Episode #113: Brian Underwood, Beauty & Grooming Director, Men’s Health and Women’s Health

Speaker A: Foreign.

Speaker B: Welcome to the Hospitality Forward podcast where we interview top journalists who share their insights and tips for being featured in their stories.

Speaker C: My name is Hanna Lee. I am president and founder of Hanna Lee Communications, an award winning public relations agency in New York City.

Speaker B: And I'm Michael Ann Stendig, Editor in chief of Hannah Lee Communications, a food and beverage writer and co author of the Japanese Art of the Cocktail. Helping the community has always been part of our agency's mission. We understand that a lot of hospitality and travel professionals might not have the resources to hire a PR agency.

Speaker C: We believe everyone has a story to share, so we created our podcast where our audience can get to know these media luminaries and start, start building relationships. And today we have listeners in 160 countries.

Speaker B: As a journalist, myself and Hannah, as a PR professional, we understand the power of media coverage and its positive impact on someone's career and business. And now on with the. M. In this episode, we're delighted to chat with Brian Underwood. Brian is the beauty and grooming director at Men's Health and Women's Health. Brian has been a lifestyle journalist for more than 20 years and previously served as beauty director at O, the Oprah Magazine. His work has appeared in Harper's Bazaar, town and Country, Cosmopolitan 17, and many more.

Speaker C: Hi, Brian. Welcome to the show.

Speaker B: Great to, um, have you on.

Speaker A: Um, thank you very much. Thank you so much for having me. It's really my pleasure.

Speaker C: And you are the first beauty and wellness journalist on our show.

Speaker A: Uh, so I have heard. And I do feel like there is such a natural synergy between travel and hospitality and beauty and wellness. So it all makes sense to me at least.

Speaker C: Yes, totally, totally. As you mentioned, health and wellness has been such an important topic in our industry, so we are so thrilled to hear your insights and expertise.

Speaker A: Oh, thank you for having me again.

Speaker C: No, thank you.

Speaker B: All right, Brian, so starting off, can you tell us about your journey to journalism and how you got in this whole line of work?

Speaker A: Yeah, so I came to New York, uh, to be, um, a performer, actually an actor. And, uh, that's what I came to school for. I went to NYU and realized, you know, pretty soon into my journey that that was not for me, that that was not going to be my path. And I thought, geez, what else do I enjoy doing? And I thought, you know, I like to write. I was on my, you know, school newspaper in high school, so I thought, let me give that a try. Um, so I transitioned majors halfway through my college career to journalism. I liked the more creative sort of writing, which was feature writing at the time, and, you know, magazine periodicals, that is where that writing lived. So I thought, you know, that's sort of, I think, what I want to do. And after a very brief stint, uh, as a publicist for a book publisher, I found my way into magazine, uh, publishing and have sort of been doing that, you know, ever since. And because there's been so much change, it. It really keeps it very fresh and exciting. And there's always new challenges and new platforms and new ways that we're connecting with our audiences. So I think that keeps it really fun and fresh and interesting.

Speaker B: So let's drill down a little bit into Men's Health. Can you tell us about its audience and really what sets it apart from other men's publications?

Speaker A: Yeah, well, I think, obviously the thing that sets it apart is we are a brand that is specifically geared toward men who are interested in improving their lives, uh, and their health and their wellness. And I think where the brand was and where it is now is very different. Uh, I think there was a conscious effort to sort of broaden sort of the scope of what the Men's Health reader could be, to be more diverse, to be more inclusive. And I think that the editorial team has done an incredible job of sort of expanding what men's health means, um, from not only just, you know, gym gains and resistance training, but to mental health and wellness and covering those topics. And so I think that really is sort of what sets us apart, is we are a roadmap for the modern man to improve his life, using health and wellness as kind of our North Star. And I think when you looked at maybe men's health covers of the past, everyone on the COVID sort of looked a certain way, had a certain body type. And our editorial director, Rich Dormant, has done a great job of sort of, you know, expanding the sort of what the Men's Health man is. And I think it's. It's a. It's a great thing.

