Yes, You Need to Wear Sunscreen at Your Desk–And More Tips for Summer-Ready Skin
How to glow from the inside out.
The summer we’ve been waiting almost two years for is almost upon us–and like many, we plan to double down on the fun. But before we hit the road or head to the beach, we also plan to double down on our sun care routine.
Looking ahead to the season of long days and busy weekends outdoors, we tapped Coppertone’s Dermatologist Partner, Dr. Nava Greenfield, to answer our most pressing sun care questions, and share the summer skin care essentials she shops and recommends.
The summer staple she’s stocking up on this season is the new Coppertone Glow Spray–a convenient, easy-to-apply lightweight spray sunscreen from Coppertone, that is blended with an illuminating shimmer to give your skin a beautiful glow, while stopping up to 98%* of the sun’s most damaging UV rays (*97% for SPF 30; 98% for SPF 50).
“I recommend this for anyone who is looking for a convenient, lightweight spray sunscreen that not only protects skin from the sun’s damaging UV rays but leaves an illuminating shimmer on your skin. It’s so easy to reapply and perfect for those long sunny days by the pool!”
Not only does Coppertone Glow offer broad spectrum sun protection, but the new, convenient spray format helps achieve that healthy-looking summer glow while keeping skin protected from the sun, making it the stylish glow-getters go-to.
Ahead, Dr. Nava Greenfield shares her tips for summer ready skin, and three ambitious and radiant women share how they incorporate the Coppertone Glow Spray into their sun care routines. Keep scrolling for the ultimate glow-getter tips to help you maintain that glow, all season long.
What does summer do to our skin?
The summer affects our skin in many ways, but the most significant effect is exposure to more ultraviolet light from the sun.
How much sunscreen do I need?
Generally you need to apply about one shot glass full of sunscreen to any area of your skin that will be exposed to the sun, and about two finger-sized dollops to the face alone.
Should sunscreen come before or after other products?
Sunscreen should be applied last, and right before any makeup. It comes after your face wash, your antioxidant, and your moisturizer.
How do I know what sunscreen is best for my skin?
There are so many different types of sunscreen on the market, it can be confusing! Regardless of your skin type, Coppertone Glow Spray SPF 50 gives all skin tones a beautiful, illuminating glow while protecting skin from up to 98% of the sun's most damaging UV rays. It provides both UVA and UVB protection and leaves skin feeling hydrated, smooth, and silky after application. Coppertone Glow is also a great option because it is water-resistant (80 minutes).
Do I need to wear sunscreen indoors?
I would recommend wearing sunscreen every day, whether or not you plan to go outside. This is because if you are near a window, the UV rays from the sun can travel through the glass and still damage your skin. I ask my patients to incorporate sunscreen into their skin care routine every single day, and that they will be happy about making it a habit for years to come!
Does makeup with SPF work?
Yes it definitely does, but it is usually not enough to protect your skin. You would need to apply a lot of makeup for your skin to truly be protected. For that reason, I recommend using a broad spectrum SPF every day in addition to your makeup.
Do I really need to reapply sunscreen throughout the day?
Yes, you do. Thinking you are protected from only your morning application is misleading.
Does sunscreen expire? Can I use last year’s sunscreen this year?
Sunscreen does expire, just like everything else that is liquid based and bottled. The chemical structure of ingredients and preservatives break down over time and may no longer be effective after their expiration date. Check to see if last year's product has expired. If not, go right ahead and use it this season! But if it has, do your skin a favor and buy a new bottle.
What is the ideal pre and post sun skincare routine?
Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! One day in the sun can have effects for many days after. Moisturize before you go outside and then apply your sunscreen. The sun dehydrates your skin. After a day in the sun, wash with a gentle cleanser and apply a glycerin or ceramide or hyaluronic acid based serum or moisturizer liberally to your skin, and twice daily for the next week.
Jessica Franklin
“Self-love is one of the most important ways to maintain a glow from the inside out.”
–Jessica Franklin
Share your sun care routine. How do you get your skin summer-ready?
Growing up I wasn’t as consistent with protecting my skin from the sun as I am now. I used to actually lay in the sun for hours tanning with barely any sunscreen. Now that I’m older and more aware of the damage the sun can cause to my skin, my sun care routine involves making sure my skin is both moisturized and protected. I use the Coppertone Glow Spray because it is lightweight, easy to apply, and blended with an illuminating shimmer that gives me a beautiful glow while protecting my skin from the sun’s most damaging UV rays. This leaves my skin not only protected, but photo ready too!
Beauty is being confident in your own skin. What are your tips to maintain your glow?
Self-love is one of the most important ways to maintain a glow from the inside out. I’ve realized that if I truly love who I am, then I won’t worry about what other people think as much, and my confidence will radiate. It’s not always easy because insecurities are inevitable, but I try to remind myself of this daily–I often talk to myself and repeat affirmations such as, “I love you, you’re beautiful, you’re amazing,” etc, and this helps me maintain my glow!
“Taking care of your mental health is key for glowing from the inside out.”
– Tyla Lauren
Share your sun care routine. How do you get your skin summer-ready?
I change my skin care routine each season because my skin always needs different things throughout the year. For summer, it’s all about SPF, exfoliating and achieving the perfect glow. I exfoliate to keep my skin bright, I apply SPF like Coppertone Glow at least every 2 hours to keep my skin protected and I constantly moisturize to keep my skin glowing all day long.
Beauty is being confident in your own skin. What are your tips to maintain your glow?
For me it’s always about being my authentic self and being intentional with everything I do. Also, taking care of my mental health is key for glowing from the inside out!
“Find the humor in day to day and try not to take life too seriously. There is nothing more gorgeous than a big smile–and the more you do so, the more you can spread that same feeling and energy to others.”
– Jera Bean
Share your sun care routine. How do you get your skin summer-ready?
I am all about some summer skin! Here's how I get my skin summer ready:
Exfoliate! Love a good scrub while showering.
