Feel Hot PLZ

Some thoughts on confidence and everything I buy again and again from Sephora

When I was in junior high or maybe even a year or two before, I bought a copy of Bobbi Brown Teenage Beauty, the most wonderful, positive, before its time manual for teen confidence that I have ever encountered.

I mean look at that skin, the smoky eye, the brow!!! the subtle gloss. Timeless!!

I will not deep dive into teen culture in the aughts verses now except to say that I think TikTok is the new Seventeen Magazine and that I think that has many pluses and a few minuses. I will, instead, talk about me. I have a very complicated relationship with my own face (as I am sure *many* women do). Sometimes, I am completely enamored with my reflection. Great lips, big eyes! Feminine features! I think, and then, probably because there is nothing that feels more transgressive and insane as an American woman in your 30s than… liking your own face, I turn to flaws and negative self talk and this wild cycle that involves uneven skin tone and under eye bags and a lot of who in the world do you think you are to think you are anyone.

I do not need to be a great beauty to like my reflection. I do not need to be content with ever freckle to love my skin. I do not need to think I am world class in every way to think that I have pretty eyes. I do not need to love every single thing about myself to love myself and my physical form. And neither do you!!

Cindy Crawford wrote the introduction to Teenage Beauty. I cannot find it online but it’s a really nice letter about how she felt about herself growing up and how Bobbi helped her grow more confident. At the close, Cindy writes something that I have thought of many many times sense then and that has been, probably, the most helpful thing I have ever read in terms of my relationship with my own reflection.

"Even I don’t wake up looking like Cindy Crawford.”

Of course she doesn’t! The most (at least up there!) beautiful woman in the world and the images we see in magazines are after hours of hair and make up and lighting and photography and angles and many things that none of us have access to.

You, my girl (or guy! my fam!!!) are doing just fine. You look great. Fall in love with yourself. Next time you think you look kinda hot, take 100 nude or seminude selfies. I’m serious.

And now!!

Hannah Stella’s Sephora Must Haves (because of the sale! Better late than never!)

Perfume and body care

Jo Malone Honeysuckle & Davana Cologne ($75/$145) When I was in high school I was in love with Miss Dior Cherie. The scent has been discontinued but this is the more mature big sister of that candy store slice of heaven. It’s floral but not rose-y. To the extent this is something you care about… men absolutely go wild over this smell. Jo Malone perfumes do not have the staying power of some other brands but I don’t mind that— I keep a small one in my handbag and embrace the fact that it’s tough to spray way too much

Tweezerman Stainless Steel Slant Tweezer ($23) If I was going to a deserted island and could have only one beauty tool, it would be a good pair of tweezers. They are absolutely essential. These are the best, the stainless steel color works better than the black or rose gold, do not ask me why!

Sephora Collection All Day Body Hydrator ($17) I have tried many expensive body lotions and I like this one as much as any of those. It’s very lightly scented and a thick consistency but it absorbs easily. Sephora collection is 30% off during the sale!

Haircare

K18 Molecular Repair Hair Mask ($75) Yes it is expensive! Yes I have seen the tiktok where the guy says it does not really work! I still believe that it does— I use it as instructed and my hair stylist and her assistant have both commented on the massive change in my hair.

Kerastase Elixir Ultime Hydrating Hair Oil ($24/$52) I use this after I wash my hair while it is still damp (at least the required 4 min after the k18 if i’ve done k18) and I think it makes it softer and more manageable. Plus the bottle is so pretty! It feels expensive. I get oily easily and this doesn’t make my hair oily! I also put it in dry hair sometimes when the ends are a mess.

Kerastase Genesis Strengthening Shampoo ($36) I love all of the Kerastase shampoos but this one is my current go to. I like it because it foams up more than most salon quality shampoos and my hair (fine, mostly straight, lots of it but doesn’t look thick) air dries well. I also use the strengthening conditioner ($42)

Skincare

Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peel Pads ($17/$88/$150) I brought these to my friend Tarryn last time I was in Seychelles (she lives and works there) and she was skeptical of my SINGING endorsement. Your skin will GLOW! You’ll look like GLASS! You MUST exfoliate! Within four days she had asked me if there was any way I could send her more of them. There is a reason every single person on the internet endorses these! I use them 2-4 days per week, depending. I also just bought the Advanced Retinol + Ferulic Overnight Texture Renewal Peel ($78) and if you’re looking for a sort of super dose of the peel pads, these are wonderful. Not too harsh for my sensitive skin and I saw a big difference overnight. I think I’ll probably use one every week or week and a half and will always travel with them to use the night after long flights.

Laneige Lip Mask Set ($24) I like the one with the mini! I use this as a lip gloss and for running outdoors and skiing to prevent chapping. Works well overnight also. There’s little if any color but it is very shiny! Shame to call it overnight when it’s so pretty!

First Aid Beauty Ultra Repair Cream ($16/$38/$46) I use many moisturizers and this is my favorite affordable option. I use it as a night cream, usually, and also as a body lotion whenever my skin needs a little more

Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen ($36/$44) I like this face sunscreen very very much for use as a make up primer or on top of make up. It doesn’t smudge and it feels light and easy. The mineral setting powder ($30) is my other absolute favorite to reapply during the day. Please wear sunscreen!!

Makeup

Iconic London Prep Set Glow Hydrating Spray ($29) I have both colors and I prefer Glow slightly. I often use this setting spray instead of foundation. I spray it on before makeup, after makeup, during the day if I walk to the bathroom and my skin looks a little dull. It smells great! It doesn’t look glittery it just makes you look fresh. I wish they made a travel size so I could always have one with me! The pumps on the bottles do tend to break but I love this stuff so much I do not care I will buy 100 more bottles with fragile pumps (though I hope they fix that issue)

Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic Blush ($40) The shade ‘first love’ is my absolute favorite blush ever. I also v much like ‘love is the drug’ for summer. Plenty of pigment but not too much

Smashbox Cali Contour Face Palette ($40) Technically, I have never repurchased this because my first one has lasted forever. This is the only pallet I bring on most beach vacations, I use it as bronzer, eyeshadow, blush, all of it.

Huda Beauty Silk Balm ($21) This is my favorite lip product of all time.

Charlotte Tilbury Collage Lip Bath Gloss ($35) When you need just a little more something than the Huda balm has this gloss gets it done. I like ‘pillow talk’ and ‘rosy glow’

Iconic London Illuminator Liquid Highlight ($40) I am going to say something extremely controversial: I prefer this highlighter to the Charlotte Tilbury contour sticks (another excellent purchase!) A little bit goes a long way, I tap in with my finger but I also rarely wear foundation.

Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara ($29.50) It’s a great mascara. Not too clumpy.

Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Eye Liner ($23) If you think you cannot do your own cat eye with liquid liner… now you can! The Sephora collection version of this product is also very good!

Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil ($20) My very favorite subtle but makes a big difference product is this in ‘all around white’ I use a little bit at my cupids bow and in the inner and outer corners of my eyes and blend well. You can’t really see it but it is so so pretty!

Sephora Collection Long Lasting Kohl Pencil ($10) The 90s/00s are back you need a smoky eye! This pencil blends easily and doesn’t dry out too quickly.

ILYSM remember you are an absolute gem and you should love yourself so much!!!!

XX until next time!

Hannah

PS if you read all of that ily ily ily