Journal

Ask An Aesthetician

Cara Peloso

An aesthetician for more than twenty years, Cara Peloso offers one of the most unique and transformative facial practices—and is one of the most insightful and considered voices on beauty.

LESSE milan city guide VILLA NECCHI CAMPIGLIO

City Guides

Milan, Italy

Our founder, Neada, shares her highlights of Italy's design capital — from an architectural wonder to the city's best Risotto Alla Milanese.

rituals

Agustina Yanque

"Prioritizing meaningful connections, with ourselves, with our loved ones, and removing our facades is what matters most."

ESSENTIAL CINEMA

Essential Cinema curated by Jodi

For slow days and long nights ahead, we invited our dear friend and actor, Jodi Balfour, to curate a selection of films that have continued to resonate with her—long after the final scene.

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Alexandra Yan Wong

"To be within the confines of the canvas but without the constraints of a predetermined outcome; that is where my thoughts find form."

Moon Lists

Tender Concepts

For those in search of tenderness, a curation of ideas inspired by our Essential Moisturizer and compiled by Leigh Patterson, founder of Moon Lists.

Ask An Aesthetician

Fay Halkitis of Luna Beauty & Apothecary

Sydney-based aesthetician and naturopath Fay Halkitis shares her insights on a more holistic approach to beauty and wellness.

Andrea Ámez photographed by Kobe Wagstaff

Ask An Aesthetician

Andrea Ámez of Ámez Skin

Andrea Ámez of Ámez Skin shares her professional insights on beauty, rituals, and the current state of the industry.

CITY GUIDES

New York, New York

Amidst the perfect chaos of the city we call home, these are the places we return to again and again; for refuge, inspiration, and otherworldly delights.

Escape with LESSE

Bella Thomas

"Travel has become an essential for me now. It doesn’t have to be across the world, it could be a drive down the coast or into the mountains. I just crave that feeling to see— and feel —something new."

CITY GUIDES

Copenhagen, Denmark

A city known for its art, culture, and its superlative design — read on for some of our essential experiences in the Danish capital.

ESCAPE WITH LESSE

Claudia Smith

"Traveling pushes me out of my comfort zone and allows me to gain a stronger sense of self. It forces me to be present and evaluate things needed in life, always confirming less is more."

CITY GUIDES

Paris, France

In the first installment of our new city guide series, LESSE Founder Neada shares her essential destinations for art and inspiration in the city of lights.

RITUALS

Alexis & Laura

The friends and fashion creatives on their greatest lessons, hopes and advice for life.

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Michelle Del Rio

"I don’t find conventional beauty beautiful. Beauty, for me, is something off-centered."

RITUALS

Anna & Bailey

BAINA co-founders Anna and Bailey reflect on their decades-long friendship, individual rituals, shared hopes and unwavering philosophy.

ASK AN ESTHETICIAN

The Ultimate Travel Skin Care Guide

Sydney aesthetician Clare McColl of FENN shares her expert advice on best practices for supporting skin while you're away from the comforts of home.

RITUALS

Madelynn Furlong Hudson

"I always view life as a river that just continues to flow forward. Take opportunities as they come to you... don’t force anything that shouldn’t be."

RITUALS

Jodi Balfour

"When I was performing, I felt alive and present in a way that was so much more pure, much simpler than the complexity and ambiguity I experienced in real life."

ASK AN ESTHETICIAN

After Sun Skin Care

How to soothe, hydrate, and replenish skin after a day in the sun, according to Sydney based aesthetician and FENN co-founder, Clare McColl.

ASK AN ESTHETICIAN

Soothing Sensitive Skin

New York aesthetician Crystal Greene on how to alleviate inflammation, soothe reactive skin and restore the skin barrier.

ASK AN ESTHETICIAN

Treating Acne 101

Aesthetician Crystal Greene shares her expert advice on how to treat and prevent one of the world's most common skin conditions: acne.

ASK AN ESTHETICIAN

Fading Dark Spots

New York aesthetician Crystal Greene shares her recommended practices for fading dark spots and bringing skin's complexion to an even tone.

ESCAPE WITH LESSE

Joanna Halpin

"I escaped to Menorca, which is a beautiful, small Spanish island with tiny narrow roads lined with fields, perfect long sand beaches and hidden coves."