Moisturize! Slather it on everywhere!
Self tan! I usually mix in some self tanner drops into my moisturizer.
Protect and glow! Before getting dressed, I use my Coppertone Glow to both protect myself from the sun, and to give me a lil of that summer shimmer!
Beauty is being confident in your own skin. What are your tips to maintain your glow?
Here are my three tips to maintain your glow from the inside out:
Fill your cup with what gives you joy! Whether that's moving your body with yoga, taking walks with your dog, or reading a good book. Take time away from your screens and from work to tap into the things that make you happy.
Embrace your quirks and as I love to say, "let your freak flag fly!" Our personality is what makes us unique! So often we're afraid to stand out due to fears like "what will people think?!" or "what will people say?!" The truth of the matter is, not everyone is going to jive with you, and that's ok because you weren't put on this earth in order to receive everyone's approval. The more you can step into YOU, the less you'll seek other people's validation and the more authentic you can truly be... and that is a beautiful thing!
Find the humor in the day-to-day and try not to take life too seriously. There is nothing more gorgeous than a big smile or laughter, and the more than you do so, the more you can spread that same feeling and energy to others.
The first 100 readers to enter their information below will receive a complimentary Coppertone Glow box, which includes the NEW Coppertone Glow Spray, Coppertone Glow Lotion and some additional summer essentials to help you get your glow on. Make sure to share how you’re getting your glow on this summer tagging @CoppertoneUSA and using #CoppertoneGlowUp.
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Mom Point: Perfect Presents For Mother's Day
Shop Mother’s Day gifts from Hallmark.
“Motherhood” can be described in as many ways as there are many kinds of moms. Moms are tough and tender, fancy and fierce, warm and wise. They’re nurturing, compassionate, resilient and bold. And sometimes, they’re not actually your mom, but rather a mother figure – someone whose advice you can always trust, who has stood by you through thick and thin and who you love like family.
Moms also make mistakes. They teach us it’s okay not to be perfect. How to say, “I’m sorry.” How to forgive others. And how to forgive ourselves.
And after so many years of love and laughter and tears, they know when it’s time to let go … just enough, but not quite all the way.
So this year, let’s show all the moms in our lives how grateful we are for their giving, loving, perfectly imperfect selves. Let’s tell them how lucky we feel. And let’s thank them for all that they are.
We asked three stylish women to reveal the perfect presents from Hallmark for every kind of mom. Keep scrolling to see what gifts they’re giving to the leading women in their lives this year.
“I love that Hallmark has a wide variety of products. No matter who you’re shopping for, you can always find a card and gift that fits their personality perfectly!”
–Maddie Obray
To whom did you send a Mother’s Day card/gift to and why? Which card and gift did you choose?
My mom loves flowers so I picked out the Loved Mother’s Day Card With Floral Heart Wreath in Gift Box and the Bright and Happy Day Vase of Flowers 3D Pop-Up Card. My mother-in-law loves the spa so I got her the Spa Day Self-Care Kit.
What makes it a great gift?
These are great gifts because the products I picked have specific meaning for my mom and mother-in-law–they will know I was thinking about them when I picked out the gifts.
What message did you want to get across to them? How did sending a card and gift help convey your message and emotions in a more meaningful way?
I just wanted them to know I love them and care about them. I know when they get these gifts they will feel loved and appreciated!
Why is Hallmark your go-to shop for Mother’s Day gifts?
I love that Hallmark has a wide variety of products. No matter who you’re shopping for, you can always find a card and gift that fits their personality perfectly!
Best advice you learned from your mom?
My mom leads by example and I’m always trying to be more like her. She is kind, compassionate, strong, caring, loving, genuine, and always puts God and family first. She is also the best grandma to my daughter! I don’t know what we’d do without her.
How did sending a card make you feel?
I always love sending cards because it’s such an easy gesture to let people know how much they mean to you. I love knowing it will brighten their day when they see it and read the message inside.
Maddie’s Mother’s Day Gift Picks
HALLMARK
Loved Mother's Day Card With Floral Heart Wreath in Gift Box
HALLMARK
Spa Day Self-Care Kit, 6 Pieces
HALLMARK
Bright and Happy Day Vase of Flowers 3D Pop-Up Mother's Day Card
“Gift giving is one of my love languages and a way I love to express my love to others. I love being able to shower my mom with gifts on her special day to remind her just how special she is.”
– Jalisa Vaughn
To whom did you send a Mother’s Day card and gift to and why? What card and gift did you choose?
My mom to make her feel special this Mother’s Day. I got her a Hallmark Paper Wonder pop up card as well as Lavender-Infused Crew Socks and a Spa Day Self-Care Kit so that I could express how much she means to me not just on this special day but every day
What makes it a great gift?
I love the variety of self-care gifts because she deserves to feel pampered, and the pop-up card really makes a statement! I know she’ll be wowed when she opens this gift.
What message did you want to get across to them? How did sending a card and gift help convey your message and emotions in a more meaningful way?
The importance of self-care and self-love. It was a tangible expression of my feelings for my mother.
Why is Hallmark your go-to shop for Mother’s Day gifts?
Hallmark is always my go to for Mother’s Day gifts because they always help me tangibly express my emotions and their gifts allow my mom to have keepsakes that she can reflect on for years to come.
Best advice you learned from your mom?
One piece of advice that I hold tightly to is, “when you keep God first, He will take care of His.”
How did sending a card make you feel?
Gift giving is one of my love languages and a way I love to express my love to others. I love being able to shower my mom with gifts on her special day to remind her just how special she is.
Jalisa’s Mother’s Day Gift Picks
HALLMARK
If You Can Read This Lavender-Infused Crew Socks
HALLMARK
You're a Blessing Hummingbird 3D Pop-Up Mother's Day Card
HALLMARK
Spa Day Self-Care Kit, 6 Pieces
“Hallmark always has the perfect cards to express exactly how I am feeling.”
– Dayna Bolden
To whom did you send a Mother’s Day card and gift to and why? What card and gift did you choose?
