The Cut

February 23,2021

How This Boutique Owner Gets Her Skin So Good

bottle of MUTHA Body Oil

The Cut

February 23,2021

How This Boutique Owner Gets Her Skin So Good

bottle of MUTHA Body Oil
Telsha Anderson is the founder, owner, and buyer behind t.a. New York, which opened this past year. In an era when cool, fashion-forward boutiques have been closing across the city, t.a. offers a counterexample: a brand-new Meatpacking District boutique with brands like Barragán, Rosie Assoulin, and William Okpo. It could feel like a throwback, but it doesn’t because Anderson’s taste is so modern and wide-ranging.
Her approach to skin care is equally eclectic. Ask about her routine, and she’ll tell you about the many different, smaller routines she relies on throughout the day. There’s her “get out of the door” and “take your a$$ to bed” routines, both two-step plans devised to pamper herself as quickly as possible. Then there’s her “treat yourself” and weekend routines, designed for those moments when she has more time on her hands and can sneak in additional steps like decadent body oils and face masks.
Anderson says she spent years cycling through different skin-care phases. “I dove heavily into the ‘wash-and-go’ phase (when I used Cetaphil and nothing else), the ‘I’ll use whatever my friend is using’ phase (which forced me to run through Neutrogena makeup-wipe packs weekly), and the ‘This is cheapest’ phase,” she says. “I think phases are important simply because they build an understanding of what doesn’t work.” She has finally arrived at the point where she knows how to take care of her sensitive skin, which skews dry during the winter and oily during the summer. With a wedding ahead of her — she got engaged in December — she says she plans to double down on the products she already loves.
Her biggest struggle these days is being mindful of her diet. “I love ginger ale and other fast-food options, so wherever I indulge and give in to whatever craving I’m having that week, a blemish will find its way to my skin,” she explains. “The biggest learning curve was honestly the importance of incorporating fruit, vegetables, and water into my lifestyle because it truly does help balance your skin and replenishes it from the inside out.”
Below, a look at the products she loves, including the $5 body lotion that has helped with her stretch marks, the tool she learned to use from Tracee Ellis Ross, and the spot treatment that hasn’t failed her since she was 18.
Telsha Anderson is the founder, owner, and buyer behind t.a. New York, which opened this past year. In an era when cool, fashion-forward boutiques have been closing across the city, t.a. offers a counterexample: a brand-new Meatpacking District boutique with brands like Barragán, Rosie Assoulin, and William Okpo. It could feel like a throwback, but it doesn’t because Anderson’s taste is so modern and wide-ranging.
Her approach to skin care is equally eclectic. Ask about her routine, and she’ll tell you about the many different, smaller routines she relies on throughout the day. There’s her “get out of the door” and “take your a$$ to bed” routines, both two-step plans devised to pamper herself as quickly as possible. Then there’s her “treat yourself” and weekend routines, designed for those moments when she has more time on her hands and can sneak in additional steps like decadent body oils and face masks.
Anderson says she spent years cycling through different skin-care phases. “I dove heavily into the ‘wash-and-go’ phase (when I used Cetaphil and nothing else), the ‘I’ll use whatever my friend is using’ phase (which forced me to run through Neutrogena makeup-wipe packs weekly), and the ‘This is cheapest’ phase,” she says. “I think phases are important simply because they build an understanding of what doesn’t work.” She has finally arrived at the point where she knows how to take care of her sensitive skin, which skews dry during the winter and oily during the summer. With a wedding ahead of her — she got engaged in December — she says she plans to double down on the products she already loves.
Her biggest struggle these days is being mindful of her diet. “I love ginger ale and other fast-food options, so wherever I indulge and give in to whatever craving I’m having that week, a blemish will find its way to my skin,” she explains. “The biggest learning curve was honestly the importance of incorporating fruit, vegetables, and water into my lifestyle because it truly does help balance your skin and replenishes it from the inside out.”
Below, a look at the products she loves, including the $5 body lotion that has helped with her stretch marks, the tool she learned to use from Tracee Ellis Ross, and the spot treatment that hasn’t failed her since she was 18.

Mutha Body Oil

“After the shower, I’ll use either the Cowshed Replenish Bath & Body Oil and/or my new favorite, MUTHA Body Oil. It was gifted to me a month or two ago, and I haven’t been able to put it down. My favorite thing about the body oil is its consistency and texture. Luckily, it’s also hypoallergenic and suitable for sensitive skin, which, to me, is worth every penny. MUTHA Body Oil is packed with essential vitamins and 100 percent botanical seed oils, and there’s nothing better than throwing on a fresh layer of body oil after a long day and a good shower.”
bottle of MUTHA Body Oil on vanity next to other cosmetic bottles
bottle of MUTHA Body Oil on vanity next to other cosmetic bottles

Mutha Body Oil

“After the shower, I’ll use either the Cowshed Replenish Bath & Body Oil and/or my new favorite, MUTHA Body Oil. It was gifted to me a month or two ago, and I haven’t been able to put it down. My favorite thing about the body oil is its consistency and texture. Luckily, it’s also hypoallergenic and suitable for sensitive skin, which, to me, is worth every penny. MUTHA Body Oil is packed with essential vitamins and 100 percent botanical seed oils, and there’s nothing better than throwing on a fresh layer of body oil after a long day and a good shower.”