Meet Kristen Ma, one of the top estheticians in the city, whose list of beauty insider credentials is as long as the ingredient lists on most shampoo bottles. An overview: Kristen is an ayurvedic practitioner, the co-owner (with mom, Jean) of Pure + Simple spas, and the author of both Beauty: Pure + Simple (McArthur & Co) and the blog Holistic Vanity. She’s also fun and forthright on the subject of skin care, having struggled with acne in the past. (“You’d be surprised how enlightening being a personal guinea pig for a plethora of products and treatments can be!”)

In this new section (a partnership between The Style Notebook and Michelle Villett’s BeautyEditor.ca), Kristen answers our in-depth “Beauty Insider” questionnaire. Read on for Kristen’s beauty icon, biggest beauty fail and her top five must-have beauty products.

Beauty bargain

“Accessory items like exfoliants, which are not on your skin for long. Or just use something in your kitchen like baking soda.”

Beauty splurge

“You need to splurge on a good moisturizer. It’s what feeds your skin as well as your protective barrier. It’s on your skin all-day, so you want something of quality.”

Weird beauty habit

“[Laughing] I actually used Shatavari Ghee on my chest at night for bust firming. It’s clarified butter that has been infused with rejuvenating Ayurvedic herbs. It really works—and, while it’s embarrassing to admit it—I swear by the stuff. You just have to get over smelling like a snack bar at the movie theatre.”

Beauty icon

“I really like Natalie Portman. She’s a vegetarian. She’s talented and makes interesting decisions. I also deeply respect Rachel McAdams. I have done her facial before, and not only is she very beautiful in person, but she also insisted on bicycling to the spa in the name of being environmentally responsible. I think that being beautiful is also about consciousness—not only picture-perfect features. That’s just boring. True beauty often radiates from people through their actions.”

Top 5 beauty products

1. I don’t go anywhere without my Pure + Simple Organic Rosehip Face Oil. It’s amazingly restorative and excellent for sun damage.

2. Jane Iredale Black Plus Cream Eye Shadow. It is great for smoky eyes without making you look powdery. I also use a tiny amount on a brush to fill in my brows, because nothing is more important than great eyebrows.

3. My only unnatural indulgence is Kiss Me Mascara. I am so no-fuss that the easy removal of this mascara is a must-have.

4. Pure + Simple Flawless Complexion. This is a sheer liquid mineral foundation. It evens out your skin tone and gives you a great dewy finish.

5. Of course, a good natural sun block. I currently use the Anti-Aging SPF 30 by Pure + Simple. Sun is the most damaging thing for our skin—an SPF should be an essential for everyone.

First fragrance

“My mother was always into natural beauty, so even the first fragrance I wore had to be pure. It was an organic, oil-based roll-on that was a blend of rose and citrus essential oils.”

Current fragrance

“I use an organic perfume from a French line called Maedy’s. Unlike other natural perfumes, even the base is made from organic plant-derived alcohol. I have a few, but my favourite is the Vetiver (I love citrusy smells).”

Biggest beauty fail

“I totally shouldn’t tell you this… I did an IPL hair removal on my bikini right before taking my mother to the Korean Body Scrub Spa for her birthday. I really wanted to fit the IPL into my schedule but promised my mom I would take her. Well, after any type of light therapy or laser you should never do anything heating. Saunas, hot tubs, steam, etc. Well, the Korean Body Scrub process involves all of the above. My bikini area was bright red for over a week and I was afraid I would scar. Thank God for rosehip oil. [It was] such a ridiculous thing to do. Definitely a failure because I know better. It’s just so tempting to try to get everything done and off the weekly list. The worst is, even right after the IPL treatment, I was rushing it so much I told my IPL practitioner to skip the post-treatment cooling phase. I was like: “I’ll be fine—late for a meeting!” and jumped off the bed.”

Beauty pet peeve

“I cringe when I see unkempt eye brows.”

Best beauty secret

“Use facial oils. Forget what you may think about oils making you break out or [look] greasy. If you get a good quality vegetable oil, your skin will thank you. I even found that our Pure + Simple Pure Skin Face Oil clears up your complexion and regulates overactive sebaceous glands.”

Beauty career advice

“Make sure you take time to ground, relax and restore your body despite how much you want to accomplish. You can’t promote a concept of beauty when you’re running yourself ragged. Plus, you risk burning out. Trust me, I learned the hard way.”