Beauty Bosses: Micaela and Dawn Hoo, Co-Founders of My July

Our latest Beauty Bosses are Micaela and Dawn Hoo, Co-Founders of My July—a gentle skincare line designed for sensitive skin. The brand was born out of response to Micaela’s chronic illnesses and skin issues, which inspired her mother, Dawn, to start developing natural homemade remedies in her kitchen. Together, the mother and daughter team formulated products with safe, clean, and effective ingredients that are free of toxins and chemicals commonly found in many skincare products on the market.

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My July products are also sustainable, vegan, cruelty-free, and everything is made in small batches in Los Angeles. The company also donates 3% of profits to Global Lyme Alliance, a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to conquering Lyme and other tick-borne diseases through research, education, awareness, and support.

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We chatted with Micaela and Dawn, who shared the inspiration behind the brand, favorite beauty and wellness tips, and much more.

When was My July founded and what does the name mean?

Micaela: My July was founded in May 2022. The name “My July” is a nod to summer, my favorite season, and July, my favorite month. Many pivotal events happened to me in the month of July without it being planned. I traveled to Europe for the first time in July, moved to California in July, my mom and I ran our first half marathon in July, and on a more somber note, I was diagnosed with Lyme disease in July 2020. July holds sacred meaning to me. It’s this positive energy I wanted to attach to our products in delivering skincare that is not only effective, but gives our customer a sense of well-being.

My July is a line of gentle and non-toxic skincare products that were developed for sensitive skin.

What inspired the creation of the brand?

Dawn: I started My July with Micaela when she experienced a debilitating rash on her hands that left her fingers immobile. Her skin was pulled so taut, it would tear open and bleed. Nothing soothed it. As a mother, it was hard for me to see my daughter in pain. I started alchemizing natural skincare treatments in the kitchen for her to use. Using a base of organic shea butter mixed with different organic carrier oils and organic essential oils, My July was organically born—pun intended.

Through our research, we realized how many chemicals and toxins are added to skincare recommended for even a child. We knew Micaela couldn’t be the only one with super sensitive skin. Even for those without sensitivities, everyone is so bombarded with toxins outside of our control, we created safe, clean, and effective products to relieve the toxic burden.

My July Imaginary Picnic ($40-$60) is a moisturizing body oil scented with sweet marjoram, bergamot, and lemon essential oils.

Does My July have a hero product?

A lot of our customers love our body butters because they are thick, rich, and nourishing. They are the first products we launched with, so they form the core of our line. Additionally, our Gold Mine Face Oil is one of our best sellers. It has a luxurious blend of prickly pear seed oil, pomegranate seed oil, cranberry seed oil, and the essential oils of vanilla, geranium, coriander, and carrot seed. It’s a balance of sweet and earthy, absorbs quickly, and is a great everyday facial oil that can also double as a hair oil.

What are your favorite products from the brand?

Dawn: I created our Barefoot in the Park Body Butter blend inspired by our move from Connecticut to California. I fell in love with the eucalyptus trees abundant in California and wanted to make a product with a nod to our California landscape.

Micaela: I love our Serenity Now Body Butter. It has a calming blend of lavender, helichrysum, palmarosa, and frankincense essential oils. It feels like wrapping your body in a silk blanket when massaged into warm skin after a bath.

My July also donates 3% of profits to Global Lyme Alliance, a non-profit dedicated to conquering Lyme and other tick-borne diseases through research, education, awareness, and support.

Where are your products sold?

On our website, but we plan on expanding into retail in 2024.

Future plans for the brand?

Our mission is to use My July as a vehicle to raise awareness about chronic illness. The line was born out of Micaela’s health issues and we educate people about treating their bodies with love and kindness—chronically ill or not. We’re hugely into giving back and donate 3% of our profits to Global Lyme Alliance, a non-profit dedicated to conquering Lyme and other tick-borne diseases through research, education, awareness, and support.

My July Paris Face Mist ($45) is a restoring, hydrating botanical face mist that draws and locks in hydration to the skin.

Who inspires you?

Micaela: I’ve always been amazed by Coco Chanel’s story. She came from deep poverty, but her tenacity and grit led her down a path to create a legacy. She listened to her intuition even when others discouraged her.

Dawn: Viola Davis is a woman who blazed her own trail when the odds were against her. After reading her memoir, “Finding Me,” I have so much respect for her drive that propelled her to achieve her dream of becoming a successful actor.

Secret to success?

Micaela: Never give up. There is so much truth to the words of Dory in “Finding Nemo”: “Just keep swimming, just keep swimming, just keep swimming, swimming, swimming.”

Dawn: Don’t get caught up in the “how.” Have a clear direction of the end goal, but just take one step at a time. You won’t ever have a complete blueprint of the entire process—and the blueprint will be modified along the way—you just have to get started.

Beauty secrets?

Micaela: I’m super disciplined with going to bed early to ensure I get enough sleep. This enables me to show up energized and in a good mood to tackle whatever comes my way.

Dawn: Always wash your face thoroughly and moisturize before bed, no matter how tired you are. It takes three minutes or less and makes such a difference in maintaining healthy skin.

My July’s Gold Mine Face Oil ($81) is filled with nourishing, hydrating ingredients that work with skin’s natural sebum production.

Wellness tips?

Micaela: I make sure to get at least 15 minutes of sun every day. It is a natural mood booster.

Dawn: I move my body every day. My favorite form of movement is yoga because it stretches and strengthens at once. It’s a time for me to focus solely on my body and put aside all other stresses for that hour.

Best advice?

Micaela: No one can make you feel bad unless you let them. Don’t give others that power.

Dawn: Celebrate small victories. There are so many good, seemingly insignificant things that happen in the most mundane of days that you can be thankful for.

Favorite way to relax?

Micaela: I love to take candlelit baths and listen to an audiobook. I love the comfort of being warm and taking baths is like a warm hug for my body.

Dawn: Having a long, slow evening to unwind. This could include watching a movie, reading a book, or going for an after-dinner walk in the summer.

For more information, visit My July’s website and follow on Instagram: @myjulyskin

[Photos courtesy of My July]

Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk