The Zoe Report

Jessica DeFino

Bio

Jessica DeFino is a beauty writer for The Zoe Report, covering skincare — especially that of the natural/clean/green variety — hair care, makeup, nails, and more. She’s never met a beauty supplement she didn’t like. As a freelance writer, she’s done a little bit of everything, from songwriting to ghostwriting Khloé Kardashian's sex column to editing a book on ancient symbology and copywriting for fashion labels. (Yup, everything.) But these days, she prefers to stick to her true loves: natural skincare and holistic health, with a dash of woo-woo wellness. Jessica’s work can be found on Vogue, Harper's BAZAAR, Fashionista, Cosmopolitan, HelloGiggles, New York Magazine's The Cut, and more. (See? Her Songwriting degree from the Berklee College of Music *totally* came in handy, Dad!) Jessica lives in Savannah, GA. You can get in touch with her at jessicalyarbrough.com, or on Instagram @jessicalyarbrough_.

Why You're About To See Uoma Beauty Everywhere Very Soon

Sharon Chuter is tired of the industry's favorite buzzword: inclusivity. “Brands just think, ‘If I make a foundation range, I’m being inclusive,’” she tells The Zoe Report. “But it goes beyond that.” Which is precisely what prompted the 32-year-old…
By Jessica DeFino

This "Ugly" Haircut From 1985 Is Cool Again — & We’re Into It

Had you asked me as a kid in the early ’90s, I would have sworn the world would look like a sci-fi film by the year 2020: robots, flying cars, sleek silver uniforms. In actuality, 2020 looks a lot like… well, the past. Fashion lovers are wearing…
By Blake Newby and Jessica DeFino

No, CBD Beauty Isn’t Going Anywhere This Spring – & Here's The Proof

If you’re curious about what to add to your wardrobe for the new season, you only have to look to the street style snaps and runway shows from Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2020 for inspiration. But since there's not a Fashion Week equivalent for…
By Jessica DeFino

*This* Is The Difference Between Physical & Chemical Sunscreen

Let’s be honest: Even though you’re supposed to wear SPF year-round, you’re probably more diligent about it in the spring and summer when you can actually see the sun. Which means right now, you’re likely in the market for a new seasonal sunscreen…
By Jessica DeFino

Nutrafol Ads Are Everywhere — So Here’s What You Should Know About The Supplement

Anyone with hair and an Instagram account has likely come across an ad for Nutrafol, a natural hair growth supplement. The images are impressive: influencers flaunting long, shiny strands; before photos with bald spots and after photos with none.…
By Jessica DeFino

If Your Natural Deodorant Doesn't Work, You Need To Read This

Do you stink? Like, just a little, tiny bit? It’s OK, this is a safe space, you can admit it: You stink. I stink, too. It’s just part of being a human. Specifically, it’s part of being a human who recently switched from traditional deodorant to the…
By Jessica DeFino

The $36 Brow Oil That Grows My Sparse Hairs & Heals My Skin

There’s no easy way to explain this, so I’ll get right to it: My brows are nearly bald because I pick them out, hair by hair, when I’m stressed. It’s a condition called trichotillomania, or trich, a body-focused repetitive behavior disorder (BFRB)…
By Jessica DeFino

Why You Won't Just See Basic Braids On Natural Hair Models At This Season's Shows

Oribe Global Ambassador and high-fashion hairstylist James Pecis might just be the nicest guy in the industry. Despite a long, celebrated career styling backstage at Fashion Week, working on shoots for W Magazine and Vogue (all of the Vogues —…
By Jessica DeFino

6 New Models That You Won’t Stop Seeing This Season

Fashion Month, to state the obvious, is about fashion. It’s about innovation. It’s about spotting new trends, and swooning over street style inspiration, and celebrating creativity. But — let’s be honest — it’s also about discovering the new models…
By Jessica DeFino

The Secret Problem With Shimmery Eyeshadows, Glosses & Other Beauty Essentials Is This

There’s one beauty secret that’s managed to stay a secret for decades, and it’s not the key to the perfect winged liner or a trick for crease-free foundation. It’s the fact that much of the mica in cosmetics — you know, the natural substance that…
By Jessica DeFino

Why Hairstylist Eugene Souleiman Doesn't Do Anything Minimal: "I Work With Geniuses"

You’ll find almost every look imaginable in legendary hairstylist Eugene Souleiman’s portfolio: fishtail braids (he basically reinvented them), sculptural accents (see: the caged updos at Thom Browne last season), even a crimped bowl cut. The one…
By Jessica DeFino

OK, This Is The Deal With Detox Powders

What do you think when you hear the word “detox”? Maybe you think, “Ugh.” Or, “What a bunch of marketing B.S.” When Goop released its G.Tox Detoxifying Superpowder earlier this month, I knew there would be naysayers (as is the case with all things…
By Jessica DeFino

The Secret To Looking Well-Rested Is Actually Pretty Obvious

A few months ago, an ad appeared in my Facebook feed promoting one new glow-giving, skin-brightening beauty product or another. “Because who doesn't want to look like they sleep seven hours a night?" it read. This struck me as strange. I mean, if…
By Jessica DeFino

Taking Prenatal Vitamins For Hair Growth Is Maybe Not Such A Good Idea After All

A friend recently recounted a very funny story about prenatal vitamins. She — a not-pregnant 30-something — bought a bottle for the purported hair, skin, and nail benefits and left said bottle out on her kitchen counter, where her partner later…
By Jessica DeFino

I Stopped Using Shampoo — & My Hair Changed For The Better

I wish I could say that my chronically flaky scalp is my secret shame — but sadly, it’s not much of a secret. With dark brunette roots as its backdrop, my dandruff shines; set against an all-black wardrobe, the flakes positively pop. Well, make that…
By Jessica DeFino

Here's What's *Actually* In Those Trendy Pimple Patches

What the heck is hydrocolloid, and are pimple patch ingredients “clean”? These are the questions that keep me, a woman who theoretically has much better things to think about, up at night. For those not in the know, pimple patches are those trendy…
By Jessica DeFino

5 DIY Beauty Oils To Integrate In Your Routine, From Head To Toe

For decades, “cool girls” everywhere have mixed their own signature scents from a secret blend of essential oils… or something like that. You know the trope. French fashion editor Carine Roitfeld famously wore an orange blossom fragrance she…
By Jessica DeFino

This Acne Spot Treatment Actually Works — And Won’t Stain Your Pillowcase

When it comes to switching over to an all-natural, irritant-free skincare routine, some swaps are easier than others. Face oil? So many plant-based products to choose from. Cleanser? I'm good with rose water Manuka honey, thanks. Natural spot…
By Jessica DeFino

I Tried Overtone On My Hair For The First Time & I Have Thoughts: Review

Like all good stories, the tale of my Overtone conditioner review begins in a precarious situation. Well, my hair was in a precarious situation. And by that I mean, I put my hair in a precarious situation. Against all professional advice, I decided…
By Jessica DeFino

How A Reflexology Foot Massage Released My Tension From Head To Toe

I don't love my feet. They're big, with proportionally big, wide toes. I’m barefoot a lot, so they’re calloused and sometimes dirty. I even gave up nail polish in an effort to lower my body's chemical burden, so I can’t hide my not-very-nice-looking…
By Jessica DeFino