Beauty
Beauty
Cicaplast Baume B5 and the Quiet Pharmacy Logic Behind My Barrier Shelf
Cicaplast Baume B5 is the La Roche-Posay balm I use when my skin feels thin, tight or a little shocked. Here are the creams that share its calm approach, the serums and toners that build a stronger barrier underneath, and the lip treatments that finish the job.
La Roche-Posay: A Spring, a Pharmacist and the Calm Shelf I Keep Returning To
La Roche-Posay grew out of a French thermal spring town and a pharmacist with a plan, and its plain, low-drama formulas still suit reactive skin. This edit covers the brand's cleansers, moisturizer and serums, then gentle washes from other labels and a set of barrier moisturizers to follow.
The Denman Brush: A Curly-Haired Sister, a Trip to America and Nylon
The Denman brush began with an inventor in Northern Ireland who wanted something better for his sister's curls, and it is still how many of us define a wash-day set. Here are the four classic styles, the round and paddle brushes that do other jobs, and the gels that make brushing through curls work.
A Nurse, a Kitchen Table and Mielle Shampoo: How One Founder Built a Hair Empire
Mielle shampoo comes from a brand that Monique Rodriguez launched in 2014 as a registered nurse with a kitchen vision. Here are the four Mielle bottles I would look at first, the rosemary and scalp-care washes from other brands, and the oils and serums that follow.
A Rome Address on Every Bottle: Valentino Born in Roma, Donna and Uomo
Valentino Born in Roma is a fragrance line named after the city where the fashion house was founded. This edit walks through the Donna bottles, the Uomo ones, and two other Valentino perfumes for when you want to wander a little further.
Glue On Nails That Survive a Week of Typing
Glue on nails have come a long way, and a good set can last about a week if you prep properly. Here are the French tips and sheer nudes, the color, cat eye and print sets, and the cuticle oils that keep your own nails healthy between rounds.
Cleansing Oil Is the Fastest Way to Get Sunscreen and Mascara Off
Cleansing oil melts sunscreen, foundation and waterproof mascara in about a minute and rinses off milky, without leaving skin tight. Here are the oils I trust, the gentle second cleansers that finish the job, and the hydrating toners and essences to press in after.
Eyebrow Razors, Tweezers and the Brow Gel That Finishes the Job
An eyebrow razor is the fastest way to clean up the soft fuzz around your brows, and it works best alongside a good tweezer for the strays. Here are the razors and trimmers, the tweezers, scissors and brushes, and the gels and pencils that make brows look full once the shape is clean.
Wow Hair Products for the Whole Wash Day
Wow hair products from COLOR WOW, laid out as a full wash day from the pre-shampoo step to the finishing spray.
Lash Lift: The French Salon Trick That Moved Into Your Bathroom
The French salon lash lift now fits in a bathroom drawer through at-home kits, serums and lifting mascaras. Begin with the kit and keep a curler and a mascara near for the days between.
Lemme Gummies Began as a Trio of Gummies and a Long Bath
Lemme gummies arrived in September 2022 as a trio of gummies, and the range has grown a lot since. Here is how I think about the whole range, the silk masks and bath soaks I pair with the evening ones, and the magnesium spray and bath oil that round out a slow night.
Lume Deodorant: The OB-GYN's Answer to a Question Nobody Would Ask Out Loud
A board-certified OB-GYN built Lume after hearing the same quiet questions in her exam room. Creams, sticks and a spray sit beside other deodorants worth comparing and the body washes in the same routine.
Hair Wax, Pomade or Clay: Which Hold Belongs on Your Shelf
Hair wax, pomade, clay and paste all promise hold, but they finish very differently. Here are the light waxes I start with, the shiny pomades, and the matte clays and pastes for texture.
Baccarat Rouge 540 Dupe: Saffron and Amber Alternatives for Fall
A Baccarat Rouge 540 dupe edit covering saffron and amber eau de parfums, sweet airy ambers, mists, oils and amber candles from other labels. I would start with the notes, then pick the format that fits how I actually wear scent.
Tom Ford Perfume Dupe: Cherry, Tobacco, Jasmine and Dark Florals From Other Houses
This Tom Ford perfume dupe edit gathers look-alike fragrances from other houses in five families: cherry, tobacco vanilla, leather, jasmine and dark florals. I wrote it for anyone who loves the original's moods and wants to find their own version.
Diptyque Candle Dupe: The Oval-Label Look in Fig, Rose and Wood
This Diptyque candle dupe edit covers fig, berry and rose, and woody candles, plus room sprays and reed diffusers from other labels that share the oval-label look. I would start with one fig candle and build the shelf from there.
Le Labo Another 13 Dupe: Skin Musks Born From a Magazine Commission
This Le Labo Another 13 dupe edit gathers look-alike musks, ambroxan scents, mists, oils and body care from other labels. I started with the 2010 magazine commission and what makes the scent tick.
Creed Aventus Dupe: Pineapple, Birch and the Search for a Look-Alike
This Creed Aventus dupe edit gathers pineapple, patchouli and citrus-wood perfumes, plus hair mists and travel sprays, from other labels that share the original's defining notes. I would start with a sample size and judge the dry-down before anything else.
Initio Musk Therapy Dupe: Creamy White Musk Looks to Layer This Fall
An Initio Musk Therapy dupe edit covering white musk perfumes, amber musks, mists, oils and lotions in the same creamy family. I would start with one scent and one layering piece, then judge it at the dry-down.
The Creamy White Floral: Tuberose, Jasmine and Soft Skin Scents
This edit gathers tuberose, jasmine and other white-floral perfumes, plus body mists and rollerballs. I would start with a creamy tuberose and let it settle on my skin before deciding.
The Lavender-Orange Blossom Perfume: Warm Florals for Fall
This edit gathers lavender, orange blossom, vanilla and musk perfumes, mists and rollerballs for a warm floral scent wardrobe. I picked easy ways to layer them through October.
The Boozy Gourmand: Spiced Coffee, Vanilla and Rum Perfumes
This edit gathers sweet perfumes with warm spirit notes, spiced coffee, vanilla and soft florals. I would reach for them when I want a gourmand scent with depth and a slow, cozy dry-down.
Le Labo The Noir 29 Dupe: Fig, Black Tea and Vetiver Looks to Wear Instead
This Le Labo The Noir 29 dupe edit covers fig, tea, vetiver, mists and oils that share the notes of the original. I would layer a fig mist over a cedar oil for a cold October walk.
Kayali Vanilla 28 Dupe: Where Orchid, Brown Sugar and Tonka Show Up Next
This Kayali Vanilla 28 dupe edit gathers vanilla perfumes, brown sugar gourmands, amber vanillas, mists and rollerballs built on the same idea as the original. I would read the base notes first and let the dry-down decide.