Kari Molvar is one of those moms who always look effortlessly put together, and as a former beauty editor atย SELFย andย Allureย and contributor toย Vogueย andย T: The New York Times Style magazine, she knows what sheโs talking about. The best part? Like any good mom friend, she doesnโt gatekeep.
Recently, we caught up with the Greenwich, CT-based mom of two (Chloe, 14 and Jemma, 13) and asked her for her 5-minute pre-drop off beauty routine, her skincare secrets and mom uniform for spring. Plus, all about her chic new online Scandinavian and New England-inspired boutiqe,ย House & Hem.ย
Letโs start with skincare. Whatโs currently in your lineup?
Iโm very Scandinavian in my approach to skincare in that I keep things simple and focus on a few essentials that work really well. I also donโt believe in spending too much on skincare, since you can find so many great brands at affordable prices.ย
I got hooked on Rhode from my daughters and I thinkย theirย Barrier Restore Creamย is excellent: it hydrates without leaving you greasy. Instead, you just look fresh and dewy for spring. Theย Barrier Butterย is fantastic if you need a bigger boost of moisture at night.ย
Iโm also a big proponent of hand-care. Tired, dry hands really age you. Iโm terrible at remembering to apply hand cream but a favorite isย Santa Maria Novellaโs Calendula Cream, which is soothing, smells beautiful and keeps your skin hydrated all day long. Good old-fashionedย CeraVeย is also great, not just for your hands but your entire body!
Love those picks. Now on to makeupโwhat is giving you that Spring glow?
Spring makeup is all about luminous, dewy skin. Iโm obsessed with Westman Atelierโs entire line, especially theย Vital Complexion Skincare Dropsย andย Baby Cheeks Blush Stick. I also love Victoria Beckhamโs new beauty line, particularly theย Posh Balm, which is similar to a tinted lip balm and comes in really chic colors (I wear the sheer poppy Colette shade).
Whatโs your pre-drop off, 5-minute beauty routine?
I applyย The Ordinary Soothing & Barrier Support Serumย for a quick glow, my Westman Atelier Vital Complexion Drops, plus a swirl of the Baby Cheeks blush, and then hit the roots of my hair with a blowdryer to add some instant volume. Itโs enough but not too muchโvery Scandi style!
Speaking of simple, whatโs your mom uniform?
As a busy mom, I keep my wardrobe streamlined and add pops of interest with my accessories. I carry aย Longchamp 3D Crossbody Bagย in a very pretty burgundy tone. For jewelry, I think Tiffanyโs is having a real comeback. They have great classics with interesting twists. I recently bought theย Forever Bandย and I have my eye on theย Victoria Earringsย andย Tiffany Knot Ring. The Greenwich boutique is so lovely (Grace Lamb is the best client advisor Iโve ever worked with, hands-down).
Finally, a big congrats on the opening of House & Hem! How did it come about?
Last year my partner had an amazing opportunity to work in Stockholm. I stayed here with our two girls, Chloe (14) and Jemma (13), since it was too disruptive to move right before the school year started. But we ended up going to visit frequently. The country is gorgeous, and the city of Stockholm is super stylish and design-focused. My family is from Norway so it was particularly special to reconnect to my roots and heritage.
Being surrounded by such beautiful design, particularly home decor, gave me the idea to launch my own online shop last year,ย House & Hem. We feature tabletop, houseware, linens, stationery and gifts inspired by the Nordics and New England (โhemโ is Swedish for โhomeโ). I grew up in Rhode Island and Iโve always loved the overlap between Scandinavian and New England styleโitโs rustic minimalism mixed with cottage-y floral patterns, which I wanted to explore.
Any favorite picks?
Iโm obsessed with prints and patterns so some of my favorites pieces from House & Hem include theย Summer Blues Dinner Plates,ย Nordic Birch Blue Flowers Serving Trayย andย Lobster Gingham Napkins. I love setting a pretty table and I donโt think you need to wait for a fancy event to enjoy what you own!
Read ourย Meet a Mom with Kari.ย
