Phoebe Wolfe's off-label lip treatment hack has converted countless friends
The writer and director on the merits of bare skin, good posture and a rich lip balm
Welcome back to The Vanity’s On Reflection series, where we delve into the beauty routines and daily rhythms of cool, stylish people. After a brief health-related hiatus (sounds far more dramatic than it is, I promise), I’m so excited to be back and bringing you our latest instalment with the incredible Phoebe Wolfe.
I met Phoebe in my own house, actually. A friend had asked to use my tiny one-bedroom terrace in Newtown for a shoot, and I had agreed with absolutely zero consideration for the fact that she’d probably prefer it to be clean. Phoebe arrived exactly on time and thankfully, she was unfazed as I chaotically moved my mess around the house while simultaneously wrapping up a work call.
Beyond the fact that Phoebe was so gracious and sweet, I immediately appreciated her relaxed air (and the leather jacket she was wearing, which I immediately demanded an ID for). I had encountered her work a lot, particularly around the recent ELLE relaunch we’d both worked on, including the short film that she had written and directed – a reprisal of Hitchcock’s ‘The Birds’ – with cover star Sophie Wilde.
Outside of my former house, Phoebe is a rapidly rising star in the Australian film industry. Her debut short film The Overthrow premiered internationally at the HollyShorts Film Festival in Los Angeles and won Best Drama Film at the Australian Women’s Film Festival. She’s also a highly sought-after creative collaborator for clients such as CHANEL, Celine, MECCA, Rabbane and Oroton, to name but a few.
There is something so inherently romantic, affecting and feminine embedded within the frames of Phoebe’s creative work, so I was curious to see how this perspective translated to her daily life beyond the lens. She is also in one of the most exciting periods of her career thus far, with a new short film currently in final stages that will act as the framework for her first full-length feature.
From an antiseptic cream that doubles as an intensive lip treatment, to the CHANEL scent she’s worn since age 12 and her daily ritual for “combing out mental knots” before bed, here’s the brilliant Phoebe.
KL x
The Vanity On Reflection Questionnaire: Phoebe Wolfe
My name is…
Phoebe Wolfe
I live in…
Surry Hills, Sydney
I work in…
Film and Fashion
As a…
Director
Which means my days look like…
Every day tends to look a little different! Since signing with The Artist Group last year my workload has reached a whole new level. I’m spending much more time on set – thanks to my legendary agent, Kate Sullivan – directing and shooting fashion films for brands and magazines like CHANEL and ELLE Australia. On other days, I work from home, creating treatments for upcoming shoots and editing deliverables.
When I’m not immersed in fashion, I’m focused on my debut feature film, ‘Purity’. Recently, I completed my first development lab with Australians in Film LA and Screen Australia where I was paired with a mentor and script editor to refine the project to a pitchable level. The proof-of-concept short film is set to premiere soon, which is exciting, before embarking on the festival circuit.
It’s wonderfully unpredictable and I wouldn’t have it any other way!
The best thing about my job is…
My favourite days are when I’m on set with my friends making things up.
Growing up, I felt beauty was…
I was raised with three younger sisters and a mother who didn’t want us to wear makeup. Growing up in the age of Instagram, I feel really fortunate to have been encouraged to express my femininity through literature and art as opposed to my appearance. That being said, I still vividly remember moments like shaving my legs and feeling, for the first time, like a “woman”. There are many beauty practices I learned as a teenager and still enjoy today, even though I recognise them as part of internalised patriarchal culture.
Now my beauty philosophy is…
I believe natural beauty is timeless, so my philosophy centres on simplicity: bare skin, good posture, and a rich lip balm. There’s also an Audrey Hepburn quote about seeing the good in others for beautiful eyes, that’s always stayed with me.
My daily non-negotiable for creating a positive headspace is…
A glass of water. And lots more throughout the day.
I like to start the day by…
Drinking a glass of water. And lots more throughout the day.
My movement or workout of choice is…
I think walking is a hugely underrated form of exercise. I’m lucky to live in a walkable suburb, so even during a busy week, I know I’m still moving my body in some way. When I’m feeling particularly anxious, I find that yoga has the greatest impact on both my body and mind.
The most impactful daily action I’ve taken to cultivate a positive mindset is…
I’ve noticed that complimenting a friend or stranger really does improve my mood, so I make a conscious effort to do so.
On days where I’m feeling stressed, overwhelmed or just generally sh*t, I feel better by…
Having a shower. The water is symbolic!
My current AM skincare routine is…
I love washing my face in the morning with Cetaphil and digging my knuckles into my jaw and temples. Recently, I’ve added a niacinamide serum to calm any redness, which has made a real difference. On days when I want an extra glow, I mix a touch of the Drunk Elephant D-Bronzi Drops into my moisturiser and always finish with SPF 50+.
My relationship with my skin is…
I had pretty bad acne as a teenager, which is why I prefer to keep my skincare routine simple. The memory of religiously covering blemishes with concealer has made me avoid wearing makeup on my skin now, and I truly relish the freedom of going bare.
