Q&A: Talking K-Beauty Obsessions & FoodTok with Jamie Lee of Condé Nast’s Beauty Marketing Division
The Gen Z foodie spills her high-glam secrets, jaw-Botox curiosity, and the best places to eat and drink in town.
In this weekly Q&A series, friends of The Beauty Chat spill their routines, recs, and rituals—from their holy grail concealers to the podcast they always push. Think of it as your new favorite scroll: beauty picks, pop culture takes, and inspo you didn’t know you needed.
Jamie Lee
Job: Senior Manager of Global Production & Activation, Condé Nast’s Beauty Marketing Division
Generation: Gen-Z
Zodiac Sign: Scorpio
💋💅💄 BEAUTY REGIMEN
How much is your beauty routine?
The cheapest product would probably be my face wash, the La Roche Posay Purifying Foaming Gel. It's less than $20 and lasts forever. Most expensive... my Therabody TheraFace Mask, which will run you up $650.
Gel Manicure: ~$65-100 / month
Lash Lift: ~$90 (every 2-3 months)
Skin-Care Routine: ~$850
Makeup Routine: ~$300
TOTAL: Almost $1,500 🫣
Which beauty product would you personally fund the creation of if the brand threatened to discontinue it?
Saie Glowy Super Gel in Sunglow: This is my perfect base and gives the best glow underneath makeup. None of the other "bronzing" type products are quite the same.
Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Concealer: I'm a recent convert of this one, but this is by far my favorite concealer. It has light coverage, but still helps conceal dark marks and hyperpigmentation while keeping your skin looking like skin.
Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patches: I love a pimple patch, and these are the best.
TIRTIR Milk Skin Toner and SKIN1004 Centella Sunscreen: Korean skincare has taken over my life, and I don't think I will ever be the same without it!! I have never had more glowy, hydrated, and protected skin with these two products.
What's the most impactful beauty lesson you've learned since you started your career / adulthood?
Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! I have extremely oily, acne-prone skin and I used to always think moisturizing would make my skin break out more. But I've learned that keeping my skin hydrated and moisturized is actually key to keeping breakouts at bay – since dehydrated skin causes you to produce more oil and hence, more breakouts.
Do you have a signature beauty look? What makes it memorable?
I've been doing the same makeup look for years – "no makeup, makeup" and winged eyeliner. A precise cat eye really just does something for me, and helps lift my eyes! For hair, always a blowout. I am a Dyson girl through and through.
We listen and we don't judge: What's a habit you'd be put in beauty jail for?
I am notorious for always popping my zits... even though I know I shouldn't. I can't help it!
Is there a beauty trend or look you've been too afraid to try? And what's making you hesitate?
Magnetic eyelashes. I feel like eyelashes can really make or break a look, and when I've gotten that far into doing my makeup I always chicken out of trying them and go for the usual strip lash.
If you have a dermatologist, what's the latest treatment you want/need or plan to try? And what does it do?
I just started seeing a new dermatologist and although I haven't gotten any skin treatments just yet, I have been toying with the idea of masseter Botox. I am constantly clenching my jaw and I grind my teeth at night – I had to get a heavy duty nightguard for it – but have heard great things about it helping relieve that jaw tension. Plus, a slimmer face shape!!
What's the best spa treatment you've experienced, and where did you get it done?
I am long overdue for a spa treatment, but I did get an amazing facial at Christine Chin Spa in LES two years ago, they do some serious extractions and I left glowing.
😊🫶🙃 LOVE & LIFE
What is an element of your beauty routine that's cultural?
I don't use this daily, but growing up Filipino my mom always told me to put Apollo Sebo De Macho on any dark marks or scars to get rid of them. (Editor’s Note: Not to be confused with beef tallow.) Also, I use RapidLash Eyelash Enhancing Serum, because I, unfortunately, was blessed with sparse, thin, straight Asian eyelashes. 😔 It has done wonders for me!!
What's a beauty product or habit you put your friends / family / partner on to?
Layering toners! It's such an amazing way to keep your skin hydrated without feeling greasy, and it gives you a glass skin finish.
In the series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, she woke up before her husband every day to put her face on, and then slipped back into bed to pretend she was always flawless. What's something beauty-related you hide or would hide from your partner?
Unfortunately, my partner has seen me at my absolute worst already 🤣, but if we were to start dating all over again, I'd probably pull a Mrs. Maisel and do a solid concealer session before bed, so I wouldn't have any visible pimples.
We listen and we silently judge: What could a partner do to give you the beauty ick?
Using a 12-in-1 body wash/shampoo/conditioner. Yuck.
What's the biggest beauty lie or myth you were surprised to learn the truth of?
Pulling a gray hair will make 3 more grow in.
⭐🎧📖🎥⭐ ZEITGEIST
Favorite Substack / Newsletter:
Favorite Social Platforms:
TikTok
Which content creator have you been watching a lot of lately, and why?
@paulinejchoii – Korean skincare expert and just the best vibes. Her content feels like a casual conversation with a friend and I love that.
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What TV show are you obsessed with right now?
The most recent season of Black Mirror was absolutely insane. Every episode was so good and different in its own way. I think I am also obsessed since it felt so...real, a huge overarching theme this season was AI and it felt like a scary reality.
What is your all-time favorite comfort watch?
Definitely The Devil Wears Prada or a cheesy rom-com like How To Lose a Guy in 10 Days.
What's the last book you enjoyed, and why?
Butter by Asako Yuzuki. It's about food and murder, based on a true story, and all taking place in Japan. It's like all of my favorite types of genres in one (minus fantasy)!
Which podcast do you always recommend, and why?
I'm not a big podcast person, but recently I listened to The Culture Lounge by ASSOULINE, and it was super interesting. Each episode has a theme (i.e. food, wine, watches, etc.), and the guests are experts in that craft. It's awesome to listen to people who have "made it" in their industry, and hear about their journeys and the different niche industries.
Do you have anything you'd like to plug?
Although I work in beauty, food is a huge passion of mine! I recently started a food account called @letsgooutnyc, where I am curating a Google Maps of all my favorite spots in the city for food, drinks, desserts – you name it. Website to come soon (letsgooutnyc.com), but for now follow us on IG and TikTok!
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