A quick note before jumping into today’s newsletter! This will be my last Wednesday newsletter for the month, as I head on my annual three-week trip to Carlsbad this Saturday. You can still expect my other newsletters on Monday, Thursday (podcast for paid subscribers) and Friday, but I’ve decided to press pause on the Wednesday newsletter so I can enjoy my vacation and not feel chained to my computer every day. My September Beck and Call newsletter will also come out one week later than usual so I can tackle it when I’m back in the city! I’ll still be sharing content on Instagram and weekly YouTube videos, so make sure you’re also following me there so you don’t miss anything! Thank you in advance for understanding!!!
Today we’re doing a bit of a state of the union in terms of my beauty, skin and hair care routines! Keep scrolling to see what products I’m using and loving right now in each category, followed by a cute lil’ Q&A at the end. Enjoy!
NUTRAFOL HAIR SUPPLEMENTS - Of all the things I do to my hair to improve its health, this has been the biggest game-changer of them all! I started taking these supplements back in November 2024, and within six months really started noticing a difference. My hair is super fine and I don’t have a lot of it, but Nutrafol really stimulated growth and now it’s more full than it’s been in years! Highly recommend.
OUIA FINE SHAMPOO & CONDITIONER - A gentle formula that doesn’t weight down fine hair! I’ve been using this stuff for a few years.
K18 MOLECULAR REPAIR HAIR MASK - I use this maybe once a month to help repair my hair from heat and coloring damage.
R + CO HOT SPELL BLOWOUT BALM - Stylists always say it’s crucial to use a thermal protectant to prevent heat damage, and this is the one I’ve used for the last several years!
NIOXIN VOLUMIZING & THICKENING MOUSSE - My hair stylist recommended this to me at my last appointment about a month ago, and I’ve been loving it! It creates weightless volume without adding any tacky, rough feel to your hair.
L.ERICKSON HAIR TIES - My hair is very fine and can’t tolerate just any hair tie. These are super soft, stretchy and don’t snag! I prefer getting them in soft neutrals so they sort of disappear into my hair.
3 INCH ROUND BRUSH - This is the brush I use every time I blow dry my hair! It’s the right size for getting the bouncy, curled under look I love and for achieving some volume at my roots. Select the “large” size to see the right brush on Amazon!
MASON PEARSON BOAR BRISTLE BRUSH - You may get sticker shock from this brush, but it’s my favorite brush for one reason: it’s the only brush that I can use to pull my hair into a ponytail without getting any lumps, bumps or uneven spots. I have the pocket size too so I don’t ever have to travel without it!
DYSON HAIR DRYER - I now have two since I was splitting my time previously! I have one I keep in my mom’s guest room in Austin and one that’s with me in New York. Even with fine hair that dries quickly, this powerful dryer cut my drying time in half! So worth the investment IMO.
CHRISTIAN DIOR LA MOUSSE OFF/ON - I received this as part of some gifting for a paid campaign I did with Dior last holiday season, and immediately fell in love with it. I’ve tried a lot of cleansers that simply are not effective at taking off my makeup, but this one gets every last bit of it off my face! I love the scent too.
EIGHTH DAY REGENERATIVE SERUM - I use this as my serum in the morning after I’ve washed my face in the shower, and before I apply my Supergoop (more on that below).
U BEAUTY NECK & DECOLLETE CONCENTRATE - As I age, I notice my neck more and more. I started using this product last year! I know I’m fighting a losing battle, but I like to think this is helping keep it from getting worse!
SUPERGOOP TRIPLE PREP SPF + MOISTURIZER - This has been my favorite discovery this year, as it ultimately replaced my other individual daily SPF and separate moisturizer. The formula is lightweight and blends well with my foundation - I’ve tried so many SPF products that end up clumping up once I apply my foundation, but this one doesn’t. I’ve repurchased this for a third time since this spring! I apply it every single morning to my face and neck before I head out on my walk with Reeses, and again once I’ve showered before applying a full face of makeup.
DR. DIAMOND’S METACINE INSTAFACIAL COLLECTION - I received this set as a PR gift like six months ago, and finally got around to trying it about a month back. Once I finished a couple of other products I was using, I decided to commit to just using these three products after washing my face at night. I am SHOCKED at the impact it has had on my skin in even this short amount of time! I feel like my skin has been a bit all over the place living in New York city - I’m more prone to breakouts, uneven tone and texture, dryness, etc depending on the weather and how busy my social calendar is. The tone and texture of my skin these past 3-4 weeks has truly never been better and I firmly believe this trio is what changed the game. It burns a bit like I’m getting a mini peel each night, which I think has really brightened up my tone and evened out any redness or discoloration happening.
NEULASH LASH SERUM - One of my desert island must-haves! I’ve been using this for over a decade for stimulating lash growth and it’s incredible. I apply it 3-4x a week along my upper lash line as the last step in my skincare routine.
AQUAPHOR - Aquaphor is the final step in my skincare routine at night! I have a tube on my nightstand and apply it to my lips before going to sleep, for keeping my lips hydrated and smooth. I never travel without it!