Speaker B: So what topics do you specifically cover? What are you most excited about these days?

Speaker A: Yeah, so I really cover beauty and grooming for both men's Health and women's Health. So I actually started, uh, at Women's Health about four years ago. Um, and now I also work on the Men's Health brand. And I think what I cover most is beauty and grooming topics. So everything related to skin care, hair care, fragrance, um, cosmetics in the case of women's Health. And I think the way that sort of travel kind of fits into that for me is of Course wellness travel and spa. And I think that is what I think of when I think of wellness travel. I think of what is the spa offering, what are the ways that I am going to engage with this hospitality brand and their spa, you know, offerings. And I think that's the case for a lot of people. And it's so interesting. You know, you can go, you used to go to a hotel spa and you'd get a lovely massage and you'd get a lovely facial and it would be beautiful and relaxing and restorative. Now you can go to some, some spas at the top resorts and get really cutting edge skincare treatments using things like exosomes and peptides. And it's no just this moment of relaxation though that is available to you for sure. But you can actually really go and get advanced skincare and hair care treatments and really walk away from that experience your vacation experience with a roadmap for long term gains and long term improvements in those areas. And I think that's really different from what it was 10 or 15 years ago. And I find that really exciting and interesting.

Speaker C: Yeah, I mean I think the word longevity has been so buzzword for a long time for sure, mostly recently, but in so many different industry.

Speaker B: And also people want their vacations to kind of continue once they come back to the real world and take the learnings and take the techniques and be able to apply them um, on um, a daily basis.

Speaker A: Absolutely. I think that Covid in particular has made people really hyper aware of their mental and physical well being. And so I think every way that we now interact with the world has that at its core. How can I use this moment to improve my physical or mental or emotional well being? And that includes travel. Whether that's just experiencing a new destination or a new place or actually walking away with some really tangible advice on how to live better.

Speaker C: So now let's circle back to Women's health. So can you tell us about this publications and its audience and what makes it so unique?

Speaker A: Yeah, so I think Women's Health has also gone on a very similar journey to men's health in terms of broadening the scope of what a healthy body looks like, what healthy looks like. And it's not so rigid anymore. It's not. You have to look, you know, you have to look a certain way, you have to weigh a certain amount that uh, it's such an old way of thinking about it. And now, you know, we're really just about helping you live the best version of you. And that's really different from what the best version of somebody else might be and what somebody else's journey is. And it's sort of keeping the focus on you and your journey and charting your own improvement and gains. And so we, you know, really have, like, a fairly robust, uh, editorial package that encompasses health and fitness and entertainment and beauty, of course. And, you know, we really offer everything to our readers. But again, through that very specific lens of, uh, health and wellness, and again, that is the women's health and the men's health, North Stars is thinking about life and the way we navigate through the world in those terms.

Speaker B: We've been talking about this convergence of beauty, wellness, longevity, travel. So in a societal respect, what do you think brought these worlds together when 10, 15 years ago? They were kind of segmented, kind of, uh, siloed.

Speaker A: Yeah, I mean, you're absolutely right about that. What do I think's behind the convergence? I think education. I think that we, thanks to social media, we, we have a consumer that is really bombarded with information constantly. And so I think you have a consumer that is very educated and understands that your skin, your hair, they don't exist in a vacuum. They're part of your body. Your skin is an organ, just like your heart and your liver. And so I think people understand that. And I also think, again, I really do think the pandemic plan played a, ah, big part in that too, of people really understanding how precious our health is. Um, not only our physical health, but our emotional health. I think people endured physical health challenges during that time and also endured some really tough mental and emotional challenges during that time. And so I think that really spurred on people looking for solutions. And I think when you couldn't get outside and interact with the things that you love, you could go on Sephora, uh, and order a face mask and bring it home with you and do it and sort of feel better and feel uplifted and have some hope during a time that really felt like it was lacking in some of that hope. And so I think that played a big part too.

