19 beauty experts on the lessons they’ve learned from their mothers

Like mother, like daughter. For many women, it's a phrase that holds true in a number of ways, especially within the realm of beauty. Sure, inherited looks play their part. But while nature is a major part of the equation, nurture is just as much of a driving force. Throughout history, beauty rituals and traditions passed down from generation to generation have had a profound influence on the extraordinary mother-daughter connection. In honour of Mother's Day, 19 beauty experts get candid about the distinct impact their mother had on their lives, from the power of a perfectly drawn red lip to deeply ingrained self-love and confidence.

Jessica Alba, founder of Honest Beauty

“My mom was and is unapologetically glamorous. She always looked perfectly put together, even when we had no money. Her basic face was a full face! When I think back, I remember the smell of Aqua Net hairspray and her frosty lips, magenta striped cheeks, and a strong charcoal cat-eye. She always had big hair and long talons. ‘You only get one face,’ she’d tell me, advising me to invest in good makeup and skincare. She was adamant about not using old mascara, even when we were on a budget. She was like, ‘If it’s old, it’s out of here.’ That and washing my face before bed!”

Gucci Westman, founder of Westman Atelier

“My mom was a very natural beauty for the most part. On occasion, she would wear makeup—a touch of mascara or eyeshadow—and I remember how stunning she looked with it on. Make no mistake, I always thought she was beautiful, but with that added touch of makeup, it was so powerful. When I started wearing makeup, she taught me to never wash my face with soap and instead remove it with water or olive oil. A lot of her advice has come full circle, transferring into what I am known for as a makeup artist. Seeing her natural beauty, and then how her features were enhanced with the makeup she occasionally used, I now share a similar less-is-more aesthetic. She also taught me a lot about health, exercise, consistency, and eating well. I learned the importance of always being aware of the ingredients of what you’re eating, and I still have this outlook in my lifestyle today with an 80/20 balance. All of these amazing lessons are injected into my adult life and continually impact the decisions that I make on my Westman Atelier line. My mom has passed on a lifestyle philosophy that extends itself to beauty. I truly believe in amplifying, not transforming. I want people to feel beautiful, yet still themselves.”

Sharon Chuter, founder of Uoma Beauty

“My mom may have had six kids to look after, but I always remember her having that 'me' time. On Saturdays, she'd always paint her nails red and had this automatic dryer that I thought was the coolest gadget ever. The smell of nail polish and acetone has always been quite nostalgic for me since. Overall, my mom kept it quite simple when it came to her beauty routine. Back home in Nigeria, we'd always use shea butter. She taught me: Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize like crazy. It's the key to eternal youth. Shea butter is amazing and I can’t scream enough about how amazing it is, especially on African-American skin. She’s in her late ’60s right now and barely has a wrinkle. Being Nigerian, it’s a very, very different culture and I think the best gift she gave me was not letting me use makeup until later in life. My mom really wanted us to form a sense of identity before we started playing with it. To me, makeup is a form of self-expression and not something to conceal flaws—loving yourself first is what has shaped my brand! I love my bare skin some days, just feeling the sun on it or sweating things out at the gym. But then other days, I’ve got a full-faced beat. It’s been really amazing having her as a role model because whether I’m bare-faced or I’m in full glam, I still remain the same person and that’s an absolute gift.”

Caroline Greyl, CEO of Leonor Greyl

“Since her childhood, my mother has always been a beauty addict. At 13, she used kohl as eyeliner and had her first perm! When I was growing up, she was already in the beauty field working for Clarins as a beautician. She always paid special attention to hydrating her skin and removing her makeup carefully. My earliest beauty memory is of her playing with my hair at the Leonor Greyl Institute. I would often go there on Saturdays and sometimes before school if we were having class pictures taken. My mother would always come up with original hairstyles. I even have a picture of me with the hair Princess Leia wore in Star Wars! My mother would also test new products on my long hair because hers is short. Naturally, the most valuable beauty lesson my mother taught me is to take care of your hair and be consistent with your routine. Our hair goes through so many dramatic changes and it's important to do a mask at least once a week. My mom has definitely passed on her passion for beauty and taking care of yourself. To this day, when I go and visit her at home on Sundays she's always perfectly put together!”

