New Year, New Beauty
Products and treatments we're loving, a cozy supper, the $13 scarf you need and more
Dear friends,
How is it already the end of January? We’ve been cold, concerned and all over the map while trying to lock into the new year. You may know Lunar New Year starts today and that 2025 brings the Year of the Snake. Real snakes may give us intense heebie-jeebies, but their symbolism of transformation and regeneration couldn’t come at a better time. Beauty rituals have a way of grounding us so we can face the day and whatever change it brings. Based on our annual reader survey, we know you agree and want more on this topic. So we thought it the perfect moment to swap notes on what we’ve been loving, testing and trying of late. Drop us a comment and tell us what else needs to be on our list! Here’s to more caring for ourselves and each other as the year unfolds.
Xoxo,
Kate & Elizabeth
Elizabeth says:
I just refreshed my Dysport after more than a year and swear it lasted so long because of my daily dose of zinc. My sunspots have also stayed suspiciously at bay for which I’m giving all glory to Maelove The Glowmaker Vitamin C Serum with Ferulic acid. This Skinceuticals dupe is the first step in my morning skincare routine, followed by The Outset Firming Vegan Collagen Prep Serum that, like most celebrity brands, I had low expectations of until receiving a sample packet from Sephora. It’s hydrating and softening and really does seem to plump everything up in a good way. Next comes a pump of INNBEAUTY PROJECT Extreme Cream which was the beauty darling of social media last year. I usually choose face oil over cream for the moisturizing benefits but this one actually does the job along with a non-irritating dose of bio-retinol. GOOPGLOW Vita-C Brightening Eye Cream is absolutely lovely: illuminating but lightweight enough to leave my mascara and concealer alone. I plan to repurchase when the time comes! In the makeup department, I recently rediscovered just how spectacular Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Definer is. I use a fraction of the product compared to other pencils because it covers a ton of territory and blends so well with a few strokes. Finding the right shade also makes a big difference (I use Chocolate) but my rule of thumb for ease and a natural effect is to match your brow color or go a smidge darker when in doubt. I’ve never understood those Gen Zers on TikTok who don’t rest until they own the entire collection of a brand’s lip balm or gloss, but I might be influenced by Summer Fridays Lip Butter, my ideal hybrid of shiny and moisturizing in flavors that take me back to the 90s. I have Vanilla and Pink Sugar and my eye on Brown Sugar when it’s back in stock, since it looks like it would complement my new favorite Olive and June nail polish hue, JJ, a figgy number that magically goes with everything. For my next act, I’ll be testing out this viral neck cream for y’all and will report back!
Kate Says:
By taking you back to the 90s do you mean Lip Smackers?! I sure hope so. (Yes, yes I do.) Remember simpler times when a bubble gum Lip Smacker was pretty much the most delightful thing on earth? Also I’mma need to grab that Anastasia brow definer. When I’m in between tinting and waxing, I tend to neglect my brows. This stops now. You know what else stops now? Ignoring my rosacea. Last week I tried a Venus Viva treatment which uses tiny needles and radio frequency to boost collagen and reduce the appearance of broken capillaries. After a few days of tightness and slathering Aquaphor all over my face to recover, I’m liking the early results. For daily skin care, I somehow veered off the time-tested combo of vitamin C in the morning (protect) and vitamin A in the evening (renew). I’m back on track, but this time with a Dr. Dennis Gross serum and experimenting between a retinol and Retin-A. As for makeup, I listened when Elizabeth told us about Violette_Fr Bisou Balm and now I can’t live without it. Since I’m on a matte eye shadow kick, I’m def checking out yeux paint while trying to keep a lid on too many extraneous cosmetic purchases. Let this year be one of simplicity amid all the renewal.
P.S.
Cold-weather comfort food at its finest. Ted Danson is absolutely darling as The Man Inside. So is his conversation with Quinta Brunson. Weird we’re crushing on Sam Malone? Yes to personalized styling for piercings. More reasons to pop some psyllium husk. Urgently need a new jumpsuit to dress up or down. The coziest, extra-long scarf (on sale for $13!) A moment of tenderness we can all use right now. Proof that all middle-school boys hate coats. Sam Fender’s forthcoming album is already giving The Boss x U2 and we dig it. Aging parents? Help is here! Caddis named a color boxwine. Lol. We are, indeed, riveted.