We were honored to be part of the Pre-Emmys celebrity gifting suite - and the day started bright and early at 5:45am. I kicked things off with a quick meditation, a double espresso I prepped the night before (because let’s be honest, I wasn’t risking bad coffee half-asleep), and a cold shower. I’m not naturally a morning person - I usually roll out of bed at 6:45, apply Daily Bawse, our clean beauty hero, liberally to my face, neck, and shoulders, and head out for a beach run just to wake up enough to be able to converse with people like a normal human being.
This morning was different. I applied Daily Bawse slowly and intentionally, massaging in every nourishing bit. I used the Medium shade across my cheeks, then contoured with Golden Hour, our deepest tone. For once, I wasn’t rushing, I wanted to soak in the ritual before a very big day.
The drive across town took an hour and a half in traffic, but my husband joined me, keeping spirits high and helping haul heavy boxes (grateful doesn’t even begin to cover it). When we arrived at Universal Studios, Sharon, one of my business partners, greeted us. Together, we transformed our corner of the suite into ITP Beauty’s world: laying down a brand-correct rug, lining up every box exactly two inches apart, and making sure every detail reflected care and intention.
For us, it wasn’t about rushing to restock or worrying about logistics - we wanted every ounce of energy to go into connecting with people. Sharing the story behind our two-year journey to create Daily Bawse, a multi-use tinted SPF. Explaining why an EWG-verified skincare product that truly softens and protects skin matters. Listening, engaging, and learning from each conversation. That was the magic of the day: connection.
When the doors opened, we expected a “come and go” crowd based on chats with other brands, but we had constant traffic the entire time. Sometimes there were five or six people at our booth at once: agents, actors, influencers. Andrew popped in periodically to explain the product and test semi-sheer shades - thankfully I’ve spent countless hours talking his ear off about every detail of our brand, which paid off in spades. By the time the last interview of the day came around, I was completely brain-dead, but shockingly, I landed it on the first take which was a relief.
The most magical moment for me was an interview with Shaka Smith, a well-known journalist, actor, and influencer in Los Angeles. He was genuinely impressed to see a shade that suited him perfectly - dark skin, no white cast - something even companies with millions of dollars often struggle to achieve. I explained that we spent years developing this product and weren’t rushing to market; we wanted something new, useful, safe, and effective that everyone could use. At our core, inclusive skincare leads every decision we make and I'm super proud of that.
Each step forward for this small, self-funded but mighty team has been a win. One step in front of the next. What a wonderful day, wonderful experience. I can’t wait to see where we go next.
X Oni~