All nice love tales have a terrific starting. Mine started with an e mail. Besides, it’s not the type of love story you’re fascinated with. Mine is of nice friendship with my finest good friend, Daniela Morosini, who you may know from her reporting at The Enterprise of Magnificence. The 12 months was 2019, and I used to be working at New York’s The Reduce as a social media editor and moonlighting as a magnificence author. Kathleen Hou, my then editor and now the Magnificence Director at Elle, handed alongside Daniela’s identify for Why Is Your Pores and skin So Good, my column dedicated to uncovering individuals’s skincare secrets and techniques. On October 8, I wrote to Daniela, “Hope you’re nicely. Might you inform me extra about your skincare routine + magnificence philosophy for consideration? Would love a listing of the merchandise that you simply use and the way you bought into skincare.” (It was solely final 12 months that I realized that she thought I used to be being passive aggressive from the tone of my e mail.) Little did I do know that one quick message would spark a years-long friendship that’s transcended an ocean—3,470 miles to be precise.
You see, I reside in New York Metropolis and Daniela lives in London, the place she grew up. Meaning sustaining our relationship requires a bit extra work than your common friendship. There’s the meticulously scheduled FaceTimes and cellphone calls, the stunning care packages and snail mail, and most just lately, Locket, an iPhone widget that permits you to share reside pictures straight on an individual’s homescreen. It’s at all times a vibrant spot in my day once I unlock my cellphone and see that she left behind a foolish little selfie or encouraging observe. And naturally, as a result of we’re each beauty-obsessed ladies, we’ve left one another loads of product recs and evaluations, albeit quick ones (Locket solely allows you to depart a observe beneath 25 characters!), alongside the best way. Forward of Galentine’s Day this 12 months, we wrote one another letters increasing our ideas on those we will’t cease gushing over. I hope they encourage you to jot down your personal finest good friend a candy observe, too, magnificence merchandise included or not.
Expensive Daniela, mild of my life,
It’s one other chilly, windy day in New York with out you—dramatic or not dramatic sufficient? I can’t await the day that you simply transfer right here and we will seize espresso and discuss endlessly with out having to fret concerning the five-hour time distinction. Within the meantime, I have to catch you up on just a few issues. You already know that I fell down the large flight of stairs in my constructing the opposite day (I’m bruised however fantastic!), however what I actually wish to inform you is that I believe I may need an issue? I opened my purse yesterday and located that I had not one, not two, however 12 (!!) lippies inside. The Fara Homidi liner you gave me in LA final June was in there. You nailed it while you picked Minky for me. It pairs so superbly with nearly any one in all my lip glosses, however these days, I’ve been topping it off with Eadem Le Chouchou in Burnt Malai or Ami Colé lip oil in Excellence. You recognize I’m a sucker for dusty rose shades and people two completely match the invoice. And by the best way, I’m nonetheless obsessive about the Lily-Rose Depp combo of Chanel lip liner in Nude Brun and Rouge Coco Flash in Boy. However once I need one thing a teensy bit brighter (don’t giggle, you recognize I’m afraid of colour!), I am going for the Westman Atelier Squeaky Clear balm in Petal or the U Magnificence lip compound in Rom Com, which I swear I manifested into the world; it’s splendidly pink with the proper quantity of shimmer. I’ve one ready for you in my condo.
By the best way, each single a part of my physique is dry as a husk proper now—attractive, I do know—and the identical goes for my lips. Retaining them moisturized and flake-free has been a course of. However I’ve my arsenal: Dr. Dennis Gross’s lip remedy (which provides me a ravishing plump, too!), Anifsa’s Ân-Gloss (I’ve one in each single purse), Glossier’s Balm Dotcom (in Black Cherry clearly) and Retrouvé’s serum (it’s at all times first in my multi-step lip routine). That is what they meant after they stated it takes a village, proper? In the meantime, I’ve been dry brushing my physique like loopy with my Tronque brush, and if I’m feeling additional motivated or I’m not freezing earlier than leaping into the bathe, I’ll exfoliate with the Lilis Instantaneous Peel. The true cherry on high is Kate McLeod’s every day physique stone although. It’s extremely buttery and leaves my pores and skin so, so comfortable. I desire a unending provide. I can undergo them fairly shortly, so with a purpose to make them final, Neutrogena’s mild sesame oil is my lady. I maintain a bottle in my bathe and pat it on whereas my pores and skin remains to be moist on the times I give my stones a relaxation.
