Extreme early morning routines are fascinating, but most won’t actually convince us to set our alarms for three o’clock after going to sleep at 7 p.m. — that’s for the mysterious CEOs and Mark Wahlbergs of the world. Who needs that proverbial worm when we can uncover mythical FYP pulls until our eyes get heavy? Eni Popoola might be the first person to persuade us to think otherwise.
Popoola is inspiring in many ways: Her makeup routine is unmatched, her commitment to planning solo trips is admirable, and her wardrobe stirs up a special kind of envy only few influencers can still manage to muster in an audience today. But ask any one of Popoola’s followers, and they will attest to the inherent allure of her dedication to using her time wisely.
Unlike the everyday routines of other successful people, there’s nothing unrealistic about Popoola’s, which is why we find ourselves needing to know more. From the mindful rituals that set her up for success to the Shiseido Urban Environment Oil-Free SPF 42 she can’t start her day without, Popoola shares the secrets behind her unparalleled motivation.
On her everyday routine:
Popoola’s day begins with two alarms: The first goes off at 5 a.m. and the second at 5:30. Partially due to the beautiful view from her apartment, her morning routine centers around the sunrise, using this time to either get in a workout, journal, or read a devotional. She also makes sure to squeeze in some time for her beauty routine. “Beauty includes hygiene, so I’m brushing my teeth, using mouthwash, and cleansing my face with micellar water before applying a hydrating spray,” she says. The final step: SPF.
Sunscreen formulas can be a polarizing topic — everyone likes what they like — but Popoola is partial to chemical formulas for her everyday routine, specifically the Shiseido Urban Environment Oil-Free SPF 42. Not only does she like its consistency — the lightweight, oil-free formula sits comfortably on her skin — but also that it doesn’t leave behind a white cast. It also doesn’t hurt that this sunscreen has skin-care benefits. Made with hyaluronic acid, it’s hydrating and doubles as a makeup primer.
Daily sun protection is important, this Popoola knows, but she’s also a long-time tretinoin user. Because tretinoin is a retinoid, a vitamin A derivative that can make skin more sensitive to light, sunscreen is a crucial step in her daily routine. “Naturally my apartment gets a lot of sunlight. I know I need protection on my face,” she says, adding that this is one of her biggest priorities. “I’m big on reapplying sunscreen throughout the day. If I don’t need to wear makeup, I don’t wear it because I’d much rather have easy access to reapply sunscreen.”
Fast forward a couple of events and editing calendar blocks later, Popoola ends the day with candles (“I’m big on fragrance being a part of an experience,” she says), a clean space, and a shower to rinse off the residue of the New York City subway. Think: the “closing shift” trend.
On the power of schedules:
For as long as Popoola can remember, she’s been someone who likes schedules and putting her plans to paper, which means she’s a big fan of spreadsheets. (Her travel spreadsheets are particularly impressive, which you can find in her “Q&A” Instagram highlight.) “I think it came from naturally knowing myself and paying attention to the way that I liked to receive and process information, and then translating that into a way that made sense for me,” she says.
The most recent step she’s added into her daily routine is the “downtime” feature on her phone, which prevents her from using the apps that tempt her the most. Despite dedicating a chunk of time to fulfilling self-care rituals in the morning, she finds herself distracted by social media scrolling. “Until 10 a.m., my phone apps are completely locked, so if I need to do work, I have to sit down at my computer and start my work day, which is pretty jarring sometimes,” she says. “It’s a good check on making sure I’m present in my morning routine, listening to my thoughts and taking time to myself.”
On being a planner:
Even the most proficient planners can have their system derailed. According to Popoola, it’s about managing expectations and being realistic. “There was a time when, if things did not go according to plan, it would ruin my entire day; it would throw me off completely,” she says. “I think it’s about zooming out and saying the purpose of these routines is to bring me a sense of structure but also peace and relief. It’s not just to say that I’m checking off everything I said I’d do.”
If her planning no longer brings her joy, she’ll rethink its purpose. Otherwise, the system feels more like a long punishment. “You’re putting an exponential amount of pressure on yourself that’s going to make it that much easier to fall short of your expectation, and then you’re back in that cycle,” she says. “Whatever feels most fun, most natural, lean into those things and the things that are challenging. Accept that you’re up for the challenge — but it’s not the end of the world if you don’t.”
On her sense of self:
Content creation only recently became Popoola’s full-time job. After graduating from Columbia Law School in 2022 and passing the New York bar exam later that year, she went on to accept a full-time position as a law clerk at a corporate firm. Despite successfully balancing both her day job with regular content creation and brand sponsorships, she was forced to make a choice between the two. It wasn’t until after stepping away from her law journey did she realize just how much that would affect her sense of self. “I felt like I had based my identity, by and large, around my academic success,” she says. “I realized it meant a lot more than it should have.”
She’s not oblivious to the stigma often projected onto content creators and influencers. People tend to say that it’s not “real work.” Financially, it is lucrative, but is it respected as a legitimate career choice? Not always. “It was a big concern of mine whether people would still follow me and still care about my journey because I’d branded myself as this person who was in law school but also loved to do makeup,” she says. “I’m still working through that, trying to take my time and not rush into other things simply because I want to feel like I’m doing something that’s more respected. It’s a journey.”
Even so, Popoola wouldn’t change anything about her story so far. Now she’s only looking ahead. If you ask her what’s next, she’ll say, “Everything!” Maybe she’ll start a business or fashion line. Scratch that — a home line! Or maybe she’ll write a book and have a multi-hyphenate title. “I want the list to go on; I want all of those things to be true for me,” she says, adding the potential of becoming a public speaker to the list. But she also likes to travel, so maybe she’ll dedicate more time to being free to go wherever she likes — whenever she plans it.
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