But after understanding that crusty crust lips were not actually a status quo humanity must simply accept, I was taken in by lip balm. It started with Dr. Pepper Lip Smackers, evolved to Maybelline Kissing Koolers, and then Burts Bee’s, of course. 

When this article from Harling first emerged, I was looking for a new balm to call “The One” and I’m happy to say that my tube of Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask has almost run dry. And that’s not even the balm she crowned queen! So, without further ado, since ‘tis the season to prepare for the chap—peruse below and tell me which one we may have missed out on in the comments.

I was sitting next to Austin on his couch a few weekends ago when I caught myself staring intently at his lips, which looked perfectly pink, pillowy and even slightly glossy despite the fact that it was 35 degrees outside and the radiator was clanking audibly as it pumped dry heat into his apartment. Their appearance was utterly illogical, and the longer I looked at them, the more hyper-aware I became of my own lips, which in stark contrast felt like two raisins rubbing up against each other with enough friction to roast a mini marshmallow.

“What?” he finally asked.

“Your mouth!” I said. “How does it look so…pretty?”

He laughed before revealing the secret to his impeccably moisturized pout: a tiny sample-sized tube of lip balm that he received in an airline goody bag on a recent overnight work trip. Lip balm! A revelation.

I’ve never really been a lip balm person — by which I mean someone who has a go-to product for moisturized lips on hand at all times and applies it religiously. I’ll do an occasional swipe of Chapstick here and there, which helps temporarily, but I haven’t invested time in finding a good lip balm and using it with appropriate vigor. As proved by my boyfriend’s transformed pout, the cure for raisin lips was seemingly simple, but as a journalist dedicated to my craft, I decided to make it complicated: What if I tested a bunch of different lip balms to find not just a good one but the best one? Self-challenge accepted.

To narrow down the process of deciding which ones to test, I hightailed it over to the Lip Balm & Treatment section on Sephora’s website, sorted by “Bestselling” and chose five colorless lip balms based on the average number of stars they received from reviewers (nothing below a 4.3) and based on the number of reviews they received in total (all of them had at least 100 reviews, and a couple had upwards of 4,000). Scroll down for thee unveiling of my personal findings.

1. Dior Addict Lip Sugar Scrub

The bumpy tip of this solid, lipstick-shaped, notably pricey balm felt like a cat’s tongue upon application — textured but in a gentle, pleasing way (feel: 4) — and it tasted like straight-up sugar (taste: 5) So gentle I’m not sure it actually exfoliated my lips, but it felt super nice so I can’t complain. I put it on first thing in the morning before leaving for work and I’m delighted to report it wasn’t overly sticky or goopy — a classic lip balm pitfall that doesn’t mix well with long hair, windchill and a winter commute. The effect was very subtle in the sense that it didn’t make me look like I was wearing lip balm, even immediately after I applied. They just looked not dry, which you’d never notice unless you were keeping tabs on what my lips usually look like (look: 2). I had to reapply after eating lunch, but other than that my lips remained moist for most of the day (effectiveness: 4).

Final score: 15/20

Dior

Lip Sugar Scrub

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2. Kopari Coconut Lip Glossy

I love the taste of coconut, so I thoroughly enjoyed swiping Kopari Coconut Lip Glossy — which is formulated with actual coconut oil — on my lips in the morning (5). The texture was so slippery it almost felt like I had dipper my finger into a pot of melted coconut oil and dabbed it onto my mouth (5). It also made my lips look nice and juicy (5). But all good things come to an end, and unfortunately the effects of Kopari Coconut Lip Glossy came to an end very shortly after I applied (1). Even though I loved the taste and texture, it evaporated too quickly to offer a truly satisfying moisturizing effect, and almost left my lips feeling a little dry after.

Final score: 16/20

Kopari

Coconut Lip Glossy

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3. Bite Beauty Agave Lip Mask

This stuff felt more like a paste than a balm — which I wasn’t mad about (4). I get the same pleasure out of applying a thick lip product to parched lips that I do putting on a heavy moisturizer and watching my winter skin soak it right up. Also, to its credit, despite the thicker texture, it wasn’t overwhelming or messy — and a little went a long way, instantly coating my lips in a subtle sheen (5). It’s billed as an “intensive nightly recovery lip mask” but I first tried it during the day. It tasted exactly like Vanilla Soylent, which I knew because Haley let me try a sip of her Vanilla Soylent earlier that morning (4). I wasn’t wild about the beverage, but I loved the balm, and it lasted a really long time — a fact I registered as I pulled up to JFK after sitting in two hours of bumper-to-bumper traffic (I was flying to Florida for a quick weekend trip), almost forgetting to get my suitcase from the trunk because I was so struck by how soft my lips were when I absentmindedly smacked them together (5). Lip balm! A revelation.

Final score: 18/20

Bite Beauty

Agave+ Intensive Vegan Lip Mask

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4. Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask

I put this one on right before bed (I figured I should given that “sleeping” was in its name). It didn’t really taste like anything (3), was super shiny and almost wet-feeling, which was interesting but not in a particularly bad way (3). Apparently it’s formulated with technology that forms a protective layer over your lips — neat! I could definitely notice a difference the next day when I woke up and could immediately identify the outline of my mouth when I looked into the mirror (as opposed to most winter mornings when it tends to blend in) (4). I don’t tend to love lip products that come in pots because I hate when my fingers have to get involved for reasons relating to both germs and stickiness, but other than that this is a great balm (4).

Final score: 14/20

Laneige

Lip Sleeping Mask

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5. Kiehl’s Lip Balm #1

This lip balm was love at first smack. Even though it didn’t have any discernible taste (3) and I’m a freak for sweet lip treats, it had the perfect consistency (not too sticky but also not so subtle that I’m denied the satisfaction of walking around with lips that resemble the inside of a pomegranate) (5), and it seems to last for hours (5). I kept taking selfies whenever I went outside because I was obsessed with how my mouth looked like it was July even though it was early March and still bitterly cold (5). Have I mentioned this balm costs $9.50? Rhetorical question, but feel free to answer with your desired degree of enthusiasm.

