“We just made this pajama set—I just got it today so I had to wear it. Of course, it’s pajamas, but you can also wear it out. A lot of what I design is like that…comfortable, elegant, easy to wear during the day and into night. And then you can sleep in it! Because running a company is exhausting! [Laughs] So I don’t really go out as much as I used to, but when I do, I spend a good amount of time getting ready. Mostly because I enjoy it so much and at the end of the day, I’m just a little girl who likes to play dress up. It’s more about the ritual and the process then the ultimate result. I often will end up wearing the first thing I tried on. I think something that’s definitely shifted over the last couple of years is comfort being at the forefront of the look. Like, I’m very careful about wearing comfortable shoes. Jumpsuits are really easy for me to wear when I go out because it’s kind of like a whole outfit in one and you can have a bit more fun with the beauty aspect.

Something I’m always using is my Ice Roller. It de-puffs and just wakes you up. It’s like having my own cryo-facial. Then I’m also obsessed with Korean sheet masks. My favorite one is the black J.One Jelly sheet mask—you put that on for half an hour, and then you do the step two mask which is the serum. They now sell it separately so it’s like a primer for a glow-y situation. I use that every time I go out. It lets your skin hold the makeup without feeling cakey. You end up looking really fresh and hydrated and dewy.

After a sheet mask, I like to do a lip mask. Everyone in LA is getting their lips done, so it’s hard not to want to plump them up a little. I have one called SOS My Lip Patch that works, and there’s also Kiss Kiss Lovely Lip Patch by Tonymoly that I’ll use. It helps keep my lips hydrated, which makes them look fuller. My favorite lip stain is called Dear Darling Tint and it’s also Korean. Just a little of it gives this nice, natural color, and I’ll use the Glamglow Plumprageous Lip Treatment on top of it because it’s the only one I’ve tried that doesn’t get too glossy. It’s pretty matte, so the finish is super natural.

For foundation, I use the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk. Then I use this Terracotta spray from Guerlain and I’ve been using that for 10 years. All my friends make so much fun of me because it makes a lot of noise when you shake it up. They hear that sound and they know I’m doing my makeup. It’s really amazing for contouring lightly—but if I’m going for a little bit more, I’ll use the Tom Ford Shade and Illuminate Palette on top of it. The spray is, I think, a very chill version of contouring. You don’t have to have such a defined line it’s kind of just a little shadow. My blush is the Tarte Cheek and Stain Blush Stick. I have olive skin, so I usually pick a coral or darker shade because light pink doesn’t look that natural on me. For blemishes, I use this thing called the Everything Pencil you can pick up at a beauty supply store. It’s a little stick that works on spots or under my eyes. First I’ll use the 3Lab Eye Cream to depuff and then do the Everything Pencil on top of that.

On my eyes, I use the Stila Liquid Eyeliner in Black every day. It’s always a cat eye, but sometimes it’s a little less exaggerated and close to the lash line. My favorite mascara was discontinued, I think, because I can’t find it anywhere. It’s Too Faced Lash Injection and it makes these little tubes around your lashes that come off so easily, but also don’t run while you’re wearing it. If you can get your hands on it, definitely get it.

There’s this exfoliator called the Cure—it’s for your face, but I use it on my neck and chest right before I shower if I’m going out. It makes the whole area really shiny and nice. I’m a little too nervous to use it on my face though, because it’s pretty intense. Instead, I just use the Biologique products. I do the Lotion P50 every day and the Masque Vivant with baking soda once a week. It’s really strong and can dry you out, so I’m really conscious to moisturize afterwards. Either the Masque VIP 02 or Biomagic Masque work for me. If I’m feeling really dirty, I use the Microdermabrasion Scrub from DermE—I love how many little grains are in it. And if I feel like my skin is really needing some cleaning I’ll use the CosRX Blackhead Liquid. That stuff is also very intense but really works. You have to leave it on for twenty minutes before you put anything on underneath it. And that one I just use very sporadically if I feel like I’m breaking out on my chin or something.

My favorite fragrance is the Le Labo Baie Rose 26, which is their special Chicago scent. It’s impossible to find because there’s not actually a Le Labo in Chicago–you have to call the Barneys there and convince them to send it to you. Once a year, they sell it at all the Le Labo stores and I’ll get it in LA. If you buy the right bottle, you can refill it during the year, which is a great secret I didn’t know until recently. I use it both during the day and at night—you just need one spray because it’s strong, and you’re good to go.”

—as told to ITG

Sarah Staudinger photographed by Emily Knecht at her home in Los Angeles on January 27, 2017.