Dr Barbara Sturm, founder of Dr Barbara Sturm Skincare

“My mom never wore makeup, but always looked super young with soft and beautiful skin. My grandmother was a pharmacist who made our skin creams for us by hand. I was a tomboy, spending my childhood outside in nature. I remember my mom used panthenol and raw aloe vera plant pulp on us—especially if we had a sunburn. I use these ingredients in my formulations now, too. In the winter months, we had snow and it was quite cold, so my grandmother made us a rich and protecting cream. My mom loved milk baths and dry brushing and I learned these from her, too. Throughout my career, my mom and grandmother helped me with ingredient science and formulations. My mom was a chemist and lab doctor and when I started injecting skin with fillers and Botox, I inherited an eye for absolutely natural results, simply restoring facial structures and functions that had been lost to age. This philosophy applies not only to injectables but carries over to skincare. My mom taught me that healthy, hydrated skin doesn’t require makeup and is beautiful on its own.”

Lisa Price, founder of Carol's Daughter

“I remember my mother’s soft skin. Her cheeks, especially. Before I made my Face Butter she used the same cold cream for years and years. I always remember that scent on my mother’s cheek. After she passed away 16 years ago, I bought a jar of it and I keep it always. When it came to makeup, my mommy was a minimalist. Her everyday look consisted of a peach blush, coral lipstick, and few coats of mascara. She also had gorgeous skin, so she could get away with that. When I began to make products and I could spoil my mom with all kinds of soaps, cleansers, bath salts, and body butters, she began to really indulge in her bath time. Mommy also taught me to embrace my natural curls and that keeping my hair healthy was paramount. I never forgot that and our traditions are the inspiration behind my hair products, as well as our new “True To Your Roots” campaign, inspired by mother-daughter connections like ours. But above all, mommy taught me to love the 'me' I see in the mirror everyday. The 'me' without makeup. The 'me' not all dressed up. The 'me' who wakes up every morning and stares back at me in the mirror. Everything else will come and go, but 'she' will always be with you.”

Tara Foley, founder and CEO of Follain

“Growing up in the '90s, my mom had an intense job. So, imagine Working Girl…lots of hairspray and bright colours! She used a lot of makeup but always applied it on the go, in transit. Her favourite beauty product at the time—other than hairspray [laughs]—would be a blue eyeshadow. I’d like to think my mom was one of the OG multi-tasking makeup mavens. She would apply lipstick to her cheeks and blend it like a blush. When I was young, I thought this was so silly and strange, but of course, now I do the same thing, exclusively using lip-and-cheek duos! Also, my mom has always been obsessed with sunscreen. I remember whenever we went to the beach, or even just went outside on a sunny day, she had this ritual of liberally applying and reapplying sunscreen everywhere. She would try to get me to do the same, but unfortunately, I was pretty rebellious growing up, so didn’t follow her lead. In fact, I’d go far in the other direction and would always try to get a tan. Of course, now I’ve come around to sunscreen completely and wish I listened to her earlier. My mom was never into clean or natural products when I was growing up. I mean, in all fairness, they didn’t really exist. But she was all about using beauty for a polished look—and about seeking out 'cult products' because she didn't have the time to shop around and find the best ones herself. I definitely learned that from her and at Follain, I only carry cult clean products because women are busier now than ever. I just want to help women find the best of the best!”

