FRAN

Good Morning, an interview with Fran

When I think of Fran, I think of the quintessential cool girl. And when I say this, I do not mean it because of who she hangs out with or what clothing she wears. That would be too easy. I mean it in how she carries herself. With ease, effortless and nonchalance. I mean it in how she knows exactly what she wants. And if she can’t find it, she makes it.

What Fran wanted in a skincare label was something pure. Unadulterated. Unladen with chemicals and parabens. Just some honest skincare that wouldn’t make her sensitive skin react. As you can imagine, it was difficult to find such products. She started researching and mixing her own oil blends for personal use. First for her skin, then for her hair, then for her body. It wasn’t long before her friends began to take interest and request their own personalized blends. Somewhere in the midst she decided to launch her own label.

Fran is the founder and woman behind F. Miller Skincare. A holistic line of botanical skincare that heals, rejuvenates, restores, nourishes and balances all skin types. Her ingredients are consciously sourced, cruelty free and her products remind us that what we put on our body should be as pure as the body itself.

Give her interview a read. She is incredible. And so is her commitment to natural, high quality ingredients. A personal favourite- the Hair Oil.

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A note on cosmetic chemicals: Most conventional make-up and skincare has synthetic fragrances, colouring, BHA and BHT, coal tar dyes, preservatives, parabens, formaldehyde-releasing agents, the list goes on. Many of these toxic chemicals are known carcinogens, not to mention the pesticides, reproductive toxins and hormone disrupting actions. If you don’t already have it, I recommend downloading the app ‘Think Dirty‘ to scan the barcode of your cosmetics and personal care products while you shop to help you make more informed decisions about what you’re putting on your body.

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Who are you right now?

A work in progress. Comfortable in my own skin and continuously figuring out how to be my best self. 

What is your favourite quality in yourself?

My compassion for others. Sense of humour in every situation.

Do you have any morning rituals? What’s the first thing you do when you rise?

Warm water with lemon and turmeric. I usually pour it into a travel mug and take the dog out for a walk first thing. Then I come back and have a matcha latte while checking emails or planning out the day. 

Does the quality of your morning set the tone for the rest of your day? 

Definitely. I’m lucky that my mornings aren’t as rushed as they used to be so I take that time to really plan out my day/week and ensure I’m as productive as I can be. When I don’t get that moment of reflection in the morning I end up less motivated throughout the day. 

 What are you reading right now?

Chelsea Girls by Eileen Myles, Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert. 

Let’s talk food. What does a typical breakfast look like?

I’ll usually make some sort of green smoothie with almond butter or a chia bowl with berries and toasted coconut. If I’m extra hungry I’ll have avocado, sautéed greens and an egg or smoked salmon on top of gluten free toast. 

Describe your relationship to food. Do your emotions affect what or how you eat?

I’ve always been passionate about food and cooking and have never really held back from eating the foods I love. Food has always been comforting and I crave different things depending on my mood, what I’m doing that day or the weather. I definitely notice the effects of certain things (like sugar and dairy) on my energy levels and skin so I mainly cook with tons of fresh produce and high quality proteins. That being said, I believe in balance and everything in moderation. I have a serious sweet tooth and I love going out for nice meals so I don’t deprive myself of those things either. Sometimes you just want pizza and chocolate. 

 Tell us about your botanical skincare line, f. miller skincare! How did it begin? 

It’s simple but F. Miller was born out of the fact that I just wasn’t happy with most of the skincare products I was using. I have sensitive skin that is incredibly dry, red and oily all at the same time so there was also the added confusion of determining which products were right for my skin type. Nothing ever really felt like it was working until I started using botanical oils to cleanse and moisturize. Results came pretty instantly and after a couple years of using different face and body oils, I still preferred my own blends to the existing products I had tried. I unexpectedly ended up in a place where I was really passionate about what I’d been working on and so I decided to make it happen.

What are your beauty rituals? Any favourite products you can’t live without?

I oil cleanse every night (F. Miller oil cleanser coming soon!) It takes a few extra minutes but is completely worth it. Toning Mist and Face Oil go on right after, morning and night. I’m a bit obsessive when it comes to moisturizing and I always focus on the areas that tend to age first – knees, chest, neck, hands. In the colder, dryer months I’ll add a dropper-full of Body Oil right into the bath.

I love a face mask – Aztec Secret is my favourite, it’s pure Bentonite Clay that you mix with apple cider vinegar and I do it once a week. It’s pretty intense and pulls all the bad out of your skin after 15 minutes. I make tea and sit in the bath until I can’t move my face anymore.

Cle de Peau concealer and RMS Beauty Living Luminizer are my daily go-to’s for concealing and highlighting. I like a glowy look and they blend really well on top of the Face Oil. I have an F. Miller Lip Balm in every bag but Heat Wave by Nars is my favourite lip colour and is always on standby if I have somewhere special to be. 

How do you take care of your mind, body and spirit?

I try to read or draw every night before bed, it slows everything down and I look forward to that bit of time instead of falling asleep watching tv. Pilates makes my body feel the strongest and gives me so much more energy when I do it regularly and I’ll occasionally indulge in a massage or water circuit when I’m feeling run-down. I make a solid effort to surround myself with positive, inspiring people – it helps maintain perspective and keeps me motivated. 

Do you take time to consciously unplug from social media? If so how.

Although I enjoy and value the importance of social media, I’m not really someone who is consumed by it so it’s easy to put my phone away while eating a meal or going for a walk and forget about it for an hour or two. I just try my best to be as present as I can in any situation.

Describe mornings with one word.

Peaceful.