Downloads with Sofie Pavitt
Notes on break-outs, the best beat-upable travel tote, and insider intel for *those* Korean skin treatments.
Sofie is one of those women who you can’t stop staring at because her skin is….that good. Not only does she look like a newborn, but is also a cool mom of two, has her own Chinatown-adjacent skincare studio, and founded an eponymous product line designed to treat problematic skin (although it will take clear skin to the next level). But if that weren’t enough, she also carries the secrets to those mysterious treatments in Seoul, as she makes regular pilgrimages to the center of the beauty ‘verse. Below, this in-the-know Brooklynite drops some insider knowledge.
1) I’ve never seen skin like yours and I know you struggled with break-outs. What’s your best advice for anyone with temperamental skin?
It sounds too good to be true, but you really just need to keep it simple; cleanse, treat, and hydrate. I always recommend going to work with an esthetician who can give you a skin analysis and put you on the right products for your concerns. I’m biased, but I will always suggest my Sofie Pavitt Face line to clients, as it’s based on an easy three step concept in the morning, and then the evening too. It’s all about streamlining.
2) What are your holy grail products and why?
Definitely my Sofie Pavitt Face Mandalic Clearing Serum for smoother, brighter clearer looking skin (editor’s note: dream teen product alert). And Sofie Pavitt Face Skin Jelly Gel Moisturizer - it’s literally the lightest weight gel hydrator so it’s perfect for summer months. For the most gorgeous slick back hair, the only thing to use is the Crown Affair Finishing Gel. The Roz Milk Hair Serum lives in my bag and I love the Necessaire Rosemary Shampoo & Conditioner.
For face, Make Up by Mario Mattes Palette makes make-up really easy for a novice like me. And Dieux Auracle Eye Serum for immediate hydration under my eyes (editor’s note: try their reusable eye masks as well!) Ciele is a go to for me since it's non-comedogenic and has SPF. And I've been obsessed with the Saie City Set setting spray and Rhode pocket blushes lately.
3) Any new wellness discoveries, practices, treatments?
I love heated classes and I do them all over the place. I take a mix of different ones in NYC (like Core Power Yoga) and when Im in LA, I do Silver Springs. If I’m in San Francisco for Sephora meetings, I do Hot8. I also do a lot of weight training and rely on Session in Williamsburg for that. I also have a consistent massage. Being a facialist and working hands-on, I believe its important to nourish my whole body as a provider. I also do a ton of treatments on the skin - it’s all in the name of research (!)
4) What are your favorite haunts in New York that people might not know about?Printemps is out of the way and yet its a perfect retail experience - it’s a must when you’re in New York. Climax Books in the East Village for cool and rare art/design/photography finds (the merch is also so hot right now too!) In Greenpoint, Big Night is incredible for dinner party supplies and they have one Uptown now as well. And Place des Fetes in Clinton Hill is my favorite for delicious tapas style bites and natural wine. Let’s just say that Le Veau d’Or is the only restaurant I would go Uptown for.
5) I’m obsessed with your trips to Korea. What can you spill in terms of who you go see, what you do, who are the best people - any insider intel please!
Well first of all here’s a plug to my substack and who/what/where I love in Seoul! (editor’s note: you must check out Sofie’s Seoul Skin Diary above- here’s a peek!)
6) When you’re in Seoul, do you go out, see stuff - or is it just beauty and hibernation?
I love wandering around different neighborhoods and soaking it all in between factory visits and treatments (for inspiration of course). I stay at the Grand Hyatt in Itawon - it’s right at the top of the hill and it’s nice to wander around the area as well but it;s just a super comfortable and relaxing hotel. Gangnams Park Hyatt is also an institution and really lovely. Gold Pig for festive Korean barbecue dinner, Parc Seoul, Salt Bread (it's famous for a reason!) and Vinyl Seongsu for a local vibe and coffee. For shops, Olive Young for sure, Tamburins for fragrance, and the Amore Pacific concept store in Seongsu.
7) What makes the treatments so special and superior?
The innovation and the customized approach is just amazing and really leads the way when it comes to both facial and body treatments. Everything popular over there gets to the US market about five years later. We are literally antiquated when it comes to treatments when compared to what’s happening in Seoul.
8) Where do you want to visit that you haven’t yet been? Any dream destination or dream hotel?
I really want to go back to Japan. I spent a lot of time there in my past life as a designer but now as a mom to two boys who are seven and five, I feel like it would be fun to take them and do the kids version of that trip (like Pokemon, etc). I also adore Greece and have spent a lot of time there in my early years with my family, and would love to take mine to Crete. My parents have a place in Spain so we’ll be going there this summer for a while. And I know this is super played out (and obvious) but a girls trip to Amangiri would be just lovely. One day!
9) What is your favorite Cool but Not Fancy hotel? Maybe it’s not the fanciest, but it’s got soul....
Okay, remember how the original Standard Hotel on sunset was the LITERAL cool but not fancy hotel of the 00s? I feel a pang of nostalgia every time I drive past that building in LA now. We used to stay there when I worked at Abercrombie and Fitch in the 00s and it was just achingly cool, but the rooms were TERRIBLE! It was just such a vibe. I would pay anything to transport back there for one night. I think a gem of a hotel in New York City which is not fancy but very cool is the Penny Hotel in Williamsburg. It’s on North 8th, off of Hotel Row -it’s so quiet and yet has a really cool rooftop bar and restaurant. I always put my corporate guests and parents up in this hotel when they’re in town.
10) What is your travel uniform and what’s your favorite travel tote? Always looking for the best one!
I wear Horse Sport sweatpants, my Climax Books hoodie and Jacquemus Nikes to travel. I have a giant Balenciaga City Tote (from the 00s that is so beaten up) - it’s literally the perfect travel tote as you can throw an entire wardrobe in it on top of a carry on and it still looks super cool.
11) Other than Korea have you ever travelled for beauty and wellness?
No, but I’m SUPER down for Lancerhof (which is a medical spa) if anyone wants me to test it out for them and tell the world about it!
12) What’s down the pipeline for your skincare brand?
Everything is developed through the skincare studio in NYC so our clients dictate the product roadmap. Stay tuned; we have some fun launches this year!