ARMANI LUMINOUS SILK FOUNDATION - A lightweight but effective formula for creating an even skin tone for everyday wear!
NARS CREAMY CONCEALER - A go-to product of mine for 15+ years! Creamy, not drying and effective at hiding blemishes and dark under-eye circles.
LAURA MERCIER TRANSLUCENT POWDER - I’ve used this powder for a decade! A classic loose powder that matte-ifies your skin so you can apply bronzer and blush evenly.
LAURA MERCIER LIGHT CATCHER HIGHLIGHTER POWDER - I mix this shimmery highlighter powder with the matte translucent powder (above) to create the perfect glow. The combo makes me feel like I’m wearing an Instagram filter! The color I use is Celestial Light. The shimmer is pretty powerful if you don’t mix it with the translucent powder - I’ve done it and it’s fun for a photoshoot or night out, but I wouldn’t opt for that every day.
BENEFIT HOOLA BRONZER - I’ve been using this bronzer since college. The “original” shade is the GOAT!
NARS BLUSH IN FORBIDDEN - I find peachy pinks to complement my skin tone well, and this shade is my current favorite!
TOO FACED BORN THIS WAY PALETTE - An amazing palette filled with peaches, pinks and browns! I use the lightest matte shade as a base, then play with different combinations of the darker colors in my crease to create a warm smoky eye.
DIORSHOW MASCARA PRIMER - To create buildable volume, I always apply this white primer to my lashes and let it dry before applying colored mascara!
COVERGIRL CLUMP CRUSHER MASCARA - My favorite drugstore buy for over a decade. The bristles are short and firm, making it easy to drag through your lashes to truly separate each individual lash. I apply two coats, letting the first coat dry for a few minutes before applying coat number two!
ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS BROW POWDER DUO - The soft taupe color is perfect for my fair hair and skin! A great product and color for blondes.
MAC SILKY MATTE LIPSTICK IN HONEYLOVE - This has been my go-to, everyday lip color for the last couple of years. It’s such a good pink-nude shade for me! It’s matte, so sometimes I’ll add a gloss if I want to punch it up a notch.
For days when you don’t want to put on a full face, what products do you use?
If I want to look alive but not go full glam, I use just four products!
This tinted moisturizer (in color “two”)
My usual concealer (in color “vanilla”)
This pocket blush (in color “freckle” - I add to cheeks, lids and lips)
My everyday brow powder (in color “soft taupe”)
The complete look is simply glowy and adds just a hint of color to my fair skin so I don’t look pallid and ghoulish.
What are your favorite lasers/professional-grade treatments?
I love getting a facial, but always end up breaking out the next day! Does anyone else experience this?! I have to imagine it’s because of the sheer volume of products they apply, but I always end up regretting getting one, even if I enjoy it while it’s happening.
I’ve only ever had one laser treatment, and it was called the Avava laser (formerly called the Miria). I only did one session, because when it came time for the second session they had to do maintenance on the laser and that seemed like a bad sign lol. I did it in Austin and eventually moved to New York full time, so I just never went back! But at my Botox appointment Monday I asked my injector what she thought might be helpful with my skin, and she suggested a BBL + Moxi combo. BBL targets pigmentation, photo damage, redness, etc, while Moxi is more of an anti-aging treatment. I’m thinking of doing that this fall before my next Botox appointment!
Eventually I will absolutely be getting surgery to tackle various things - I’m all for a little nip/tuck! I can see myself getting a bit of a temporal brow lift, neck lift, etc, but we’ll see what everything looks like when I get into my mid-40s. I’m sure I’ll eventually get a full face lift in my 50s/60s, but I think I’d probably do more minor tweaks earlier on while my skin is elastic and can heal more quickly.
What is an overrated product that everyone loves, but you dislike?
Any oil cleanser or face oil. An oil cleanser just sounds like an oxymoron, no? Oil is water resistant, so the idea of cleansing your face with something that leaves residue behind is kind of baffling. Now don’t get me wrong, I’ve tried them myself - but every time I have I instantly break out. They immediately clog up my pores, and I’m someone with dry, not acne-prone skin!
Do you do any skincare on flights when you’re traveling? If so, what do you do?
The only time I’ll ever do skincare on a flight is if it’s an overnight/overseas flight! In most cases, those flights are at night so I’ll just arrive at the airport fresh-faced - that way I don’t have to worry about washing it/doing the full routine once I’m on the plane. I might apply a heavy cream to prevent dryness and my usual Aquaphor to my lips, but otherwise, I just leave it be. I simply don’t want to deal with getting out all the various tubes and products out in my seat - I’m lazy!!!
How often do you introduce new products into your routine?
As a content creator, I do receive a bit of gifting, which can certainly influence what products I try… but that does NOT mean they become part of my routine! So I’m often trying out new products, but unless something really blows me away (like the Instafacial Collection!!), I’ll go back to a product I loved/preferred before. I definitely try more skincare products than I do anything else! My beauty/makeup routine has pretty much stayed the same (give or take two-three products) for over a decade. Again, I’m pretty lazy and I also know what I like and what looks good on me, so I’ll stick to old faithfuls over trying new products out of ease.
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