe called Sweet Chef. Within that range, we have a sheet mask so I bring that and use it. Or, if I feel like I don’t want a sheet mask, I use the Avocado Melt Eye and Sleeping Face Mask. It essentially applies like a moisturizer and it’s so easy to use, but it’s packed with active ingredients. I always feel like my skin is a little bit brighter than when I boarded.
What about makeup?
I always try to apply SPF before I get off the flight. I’m obsessed with Korean technologies for SPF, which are lightweight and provide a level of dewiness, which I love. It’s by Make:Prem. We used to sell it on Glow Recipe and I still love it. Or I mix the Korean SPF with the Watermelon Pink Juice Moisturizer, which gives a nice, dewy effect. I have a cushion compact that I carry around with me all the time. Recently, I’ve been trying out the Tom Ford Cushion Compact. It’s quite popular in Korea. My brand is a brand manager there and I was introduced to it through her. It has SPF 50, gives you a nice coverage and a dewy, natural finish.
What are some non-beauty travel essentials you can’t leave home without?
Always an eye mask. I don’t want to see any marks or lines. Slip has a good one. I always bring my soundproof headphones from Bose. I cannot live without it. Whether I’m working or not, I like having a movie or TV show or podcast in the background so there’s something I’m picking up on. I download a bunch of podcast episodes before I board and listen to them throughout the flight. I love Breaking Beauty, Second Life, How I Built This and Getting Curious with Jonathan Van Ness.
I always wear a comfortable sweatshirt. My favourite is this baby pink sweatshirt that says ‘You Jelly?’ My iPad. I bring sleep socks, those really plush ones. And I bring extra chargers for my iPhone and iPad so there’s always something that’s hooked while I’m on the plane. I also bring lemon wipes because it’s just not hygienic on the plane. I think they’re from Trader Joe’s. They’re really refreshing and they smell good. I wipe my phone with it too.
Do you prefer checking in your luggage or a carry-on?
Recently, I was gifted this travel bag from Dagne Dover. I have the grey tote, and it’s so comfortable to travel with. It kind of feels like a sweatshirt. They have these little bags inside so I put my passport in there.
Do you have a go-to luggage brand?
I love Rimowa—I have the silver classic one.
How do you stay zen while you’re traveling?
Podcasts really help. Then I have a face mask, which makes me feel so zen, comfortable and pampered. I also know that while I’m doing that, I’m also feeling good about my skin.
