Summer with: Kerrilyn Pamer

Summer with:

Kerrilyn Pamer

[Q] Where are you from and where do you currently reside?

[A] I’m from Oregon, but lived in New York for about thirty years and came back to the West Coast during the pandemic. Now I’m in Silver Lake in Los Angeles.

[Q] Where did your professional journey begin? How did it lead you to launch CAP Beauty?

[A] I studied interior design and that led me to moving to New York in my early twenties. When I found out I had celiac, that led me to digging into all things health; from what I was eating to what I was putting on my skin. This curiosity became the seed for CAP. I wanted to create a space that was inclusive, aspirational and good for you. Hence CAP was born.

[Q] You started CAP Beauty 10 years ago with the intention to share with others the knowledge you have found in botanicals, what might be the biggest nugget of knowledge you can share?

[A] Plants are amazing allies, they have so much to teach us. I realized that when I looked to plants for health and wisdom, they were profound teachers. And I took it upon myself to learn from them and share always.

[Q] What does a botanical deep dive into a product look like for you?

[A] It starts with what I want the product to do and the beautiful thing is there is always a plant that will support the results. Then it’s a journey with those plants.

Fig 1. Kerrilynn Pamer

Fig 2. A camellia flower in Los Angeles Fig

3. Kerrilyn Pickling Fennel

"Plants are amazing allies, they have so much to teach us. I realized that when I looked to plants for health and wisdom, they were profound teachers. And I took it upon myself to learn from them and share always."

Fig 4. The view from Kerrilynns Bedroom

Fig 5. Kerrilynn’s products in a friends home in Topanga

[Q] LA can often feel like a “staycation,” what are some practices you do daily, weekly, monthly, etc, that feel like the pleasures of vacation?

[A] Not much changes for me during summer, I stick to the same things year round as LA always has a feeling of vacation. My life is pretty centered around being home so gardening, playing tennis, cooking and some form of movement, typically hiking Hogback Trail, guide me all summer long.

[Q] What does summer mean to you? How might you best enjoy it personally?

[A] I wish I could say I’m a person who really loves summer but it’s not the season I’m most drawn to. That would coincidentally be autumn. But the way I engage with summer the most is through food. There’s nothing I love more than coming home from the farmer’s market with a haul of stone fruit, melon, tomatoes, cucumbers, greens and everything else that grows like weeds in LA. Then a meal made from the bounty. Preferably with friends around the table.

[Q] What are some of the best things to do in LA over the summer?

[A] Hiking no matter the season, I particularly love Griffith Park. Concerts at The Greek, Hollywood Bowl or The Ford. Oysters at Found. The big salad at All Time. Soft serve at Besties.

[Q] Do you have any other summer plans at home or away?

[A] I’m going to Kauai in August, which I’m really looking forward to. Other than that, I’ll be in LA, enjoying the emptier than usual city.

[Q] Who, historically, might you reference as a person of inspiration? Might you want to trade lives for a day?

[A] This question stumped me at first but then I happily landed on Jane Goodall. I can only imagine the sacred experience of spending time with chimpanzees. I would love to be in her life, but for more than a day.

Fig 6. The CAP Beauty line Blue, Serotoner and Crema

[Q] LA can often feel like a “staycation,” what are some practices you do daily, weekly, monthly, etc, that feel like the pleasures of vacation?

[A] Not much changes for me during summer, I stick to the same things year round as LA always has a feeling of vacation. My life is pretty centered around being home so gardening, playing tennis, cooking and some form of movement, typically hiking Hogback Trail, guide me all summer long.

[Q] What does summer mean to you? How might you best enjoy it personally?

[A] I wish I could say I’m a person who really loves summer but it’s not the season I’m most drawn to. That would coincidentally be autumn. But the way I engage with summer the most is through food. There’s nothing I love more than coming home from the farmer’s market with a haul of stone fruit, melon, tomatoes, cucumbers, greens and everything else that grows like weeds in LA. Then a meal made from the bounty. Preferably with friends around the table.

[Q] What are some of the best things to do in LA over the summer?

[A] Hiking no matter the season, I particularly love Griffith Park. Concerts at The Greek, Hollywood Bowl or The Ford. Oysters at Found. The big salad at All Time. Soft serve at Besties.

[Q] Do you have any other summer plans at home or away?

[A] I’m going to Kauai in August, which I’m really looking forward to. Other than that, I’ll be in LA, enjoying the emptier than usual city.

[Q] Who, historically, might you reference as a person of inspiration? Might you want to trade lives for a day?

[A] This question stumped me at first but then I happily landed on Jane Goodall. I can only imagine the sacred experience of spending time with chimpanzees. I would love to be in her life, but for more than a day.

[Q] You and Lilli have now collaborated on two toiletry bags together, how did this relationship come to be?

[A] I found out about Lilli’s beautiful creations through our brand director, Julia, and upon receiving her first package, I knew she was creating something special. That was the starting point for collaborating. Our hope is to offer pieces that people can travel with that help them to be organized and inspired. I think we accomplished that.

[Q] What was the inspiration found in the Elena Toiletry bag?

[A] Simple. A beautiful object to store your essentials while on the road.

[Q] Any current botanical/skincare obsessions?

[A] I obviously love the CAP skincare range. The three products, blue, serotoner and crema have changed the state of my skin. My holy grail, today and always.

Fig 7. Beauty products from CAP at a freinds Topanga home