Not only is she the darling host of Entertainment Tonight Canada, Cheryl Hickey is also a devoted wife and mom of two kids, Jaxson, 5, and Nyla, 2. Now, she has added entrepreneur to her resume, having recently launched a skin care line.
OURS by Cheryl Hickey is a line of multi-purpose products ranging from personal care to household products, all designed with the entire family in mind. You’ll find familiar, natural ingredients like Coconut and Olive Oil, Aloe Vera, Vitamin E and Shea Butter. What you won’t see on the ingredient lists are parabens, sulfates, petrochemicals, synthetic fragrances, dyes, silicones, phthalates and anything else you would be worried about using on your family’s gentle skin. The OURS line is available exclusively at Rexall Drug Stores – a great gift idea for Mother’s Day is this “Pamper Me” package (see pic below).
I had the pleasure of chatting with the Owen Sound native about motherhood, ET Canada and OURS. Here is our interview!
amw: What inspired you to start OURS by Cheryl Hickey?
Cheryl: My family. I found it really difficult to find products that were natural, affordable, with a good shelf life, and that my entire family could use, from my colour-treated hair down to my kids and my husband. My son had some very sensitive skin, and I struggled with finding something that would work. I was frustrated with was out there – products with a long list of chemicals in them. I wasn’t comfortable putting those products on my son’s skin, so I went back to using coconut oil and olive oil. I was talking to my agent and said I’d like to start my own skin care line. Serendipitously we got a phone call from the people at Swisspharme; they were looking to do something similar, so we partnered up and OURS was born two years later.
amw: How do you balance now having a third “career”?
Cheryl: My husband and I were just talking about this last night! I feel like my life is broken into three parts – mommy, ET Canada and then my entrepreneur stuff I do on the side. There is no such thing as balance, it kind of goes in ebbs and flows. The one constant that comes first is my kids and husband. I put everything in time of day; the kids get my attention in the first thing in the morning with my husband, then I come over to ET Canada and do my work here, then it’s back to the kids, and then at night I work on my other projects. I’m usually up until about midnight.
Q: If you had a sleepless night because of the kids, for example, how do you pump yourself up for ET Canada?
Cheryl: I have an amazing make-up artist when I’m tired! I feel like ET Canada is a break from everything. I feel like I need to be up and high energy so I kind of use it as an escape. You fake it till you make it. You act until you feel that way! We have a very goofy studio crew so it’s difficult to be having a bad day and to not snap out of it when you walk into that studio.
amw: How was it appearing on The Talk recently?
Cheryl: It was so much fun, I felt like a kid in the candy store. I’m a huge fan of TV in general so to see all the behind-the-scenes of the production is fascinating. We had an opportunity to see The Talk and watch a taping of American Idol, which was a pleasure. Working with those ladies is fun for me. I’m lucky!
amw: Who was the most memorable person you interviewed?
Cheryl: I had some really good moments with Sharon Osbourne, the woman is so rich with stories. Recently I enjoyed interviewing Kelly Clarkson, Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin. Tom Cruise was also fun.
amw: I read somewhere that you put on 70 pounds with both kids – I stopped looking at the scale after I surpassed 50 pounds! Did you feel pressure to take it off quickly?
Cheryl: With my son the first time, I did because I had to do a live Grammy show. So I worked really hard, I had a trainer and busted my butt! The second time, I wasn’t so hard on myself because I knew it was going to come off, I knew what I had to do, but I also knew that dresses came in all different shapes and sizes. I have a fantastic wardrobe stylist at ET Canada, and she worked with my body as it changed, and continues to change. My daughter is two now, and my body is finally starting to settle. I think it takes a long time.
amw: How has becoming a mother changed your outlook on life and your career?
Cheryl: My life has completely changed. Before I had my kids, I was very focused on my career, my husband and things that were in my immediate universe. Having kids has opened up my entire world. It changes everything and makes everything sweeter; makes the highs very high, and the lows very low. Being a mom magnifies everything in your life.
amw: How do you incorporate products into your beauty routine?
Cheryl: Before bed, I wash my face with the head to toe wash, and I’ll use the exfoliator every other day. In the morning, I use the 24-hour face cream, and the 2-1 conditioner. The anything balm, I use at night on my hands and feet, and sometimes on the apples of my cheeks for that shiny glow. I keep the anything balm in my diaper bag for my daughter, one in my son’s bag for school, and my husband keeps one in his golf bag!
