Back to School Beauty
It's not too late, promise.
Sure, it’s the end of September and school’s been in session for a minute. And yes, I’m in my 30s, but I still have that back-to-school feeling around this time of year, especially when the weather hits crisp levels. Usually, I would feel rejuvenated and ready to take on the world, and to be fair, I felt that for maybe a few days. But it seems that I’ve traded fashion month madness for “Techtober” — a term that I hope cracks you up as much as it does me — and weddings, so I’ve been a little busy. In moments of calm, though, I’ve of course been thinking about my fall/winter aesthetic.
Early on in this journey, I’ve decided I’m giving up paid manicures for the rest of the year. The last few times I’ve gone to nail salons, my nails end up looking great for 24 hours, and then boom I have hangnails and dryness despite being a lotion girly. Now, my go-to is a standing manicure, which I usually do once a week at 8:40 in the morning before I go to work. It’s quite simple: I shape my nails to the best of my abilities (poorly), then I use this little square block thing to buff and shine my nails (I mean I think that’s what’s happening) and finally, after I dust my should- er fingers off, I apply top coat. All while standing, because I literally have to leave a minute later to run to the train. It’s foolproof, it’s smudgeproof and I don’t have to wait hours for it to dry. The funny thing is I’ve gotten so many more compliments on those no-mani mani nails than when a pro does them, and while I can’t take compliments like a normal person, a win is a win.
My next thought needs some context. Years ago, I boarded the A train at West 4th Street, by far one of the worst Subway stations, but not as bad as say Broadway-Lafayette. Anyway, it was pretty crowded and I was standing next to a couple, the guy leaning against the door and his girlfriend leaning against him with a pained expression on her face. She was clearly brunch drunk and I could only assume she was moments away from puking, so my emitphobia was on high alert. I distracted myself by fixating on her eye makeup which was chic even in her condition. A thick but not too thick line of navy kohl eyeliner on her top eyelid smudged into eye shadow a tinge darker than her skin. There’s just a hint of wing, but not too bold, not too sharp. For weeks after, I recreated the look with both Le Stylo and Marc Jacobs’s iconic liner (discontinued), trying it with navy, violet, jade, and even a dark gray. It seemed a little French, which is so eye rolly, but it was so easy and refined my look. I was 25 trying to look like a grown-up. Anyway, I’m thinking about getting back into that.
Finally, I want to get my hair colored again, which shouldn’t come as a surprise. Allegedly, I look nice in cooler shades of blonde, but this fall I want my hair to be full on iced vanilla latte or caramel macchiato upside down or apple cider chai latte, you get the gist. Those are 3 different vibes but they all have warm tones and I just want my hair to be a smedium ‘fro of coziness. Here are some inspo pics I’ve been staring at.
These ideas are just a fraction of all the beauty things I’ve been thinking about, so stay tuned. What are you doing differently? If it’s nothing, I totally understand.
Some other things…
I’ve been talked out of getting one of these highlighters but pale girl winter is coming up and I’m going to need some face bling. My friend Joelle brought up this Chanel stick, which I’ve also been eyeing 🤑. But, I have a new phone to buy, so.
Now that it’s cooler outside, I’ve been doing morning walks. It’s nice.
Sure.
I need recs for probiotics that aren’t the super expensive bougie ones my ex-nephrologist recommended.
Whew, and this video.
LOL I watched a very long IG Live from Annie Kreighbaum in which she shaped her lips with eye brow pencil in Japan. I mean, I might give it a try. 👁👄👁
OK, bye!