Final score: 18/20

Kiehl’s

Lip Balm #1

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In conclusion, the Bite Beauty Agave Mask and Kiehl’s Lip Balm #1 are tied for my top contender. I actually probably liked the Kiehl’s one best of all because of how it made my lips look (a priority criterion for my lip balm preferences, I’ve learned), but would highly recommend the Bite one for anyone who prioritizes delicious taste when it comes to lip products. Any other beloved lip balms out there I should try? If recent temperatures are any indication, we still have a long way to go before I’m licensed to go without.

Photos via Harling Ross.

The post My Research Is In: The Perfect Lip Balm Exists and It Costs $9.50 appeared first on Repeller.

Have you ever used the “touch up my appearance” filter on Zoom? I didn’t know it existed until a month ago, which I guess makes sense since I didn’t know Zoom existed until a month ago, but it was a source of immediate fascination. All you have to do is check a box in Zoom’s system preferences, and your face is transformed from “just your face” to “your face in heaven”–i.e. lit and blurred to perfection, as if you were standing in the presence of a holy being.

I don’t keep the box permanently checked (TBH, I’m afraid I’ll forget what my real face looks like), but I’m not immune to the allure of its magic-adjacent effects. So, when I was conversing with an MR Thoughtline subscriber who casually mentioned she had found the beauty product equivalent of the Zoom “touch up my appearance” filter, I sat up straight at my makeshift desk. According to Zoom, the “touch up my appearance” filter “smooths out the skin tone on your face, to present a more polished-looking appearance.” Apparently Ilia’s Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 does the exact same thing–but in real life.

“It’s like a tinted moisturizer but has squalane and niacinimide and hyaluronic acid and SPF!!!!” my new beauty advisor gushed. “It’s makeup that doubles as skincare. And you don’t need to do anything else to your face for it to look good–it’s like you’ve done a whole routine, but it’s only one product, and it comes in 18 shades.”

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I was sold at “squalane”—which, for the uninitiated, is a natural emollient that locks moisture into your skin. So I requested a sample and have worn it every day for a week. Let me state for the record: This stuff is BETTER than the Zoom filter. It doesn’t make you look like you’re standing in the presence of a holy being, it makes you look like you are a holy being–or at the very least like you swallowed a flashlight. I’ve never experienced such an instant uptick in glow, as if I’ve just come back from a spa instead of just coming back from my second trip to the pantry for snacks. It’s a band-aid for lack of Vitamin D if there ever was one (the fact that it contains SPF at a time I’ve never needed sun protection less is an irony that will hopefully pay off later).

My only qualm with it is the consistency, which is pretty thick (I usually opt for sheer coverage when I wear makeup), but it melts into my skin like–yes–a #stickofbutter, so there’s none of the terrible cakey texture that often comes with full-coverage foundations. The product becomes part of my skin instead of sitting on it, if that makes sense?? Anyways, this stuff is great. I’m looking forward to wearing it for more auspicious occasions than virtual work meetings and dinner with my immediate family, but in the meantime it’s the ideal pick-me-up for my perpetually pajama-clad state of existence.

The post I Heard About It on Thoughtline: A Serum That Makes Your Skin Look… Perfect appeared first on Repeller.

Today, I talked to Vivek Shraya, a creative multihyphenate (writer-musician-visual artist) hard at work on a new non-fiction book and adapting her debut play as a TV pilot. A tenth-anniversary edition of her book God Loves Hair is coming out this fall.

How has your writing process changed since the pandemic?

My main writing project at the moment is a new manuscript and for a book that’s supposed to come out with Penguin next fall. When the pandemic first hit, I was relieved to have something like that to keep me focused, but over time I have found that my creative energy has really dwindled. Writing has felt a lot more challenging and cumbersome because I don’t have the same ability to focus. I’m also missing the spark I used to get from the other aspects of my work–touring and performing and connecting with people. Without that, I’m finding that the artistic process is suffering.

The amount I’m writing day to day ebbs and flows as a result. First drafts can be painful even in the best of circumstances, but I try to keep the perspective that I’m fortunate to be at home and do the work that I’m doing in the first place.

Have you felt more pressure than usual to write/create during this time of isolation?

One of the unusual things about this pandemic is that the think pieces about it–and about productivity during it–are being written in real time. The way I manage my anxiety tends to be through creativity, so my response to this initial feedback loop on social media was to be like, “Oh OK, well I guess I better use this time to write three books and 16 songs.” And I started making a list of all these projects that I needed to work on in order to really take advantage of this time. I feel really grateful to the amazing writers and thinkers who quickly pushed back against that kind of thinking and reminded everyone that a pandemic is not the same thing as a writing retreat. That’s been important for me to acknowledge when my writing doesn’t feel particularly strong or fluid right now. I’m trying to write during a time when my mental health is not in the best space.

How and where have you been finding creative inspiration these days?

I’ve been watching a lot of TV. I felt very guilty about it at first, but my friends who are super generous told me it counts as “research,” because one of the other projects I’m working on right now is a pilot script adaptation of my play. Having given that connection more thought, I’ll also say that watching TV helps me think about chapters I’m writing as scenes. I’m more attuned to considering what the scene I’m writing looks like, and what I’m trying to convey with it. I never thought about writing from that perspective before, so I credit TV for the inspiration.

What’s something you’ve written recently that you’re especially proud of (even if it’s just a sentence!)?

I managed to finish the first draft of my new book of nonfiction for Penguin. I can’t say that the writing is extraordinary at this point–it’s very much a first draft–but any writing feels like a huge accomplishment right now. It feels nice to be like, “Well, at least I did this one thing.”

What’s the best thing you’ve read recently?

Girl Woman Other by Bernadine Evaristo, which was inspiring while I’ve been writing just because of the way her style is so fragmented, and how she pushes against the expectations of the sentence.

