MY BEAUTY EDIT No 1.
From Surf Girl Hair to Sci-Fi Serums to Soulful Reads + Brain Candy
Hello! from my living room in Mallorca. Spring break in full swing, kids and in-laws buzzing around getting ready to play tennis, the scent of coffee and showers still in the air. It’s the first quiet moment (or soon to be quiet!) I’ve had all day, and I’m so happy to spend it with you here.
I didn’t realize how much I’d fall in love with this Substack space, but it’s truly become a ritual I savor. If we were catching up in real life—in my chair or curled up on the couch having wine—these are some of the gems I would be sharing with you. I’m curious what your thoughts are on these topics too!
This one is a mix: beauty, wellness, motherhood, some good reads and a couple of fun things I’m working on to share with you here!
1. Hair that is Making My Heart Beat Surf girl texture meets early-2000s bedhead revival, side parts are back (messy or sharp), and bold, graphic hair accessories are everywhere. Toss your part, embrace your texture, and clip in something fun. Low effort, big impact. Which one would you like a tutorial on ?
2. Beauty’s Future is… Sci-Fi?
DNA-coded serums, wearable skincare nanobots—yes, this is happening. It’s like the next season of Black Mirror but for your face. Wild and worth the read.
3. Life Perspective Reboot
This TED Talk by Chip Conley will recalibrate your insides. If your to-do list feels endless or your joy has been on pause, watch this.
4. My Zit Hack That’s Saved Me More Than Once
I forgot my blemish patches while traveling, so I smashed an aspirin, added water, dabbed it on… and let it sit overnight. Dramatic? Yes. Effective? Also yes.
5. Space of Time Studio: Design Meets Skincare
Their Calming Balm is like skincare with a master's in interior design. I love when beauty crosses over into art—elevating the everyday with form and function. I also love the idea of keeping this treasure to pass on to my daughter.
6. Cleansing Conditioners
If you hate how fluffy your hair is on the first wash day—cleansing conditioners are magic. Great for curly, dry, or color-treated hair. Think second-day resets without starting over. More of my healthy hair must haves here.
7. Hardcare: The Anti-Self-Care Trend
This one’s a bit controversial: Hardcare flips the script on traditional self-care. Think cold plunges, 75 Hard, 4AM workouts—wellness routines rooted in discipline, not indulgence. It's about building mental toughness through extreme consistency. Some find it empowering, others find it exhausting. Either way, it’s stirring up important questions about what wellness really means—and who it’s for.
8. Tretinoin, Explained
This gold-standard retinoid is trending everywhere—and for good reason. It speeds up cell turnover, fades dark spots, clears breakouts, and smooths fine lines. Start slow, moisturize, wear SPF, and get ready for that just-had-a-facial glow.
9. Energy Pick-Me-Up That Actually Works
After the most chaotic travel day to Sevilla (we’re talking delayed flights, mom meltdown, zero sleep), the Energy packet from Absorption Company brought me back to life. Better than coffee, no jitters, just steady go-mode.
10. Sensory Wellness: Spa Meets Science Fiction
Six Senses resorts are turning self-care into an art form—literally. Think scent-infused sculptures, ocean sound baths while you float weightless, and vibroacoustic domes that pulse with healing frequencies. It's not just a massage and a robe anymore. It’s wellness designed to hit you on every level: physical, emotional, energetic. Mother’s day gift anyone?!
11. Good Reads
Aesthetics Unfiltered – Jolene Edgar’s substack that pulls back the curtain on cosmetic dermatology and plastic surgery—smart, ethical, and refreshingly honest. If you’ve ever been curious about what’s trending in the aesthetics world (and why), this one’s for you.
Sustain Me by Barbara O’Neill – My husband came home with this old-school gem, and now it’s living on our kitchen counter. Packed with natural remedies and holistic tips, it feels like the kind of book whispered between midwives and earthy mothers for decades. The garlic on the feet surprisingly got rid of my daughters head cold!
Motherhood, Take Two – A Substack piece that put into words all that I’ve been feeling after having my second. If you’ve had a second baby and haven’t had time to feel your feelings about it—this will find you.
Andie MacDowell Aging Powerfully + Going Gray
At the age of 66, Andie MacDowell is challenging every beauty norm in the best way. One of the things she said when she was being interviewed really stuck out to me, “What do you do to feel young? I did not like that question. I feel like the idea of age is something that we have taken out of context and used against each other, young against old. A much better way of looking at that is, What do I do to feel vibrant or intelligent or engaged? That line? Simple. Beautiful. Deeply liberating. When she decided to go gray for her role in Netflix’s Maid during the pandemic, she asked me to do her color—and I was so honored. I was already booked on another show and couldn’t take it on, but I knew her choice would ripple far beyond one transformation. It wasn’t just personal—it became a cultural permission slip. This is the kind of beauty I hope we continue to see more of.
12. Sunscreen Deep Dive
In case you missed it, I tested, vetted, and broke down which SPF products I’m keeping, which I’m leaving, and what actually matters when you read a sunscreen label. I included ones for my european readers or those of you who have travel plans and want to know what to get while abroad. What are some of your go to sunscreens?
Coming soon: CODE DROPS + TUTORIALS
I’m excited to be sharing with you a section I’ve been building out called CODES, a subscriber-only page with exclusive 30–50% off the exact products I’ve tested and love. These aren’t affiliate links—I’ve asked brands to pass that savings directly to you.
Plus: tutorials that help you get ready in 5 minutes or less, even if your toddler is eating lip balm in the background. I’m also working on my travel guides for Puglia and Mallorca . . . !
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Cheers xo,
Sunnie