Beauty Essentials, Healthy Habits, And The Perfect Pajamas: 24 Hours With Michala Chatel
The Managing Partner at private villa and resort company, Ultima Collection is focused on creating memorable family moments for all
5:30 AM I’m an early riser for sure! You truly get more out of the day once you wake up early. I do have a 20-month-old daughter Victoire, so I also don’t have much of a choice in the matter. The first thing I do is drink water. I get up and immediately brush my teeth, this helps my body adjust to waking up and starting the morning. To get energised I like to listen to two songs back to back. The first one is Better by Khalid, and the second is Lovely Day by Bill Withers. I spent six months in Dubai to activate the Middle Eastern market, and that’s when I found those two songs and they instantly became part of my daily morning routine. My bedroom is my sanctuary, I love to keep it clean, tidy, and peaceful.
At 6:00 AM I check my phone and emails quickly, then I jump in the shower for 15 – 20 minutes, depending on if it’s a hair wash day. For shampoo and conditioner, I use either Kérastase or Redken products and I use Karmameju’s salt body scrub – it’s a Danish brand that I absolutely love for my body care. In terms of skincare, I enjoy using 27 Rosiers, a clean French skincare brand – I use their Deep Cleansing Gel on a daily basis, along with the Ready, Selfie, Go fresh face instant mask, which I use once a week to refresh my skin after a long week. But my favourite one would be the Clarins Double Serum, it’s a great product to maintain the freshness of your skin without having to get regular facials done. I also have a sentimental connection to the product as I was part of the team that launched it back when I worked with Clarins.
As far as what I am going to wear goes, I usually like to decide the night before. I do have quite a classic work wardrobe, which allows for plenty of mix and match opportunities. I usually base my outfits on how many in-person meetings I have that day, as I usually dress up a bit more for those. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley is a big fashion inspiration for me, as she has quite a versatile wardrobe that can easy go from office to drinks by adding or removing certain items – for example, adding a blazer or leather jacket to a simpler outfit, or swapping heels with sneakers for a more casual and comfortable look.
I love the brands Bash, Gestuz, Zadig & Voltaire and Sandro for both the style and the price range. I always want to make an outfit more accessories – whether adding some necklaces, earrings, rings, or even a fabulous scarf. Also, sunglasses are key! I love Gucci sunglasses; their pairs complement my face shape very well. I usually have different bags for each season. For example, during the summer I use the Stella McCartney chain bags – I have them in different sizes and colours and it is a lighter look for my summer wardrobe.
My daughter, my husband Philippe and I all leave the house together at 7:25AM and I arrive at the office at just before 8. I bring my own breakfast with me to work, and I have green celery juice on most mornings with my breakfast too. I like to come in at least 10 minutes early as I open the office for everyone. I plug in my computer, get an idea of what’s coming in and what the day is looking like, and then make my second cup of coffee that I have with my breakfast.
My day is packed with many calls and meetings as a big part of our team is based in Geneva. Around 2-3 times a week, I do like to go for a run during my lunch break at around 12:30 PM to get some fresh air and get my workout in for the day. We’re around 14 people in the London office so it’s important to be a team player. I can be both laid back and very talkative, but I can also be very focused and driven to get the job done. I also like to set an example for my team. I really love our brand and its offering, and this is what drives my passion for my work. I believe in the properties which is why I love my position in marketing and sales.
I aim to leave the office at 6:00 PM to get home and spend some time with my daughter before she goes to bed; however, my workday never ends there. But my favourite thing to do is be at home, cooking, having a glass of wine, maybe watching an episode of my favourite shows to completely unwind. Friends is a go-to show for me. It’s easy to follow and doesn’t consume my energy – I can get a million things done while it plays in the background. I also love documentaries, everything to do with the ocean and whales, and David Attenborough.
I start my bedtime routine at around 9:30PM, taking off my make-up and washing my face, also taking a shower and then I head to bed at around 10:00PM. I always sleep in Sleepwalker pyjamas! We’ve also partnered with them at Ultima Collection. They have high quality silk pieces that are made in Italy and they really enhance your quality of sleep. Honestly, I do tend to fall asleep quite quickly once I put them on.
From Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s December 2022 issue