My typical everyday makeup routine includes…
Moisturiser, sunscreen and lip balm is all I need on a daily basis, particularly if I’m on set.
But if I’m going out, it’s more like…
Recently, I started using an affordable bronzer from MECCA, and I honestly love it. It adds a natural glow and dimension to my face. I sweep it beneath my cheekbones, along the sides of my forehead, and dab a little on my eyelids. When I wear makeup, I tend to gravitate toward brown shades that suit my complexion. To build on this natural look, I love adding the CHANEL Baume Essentiel Multi-Use Glow Stick — it’s so elegant. If I’m in the mood, I’ll curl my lashes and swipe on a bit of mascara for a dressier touch.
My signature scent is…
I’ve been wearing Chance Eau Fraîche by CHANEL since I was about 12, which might sound ridiculous, but my grandmother gave me my first bottle, and I’ve kept going back to it ever since—first out of nostalgia, and then because it just felt like my scent. I love fragrances that are fresh and light (but never too sweet), with notes of citron, jasmine and a hint of something woodier.
The fragrance that always gets me compliments is…
My sister Annabel wears CHANEL Coco Mademoiselle, which I borrow from time to time. As any fan of the scent would know, it’s wild how often people stop you on the street to ask what you’re wearing.
My body care routine involves…
I love the Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser — it makes me feel incredibly fresh when used with a loofah. Sometimes I switch to Sukin’s Botanical Body Wash because it’s affordable and paraben-free. After showering, I spray my body with No.1 de CHANEL Revitalising Body Serum-In-Mist, which smells divine and feels so hydrating. If my skin is especially dry, I’ll go over my knees and elbows with the Aveeno Daily body lotion – my friends with eczema live by it.
My weekly hair routine looks like…
A good friend recently introduced me to the wonder of hair masks, and I’ve been loving the Christophe Robin Shade Variation Mask in Warm Chestnut. I try to use it once a week and have noticed that it keeps my hair colour looking richer for much longer.
Occasionally, I’ll also use the Christophe Robin Cleansing Volumising Paste when I want extra volume. As for shampoo and conditioner, I’m not particularly loyal to any brand yet and tend to jump between supermarket staples and high-end samples.
When I go to the salon, I ask for…
I adore Monique McMahon at Que Colour — she’s a genius when it comes to natural, vibrant hair colouring. When I first went to her just over a year ago, I had a badly bleached bob. She guided me toward a look that felt more aligned with my personality and beauty philosophy — longer and darker. Recently, I asked if we could replicate Daisy Edgar-Jones’ hair during the Twisters press tour and she nailed it.
My biggest beauty regret is…
After watching Squid Game I wanted to cut my hair like Ho-yeon Jung. I regret to say I ended up looking like Edna Mode’s long lost uncle.
A beauty product I buy on repeat is…
Sunscreen! My skin is prone to breakouts, so finding a sunscreen that was lightweight and non-comedogenic was my priority. A makeup artist once recommended Bondi Sands, and now I swear by it.
My most controversial beauty opinion is…
Bepanthen cream is the best lip balm. It’s marketed as an antiseptic cream for breastfeeding mothers, but it works wonders for consistently soft lips and general dryness. My sisters and I have used it our whole lives, and I’ve converted many friends who now defend it too.
I wind down at the end of the day by…
I live with two of my best friends, and we always wind down by watching a show together, sometimes with a face mask if we’re feeling extra indulgent. Right now, we’re hooked on Severance.
My current PM skincare routine is…
Very similar to my morning routine, but I’ll replace sunscreen with eye cream. A friend recently recommended the Avène DermAbsolu, and it seems to be helping with my under-eye bags. It also has a really nice applicator, which makes it feel like a little treat before bed.
My pre-sleep routine looks like…
I find writing before bed really helpful for my sleep — it’s like combing out any mental knots, which helps me stress less during the night. That pre-sleep state is also a gold mine for great ideas and problem-solving. I recently heard Lily-Rose Depp talk about dream assignments, which I’ve been reflecting on. I think there’s definitely merit to asking yourself a question before bed, though I wouldn’t like to be too strict about it.
My biggest beauty investment is worth it because…
A massage! I tend to hold a lot of stress in my shoulders, so I always notice that I look and feel so much better afterward.
I scent my space with…
I love the Le Labo Santal 26 candle for my bedroom. In the bathroom, I recently bought a diffuser, which I scent with a citron or lavender essential oil. I also love Nag Champa incense for refreshing the whole house.
And finally, my favourite thing about my reflection is…
I love that I’m starting to look more like myself than ever. Now that I’m in my mid-20s, my features feel like they make more sense to me—if that makes sense? I don’t look for things to change or fix anymore; I feel very content, even grateful, to like my reflection and not feel intimidated by it. While I’m sure this will ebb and flow as my body continues to evolve with age, I hope my sense of self strengthens at the same pace.
Follow Phoebe on Instagram here and check out her incredible work here.