Beauty How Skin Care Brand Founder Indie Lee Infuses Clean, Eco-Conscious Luxury Into Her Everyday Life The entrepreneur and on-the-go mom loves elevated essentials and earth-friendly labels that go the distance. By Melissa Ozawa Melissa Ozawa Instagram Website Melissa Ozawa is the features editor at Martha Stewart Living. Editorial Guidelines Published on March 11, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Courtesy of The Detox Market "I'll find a silver lining in anything," says Indie Lee, and she means anything. In 2008, Lee was diagnosed with a brain tumor and given six months to live. When her doctor told her the cause could be environmental and asked what products she used on her skin, she was floored. "I was so careful about what I was putting into my body; I didn't think about what I was putting on it," recalls the former CPA. Indie's Top Picks Indie Lee Daily Vitamin Infusion SodaStream Terra Sparkling-Water Maker Suntegrity Impeccable Skin Sunscreen Foundation SPF 30 Waterman Hemisphere Fountain Pen Londontown Lakur Nail Polish in Invisible Crown After successful surgery, Lee consulted experts and set out to make safer skin-care goods: "I started formulating like mad in my kitchen." Now she produces it all in a lab, and works with COSMOS, a global third-party certification, to vet formulas and stay true to her mission: educating and empowering people while making cleansers, serums, and creams free of potentially harmful ingredients—more than 1,300 of them, in fact. "But self-care is more than goop in a jar," the energetic mom adds. She starts every day with a good-morning text to her BFF ("we've done this without fail since my diagnosis"), a walk with her two dogs ("I spend time outside daily; it's grounding"), and meditation; then she heads to work with passion and purpose. "Before my surgery, I was just a passenger in my life," she says. "Afterward, I stepped into my superpower." These Super-Soothing Botanicals Are the Secret to Supple Skin—Whatever the Weather 01 of 21 Nourishing Serum Courtesy of Indie Lee "This serum is protective and nourishing." Shop Now: Indie Lee Daily Vitamin Infusion, $67, ulta.com. 02 of 21 Cashmere Sweater Courtesy of Warren "A timeless, durable investment." Shop Now: White + Warren Recycled-Cashmere Ribbed Crewneck, $345, whiteandwarren.com. 03 of 21 Sparkling Water Machine Courtesy of SodaStream "A cinch to use, and eco." Shop Now: SodaStream Terra Sparkling-Water Maker, $79, amazon.com. 04 of 21 Gentle Sunscreen Courtesy of Suntegrity Skincare "The only tinted SPF that doesn't irritate my skin." Shop Now: Suntegrity Impeccable Skin Sunscreen Foundation SPF 30, $55, nordstrom.com. 05 of 21 Floral Dinner Plates Courtesy of Portmeirion "Each one features a different flower." Shop Now: Portmeirion Botanic Garden Dinner Plates, $154.99 for six, macys.com. 06 of 21 Eye Cream Courtesy of Indie Lee "I don't apologize for my lines, but I don't want tons more. This helps moisturize that area." Shop Now: Indie Lee Restorative Eye Cream, $68, dermstore.com. 07 of 21 Fountain Pen Courtesy of Jetpens "There's a romance to writing with it." Shop Now: Waterman Hemisphere Fountain Pen, $77, amazon.com. 08 of 21 Leather Backpack Courtesy of Cuyana "It's comfy to carry, and holds lots." Shop Now: Cuyana Leather Backpack, $448, cuyana.com. 09 of 21 The Alchemist Courtesy of Book Shop "I reread it annually and always learn something new." Shop Now: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho, $14.95, amazon.com. 10 of 21 Cleaning Products Courtesy of Branch Basics "It's multipurpose and safe for cleaning my whole house." Shop Now: Branch Basics The Concentrate, $49, branchbasics.com. 11 of 21 Field Blanket Courtesy of Alicia Adams Alpaca "The colors are so me, and it's soft and sustainable." Shop Now: Alicia Adams Alpaca Field Blanket, $495, aliciaadamsalpaca.com. 12 of 21 Nespresso NATALIA KLENOVA/EYEEM/GETTY IMAGES "I drink a cup of decaf with homemade almond milk." Shop Now: Nespresso Evoluo, $209, nespresso.com. 13 of 21 Lip Balm Courtesy of Credo Beauty "So freaking hydrating!" Shop Now: Taos Aer Organic Lip Balm, $16, credobeauty.com. 14 of 21 Water Bottle Courtesy of Larq "It has a UV light in the cap, which cleans it." Shop Now: Larq Bottle PureVis, $95, livelarq.com. 15 of 21 Chucks Courtesy of Nordstrom "Easy to pack, easy to wash, and they go with anything." Shop Now: Converse Chuck Taylor All- Star Low-Tops, $55, nordstrom.com. 16 of 21 Peonies SANJA BALJKAS/GETTY IMAGES "My favorite flower: I love a pop of fuchsia." 17 of 21 Neutral Nail Polish Courtesy of Londontown "It's my go-to neutral." Shop Now: Londontown Lakur Nail Polish in Invisible Crown, $16, neimanmarcus.com. 18 of 21 Go-To Album Courtesy of BN "There isn't a song on it that isn't great." Shop Now: Tapestry by Carole King, $7, amazon.com. 19 of 21 Red Lipstick Courtesy of Vapour Beauty "I love a red lip. This is clean and stays on." Shop Now: Vapour High Voltage Lipstick in Primal, $30, credobeauty.com. 20 of 21 Horseradish Mustard Courtesy of Stonewall Kitchen "It has a great zing." Shop Now: Stonewall Kitchen Horseradish Mustard, $6.50, stonewallkitchen.com. 21 of 21 Her Ride Courtesy of Mercedes-Benz "It's a smooth ride, and so comfortable." Shop Now: Mercedes-Benz GLC 300, price upon request, mbusa.com. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! 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