I decided to send a Mother’s Day card to my mother-in-law because she has been such a huge help to our family, from watching the kids, to keeping the house in tact while I am busy working. She has been a great help to me and has made my job easier.
I chose a Hallmark Mother’s Day Card and Hallmark’s Spa Day Self-Care Kit.
What makes it a great gift?
I love this gift for my mother in law because she works so hard she deserves a little me time at home. She also loves painting and doing my daughter’s nails, that is her favorite thing to do on the weekends, so this kit would make her so happy!
What message did you want to get across to them? How did sending a card and gift help convey your message and emotions in a more meaningful way?
The message I want her to know is that she is valued and appreciated. By giving a simple gift that I know she will love will show how much we love and value her presence in our life.
Why is Hallmark your go-to shop for Mother’s Day gifts?
Hallmark has always been my go-to destination–Hallmark always has the perfect cards to express exactly how I am feeling and the selection is great. I also love the selection of meaningful gifts that all moms will love and appreciate.
Best advice you learned from your mom?
My best advice from my mom is to work hard with everything that you do. She has instilled this in me by not just telling me, but showing me daily with how hard she works in her career and for her family. I knew I would always be successful solely on how she instilled work ethic in me.
How did sending a card make you feel?
Sending a card made me feel happy and blessed that I have mothers in my life that I am close to and value every day.
Dayna’s Mother’s Day Gift Picks
HALLMARK
Spa Day Self-Care Kit, 6 Pieces
HALLMARK
My Mom, My Friend Mother's Day Card
HALLMARK
Home Is Where Mom Is Quote Sign
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This Mom's Mind Was Filled With "Worries and Anxieties Every Night"—Sound Familiar? Here's What Helped Her Sleep
Her nighttime routine is one to emulate.
To put her mind at easy come bedtime, Angela J. Kim ends each day by reflecting on what she’s grateful for. “My days are long and hard, and there are so many worries and anxieties that fill my mind every night when I lay down to sleep,” explains the founder of the lifestyle brand Mommy Diary. Her relaxing nighttime ritual of meditating and writing in her gratitude journal has taken on a whole new importance in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The blogger, podcast host, activist, and mom of four, spanning a nine-month-old to a 13-year-old, keeps a busy schedule and, like so many working parents, has a lot on her mind these days.
Since she started quarantining in her Southern California home with her family, she’s had to adapt to a whole new schedule, which includes her staying awake long after she’s put the kids to sleep to squeeze in a few more hours of uninterrupted work. One constant in her routine, though, is her nightly ritual. “I make sure I’m ending each day on a positive note with positive thoughts and a list of things I’m grateful for,” she explains. “That way, I’m constantly rewiring my brain to be positive, hopeful, and grateful, even in my subconscious.”
Now that Purple has launched a mattress for kids, her gratitude list has gotten just a little bit longer. “A good mattress is so important for our kids because it makes a huge difference in their quality of sleep and provides the right support for their growing bodies,” Kim explains. “My son loves the way it feels and hugs his body without making him too hot, and I love the machine-washable cover, which makes mom life so much easier.” For a mom who’s navigating working, teaching, and parenting from home 24/7, any win, no matter how seemingly small, is worth being grateful for.
Ahead, Kim shares the nightly rituals that help her and her family rest easier, including the bedside table essentials she always keeps within arm’s reach, the bedtime stories she swears by, and the many reasons why the Purple mattress for kids is a game-changer.
CREATE & CULTIVATE: It’s so important that moms get their 8-hours just as much as the kids. What is your relationship with sleep now that you have children?
ANGELA KIM: My relationship with sleep goes through different seasons. I was getting regular 7-8 hours of sleep until I got pregnant with my fourth baby. These days, my sleep is interrupted every night and I sleep in 4-5 hour stretches. I’m exhausted and can’t wait to sleep through the night again. While it’s hard, I know this is a short and fast season.
Sleep, or lack of it, can contribute to many health concerns including mental health, productivity, weight, immunity—the list goes on! Getting good sleep is all about how you wind down before bed. Can you share your nighttime routine or pre-sleep ritual and how that sets you up for sleep success? Why does this enhance a more restful night’s sleep?
I wind down with a five-minute meditation and five-minute gratitude journal every night. My days are long and hard and there are so many worries and anxieties that fill my mind every night when I lay down to sleep. So I make sure I’m ending each day on a positive note with positive thoughts and a list of things I’m grateful for. That way, I’m constantly rewiring my brain to be positive, hopeful, and grateful, even in my subconscious.
What are your nightstand must-haves for a good night’s sleep?
I love my Himalayan salt rock, five-minute gratitude journal, favorite book, rose quartz gua sha tool with essential oils, and a small notebook to jot down random thoughts and dreams.
What are your hacks for getting through the day after a bad night’s sleep?
Coffee, matcha, peppermint oil in a diffuser then repeat!
What do your kids’ sleep rituals look like? Can you share the challenges of getting your kids into a healthy sleep routine—what’s worked/what hasn’t?
My kids are pretty good sleepers overall. Their bedtime routine begins with a warm bath, then a short story, then sleep.
My four-year-old son likes when my husband sits in the rocking chair while he falls asleep and my 8 months old daughter likes to fall asleep while breastfeeding. With four kids, we have to divide and conquer.
What doesn’t work is long bedtime stories! Keep the storybooks short and sweet. Kids tend to ask you to read it again and again so make it clear that they get one or two bedtime stories.
Can you recommend any books that have helped?
I love I Love You Through and Through and the classic bedtime story Goodnight Moon.
How much have your sleep patterns and rituals changed since quarantine? Why?
I’m definitely sleeping later and waking up later than before quarantine. I’m with the kids all day at home, so I have to squeeze in more work after the kids go to sleep after 9 pm. The upside is that I no longer have to rush to get the kids out of the house by 8 am!
How much does your mattress impact your and your kids’ sleep and why?