Speaker B: Agreed. Uh, it was definitely an accelerator.

Speaker A: Yeah, for sure.

Speaker B: A lot of existing forces, but really brought them to a head.

Speaker A: It was a convergence, for sure.

Speaker B: So, peering in your crystal ball, what do you see as the trends in beauty and wellness that are going to be percolating up this year that we should keep an eye out for?

Speaker A: Yeah, I do think that the continuation of beauty as a wellness tool, I think you're going to see that again and again. And, you know, obviously it really started first with Skin care and hair care, because that makes sense. You know, everyone wants healthy skin because healthy skin looks great and everyone wants healthy hair because healthy hair looks great. So that made sense. I think what you're seeing now, though, is that this idea is spilling into cosmetics and fragrance. And you have fragrance, big, big, big fragrance development houses. All of them really at this point have divisions that are dedicated to the science of fragrance and wellness and how fragrances can improve your mood, improve your concentration, improve your sl. And so I think that is significant, and I think that speaks to the fact that this is going to be continuing and a continuing trend. Um, and same thing in makeup. You know, you have, ah, I just attended a brand launch for this company called Serotonin Beauty, and it was a makeup company. And what they were talking about is just how happy sometimes putting makeup on can make you and what a nice boost that is. So I feel like those worlds are going to continue to collide. Um, I also think that you're going to see what were once very utilitarian categories, uh, sort of become chicer and sexier. I think people now, consumers, beauty consumers in particular, they want something that works, that is the sort of end all, be all, but they also want to purchase something that, like, feels like a little luxury and feels like something that they can be proud of, put in their bathroom or makes them happy to look at. And so I think you're seeing categories like dandruff products, for example. Really, brands create beautiful, luxurious products that smell great and feel great and look great for what was what were once considered pretty unsexy kind of utilitarian conditions, you know, things like eczema products. So I think that is something that you. You're also going to see a lot more. And, and then I also lastly would say we talked about longevity. Hannah, you brought up the longevity conversation. That's a big conversation right now in beauty. And it's really almost a new way of thinking about aging. It's not so much about fixating on every line or wrinkle or dark spot. It's really just about helping your skin to function at its most optimal level for the longest possible. And I like that idea. I think that's a healthier way of looking at aging. And so I think that's going to continue. And I'm excited to see what the next evolution of that will be.

Speaker C: Well, let's talk about some of your articles. So a few months back, you had a great story on face moisturizers. In your own words, you've been testing and Writing about the best face moisturizers for more than 15 years. And you say that the class of 2026 is the most cutting edge yet. So tell us about the innovations that you see in this category.

Speaker A: Yeah, you know, I think a lot of these innovations are centered around sort of new ingredient technologies. Um, so one ingredient that a lot of people are talking about right now are exosomes. And so exosomes are kind of like the cellular kind of, uh, shopping carts almost that carry messages to and from your cells. So you're really thinking about, you know, ingredients that can sort of really communicate with your skin and really help your skin to perform, you know, the way it performed when you were in your 20s. Um, and it's exciting. I think the research on their effectiveness isn't quite there yet, but I think it's coming and I think it's really interesting and I think it's really, um, you know, that that is something, that's absolutely something that a lot of people are talking about. The other interesting thing that uh, we talk about in that article that you're referencing is this idea of neuro cosmetics, um, which is the idea that a cosmetic product, a moisturizer in this case, can affect your mood and your mental well being. And you know, a lot of the brands are accomplishing this via scent because we know that there is a really strong connection between scent, scent and mood. But also texture, the texture of a product, how a, uh, product feels and spreads on your skin. There's sort of, we know we have a lot of touch receptors on our skin. So how does that product feel and how does the feeling of that product make you feel emotionally? Um, so I think that's a really interesting thing too. And then lastly is this sort of conversation around peptides. Uh, we know that the injectable peptide conversation is just exploding. Peptides have been used in skincare products for a really long time. There's one, a combination of peptides called Matrixyl 3000, for example, that's been around for a really long time. L' Oreal's used it, uh, but now you're seeing newer peptides. What's so interesting about these ingredients is that they can be designed in a lab to kind of target any sort of skin concern you may have. So there may be a peptide that helps prevent dark spots. There may be a peptide that may act the way Botox does to sort of freeze muscle contraction. So I think that's another really interesting and emerging area too. So a lot of it is, uh, ingredient focused, um, and really High tech, High tech kind of stuff.

