Beauty Practice with Kerrilynn Pamer

The founder of CAP Beauty, Kerrilynn Pamer has been exploring and investigating the power of plants since 2015. Launching the excellently named serotoner, the company’s first skincare product, this year, it was a long time coming. That’s because Kerrilynn wanted to make something that worked, to bring calm to sensitive skins – and minds, too. As anyone who follows her on social media knows, Kerrilynn has more than alpha CEO energy. Taste is paramount, and runs from Noguchi lights in her home to book recommendations to note. Patter spoke to her about beauty, books, life and – well – Patter.

I love using serotoner with an oil. Currently I’m loving Vintner’s Daughter Active Botanical Serum for this – apply one or two drops of serum onto your hand, spray a couple pumps of serotoner on top, then mix and apply to your face for the most hydrating dose of moisture and humectants. It works magic. And when it’s warm out, keep it in the fridge. It’s a perfect pick me up, for both the skin and the mind. It also plays very well with the Monastery Rei Gentle Retinol Cream or the Marie Veronique Multi-Retinol Night Emulsion. Serotoner is a team player, and suits so many routines. I love that about her.

I’m a big reader, but I’ll keep it simple. I adore ‘The Secret History’ [Donna Tartt], not necessarily nourishing, but a fantastic story and plot that I revisit from time to time. I also read the Al-Anon Daily Reader every day, and have found that enormously nourishing to both mind and spirit.

Recently my life and business coach Allie Stark reminded me of the idea that we “can be this and we can be that”. The idea that we don’t have to confine ourselves to one box, we can allow ourselves to contain more than one version of self. I find this freeing because it creates freedom in me to be more than one thing. In body, mind and spirit. Although I know this intellectually, it very much landed with me at this moment in my life.

Start inside for true skincare health. Once you’ve addressed that, products will work better. This is 100% true for me.

I am all too familiar with it and wish I had some transformative words to offer, but it’s such a difficult topic given the productivity and accomplishment culture that we have come to know as the norm. When I’m feeling it, and I do feel it often, my first step is to acknowledge it, greet it and ask what it wants and needs from me. I see burnout as a language that is to be learned. Your body is quite literally telling you something. It really should be heard as an alarm. Can you stop or slow down enough – hard to do, but possible – to listen to what it needs?

I take things back to basics when I feel it creeping in: sleep, water, movement, time with those you love, reading, cooking. Less screen time, less going out, less comparison. Once you begin to reset your system, I find that the feelings will start to dissipate. But it takes time. And it takes dedication and belief that you can create a new state for your body and nervous system.

Oh, it’s everything to me. I studied interior design in school, and have been rearranging rooms since I was a kid. I’ve lived in so many different types of spaces, and know firsthand that when I am taking care of my home like the living being it is, everything else in my life is a bit easier. Gina Correll [co-founder of Yola Mezcal, a women-run Oaxacan mezcal brand], who lives in an inspiring LA home, said that her home is her best friend. I couldn’t agree more. And the more energy and love I give it, the more it supports my life.

My friend Kristin Grant of Dust to Dust is my main inspiration in this arena. She has an eye like no other, and an unparalleled sense of humour.

EVERYTHING! The attention and detail to sharing well lived and thoughtful lives is a constant source of inspiration for me. I keep it like candy, and dole it out when in need of inspiration.

CAP Beauty are offering Patter readers 15% off until Aug 31, use code CAPLOVESPATTER at checkout.