A good mattress is so important for our kids because it makes a huge difference in their quality of sleep and provides the right support for their growing bodies. A good mattress should be breathable, non-toxic, and hypoallergenic with the right amount of support.
Now, your favorite mattress brand, Purple, just launched for kids and yours have been testing it. What were your kids’ first impressions—how has it enhanced their sleep, what changes have you noticed, would you recommend it—tell us everything!
My son loves his new Purple mattress! He loves the way it feels and hugs his body without making him too hot. My son hates being hot in his sleep and the Purple mattress keeps him cool. I also love the machine-washable cover which makes mom life so much easier.
How are you teaching your children about the importance of sleep hygiene and rituals for a good night’s sleep? Can you recommend any books?
I teach my son the importance of sleep hygiene like brushing teeth and washing his face and hands at night by reminding him throughout the day. For example, if he wants candy during the day I’ll say, “Okay, you get one candy but make sure you’re brushing your teeth and making them clean at night time!” Or, “Sure, you can play with that tractor in the sandbox but let’s make sure we wash off the dirt before getting into bed.”
Now he loves bath time and asks for it every night. After a full day of playing, he has no problem falling asleep on his Purple mattress within 5-10 minutes.
What advice do you have for sleep-deprived parents reading this who are struggling to find a routine that sticks and gets their kids into a routine?
Avoid stimulating music, games, and books at nighttime and stick to the same routine to provide a sense of comfort for the kids. My kids love playing “dinosaurs on the wall” with a flashlight by making hand puppets. This game allows short and sweet bonding time without the lights on, which transitions nicely to bedtime.
Sentence Finishers:
When I make time for self-care, I…
Take a long bath with fragrant bath bombs and candles.
My go-to tip for a good night’s sleep is…
A warm Epsom salt bath and dosing off to sleep with positive affirmations and a gratitude list in my head.
If there were more hours in the day, I would…
Spend more time on extra self-care rituals like facials, massages, hair, and nails.
Moms know best because…
We are intuitive.
A good night’s sleep feels like…
Heaven on earth.
I’d give up ____ for an uninterrupted 8 hours of sleep.
Anything.
The silliest thing I’ve done while sleep deprived is…
Looking for my baby in the home because I forgot where I put her down, LOL.
Click here to learn more from other moms on their sleep tips, nighttime routine, and experience with the new Purple Kid's Mattress.
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This GlobeTrotting Mom's Nighttime Routine Might Be Unorthodox But It Works
"It allows me to actually relax when I get in bed."
Hailey Devine knows the difference a quality mattress can make. The co-founder of Somewhere Devine Expeditions, a non-profit travel company, has trekked everywhere from Zambia to Peru to Thailand, which, as you’d imagine, has involved sleeping in a lot of different environments. “I’ve slept on poorly made mattresses and it makes me feel as if I never slept at all,” explains the entrepreneur and mother of two daughters, Greta (4) and Lucy (6). “The same goes for the kids. I know that if they’re not sleeping on a good mattress I’m going to deal with a lot of crankiness the following day!”
With travel plans temporarily on hold due to COVID, Devine and her family have been settling in at their home in Utah and preparing for the arrival of their third daughter in early 2021. One of the biggest game-changers for the growing family? Moving their youngest into a Purple kid’s mattress. “This was Greta’s transition to a ‘big girl bed’ and it has gone so much smoother than I thought,” says Devine. “I’ve noticed both of the girls winding down a lot easier and getting that good quality sleep that their little bodies need, which makes everyone around our house much happier and energetic!”
Scroll on to learn more about their experience with the new Purple kid’s mattress and Devine’s nightly routine, including her 10-minute ritual of tidying up the house after the kids go down to bed.
CREATE & CULTIVATE: It’s so important that moms get their 8-hours just as much as the kids. What is your relationship with sleep now that you have two young daughters (and another one on the way!)?
HAILEY DEVINE: I feel like we are in the sweet spot of parenthood right now because Lucy and Greta sleep 10 hours a night! So not only do I get to have “me time” before bed, but I’m currently getting a full 8 hours of sleep! I think we’re in for a rude awakening come January.
Sleep, or lack of it, can contribute to many health concerns including mental health, productivity, weight, immunity—the list goes on! Getting good sleep is all about how you wind down before bed. Can you share your nighttime routine or pre-sleep ritual and how that sets you up for sleep success? Why does this enhance a more restful night’s sleep?
I love spending ten minutes tidying up the house after the kids go down to bed. It allows me to actually relax when I get in bed, knowing that I’m waking up to a clean slate in the morning! I also love taking a bath, reading a book, and rubbing some essential oils on my neck and feet.
What are your nightstand must-haves for a good night’s sleep?
Sound machine, chapstick, essential oils, and ice water!
What are your hacks for getting through the day after a bad night’s sleep?
Eating well and exercising. If I don’t do those things on top of bad sleep, then I really become a monster!
What do your kids’ sleep rituals look like? Can you share the challenges of getting your kids into a healthy sleep routine—what’s worked/what hasn’t?
The girls sleep in the same room and do the same sleep rituals together, which makes it more simple for us. We brush teeth, go potty, read, and pray together. Our oldest tends to get scared, and what has worked is validating her feelings and having her verbalize, “I am safe, I am loved, I am protected,” and re-shift her focus to happy thoughts. What hasn’t helped is punishment.
Can you recommend any books that have helped?
Taking Cara Babies has an amazing sleep program! Babywise was also helpful, although, we apply a more gentle approach to sleep training.
How much have your sleep patterns and rituals changed since quarantine? Why?
Surprisingly, our sleep patterns and rituals haven’t changed! The kids didn’t seem to skip a beat.
How much does your mattress impact your and your kids’ sleep and why?
Speaking for myself, I’ve slept on poorly made mattresses and it makes me feel as if I never slept at all! The same goes for the kids. I know that if they’re not sleeping on a good mattress I’m going to deal with a lot of crankiness the following day!
