As a founding partner of Skims and co-founder of Good American, entrepreneur and author Emma Grede knows her stuff when it comes to the business of fashion.
And we reckon the London-born, LA-based CEO also has a keen eye on the beauty industry too, if her latest Instagram post is anything to go by. Unpacking the contents of her woven tote to reveal her 'summer non-negotiables,' Grede demonstrates her best facial sunscreen, skin-purifying mist, and a smart summer hair hack for good measure. And take it from us, they are exactly the sort of products we should all be using during the heatwave.
What's more, every one of the products rings in with a very affordable price tag - including two sub £15 steals - proving that even business moguls appreciate a well-priced beauty buy.
"I'm obsessed with this Tower 28 SOS spray situation," Grede exclaims, demonstrating her bottle. We're not surprised she's a fan; this cult mist contains anti-inflammatory hypochlorous acid, which is known to calm and reduce bacteria in the skin, so it's perfect if you suffer from excess oil or congestion during hot weather.
"I use a little Supergoop stick for the kids", explains Grede, displaying this ultra-cute and handbag-friendly SPF. We agree sunscreen sticks are a godsend for often unwilling (and wriggly) children, and this is also brilliant for topping up your own sun protection on the go, as it has a light feel and invisible finish that won't mess up your makeup.
Grede's facial sunscreen of choice by Summer Fridays has now been upgraded and adapted into this SPF50 version, for even more robust protection (never a bad thing). As a mineral formula, this would make one of the best sunscreens for sensitive skin, and includes plenty of skincare ingredients, including ceramides and shea butter.
Grede's skincare picks are all seriously smart choices to beat the heat - with light, refreshing textures and formulations that resolve summer dehydration and congestion.
And while the video may begin with some expensive fashion moments - a Prada tote bag and Luis Vuitton storage pouches, no less - Grede's democratic taste in beauty brings in some achievable shopping inspiration.
Along with her skincare must-haves, Grede also shares her wellness go-tos, including the best protein powders and electrolytes, a copy of her bestselling book, Start With Yourself: A New Vision For Work And Life, as well as a pair of wired headphones - "because I'm always working and no one needs to sit and listen to me doing approvals."
And in a final piece of heatwave-friendly advice, she pulls out a smart hair hack. "Hair bands - a must - SLIP silk ones," explains Grede, showing off the hair tie in question, which happens to be a favourite of the w&h beauty team, too.
Not only do these mini scrunchies look and feel super luxurious, but they are also the most practical way to throw your hair up when the temperatures rise. Thanks to their snag-free 100% silk material, they never catch your hair or cause it to dent, meaning you can pull your hair back at any time without breakage or messing up your style.
As a beauty editor with very long, fragile hair, I know Emma Grede is onto a good thing with these and always use silk scrunchies to tie my hair up before bed on sticky evenings. The slippery material never tugs my fine hair overnight and leaves it kink-free, so I don't need to wash or style it again in the morning.
With such a savvy business brain - operating at unimaginable levels of busyness - it's no great surprise that every product in Grede's bag is hardworking and serves multiple purposes. We're only sorry there weren't more product tips and recommendations in there... a makeup must-have video next, please!
