My name is: Renata Helfmam.

I’m known as: Founder and executive director of Lipstick Angels.

My expertise is in: Philanthropy and lipgloss—ha! 

I stay physically healthy with: My peloton, a vegetarian diet, lots of natural skincare from Tata Harper, Kypris, Goop, January Labs and more. I could go on and on, but shopping at Credo beauty is an addiction. 

I keep my emotions balanced with: I am always reading something that is disconnected from work. Long, hot, powerful showers are therapy for me. I must always have an Ellis Brooklyn candle lit when I am relaxing. My dog Cosmo literally brings my blood pressure down with his sweetness.

I’m intellectually stimulated by: I’m a TED talk junkie, for sure. My favorite one of all time is Dan Pallota’s “The way we think about charity is dead wrong.” This talk helped me understand how I was going to direct Lipstick Angels. Everyone should watch it. I swear it will change your entire perspective.

I was recently transformed by: Well, since we are not really traveling these days, my obsession with home decor has definitely been a lifesaver. I went from no houseplants to five and they all require different care. Everything was a consideration—from the right pot (aesthetically) to the correct light placement. Now, I understand the term “delicate flower” much better!

Gardening inside and out on my terrace has been a joy and really connected me by bringing nature into my home. Now, I just love it. Having things in your world that are alive and dependent on care and love is so vital for growth.

In the last six months, the ritual that has become so important for me is: It  has been a sincere pleasure to get up in the morning, take some moments of quiet and do some creative writing. It really helps me shape Lipstick Angels and my personal life in a positive and open way.

Here’s how you can do it too: I like to get up early, before my boyfriend and my dog. I mist my face with some  lavender mist (recently, from Primally Pure) just to enjoy some calm scents and hydration. I actually mist all day! It’s an addiction. Then, I find a spot that’s quiet and I take 10 minutes to just breathe. Any thoughts that come up, I just let them pass. I find this clears my mind and gets me ready for clarity in my day.

It helps me live my process because: In my work, I have to be prepared for anything. Managing a team through a pandemic has been challenging. But I will say, all of the trust, love and cohesiveness has shown me that they have real resilience, creativity and a deep devotion to their work.

Take a moment to learn more about Renata’s journey here.