Now, your favorite mattress brand, Purple just launched for kids and yours have been testing it. What were your kids’ first impressions—how has it enhanced their sleep, what changes have you noticed, would you recommend it—tell us everything!
This was Greta’s transition to a “big girl bed” and it has gone so much smoother than I thought, thanks to the mattress! I’ve noticed both of the girls winding down a lot easier and getting that good quality sleep that their little bodies need, which makes everyone around our house much happier and energetic!
How are you teaching your children about the importance of sleep hygiene and rituals for a good night’s sleep? Can you recommend any books?
With our kids, it is all about learning by experience. We let Lucy, our oldest, make choices on the weekends to have sleepovers with cousins on the floor, etc., but we let her know what the consequences are. That she will probably wake up feeling yucky and not feeling her best. So moving forward, she can make her own healthy decisions!
What advice do you have for sleep-deprived parents reading this who are struggling to find a routine that sticks and gets their kids into a routine?
The earlier you can start healthy sleeping habits the better! Giving your children the gift of self-soothing may be rough for a couple of nights, but it is so worth it for everyone in the long run. We started with the eat-wake-sleep method right out of the gate with Greta and it’s crazy how better of a sleeper she is than Lucy.
If you’re feeling like you’re late in the game, it is never too late to teach self-soothing techniques to your child through affirmations and tools to help them get back to sleep on their own. It takes more effort as the child is older, but don’t give up. Stay patient and gentle. Remember your child reflects the energy that you put out. You got this!
Sentence finishers:
When I make time for self-care, I…
Perform better for me and for those around me.
My go-to tip for a good night’s sleep is …
All hidden in your nighttime routine!
If there were more hours in the day I would…
Probably choose to take a nap daily! Haha! I love my sleep.
Moms know best because…
We have an intuition for our children that others do not.
A good night’s sleep feels like…
The greatest gift, especially after those first weeks after giving birth!
I’d give up ____ for an uninterrupted 8 hours of sleep.
My social life.
The silliest thing I’ve done while sleep deprived is…
Laughing uncontrollably and then bursting into tears over absolutely nothing!
Click here to learn more from other moms on their sleep tips, nighttime routine, and experience with the new Purple Kid's Mattress.
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Why These Two Women Risked It All to Break into the Food Industry
“We hope that by showcasing the importance of early childhood nutrition that we’ll not only elevate the dialogue on baby food today but will also push the entire industry to improve.”
The saying goes, “If you want something done right, do it yourself.” Angela Sutherland and Evelyn Rusli are the epitome of the proverb. As the co-founders of Yumi, the homemade delivery baby food company, they’re challenging the standards of the “Big Baby Food” industry.
It was so important to Angela and Evelyn to fix the static baby food industry that they each left successful careers in other fields to start Yumi. Read on for their story.
Let’s start at the beginning. What whitespace did you see in the baby food market?
Angela: When I was pregnant with my first child, I did what a lot of new parents do — I went down the long, long rabbit hole of Google research. In that process, I came across studies on “The First 1000 Days,” a period of time identified by researchers and doctors as the most important in a person’s life for nutrition. I grew up in Michigan and was largely raised on the idea that adults are the ones who have to worry about their diet — that adults shouldn’t have the cupcakes because of their diet, but kids can eat anything they want because they have their whole life to worry about nutrition. It turns out the exact opposite is true.
Later, when my daughter was ready to begin solid foods, I was completely shocked to realize just how deficient all of the store bought options were. The big baby food industry is dominated by products that are older than the babies eating them, high in fruit-based sugars, and low in nutrition! I was in disbelief that over the last 100 years, baby food has changed very little and was not giving kids what they need. I felt compelled to do something about it.
Describe the journey from when you first had the idea for Yumi to actually making it a reality.
Angela: As I was uncovering all this research, I was sharing it with my friends, including Evelyn who I’ve known for years. She was working for the Wall Street Journal at the time. As a journalist, she naturally started digging-in and read all the clinical studies I had collected. We went on a trip with my family to Arizona, and while our husbands were ATV-ing, we kept circling on this idea of building a new baby food company to solve all these gaps. Within a few weeks, we both gave our two weeks notice and decided “OK, we’re doing this.” At the time, I was the breadwinner in the family, so I spoke with my husband about it and explained that I would need to take a roughly 100% pay cut but it was for a really, really good cause. He was my biggest cheerleader from day one.
How did you each find the confidence to give up your previous ventures and pursue a new career?
Evelyn: It’s not easy to walk away from a career you’ve been building and nurturing for more than a decade. There are internal and external pressures to stay on that path. When I was 18 and decided to be a journalist, I had a PLAN, and that plan was going perfectly. But accomplishing a plan you hatched at 18 doesn’t necessarily equal fulfillment. I felt myself increasingly drawn to entrepreneurship; I was enamored by its almost obsessive nature. Everyday, you apply your blood, sweat, and literal tears in the hope that you can change the world in a very particular way. I loved the mission of Yumi from day one.
Angela: Our backgrounds are sort of the perfect complement. I was the math major, she was the English major — she is the words to my numbers. Meanwhile, in my former life as a director of a private equity firm, I was very familiar with the nuts and bolts of operations and what it takes to build thriving, sustainable businesses. I enjoy nerding out on unit economics. Evelyn, meanwhile, is a natural storyteller. She pulls threads together and helps distill complex concepts into more digestible forms. We both saw Yumi as more than a product off the shelf. To succeed, Yumi would have to be a highly scalable business, but it would also have to be a movement, a movement that inspires other families to demand changes in Big Baby Food.
What’s a typical day in your lives like?
Evelyn: One of the amazing things about being an entrepreneur is just how fundamentally — often unpredictably — different each day is from the next. On one day, we could be in the test kitchens working with chefs and nutritionists to develop new recipes. On another day, we could be on the road meeting with potential partners, which includes everything from marketing to packaging to prospective investors. We try to create some boundaries within the chaos, and we both intentionally set aside time to think about big picture strategy and what’s coming around the corner.
