Hi everyone,

Happy May! Hope you're all enjoying spring so far! Things are constantly buzzing here at ANFISA Skin (as always!), and with that pace comes, well... a very busy mind! That's why I was so excited when I came across a book recently that's been incredibly helpful for navigating the internal side of things, and I knew I had to share it with you all.

I dove into Don't Believe Everything You Think by Joseph Nguyen, and honestly, it felt like finding a practical tool for navigating the beautiful chaos of the life of a founder. When you're constantly juggling product ideas, team needs, and future plans for the business, your brain can feel like it's running a marathon 24/7. This book offers simple but powerful ways to handle the mental load of any highs and lows along the way. Here are some key takeaways that really resonated with my day-to-day life of running a business:

•  Feelings come from thinking, not just circumstances: This was eye-opening; when a launch feels overwhelming or a challenge pops up, it's easy to blame the situation. But this book reminded me that it's often my thinking and the stories I'm telling myself about the situation that create the stress. Shifting that internal narrative makes such a difference.

• Thoughts aren't facts (phew!): As a founder, doubts or 'what-if' scenarios can run wild. Remembering that these thoughts aren't necessarily true or predictive, and that I don't have to dwell on every single one?! That saves SO much mental energy that's better spent on creative solutions and brainstorming our goals for the brand and all the exciting things we have in store for the future.

• Overthinking isn't always productive: This one hit home! Trying to analyze every potential problem or 'fix' things by endlessly thinking, especially late at night, rarely leads to clarity. Often, it just leads to more stress and overwhelm. Stepping back from the mental spiral is sometimes the most productive move.

• Letting thoughts pass: Learning to just notice worries (about deadlines, growth, or anything) and let them float by without getting deeply invested in them has been a game-changer. It helps me stay calmer and more focused on what actually needs to get done in the moment.

Basically, understanding we don't have to be ruled by every thought that pops into our heads has been incredibly freeing. It helps cut through the mental clutter that inevitably comes with building something like ANFISA Skin, leaving more space for creativity and enjoying the journey!

Okay, onto lighter things! My lippie of the month is a combo I'm loving: the REFY Lip Sculpt in Fawn topped with ÂN-GLOSS in Berry Crumble from yours truly. REFY's new formulation of their lip sculpt is insane in the best way and is probably one of my most transfer-proof and long-lasting lip liners. The shade Fawn is chef's kiss to add subtle contour to your lips which is why I usually lean towards browns and rosy browns for lip products. Berry Crumble adds the most beautiful wash of color and shine while not being sticky and also gives my lips the extra TLC they need as the weather transitions from the colder months. It’s perfect for spring, great for busy days when you want to feel put together in two easy steps.

Post-launch of Berry Crumble, our entire team has taken a much-needed breath and done a bit of relaxing. Launch season can literally feel like planning the most elaborate wedding or event of your life when we're depending on shipping containers, hard proofs of packaging and stationery, getting all the content we need, finalizing formulations, and shipping like crazy.

Nick and I popped back to NYC for a quick event collab at Fuze House in Tribeca and then onto birthday celebrations and a mini getaway in London. I've been spoiled and had some of the beast beauty treatments of my life recently so let me know if you want me to share more about that in the next newsletter. We stayed at The Twenty Two Hotel in both NYC and London, which is our new favorite hotel because they really get all the little details right— and I'm ALL about the details. We're back to business as usual next week, but taking a breath to enjoy and celebrate each other both personally and professionally is really what life is all about.