Woodley & Bunny's Co-Founder Teaches You How To Pick The Best Beauty Products
As one half of the sister duo behind Woodley & Bunny, the ultra-hip Brooklyn (and now L.A.!) salon and apothecary, Misha Anderson has a knack for knowing when a beauty product is awesome. She's uncovered and introduced us to some of the under-the-radar beauty brands that are now can't-live-without-'em staples in our bathrooms: Ellis Faas, Brad BioPhotonic Skincare, Sachajuan, Sentara — the list just keeps growing.Misha is the last word in quality control for the apothecary, personally testing and seeking out new products to add to the shelves. She's turned shopping for beauty goodies into an art form, knowing the most effective way to suss out a beautifier to see if it's up to snuff. And since we know finding the right products can be overwhelming, we asked her to share her shopping secrets. Read on to get the scoop on Misha, plus her best tips for finding your new beauty must-haves.
Tell us a bit about your background — how did you get started in the beauty industry?
"Before Woodley & Bunny I was working at Rolling Stone, developing cross-promotional platforms and working directly with film studios, major record labels, and fashion brands. I’ve always appreciated the art of beauty and the way it can transform you. I remember watching my mother’s ritual of transformation, from the moment of leaving the bath into the very image of '70s glamour or, at other times, a look out of Love Story – assisted by her 'kit' of beauty essentials. It showed me that one could be anything or anyone they chose at any given point in time, that sensuality can be embraced and enjoyed through beauty and fashion, and to be a literal chameleon is a wonderful way to express individuality and how you are feeling on a particular day."
How did the idea of Woodley & Bunny come about?
"I opened Woodley & Bunny in 2005 with my sister Erin because we wanted to bring to beauty the sense of adventure and discovery that you find in travel, fashion, and music. We wanted to provide an independent luxury experience without the dictations of selling particular products because people already knew them and would buy them."
You have such a unique and amazing mix of products in the apothecary, including some that many people have never heard of before. How do you find such cool brands?
"Constantly traveling, beating the pavement, and doing a lot of research! I source the brands mostly through my travels abroad — we work with independent luxury brands that we mostly import directly from Europe."
What's your process when you're picking out new products for the shop? Do you test them?
"The process usually will begin as a consumer — I see something and if it looks interesting or efficacious, if it excites me, then I test it. My test is using it over and over again, paying attention to how it works, how it makes me feel, and if I am thrilled by the results. And of course if it looks good in my bathroom. For potential brands, we have a very specific mantra: superior efficacy, inspired aesthetics, innovative platform, and value for money, regardless of price point."
Photo: Courtesy of Woodley & Bunny
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