RITUALS

Eva Hardwick

"I am constantly working on letting go of the compulsion to obsess about minor things in life. I’m reminded by the universe to go with the flow and trust that I am where I’m meant to be."

RITUALS

Manisha Anjali

"I feel alive in those big turning points in life, those crossroads, when one reality ends and another begins. I feel alive when I am in awe of nature. When I am driving alone down a highway watching a lunar eclipse take place. When I plunge myself in the warm ocean and feel reborn... I am biting into this sacred and precarious world with everything that I have."

RITUALS

Valerie Quant Zecchetto

"As a mother, my world has shifted—Gia’s needs are now front and center, and I have a new appreciation for life. I’m savoring all of these fleeting moments as our little baby grows so quickly."

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Maya Moore

"I believe beauty is an ever-evolving process of coming into your own. It’s learning to love and appreciate every part of yourself, especially the seen and unseen parts you may have been told aren’t beautiful—for me, this means my scars and my silhouette. Most importantly, I believe we’re arbiters of our own definitions and those definitions can change with time."

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Alexandria Coe

"As an artist, I would describe myself as spontaneous; constantly moving through emotions... Drawing is my way of working through my emotional language, my own form of communication."

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Rachel Nguyen

"I feel most alive when I’m very honest with myself. When teasing or flirting works in my favor. When I don’t judge my desires. When all the lights turn green. When my intentions feel clear. When I go left on a wave, When possibilities open. When I’m dancing next to sweaty strangers. When I’m reminded that everything can be abundant. When I’m in love."

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Jordan-Risa Santos

"Beauty is not something we can physically hold onto, but something we can work towards, every day, through how we make ourselves and others feel."

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Stella Simona

"I have learned over the years that things will not always go as you expected them to, but everything does happen for a reason. Lean into the positives and embrace the ebb and flow."

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Andrea Chou

"The most important thing is to remain true to who you are, and to live in a way that isn’t simply for the perception or ideals of others."

RITUALS

Claudia Smith

"I think that’s why I love shadows; I don't like to give everything away at once. There’s just as much beauty in the darkness and the unseen."

RITUALS

Tasnim Ahmed

"Moving so much from a young age and having to adapt to ever-evolving landscapes has really had an impact on who I am. I went from a place where everyone looked like me to a place where no one looked like me; from having community to feeling quite isolated."

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Eryn Danielle

"Allies Doing Work is a space for people of color to talk about things like anti-Blackness, race, gender, sexuality from a non-white-centric point of view... The general space was just becoming something catered to a wide audience, and I wanted to carve out a space where that isn’t our intention and will never be our goal."

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Minami Gessel

“I stopped consuming the typical Eurocentric beauty standards that have been pushed on us, and found beauty within myself and also within my culture.”

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Joanna & Sarah Halpin

"[Beauty] can’t be described, located or filed under a singular idea. It is unique and truly dependent upon the individual. And, for that reason, beauty can be found almost anywhere—shaping the world."

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Karolyn Pho

"The water is where I feel most alive."

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Altynay Alikhan

"For the future of all kids, and all generations, I hope we can start working on a solution to climate change. We need to take care of this planet."

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Nat Buchanan

"I find beauty in others when they are outside of themselves. Real beauty is unaware."

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Imani Randolph

"I never want to stop learning or growing. I want to continue taking in information, being flexible in my perspective, and live with a willingness to hear others’ points of view."

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Stella & Sarah

Thoughts on beauty, duality and balance; from the perspective of two women, daughter and mother.

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Karina Sharif

"I don't want to just make room for womxn like me, I want to make clearings; massive and unapologetic, we take up space."

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Georgah Crane

"There’s beauty in the way you make a cup of tea for the person you love, how you laugh with a friend, and so on. It’s in moments of kindness, in vulnerability and connection."

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Kayla Blackmon

"I believe all of us are changing and growing. I believe we are living in a time of awakening, that we’re on the right path to change."

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Kayten Schmidt

"I feel most beautiful when I wake up in a bed of white sheets. When I get out of the shower or pool. In low light behind a glass of wine."

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Deon Hinton

"I wish I had known earlier in life that I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be. That we don’t make mistakes, we learn lessons."

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Desirée Pais

"The real question is how do we learn to love ourselves— all the parts of ourselves —so we can bring the beauty that is within, out?"

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Bella Thomas

"It's hope that gets me out of bed in the morning. Hope for humanity, hope for this world, and a strong faith that good will always prevail."

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