Speaker B: We were wondering, how do you choose the specific product categories that you review and what are some of the most important criteria for actually choosing the best products to spotlight?

Speaker A: Yeah, you know, I think for us, ah, as, as health brands, we really go to the experts first. So in that case, for us it is, you know, product formulators, cosmetic chemists, dermatologists, of course, and in the case of skincare products, hairstylists, you know, trichologists, in the case of, of hair products. And we really go there first. So we, we, we talk to them to ask them, what do you look for in a product? What do you think is the best? How would you advise your patients in terms of looking for the best and the brightest? So we start there, uh, and then from there we have a team of editors on the women's health and men's health side that are sort of immersed in the marketplace and we take that information and we go out into the marketplace and we gather the products that kind of fit into that criteria and then we really sort of subject it to quick, quite a bit of our own testing. I mean, if you could see my, currently my bathroom vanity, my daughter's bathroom vanity, my entire linen closet and my hall closet is just filled with products. And that's just me that we're just sort of constantly testing and trying. So I think it really comes down to some good old fashioned elbow grease, um, and really trying and testing what we like. And we have a pretty diverse team with diverse needs and interests. So I think we do try to find a nice cross section of products that can suit a pretty diverse group of readers, which we know we have.

Speaker C: And actually, you know, we've been enjoying working with your team. Not only yourself, but also Sean and Christian and Nicole.

Speaker A: We have a great team.

Speaker C: Yeah, they are so wonderful. Not only they are great writers, but they have such a good insights and just lovely to work with.

Speaker A: The best. The best.

Speaker C: The best. Yes. So now, uh, I want to get a little bit personal. As a native Korean, one of the most exciting things that I've seen is the rise of K Beauty.

Speaker B: Totally.

Speaker C: And you know, on behalf of my sweet niece, M.J. lee, and my entire family from Korea, I would like to thank you and your wonderful editorial team for being so, so supportive of our time. Savvy facial mask.

Speaker A: Well, it's a really, uh, you know, you bring up K Beauty, it's been so incredible to see the sort of rise of this because I think that, you know, 10 years ago k Beauty had this big Big, big, big moment. And everyone was talking about, you know, Korean technology and how cutting edge it was. And, uh, now it's sort of experiencing another resurgence. And I think what I love so much about K Beauty is it feels very special. It feels very cutting edge, it feels very unique. But it's always so accessible in terms of price. And I think it speaks to something in Korean culture where it is meant to be accessible. It is meant to be for everyone. It is not meant to be some rarefied experience that only certain people can partake in. And having traveled to Seoul myself in 2024, that's the thing that I loved most about my time there is you walk in Myeondong and you see, see on every corner these amazing beauty emporiums. And you go in and it's so, you know, everything is. So you want to buy everything and you can, and you, and you can because it's not that expensive. And that's what I love so much about it. You get so much for your money. And I think that is another part of the Korean beauty story that I don't think, uh, a lot of people talk about. You know, a lot of people talk about the technology, the textures, the ingredients, but I don't think that a lot of enough people talk about the accessibility of it. And I think that's really important because not everyone can afford $150, $200 product.

Speaker C: Absolutely. And also, honestly, you know, winning a men's health grooming award and Women's health beauty award for our time savvy facial mask really made our dreams come true. And we cannot thank you enough.

