A Legendary NYC Facial Plus the Ultimate Crab Fried Rice

A Four-Day Whirlwind of Work and Creative Inspiration

If you were inspired by this week’s newsletter, would you consider tapping the ❤️❤️❤️ or restacking? Substacks I loved this week: The Art of Letting Go, Six Upsides of An Empty Nest (I Hope), and Hear Me Out Perimenopause.

It was a balmy 33 degrees for the photoshoot. My smile is actually frozen on my face.

Launching my skincare company has meant that I’ve spent the year focused on things very much outside of my comfort zone as a creative: financial forecasting, packaging and shipping logistics, software development, analytics, and reporting.

While it’s exciting to learn new things and grow my confidence as a business owner, I’ve realized that I’m best when I also reserve some time to nurture the artist in me. (Have I talked about the fact that I have an MFA in Jewelry Design and Metalsmithing? If you’re interested in knowing more – let me know and I’ll write about it an upcoming substack.)

Last week, I snuck in some soul-refreshing moments of inspiration, spontaneity, and fun into my business trip to NYC and discovered that I work best when I’ve filled my cup with a little unexpected adventure.

My very first New York City snow! This delightful nighttime scene made the frigid (walking) commute to meetings worth it.

What I Did

The main events were marketing meetings to prep for an upcoming campaign (SEO strategy, brand book tweaks, and some exciting things I can’t talk about just yet) and an all-day photo shoot for the brand’s social media that captured the city’s vibrant energy.

Where I Stayed

I always stay at Hotel Indigo on the Lower East Side – it’s gorgeous but not overtly fancy with a modern city vibe in an exposed-brick sort of way. They have very low staff turnover and there’s something nice about seeing familiar faces among the front desk staff, doormen, and waitstaff when I’m away from home. My room had lovely natural light, a view of the Freedom Tower, and I love luxuriating in a bed I’m not responsible for making.

What I Shopped

I’ve been a fan of the luxury beauty retailer, Blue Mercury for years. They expertly curate a mix of high-end favorites and exciting newcomer brands. I’ve made a habit of popping into the Tribeca location on my last few trips — the women who work there have a knack for matching me with products that quickly become my all-time favorite. This time we focused on finding fresh eye makeup for spring:

• Victoria Beckham Satin Kajal Liner in Fig
  This plum shade may seem a little daring, but it reads as a neutral when you smudge it into your lash line. I never would have chosen it for myself, but it does make my green eyes look more vibrant. Not a fan of this shade? The formula comes in 19 other colors and is the best long-wearing liner I’ve ever tried.

• Victoria Beckham Bitten Lip Tint in Je t’aime
  I also picked up this lip tint and love it. It has just the right amount of color — a sheer berry — that doesn’t wear off too quickly. Perfect for back to back meetings when I don’t have time to reapply something to my lips.

• Sisley Ombre Eclat Liquide Eyeshadow in Pink Gold
  I’m not usually a big shimmer person or a big shadow person, but I splurged on this luxe liquid eyeshadow. Rather than having to think about where to place all of the different shades that come in some of my palettes, I simply swipe this across my lids, blend with my fingertip, and call it a day. It’s long-lasting, sparkling but suitable for daytime, and easy to apply. Obsessed.

I wasn’t necessarily in the market for a full closet overhaul (read about how I did that here) but I do like to pick up an occasional piece or two that compliment my wardrobe. Some stand-out pieces I found...

• Me and EM Responsible Alpaca Pouf Sleeve Cardi Tee
  Does anyone else love this brand as much as I do? This sweater/cardigan / T-shirt combo happens to be the exact color of my eyes — I couldn’t resist. It’s reasonably priced for a quality sweater, but the mother-of-pearl buttons elevates it a bit. I’ve worn it nearly daily since. I also bought the cotton voile blouse they styled under it — the subtly flouncy collar speaks to my Austen-loving heart.

• Mother Denim Insider Crop Step Fray
  Full confession: I’m a die hard fan when it comes to Mother Denim and own a couple of pairs because they’re cut to perfection for my petite frame. This pair is ideal for transitioning from day meetings to evening strolls. I didn’t think I would love the asymmetrical raw hem, but I tried them on with a pair of heels and was pleasantly surprised.

• J.Crew Heritage Cotton Rollneck Sweater
  I love the quality of J.Crew sweaters. I picked this cropped version since stripes seem to be everywhere this spring. And let’s face it, this vintage roll neck sweater takes me back to my high school days when this style first came out.

What I Ate

In attempts to maximize time working with my team, I didn’t venture far from the hotel on this trip, so I stuck to some of my can’t-miss favorites:

Trust me: This crab-fried rice is worth the price of a plane ticket. They throw yummy crab together with egg, cilantro, and lime. Perfection.

Thai Diner might just be one of my favorite restaurant in the city. I’ve dabbled in a lot of delicious things on the menu but always come back to the Crab Fried Rice. There is nothing better than this crab-fried rice. I skipped dessert this time, but a friend told me to check out the ice cream sundae next time – it’s topped with a salty caramel-y peanut brittle-y crumble

Fiat Cafe in Nolita has this irresistible chicken dish that hits just the right note of comfort and flavor. They sautee it in this light white wine sauce with some onions, black olives, and fresh thyme. It comes with an arugula salad, but I always order a side of polenta as it’s sublime.

I enjoyed some street-style tacos and guacamole at La Esquina’s sidewalk cantina. That night they had a mushroom taco that was divine alongside a shrimp taco. The restaurant was loud and crowded, and the people watching was iconic.

Behold: The veggie-packed spread at my beloved Botaniste.

Botaniste is one of my favorite vegetarian restaurants of all time. The way the colors and flavors come together is mind-boggling, and the food is colorful and inviting. It all looked tempting so my friend and I shared the “Botanical Therapy” which is three half-size portions of the bowls offered that day.

Me, pre-facial at Christine Chin. Still smiling not having any idea of what was to come.

What I Tried

Exploring the best in skincare and staying on top of treatments is top of mind. I get a Hydrafacial routinely, but I was curious about the benefits of a facial from Christine Chin’s spa. This legendary facialist is new to me, but she’s been slathering the faces of NYC working actresses and models for decades and has built a cult following on her highly effective (yet perhaps slightly sadistic?) extraction technique. I’m not going to lie to you … I gave birth without pain medication, twice, and this might have been more intense. I liken it to spring cleaning — not the most pleasant process while you’re in the trenches, but it looks incredible when you’re all finished. My face looked a bit mottled when I left – a little bit of tinted moisturizer covered the redness – but two days later my skin looked brand new not to mention the boost of radiance and increased softness.

I found these adorable heart cacti at Plant Shed Cafe and wished I could bring one home. It’s a favorite place of mine to grab a cup of coffee on the go.

This short trip reminded me that mixing work with a dash of adventure is the secret to staying creatively alive. I hope these snippets inspire you to seek out your own brand of adventure—because sometimes the best ideas are born when you let a little play into the mix.

We’re skipping this week’s movement snack in favor of a question:

Your type of fun not listed? Please discuss in the comments section.

In the spirit of inspiring each other, I look forward to chatting more about your answers in an upcoming ‘stack. Because if we don’t inspire and support each other now, then when?

Cheers to looking and feeling your best,

Susan

Susan Campbell
Founder and CEO, Phosis