Nicole Richie Shares Her Must Haves and Her Favorite Memories From "The Simple Life"
Known for her witty personality and chic personal style, Nicole Richie is a pop culture icon who we first fell in love with on "The Simple Life." Recently, Richie and co-star/childhood friend Paris Hilton excited fans with the possibility of the show's return on Peacock. Are we finally getting a follow-up to the popular 2000s reality show? Not exactly.
"The Simple Life is not coming back," Richie tells PS. "It's been 20 years since Paris and I worked together, and we wanted to find a way to celebrate that, so we created something really special," she says. Richie and Hilton are reuniting for a three-part Peacock Original special, "Paris & Nicole: The Encore," premiering December 12.
Richie walked us down memory lane, sharing some of her most treasured moments filming "The Simple Life." Season two holds a special place in her heart. "We were in a different city every day, and we really got to experience America," she says. "I never had the opportunity to go back and visit those different towns again, so I probably wouldn't have ever seen them."
However, there were a few moments from filming that she doesn't miss. "I didn't enjoy sticking my hand up a cow's behind. It wasn't my favorite thing to do and I haven't done it since." She also regrets selling a pair of brown knee-high Chloé boots that she wore in season three. "I think about them often, I should have kept those."
Richie's love for those particular boots — and accessories in general — hasn't wavered much over the years. "My style has changed, but I've always had a deep love for accessories and jewelry, head scarves, vintage sunglasses — that's always stayed with me," she says. "I just think accessories have the power to change an entire outfit."
Her affinity for jewelry inspired her to start House of Harlow 1960, which eventually expanded into a clothing line in partnership with Revolve. As the creative director, she views her designs as a time capsule of sorts. "Designing is so great because it's always an opportunity to check in with yourself and see where you're at," she explains. When Richie looks back at older designs, she can immediately remember her headspace at the time, her thought process, and what inspired her creation.
When she's not running her fashion brand and creating viral hits as Nikki Fre$h, Richie likes to unwind by watching horror movies with her cats. "I love 'Texas Chainsaw Massacre.' I think it's the perfect horror movie," she says. She also enjoys daycations with her friends and takes full advantage of Resort Pass, a day-pass service, to book them. "I love using it when I want to hang with my girlfriends. We can find a cabana and have a little day off, hanging out by the pool, having drinks, and then go right on home."
Ahead, she shares her current must-have products, including her go-to sunscreen, her favorite swimwear brand, and more.
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Nicole Richie's Affordable Must Have
Richie's go-to SPF is the bestselling Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 PA+++ ($38). "I deal with rosacea and the it's very gentle on my skin. It doesn't break me out, and it just overall feels very nice and lightweight," she says. It's a chemical-based sunscreen that delivers broad spectrum SPF 40 protection and has a natural, invisible finish. It even doubles as a makeup primer.
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Nicole Richie's Investment Must Have
Richie loves the Eres Show Bandeau Bikini Top ($335), "I think the brand just makes bathing suits so well." This bikini top delivers support and lift without the need for underwire. The U-shaped metal link detailing also helps to add volume and accentuate smaller busts. Richie is currently gravitating toward desert- or tropical-inspired color palettes, citing rust, deep orange, and turquoise as her hues of choice.
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Nicole Richie's Morning Routine Must Have
Richie takes the Seed DS-01 Daily Synbiotic ($50) every morning. "I feel good. My body feels good, and it's part of my everyday routine," she says. It's a daily prebiotic and probiotic supplement that helps digestive health, gut barrier integrity, and gut immune function as well as heart and skin health. The brand suggests taking two capsules daily on an empty stomach.
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Nicole Richie's Sleep Must Have
Richie finds the scent of lavender calming, and loves using this Sonoma Lavender Spa Heat Wrap in Lilac Dot Fabric ($60). "It's like a heat pack," she says. "It's very soothing and keeps me zen." You can heat it up in the microwave or in a tumble dryer, but you can also put it in the freezer if you prefer a cooling feel. It's weighted as well at 2.5 pounds.
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Anvita Reddy (she/her) is an assistant editor for PS Shopping. She has a passion for products and reviews home gadgets, cookware, tech, and more. Having dealt with acne as a teenager and into adulthood, her expertise lies in beauty. She tests skin care, makeup, and hair care, plus countless other beauty products.