We’re interviewing Power Parents who in our opinion, are killing it. From the board room to the changing room, these moms are filling us in on everyday life of how they juggle it all.
Join us as we chat with Lindsay Ellingson, former Victoria’s Secret Angel and Co-founder of Wander Beauty about how this new mom has dealt with newborn life during quarantine, and the inspiration behind her clean beauty brand.
Being a first-time mom can be overwhelming to begin with, throw a pandemic/quarantine at the same time and you’ve got a whole nother ball game! How have you adjusted to being a new mom during Covid?
This was oddly the perfect year to have a baby. Even under normal circumstances, I would have been inside more than ever with a newborn. Now that I’m back from maternity leave and around people a bit more, I do worry about being exposed to Covid-19 so we are being as careful as we can, wearing masks and socially distancing. It’s also been challenging to be so far away from family. My sisters haven’t met Carter yet so we have been FaceTiming more often. As soon as it’s safe to travel, we will go and see them. I can’t wait to see his face when he meets all of his cousins and aunties!
What was your inspiration behind creating Wander Beauty?
Women are busier than ever and most have less than 15 minutes to spend on their beauty routines but at the time, there was no beauty brand speaking to them. We felt women deserve products that work just as hard as they do so we created Wander Beauty: clean beauty essentials, that you reach for everyday, wherever you wander. Our multitaskers help to streamline your routine and save you precious time so you have more time to do the things you love.
We all know that being in quarantine wasn’t ideal, but what did you find was the best part of having a baby in quarantine?
My husband and I quarantined on Lake Eerie. His parents were so sweet to offer their lake house for those months when the pandemic was really bad in NYC. Despite how horrible and scary quarantine was, I look back fondly on those times. It was the last couple months of my pregnancy and Sean and I got to spend every moment together. I made pancakes every morning, we watched the most beautiful sunsets, and I got to sleep so much. But most importantly, we were safe and I’m so grateful for that. Then when Carter was born, we were together with both Sean’s parents and mine, who had isolated for 2 weeks prior to his arrival, so we had lots of help and support. I’m so thankful that I was able to change my birth plan so quickly and we found an amazing doctor in Ohio who took me on. It was really special for our parents to see Carter and to bond with him during his first month.
What is your most memorable moment from working with Victoria Secret?
My most memorable moment was also one of the most challenging shots in my career. We were shooting one of the holiday commercials in Prague. We would wake up at 4am to shoot before the streets got busy. In one of my shots I was wearing heavy wings, lingerie, and platform heels. I was asked to walk quickly towards the camera down a windy and steep cobblestone street. It was pretty challenging and I couldn’t take more than a couple steps without my ankles wobbling. After numerous takes and crowds of people gathering to watch, we finally got the shot. It ended up being a couple seconds in the final commercial. A lot goes into every single second!
We love seeing pictures of your cockapoo Carly! How did it go bringing the baby home to meet your first “fur-baby”
Carly was my only baby for seven years and always had my undivided attention. When we brought home Carter, she was completely disinterested and slept in the closet for a few days, I think mostly because the crying annoyed her. Now she’s starting to warm up to him and gives him kisses on the cheek. It was very hard to focus on anything other than Carter the first couple months but thankfully we had lots of help. Now that I’ve gotten the hang of being a mom, I’m able to include Carly more and give her more of the love she deserves.
As you know, moms don’t have much time for makeup in the morning, what are your Top 5 must haves for busy mamas from Wander Beauty? Â
Yes, now more than ever I need time-saving multitaskers!
1
Mist Connection Essence and Toner
I love this! It’s a 2-in-1 essence and toner which helps to soften and hydrate the skin and preps it for the rest of your skincare routine.
$40 BUY NOW2
Baggage Claim Upgrade
These are amazing for those sleepless nights. I apply them for 15 minutes to freshen up my under eyes with hyaluronic acid and peptides.
$45 BUY NOW3
On-the-Glow Blush and Illuminator
This is the ultimate multitasker! I love to apply in the morning to wake up my complexion and give me a healthy glow.
$42 BUY NOW4
Dualist Matte and Illuminating Concealer
My go-to for perfecting my complexion, the two formulas work beautifully together to conceal and brighten where I need it.
$29 BUY NOW5
Unlashed Volume and Curl Mascara
My Holy Grail! An amazing formula that gives me buildable volume without flaking or smudging. It's also clean and enriched with castor seed oil to nourish the lashes.
$24 BUY NOW