Last week, a Magpie reader asked whether anyone could recommend body care products with a great, true rose scent (I’d put Cyklar’s rosebud scent in the running here but please sound off with recs in the comments), and she mentioned she’d felt called to preface the inquiry with: “Can the coven advise…?” I loved it! Repurposing here as a prelude for some deeply nitpicky questions on grooming and self-care that I’ve been noodling over. These are the kinds of things I normally ask girlfriends via text, so I thought I’d start a virtual thread here —
01. What do you do about your eyebrows when using retinol? You aren’t supposed to get a wax while using (top layer of skin will more or less rip off!) so I’ve been handling grooming on my own and it is tedious. What are we doing?!
02. If you use a natural deodorant, how long did it really take to adjust and do you really, deep down in your good and true heart, think it works? I have tried 3x and just cannot get to the finish line. I feel like a swamp. Everything smells off. Even my food?!
03. Are we really shaving our faces? Please share instructions and reassurances. I ordered one of the Stacked razors a year or so ago when I first learned women really do this (came to this brand after Reddit research and several Magpie upvotes). Devotees swear that it helps with product absorption and makeup application but haven’t worked up my courage to actually do it. If you do this regularly, specific advice/tips? Do you exfoliate before? Etc.
04. Do any hair growth serums really work? I’m not interested in taking a medication for this, but my hair is definitely thinning in my 40s. I’ve tried a handful of solutions and I think I have conflated shiny, happy, fuller looking hair (which some of these products really do achieve — an inexpensive rosemary oil is probably the most impactful solution I’ve tried) for actual regrowth.
05. A lip stain that doesn’t look too bold and/or a lip liner that actually stays put? One of my current observations at 42 is that my lips have lost their natural color (?!). I find this lip treatment helps a lot with this (builds natural color, fills and plumps) and apply it every morning but I’d still like a long-last lip stain or liner that will keep me in good stead for more than 30 minutes.
06. Order in which you get ready — is it hair, makeup, then get dressed? (My order, kind of — I do a rough dry and my bangs first, then do my makeup, then finish my hair, then get dressed.) Or are there thoughtful reasons for a different order of operations? I will say I’m deeply passionate about this robe for getting ready. It’s a thinner weight (doesn’t get as hot) and the long sash keeps everything cinched firmly. I love the sleeve length — means you’re not awkwardly working around huge cuffs while washing your face / applying makeup.
Please chime in down in the comments or add your own nitpicky questions you wonder how other women are handling.
Post-Scripts.
+Magpies share their grooming rituals/routines.
+Things I find randomly chic: kitchen edition.
+Our lives become mosaics of the people we love.
Shopping Break.
+I attended several Halloween gatherings at my children’s schools this year and saw at least four women wearing these Freja cashmere scarves. I own in the neutral cream/brown colorway. They have such a funky-cool motif (Zodiac) but they’re also sort of Hermes-coded. Really soft and a great, generous size. I just discovered that they have a bird motif one!!! I might need to snag. These add so much interest to an every jeans-and-tee look. Also come in a small size.
+Obsessed with the toggle buttons on this chunky knit (and this vest too).
+Absolutely swooning over this Ulla top. The colors! The motif! I love the idea of pairing it with velvet trousers or even going full-shine with taffeta ones.
+The swingy silhouette on this plaid top caught my eye!
+Speaking of cape-like things: wore my Alice Walk cape to take my kids trick-or-treating and it really is just a spectacular investment that I reach for year after year. I have it in the mink color.
+I styled the cape over this cashmere getaway sweater and my new jeans, which are — omg. Ladies! A new denim obsession is upon us. Move over Mother Half Pipes and Rag + Bone sweatpants jeans and get thee to the AYR LaLa. The perfect amount of stretch. Really flattering on the leg. More of a classic 90s-era fit — think Cindy Crawford. Run very TTS. These hold you in — in a pleasant way — but you can still wear them all day without itching to take them off. I’m in love and now want them in more washes. (I have the Waylon.)
+If you like the vibe of my getaway sweater but not the price tag, try these polo style sweaters instead: Quince, Sezane, or Madewell.
+I love the idea of those sweaters paired with classic denim OR barrel cords. I’m telling you, do not sleep on these barrel cords! The fit is AMAZING. They are shipping on 11/16. You could wear to Thanksgiving! Fab fab fab. Use code JEN15.
+Frank and Eileen just released their popular Rory dress in a seasonal cord. This would be easy and comfortable for anyone, but especially flagging for Magpies who are pregnant or nursing — a loose but festive fit. I own this in denim and it’s a favorite!
+Meanwhile, I love all the terry pieces from Frank and Eileen, but especially these popovers (available in new colors!) and this capelet (have seen a few moms wear these to kids sports events with leggings and cool sneakers).
+This candy-striped sweater sparks joy.
+Somehow forgot to mention in my earlier roundup of favorite beauty products on sale THE EADEM CHOUCHOU lip product! Obsessed. Have these in all my bags! This is going to be my “favorite thing” party contribution. Also comes in this cute little trio lip kit as a great gift. AND the best bronzer — absolutely incredible in shade “luminous bronze.” Most natural, sunkissed finish. All my favorites here. So far, the Bondi Boost thermal brush has been the topseller. I ended up buying at full price because I thought it might be sold through by the time the sale opened up to me.
This post may contain affiliate links. If you make a purchase through the links above, I may receive compensation.
First of all, rose lotion here: https://kaifragrance.com/collections/kai-rose/products/kai-rose-body-lotion?
1. I don’t do retinol but I’ve always done my eyebrows myself with a tweezer man splinter tweezer while listening to a podcast, perhaps habit stacking is the key?
2. For me, I need acid in my pits in order for a natural deodorant to work, and really focus on removing body hair daily. I like Necessaire’s body wash but a swipe of apple cider vinegar in the shower works as well.
3. I use the stacked Skincare for microderm, though it does also work on my lil mustache, I prefer to pluck that. I use it in the summer because it really helps with dry skin and sunscreen residue, on my cheeks and jaw and forehead especially, but my skin is usually too dry and sensitive for it in winter. Don’t exfoliate, it will exfoliate you. Don’t do anything else beforehand, clean dry face. And the one you linked is the one I prefer, the precision razors tend to cut me. Don’t use it on terminal hair (brows etc), stick to peach fuzz. Don’t do too many passes. And I like to do red light later the same day.
4. Rosemary oil is the best I’ve found. I do think red light along my hairline helps. Getting enough sleep and eating well.
5. I like Etude house’s water tint! It’s inexpensive, it lasts, the taste is a little off-putting but fades as soon as it dries.
6. I get dressed, then might do makeup on my way out the door. I never “do”my hair so either it gets brushed or stuck in a pony tail or bun. Also all my skincare except sunscreen is at night, so in the morning I already have a bare dry face.