Speaker A: It was well deserved. I will tell you, uh, not just me, we all like, unanimously loved that product. And I told you, I think, Hannah, when we first met that I really wasn't this big fan of sheet masks. It just isn't something that I used a lot of, mostly because I have facial hair and the mask would, would sort of never stick to my, my beard. So to have a product that, you know, a man can use that is in two pieces, such a smart idea and so clever. And so, um, so it really shows that, you know, there's some real thought behind the development of it. And so really congrats to you because it is an incredible product.

Speaker C: Thank you. You know, I'm so proud of my niece. And with that awards in mind, can you walk us through the process behind the awards and what are the criteria for choosing the winning products?

Speaker A: Yeah, well, it's a big undertaking. It really is. We, we start months and months in advance, both on the men's health side and the women's health side side. So I'll tell you. In women's health, for example, our awards go live in May, around May. We start in November. Sort of our process of sort of filtering through everything. And look, our team, like I said, we're always in the market, we're always trying stuff. I have a big sort of rambling note in my phone of products that I've tried, that I've really loved. So I can sort of keep tabs on things even before we start the official process. So, you know, it's always something we're thinking of really year round. Um, so really what we do is we put out an official call for submissions just so that we can, you know, become aware of things that maybe we weren't aware of on our own, though that's often rare. Um, and we start that in November. From those submissions we'll call in. Last year, I think we got about 3,000 submissions. So from that we sort of, you know, sort of narrow that list down to several hundred, I'd say, and we call those in for testing. And we're really just trying, you know, a lot of product for months and months and months. Um, but we really try. What I think at the end of the day we're looking for are really unique solutions to problems. You know, ultimately, at the end of the day, beauty, grooming, it is a problem solution oriented category. You are purchasing something to solve some sort of problem. So we ultimately, uh, at the end of the day, we want a product that solves a problem for our readers. And then beyond that, you know, we love, you know, when there's some interesting ingredient story to tell, when a brand is doing something unique, when a brand has kind of gone the distance in terms of clinical testing, when a brand has gone the distance in terms of making sure that their product works on a variety of skin tones, skin textures, skin types, hair textures, hair types. So that's also the diversity part of it is, uh, a big part of what we do as well. So it's really kind of narrowing things down based on those things. Is it inclusive and is it innovative? And does it solve a problem for our read that our readers have? And then they're two of our biggest, you know, editorial packages of the year. Uh, so we spend quite a lot of time sort of refining that list and trying our very best to offer our readers products that we really, really feel good about.

Speaker B: Well, it definitely stake you.

Speaker C: So Brian, what, what kinds of stories will you be working on for the remainder of the year.

Speaker A: Yeah. So obviously, we are always thinking about, you know, what our readers are gonna be talking about in terms of skin and hair. Peptides are a big conversation that we're having right now because we see that as the. As a topic that has sort of gone over from, uh, the wellness world into the beauty world. Another thing that I think is a big topic that has sort of bled over from health and wellness into beauty is GLP1 medications. And I think what you're seeing now is a lot of people using these medications, and they're having great success on them, but they're having some unintended consequences on people's skin and hair. And so now a lot of brands are talking about developing products specifically geared toward addressing some of those concerns. So that's absolutely a topic that we're gonna be talking about more and more and more. Uh, you know, sleep is always a big topic for us, and there are some really great and interesting new fragrances that are designed specifically to smell great, but also help people, you know, get better rest, because we know that better rest is essential for recovery and overall wellness. So that's a topic that we're gonna be talking about. So I think the thread that you'll see here is what is being talked about in the health and wellness world, and how does that apply to the beauty and grooming world? And I think that is our sweet spot. I think there are a lot of brands that talk about beauty. There are a lot of brands that talk about grooming and hair care and hairstyles and skincare and makeup. How can women's health and men's health talk about it in a way that is unique and is a way that only we can really address those topics? And I think those are some of the ways that we are trying to do that.

