"When I moved to New York for acting school, I crashed on my friend's couch until I found a place. Now, I live in LA and visit New York on occasion. I think you like New York a lot more when you don't live there. [Laughs] Back then, I felt kind of lost and wanted to make it but didn’t know how. 'Rainsford' happened because I was in a bad place musically. I didn’t feel very confident and I was waiting for people to tell me what to do, and then I thought, fuck this. If I want something to happen, I have to be creative. I searched for producers and managers endlessly until I found Soul Artist Management. My latest song, Too Close, came out last year. I think I’m constantly learning and staying open and saying yes to most opportunities. I think I’m also figuring it out as I go along.
When I was first starting, I would plan out everything. [My schedule] was jam-packed, so I'm trying to chill out more. For me, the two most important self-caring and beauty things are working out and having a good diet. I work out everyday. It’s been tough this winter since it’s been too cold. So, all I’ve been doing is running around, doing yoga, and jumping jacks at home. I'll also pull up these dorky work out videos on YouTube. I’m vegetarian, but I don’t eat eggs. I think it’s better for your skin. If you eat clean you’ll look better.
It's important for me to buy products that aren’t animal tested. I also think that the products that are organic and natural are better for your skin. I really like Dr. Hauschka's stuff. He has a Clarifying Day Oil that I use a lot, and I really like his Rose Day Cream too. I usually put on the clarifying oil after I wash my face and get out of the shower. Right now, I’m using a Burt's Bees Scrub Cleanser but I mix them up. I read this thing about rose water and that it helps balance your 'female vibration in the universe.' I'll try it.
Someone just gave me these peels—Bella Schneider Beauty Mini Peel Pads. You know when you get a facial and they do a peel or whatever? I guess it’s like that. I think it’s supposed to make your skin look brighter. A lot of times I just go sample stuff at the grocery store. I use this one spot treatment called Peaceful Mountain Homeopathic Gel. I think it might be bull, but I’ll use it to try and make myself feel better.
Another thing I use—I got it in my stocking this past Christmas—is Posies and Co. Body and Hair. I put a lot in my hair, because if I don’t, it gets really poufy. My hair is kind of this weird texture where it’s curly on the bottom and straight on top. It looks very odd. If I do it myself, I straighten it. I never blow dry my hair because I don't know how, but I like the look of having my hair blown out from Drybar sometimes. For products, I usually shop at the health food store. John Master Organics is good. My hair gets really dry and he has a mist that’s extra hydrating. I also use It's a 10 Keratin Conditioner. That's good stuff.
Day-to-day all I really use is lipstain and a brow. I’m super obsessed with the Vincent Longo Lip and Cheek Gel Stain and I can never find it in LA. You can only get it at Duane Reade. It’s kind of peach and sheer. And then I love Glossier Boy Brow. Those are my two mainstays. I have this Super Shock Highlighter in Wisp that I’ll use on my cheeks and the bridge of my nose, too. I like when I don't look like I'm wearing makeup.
If I do real makeup, I'll do a cat eye with this Zuzu Lux liner I got from the health food store. I think it suits the shape of my eye. It feels very organic. I hate eyeshadow, I don’t think I look good with it on. I don’t like when other people do my makeup either. Like when I have to go to events and stuff I dread it. I always end up going to the bathroom and wiping so much off. They always put foundation everywhere—I don’t want that. I like to be able to feel my skin."
—as told to ITG
Rainsford photographed by Tom Newton in New York on February 16, 2017.