A book of poetry that just came out by Amber Dawn called My Art is Killing Me, which examines the connection between art production and capitalism in a really beautiful way.

And finally, Our Past Matters: Stories of Gay Calgary. Here in Canada I feel like so much of queer history or the LGBTQ history is rooted in Ontario or Toronto, but there’s gay history everywhere. It’s been really interesting to read about the history that’s taken place in my home province and where I’m living right now, especially because Pride season here is in September.

What advice would you give to young or aspiring writers who are trying to write something right now?

I think the biggest advice I would give is the same advice I’ve been trying to give myself: It’s okay not to write. It’s okay not to be creative. There’s so much pressure right now to be doing something, and I think it’s important for us to push against that as much as possible. So constantly remind yourself that it’s okay not to write, and it’s okay not to be creative, and it’s okay to watch TV and for it not to be inspiring.

The post How to Write (or Not!) During a Pandemic #3: Vivek Shraya appeared first on Repeller.

Today, I interviewed Shenequa A. Golding, who’s currently crafting the sample chapter for an in-progress book proposal and weighing the benefits of maple syrup entrepreneurship against the vicissitudes of the writer’s life.

How has your writing process changed since the pandemic?

Ever since Big Rona pulled up everything is different, but fortunately for me, it’s different in a good way. I underestimated how much mental space simply commuting to work actually took up. Now, I can wake up 30 minutes before a Zoom meeting, make my bed, brush my teeth, throw my locs in a bun, and “be on time” for work without being sleep deprived. I write more now than before, but that’s because I’ve got more side projects going on (all of which I’m thankful for). And due to quarantine I can focus on them.

This is going to sound crazy, but I’m a homebody. While a lot of people feel like they’re missing out on a free trip to Disneyland, ya girl is chillin! I have no desire to cross paths with Big Rona so I stay at home. I take early morning walks sometimes and that helps set the tone for a good day, but other than that I’m cool. I don’t need to go outside. As far as my attire, I haven’t consistently worn a bra in a few months and you know what? I feel like this is a small victory.

In March, a tweet went viral about how Shakespeare wrote King Lear when he was quarantined with the plague. Have you felt more pressure than usual to write/create during this time of isolation? (If yes, how has that manifested? If no, how have you avoided falling into the insidious trap of hustle culture?)

Well listen, William and his King Lear can go kick rocks! What they don’t tell you about writing is that the words come when they come. It doesn’t matter how disciplined you are, the real words, the words that light the page on fire, they show up when they’re good and damn well ready, at least for me they do. There are times when I sit at a blank Google doc and the blinking cursor is just staring at me. Then there are other times when I can write 1200 words without breaking a sweat.

What partially drew me to this occupation was the solitude. I’ve always been able to get more done alone than I can with groups, and since quarantine, yes, I’ve completed a lot, but not because I wanted to compete with Shakespeare—not all, bro.

Also in March, GQ staff writer Zach Baron wrote an essay entitled, “How Do You Write About People When You Can’t Be Near Them?” This question applies to his line of work quite literally since he writes a lot of profiles, but given that all writing–to some extent–stems from being out in the world and observing it closely, how and where have you been finding creative inspiration these days?

Inspiration is like, whatever to me. Yes, you need something or someone to ignite that creativity. I won’t dilute that, but if your writing is solely based on inspiration then I think that’s going to make things harder for you. Writing, I think, should be about storytelling and (personally) an unflinching curiosity. My creativity comes via conversations with brilliant folks, or reading books. I don’t really search for inspiration much. Instead, I try to turn question marks into periods. It doesn’t always work, but I try.

What’s something you’ve written recently that you’re especially proud of (even if it’s just a sentence!)?

I have a literary agent now, which is bananagrams to even say, and I’m crafting my book proposal, which is a lot harder than I originally thought. Anyhoo, I’m putting together a sample chapter and my agent said it was a good first pass, which is code for “Yeah, no, this isn’t going to cut it,” but that’s fine. For me, being able to write about something that was so hurtful (and something that I’m still dealing with) was a huge part of my healing. So yes, it wasn’t great, but I’m proud of myself for even vomiting up those words.

What’s the best thing you’ve read recently?

Without a doubt, Brit Bennett’s The Vanishing Half. I want to fight Stella and I know she’s not a real person.

What advice would you give to young or aspiring writers who are trying to write something right now?

Don’t do it. People don’t read like they used to. They don’t value the written word as much. It’s all about pageviews, catchy headlines, and viral tweets. Being a writer is a lost art. Be smart. Go to law school. Go to med school. Drive a bus. Become a vet. Develop an app. Marry rich. Start a maple syrup conglomerate. Do something that’s lucrative. Being a writer is thankless, and there’s no real way to ensure that you’ll make it or make any real money doing it. Save yourself the hassle.

And if you believed any of what I just wrote, kick yourself. If you want to be a writer you can do it. All you have to do is… write. You got this!

The post How to Write (or Not!) During a Pandemic #2: Shenequa A. Golding appeared first on Repeller.

This last pressure has always weighed the most heavily. Post-high school, I never really had a “crew”–the extensive friend network that lends itself to massive group chats and 20-person dinners. Instead I have what I’ll call “pods,” small groups of roughly 2-4 friends from different areas or phases of my life, each tucked into their own neat little orbit and only colliding on rare occasions like birthdays or weddings. Combining friend groups is hard. Making new, genuine friends as an adult is even harder–for me, at least. I used to consider this a big issue, one I spoke about to therapists and incorporated into New Year’s resolutions: Put yourself out there more! Ask someone out for coffee! Act now or doom your social circle to permanent smallness!

It only recently occurred to me that this particular anxiety–the one that says everyone is out there making new friends and combining friends and being extroverted except me–hasn’t buzzed in my chest like a wasp in months. After the revelation hit, I started thinking about the future of friendship. I’ve been thinking about how it’s going to work over the next year, and what I want my relationship with it to be.

