Sydney Dake is the founder of Gntl, a skincare line that challenges our relationship with consumption by championing a minimalist approach to life. After years in product development and brand strategy, she's settled in Napa, where she's building both her company and a life centered around intentionality with her husband, toddler, and two rescue dogs.
What makes Gntl special isn't just what Sydney creates, it's her philosophy that living simply creates more space for what truly matters. Her mission is to help others find that same gentle clarity in their own lives, creating products that remind us daily that we can want less and live more.
What does your go-to shower ritual look like?
We live half a block away from my dads’ place (my dad and his lifelong partner), so my husband, 1.5-year-old, and I usually have dinner there as a family. After the meal and some playtime, I sneak back home for my sacred shower time- a true luxury I never take for granted. I’ve got about 35 minutes before picking up my daughter and husband for bedtime, so I’ve mastered the art of a streamlined evening routine.
First step: hair goes up in a butterfly clip. I turn on music or my current audiobook (just finished I Who Have Never Known Men in 2 days) and rinse off for a solid 30 seconds, enjoying the warmth and settling into the much needed me time. Then, I pump some Skin Wash into my hands or onto my Supracor Bath Mitt (an incredible niche find, it’s super exfoliating without being harsh, and it lasts forever). I wash from the neck down, then take more Skin Wash for a double cleanse on my face; the first round removes makeup and sunscreen, and the second round is for a deep pore cleanse.
Sometimes, I’ll shave my legs and arms, but I epilate my armpits bi-monthly outside of the shower. Speaking of armpits (getting personal here!), when I occasionally use aluminum deodorant instead of my natural one, I use a DIY scrub with Skin Wash, sugar, and glycerin to remove any stubborn residue.
That's my everyday routine, powered almost exclusively by Skin Wash. It's a one-product wonder. For those rare everything showers, I might wash my face at the sink and put on a mask, then rinse and wash my hair in the shower. I’m currently using Milbon Smoothing Shampoo and Conditioner, with Nizoral on standby for any flakes.
What’s the one bath product you swear by — and why?
Skin Wash, of course! It’s the only cleanser our entire household uses. Me, my husband, and our 1-year-old daughter all share the same bottle, and our shared shower/bath area looks tidy and serene at all times, which can’t be understated. Minimizing product clutter is such an underrated way to create a calming, well-designed space.
Tell us one Gntl thing you do for yourself (whether in or out of the shower).
Raising my daughter, Weston, has given me this beautiful opportunity to return to childlike pleasures. Picking wildflowers, blowing bubbles, playing in mud puddles, swinging side-by-side at the park. What began as creating special moments for her has unexpectedly become a gift to me, too. I had an unconventional childhood, so childlike play as an adult has become my most cherished form of self-care.