Speaker B: All right, so let's get a little practical now.

Speaker A: Okay?

Speaker B: Our listeners very much, you know, want to pitch stories to interesting journalists like you. So what are some tips that you can share for them to pitch most effectively, and what should they avoid doing at all costs?

Speaker A: Yeah, I think that, you know, from your side of the business, uh, you know, you are in service, uh, to your clients, and your goal, obviously, is to amplify your client's message to the best of your abilities. I think what I. Where I see that go wrong sometimes in pitches is if the pitch is just a little too much about that. I think as a journalist, what we. We want is the bigger picture, the bigger context. So what I would Challenge, Um, m all of my PR friends to think about is how can you take your client's message and make it universal and tied to something bigger and trending and a larger kind of story that is going to get my attention probably more m than, than anything else. I also think anything, any sort of evidentiary support that you can put into a pitch is really helpful for me to kind of get a context as to. Is this just, you know, something that this one person is saying, or is there really something to this idea? Oh, no, there is. This survey says this, this research says this. Obviously, as health brands, you know, we are very immersed in sort of scientific literature. So if there's any way to back up your pitch with any of that context, that's another sort of surefire win. So I think those are the two things that obviously get my attention the most and the easiest.

Speaker B: Well, speaking of attention, uh, we learned that there are over 800,000 beauty products currently on the US market. So what should these brands be doing on social media to grab your attention?

Speaker A: Yeah, you know, it's, it's interesting because I think social media marketing has, has changed so much. And I was just reading something about sort of showing BTS of your brand. And what the takeaway was is no one really cares about kind of the money, mundane things that are happening, you know, behind the scenes, unless it tells a story. And I think that's what social media is really. It's about telling a story. So I think brands should be thinking of their social media content as storytelling devices. Um, not so much, ah, about selling product. I know that's the end goal, of course. Course that's the end goal. But I think that the way it should be more about brand awareness and brand storytelling, because that's where people are going to most often. As much as I would love to say that most often people are going to hear about your brands from the content that I, and journalists like me produce, really more often the first place that they're going to hear about it is on social media. So you really want your social media to tell a story about what your brand means and think about it the way a journalist thinks about it, which is what is the person consuming this piece of content going to take away from it and bring to their own life? And maybe that is just a beautiful video of a faraway destination that provides a bit of a mental break for them in the middle of their busy day. That's fine. But just think, I would just think of it in that way. What is this piece of Content. What is the takeaway for this piece of content? Because if there is no clear takeaway, it's just noise. It's nothing. And I think people are looking for something, um, when they're scrolling their phone, when they're on their computer, they're looking to learn. And so I think what is the learning? That should be what you ask.

Speaker C: As you know, our podcast is called Hospitality Forward because we focus on the future of our hospitality and travel and wellness and longevity, all of those. So is there a person or organization that you think is taking our industry to the next level?

Speaker A: What I think is so interesting about, uh, travel and hospitality now is, you know, big hotel brands, big hospitality chains. It used to be enough to just have a sort of beautiful, you know, property, a beautiful resort, a beautiful dining experience on property. I think people nowadays, and maybe this is from social media, are looking to really immerse themselves in the culture of a, uh, destination that they're going. And of course you want an incredible hospitality experience. That goes without saying. If you're going to take a vacation, if this is going to be your break from, from your life and your restorative kind of break, you want that. But I do think that the modern traveler, especially the young traveler, is more looking for experiences that immerse themselves in the destination. But one example I'll give you, you know, is, as a brand is, is Sandals, which is an interesting brand. It caters to a very specific audience of all inclusive travelers. And I've, I've visited several of their resort, you know, resorts. And what I find so interesting is I've seen an evolution where they are putting in place programs at their various destinations that immerse their, uh, you know, their travelers in the culture of that destination. And I don't think it's something that you would associate with a brand like Sandals, which, which sort of caters to what you would think is a honeymoon traveler or somebody who's just looking to relax. So I think that's very telling and it goes all the way up to the sort of very high end luxury brands as well. But I think to me that's what excites me about travel. I always love a good hotel. I always love, uh, you know, a good maitre d, a good host, a good concierge. Um, but I also love to leave a place with memories of that place. And I could go to Spain and stay in a beautiful hotel and never experience Spain, but why would I want to do that? So I think to me that's what's interesting. And what I find gratifying about travel.