Friendship feels more important than ever, but in a completely different way. There’s still a sense of pressure, but one that is more internal-facing–one that asks me not what I’m doing to make more friends, but instead what I’m doing to serve the friends I already have. How can I make them feel seen and appreciated when I can’t actually see them in person right now? How can I give more and ask for less? Am I reaching out only when I need something, or when I think they might need something? Maybe “pressure” isn’t the right word, because that tends to have a negative connotation, and there is nothing negative-feeling about this desire. It feels more like a kind of yearning, born from the tender space between missing and wanting to be missed in return.

I’m still learning how to get it right, this friendship thing, especially in such a strange and isolated time. But I’m grateful for the perspective–the proverbial kick in the pants reminding me that while making new friends will always be a worthy pursuit, re-investing some of that time and energy into the ones I already have and love is often even worthier. I’m also curious how other people are negotiating their respective relationships with the joys and pressures of friendship right now. Are you struggling to stay in touch with friends, or has it come easily? Have you made any new friends? If you felt like you needed to before, do you still feel that now? Have your friendships been enriched by communicating in quarantine or strained? How will the future of adult friendship and what we expect it to look and feel like will be impacted by this collective experience? Let’s discuss in the comments.

Feature photo via Fox Network.

The post Open Thread: How Are Your Friendships Changing? appeared first on Repeller.

Mary is a writer living in Brooklyn, New York. Check out her Instagram here and her website here.

How has your writing process changed since the pandemic began?

I no longer write as if being chased by a pack of wild dogs. There used to be so much urgency. If I didn’t get my thoughts down, I was scared they’d evaporate and crop-dust someone else who’d get to claim them. It was always zero sum with me, or that scarcity mentality. A lot of that energy has dissipated. The truth is I’m in grief and that makes me prone to depressive waves so everything is going much slower.

I used to write everywhere. Cafés, cars, anywhere in my house. Draped on the sofa, propped by a weird arm, getting pins and needles in both haunches. Or else at the dinner table, making my partner crazy. Lately, I write at my dedicated desk because I’m inviting some intentionality to the practice mostly because it’s so hard to want to write. I purchased a proper laptop stand and a separate keyboard and mouse and admittedly it’s been good for morale that my neck and shoulders aren’t in constant agony.

The “getting dressed for work” thing has been going in waves. At the outset I was feeling feral and gremlin-ish but now I’m putting outfits together and conventional wisdom is prevailing because I do feel better.

Eating meals at meal-times has also been helpful. And taking the full break and not doom-scrolling alongside the chewing. I’ve been buying beautiful produce and marveling at how ludicrously delicious peaches and tomatoes are. It’s a good way to check into my body when I’m dissociative.

In March, a tweet went viral about how Shakespeare wrote King Lear when he was quarantined with the plague. Have you felt more pressure than usual to write and create during this time of isolation? 

Hustle culture isn’t the wave anymore. Not by a long shot. Now it’s discernment and shrewd allocation of resources and boundaries galore. Energy is finite. It’s a somatically real and depleting thing to keep one eye on the election and another little antenna honed on a literal global plague.

I wasn’t immune to the fantasy that I’d get really, really jacked. Or else learn a language or take a course on playwriting, but then June swung around with zero progress and I realized that so much of it had to do with making this pandemic “worth it.” But no matter how much I try to avoid how scary and sad and fucked up this situation is, I can’t.

Plus, I realized I was trying to “be good.” As if I can cut a deal with the universe, like, if I behave and act diligently and piously and do my work then surely, the pandemic will desist in a reasonable amount of time, like three months? That was just a bullet train to heartache and rage.

GQ staff writer Zach Baron wrote an essay entitled, “How Do You Write About People When You Can’t Be Near Them?” This question applies to his line of work quite literally since he writes a lot of profiles, but given that all writing–to some extent–stems from being out in the world and observing it closely, how and where have you been finding creative inspiration these days?

Reading has been such a tonic. I’m grateful to borrow books from the library through the Libby app. Initially I was so mad at not being able to go to the physical library that I stubbornly refused to borrow e-books but I got over it. My TBR pile is so robust right now, and I love catching up on all the books I’d intended to read but missed the boat on. When I’m stuck on writing I read. I steal things. Check for grammatical quirks or transitions that I admire.

I’m also watching a ton of movies. Like, Takeshi Kitano’s mob series, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, The Last Picture Show, Badlands, Barry Lyndon. I’m learning to work without committing words to the page. Film is so instructive for proxemics and micro-expressions and the tension between what people are saying and what they’re doing.

Talking to good friends consistently has also been fruitful. My characters tend to become neurotic in a one-note way the more I isolate. It’s not as surreptitiously delightful as things you overhear or observe on mass transit, but going for walks around New York will always inspire me.

What’s something you’ve written recently that you’re especially proud of (even if it’s just a sentence!)?

Well, I finished my third novel Yolk (available now for pre-order ahem), which was surreal since it’s all about illness and death and asking for help. I had to take week-long breaks in between edits because it was brutal and uncomfortable to sit inside of, but I’m proud of what came out of it.

I also wrote an essay about Korean author and performance artist, Theresa Hak Kyung Cha, for Doris Ho Kane and the 17.21 book that she’s doing about Asian women iconoclasts. I got so imposter syndrome-y and anxious because I don’t feel as though I’m a high-brow enough critic or essayist, but Doris seemed pumped with what I filed so I’m thrilled.

What’s the best thing you’ve read recently?

Holy shit. Convenience Store Woman by Sayaka Murata was great. I was so sad when it ended. It was one of those where you’re just stuck on what to follow it up with because the mood is so specific.

What advice would you give to young or aspiring writers who are trying to write something right now?

