The Brain Behind Science-Backed Skincare Brand Superegg Told Us Everything She’s Actually Buying Right Now

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With brands sending free stuff to the microest of influencers, we decided it’s high time for a roundup series that includes exclusively products that have been purchased and loved outright by people you know, people you follow, and people you’ve definitely heard of. Think of Receipts as a fun-things-only money diaries.

Erica Choi knows a thing or two about good taste. As the co-founder and esthetician behind the vegan Korean skincare brand Superegg and a former VP of Design at Barneys New York, she’s spent years working at the intersection of beauty, fashion, and design. These days, she splits her time between New York and Seoul, where she’s continuing to explore what it means to create a beautifully considered life.

Balance, she tells The Quality Edit, is “something that has always been at the center of Superegg, but increasingly it shapes the way I think about everything: work, beauty, wellness, travel, and even the things I choose to own.” That same intentionality extends to the way Choi shops. “I’ve become much more interested in finding the right thing,” she says. Whether it’s skincare, clothing, coffee, or something for her suitcase, she looks for pieces that strike the perfect balance between form and function—and, ideally, become things she’ll reach for again and again.

Before The Receipts

TQE: You’ve worked in fashion and design, founded Superegg, and split your time between NYC and Seoul — how has moving between those worlds shaped your personal taste and the way you shop?

Erica Choi: “I think moving between New York and Seoul has made me much more intentional about what I bring into my life. New York trained my eye in a very particular way. I spent years in fashion and design, where you’re constantly absorbing the smallest details and the mix of cultures and perspectives around you. Seoul has a different energy and an incredible sensitivity to beauty, ritual, and innovation. I love moving between those two perspectives.

Over time, I’ve become less interested in having more and much more interested in finding the right thing. I tend to buy pieces that are beautifully designed but also genuinely useful, things I’ll reach for over and over again. Whether it’s skincare, a coat, a chair, or something tiny for my bag, I’m always looking for that balance between form and function. I also love discovering things when I travel. There’s something special about an object carrying a memory of where you found it.”

TQE: What does a really good day look like for you right now? Where are you going, what are you doing, and what are you reaching for along the way?

EC: “A really good day starts quietly. I love having a little time in the morning before looking at my phone: skincare, coffee or tea, and a few minutes to think about the day before everything starts moving. The sweetest kitten also entered my life earlier this year, so my mornings are now spent with her, feeding her, cleaning her litter box, and playing a little hunting game. It’s been such a heartwarming and rewarding change to my routine.

From there, every day is different. I might be working on Superegg product development, reviewing packaging or creative, shooting something for Egg Canvas, meeting with the team, or spending the day walking around New York or Seoul between meetings. My evenings tend to be event-filled, so I especially appreciate those quieter moments during the day. I actually get a lot of ideas when I’m walking. I’m constantly noticing a beautiful storefront, an unexpected color combination, packaging, flowers, food, architecture. Those little details eventually find their way into my work in some form.

My favorite days have some combination of creating, discovering something new, eating something delicious, and spending time with people I love. Then I like coming home and slowing everything down again. I’m often working right up until bedtime, but I’m learning how much I need both sides of the day, the movement and the stillness, for my mental and physical well-being.”

TQE: What’s one thing your readers would be surprised to learn about your lifestyle or daily routine?

EC: “I have a Virgo stellium, so the Virgo tendencies run pretty strong. I love organization, details, lists, and making the most of my time. Sometimes I feel like every minute needs to be productive, whether that’s listening to a podcast or reading a news article while I’m walking or on the train.

But the funny thing is that I also really value doing absolutely nothing. My work and travel can be very visual and very full, so I’ve become protective of quiet time. Sometimes I need to empty my head, pay attention to what’s happening around me, and let myself just be. I’m learning that not every moment needs to be optimized or filled, which is perhaps the most un-Virgo thing I can do.

I also think people might assume that because I work in beauty, I have an extremely complicated routine. I’m actually much more of a ritual person than a maximalist. I love beautiful products and discovering new things, of course, but ultimately I come back to what works and what makes me feel good. Consistency is more important to me than having a hundred steps.”