Speaker B: Couldn't agree more. So, Brian, what's your favorite cocktail and why? And who would you like to share it with?

Speaker A: My favorite cocktail. I think my favorite cocktail is just a, uh, good old fashioned dirty vodka martini. When it hits, it hits. And I also feel just very sort of like old school sort of ordering it. I, um, don't even need the fancy olives. I don't need the blue cheese. I can just do it up with a few olives on a toothpick and I'm good to go. And who I'd love to share one with the two of you. Absolutely. Um, but I also, you know, my forever travel partner, my fiance, uh, Todd, uh, Wolf, who's a makeup artist. Um, he and I have traveled, uh, quite a bit together. We're off to Belize in a few weeks, and we're very excited. It'll be our first time, both of us at Latin America, so we're very excited about that. Um, so he's my forever travel companion and my forever cocktail companion.

Speaker C: So what travel destinations are on your bucket list to visit and why?

Speaker A: So, uh, I would love to visit Vietnam, uh, Thailand and Cambodia. I've never spent, uh, time in any of those countries. I've heard amazing things both about their natural beauty, but also the culture, the food scene. So there in general. Asia in general. I've been to Korea. I've been to China. I've been to Indonesia, but I'd love to spend, uh, more time there. I've always wanted to go on safari in some South Africa, so that is absolutely on my bucket list for sure. And then I think some beautiful destination in the South Pacific, Fiji or Bora Bora. I am, um, you know, for me, you know, a vacation is not a vacation without a beach day or a beach experience. I, I have born and bred on the east coast of the United States. I can. I would never feel comfortable being too far from a beach or a coast. So I think that is the ultimate sort of relaxation for me. And I'm hoping that when Todd and I finally do tie the knot, that our honeymoon will be somewhere in that part of the world.

Speaker B: Sounds very romantic.

Speaker A: Yeah, I think so.

Speaker C: You know, I think for your honeymoon, may we suggest you one destination, please? I think you should travel to Nairobi, Kenya. You can do safari at their national park. National park. They do two different types of safari, daytime and nighttime. And Michael and I have them both, and both are so incredibly memorable. And then you can go to all different types of restaurants and bars. But uh, especially since you to feel that local culture, you go to Tribe Hotel, the Ojiko restaurant in Nairobi.

Speaker A: That sounds ideal to me. And like a bucket list. Bucket list trip for sure.

Speaker C: Yeah. So speaking of travel, what are your uh, travel essentials for a long flight?

Speaker A: Oh, gosh. Uh, so definitely, you know, uh, there have been a of, lot, lot of, you know, Instagram posts about very in depth sort of skincare routines. And I have to say I'm not. I am probably like the one beauty editor who doesn't take a lot of skincare products with me for a long haul flight. I just don't. I like a, uh, mist, I like a nice face mist and I do like some under eye patches. So um, I'm hoping maybe one day Time Savvy will we'll have some specific under eye patches. Uh, let your niece know that that's on my wish list from Time Savvy. But my ultimate travel essential for a long haul flight. Good earplugs and a good sleep mask.

Speaker C: You know what? Honestly? Yeah. Sleep is everything.

Speaker A: It really is. And it makes such a difference in terms of, you know, I am one of those people that likes to hit the ground running when I travel. If I'm going to take some time off to travel, I don't want to waste any of that time. So I like to hit the ground running. And to do that, you really have to have a nice night of sleep behind you. So that's why those are my essentials.