Let go or get dragged. It’s healthy and realistic to have a consistent practice but I’ve also learned that every piece of work has its own particular rhythms that you’d do well to honor. I’ve wasted a lot of time setting agendas that the writing is largely indifferent to. Some things I only get one good hour a day on. Others I need to write long-hand because word docs or final drafts feel too stultifying or scary. Nothing is a value judgment or an indictment against your skills or progress. Creative works just have their own particular personalities. Plus, my circumstances and influences change along the way as well. I don’t know about you, but this is my first pandemic.

The other thing that I hate doing but am learning to lean on and value is asking for extensions. I ask as early as possible out of respect for everyone’s time because doing a weird, mincing dance when I know in my heart I’m going to blow the deadline is a disservice to everyone.

Also, I’m a big believer in the vomit draft. The first version won’t be good. You’re not as good as the You you’ll become once you’ve written the thing. The better You will do the edits and that’s how it works.

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The post Writers on Writing (And Not Writing) Right Now: Mary H.K. Choi appeared first on Repeller.

One of the perks of working at a women’s media outlet is having access to a lot of beauty samples. Moisturizers, sunscreens, toners, cleansers, mascaras, lipsticks, blushes, bronzers — you name it, it’s probably made its way onto my desk at some point, and beauty isn’t even my main beat. A beauty editor could easily stop purchasing products altogether and simply coast on samples alone; and for the most part, I’m sure many of them do.

However, I know from my own experience and from talking to beauty editors in the industry that there are crucial exceptions to this modus operandi — products that are so beloved an editor will continue to purchase them, despite a closet full of free samples waiting in the wings. Products that have stood out amidst all the testing and experimenting as “Holy Grail” staples worthy of personal investment. These are the products I’m most interested in hearing about, because I know that if beauty editors are spending money on them, they’re truly the best of the best. Ergo, I asked seven beauty editors whose skin I admire on a very regular basis to tell me the one product they’re so obsessed with they consistently repurchase it. Scroll down to read what they said.

Thatiana Diaz

Thatiana is a beauty writer at Refinery29.

 

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A post shared by Thatiana Diaz (@thatiana.diaz) on Jan 28, 2019 at 4:58pm PST

What is the one beauty product you will always spend your own money on? I have sensitive, acne-prone skin, so my dermatologist has always stressed that I use noncomedogenic beauty products, which don’t clog the pores. When looking for one in the drugstore, I discovered La Roche Posay’s Toleriane Double Repair Face Moisturizer with SPF. It seemed fancy enough where I felt like I was investing in my skincare but was still ideal for my budget. This shopping experience was years ago, and I haven’t been able to replace this moisturizer, even with all the new launches that come across my desk as a beauty writer.

How long does it typically last you before you have to repurchase? It lasts me about two to three months before I repurchase.

What makes it so obsession-worthy? While my co-workers complain about the dry office air often in the winter, I’ve never felt their woes (thankfully). This moisturizer quenches my skin and keeps it hydrated in all conditions, even the harshest weather, which is ideal in New York City. It also gives my sensitive skin a level of comfort every time I apply it, so I know that I’ll never forget to wear it every morning. And using the version with SPF gives me sun protection without having to apply an extra product.

How do you typically use it in your routine? It’s the last step in my daytime routine after cleanser, toner, and serum. I don’t apply it at night as that’s when I’m treating my skin concerns with acne treatments. If you have combination skin, be strategic with your moisturizer. Give extra attention to your drier areas (for me, that’s my cheeks) and lightly apply on your more oily spots.

Hallie Gould

Hallie is a senior editor at Byrdie.

 

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A post shared by Hallie Gould (@gouldhallie) on Mar 28, 2019 at 11:11am PDT

What is the one beauty product you will always spend your own money on? It’s no secret [editors are sent] various skincare products as they launch from their respective brands. It’s a perk that’s yielded expensive taste, I’ll admit. But it’s also allowed me to find the few formulas I’d pay to replace, no questions asked. You know that specific type of panic—the kind that sets in when you realize you’re scraping the bottom of your favorite jar, bottle or tube when you need it most? For me, that happens when I’ve used the last of my beloved Renée Rouleau Triple Smoothing Berry Peel. If you’ve read my pieces before, this isn’t the first you’re hearing about this product. If you haven’t, welcome to church.

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How long does it typically last you before you have to repurchase? About three months.

What makes it so obsession-worthy? The peel is one of those magical products that works both instantly and over time. The formula looks and smells like jam, courtesy of all those antioxidant-rich berries with AHAs, BHAs and enzymes, and feels a bit spicy on your skin when you first apply it. But don’t fret. After 10 minutes and a quick rinse, you’ll notice a real, visible change (it brightens, evens, and retexturizes immediately, and, after a few uses, works to fade post-breakout marks, lift discoloration and smooth your skin’s overall surface texture).

How do you typically use it in your routine? I like to use it ahead of a big night out (after cleansing with Emma Hardie’s Moringa Cleansing Balm). It’s a real gem.

Kathleen Hou

Kathleen is the beauty director at New York Magazine’s The Cut.

 

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A post shared by Banana (@bananamag) on Nov 5, 2015 at 9:12am PST

What is the one beauty product you will always spend your own money on? Giorgio Armani’s Luminous Silk Foundation

How long does it typically last you before you have to repurchase? I’ve found that a bottle lasts about a year.

What makes it so obsession-worthy? Years ago, before I was a beauty editor, I would faithfully plop down $60 for Giorgio Armani’s Luminous Silk Foundation. Now that I’m a beauty editor, I’ve tried zillions of foundations, but this remains my favorite (and it’s a favorite of celebrity makeup artists, too). It’s still the easiest to apply (you can even use your hands!) and you’ll get a beautiful, even, glowing seamless base that looks like real skin — or the dream, your skin when it’s on a hormonally balanced, celery juice and exercising five-times-a-week regimen. Armani may not have the 40 shades that Fenty does, but it recently expanded its range. The undertones are formulated just right so they won’t make you look grey or washed out.

