Five Things (7.24.26)

Chanel Rouge Coco Hydra Glosses, Éclectique & Reflet + Les Beiges Water-Fresh Skin Tint + Les Beiges Healthy Glow Blush + Stylo Sourcils Haute Précision Brow Pencil + Limited-Edition Summer Essentials Woven Basket

1. Editorialist commissioned a curation of my Chanel summer beauty essentials, which I put together with utmost pleasure. It’s not an advertorial, to be clear. I’ve loved the line since I was in junior high, and after 15 years of working in the industry (including testing and consulting on new product development for other brands), Chanel makeup and skincare never fail to impress. If you have the expendable income, it’s worth exploring. Their limited edition shades are as collectible as they are wearable—but if you’re interested in building a reliable, everyday edit, these are the products I recommend trying first:

• 1 complexion product. Depending on your skin’s needs, either Les Beiges Water-Fresh Skin Tint to even out tone and achieve a healthy radiance, or Sublimage Le Correcteur Yeux for concealing under-eye shadows, dark spots, age spots, and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. Both formulas require just the tiniest amount (half a pump for the former, half a pea for the latter), so you get incredible mileage out of your investment.
• 1-2 cheek products. I’m never not raving about Baume Essentiel in Transparent for highlighting cheeks, lids, and collarbones (but also, to dab over any visible cakiness to freshen up concealer or foundation). For color: N°1 de Chanel Cheek & Lip Balm, hands down. It’s not so creamy that it smudges and slides throughout the day, but it offers just enough slip so you can easily blend without emphasizing texture. All of the shades are gorgeous, truly—although Purple Energy feels most unique to Chanel, and is exquisite on medium to deep skin. On my skin (light-medium, warm undertones), it turns into a natural, berry flush.
• 1 lip product. The long-wear lip liner is it. Again, shade options are beautifully curated, and the wear time is exceptional. I consider myself quite the lip liner connoisseur, and this is number one on my top-three list.

2. I’ve been sharing a few of my outfits lately, an endeavor that has caused quite the internal turmoil and much self-convincing, even with encouraging friends and colleagues. I love Fashion-with-a-Capital-F, and I love clothes, but I’m not particularly stylish—let alone fashionable. (I have taste, I swear! But my appreciation for the truly interesting and culturally significant manifests in my reference library [of fashion books] and less so, my closet.)

It’s been more fun than I’d thought, however vapid it feels posing for my phone. I’m masquerading as a blogger of the 2010s (which I was, to a degree, and under the guise of anonymity—but I wrote about fashion instead of wearing it), and I get to play show and tell with some of my favorite pieces.

3. We are so ruled by consumerism that discernment is lacking. No brand is perfect, and little good comes from late-stage capitalism—but I’m genuinely curious as to how the masses continue to flock toward brands that have always seemed off to me (be it the founder, product ethics or formulas, and otherwise). I don’t blame the shopper, though; between American public schooling, media culture, and the machines behind the constant content cycle, humans are facing a Goliath. It’s also not easy choosing between evils—but solid bodycare has existed well before Naturium and will, after.  (I’ve always been unimpressed by the fanfare, but I know it’s because I’ve tried a lot of great skincare—and have always had an active-based routine.)

My best tip: Layer a facial serum (like an AHA, BHA, or retinol) under a cheap and cheerful body cream for an extra dose of effective, targeted body care. But if you’re interested in venturing out, below are my top recommendations. I wouldn’t even call them alternatives; these brands (particularly the products linked) are superior in overall efficacy and experience:

• Drugstore: Amlactin, Curél (specifically the Asian formulas), Trader Joe’s
• Prestige: Nécessaire, Soft Services
• Luxury: Tronque, Mienne

4. Speaking of consumerism: I’ve finally succumbed to using ShopMy. Less so for the affiliate perks, but to finally organize and keep track of all my recommendations for IRL suggestions. If you purchase anything from a direct link, I’ll be as surprised as I am eternally grateful for the trust and support—but please don’t feel obligated. Use a new link or search for the product title on another platform; I’ll always recommend sitting with a want before it becomes a need, and doing your own research, too.

But…! My pre-loved recommendations have been researched with time and care. When I post about vintage or designer items, I take great pride in finding comparable alternatives or, when feasible, near-exact matches at the best possible price and condition. So do shop my pick if it speaks to you, even if it’s not the affiliate link! I promise I’ve sleuthed the entirety of the Internet before I hit publish.

5. I have immense gratitude for where I am. Sixteen-year-old me never could have imagined that I’m still blogging (however intermittently) while working in beauty and media—but she also wouldn’t be surprised. This career and life, so far, have been everything I’ve dreamt of, and more.

.   .   .

xx