Annya Santana, who grew up in the Bronx and was born in the Dominican Republic, bought a one way ticket to Paris 4 years ago after heartbreak and started her clean beauty line Menos Mas (which means Less is More). Before finding herself in Paris, we talk about her experience growing up in NY and working in the early days of streetwear after finding herself in fashion PR. She explains that Paris is surprisingly afro-centric and we discuss the benefits of letting the day unfold — the Parisian way. We get into the moment the Bronx seems to be having (from Cardi B, to the Bodega Boys) and how people of color are now taking ownership for their contributions to culture.

Annya is majorly into health and fitness — an awakening that happened over time. She tells me about how she changed her entire approach to eating (first to clear her skin) but then realized how much better she felt after eating clean. In addition to fixing her skin issues, her cleanse eased the pain of menstrual cramps. We also get into: running the NY Marathon, wellness for free, creating her dual-gender, all-natural skincare, her Mom’s DIY remedies inspiring her, making hand cream for her Dad, acne scarring, changing your face via FaceTune, stretch marks, moisturizing as meditation, hormones, acupuncture, Dominican salons and embracing her natural hair texture, the body pos movement and its implications & much more!

Products/Things Mentioned:

Annya’s amazing line Menos Mas: https://www.menos-mas.com/

The China Project — the book that opened Annya’s eyes to the dangers of processed foods:https://nutritionstudies.org/the-china-study/

Superfood Probiotic Powders - she put a scoop of this in her water every day & treated her acne in a month

https://www.orgain.com/protein/organic-nutrition-powder/Organic-Superfoods-Powder.html

Vitamin E oil - also used to naturally heal her acne

Pink Cream from Dr. Jart Annya uses as Essence

https://www.sephora.com/brand/dr-jart

My essence from Tatcha - I actually really like this product

https://www.sephora.com/product/the-essence-plumping-skin-softener-P415771?icid2=products%20grid:p415771:product

Royal Jelly Menos Mas for scarring

https://www.menos-mas.com/shop/honey-royal-jelly-miracle-body-butter

Learn more about microblading:

https://www.elle.com/uk/beauty/a31566/microblading-eyebrows/

Where I got my Miicroblading done in NY (highly recommend):

http://nylasheyeland.com/

Bantu Knot Out how I sleep with my natural hair

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ulqtwgglHc8

Pineapple Method how Annya sleeps with her natural hair

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS_qO6zMgu8

Ashley Graham Weight Loss Backlash

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