How do you typically use it in your routine? I start by dabbing a few dots around my nose and blend out — this is where most people tend to have the most discoloration. I do a light layer first and add on more if need be; it won’t look cakey if I layer on coverage. It’s the foundation I recommend to everyone who wants to see what a fancy foundation can really do.

Lauren Valenti

Lauren is a beauty writer at Vogue.

 

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A post shared by Lauren Valenti (@lauren_valenti) on Feb 16, 2019 at 10:03am PST

What is the one beauty product you will always spend your own money on? Stila Liquid Glitter and Glow Liquid Eyeshadow

How long does it typically last you before you have to repurchase? It definitely depends on how often I’m wearing glitter at a given time. I also have nearly every shade they offer in my repertoire, ha. But I’d say about six months for my best-loved shades.

What makes it so obsession-worthy? There’s this funny misconception about beauty editors that we’re automatically super skilled at doing our own makeup. I mean, I’m not terrible, but eyeshadow is still something that eludes me, especially when there’s shimmer involved. This liquid-gel glitter eyeshadow requires zero expertise for an iridescent disco eye in minutes. Seriously, it’s so easy it does the work for you and makes it look like you know what you’re doing. I’ve waxed on about it with many peers in the industry (I can always spot someone who’s wearing it!) and everyone agrees that it’s a true unicorn product.

How do you typically use it in your routine? I love wearing it when I go out at night, particularly in black-gold Molten Midnight or champagne-y Golden Goddess. It holds up impressively well for glitter, too. I apply it straight from the tube using the doe tip applicator and then quickly diffuse the edges with my ring finger. I tend to keep layering it on for maximum saturation. Also, I’ll sometimes start by smudging black eyeliner pencil on first if I want a smokier effect or a more graphic shape. One thing to note is that it dries really fast, so keep that in mind as you’re blending!

Khalea Underwood

Khalea is a beauty editor at The Zoe Report.

 

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A post shared by Khalea Underwood (@letsbekhalear) on Feb 16, 2019 at 8:54am PST

What is the one beauty product you will always spend your own money on? I’m sure that my friends, coworkers, #instafam, second cousins and the kind lady who bags my favorite beef patty at Golden Krust are all tired of me singing the praises of Glossier’s Boy Brow (in Black). But I can’t help it. For me, it truly is that desert island, can’t-live-without-it product that I absolutely need to have on my face before I leave the house. It comes second to SPF and moisturizer, and I keep at least two or three backups in my at-home beauty closet. It’s that serious.

How long does it typically last you before you have to repurchase? My only qualm with Boy Brow is the fact that it’s so tiny. Since I use this every day (except for Sunday… only God can judge me, so I go to church without makeup on), I tend to run through one tube every month and a half.

What makes it so obsession-worthy? For some reason, it’s really tough to find black eyebrow products. And many of the ones that are available are way too dark. This gel is justtt right, and it enhances my arches without overpowering them. The mini brush is great for getting into those tiny gaps and curves. And the consistency is fantastic, too — perfectly waxy without being too sticky.

How do you typically use it in your routine? At first, I was a bit intimidated by the tiny brush applicator, but I’ve found that the key to applying Boy Brow like a pro is to hold it as you would with a pencil and create those same hair-like strokes using a light hand. I learned this the hard way, when my sister called me out on my “harsh” shape. The formula is very pigmented, so apply it lovingly. Sometimes, I’ll go in with a micro pencil to fill in any gaps, and I always blend the product in with a spoolie for a natural finish.

Ari Bines

Ari is a fashion and beauty writer at Bustle.

 

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A post shared by Ari • The Body Brat (@ms.bines) on Apr 4, 2019 at 6:07am PDT

What is the one beauty product you will always spend your own money on? Glossier Boy Brow [Ed note: This repeat answer was a coincidence, but certainly makes for a compelling case!]

How long does it typically last you before you have to repurchase? Since I wear a full face of makeup almost every day, I go about a month and a half before having to replenish with a new tube.

What makes it so obsession-worthy? I think I have an obsession with this one product because even though I have days where I feel like I have no eyebrows, Boy Brow creates these natural, bushy brows with just a couple of swipes.

How do you typically use it in your routine? It’s the first thing I apply to my face after a deep cleanse and moisturizer. Then I put concealer under my arches with either a flat eyeliner brush or any brush with a thin edge to carve out and shape my brows — it makes them look even thicker.

Carly Cardellino

Carly is the brand beauty director at Cosmopolitan.

 

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A post shared by Carly Cardellino (@carlycardellino) on Dec 19, 2018 at 5:19pm PST

What is the one beauty product you will always spend your own money on? Thrive Cosmetics Instant Brow Fix Semi-Permanent Eyebrow Gel

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How long does it typically last you before you have to repurchase? I go through one once every three months!

What makes it so obsession-worthy? For me it’s like a red lip — it instantly makes me look pulled together. It has the truest pigment payoff I’ve seen yet and has a cone-shaped mascara-like brush that coats every brow hair without leaving clumps behind. Basically, it leaves me with the bushiest-looking brows that are both thick and dark. Personally, I love a super strong brow because I like the way it pops against my platinum hair, but you can also apply it in a lighter manner if you just want to slightly amp up your arches.

How do you typically use it in your routine? Typically I start applying it at the beginning of my brow, and then brush it through toward the arch and tail end, filling in any sparse spots and creating the illusion of a thicker brow throughout.

Feature image via Arielle Bines.

The post 7 Beauty Editors on the One Product They Routinely Buy appeared first on Repeller.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve walked down the street, or scrolled through my Instagram feed, or glanced across from me on a crowded subway car and thought to myself, I wonder what that person did to make their eyebrows look like that? The number is too high to count. Such is my fascination with the slivers of hair that grow atop the eyeballs of perfect strangers, and I know I’m not alone. Eyebrow mania is real—not to mention ubiquitous. So I took one for the team (our team!) and asked five women whose brows I’ve long admired from afar to tell me their favorite eyebrow product. Read their answers below, and share your own in the comments if you have some secret tricks.