Speaker C: Yeah. Well, thanks so much for sharing and I'm sure, um, MJ M will be listening to this podcast and she will be kicking off something.

Speaker A: If anyone, if anyone can do it, it's mj.

Speaker C: Yes.

Speaker B: Rest assured.

Speaker C: Oh, thank you. Thank you for believing in her. And I know she's going to bring tremendous innovation to K beauty category. So everybody watch MJ Lee.

Speaker A: No doubts there.

Speaker C: Thank you. So, um, Brian, you are so into self care and you know, um, all of these things that make you happy and make us happy. So what are some, um, self care tips that you can share with our listeners? Like a daily Self care tips.

Speaker A: Yeah, you know, it's so interesting. As a beauty editor, I think the question that I get all the time is like, what should I be doing? What should I be using? What should I do to make my skin look as good as it can? And what I, uh, will say is that the very sort of un. Sexy answer to that is consistency. And really it's about using, you know, nice products consistently because anything can, can improve your, your Skin and your hair if you use it enough. And I think it really does, does dovetail a lot into self care because I use my skincare routine as a sort of form of self care. That's like a moment for me. You know, I have a, uh, young daughter and you know, a job. And so things get busy and we all get busy. And so I kind of use that bathroom time as my sort of me time. And that's why I love a nice product. I love the ritual of applying products in a certain order to my skin. I like the way things smell, I like the way things feel because to me it really is, is a moment to take some time for myself. And I think a lot of people can relate to that because, you know, we don't always get a lot of time to ourselves. And so I think, you know, creating a consistent routine that serves you and is doable for you to do every day is the most important thing. For some people that can be mantra meditation. For me it's skincare and I wrote a lot about this at Oprah. How I use my skincare routine as a form of meditation. But just find that thing that you can commit to that's not going to take too much of your time because you want to really be able to do it day in and day out and go for it. And I think it's really about consistency.

Speaker B: That's wonderful advice and you can apply that to so many aspects of life.

Speaker A: Everything.

Speaker B: Right. All right, so now we have a few quick fire questions. We're looking for one word answers on your preferences.

Speaker C: I'll do my best for vacations. Hiking or the beach. The beach for the spa. Cold plunge or massage?

Speaker A: Massage. I love a good massage for flights.

Speaker B: Window seat or aisle?

Speaker A: Absolutely. Window seat. I love to see the plane landing so I can start things off knowing where I'm going to be.

Speaker B: And for restaurant dining, a bar seat or the dining room?

Speaker A: Always the dining room. I do love a bar to sort of need for a drink. But when I'm enjoying a meal, I like to be comfortable in a dining room.

Speaker C: Well, let's meet at dining room and

Speaker A: have a meal together at a dirty Martini. Exactly.

Speaker B: Of course. Yes, yes.

Speaker C: So Brian, thank you so much. So much. So before you go, what is the best way for our listeners to reach you?

Speaker A: Yeah, so the best way to reach me for pitches and anything else is my email address which is be Underwood. Just as it sounds. Underwood. Bunderwooderst. And that's H E A R S as in samt.

Speaker B: Com.

Speaker C: But would you like to share your Instagram handle as well.

Speaker A: Uh, you could also follow me on Instagram. I'm the Brian Underwood.

Speaker B: Well, Brian, thank you so much for taking the time to chat with us.

Speaker C: We hope to see you very soon.

Speaker A: It's been my pleasure. Thank you both so much for having me.

Speaker C: Yes. Bye bye.

Speaker B: Bye. Now, that was a truly worldly chat with Brian. Now that you know what Brian is looking for, please feel free to reach out to him and introduce yourself. And don't forget to mention that that you heard him on our Hospitality Forward podcast. And be sure to subscribe and review us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio or wherever you get your favorite shows. Also, for all media guests to date, you can find their information and episodes at our agency's website, www.annaleecommunications.com.

Speaker C: stay tuned for our next episode until event. Join us as we move Hospitality Forward together.