Salwa Petersen, founder of Salwa Petersen

“Beauty is central in my mother’s life. She taught me to start with the basics and nurture what you have with consistent routines so that you can have healthy, strong, and thick natural hair that can grow optimally long, as well as healthy skin that ages beautifully and is the perfect canvas for makeup. My mother is obsessed with the natural kind of beauty. Her skin is so dewy, baby soft from head to toe. She never wears foundation—I don’t either! Her signature look is a touch of traditional kohl from Chad in the eyes. Growing up, my mother would religiously care for her skin every morning and evening, blending the ritualistic recipes from Chad and modern beauty products. She taught me from a very young age to do the same. I would sit next to her and watch her—transfixed!—as she went through the motions. I also knew early on that skincare did not stop at the neck or the scalp. Her favourite beauty ritual was Chébé, a tradition that helps to attain and preserve incredibly long and healthy hair. I was hooked on it pretty much from birth, so that’s obviously what I started with when I launched my brand. There's also our family scents: My mother mixed her own fragrances based on millennia-old recipes she inherited from her own mother and grandmother and taught me all of those recipes. My mother also burnt and made incense from scratch with precious wood over charcoal in vessels handmade by potter women in the ancient village of Gaoui in Chad. I always assisted her and learned a tremendous amount about traditional Chadian perfume and incense making. It is a whole ritual. Funny story: We once lived in a house for many years in Benin, then moved out to Gabon. My father visited the empty house that we stayed in a year later said those scents were lingering all over, especially in my parents’ bedroom!”

Sally Hershberger, owner of Sally Hershberger salons

“My mother was a very strong, elegant woman. And although she was busy raising my brothers and I, she always took time for herself. She had a casual chicness about her—like a Slim Aarons muse in Palm Springs. She was naturally [glowing] with high cheekbones and didn’t wear a lot of makeup. Back in the '70s, a healthy glow was your best accessory and she didn't want makeup to cover it. My mother would always cut her own hair—a strong bob [that evolved into] a flip—and she styled it herself every morning. The most valuable lesson my mother taught me was to take care of yourself. She had the most beautiful hair, super white teeth, and perfect skin. She taught me that if you take care of these features, you don’t need much makeup. You can look classic and beautiful in a crisp white shirt with a little mascara and some lip gloss. My mother was sporty, too. She played tennis and golf at a time when many women weren’t active, which contributed to her overall healthy glow. My less-is-more beauty approach is from my mother. She was her own woman. I learned that to be beautiful is to be confident in yourself.”

Jin Soon Choi, founder of JINsoon

“My mom’s regular beauty regimen consisted of applying hand lotion at night and sleeping with gloves on so the moisturiser—her favourite salve was a Korean version of Tiger Balm—would penetrate better. Whenever my hands are dry, I do the very same thing. She would also go to Korean bathhouses for the works whenever she had the time. I have fond memories of going with her! She would scrub me with a rough cloth for an amazingly effective exfoliation. It was a great opportunity for mother-daughter bonding! [Laughs] Throughout my life, my mom has been quite influential in my appreciation for clean beauty treatments, which has manifested in how I created my manicure and pedicure services, using natural ingredients like cucumbers, flowers, and milk. At 80, she started creating vivid and structural origami creations, and a decade later her work has inspired my new brightly-colored Mamagami Collection!”

Tata Harper, founder Tata Harper Skincare

“My mom has always been a beauty addict! I became obsessed with beauty and skincare from watching her and my grandmother as I was growing up. Their beauty routines were never a chore to them, it was about starting and ending the days with a relaxing, pampering self-love moment. My mom’s best-loved products were always Swiss skincare offerings. But my favourite thing that she would do was host spa parties with her friends every weekend at our house, with masking and everything. That’s what actually gave me the idea to do our masterclasses for our clients! My mom used to love this translucent pink peel-off mask and the ritual of painting it onto her face. I remember watching her do it in front of her vanity once a week for my entire childhood. Overall, there are two important things I learned from my mom about beauty. The first: Start early, don’t wait for wrinkles. It’s important to start your skincare at a young age so you’re actively repairing and preventing your skin every single day—no matter how old you are. The second: Stay consistent. You only see the results you want from your products if you’re using them every single day, morning, or night. My mom taught me that your beauty regimen is a part of wellness. It’s like exercise—just another way to take care of yourself!”

Ozohu Adoh, founder of Epara

“Growing up, my mom's beauty routine was pretty simple. However, she would almost never leave the house without her black kohl eyeliner. From a very young age, she applied lotion all over her body. She loved very fragrant lotions and I still remember her scents through the years. One of my earliest beauty memories is her taking me shopping to buy my first non-baby lotion product. She taught me to always moisturize all over my body. It was imperative because she said our skin could look ashy otherwise. So, I have never deviated from this lesson! She really shaped my view on always using high-quality products and investing in good skincare.”