One of the hardest things about building a startup is the constant context switching. It can be mentally and physically taxing. But let’s be real — it’s also a lot of fun.
What is it like working together when you both have very different backgrounds/experiences?
Evelyn: We simply can’t stand each other, it’s really becoming a challenge. Obviously, I kid, she was literally the officiant at my wedding. I’m the godmother to her son. Her family is my family and vice versa. That said, we’re very different in terms of skills and how we approach problems, which certainly leads to arguments about decisions. However, that’s exactly why we wanted to be partners. You need someone who is going to challenge your ideas and push you to see a problem from a different angle. That friction is healthy for a startup.
Angela: For all our differences, I do think our partnership works because we are similar in the areas that matter. Our fundamental values are the same, which is why we’re so passionate about Yumi’s mission. We’re also crazy hard workers, perhaps to a fault. I’ve never doubted for a second that Evelyn isn’t doing everything she can to make this a success. We completely trust each other’s judgment.
Baby food is a contentious industry. How did you choose ingredients and suppliers? What about pricing?
Angela: For us, quality is everything. It is our #1 priority to give babies the highest quality ingredients, sourced from the best organic farms in the country. When you look at consumer trends and the preferences of the modern day parent, it’s clear that this generation has a very different attitude towards food than previous generations. Today’s parents have a much deeper understanding of food, and how it affects their health and wellness. They care about organic, they expect freshness, and they also look for brand transparency.
The legacy brands are out of touch. Last year, Consumer Reports revealed that grocery store baby food brands tested positive for an array of heavy metals. That same week, we put up a map online to show our customers how we pick our farms based on the government’s soil readings. We avoid areas that test high for heavy metals, and we avoid certain ingredients like brown rice, which often tests high for arsenic.
Our pricing reflects the multitude of differentiators that we offer to consumers: high quality ingredients, customized content, shipping straight to your doorstep, and sustainable packaging. As we scale, we will be able to pass along savings to our families, but our consistent growth month-over-month indicates that we’re already filling a huge demand in the market.
Looking back, what’s one thing you would have done differently when you first started out?
Evelyn: We’ve both grown so much from this process, but I think one thing we would have done differently in the beginning would be our approach to hiring. We would have hired more people out of the gate. We would have put more effort into recruiting. At the end of the day, success or failure is determined by the people you have on that bus.
Where do you see the baby food industry going in the future? How do you see it evolving?
Angela: Hopefully, out of the dark ages. If the baby food industry is still dominated by two-year-old room temperature chicken stew in a jar, I’ll be shocked.
We’re trying to shed an intense light on the Big Baby Food industry. There’s simply no excuse for the low level of innovation, freshness or quality. Most baby foods, including some newcomers, are still laden with fruit-based sugars and are incredibly low in nutrition. We hope that by showcasing the importance of early childhood nutrition that we’ll not only elevate the dialogue on baby food today but will also push the entire industry to improve. Babies deserve it.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
Evelyn: Someone once told me that “all businesses are inherently people-based.” In the same way that we apply the saying “It takes a village” when it comes to motherhood, I have seen that the same goes for businesses — they are nourished by people and our extended networks. Since starting Yumi, I’ve lost track of the number of times a friend has helped me work through a problem, provided valuable insights, or served as a resource in some way. So many people have helped in the making of Yumi. These interactions are a constant reminder to stay humble and to not be afraid to ask for help.
What’s next for Yumi?
Angela: We’re so excited to launch a new line of snacks and finger foods this spring. It has always been our mission to grow with our customer and to provide offerings for kids as they transition from babies to toddlers. In America, the number one veggie for a toddler is the french fry. That’s absurd. Families deserve healthier options across the 1,000 days. Whether it’s purees, snacks, finger foods, or beyond, we have a lot of work to do.
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Wait, What?! How This Founder Is Applying the Tinder Model to Motherhood
Motherhood used to be about wiping, not swiping.
We're not going to mince words. The solo dolo doldrums of new motherhood is real. Too real. We'd say it's almost harder to find your #momsquad than to master breastfeeding (which, power to all breastfeeding mamas and your boobs; it's no walk in the park).
This thinking is exactly what drove Michelle Kennedy, the former deputy CEO of European dating app Badoo, to develop Peanut, a social app aimed at platonically connecting mothers who feel isolated, alone, and often cut off from friends and their old lives. It's a pain point for many women (which means, there's a solve). "When you're up for a 2am feed and your friends are just leaving the club, those feelings can compound and you wonder 'What does Michelle the mommy look like? Do I have to change?'” the founder shares. The answer the mom and business woman arrived at was no. You certainly don't have to change. But that doesn't mean you have to feel alone.
Taking what she learned from the dating app space, Michelle applied to the same thinking to motherhood. As a generation armed with a fleet of apps at our disposal, from transportation to shopping, to dating and streaming music, Michelle, who was the first of her friends to give birth in 2013, decided that moms "should be able to have that too." And it didn't have to be through a patronizing or unsexy product. "I really learned a lot from working in the dating industry," she says. Including, a unique understanding of how, why, and when people use social apps. It's why the app includes a poll feature and a scheduling feature, making it easier for moms to meet up-- which is highly encouraged.
The founder says Peanut is not meant as substitution for grabbing coffee with a mom friend in person, but rather, the point is "break down the barriers to make it easier to have the conversation." For Michelle that means any conversation. "Yes, sometimes it is not all roses when you become a mommy and that is OK. It's safe to say that. It won’t make you a bad mom and no one is going to judge you. And sometimes you drop plates and you feel like the worst mom in the world or employee, or partner. Whatever it is we can keep having those conversations and it is all OK."
Peanut is the barrier to entry for many moms who are too anxious to approach strangers in the park. When she became a new mom, Michelle says, "I could never approach those groups of women who looked like they really have it together and like they were all so close. I couldn't put myself out there in case I got turned down. I used to mentally exhaust myself, as I judged them thinking about them judging me."
