Spiced & Spritzed With The Posh(ly) Doreen Bloch
We are not exaggerating when we say that this week’s feature is an infinite source of inspiration. From founding Poshly.com, to being the Executive Director of the world’s first Makeup Museum, Doreen Bloch’s list of business achievements is truly motivating. We’re so grateful that she took the time out of her hectic schedule to chat with us. From her silver linings to her must-reads and beauty must-haves - get to know Doreen below. And you definitely don’t want to miss the reason she never settles for “no.”
Doreen, we have to start out by saying what an inspiration you are! Has there been an “aha moment” when you realized all that the hard work you put in is finally paying off?
I am so proud of the work we are doing at Poshly (data for the beauty industry) and now at the Makeup Museum. I am always building and working on new ideas. The leaders that I admire most can appreciate their hard work and accomplishments without being complacent or feeling like they’ve ‘made it’ - I truly believe there are so many more things that I need to do!
We are obviously living through a very difficult time right now - what has been the single most difficult aspect for you personally and for Poshly? What is one silver-lining?
On the personal side, I was so happy to be able to celebrate my son’s second birthday with all of his friends in February, a few weeks before the COVID-19 crisis arrived in California. He misses his friends so much, and the social isolation can be hard for that age group. On the bright side, it has been a joy to spend even more quality time than usual with him. On the professional side, lack of daycare definitely makes my daytime less productive... which means longer nights of trying to catch up on emails! It’s important to keep everything in perspective; I am grateful for safety and health at this difficult time.
The Makeup Museum is such an evolutionary idea and a beautiful way to showcase the history of makeup. What is your favorite time period of makeup and why?
Thank you! It is an honor and great responsibility to be part of the co-founding team of the Makeup Museum. Along with Rachel Goodwin, Caitlin Collins and an incredible and global team of partners, supporters and advisors, we are building an institution whose mission is to educate, inspire and celebrate all things beauty. Understanding the history of grooming and aesthetics is fundamental to understanding human history and culture. Every period in makeup history is fascinating, and it illuminates so much about a society at a given point in time. My personal favorite time period of makeup history is right now, actually. It is absolutely revolutionary that so many types of makeup are acceptable and celebrated today. It is remarkable that makeup artists are no longer behind-the-scenes, and that the craft of makeup artistry is being studied and adopted in a way that is more accessible than ever. I love seeing the creativity of makeup users today, and how past trends are referenced, elevated and experimented with in new and exciting ways.
You also recently launched two brands, Spiced Skincare and Spritz Mist, that’s so exciting! What is the vision behind these brands?
Poshly is all about consumer trends and data. Our team is always discovering new insights about what consumers want, and sometimes we create our own products to bring forth what consumers are seeking! Spiced is based on the insight that beauty lovers want to see cinnamon as an ingredient in skincare; cinnamon has been used for thousands of years for its wonderful scent and powerful anti-acne, collagen-boosting properties. We have an amazing mask and scrub duo that I use multiple times a week - I just love it!
With Spritz, we saw in the data that facial mist usage has been increasing significantly over the past three years, and I personally love how easy it is to use for an extra boost of hydration. I thought it would be clever and fun to incorporate the word 'mist' into each of the product names: OptiMIST is your daily go-to facial mist for a morning boost and refresh, AlcheMIST is our youth-enhancing spray with great anti-aging ingredients, and ExtreMIST is our minty setting spray. The glass bottle is beautiful and eco-friendly. I use these mists every day, and they make for a gorgeous gift, too!
Imagine, you only have 5 minutes to get out the door for a meeting - what is your super quick makeup routine?
Honestly, it’s a great day if I have five minutes! My first priority is SPF; I have a few primers and moisturizers that I like to use, depending on the day. Next up, I’ll use a brow gel (I’m loving the tinted brow gel by Florence by Mills, one of my recent Ulta finds) and then a mascara (so many good ones, although I generally lean toward organic brands for lash and lip makeup). I like applying a few quick strokes of powder blush and highlighter because those are quite forgiving when done hastily, and then applying a fun lip color. I lock it in with my favorite setting spray that my Poshly team created, Spritz’s ExtreMIST, and splash on a bit of fragrance as I run out the door!
