Into the Fridge 😅
Amy Liu on minimizing food waste and weighted vest workouts
Amy Liu 😅
Amy Liu is the founder and CEO of Tower 28, an affordable beauty brand designed for sensitive skin, which she started after nearly two decades as an exec in the industry. Their SOS line is the first to earn seals from the National Psoriasis Foundation, National Rosacea Society, and National Eczema Association, and I can attest that their spray has saved me from many a flare up. I had a ball chatting with Amy about her fridge, her beauty staples, and her wellness routines which I am excited to present to you all now.
What is your fridge philosophy?
My fridge philosophy is all about maximizing our chances of eating fresh, healthy food. I love going to the farmer’s market—there’s something so beautiful about fresh fruits and vegetables—but with how busy life gets, I’ve definitely struggled with buying produce and not using it in time. So I’m really trying to be more intentional about what we bring home, so my family and I have every opportunity to eat well while minimizing waste.
How do you minimize waste potential?
I try to really think about what my week ahead looks like. My best friend is the kind of person where you can open her fridge at any time and know exactly what they’re having for dinner every night—that’s not me. But I’m trying to be more mindful. I used to go to the farmer’s market and just buy whatever looked good, you know? Now I actually check my calendar! Am I going to be home? How many dinners do I have planned? My husband doesn’t cook much, so I have to ask myself—am I actually going to be able to bring this to life?
Your fridge is always always always stocked with ____.
Lemons
Fresh herbs (cilantro, Italian parsley, mint)
Avocados (toast is an easy go-to)
Fresh fruit
Almond milk — anything I need to make an iced coffee. I’m kind of obsessed with coffee, actually. I love Cometeer.
In general, I always make sure I have enough on hand to throw together at least one meal for me and my family—like a defrosted protein, a vegetable, etc.
And eggs! Always eggs.
Top 5 condiment picks, go.
Peanut butter (is that a condiment?)
Sesame oil
Fine, I’ll open it up to pantry too. Let’s hear your favorite snacks / pantry staples:
Jalapeño Chomps — we have a lot of snacks (kids!) and we still pack lunches
Popcorn (Skinny Pop and Lesser Evil)
My husband is weirdly obsessed with granola so we always have a bunch
Always have instant noodles (not super proud of this one but the kids enjoy them)
Dog food / treats
A meal that’s on heavy rotation these days:
One of our go-to dinners is teriyaki salmon with rice, avocado, and seaweed—it’s simple, fresh, and always a hit. I also like to make a quick steamed egg by whisking eggs with dashi, straining the mixture through a sieve, and microwaving it for a silky texture.
My kids’ ultimate comfort meal, though, is congee—it’s warm, nourishing, and reminds them of home.
At one point—I really thought I was onto something—I tried turning my 10-year-old daughter’s after-school activity into cooking dinner. I started ordering meal kits and pitched it to her as her very own “cooking class.” Honestly, I was just trying to get her to cook for us.
Let’s go a little deeper…
What’s the mantra you keep coming back to?
You can have it all, but you can’t have it all at once.
What products / practices are part of your regular mental wellness habits?
My headphones have been a game changer. Before I got them, I didn’t walk nearly as much, but this year I’ve made walking a priority—it’s really helped me, especially since it’s the only time I’m truly alone.
I also have two red light machines. One is from Celluma, which Nam Vo recommended. It’s definitely a splurge, but as she says, “It ain’t cheap, but neither are you.” I actually wear it to help me fall asleep. The other is from Shark, and while I don’t use it as often, I love that it has a cooling feature and I can still see while wearing it. I really do think red light makes a difference when I use it consistently.
And your physical?
I have a weighted vest that my trainer recommended. He comes once a week to help me with weight lifting, which I really need for accountability—otherwise, I just won’t do it on my own.
I also love getting massages at the Thai place nearby.
And honestly, one of my favorite indulgences is a hot shower. I try not to take too long since I know it’s not great for the environment, but it’s my version of my husband’s granola—pure comfort.
The girls on my team introduced me to these little shower pods infused with essential oils. They come in different scents, like eucalyptus, and release the aroma as they melt away in the steam. It turns a regular shower into something that feels super luxurious.
I haven’t done it yet, but I really want to try the Jolie shower head.
What do you think is the most underrated part of wellness?
The way beauty — and the connection we have to the products we use — makes us feel is really powerful. Obviously, I work in beauty, so I love it and I love products, but I don’t necessarily pile it on. I’m not actually obsessed with makeup, and I’m not someone who goes into Sephora and goes wild. But I really love how products can make people feel. Because if they inspire confidence, I truly believe it changes the way you walk through the world.
And overrated?
I really think people are using too many actives and doing too much—over-exfoliating, overloading on treatments, too many lasers. At the end of the day, skin really just needs great basics.
Picture this: you wake up one morning and feel like shit. What’s your next move:
I’ve found that as I’ve gotten older (and I saw Sofie say this too—it’s so true!), not getting enough sleep is one of the biggest things that makes me feel awful. The other is drinking, especially wine—it just doesn’t sit well with me anymore.
My go-to recovery routine is always coffee, two Advil, a walk, and a good shower.
Give us your ride or die wellness products:
Our SOS Rescue Spray has really genuinely saved my skin. I really do use our products every day - our concealer is a real ride or die for me.
Our new SOS FaceGuard sunscreen is a super game changer
Products from:
U Beauty (specifically their resurfacing serum)
Shani Darden (her retinol)
The M-61 Peels
Sofie’s Mandelic — it’s super gentle
One thing you do everyday that makes you the most YOU version of yourself:
I spend a lot of time with my family—I’m really close to my kids and my husband. He’s done a great job of being the steady voice that reminds me that if all of this goes away, we’ll still be fine.
Whose taste inspires you?!
My sister has really good style. I also always pay attention to what the younger girls in the office are wearing.
A big thank you to Amy for sharing this taste of her beautiful (wink) life with us. You can — of course — shop the Tower 28 products here and follow her on Instagram. Her fridge favorites and more are here.
Feel free to leave a comment or respond to this email with questions you want asked, people you want featured, or anything else that’s on your mind. Don’t be shy, I love hearing from you.
Appreciate this very real and down-to-earth edition of Into The Fridge! And stoked to learn about a new beauty line ❤️