One of my favorite types of content to read is quick snackable Q&As – think @quickklist and The Cut’s Auto-Refill. But my one complaint is that so many of the ones I love to read feature the same people who are on a PR run or pushing a product. After realizing I know some pretty fucking cool people, I decided to introduce my own take – which I’m creatively calling Five Things. Check back each Friday for a new Five Things, or read past interviews here.
Meet Monica Efman
Monica and I have known each other since college – but we truly became friends post-grad, where we had common ground as two of the very few beauty PRs to come out of Binghamton University. Monica currently works at Alison Brod Marketing + Communications with some brands you might recognize, including Bliss, IT Cosmetics, Lanolips, Nails.INC, and Saje.
I loved hearing her Five Things – there’s truly nothing like getting a PR person to dish because they know the power of including lots of details and getting specific. Keep reading to see what I mean.
Her morning routine:
Weekdays: Wake up, scroll through Instagram and catch up on any urgent emails that may have come through overnight. Brush my teeth/wash my face. Take my dog for a walk while listening to a podcast or my audio book. Do my skincare regimen – which consists of Biologique Recherche P50V 1970, a serum that I switch depending on my skin’s needs on that given day, IT Cosmetics Confidence in a Cream Moisturizer, La Roche Posay Lipikar Balm AP+, Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Daily Youth Restoring Serum Capsules, and of course, SPF. Then I’ll grab a fruit and make myself a Nespresso oat milk latte with cinnamon and get to work while watching The TODAY Show.
Weekends: Wake up. Head to my pilates studio for a reformer class. Come home and do some additional cardio before jumping in the shower and making a cup of Nespresso.
Her favorite part of working in PR:
I love how every day is different and there’s no “day-to-day.” I thrive in chaos and under pressure, so I love that my job has a bit of that built-in. I also am a beauty addict, so the fact that I get to test out new products, learn about formulations, and speak to so many experts is amazing.
The one beauty product she re-purchases:
Biologique Recherche P50V 1970. ADDICTED is an understatement. And that’s coming from a beauty publicist who gets almost all her products for free. The fact that I spend $103 on this over and over again is a true testament to its power. It was introduced to me by my facialist at Rescue Spa. It totally helps even out my dry eczema-prone skin as well as my sometimes-oily T-Zone and any sun spots I get in the summer. I have the most insane before & after photo from just a few uses… safe to say I’m hooked.
Three things on her 2021 vision board:
- Health/workout motivation – I lost 60 pounds in the last year and want to hit my goal in 2021!
- Travel – hopefully, that will happen safely in 2021.
- Saving money for a new apartment.
Her favorite book of all time:
If you ask me in a week, my answer might be different, but right now it’s The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo.