What is your on-the-go get ready fast hair tip? And what is your favorite EVOLVh product and why?
I have curly hair, so whenever I'm in a rush to get ready, I spin my hair up into a bun for a few minutes and when I let my hair down again, my curls look more tame. I then use half a pump of EVOLVh's WonderBalm Magic For Curls on my hair which gives it a gorgeous shine and helps to get my flyaway hairs back in place. I get compliments every single time that I use WonderBalm - I call it the magic elixir for my hair! It is definitely my favorite EVOLVh product because it so unique and works phenomenally, but honestly, I don't know what I would do without the entire EVOLVh line for curly hair - it makes my hair feel great!
We’ve noticed that you’re a big reader - which books can you recommend to us that we just have to read?
Yes, I’m a nerd, and not just for beauty! I love reading books on random topics, like the book I am currently working through about the global rise in privatization of military systems. I find, like many entrepreneurs, that absorbing information about diverse topics can be quite helpful for brainstorming and creativity. Some of the books that have changed the way I understand my world, and which may resonate with people right now, are The Black Swan by Nassim Nicholas Taleb (I have a signed copy that is one of my most treasured possessions), Tribe by Sebastian Junger, and Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion by Jia Tolentino.
Among your many achievements, you are also a fantastic writer and have written a few books yourself. Do you plan to continue writing more books and what theme would be your first choice?
Thank you so much! I enjoy writing, and my first foray into publishing was in 2012 with my book “The Coolest Startups in America” which I wrote around the same time as launching Poshly. I am toying with the idea of doing a second volume of Coolest Startups, but otherwise have been keeping busy with children’s books actually! I have been so inspired by how my son sees the world, and have written a few books for him... “The Grape Adventure,” “Buzz at Bees in Belize,” and “Mama’s Makeup Bag” are household favorites.
Your little boy is so adorable! We always talk about the battle most of us face with work/life balance - how do you juggle your many business endeavors with motherhood? Any surefire pieces of advice you can give to us?
He is such a sweetheart, and he motivates me a lot, too! It can be hard to juggle it all sometimes, but I’ve found that one of the most helpful skills to develop is being able to rapidly context switch. Over the last two years, I’ve strengthened my ability to multi-task (hello to conference calls while doing a stroller walk!) and try to stay present with my family as much as possible throughout the day.
Being as busy as you are, what is your favorite way to unwind? What does Doreen’s ideal me-time look like?
Life with a two-year-old and so many professional projects that I am passionate about makes solo me-time limited. I do feel like I get ‘me-time’ when I’m with my family doing a hike or having a picnic; those moments are incredibly rejuvenating and meaningful to me. When it comes to solo me-time, I’m honestly quite refreshed if I can get just a few extra minutes to do a skincare ritual; a lavender or rose body scrub in the shower or trying out a new face oil are delightful. When salons and spas can reopen in California, I am definitely looking forward to getting a facial, too!
What beauty product is your current obsession? How about non-beauty related?
I feel like I’m always battling skin dryness, and one of my recent obsessions is Erno Laszlo’s Hydra-Therapy Gel Cream. It’s so deeply hydrating and leaves no residue. My skin feels healthier and so much more vibrant every time I use it each day. My non-beauty obsession... probably my laptop.
If you were stuck on a deserted island with your family and had all the food, water, and shelter you needed, what 3 items would you HAVE to bring?
Sunscreen, a journal and pen.
Last but not least, if you could offer 1 piece of advice to someone out there who wants to follow their dreams in starting and running their own business, what would you tell them?
In business, never settle for no. Always ask, “Why not?” This has been one of the most profound mantras that has served me well in my entrepreneurial journey. Throughout your quest to follow your dreams, you are likely to encounter nay-sayers. Rather than taking ‘no’ for an answer and hindering your progress, dig deeper to understand the reason someone may have for not accepting your proposal or idea. Many times, if you address the underlying concern, a ‘no’ can become a ‘yes’ and lead to your next big milestone.