Alessandra Garcia Lorido

Model

 

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A post shared by Alessandra Garcia Lorido (@alessandragl) on Apr 11, 2019 at 10:03am PDT

Favorite brow product? I go through so many phases when it comes to brow products—sometimes I’ll use a gel or even just hairspray on a spoolie (which actually works quite well), but right now my favorite is Nudestix Brow Wax Pen.

Why is it so amazing? My hair is super coarse and has a mind of its own, and the waxy texture holds down my hairs really well. The pen shape makes it super easy to use: I just draw it on my brows and brush it in with a spoolie. I find that most brow gels have a really small applicator which, for my size brows, doesn’t quite cut it. They also tend to be really crunchy on my hair once they dry out. The wax lasts without drying out and you can even go back in to reshape and set.

How did you first hear about it? Someone on set once used soap that they bought at Whole Foods with spoolie to shape my brows and I loved the outcome. After doing some research I found that this wax pen had the same result but with an easier application.

Any application tips? A little goes along way and I like to put less on the inner part of my brows to achieve a more sprouted and bushy texture there.

Callia Hargrove

Social Director at COOLS

 

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A post shared by Callia A. Hargrove (@calliarmelle) on Feb 12, 2017 at 9:12am PST

Favorite brow product? I swear by the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz Pencil!

Why is it so amazing? Let me preface by saying I’ve tried SO many brow products over the years. When I was the social editor at Teen Vogue, one of my work wives was our digital beauty editor, and she was nice enough to bless me with every new pencil, pomade, and powder on the market. Still, I always kept coming back to Brow Wiz.

My brows are very thick in some areas but sparse in others and I love how Brow Wiz defines without giving me intense brows. It perfects the shape without going on too strong and I can’t imagine my makeup routine without it. I only get my brows threaded every few months, and I rely on this pencil heavily in between sessions so I don’t get tweezer happy and go beyond the point of no return.

How did you first hear about it? My best guess is from a magazine article sometime in college. I feel like during the late 00s, every celebrity makeup artist was raving about it and I was quick to add it to my arsenal. I went through a very unfortunate thin brow phase around the same time, where mine were barely detectible and Brow Wiz helped bring them back to life by allowing me to let the hair grow in without things looking too messy.

Any application tips? Brow Wiz works best for me when I use it to fill in sparse areas. I do the ~makeup artist~ trick and fill those areas in with light strokes so the product doesn’t go on too strong. It’s definitely not a product I would recommend to create a completely new brow. Once I fill them in, I brush my brows out with a Sephora spoolie to blend the product in for more of a natural look. The pencil comes with a spoolie of its own, but this one is thicker and blends better in my opinion.

Zara Rahim

Head of Strategic Communications at The Wing

 

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A post shared by Zara Naz Rahim (@zararahim) on May 27, 2019 at 7:33am PDT

Favorite brow product? Hourglass Arch Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel

Why is it so amazing? I love the long brush and that it doesn’t hold a lot of excess product. Some brow gels use shorter brushes which, for me, is harder to distribute without leaving clumps of color or gel behind. I had a unibrow as a child that I was always told was so beautiful and wasn’t allowed to touch until 8th grade. Naturally, I over-plucked the hell out of them the second I could. I’ve been growing out my brows for the last four years with the help of my brow artists. I met Giselle Soto when I Iived in LA. When I moved to NY for the 2016 election, I didn’t touch them for six months because I was scared to go to anyone else and had zero time for self-care. I eventually found Ashley Span at Rescue Spa who is the best. They both really got me off of using pencils or pomades and encouraged me to embrace my natural, full shape. A good brow artist is just as important (if not more important!) as good products.

How did you first hear about it? I am an Hourglass addict and was looking for something with a longer brush and quality gel so this worked perfectly.

Any application tips? I brush up! It makes my brows look fuller and also my mother always told me if I brush my hair back it’ll grow faster which is rooted in absolutely zero science but I believe it 100% and apply it to my eyebrows as well.

Jessica Torres

Style blogger and podcaster

 

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A post shared by Jessica Torres (@thisisjessicatorres) on Dec 17, 2018 at 6:58pm PST

Favorite brow product? RevitaLash Cosmetics Advanced Eyebrow Conditioner

Why is it so amazing? I naturally have very light, sparse brows. The process of making my eyebrows look full and feathery used to take me 30 minutes, daily. However, the older I get the lazier and quicker I want my makeup process to be. So I started researching products that help grow brows into thicker, fuller, sexier furry beasts. After watching UK vlogger Zoella talk casually about a product she bought off Amazon which helped fill in the gaps on her already full brows, I was sold. I have been using the product for about 4 months and counting and my brows have done a complete 180!

How did you first hear about it? Zoella!

Any application tips? The product says to apply the product in soft strokes but I apply it like a four-year-old playing with her mother’s expensive red lipstick and just go crazy on my brows. I show no mercy.

Hannah Baxter

Fashion Editor at Coveteur

 

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A post shared by Hannah Baxter (@hannahbaxward) on Apr 16, 2019 at 1:59pm PDT

Favorite brow product? Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil

Why is it so amazing? To achieve full yet natural-looking brows, buildable color is a must. I’ve tried many, many products over the course of my eyebrow journey, from powders and gels to waxes and pencils. This guy blends in seamlessly to the brow hairs, and there’s no reddish undertone like a lot of lighter brow products—a tell-tale sign that your bushy pals are not exactly god-given. A pencil also gives you more control over the application and allows you to mimic the look of individual hairs.

How did you first hear about it? My former colleague and beauty guru for all things, Katie Becker. I always trust a friend’s recommendation over anything else, and considering she’s a product encyclopedia, I wasn’t surprised when this became my go-to.