She recalls a bad experience in a Starbucks when her own son was tiny. She saw a woman who looked like she had it together and so Michelle gathered her courage and asked if they might want to get together. "She then said to me, 'You know what I’m so busy at the moment I don’t want to take your number incase I never get back to you.' I was so traumatized by this. So I thought is there a way to erase all of this and make it easy?"
"Sometimes you drop plates and you feel like the worst mom in the world...it is all OK."
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It's also why Peanut uses the double opt-in model favored by dating apps. "You have to think about a woman and the position she's in and how rejection would feel-- especially if it's her and her child. It's one thing for you to reject me for a date, but if you reject me and my baby, that's a whole different ballgame." Michelle insists that the way Peanut works protects "your dignity and your pride. You can put yourself out there first and swipe right. The other mom will never know unless they swipe right on you too."
Though meeting a mom through an app might initially feel impersonal, it's the way we operate. And in this case, Michelle insists that a picture is worth a thousand words. "If you see another woman's profile, it is never about her picture. You are looking for the clue in her picture. Like is she wearing hiking boots, is that part of who she is, or is she eating food, where is she eating, what is she eating? You are always looking for those social cues, that look and acknowledgment that says 'let's play next to each and play together.'"
She also insists that, "Anything we do on our phones has to be an extension of what we are doing in our every day lives, otherwise we aren’t going to use it." And using it women are. After all, we all get by with a little help from our tech.
Follow Peanut on IG here. Photo credit: Peanut
Feel like sharing your struggles as a new mom? Comment below. We got you.
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The One Thing This CEO Says She Won't Do
From scrappy startup to acquisition, Richer Poorer founder Iva Pawling is on to something big.
photo credit: Richer Poorer
Top shelf products in your top drawer. That's Innerwear company Richer Poorer, minus the hefty price tag.
Founded six years ago by Iva Pawling and Tim Morse, Pawling says "Richer Poorer is building a brand that makes you never want to leave your house." (But, you will.)
Richer Poorer started at the bottom, literally, launching with colorfully patterned men’s socks and then expanded into women’s and kids’ socks, and underwear. Last December the company made the decision to add men's tees to the lineup. The tees were, "so passionately loved by our customers and friendlies," says Pawling, "that we fast-tracked our women's tee collection launch, and got them to market last month." That was July of this year. According to Pawling, "Women's tees sold out the first day, and have been making up over 20% of our RP.com sales since."
This success can be tied to what Pawling believes "is the evolution of the Athleisure movement we’re all pretty tired of seeing. Instead of wearing workout clothes all day when you’re not actually working out just because of comfort, we wear our Innerwear that we’re still comfortable in, and feel presentable outside the house."
It's also a way of dressing that works well for moms, a role Pawling knows herself as mother to son, Ford. It's simple, casual, and perhaps mostly importantly, convertible. She'll wear their tanks to yoga and then wear the same tank with a fancy necklace, skirt and heels to dinner on the weekend. "Our products are blank canvases," she says.
From scratch beginnings to a Shoes.com acquisition, we caught up with Pawling to talk mom and mogul-hood, the evolution of Richer Poorer, and if it's possible to hustle your way to happy. (She says yes, with one major "duh" caveat.)
Mom and mogul. These roles are not mutually exclusive these days, but that doesn’t mean they’re simple. How do you do it?
The only way I do it is with lots of help and planning. My husband and I split parenting duties pretty evenly so that we can seamlessly parent on our own when the other one is traveling or tied up, and Ford has total consistency. We also have a really great nanny as well who we couldn’t function without. She fills in the holes for us when we both have early morning meetings, crazy schedules, etc.
One of the reasons I wanted to start my own company was because I knew I wanted to be a mom, and wanted to have control over my time out of the house. I stayed home with Ford on Fridays until he started pre-school, which was such a gift. Having one day of the week that was just for him and I to go to music class, go to the park, become besties, was great. The flip side to that coin is that running your own business does not come with a three month maternity leave, so I was back in the office a week after having him. Sacrifice is the name of the game.
Also, lots of planning and foresight is needed to keep our life organized and running smoothly. I have found that parents with careers get much more efficient with their days almost instantly, so we pre-plan everything we can. A month in advance for travel if possible, and every Sunday go through the coming week’s logistics of meetings, drop offs and pick ups.
How do you NOT do it?
I do not prescribe to being a martyr for my child by sacrificing myself. I love my child more than anything on earth, but I also love working and my career. Fitness is really important to me so I still squeeze it in as consistently as I can. What I learned early on was that I am not a good mom for Ford if I am not doing what I need, to be happy.
"I do not prescribe to being a martyr for my child by sacrificing myself."
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Taking care of myself mentally and physically allows me to be really present and engaged during the time I have with him, rather than in my own head battling myself.
What are some parts of modern motherhood that you don’t buy into?
Parenting as a sport and the mommy wars. The judgment in parenting is something I have great disdain for. It’s become very present in the last decade, likely because of social media, but it is one of the most destructive things we do to each other. The topics are endless – epidurals, breastfeeding, sleep training, organic food, co-sleeping, potty training. We are all doing our best, and doing what we believe to be right for our child, so I really wish the divisive speak would come to a stop.
Similar question, slightly different approach: If there was a part of modern motherhood that would end up on sale… what would it be?
Unsolicited advice. After I had Ford I was totally blown away with how much direction strangers feel compelled to give when it comes to parenting. There is no other subject matter that this happens with, only parenting. And while I think most people mean well, as a parent with a young child the – shoulda / coulda / wouldas – are exhausting during a fairly confusing time when you are just trying to find your own way.
photo credit: Richer Poorer
In what ways did the role of founder help you prepare for your role as mom?
There is nothing that prepares you more for parenthood, than running your own business. The parallels are endless. I was really prepared for becoming a mom to flip my entire world over, and while it certainly did from a priority perspective, on a day-to-day basis I felt like it was so similar to the early day of Richer Poorer.
