COTY + James Weber + Joe Lombardo = Philosophy’s “Hope and Grace” Initiative

How Are You, Now?

We know that skin health and mental well-being are deeply connected. When one suffers, the other often reflects it. At Philosophy, the belief has always been simple: care for the skin, care for the spirit. Our shared goal was to create a moment where people could experience the best of both.

Through the HOPE and GRACE initiative, Philosophy continues to support community-based efforts that improve mental health awareness and access to care. When we partnered with Philosophy and Coty on this campaign, the timing felt especially meaningful.

As a nation, we were just beginning to emerge from the depths of COVID isolation. The country had moved through a turbulent election cycle, and many people were experiencing a deeper shift in consciousness about who we are, how we live, and how we care for one another.

Director James Weber and Curated Artists Inc. took to the streets of New York City with a simple question:

“How are you, now?”

And, as New Yorkers tend to do, people answered honestly.

Strangers opened up about grief, resilience, uncertainty, and healing. Stories surfaced in spontaneous conversations on sidewalks and in passing moments that revealed something universal: beneath the pace and noise of the city, people were quietly processing enormous change.

What unfolded that day was something special.

New faces appeared. Unexpected stories were shared. Moments of vulnerability and strength surfaced between strangers. It became a reminder that healing doesn’t always happen in grand gestures—it often unfolds quietly in the in-between spaces of everyday life.

It was, in every sense, a magical day.

This project would not have been possible without the incredible team that brought it to life. Special thanks to Jon Bewley for editing, and to Karla Hirkaler and her team of skin magic assistants for their work on set.

Executive production, casting, and line production: Joe Lombardo

Basecamp: Hudson Yards Loft

Grateful to everyone who showed up, shared their truth, and reminded us that asking a simple question can open the door to something much deeper.

Because sometimes the most important question we can ask each other is still the simplest one:

How are you, now?