We’re thrilled to welcome @dionemdavis — stylist, creative director, and the newest voice in our Under the Surface series 🍄🌀🩰
Shaped by ballet and fashion, Dione thinks in movement and texture — but it’s her resilience and humor that shine through most. She reminds us that balance isn’t about perfection, but about finding steadiness in your own way.
Under the Surface is a new kind of skincare conversation.
We share stories that cut through the noise, trends, and overpromised fixes to what actually supports us — and Dione shows how creativity, care, and even contradiction can all live in harmony.
Photography by @_samhillman. Produced with @j_murr @heidiiij.
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Dione Davis is a New York–based stylist and creative director with an inventive eye. Originally from Alabama, she has spent the past decade shaping the fashion landscape, styling for leading brands and talent, and producing editorial content for top magazines.
Her aesthetic is defined by fluid movement, inverted textures, and an innate sense of balance, sharpened by years of ballet training. With an instinct for proportion and a refined feel for materials, her work always lands in perfect harmony.
Q&A with Dione Davis
V: What are the best & worst parts about your job? / What part of your work would surprise people the most?
DD: The best part of my job is collaborating with people and experiencing a level of unspoken synchronicity on set. I’m a creative person so my least favorite part of my job is logistics.
V: When you’re stressed, where do you feel it first? your skin, your body, your mood?/How can you tell when your skin (or body, or energy) is burnt out and what do you do about it?
DD: I think my body. My body tends to bloat when I’m stressed. My skin usually is next.
V: What does taking care of yourself actually look like right now? / What’s a small habit or ritual that always brings you back to yourself?
DD: Meditating really keeps me centered. I’m prone to stress and anxiety. Also I am really committing to moving every day. I’ve been in Paris and my after dinner walks help me clear my head.
V: What’s something you’ve let go of in your beauty or wellness routine? / What’s a beauty trend you’d be happy to never see again? / What’s a beauty or wellness “rule” you’re happy to ignore?
DD: I believe that a beauty routine should make you feel like the best version of yourself. I ignore anything that works against me feeling like I’m enough. I keep everything pretty natural. The most intense thing I do is Nu face and gua sha to depuff. I really believe in keeping my skin healthy vs covering up any impurities. Covering blemishes will just make them stay longer. I also like to tint my brows and use lip stains. It reduces my time getting ready.
V: How do you remind yourself you’re already doing enough? / What’s something you're proud of?
DD: I’m proud of how resilient I am and that I will never lose my drive even if as situation takes the wind out of my sails. I can feel down sometimes but I recover quickly. When I feel like I’m ready to get to a new level with work I always go back and look at my work and remember the next opportunity is right around the corner and a lot of the magic I’ve experienced in my career has come from dedication and hard work. Never luck.
V: Is there a part of your day that feels sacred?
DD: My morning routine is sacred. I really like to take my time and give myself space to just exist before I start working.
V: Are you A or Type B? / How would your friends describe you?
DD: Fun fact: type an and type b aren’t real personality types. They were created to separate types of people in order to sell cigarettes. Phillip Morris’ marketing team is to thank for that. I personally think at work I’m type an and in life I’m type b. My friends would say type b.
V: What’s something you bought recently that totally delivered? / What is something you will never shut up about?
DD: I’m obsessed with clean water for my skin so my Jolie shower head is always the plug I give when talking about skincare. I suffer from eczema and I haven’t had a flare since I got one. Also scalp health is also important to overall skin health and the filter is great for maintaining a solid ph.
V: What’s something you know isn’t great for you, but you have no plans to quit? (Snack, habit etc.)
DD: A cigarette with a glass of wine. Sorry mom!
V: What's the craziest/silliest thing you've done in the name of beauty or wellness?
DD: I spent a ridiculous amount of money on full body microdermabrasion for my keratosis pilaris. It didn’t help. Won’t do that again. I’ve accepted that my hair follicles have two strands in them and there’s nothing I can do.
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Why it Matters
Care isn’t just about products. It’s also about presence — noticing what our bodies need and how we reset. For Dione Davis, it’s meditation, movement, and the small rituals that bring her back to center. Stress may show up first in her body or skin, but so does her resilience.
That’s why her approach is less about covering up and more about supporting what’s already there. From walks that clear her head to tools that depuff and protect, Dione focuses on routines that feel natural and sustainable — ways of honoring both skin and self.
Because when care is consistent, we stay connected.
Follow along on @verdoieskin as we share more stories that inspire and ground us.