Retaining my face and fingers moisturized is one other story. I’ve been exfoliating with Danucera’s D22 Tonic each morning and night time since I obtained a facial with Danuta at Rescue Spa—you must go!—and that’s made an enormous distinction in the best way my lotions sit (and the way my pores and skin feels and appears). So the order goes: toner, face mist (I completed bottles of S’Eau Prima’s and La Prairie’s), eye cream (I ran out of my Bioeffect EGF energy cream and opened my Augustinus Bader wealthy one), and moisturizer (I do know you just like the SkinFix Barrier+ cream, too). After which you recognize you bought me hooked on Extremely Violette Supreme Display years in the past—I can’t depend what number of bottles I’ve gone by way of or that you simply’ve despatched me throughout the pond. And for my fingers? Beneficiant layers of Koba’s hand cream and Dr. Dana’s cuticle oil—or Essies’ apricot curler once I need slightly perfume. I like that the oil is available in a curler as a result of I’ve spilled so many dropper bottles earlier than.
Oh and don’t be alarmed, however I’m altering… You know the way I used to hate perfumes on the sweeter facet? Seems I had simply by no means discovered ones that resonated with me. I nonetheless put on Victoria Beckham’s Suite 302 for dates—it’s sultry and smoky in spite of everything—however for on a regular basis, I’ve been loving Steering 46 by Amouage, Ambra by Santa Maria Novella, and The House by Abel, all blended with my signature Vanilj by Maya Njie—Amber Grimes instructed me you must confuse individuals along with your scent and I took that to coronary heart. None of them are cloyingly candy, solely cozy and heat, and with Vanilj? Ugh, I’m obsessed. BTW: I do know you like Steering 46; I consider you each time I put on it. Additionally! I do know each magnificence author at all times says they get sooo many compliments after they put on a sure fragrance, however that’s actually the case right here. I promise!
Don’t fear, I am not altering an excessive amount of. I obtained a mani-pedi at Jin Quickly in Tribeca this week—we’ll go while you’re right here, my deal with—and nonetheless obtained the traditional Daise combo: Catbird Child Pearl (I need pearl all the things, at all times) on my fingers and Jin Quickly Crush (my alternative for Essie’s Clambake, RIP) on my toes. Some issues will simply by no means change, like my love for you.
ILY, IMY,
x Daise
P.S. You have been completely proper concerning the Rhode pocket blushes. They actually do reside as much as the hype. I’m newly obsessive about Piggy and Freckle. They depart behind probably the most good flush. What’s your favourite shade?
My candy child Daise,
This week I’ve spoken about you a lot that one in all my colleagues instructed me, and I quote, “I can inform how a lot you like her due to the way you smile while you talk about her.” We’re by no means beating the wifey allegations, and I’m OK with that. It’s simply as grim in London as it’s in New York—sludgy, aggressive rain and damp air that has made my sweater keep on with my again even whereas I’m shivering.
I spent all this week rattling round alone in my condo binge-watching Legislation and Order: SVU earlier than Netflix takes it offline in just a few days right here. I understand that once we’re not bodily collectively, there are few other people who I wish to actually spend that a lot time with. This is a matter to such an extent that my therapist instructed me I have to “discover extra Daises” (don’t fear; I fired him.)
