I'm an Expert in Intuitive Skincare—Here's What I Always Look for in Products

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.
We all know it's important to follow our intuition, but what if we could extrapolate this quintessential rule to skincare? Emily Parr did—she's the forward-thinking founder of two skincare brands, HoliFrog and Current State. Before Parr became an entrepreneur, she was a beauty publicist for over a decade. She found that she always took a more holistic, functional, and intuitive approach to beauty, which led to her developing something she coined as "skintuition." This concept is all about listening to your skin and the bio-individual cues it gives on a daily basis, so you can give it the exact products it needs to glow.
"I very much felt that my skin's needs change situationally and depending on its current state," Parr explains. "And that's exactly what my brands' philosophies are all about: tuning in and having a relationship with your skin because you are your skin's best specialist." She practices "skintuition" by curating a routine for each occasion and time of day, whether she's going for her morning run, working on her next product launch, or soaking up rays on the beaches of Martha's Vineyard. The commonality in each routine is a good cleanser, specifically one that's rich in active ingredients and low in surfactants—it's game-changing. Curious to see her favorites? Keep reading for her go-to cleanser, other skincare essentials, and must-have supplements.
Skincare Essentials
"Give me a treatment cleanser any day of the week! I'm not one who craves a lathery cleanser, so I always opt for this post-workout to really clear out any congestion with a hardworking active like salicylic acid. My skin is left clear and balanced without any tightness whatsoever."
"I never skip a night of retinol. It's as religious for me as popping in my bedtime Invisalign. The reason is because with the proper dose and supporting ingredients like this one, retinol is transformative. This retinol serum is so hydrating you may forget to apply cream afterwards."
Haircare
"I'm not a scent-driven person when it comes to my beauty products and use all fragrance-free for my skincare, but good lord, this shampoo is intoxicating in the best way possible. The formula itself is so luxurious. I massage my scalp and then air-dry my hair, and this shampoo leaves my curly hair hydrated and bouncy."
"I tend to wash my hair more than my strands would typically like—in the warmer months, I wash my hair daily. My work-around here is to use a cleansing conditioner every other wash. I've never had an issue with dry, brittle strands, so I definitely think that my technique of layering in these in-between co-wash days is working."
"This might be the greatest hair accessory that has ever existed. Each hair-wash night, I lay on the couch watching my shows with this cushiony satin hair towel on my head, and I feel like a Disney princess. My hair is damp enough after an episode or two to go to bed without drenching my pillow, and the hair towel itself doesn't snag or tug on my strands."
BodyCare
"I mix about two pumps of this body oil into my unscented body lotion for a super-rich finish on my skin post-shower. It's pure luxury and sinks in without sitting on top of my skin and sticking to my sweatpants! It has a touch of vanilla and grapefruit, which doesn't smell fragrance-y but rather more herbal and 'luxury hippie.'"
Natural Makeup
"This is the only exception to my 'don't wear face makeup' rule. I smear a very light amount of this across my cheeks and under my eyebrows if I want that candle-lit sheen on my skin. It's exceptionally lightweight, and I never worry that it's going to clog my pores."
Brain-Boosting Supplements
"Within the last few years, I have started to discover the importance of the relationship between the gut and brain microbiomes. These two cell groups need to communicate in order to establish better mitochondrial balance, which equates to better energy production and nerve health. A probiotic like this helps establish better gut diversity, which helps immune and digestive health."
"My dad had early onset Alzheimer’s disease, so I am a bit of a fanatic about brain health! This product contains acetyl-l-carnitine, which works similarly to normalize cell membranes and clear out debris from neuronal membranes. It also supports and fortifies the blood brain barrier with the vital phospholipids that actually make up most of the membranes in our body."
"I take this three times per day to help seal the gut lining, which keeps toxins out and supports the gut terrain. The woman who does my colonics has told me for years that a healthy gut terrain is so important for allowing the microbiome to flourish. It's like trying to plant beautiful flowers on bad soil."
Up next: I Built My Career Around Self-Care—16 Products I Swear By (Plus 6 Wellness Tips)

Emma is a beauty editor on the branded content team. She’s a passionate writer who loves all things beauty, wellness, and personal growth. Before pursuing writing, she worked in influencer marketing at Gallery Media Group, which owns digital brand PureWow. She lives in New York City, where you can usually find her running to a Pilates class or sipping on a green juice in the park.
-
We Traded Our Supplements for This Drink Powder and Never Looked Back
These co-founders have unmatched beauty and wellness routines.
-
Beauty Is in My DNA—Here's How I Built 2 Multimillion-Dollar Makeup Empires
Toni Ko is sharing, so we're taking notes.
-
I Dislike Vitamin C and Retinol, so I Created a Bespoke Anti-Aging Serum Instead
Angela Caglia shares her beauty essentials.
-
I'm a Plastic Surgeon on the Upper East Side—This Is My #1 Tip for Aging Skin
This celeb-loved doctor is sharing her elite beauty lineup.
-
Tinx on Her Non-Extreme Approach to Wellness and Absolute Favorite Products
*Adds everything to cart.*
-
I Made My Business a Self-Care Sanctuary—I Prioritize These Practices Every Day
The co-founder of The Now massage boutique shares her self-care routine.
-
I Do Beyoncé's Hair—3 Must-Know Tips to Make Your Color Last Longer
Plus, 20 MVP products I swear by.
-
Most "Clean" Skincare Disappointed Me, so I Created My Own Brand That Wouldn't
Kristin Cavallari shares her beauty essentials.