Salley Carson is living her best Charleston life—and showing us how to do it with style and a side of self-care. The Southern Charm star, currently lighting up Bravo’s Season 11, balances reality TV drama with a thriving career in the medical field and a passion for beauty and fashion. Between navigating friendship feuds and filming, Carson keeps her wellness top of mind. In an exclusive chat, she opens up about her on-screen mindset, must-have skin-care treatments and the lessons she’s learned from aesthetics, proving that confidence—like great beauty—is all about knowing what works for you.
How do you mentally get ready to film and watch the show? It has to take some being in the right headspace.
“Honestly, it’s weirdly easy for me because I’m just trying to be myself. I have a lot of support from my family and my friends. They’re a good outlet—I think it’s pretty important to have things going on outside the show. Also, sometimes I just treat it more like a job than anything else. I have to drop in and say: ‘Okay, this is my not-reality, and then I have my reality.’”
Is it pretty easy for you to turn it off and let it go when filming is over? The show can get pretty charged.
“I will say it was easier last year to turn it off. This year, I’m really in the mix, so it has been a lot harder. I do feel like I’m closer with 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, too, so I usually call them if I’m having a really hard time. They always have great advice.”
Well, speaking of Madison, 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?
“All the time! After my first season, I came to the realization that I have both blonde blindness and tan blindness. I told myself I needed to stop getting spray tans; I needed to stop bleaching my hair. And in the finale for this season, I saw a clip of my makeup, and I was like: ‘Oh, great, my face does not match my neck. That’s perfect!’”
I’m assuming you have to wear a lot of makeup for the show, for appearances and all that good stuff. Is there any skin care that you really love for washing your face and keeping it clear?
“I use all Skin Pharm products. That’s where I get all my treatments, but I’m, luckily, blessed with good skin. I do fall asleep in my makeup a lot, but it doesn’t seem to affect me, which is great… I know that isn’t good. I will say, though, my favorite thing to get is the Gold Infusion Facial at Skin Pharm. I get them all the time, and it really makes my skin glowy and clear. Then I also get the BBL laser. I usually do three sessions in the winter, which I love. I think it’s a game-changer. I’m going to them tomorrow, actually, to get a facial before the reunion because that’s coming up soon.”
You’ve been pretty vocal about aesthetics, treatments and your whole journey. Is there any advice you’d like to give to anyone considering plastic surgery or other aesthetic procedures?
“If it makes you happy, do it! But I do think it’s very important to find someone that you feel very safe with and someone who is going to be honest with you. I will go to my girl, and I’ll be like, ‘Can I get some more filler?’ And she tells me no! She’s like: ‘No, slow down on the lip filler, girl,’ and I love that about her.
Obviously, I’ve had my breasts done twice. I got them done three years ago, then had them removed because I regretted it—but that’s the thing. You should still be 100 percent sure you’re doing it 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 get cheek filler, and when I look back at pictures, I don’t love it. So, I don’t get cheek filler anymore. I’m about to get my lip filler dissolved, and I’m really scared. I’m worried my lips will look super thin without lip filler, but we’ll see. It’s something I am going to try, and if I don’t like it, I can go back and get it.”
That’s great advice: do what makes you happy, and make sure you go to someone good.
“Yes! I actually really appreciate people who will check you and say no.”
You’re at the point in the season where filming wraps and the reunion is next. Are you excited to close out the season?
“I am! Look, this is what I signed up for, but sometimes things don’t look so great when it airs. I am mainly excited to go and clear the air with everyone. I’m also really excited for the end of the season—this season is so exciting and fun and messy, and you haven’t even seen the Mexico episode yet. Just wait for Mexico! Y’all are in for it.”