BUT speaking to you is a ray of sunshine, particularly once we’re gabbing all issues magnificence, our shared language, our place to begin, our North Star. As you recognize, I simply obtained again from an extended journey to Melbourne, and packing for a visit is a good check of what magnificence merchandise you truly love. Right here’s what I realized: There are various good conditioners available on the market, together with the eye-poppingly costly Sisley Restructuring conditioner ($90!), which does make my hair really feel like cashmere. However the L’Oréal Paris Elvive Glycolic Gloss conditioner is so good, too, and once I didn’t pack sufficient for a three-week journey (as a result of Cathay Pacific have some bizarro rule about three-ton vats in your checked bag), I used to be capable of seize one other in Chemist Warehouse and luxuriate in the identical silky comfortable hair. I adore it! Different issues for my hair I couldn’t stop: Oribe’s Gold Lust masks, for additional TLC. But additionally! In Australia I rediscovered Kevin Murphy. Did you ever get into this model? It was within the UK for a scorching minute however appears to have disappeared, however as an Aussie model, it’s fortunately nonetheless round Down Below. It’s… superb?? Each product feels so professional, smells superb and simply WORKS. The Ever Bounce blow dry spray is my favourite proper now.
Now you recognize I’m a make-up girlie. One of many many issues we’ve in widespread is a love of stuffing our purses so stuffed with lip oils, balms, and tints that we’re technically carrying a semi-lethal weapon. Proper now, I believe we each love our Summer time Fridays lip balms—Iced Espresso is my go-to—however have you ever gotten into the Dream lip oils? They’re a holy grail for me. They offer you colour and shine however no stickiness. Blush Desires and Pink Cloud are to die for. Additionally, I do know we’ve each been swatching the Rhode Peptide Lip Shapes. I like Carry and Bend smudged along with balm within the center. Attempt it! I additionally assume the brand new Celine Le Rouge lipsticks are simply actually, actually good. They clunk shut with a satisfying, just-closed-the-Benz plunk, have a classy gold tube, and a beautiful, satin-y colour payoff. I’ve been carrying Le 16 and La Peau Nue probably the most. Oh, and we’re nonetheless coordinating our Rhode Pocket blushes too, proper? Toasted Teddy is my fave. It’s additionally good in your lips. (Talking of pockets, please inform me you’ve tried the Chanel Le Carry hand cream now? It’s so adorably pocket-sized.)
In the event you have been staying at mine this weekend, right here’s the place we’d be proper now: We’d be standing in entrance of my fridge, pulling out a bottle of wine and a few chocolate coated fruit (I do know you like that), and I’d be getting you to select a sheet masks or two out of my cooler. My good friend Ramòn stocked me up final week, so I’ve hundreds that he obtained in Korea: CosRx, Dr. Jart+, JM Resolution… I’d for positive allow you to use my La Mer Gentle Cream—nobody else although. Even when you stated your elbows have been dry, I’d give you it. That’s how particular you’re! I’d additionally allow you to use my Poems From The Lab Future Focus, which I get shipped from Canada. It’s the finest vitamin C, and Stephen Ko, who made it, is a genius. No bizarre odor, no oxidizing, simply attractive, glowy, plump pores and skin.
Additionally, whereas I used to be in Australia, Alex Padgett, the founding father of Educated Mess, gave me a bunch of her merchandise. Freeze Body is unimaginable. I really feel so snatched after utilizing it—you recognize I like a peptide… or eight. She’d simply gotten her scientific trials again whereas we had lunch, and I might inform from how visibly emotional she was that they have been good. I’ve misplaced depend of what number of toners/essences/milks I’m rocking with, however it’s just about Rhode Glazing Milk or the La Mer essence. For some purpose, I’ve to use lip balm whereas I do that? Any taste of Laneige sleeping masks will do however ideally Vanilla.
Lastly, perfume. You recognize that I like a naughty however good scent: candy however then not; female however then sharp; come nearer after which step again. Proper now, the one which’s doing it for me is Guerlain L’Artwork & La Matiere Tobacco Honey. It’s completely irresistible. However I additionally won’t ever flip my again on Attrape-Rêves from Louis Vuitton, which smells like our journey to LA final 12 months and also you braiding my hair and us re-upping our sunscreen in Erewhon and and and and–––––
Yours at all times,
x Daniela
P.S. Paddington says hello.
Photographs by way of Daise Bedolla and Daniela Morosini
