Welcome to Step by Step, a new series where influencers, beauty professionals, Klog readers, and Soko Glam staff will be sharing every step in their current skin care routines. Have someone you want to be featured, or think YOU should be? Let us know in the comments below!
You’ve probably seen Olay Noel’s face before. The Wilhelmina model has done major campaigns for Nars and Kylie Cosmetics, appeared in spreads in for L’Officiel, and is a savvy Instagram influencer with a following of 144k. She’s also an entrepreneur, having co-founded MIANK, an accessory company honoring her African and Indian heritage, with her sister. On top of all that, she recently started her own YouTube channel where she’ll be sharing beauty tips among other things.
It’s a wonder that someone as busy and thriving as Olay can make time for a full skin care routine, but she does, and she shared all of her product faves and best beauty tips with us. Read on for our conversation with Olay. 
The Klog: First off, we loved seeing you at our Soko House launch party! What did you end up getting from the store?
Olay: I had an amazing time at the launch and learned about so many of Soko Glam’s amazing products. This made it extremely difficult to choose what to take home, but I finally decided on the Hanskin Pore Cleansing Oil, COSRX Rice Overnight Spa Mask, and my favorite, the COSRX Triple C Lightning Liquid. My biggest battle with keeping my skin clear is acne marks. I can deal with a pimple every now and then but the acne marks take MONTHS to go away and frankly, make me a little crazy. The vitamin C in the Lightning Liquid immediately reduces the pigmentation of my scars and works to make my face smooth with an even complexion.
What’s your current skin care routine?
I’m currently following Soko Glam’s 10-step routine. I have fallen in love with their skin care and it’s worked wonders for my skin. About 7 years ago I was introduced to a Korean rice bran face wash and soon after realized that I was missing out on my best skin, then decided to dive right into the Korean beauty world. Now I double cleanse with an oil- and water-based cleanser, then apply the Benton Aloe BHA Toner, followed by my favorite COSRX Snail 96 Mucin Power Essence, then mix the Triple C Lightning Liquid into my Etude House SoonJung daily moisturizer, and finally apply the Thank You Farmer Sun Project Light Sun Essence SPF 50. I’ve always struggled to find a sunscreen that didn’t leave a white residue or feel uncomfortably heavy and this sunscreen is perfection!
Your Instagram is absolute goals. Can you share any posting tips with us?
Oh Instagram… I have a love/hate relationship with that app. But within my hopefully uphill battle with this new algorithm I have learned a few things you can do when posting that will increase your engagement and followers. 1) Your content should be of good quality (iPhone will do) with good lighting (daylight is the best and also free!) 2) Get familiar with editing apps because this is what can take an average iPhone picture and turn it into beautiful, make you stop mid scroll, like AND leave a comment kind of content! A few of my faves are VSCO, FACETUNE, AND HUJI 3) I know, I know, we all struggle with the perfect captions, but when you get it right you’ll see the difference it makes. I try asking questions or thinking of something clever that will encourage my followers to engage. 4) Lastly, Make sure you are posting consistently and during the hours and days your followers are most active, which you can find out in your insights. This will ensure the great content you’re working so hard to create will actually be seen by your followers. Oh yes, and quality over quantity!
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As a model, having good skin is important. What, if any, skin care or beauty secrets have you learned from working with top makeup artists/skin care pros and from your fellow models?
DRINK WATER! We hear it all the time but still tend to fall short. Your skin is your body’s largest organ so it needs to stay hydrated to perform at its best. Another tip is to loosen up your pores with a very warm wet cloth so your cleanser can reach deep into your pores and take out the oil and dirt from the day, then finish off with ice cold water to shrink your pores and lock all the good stuff in.
As far as makeup, I recommend wetting your brush with water when applying eyeshadow and pigments. This allows the shadow to stick to the brush, then you can apply it like paint without creating fallout under your eyes. A few years ago one of my favorite makeup artists taught me when I break any of my powder-based palettes such as blush or eyeshadow to simply pour a little rubbing alcohol in it and smooth out the mixture. Once the alcohol evaporates you’ll be as good as new. I also love to spray hairspray on a spoolie and brush my eyebrows. It’s a great way to keep your eyebrow hairs in place all day.
Your Instagram feed and highlights show off your travels all over the world for work. Do you have any tips or tricks on how to do skin care on the go?
I have to have a travel size of almost every product I own because I never know when I’ll have to pick up and go. If a product doesn’t come in a travel size, I get the empty travel size containers and fill them up. Traveling has also opened up my eyes to a lot of cool products overseas, so I’m always open to discovering new gems in skin care. One of my faves is the Sorbet face masks from South Africa.
If you could only bring one skin care product with you when you travel, what would you choose to bring?
If for some crazy reason I forget to pack all of the 10 products in my skin care routine, I must have my Neutrogena makeup remover wipes. They take all of my makeup off (never ever sleep in your makeup!) and cleanse my face without stripping away my moisture.
You also founded MIANIK, a jewelry company inspired by your African and Indian roots. What made you want to start an accessory retail company?
In 2016 I started MIANIK because I wanted to create a brand that promotes unity in my community, through jewelry. Wearing these ethnically-inspired designs helps us put our differences aside. It reminds us that we are all worthy and we are all royalty. From our products to the imagery in our campaigns, we do our best to create inspirational content and celebrate all types of beauty.
What does expressing your heritage through accessories mean to you?
When I see my peers proudly rocking MIANIK jewelry it makes me feel so honored to create something that another can appreciate. Our heritage has not always been bright and sunny, but it is ours, and that’s what makes it beautiful. Our designs are all about loving who you are and where you come from and unapologetically letting the world know you do.
