Larissa Thomson, founder of ONDA Beauty
Larissa Thomson, our go-to skincare expert and the founder of ONDA Beauty, a clean-beauty boutique in Tribeca, always has the glowiest skin—even after a long flight. We’re so glad she’s sharing what’s always in her dopp kit, a hack for the “liquid issue” when flying, and the scoop on mineral vs. chemical sunscreens, just in time for the dog days of summer.
What are your summer must-haves for taking care of your skin?
I love being outside in the summer, so it’s important to use products that are hydrating yet feel light. A great SPF is, of course, essential, but it’s also crucial to use products that are not photosensitive, meaning they aren’t sensitive to sunlight.
I like to use a good exfoliating cleanser to keep my skin polished and glowing. Right now, I’m using Goop’s Cloudberry Exfoliating Jelly Cleanser. It gently polishes and brightens my skin and is great for both morning and night.
Monastery’s Aloe Hyaluronic Moisture Boost is an excellent serum for extra hydration in the summer. It’s an aloe gel with two weights of hyaluronic acid, which really boosts your hydration step. Plus, it smells amazing!
Poet’s Atelier Strength & Recovery Bio-serum is my new favorite this year! It’s super hydrating but also ultra-lightweight. It works to soothe, repair, and revive stressed skin, is great for all skin types, and contains no essential oils but delivers like many actives do, without any irritation or sensitivity to sunlight.
Also from Poet’s Atelier, their Biome Active Face Oil has high concentrations of omegas and vitamin A, which increases cell turnover to improve skin tone and texture. Unlike retinol, you won’t have issues with the sun. This is a must-have face oil in summer. All the action, none of the issues!
I use Saint Jane’s Luxury Pore Smoothing SPF 30 every single day. This luxurious, clean, mineral SPF 30 beautifully blurs the look of pores with zero white cast. Perfect for all skin tones, it’s a multitasking powerhouse that acts as a primer, hydrator, pore minimizer, and sun protection in one. A must-have! We can’t keep this in stock.
For the body, I always have a great body scrub, especially for an outdoor shower—it’s like your own private spa. Saya’s Coconut Body Polish smells like vacation in a jar! It’s creamy, nourishing, and made with raw sugar, sea salt, and coconut. Its granular texture is perfect for giving your body that summertime glow. After polishing, try a beautiful body oil instead of a cream. Saya’s Argan Body Oil smells like a day at the spa and will leave your skin well-hydrated and glistening. Oils penetrate more deeply, and the heat of your skin can activate the scent, serving as an alternative to perfume. I always use scented body oils in summer instead of fragrance. It’s subtle but very effective. People always ask what scent I’m wearing!
Do you have any favorite SPF products?
Yes! Soleil Toujours recently came out with two new products I love. The first is their Clean Conscious Set + Protect Micro Mist SPF 30, which is a great and easy way to apply SPF. It’s clear, weightless, water-resistant, and also sets your makeup! I even use it without makeup because it’s so easy, and I keep it in my bag all day every day. There’s no messy application, and it has vitamins and nutrients that feed my skin while protecting it.The second product of theirs I really like right now is the Mineral Ally Eye Glow + Illuminator SPF 30. It’s an under-eye SPF that also brightens. The under-eye area is such a delicate area that’s prone to sun damage, especially because it doesn’t generally get proper sun protection.
Speaking of areas we forget to tend to, many of us also forget about our lips. It’s very important to make sure they’re protected! I always have Soleil Toujours Mineral Ally Hydra Lip Masque on me. It has a glossy finish and comes in an array of beautiful tints.
Now, I know I already mentioned Saint Jane’s Luxury Pore Smoothing SPF 30 for daily use, but I didn’t mention their Body Sun Ritual Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen. It’s silky, brightening, and strengthening, loaded with vitamins and botanical actives. It goes on smoothly and helps your skin stay optimally hydrated.
And MD Solar Sciences makes a Quick Dry Body Spray that is fast-drying, non-greasy, and lightweight. It’s packed with antioxidants and vitamin C and goes on evenly with a non-aerosol spray system, so it’s also a win for the planet.
How do you deal with skincare if you’re doing a carry-on only?
After a bad experience, I try to never check luggage anymore. But I’m very particular about my products, so I bring travel-sized items or products that come in smaller containers. I’m also a big fan of balms, which solve the liquid issue. There are some beautiful cleansing balms and hydrating balms.
