Salley Carson is living her best Charleston life—and she’s showing us how to do it with style and a side of self-care. I Southern Charm star, currently airing Season 11 of Bravo, balances reality TV with a thriving career in the medical field and a love of beauty and fashion. Between navigating friendship conflicts and filming, Carson keeps his life top of mind. In an exclusive interview, she opens up about her on-screen mindset, proper skin care and beauty lessons, proving that confidence—like great beauty—is all about knowing what works for you.
How do you mentally prepare yourself to film and watch a show? It has to take something to be in the right headspace.
“Actually, it’s incredibly easy for me because I try to be myself, supported by my family and friends. outside the show. Also, sometimes I just treat it more like a job than anything else. I have to go in and say: ‘Okay, this is not my truth, then I have my truth.’
Is it very easy for you to turn it off and stop when the recording is done? The show can be highly charged.
“I will say it was easier last year to pull it off. This year, I’m really in trouble, so it’s been really hard. I feel like I’m closer to the cast this year, so that’s been better. Craig and Shep and Austen and all of them, they’ve been doing it forever. They’ve been doing it since the show started, and Madison, I call them when I’m having a really hard time, so I usually have tough advice, too.
Speaking of Madison, though, I’ve asked her this question, so I’ll ask you: When you first saw yourself on camera, was there anything that gave you an ‘a-ha moment’—anything you knew you wanted to change?
“Every time! After my first season, I realized I had both blonde blindness and red blindness. I told myself I had to stop getting spray tans; I needed to stop brushing my hair. And at the end of this season, I saw a patch of my makeup, and I said: ‘Oh, well, my face doesn’t match my neck. That’s okay!’
I think you should wear a lot of make-up for the show, to be seen with all those beautiful things. Is there any skin care you really like washing your face and keeping it clear?
“I use all the products of Skin Pharm. That’s where I get all my treatments, but luckily, I’m blessed with good skin. I sleep a lot and apply them, but it doesn’t seem to affect me, which is great … I know that’s wrong. I will say, but, my favorite thing to get is the Gold Infusion Facial at the skin pharmacy, and I mention them all the time. that I am going to them tomorrow, to get a face before meeting again.
You have been very vocal about beauty, medicine and your entire journey. Is there any advice you would like to give to anyone considering plastic surgery or other cosmetic procedures?
“If it makes you happy, do it! But I think it’s really important to find someone who you feel very secure with and someone who’s going to be honest with you. I’ll go to my girl, and I’ll be like, ‘Can I get another filler?’ And he says no! She’s like: ‘No, slow down on the lip fillers, girl,’ and I love that about her.
It’s obvious that my breasts are done twice. I did them three years ago, and then I took them out because I regretted them—but that’s it. You must be 100 percent sure that it is for you before you do it. I thought I was, and now I’m really happy with my breasts.
I will say… I used to have full cheeks, and looking back at the pictures, I don’t like it. So, I don’t get cheek fillers anymore. I’m about to melt to fill my lips, and I’m really scared. I’m worried my lips will look too thin without lip filler, but we’ll see. It’s something I’ll try, and if I don’t like it, I can go back and get it.”
That’s good advice: do what makes you happy, and make sure you go to a good person.
“Yes! I really appreciate the people who will check and refuse.”
You’re at the point in the season where filming wraps and a reunion will follow. Are you happy to close the season?
“I’m here! Look, this is what I signed up for, but sometimes things don’t look so good when we’re playing. I’m so excited to go and blow everyone’s mind. And I’m so excited for the end of the season—this season is so fun and fun and dirty, and you haven’t seen the Mexico episode yet. Just wait for Mexico! You’ve been waiting for it.”