In the world of a start up, the business changes all the time. The second you think you have things on lock, everything shifts and you have to dig back in to adjust. Kids are exactly the same. You think you have them figured out, and they do something like START WALKING.
And the sleep, oh the sleep. My sleepless nights and learning to function on not very much of it began when I started Richer Poorer, so once Ford arrived it felt very similar and like old hat.
Are there ways your leadership changed postpartum?
My leadership style definitely changed postpartum. It softens you at the core, so I think I’m a lot more understanding than I was before. I give people a bit more rope when we make mistakes. On the flip side I’ve become a lot more direct and decisive since I can no longer afford to burn the midnight oil at the office. I require efficiency out of our team and they’ve become really good at moving through things quickly.
What are some ways you think Richer Poorer is disrupting the market?
Two ways – by defining a new category for the industry that is focused on how we’re dressing these days, Innerwear – and working really hard to be part of the solution for retailers in this really turbulent and tough market.
We believe there is a new way of dressing that has taken over most of our wardrobes that is really focused on comfort, utility and simplicity – your Innerwear. We’re determined to be the brand that makes your favorite pieces that live at the top of your drawer, that you can’t wait to put on every day – tees, underwear, socks, sweats, etc.
There is a lot of doom and gloom in our industry right now with the shift in consumers buying habits, and quite a few brands are either launching with the plan to just be direct-to-consumer, or established ones are trying to shift their model to stop doing wholesale and only do direct-to-consumer. We really believe that you need to build both channels to support each other, in order to grow a strong brand. We are focused on working with our retailers to create unique buying experiences in their stores that tell our brand story rather than just product, and give the customer a unique way to shop that they can’t necessarily get online.
photo credit: Richer Poorer
When you’re repositioning what are facets you have keep, where do you have some wiggle room?
The defining brand tenets of what Richer Poorer was built on haven’t changed – Elevate Everyday – Honest Hustle – California Born.
Elevate everyday speaks to not only our why, which is to create great products that make people’s days better in the simplest of ways at an attainable price point, but also our internal culture at Richer Poorer. We are here because we love what we do. We are lucky to be in this passion-driven industry, so I firmly believe it is our obligation to treat each other really well, both internally and all the people we work with outside the walls of our office.
Honest Hustle is how we do it, we are as scrappy as can be and work our asses off. This was born out of necessity because we had no dollars or budget for anything when we started, and we still instill this in every employee that enters our world. Limited resources force people to think outside the box and work smarter, and we’ve almost always seen better results from that.
"Honest Hustle is how we do it, we are as scrappy as can be and work our asses off."
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We’re a California Born brand, and it informs our overall aesthetic from product to photography. California is a dream of a place to get to live in, the entire world knows this, so we embrace it and love it.
So short story long, we religiously adhere to these tenants with everything we do as we’ve repositioned the brand, so it still feels like the same Richer Poorer, but better.
When you shifted from the traditional wholesale model did you learn anything new about the customer?
We shifted our model in December with the launch of our first apparel item, mens tee shirts on our direct-to-consumer site, which helped us understand our customer a lot better.
The first thing we learned was that our customer wasn’t price sensitive to our brand. They were willing to spend more with us if the product was good. This was a great eye-opener for us as it gave us the confidence to speed up our timelines on the new product categories we wanted to offer.
The second thing we learned was launching a product direct-to-consumer first, then wholesale channel second is really, really helpful for growth of the wholesale channel. The customer is now walking into the shops asking if they have our tees and wanting to touch and feel it, but buying it right away. Historically if they had seen it there first, it may take a few visits to convince them that they wanted to actually buy the product. Now it’s instant.
How did this shift change your business?
It changed our entire business because it was proof that there is in fact a way to run a true hybrid model that supports both the wholesale and direct-to-consumer channels.
We’ve since spent the last six months strengthening our supply chain, internal processes and adjusting calendars so that we can get items to market on faster timelines that are focused on direct-to-consumer, all while maintaining a consistent solution for the traditional wholesale calendar.
Running on two paths at once has been really difficult, so we’re lucky that we have an insanely committed team that is excited by these changes and sees that as a team we are committed to being the change in the industry, rather than the dinosaur that gets left behind. Tim and I are always pushing our team to think differently and iterate what we do quickly. We tell everyone that we expect what they are doing today to be different six months from now because they are making our products, processes, just everything we do, better as they learn more and grow.
"We are committed to being the change in the industry, rather than the dinosaur that gets left behind."
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Simply, what is an honest hustle?
The Honest Hustle was derived from our original company rally cry, that – Humble beginning make for great stories. Tim and I started Richer Poorer with little more than a few dollars, a mountain of inspiration and the drive to create something we could share with the world.
Seeing a brand through - from a simple idea to a truly functioning business -required having the perseverance to guide it and us through hundreds of roadblocks. It demanded an unwavering spirit, some serious scrappiness, honesty with ourselves, and a lot (A LOT) of hustle. As our team grew, it was important to us to maintain these values, so we named it the Honest Hustle as an easy way to define it.
The honest hustle has become a way of life to me. It’s a commitment to being the best, most honest version of yourself in what it is you chose to do with your life. Regardless of whether you are running your own business, in your dream job, or your first job – it’s a belief that working as hard and smart as you can will lead you to the next best step, and so on. Be proud of what you do and how you do it.
Can you hustle your way to happy?
Yes! I entirely believe this if you are doing work that is meaningful to you. As human beings, we derive immense happiness and self-satisfaction out of accomplishing things. I read about how important the feeling of accomplishment is to humans in a really great book called Brain Rules before I had Ford, and it describes this starting in children as early as a few months old through adulthood. I know for myself, when I leave a day at the office and have been able to cross a big thing off my list, I feel great.
I say this with the caveat that work alone will not make you happy. Human connections and relationships are the most important thing. Duh.
We can't wait to have Iva Pawling join us #CreateCultivateATL this October on View From the Top: The Do's and Don'ts from the Women Who've Done It.