Nabela Noor is a social media star, beauty guru, and the CEO of her company, Zeba. Known for her promotion of body positivity and self-confidence, Nabela has developed a following of over a million followers on Instagram alone. She’s also extremely popular on YouTube, where she posts makeup tutorials and beauty reviews that are watched by millions of people around the globe. Her makeup videos are so popular, she recently partnered with beauty giant e.l.f cosmetics for the e.l.f. x Nabela Collection, a line inspired by the spirit of embracing individuality. Ever wonder what a YouTube and Instagram influencer does in the A.M.? Nabela shares her full morning routine below.

8:00 A.M. No matter what time I go to sleep the night before (which is usually really late…1:30am late), I seem to always wake up at 8:00am every morning. My husband, Seth, is almost always sound asleep next to me, so I usually use this time to read a book. Currently, I’m reading The Power by Rhonda Byrne (for the second time!). It’s one of my favorite books and I find that reading even one page helps start my day on the right foot. It’s a habit I’ve begun to take with me as I travel more for work as well. I travel back and forth between LA, NY, and PA and struggle with intense travel anxiety. So I have found that it’s important to maintain a routine to calm my anxiety. So whatever book I’m reading at the time travels everywhere with me. I spend most of my day working and on social media, so this is my favorite time to relax and unwind, no matter where I am in the world. 

8:30 A.M. It’s around this time that Seth wakes up and goes out to the living room to greet our three dogs and give them breakfast. When he makes his way back into the bedroom to get ready, I usually re-read a passage of my book to him that stuck out to me. We are partners in life and business, and we are working extra hard this year to prioritize “us” time before starting our workday. Whether it’s through meditation, starting our morning in prayer or reading together, we try to begin each day with intention together. It’s one of my favorite parts of each day.

8:45 A.M. Ever since I’ve placed greater importance on self-care in my life, I have paid more attention to my skincare regimen. Depending on how much time I have in the morning, my routine often adjusts for convenience. If I have a lot of time, I’ll prep, cleanse, moisturize, and even use a quick sheet mask. But if I have a late start for work or am traveling and have to be on set for a project or event, I always make sure to at least moisturize with Tatcha Silk Cream and spritz my face with the Olay Mist Ultimate Hydration Essence Energizing spray to wake me up and feel refreshed. 

9:00 A.M. The workday is about to begin, so I use this time to meditate and practice my breathing to center myself. I use a bunch of different apps to lead me through my meditation but am currently obsessed with Calm. I love meditating through apps so I can bring them wherever I go. Something I learned early on in my career is that setting time aside for yourself in the morning to be grateful and calm can help shape the rest of your day. So my favorite meditations are those focused on gratitude and calming anxiety. After about 10 minutes of meditating, I fill out my gratitude journal. I created my own on the Google Docs app, so if I miss jotting down what I’m grateful for the night before, I always make sure to take the time to do so in the morning. 

9:30 A.M. We have 30 minutes until the beginning of our workday, so this is the time I have a quick breakfast. Seth typically whips up something (my fave is his egg and cheese sandwich) or I’ll grab an easy bowl of cereal. I also check emails and reply to comments on all my social media platforms while eating breakfast. And I spend some time cuddling with my 3 puppies (Curry, Aloo, and Norie) while I ease into my morning.

10 A.M. My office is in my home (start-up life!) so my team begins to pour in and we start our workday. My assistant usually brings Starbucks – Grande Caramel Macchiato with extra Caramel Drizzle is my go-to for energy, Grande Strawberry Açaí refresher with coconut milk (a.k.a the Pink Drink) is my must-have for a pick-me-up. We begin planning out the content for the week for the Zeba digital community and my content on my platforms. During a busy filming and content capture day, I’ll usually head upstairs to my beauty studio for hair and makeup. As my LA team starts their day on the West Coast, we sync together and align on any deadlines and upcoming projects. The rest of the day is usually spent creating content, filming at various locations, editing, and strategizing! Every day is different and spontaneous but the consistency of an intention-filled morning has become something I count on and am thankful for.