Any application tips? Always brush up your brows before you start to fill them in—you need a roadmap of where to apply the color. I’ve also started drawing the hairs starting at the tail and working against the grain of the hair growth per a makeup artist’s recommendation. It keeps them from looking too perfect, like an Instagram brow. Then I use a spoolie to blend in the pencil, especially around any sparse patches, and finish with a tinted brow gel if I’m feeling sassy. Don’t forget to run a cotton bud around the top of your arch in case any color bleeds outside your desired shape.

Feature Photo by Alessandra Garcia Lorido.

The post The 5 Best Eyebrow Products, According to People I Insta-Stalk appeared first on Repeller.

Mikaela’s Candy Striper Uniform Was Transformed Into a Cottagecore Dream

Background on the original piece: The original dress was from a really tiny vintage shop in Cobble Hill, and I’m pretty sure it’s an old candy striper uniform! I fell absolutely in love with it when I saw it, but wore it about two times over the course of two years. It just needed something, but I couldn’t put my finger on what.

Why you wanted to breathe new life into it: As much as I loved the print, cotton fabric, and big pockets, it was just ill-fitting! The elastic was kind of in an unflattering spot given the length of the hem, so I was really keen to see what it would look like elongated and tailored to fit me better.

Thoughts on the end result: I love it. And it arrived just in time for me to feel included in the cottagecore resurgence :). Styling will be a good challenge for me, especially with these white organza sleeves (muy elegante!), but I’m up for the task. I feel like I can still rock my tennies with it (the Air Maxes from every style story I’ve ever been in—you know the ones!). This time I went full countryside with black cowboy boots, but I’m itching to see what it’d look like prepped up, with loafers and layered under a sweater vest. The possibilities are endless.

Amalie’s Denim Jacket Got a Really Good Haircut

Background on the original piece: I won’t lie to you, I did not have the original piece for long before I was ready for its transformation. I picked up the denim jacket on a whim from a Housing Works (a chain of non-profit thrift stores in NYC, which supports efforts to end homelessness and AIDS)—the almost military-style shape appealed to me, but seemed completely oddball. I hoped there was an “elegant butterfly spreading sinewy wings” inside the “frumpy, oversized militiaman” cocoon.

Why you wanted to breathe new life into it: I wanted this jacket to be something I would actually wear regularly. In its original form, the jacket was so dense and had what seemed like 15 different flaps of excess denim. Denim that could be repurposed! Denim that could be used elsewhere! I also believe denim jackets, in general, are one of the true staples of a wardrobe—and you can only have two: One can be a statement, and one must be simple. I have my perfect simple denim jacket I acquired last year that I spent way too much money on but will be in my closet forever, so I wanted this jacket to be my statement, one that I could scoot around in and have people ask, “Where did you get that?” and I’d say “I’ll never tell” but then I’d say “Actually it’s a completely repurposed thrifted jacket, how do you like them apples.”

Thoughts on the end result: Comment dit-on completely different jacket?? I love the cropped cut, the raw edges, and frankly the embroidered floral trim around the edge and lapel is the definition of “surprise and delight.” In Merriam-Webster. The beauty of it, being a denim jacket, is that even though the garment feels fully improved, it’s still a chic denim jacket that I would wear with virtually anything, except maybe polka-dots.

Lorenza’s Ill-Fitting Dress Became a Versatile Shirt

Background on the original piece: I picked up this dress at a resale store in Harajuku about a year ago. I love thrifting and vintage stores, so one of my last days in Tokyo was dedicated to scouring shops and inevitably purchasing things I clearly had no room for in my suitcase. Spring was also in the air, and I was feverish to purchase some sort of dress or frilly thing I could wear in the sunshine.

Why you wanted to breathe new life into it: Although aesthetically the dress ticked a lot of boxes, reality eventually hit and I realized the shape was unflattering. It was about two sizes too big, so it didn’t hug in the right areas and looked somewhat matronly. I never ended up wearing it because the fit was so off, so I figured a little editing was in order. By the time I finally decided to do something with it, I was over spring and ready for fall, hence my desire for longer sleeves.

Thoughts on the end result: The end result is exactly what I was looking for. It’s much more versatile as a shirt, and can be styled with shorts or pants, weather permitting. It still has the same great energy the original piece had when I fell in love with it–floofy and delicate, with perfect little embroidered fruits. I’m excited to grunge it up a bit with black leather or layer it with a mock turtleneck and jacket to spice up the neckline!

Photos by Beth Sacca.

The post Before and After: 3 Not-So-Great Pieces, Redone appeared first on Repeller.

Such was the case with a new hair mask I tried for the first time in February–the Offline 3-Minute Hydration Hair Mask from IGK. I’ll admit–I was already predisposed to want to like it because of the whole “3-Minute” thing. I’m not a big masker in general–hair or otherwise–because I don’t have the patience to wait the requisite amount of time recommended before washing it off. But three minutes? That sounded doable, so do it I did.

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I’m a big fan of IGK products in general, but I always set my expectations low when trying anything new in my hair (because of my hair texture, I’m very particular about what I use), and I honestly wasn’t sure what could really be accomplished in the time in takes me to listen to 80% of a hit Justin Bieber single. Needless to say, expectations were more than exceeded by the time my hair dried a few hours later. It looked like my curls had been dipped in shine juice after receiving a diploma from the international school of bounce. They were the perfect amount of plump and defined without being overly crisp. It felt too good to be true–a strange fluke of the hair gods–so I tried the mask again the following week, and was surprised and delighted to confirm it was not.

The mask has since become a permanent part of my hair care routine. I use it in place of conditioner a couple times a month, and it has saved my hair from winter dryness and summer sun damage to equally satisfying effect. Also, a little goes a long way, which is much appreciated as someone who typically goes through conditioner at an alarming rate (when the instructions on the back recommend a “nickel-sized dollop,” they’re definitely not talking to me). Do you have a favorite game-changer hair mask? Drop it in the comments below so I can try it for my next seal trick.

The post This Hair Mask Is the Definition of “Instant Gratification” appeared first on Repeller.