There’s no getting around it: times are strange and scary and confusing. But if we can take consolation in anything, it’s that we’re truly all in this together. It was with that idea in mind that we decided to reach out to a few members of the Moroccanoil family to find out how they’re coping and what’s bringing them joy during these totally unprecedented days. Today, we’re starting with Moroccanoil Co-Founder Carmen Tal.
Where are you?
“I’m at my house in a small town in Canada, about an hour outside of Montreal. It’s pretty isolated—there’s only one market, two gas stations, a pharmacy.
“I’m thankful that I have my kids and my dogs with me—they’re keeping me busy, which keeps me sane. Busy is good.”
What do your days look like?
“It’s really important to me that I stay in my routine even while I’m quarantined. I wake up, I shower, I brush my teeth. Personally, I love wearing makeup and an outfit I feel good in. So I’ve still been doing both. I also change my sweater every night before dinner instead of staying in the same thing all day—just to feel like myself, to stay connected to my feminine side.
“Keeping in touch with my team is really important to me, so I spend a lot of the day finding time to connect. I like to hear from everyone, just to make sure they’re doing okay and that everyone has what they need not just to do their jobs, but to take care of themselves.”
How has this experienced changed you?
“It really makes me feel a little bit better to know that this is a global thing, that in a very real sense all of humanity is in this. It’s not just me, it’s not just the company, it’s all of us. So it’s important that we find ways to help each other through it.
“For instance, if you live in a neighborhood where you have 2 or 3 friends living within walking distance, you could share cooking duties. Cook a nice meal once a week and share it with them, then have them do the same. I find that doing this pushes the one cooking to be more creative and put more attention into preparing the meal. There’s something really nice about cooking for other people—it’s an act of love. Then on top of that, if you work out some kind of schedule, you’ll get a break from cooking and a chance to try something new! Which I know a lot of us could use these days.
“And whether you’re with other people or living alone, remember that solitude is not a bad thing. We’re so used to so much stimulation. Maybe this is the time to turn your attention in and discover that there is a whole world within you—a connection with God or the universe or whatever form your spirituality takes.”
What’s bringing you joy?
“I’ve renewed my commitment to stay in touch with nature. I’m definitely privileged to be in a place that makes that possible, but if you can find time for a quick walk or trip to the park—keeping proper distance, of course—it really can make a difference in your outlook.
“Especially this time of year—seeing trees bloom and come back to life after a long winter, it’s such a valuable reminder and so good for your mind and soul. Who doesn’t love flowers?”
How do you see things changing once this is over?
“We’re going to have to start thinking about how we want or need to live our lives differently. For individuals, that might mean thinking about what you learned during quarantine that you hope stay with you—whether that’s cooking skills or more time spent outside or spent alone.
“For companies, we’re going to have to change the way we do business. Maybe some people will focus more on digital and e-commerce. Maybe some will have developed new programs that will continue to serve their customers. But we’re all going to have to start thinking outside the box. We’ve already had to make changes at Moroccanoil, but we knew from the start that the most important thing was avoiding having to part ways with any portion of our team. So we did what we had to do make that happen.”
What part of quarantining do you hope will stay with you on the other side of this experience?
“Spending so much time outside has made me more aware than ever of our responsibility to take care of the planet. One thing I love is that even in the small town where our house is, we can compost! As soon as I found it was an option, I called the city asked to join the program.
“It’s made me think a lot about how I can compost at my home in New York City, too. It’s worth reaching out to your city government to see what kind of programs they offer—now’s a great time to figure out how it works, because many of us have extra time on our hands. Once you’re back in your old routine, you’ll have adjusted to it.”