In case you haven’t heard, Jina Kim’s all natural skincare brand, Circumference, is making waves in the clean beauty department. Their go-to Active Botanical Refining Toner has already become a namesake in the hearts—and skincare arsenals—of downtown estheticians and models alike (La’Shaunae Steward is also a fan!), plus the sleek, minimal aesthetic of these elixir-filled bottles makes them perfect for a #shelfie moment.
But, what we’re really pining for is Kim’s go-to beauty regimen: How does she keep her skin so clear when she’s the frontrunner of a popular skincare brand that’s growing at a rapid pace, all while raising a newborn? Through those few early morning 5 a.m. moments to herself. Below, we take a deep dive into Kim’s morning routine.
What’s the first thing you do every morning?
“First thing—gather my shambled brain at 5 a.m. from a crying baby, followed by setting up the French press for coffee.”
Do you have a morning workout routine?
“Usually try to spend at least a short 20 minutes to stretch or do yoga in the morning. Really helps both mentally and physically prepare myself for the day.”
Shower at-night, morning, or both?
“100% night shower-er. Can’t crawl into bed after walking around NYC all day.”
Daily alarm time? How many times do you hit snooze?
“Nowadays, our little baby is my natural alarm clock, but pre-baby I used to drive my husband crazy with my every-five-minute-snooze-for-30-minutes setup.”
If you’re running late, what’s the one thing you have to do?
“My day can’t start without a proper cup of coffee no matter how late I’m running.”
Favorite breakfast?
“Black coffee and toast with coconut oil.”
What does your morning hair-care routine consist of? Go-to products?
“Right now, I’m keeping things low key. I don’t use heat since I’m having insane postpartum hair loss. I just wash then air dry.”
How much time do you spend on your skincare routine? Go-to products?
“It depends on what my skin is going through. On a good skin day, less than five minutes; I keep my routine light. But when I need some extra support, double masking can take over 30 minutes, followed up with some combination of serums and oils.
“As for go-to-products, our Circumference lineup is my tried and true. I don’t cleanse in the mornings, I start with our Active Botanical Refining Toner, then our Vital-C Antioxidant Serum (an absolute must for protection from the NYC grime!), then top it off with the Pure Balancing Botanical Face Oil to lock in moisture.
“Beyond that, I use some concoction of products I’m constantly testing. I’m blessed/cursed to have access to a lab where our chemists formulate what I dream up, so I’m my own human guinea pig.”
How long do you usually take to get ready for the day?
“I’m a fast morning person—usually 30-40 minutes tops.”
What’s the one product you could never leave the house without putting on?
“Circumference Vital-C Antioxidant Serum—it adds a nice light layer that really helps protect my skin from all kinds of harmful free radicals.”
The first word/thing that popped into your head this morning?
“Please please please go back to sleep Miles (our six-month-old baby).”
Your favorite morning read?
“Do podcasts count? I listen to The Daily (The New York Times) podcast every morning as I get ready.”
What’s on your nightstand right now?
“Breast pump parts, lip balm, water, and Circumference x LFN cuticle oil (exciting new product coming soon!).”
What’s the current ringtone on your alarm?
“Always set on Slow Rise.”
Coffee, tea, or go-to morning drink?
“Black coffee.”
What’s the last thing you did before you headed out the door today?
“Kiss my baby, dog, and husband bye for the day.”