I’m Rachel, a little California baby who has bopped around all parts of the state until I finally landed in Los Angeles almost ten years ago—which, I’m realizing makes me think that I’ve lived through the world’s perception of California from The OC, surf and skate culture, and now this influencer boom. Nonetheless, the sun is a great consistency.
I was drawn to YouTube because, well, after having a blog for as long as I did, it seemed like it could fill a void that static blogging had created in my life. It was another chance at the blogger world but by being raw and unmanufactured, unlike some of the dumb decisions I’ve made in the past. And, wow, putting your heart online and having others connect with that and then each other? That felt—and still feels—like the most validating part of my work and I’ve been building ideas and products around that since.
The Internet, more than any person, has literally shaped my thinking. Exploring its internal society, especially when the Internet was still budding; from education access to connecting me with new people, the Internet really did it all for me.
One of my most viewed videos—sitting at over 3 million views—is my 10-step skincare adapted from K-beauty. My skincare regime took up a lot of physical and mental real estate then, but now I opt for a simpler, efficient routine. I also love playing around with fun tools. I think beauty is and always has been about different ways to accentuate parts of your outward appearance, in ways that feel playful and representative of how we feel internally. I think beauty is honest. It’s informal intent that doesn’t look, feel, or smell any particular way.
My favorite beauty rituals now are feeding myself well, finding local tonics, making concoctions, supporting farms, hydrating with intent, and feeling bits of divinity. And I feel most beautiful after passionate sex, working out, being held, skincare rituals, healthy food, perfume application, returned smiles, and a good joint—just to name a few.
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.
"Putting your heart online and having others connect with that and then each other? That felt—and still feels—like the most validating part of my work and I’ve been building ideas and products around that since."
I’m working on letting go of indulgences for the sake of it right now and getting a better grasp on disassociation vs. detachment—for a more productive relationship with things in general. I’m proud of how far I’ve come by following my gut instincts, and I wish I had known years ago that any outward perception of me will never match completely how I see myself.
To predict the future—it’s hard for me to imagine that far ahead, but my greatest hope is that there is less binary thinking with more solutions, less blaming. Less labels, more room to openly evolve. For a better humanity, I hope we get our act together to nurture the Earth the way she has for us.
RACHEL NGUYEN can be found on YouTube and the community channel she founded, Warde. Featured with the REFINING CLEANSER, REGENERATION MIST and BIOACTIVE MASK. Photographed by CAROLYNE LORÉE TESTON.
