(Image credit: Original collage by Ally Quirk)
The Lineup is a monthly series where we’re giving you an inside peek at the beauty lineups of cool fashion people, editors, makeup artists, hairstylists, and estheticians—all the people we trust the most. Get ready for a behind-the-scenes look at all the can’t-live-without products that make their worlds go ’round.
Millennials will recognize Ashley Tisdale instantly. The Disney and High School Musical alum was an influencer before that word even meant anything. These days, Tisdale is a different kind of influencer—one who encourages others to care for their wellness and mental health in simple yet pivotal ways. “Some people think that there’s a right and wrong way to approach wellness, but I think it’s personal and individualized,” she says. “You have to figure out what works for you and your life. Personally, I rely on small daily rituals to help me feel good and whole, and they have to fit into my schedule, which they do. When I have free time, I really love exploring the world of wellness and trying new treatments/practices. Even if something winds up not being my thing, I learn from the experience.”
Tisdale’s chilled-out approach to wellness will certainly sound refreshing to anyone who’s ever felt overwhelmed or intimidated by the complexity and intensity of the wellness industry. Tisdale has experienced that herself. With all the conflicting advice, buzzy trends, and new products hitting the market every day, she yearned for a simple, clear-cut approach to feeling good. So she created one. In 2020, Tisdale founded her brand Frenshe. This community-based platform set out to make health and wellness more approachable and accessible—regardless of a person’s background, experience, or budget. The brand is known for its divine, scent-focused home and beauty products that encourage slow moments of connection and groundedness with oneself.
“I started my wellness platform, Frenshe, because I was learning so much about wellness and nontoxic living that I wanted to share it with others,” she says. “Our community grew from there, and I think it’s because a lot of people are like me. They want to incorporate wellness principles into their lives, but they don’t want it to be super complicated. Frenshe really started to take off during the pandemic when I was staying at home and not able to do the things I usually did, like going to yoga or group meditation, to feel my best. I started creating small rituals at home instead, and I realized that they all involved scent. I noticed how much certain scents affected my overall mood, and I thought that was interesting. It turns out that, in our brains, scent is very much tied to emotion, and that gave me the idea to create a collection of everyday wellness essentials that would boost your mood during the things we do regularly, like showering or lighting a candle. That was the start of Being Frenshe.”
(Image credit: Ashley Tisdale/Frenshe)
Scent is intrinsic to the brand—more importantly, how scent makes you feel. “Because scent and mood are so closely related, I use fragrance to enhance what I’m doing throughout my day,” Tisdale says. “In the morning, I use the Being Frenshe Citrus Amber products because they smell bright and cheerful, and that gives me a little energy boost. It puts me in an optimistic frame of mind. If I’m working in the Frenshe offices, I’ll light one of our Palo Santo Sage candles, and it helps me go into creative/work mode. At night, if I’ve had a stressful day, I take a shower with Lavender Cloud body wash because it makes me unwind—it’s washing the day away literally and figuratively.”
Tisdale brings this calm, open-minded approach to all things beauty and wellness. When asked what her guilty pleasure is, she answers, “No guilt, all pleasure. When I’m in New York, I love going to Aire Ancient Baths. It is the most relaxing experience, and I leave feeling completely refreshed.” She’s also incorporated elements of traditional Chinese medicine into her personal routine and is passionate about sharing it with others. “We recently had an event for Being Frenshe where guests were invited to try ear seeding. It’s an acupressure treatment that has helped me a lot, and I was excited to be able to offer it at the event,” she says.
What might be surprising about Tisdale’s routine is that she avoids the ever-popular injection that is Botox. “I don’t do preventative Botox,” she says. “Nothing against it—I just don’t think I need it. I do use Botox to treat my TMJ, and it helps a lot, but I don’t get Botox on my face.” Instead of injections, her most important piece of beauty advice comes down to a simple yet profound statement: “Be kind to the person in the mirror.”
Ashley Tisdale’s Beauty and Wellness Essentials
“I’ve tried tons of supplements over the years, and I’m obsessed with Arrae—I’m constantly telling my friends about how good their formulas are. The ones I recommend are Bloat and Calm. They do what they say they’ll do.”
Kosas
The Big Clean Longwear Volumizing + Lash Care Mascara
“I like a well-defined, full lash, but I don’t like to feel weight on my lashes. This clean mascara from Kosas volumizes, but it’s not heavy. Plus, it’s a clean formula, which I love.”
Frenshe
Renewing Body Wash in Palo Santo Sage
“When we were developing our body wash, I wanted a formula that would clean without leaving the skin feeling dry. It took a few rounds of trying lab samples, and I love how it turned out. It has niacinamide and oat extract, which are really good for your skin. I’ve been using it nonstop in our new scent, Palo Santo Sage, and then I layer on the body lotion to keep the scent going all day.”
Perfect Skin by Christie Kidd
Clean Natural Facial Cleanser
“Christie Kidd recommended this cleanser to me, and it’s become my absolute favorite. It dissolves makeup and oil completely but never leaves my skin feeling stripped or too bare.”
Jan Marini
Skin Zyme Face Mask
“I love this face mask because it leaves my skin feeling fresh and glowy. Some masks have acids that are too intense for my skin, but this one uses fruit enzymes—it works well and doesn’t leave my skin red.”
“I’ve been paying more attention to my scalp health lately, and this massager increases circulation while exfoliating at the same time. It feels amazing, like a head massage that you get at the salon. Plus, it makes my routine just a little bit more luxurious.”
Corpus
Cedar Flora Deodorant Stick
“A lot of natural deodorants haven’t been effective for me, but Corpus deodorant actually works. I’ve tried all of the scents, but the cedar flora fragrance is my favorite.”
Rhode
Peptide Lip Treatment
“This lip treatment is incredibly hydrating, and it stays glossy all day. Sometimes, I’ll apply it before bed and use it as an overnight lip mask. Hailey Bieber really knows what she’s doing.”
Bobbi Brown
Bronzer Powder
“I always like a little bronzer to warm up my complexion. This powder is very easy to apply, and it blends nicely, so the color looks natural. You can’t go wrong with it.”
Davines
OI All in One Milk
“I love a multitasking hair product, and this lightweight spray delivers. It makes my hair shiny, soft, and hydrated. I like to use it as a detangling leave-in conditioner if I’m air-drying, but it also works as a heat protectant if I’m going to blow-dry my hair.”
Frenshe
Eau de Perfume in Cashmere Vanilla
“This scent is so comforting—it has vanilla, a subtle musk, amber, and a hint of jasmine rice. It’s the fragrance equivalent of being wrapped up in the softest, coziest cashmere sweater. A lot of people on our socials asked us to make it available as a perfume, and we listened!”
Aesop
Resurrection Aromatique Hand Wash
“Never thought I would look forward to washing my hands, but this hand wash is an experience. It smells amazing, has a nice texture, and doesn’t dry out my skin. And I love how chic the bottles are.”
Dr. Nancy
Vanilla Plant Protein
“I add a scoop of this protein powder to my smoothies. It really helps fill me up. Plus, it has probiotics, which is good because I’m always looking for ways to boost my gut health.”
Skin Within
Immune & Skin Formula Supplement
“Natiya Guin is a naturopathic doctor, and she’s helped me a lot on my wellness journey. This supplement has clean ingredients and is a two-for-one. When I take it, I notice an improvement in my skin and how I feel overall.”
La Mer
The Moisturizing Fresh Cream
“I wish I didn’t love this as much as I do, but here we are! It’s incredibly hydrating but super lightweight, which is a great combination if you live in L.A.”