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 hairspray and the electric toothbrush. We asked model and entrepreneur Ashley Graham — whose podcast, Pretty Big Deal, is currently airing season three — about the tea kettle, towels, and vitamin C serum she can’t live without.
I posted myself pumping on social media one time, and someone commented that I really need a hands-free pumping bra. I was like, “Those things exist?” I had no idea. I started Googling away, and this one looked like it would fit, which was the biggest thing for me because the girls got big. I’m a multitasking mom, so this bra was exactly what I needed to get emails and phone calls done while I’m pumping. It doesn’t matter what kind of bra I’m wearing — a nursing bra or not — I just pull my boobs out, wrap this thing around me, put the suction cup things on, then pump. As long as my nipples are aligned to the suction, I don’t have to adjust anything. I try to pump at least once or twice a day. It is so exhausting to pump — you have the set up and the clean up, then the actual pumping. Every time I’m like well, there goes 40 minutes of my life. Anything that makes it slightly easier is life-changing.
Oh my gosh, I’ve been using Aquaphor for probably 15 years. A makeup artist used it on me once, and my lips stayed moisturized all day. I was like, “What is this stuff?” She told me you can literally pick it up at any drugstore — Walgreens, CVS, Duane Reade — so I was like, “Perfect, this is the stuff for me.” I use it on my lips, my elbows, my feet, everywhere. I have been that girl to empty a whole tube of lip balm because I was headed to an event and forgot to apply lotion. I just put it all over my legs and the problem was solved. They were very sticky, but they looked good. I’m sad to say that I have actually done this multiple times before. It’s a good hack.
Listen, I am all about keeping it regular, and the squatty potty is famous for that reason. It just gets the job done. I think the bamboo shade looks super chic in the bathroom, too, so it’s a win-win. I’ve been using it for years. I get colonics sometimes because when I travel as a model, my system gets really irregular. I found that colonics are really helpful to get me back on track. If you’ve ever had one, you know you put your feet up on a squatty potty, and one time, I thought, “Oh, this is something I need at home, too.” I got it and I love it. I have given the squatty potty as a gift to at least five people. I swear it has changed people’s lives. I’ve gotten photos of it in use before.
A holistic doctor who said I need more magnesium in my system told me about this. I drink it in bed because I pass out literally right after I finish it. I make sure everything is in place in order to drink it because I know that once I take it, I’ll be out. It is just so calming. I love the orange flavor because it actually tastes good. I’ve never been stressed enough in the middle of the day where I have to have a cup of this tea in order to calm down, thankfully, so it’s really just a night routine thing for me.
Instagram ads are constantly popping up on my phone, and sometimes I’m a little skeptical. But I kept seeing this kettle pop up, so I looked into it and was like, “Okay, I need this.” After I bought it, my assistant came in and said, “Leave it to you to find a really sexy kettle.” And I’m like, “Yeah, it is, isn’t it?” It really is a sexy piece to have out in your kitchen. It’s not too big. It’s not too small. It’s matte. It’s black. It’s really gorgeous. It blends in well because my kitchen is a bit darker. I also like that it’s quiet. I’m very noise-sensitive when the baby is sleeping. I use it every day. I start my day with apple cider vinegar, so I’ll have a little cup of that with a cup of hot water. Then at night, I use it with my Natural Calm Vitality drink. There’s a thermometer on top, which is great if I’m trying to get the perfect water temperature. If you’re a tea snob, this is a great kettle for you.
My hair is fine and really wavy. It used to be super curly, but I think between blowouts and birth control, I lost a lot of my texture. And like a lot of women, I had postpartum hair loss, which I did not know was a thing until it happened to me. It was about four months postpartum when my hair literally just came out in clumps. I was like, “Why did no one tell me this is what would happen?” But it happened, it really happened. I tried a lot of different remedies — I even made stuff at home — but this scalp serum from Kerastase has been a true saving grace. I spray a little bit of castor oil and canola oil on my hair first, then apply the Kerastase. My new growth looks like bangs, and it’s very weird, but at least I have my hair back.
Yes, I want to get in shape and stay in shape, but it’s important to create time for just myself, which is what working out is for me — it’s me-time. Kira Stokes has been my trainer since before I was pregnant, and now we’re doing postpartum work. She’s such a great trainer because she really understands how the body moves and works. Even if I don’t have an injury but I need a little tweak because something hurts, she hears me and understands what I need. We use these bands a lot in her workouts. They come in a little carrying packet, and their color is beautiful. Her workouts cover basically everything: the booty, the abs, the legs, the arms. She does this one thing called fine tuning where for 15 minutes, you do a continuous routine. You put the bands around your knees or your ankles, and you don’t stop. It’s terrible, but I keep going back to it because I like the results. I mean, have you seen my butt? I’m totally kidding.
Frozen bone broth is just so easy. My stylist actually told me about this place. I got it delivered once during a fitting, and then I just became wildly obsessed. It’s only available in the city, and I live in Brooklyn, so I just have it shipped to my house. I keep it in the freezer, pop it out whenever I need it, throw it on the stove, and that’s it. I do not cook — it’s just not innately in me — so to know that I have bone broth in the freezer at all times is just a lifesaver for me because it requires no work. I actually just eat and drink it on its own. I’ll have it for lunch as part of my meal, or as a snack. The beef and chicken ones are my favorites, but if I go into Manhattan and get a fresh one, I’ll do the lemon with turmeric. It’s so good.
Editor’s Note: Typically, Brodo only delivers to the New York City area, but through the end of the year, they’re offering nationwide shipping.
I first heard of this brand from a home makeover show on Netflix, and the interior designer used their gorgeous waffle towels. Then I went to the store and I bought a bunch. It’s been probably two years, and I haven’t needed to replace them. I prefer the texture of the waffle. It’s not hard and rough — which I do sometimes love because it’s kind of like an exfoliant — it’s really soft. But when I’m getting out of the shower, I really want to get dry-dry. I don’t like to feel wet afterwards, and the waffle really dries me off very quickly. I start from the top, go to the bottom, then do my back, flip the towel into my hair, tie it up, then throw on a robe after applying lotion. It’s a whole routine. I’m not a stay-in-the-towel-all-day kind of person.
I don’t have time to be in the bathroom for an hour doing a skincare routine anymore. Before my son Isaac was born, I could take my time and do what I wanted when I wanted to, but now it’s really all about strategy and efficiency. My dermatologist, Dr. Shereene Idriss, told me about this. I started going to her about a year ago because I felt like my skin was starting to look a little dull. I would look at it and it just looked mushy, if that makes any sense. My skin was changing, my body was changing, I was getting older but I’m not old-old. And she said to me, “Are you using a vitamin C serum?” When I said no, she looked at me with pure shock. I got this one, and now I use it every day. I definitely have seen a difference. It’s really brightened my complexion. I don’t even use a moisturizer over it sometimes because it’s super hydrating.
This lives in my bag. I also keep it in my makeup kit. It’s the perfect color to dress up your face, whether you have a smoky eye or don’t have any eye makeup at all. It brings the whole face together without being aggressive. It’s the perfect medium that works really well for my skin tone. Aside from the color, the lipstick lasts very, very long, and it has a lot of moisture. I prefer the glossier lipsticks to the matte, because I like my lips to be a little bit shinier, but not super glossy.
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