When it comes to her quick five-minute beauty routine, Ava keeps it simple and straightforward. A natural rosiness to her complexion means she’s all about perfecting her skin with a touch of concealer for blemishes and adding a little mascara to brighten her eyes. Her all-time favorite for this? Diorshow mascara, which she claims is essential for creating that fresh, wide-eyed look. For lips, Ava is a fan of Urban Decay’s lip pencils, particularly those in a cool, rosy taupe. “It’s versatile,” she says. “You can even use it on your cheeks for a little extra pop of color.”
But it’s not just about makeup. Ava has a deep connection with fragrance, often reminiscing about the gardenias from her childhood. “My mom always smelled like gardenias,” she shared. “We used to have them in our garden, and she’d float them in a bowl of water—such a pleasant memory.” This love for scent has followed her into adulthood, with her own fragrance preferences leaning towards the floral and the gourmand. Currently, her go-to fragrance is Wonderbloom Haze, which she describes as the perfect balance of floral and warm amber—ideal for any occasion. Ava is someone who understands how a fragrance can shift with the seasons. She’s drawn to light, fresh florals during the day but gravitates toward richer, more autumnal scents like pumpkin spice when the weather turns cooler.
Fragrance isn’t the only element Ava experiments with—her hair is constantly evolving. As someone known for her color transformations, Ava fondly recalls her pink-haired days, embodying the carefree spirit of California. Yet, her latest favorite is a more sultry brunette look. She admits that her new hair color has been a major shift. “It’s like a fantasy version of myself,” Ava says. “It feels like where I am in life right now.” Still, she’s not ruling out new trends, especially curly hair. Although she’s cautious about extensions, she’s intrigued by the idea of “mermaid hair,” which might be her next big hair adventure.
When it comes to haircare, Ava’s all about protecting her locks. Her secret weapon? Virtue’s heat protectant, which helps keep her hair safe from the daily styling routine. She’s also discovered the magic of gloss for brunettes, saying, “It just makes the hair look so liquid and dimensional.” Ava loves DPHUE’s gloss with a touch of color, and she’s discovered the importance of keeping hair healthy while experimenting with different textures and looks.
Ava’s beauty philosophy is all about having fun, trying new things, and embracing the process. Recently, she’s become obsessed with lip stains, especially those that peel off, like the viral ones popularized by Billie Eilish. “They stay all day, and you don’t have to worry about reapplying,” she explains. Her favorite? Sacheu’s lip stain in shades like P-inked and Muah-ve. These stains are not only long-lasting but also affordable, which makes them a perfect fit for anyone looking for a low-maintenance yet high-impact beauty product.
But Ava’s not here for beauty trends that try to tell people what to do. She’s quick to call out what she thinks is overrated in the beauty world: the policing of personal expression. “Beauty is subjective,” she says. “We don’t need to tell people they’re doing too much.” For her, it’s about finding your own style, whether it’s with blush, eyebrows, or a lip color. Ava admits that, like many, she’s had her moments of beauty experimentation—like the highlighter phase, which she now looks back on with a sense of humor. “I looked like a highlighter myself,” she laughs. “But you have to live and learn.”
Perhaps the most profound piece of beauty wisdom Ava shares is one passed down by the women in her family: “Pretty is as pretty does.” For Ava, this means that true beauty lies in how you treat others, not just in how you look. It’s a simple yet powerful reminder that beauty is as much about kindness as it is about appearance.
Ava’s unfiltered beauty approach is a blend of playfulness, authenticity, and a bit of trial and error. She embraces the ups and downs of beauty experimentation, knowing that the journey is just as important as the end result.