Georgia Louise, owner of Georgia Louise Skincare

“My mom is the reason I chose a life in beauty! When I was 6, she’d wrap my hair in a mask of eggs and olive oil right before bed. When I woke up and washed it out, my hair was transformed into a beautiful, shinier version of itself. On my 11th birthday, she taught me how to massage my skin with oil. I still use those techniques that I learned from her on my clients today! She bought me my first cleanser and toner when I was 11 and sent me to her best friend’s spa for a weekend job when I was 14. As far back as I can remember, my mom has had standing appointments with a nail artist in London who keeps her nails pristine. She had fancy designer nails in the '80s before it ever was a thing. The thing about my mom is she is always immaculate from her hair to nails, and there's never a crease or wrinkle in her clothes. My favourite bonding activity is when I give her a micro-current facial. In addition to facials, she works out at the gym and has her hair done every week. She’s a bit high maintenance—never leaves the house without makeup on, perfect hair, a spritz of Chanel N°5 , a touch of pink Dior lipstick, and most importantly, her diamonds. [Laughs] My mom worked in the cosmetic industry for a plastic surgeon, so I was inspired watching my mother take care of others and make them feel their best.”

Rose-Marie Swift, founder of RMS Beauty

“My mother always wears very bright lipstick, from pinks to reds. My earliest beauty memory of her is seeing her red lipstick tube and powder with white marabou feathers ‎overflowing from the jar on her vanity. She was always very fashion-forward, but at the same time very naturally classic, carrying herself extremely well. She truly embodies natural beauty, yet could dress it up so elegantly. The ability to combine those elements and the unique end result has always stuck with me in my approach to beauty, which embodies bringing together a natural base with elements of elegance and simplicity. On the wellness front, she taught me to always eat healthy, incorporating tons of fruits and vegetables with minimal sugar if any at all. These lessons in having a more minimal and ultra-healthy, farm-to-table approach are an essential part of my life in all I do to this day.”

Valerie Grandury, founder of Odacité

“As most French women, her beauty routine was simple and consistent. To this day, if I go to bed without cleansing my face, I can hear her say 'Make sure your skin is clean and well-hydrated before you go to bed...' She was all about oils, serums, and massaging the skin to stimulate firmness. After my first facial with her esthéticienne when I was young, they became a monthly mother-daughter rendezvous. Odacité is so inspired by her beauty rituals, from products for treatments to gua sha tools for skin stimulation. She was also an advocate of bare skin and insisted that 'The best look is bare skin with a touch of red lipstick and mascara! Skincare should be your makeup, the rest is accessories.' Maman believed that beautiful skin is also fed from inside, with good food and a glass of red wine! Like her, I am all about healthy and glowing bare skin. I agree with her 'good food' approach. Like hers, my 'good food' is always homemade and never processed, yet quite different with its ingredients. Maman's was very French with meat, cream, cheese, and bread. Mine is dairy-free and plant-based, but the glass of red wine still stands!”

Vicky Tsai, founder of Tatcha

“Growing up, I would watch transfixed as my mom went through her evening skin-care ritual. Like clockwork after dinner, she would stand in front of her bathroom sink and go through the motions of each step meticulously, using various washcloths, face washes, and doing a facial massage including her neck, back of the neck, and around the ears. She’d emerge with skin that was so pristine I can only describe it as the skin-care equivalent of your teeth after a cleaning at the dentist’s office. Whenever my mom cooked rice, she would tell me about how growing up in Taiwan, they would save the milky water from the first wash of rice and later use it to wash their skin and hair. She swore that the ingredients in that milky water left skin and hair softer, brighter, and smoother with each use. It was the beginning of my understanding that ingredients that are good for the body are good for the skin. The woman was—and still is—the cleansing queen, and to this day, washing my face is one of my favourite things to do. Maybe it’s why Tatcha exists. In high school, my mother opened a beauty boutique and I spent a lot of my free time working with her there. As one of the only minorities in my school, I was not conventionally pretty by Texas beauty queen standards in the ’90s, so I loved disappearing into her makeup heaven. But my mother always encouraged me to focus on having a beautiful mind and a beautiful heart as a way of feeling beautiful in my skin. I’m so glad she did. I try to teach my daughter the same thing—that beauty begins in the heart and the mind.”

