celebrity shopping

What Jenni Kayne Can’t Live Without

If you’re like us, you’ve probably wondered what famous people add to their carts. Not the JAR brooch and Louis XV chair, but the hand sanitizer and the electric toothbrush. We asked designer Jenni Kayne about the essential oil, magnesium spray, and mud mask she can’t live without.

I have been wearing Kiehl’s musk essence oil as my daily perfume for over ten years. I don’t feel like myself without it. It has really nice, bright notes of citrus with bergamot nectar and orange blossom, some florals (rose, lily, ylang-ylang, and neroli), and some patchouli and musk. It’s a really well-rounded balance of masculine and feminine scents, which is very much me.

I love taking baths with my kids or taking one by myself at the end of the day. It’s just a nice moment of pampering, and when I do it, I always put a face mask on. My go-to is this one from May Lindstrom — it’s super hydrating and calming, no matter what has been going on.

I take one or two packets of this Lypo-Spheric vitamin C every day, and have been for over ten years. [Editor’s note: This stuff is popular with Amanda de Cadenet, Cleo Wade, and Pressed Juicery CEO Hayden Slater, too.] It has a terrible consistency, so it takes some getting used to, but they really work. This form of vitamin C absorbs into your body easily and more efficiently than your typical supplement. After using it for a while, I can really see the effects of the antioxidant and collagen in my skin — it really makes me glow from the inside out. I’m pretty sure this is why I barely ever get sick.

I make a smoothie every morning that my friend and nutritionist Kelly (of Be Well by Kelly) turned me on to. I change it up slightly every day, but my favorite version is with the addition of vanilla collagen protein powder by Primal Kitchen (this is the recipe). I take it with me everywhere, so I can always have my smoothie for breakfast.

I love to cook, and I’ve been hosting a cooking class once a month at my house along with the very talented Pamela Salzman. Her recipes are delicious and our entire family loves them. I’m constantly on her website looking for recipes and can’t live without her book, Kitchen Matters. Her approach makes cooking fun and easy, and her dishes are always super nutritious and plant-forward.

I am really into essential oils, and I use them for all different ailments or moods. I can’t live without Woman’s Transformation. I keep a roll-on next to my bed and in my purse at all times. It keeps me grounded and relaxed throughout the day. When I’m feeling stressed or unbalanced, I put a little on my wrists and chest and take a few deep breaths — it’s instantly calming.

Photo: ©2016 Tom Mannion

My husband makes fun of my bedtime routine, which I admit is a lot of steps, but the ritual helps me unwind, relax, and sleep really deeply!  I couldn’t live without my magnesium oil, which I spray on my forearms before bed and anywhere I have any soreness or aches. We are all mostly magnesium deficient, and I find that applying it topically works really well.

When I get home from work, I like to make a cup of tea to unwind and relax. Lately, my favorite is Sacred Sister tea from Wooden Spoon Herbs. It’s great for all women because it’s high in iron and calcium and gives me a lot of energy while relaxing me at the same time. I just had my third baby, and I love that it promotes postpartum health and is super nourishing for breastfeeding.

When I was pregnant, I read this amazing book — The First Forty Days is all about what to eat and how to take care of yourself during the postpartum period. The authors started a food-delivery service in L.A. called MotherBees, and I have become addicted to their broths. I love their shiitake broth and the chicken tumeric bone broth. I have one every day as a snack. Pregnant or not, they are delicious.

I live in my Jenni Kayne mules. They go with basically everything, from a silk dress to vintage denim — it would be hard to get dressed without them! They’re handcrafted in Italy with a supersoft suede, and we got the silhouette just right, so it shows the right amount of ankle.

They’re available at Shopbop if you prefer, too.

The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatmentsrolling luggagepillows for side sleepersnatural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.

Every editorial product is independently selected. If you buy something through our links, New York may earn an affiliate commission.

What Jenni Kayne Can’t Live Without