Two that never fail to deliver are de Mamiel’s Restorative Cleansing Balm and Furtuna’s Replenishing Balm. De Mamiel’s cleansing balm is perfect for removing makeup or dissolving excess impurities, while Furtuna’s Replenishing Balm not only hydrates on an epic level but also repairs and soothes skin that’s experienced too much from the elements. It’s a great travel duo!
I also love to travel with Skinsheet Cleansing Coins. These are so cool! Biodegradable and compostable, these tiny coins are the perfect travel companion. Just add water, and the 1″ coin expands to a 10×10” face cloth that can be reused! They are especially good to use with the cleansing balm; just add warm water.
Lastly, sheet masks are very helpful when traveling. We just started stocking a new brand called Omad. They make two incredible sheet masks that our facialists are raving about: the Instant Firm and Lift and the Cellulose Restore and Serum Mask Repair. Both are extremely result-driven and great when you’re traveling. One provides an extra boost, and the other offers essential healing for skin that really needs extra love and attention. You cannot go wrong with these.
Where do you stand on mineral vs. chemical sunscreens?
I often get asked about my thoughts on mineral versus chemical sunscreens. Personally, I lean towards mineral sunscreens for several reasons: they contain zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, are not only FDA-approved as safe and effective, but they also provide immediate protection upon application. They sit on top of the skin and reflect UV rays, making them ideal for those with sensitive skin or conditions like eczema and rosacea due to their anti-inflammatory properties.
For individuals prone to melasma or hyperpigmentation, mineral sunscreens are particularly beneficial. Unlike chemical sunscreens, which absorb UV rays and convert them into heat—which can make these conditions worse—mineral sunscreens block UV light without generating heat, reducing the risk of triggering or worsening hyperpigmentation.
While mineral sunscreens can be heavier and sometimes leave a white cast, modern formulations with nano zinc oxide have significantly improved their cosmetic appeal – and these are the ones we tend to favor at ONDA. We truly work to prioritize products that not only protect our clients’ skin and align with our commitment to clean, safe beauty, but also make sure the user experience is one that is enjoyable as well as effective.
Are there any mineral sunscreens that don’t leave a white cast?
I try to only stock sunscreens that don’t leave a white cast at ONDA, and now I’m finding some really great SPF brands that have been able to create clean, conscious, effective SPFs that don’t leave any white residue and work well without adding toxic chemicals. The brands we really love are Soleil Toujours, MD Solar Sciences, and Saint Jane. Another positive is that there are also non-aerosol SPF sprays available—great news for us and our planet.
What other beauty products do you never travel without?
There are a few things I’d never part with, especially when flying. For in-flight, I always bring a multipurpose balm. My newest favorite is Monastery’s Universal Balm, which comes in a tube, making it really easy for travel. It can be used on your face, hands, elbows—anything that needs hydration. The scent is beyond spectacular, and is so soothing on a flight.
De Mamiel Altitude Oil is also always a must. Its aromatherapeutic qualities work to both invigorate and calm any stress. When feeling under the weather, this is a great product to have on hand. Soothe, revive, and thrive! Just dab under your nose, in your mask if wearing one, or anywhere you can easily inhale.
Jao Refresher hand sanitizer is my go-to on the plane. My whole family loves it, and associates that smell with traveling. When that lavender scent hits us, it always means we’re off on an adventure! Scent memory is the best!
A leave-on mask for deep hydration is also great to have. Flights are so drying! As for something I bring on every single trip, there is one product I never leave home without: Dr. Alkaitis Soothing Gel. I’ve used this for years and have recommended it to just about every customer and friend. It’s just one of those things you should always have on hand. It’s a soothing, hydrating, and moisturizing antibacterial treatment gel that heals any inflammatory condition and is perfect for almost any situation. I’ve seen it work as an after-sun treatment to reduce redness and inflammation, to heal any sort of skin irritation, and to soothe bug bites or rashes of all kinds. If there is a magic potion, this is it! I don’t go anywhere without it.
Do you do anything special for your skin before/during a flight?
Not much other than drinking tons of water. I just make sure my skin is really well taken care of and hydrated before I leave. And I never wear any makeup on the flight, only lip balm. My go-to is always Blue Lagoon Lip Balm. It nourishes, protects, and seals in moisture. I usually have three on me at all times because I’m always scared of losing it! Lol!
Sometimes I like to use Venn’s Concentrating Revitalizing Lifting Mask while flying. Rachel, who works in our Tribeca shop, always recommends this to customers who are traveling as well. She recommends you put it on and fall asleep in it. When you arrive at your destination, you’ll be glowing and hydrated! You don’t even need to wash it off, so it’s like a really rich moisturizer that works its magic while you’re traveling.
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