Divya Viswanathan, co-founder of Taza

“My mother always felt beautiful inside and out and made everyone around her feel beautiful. She grew up in a very tiny village in South India, where there were no beauty or skin-care brands, so she made her own using Ayurvedic skin-care principles. She would mix turmeric, milk, and honey and use it as a body scrub during a bath for a more even and radiant skin tone. For the face, she would use oil infused with saffron, which helps to reduce uneven pigmentation in skin. Like most children, I thought my mom was the most beautiful person in the world, and when I was six, I entered her into a mommy beauty pageant in school, without asking her permission. This was something my mother would never do as she was raised in a very traditional family, but she participated in it for me. She wanted to show us that anyone can be part of a beauty conversation. My earliest beauty memory and ritual I did with my mom was oiling my skin before showering. We would cover ourselves with Ayurvedic herbal body oils pre-shower and wrap ourselves in warm towels. Way before self-care became a buzzword it was a meditative state where we just relaxed and let the oils soak in. It not only helped with radiant skin and lasting health but also helped me practice a ritual where I can detach myself from all the noise around me. My mom has taught me that beauty is holistic. It involves both the mind and body, a philosophy which inspired Taza. She also instilled within me an understanding that beauty lies in the eye of the beholder and there is no one definition of beauty. She gave me the confidence to launch a brand that is authentic and deeply connected to my roots and to feel confident in who I am.”

Babba Rivera, founder of Ceremonia

“I attribute basically everything about my relationship with beauty to my mom. Her approach is all about self-care and not about changing your look or masking who you are behind makeup and advanced styling techniques. I have very fond memories of my mom always taking the time to practice her beauty rituals, regardless of how busy she might be. The wellness ritual I always remember is that when she showered, she was not to be bothered—that was her ultimate, sacred alone time and I definitely think I’ve carried that with me. My mom would always drop anything to be with me, but when it came to her showers or baths we all knew to not bother her. In addition to taking two-hour baths several times a week, she’d always have her nails perfectly groomed and skin moisturized and soft. The most valuable beauty lesson my mom taught me is that any bathroom can be a spa. She’s shown me how to appreciate the everyday rituals of taking care of oneself. My mom never went to fancy salons to get her dose of beauty, she would create whatever experience she could at home, and she saw so much beauty and pleasure in the small things, such as applying body lotion or a leave-in conditioner. My mom is such a big inspiration for my brand, Ceremonia, as I grew up watching her taking care of herself with pride, for herself and no one else. She really instilled in me from such a young age that beauty is a form of self-love and inspired me to always make time for it.”

Juhi Singh, CEO and founder of The Juhi Ash Center

“An Indian home is generational, so on Mother's Day, I must speak on the two women who shaped my life and conception of beauty: My mother and my grandmother. As a child, I was shown simplicity when it comes to beauty. Growing up, I remember my grandmother would not be without her pure Vitamin E oil. For decades, I watched her massage that oil in a fifteen-minute, upward-stroke facial routine followed by a glass of plain room-temperature water on an empty stomach! My mother was not without her Manuka honey. They were both great moisturisers that complemented their individual Ayurvedic doshas. My mother always advised that the skin around one's eyes is like plastic wrap, once pulled it doesn’t snap back! [Doing] less in youth provides a more virgin slate for anything you choose to have done in age. All that being said, my mom taught me that there is no such thing as outward beauty alone. Beauty shines through health, a clear mind, resilience, and kindness. As an Ayurvedic specialist, I am certain that beauty’s true origin lies beneath the skin. As a modern woman, I like my pretty pots of potions. Of course, we don’t always have the time to mortar and pestle our own DIY facial masks. But nothing says that modern developments and ancient wisdom cannot be combined. My entire life’s work emerged from the philosophy of my mother, grandmother and heritage. The Ayurvedic philosophy that puts purity above all else. Purity of mind, body, and spirit.”

This is originally featured on Vogue.com

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