Based on the beautiful island of O’ahu, Hawaii, lifestyle-beauty YouTuber Ava Jules is on a mission to bring some “positive vibes and relatable girl advice” within the seriously gigantic digital empire she’s created. (Quick math breakdown: She has 1.3 million subscribers and 100 million views on her channel.) Besides delivering some fashion, beauty, self-care, yoga, and island adventures, Jules has a passion for promoting a strong message of “body positivity, self-confidence, and feeling both good and grateful in your own skin,” and—our personal healthy-skin favorite—she also has a solid knack for finding some solid sun protection.
You are very into beauty and skin care. Any local favorites you swear by?
My favorite local skin-care product happens to be free! Sounds too good to be true, but one of my “beauty secrets” consists of exfoliating my legs with sand at the beach, and soaking up bits of vitamin D. When I was little, I always used to play around at the beach and say I was doing “spa day.”
You are also, by default, in the sun a ton since you live in Hawaii. Any favorite sun protection?
Oh boy, I can talk about SPF all day. Most importantly, before I tell you my faves, I think it’s important to make sure your sunscreens are reef-safe and that ou avoid ingredients that are harmful to the ocean (oxybenzone, octinoxate, octocrylene, homosalate)! I am completely obsessed with the SuperGoop Matte Screen because it leaves no white cast and it feels super light on my skin. Another favorite is SunBum’s mineral sunscreen line. In addition to using SPF, I have been loving super big, colorful hats because they’re a cute fashion statement and further protect my skin from the blazing sun here.
You’re very into the message of body positivity. Why is it so important to you to use your social platform for sharing that message?
As someone who went through issues with loving my body and accepting how I look, I feel a strong pull to share my message and help others who may feel the same way. At some point or another, most people go through body-confidence problems and I think it’s important to spread a good message and let people know they’re not alone. I’m really lucky to have grown the platform that I have, and I want to do more than just post pretty pictures of myself—I want to spread a positive message. My viewers are like close friends to me, so if I can help them in any way, I will.
What is “self-care” to you?
Self-care looks different, depending on what I need. Some days, self-care means a solo trip to the beach with a good book and my favorite food. Other days, it could mean doing pamper things like a face mask, taking a long shower, and watching my favorite show. I think every day should have a little self-care sprinkled in there, because we deserve it.
How has your wellness routine changed this past year with COVID?
Now more than ever, I prioritize my mental health and physical health over everything. It’s very easy to get wrapped up in the daily swing of things and, in return, neglect to take care of yourself. Over quarantine, I had so much time to realize that the power to take care of myself is in my own hands, so I really got into a good wellness routine. Getting your body moving and fueling your body with good foods makes such a big difference, and I’ve never felt better!
