1. How great is Letting Go? I first found it in mid-2023 when I needed that sort of lyrical/sonic lifeline. Have reintegrated it as a daily play in the last month and now it’s the first song for my 2025 word of the year playlist. A cathartic, unequivocally correct, banger.
2. My numero uno for dry skin is Weleda Skin Food. Both original and the light version are excellent. My hack is to combine its super hydration properties with super gentle cleansers, then other super hydrators. This means:
Cleanse with a pure oil (jojoba or rosehip), then a final cleanse with the Garnier rose micellar water (pale pink cap).
Then, with damp skin, mist with pure rose water or pure lavender water. Apply a hefty amount of pure jojoba oil or pure rosehip oil or pure Squalane to your skin.
Let it sit for like a minute so it feels hydrating but not fully absorbed.
Heavily mist again and immediately apply the Skin Food so it’s covering your face. If it’s feeling extra dry, you can use extra so it’s almost like an overnight mask.
For my body, I use the skin food as well and will just apply it direct out of the shower (I prefer the light for body, and original for face — with enough mist, the original is extra malleable for facial application) 💚
Oh my word. Bless you. Bless your whole soul for this. You understood the assignment and over-delivered. I will be following every one of these steps. I already feel more moisturized, ha!
Also, seconding Petya re: sunscreen. My all-time fave is the La Roche-Posay Anthelios 50+ Gel (untinted).
And, Petya, since you mentioned it last year, whenever I buy pure rose water, I think of you and all the gorgeous Bulgarian rose products!
As a mist/toner back-up, I like both the rose/lavender Thayer's Witch Hazel in a spray bottle (dabbing it on doesn't work for me). The Avene thermal spring water is my number three.
Loved reading this per usual. I love seeing what other people enjoy tv shows and books and music. Wishing you more spaciousness to rest this month! Also this is the first winter my husband and I have experienced dry knuckles? It’s really bizarre. Like it’s bad his knuckles are cracking open 😭 probably our well water. The rare beauty hand lotion triangle thing is quite good. January is the longest month of the year for me but a good one so I hope a good one to you too beautiful!
Happy new year Kaitlyn! I always love these round ups - and the fun photos. So great!
My energy after the holidays is... empty battery 🪫 I bookmarked that yoga for comfort and nourishment video and basically just need to inject that one stat. Oh my, 'Medicine' by Daughters transports me back to 2012 and also breaks my heart open.
I am a big fan of La Roche Posay (Hydraphase Riche & Toleriane Sensitive Riche).
Great round-up as always. And since we have such similar taste, I'm curious to hear how you like The Diplomat (I find it ridiculous and frustrating but undeniably watchable) and read your issue on How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (a movie I watched about a hundred times in college.)
I just started Blue Sisters after finishing her first novel, Cleopatra and Frankenstein 10/10! Her writing is gorgeous and visual and just enviable! Also have wellness checked out from the library. Can’t wait to see what it’s all about!
Also love this season of shrinking although at times I want to shout to the void “this isn’t how it actually is!” But def want to adopt Gaby’s fashion sense and live in everyone’s beautifully designed homes. Can’t wait to see where this season goes!
Ohh I have so many thoughts, where to start! First, obviously, these are the cutest photos ever. Second, I also was obsessed with that MGMT video. What a time.
My January energy is next level! I love the fresh start of a new year and the anticipation of my favorite season in the next few months. I may even start working on my Substack again? The sky is the limit.
I feel ya on the dry skin thing and following for recs. I just used one of those foot peel masks which was disgusting but my feet are presentable again. Kerasal is also so good for dry heels. The rest of my skin I still have to figure out but hey at least my feet are cute?
Two things!
1. How great is Letting Go? I first found it in mid-2023 when I needed that sort of lyrical/sonic lifeline. Have reintegrated it as a daily play in the last month and now it’s the first song for my 2025 word of the year playlist. A cathartic, unequivocally correct, banger.
2. My numero uno for dry skin is Weleda Skin Food. Both original and the light version are excellent. My hack is to combine its super hydration properties with super gentle cleansers, then other super hydrators. This means:
Cleanse with a pure oil (jojoba or rosehip), then a final cleanse with the Garnier rose micellar water (pale pink cap).
Then, with damp skin, mist with pure rose water or pure lavender water. Apply a hefty amount of pure jojoba oil or pure rosehip oil or pure Squalane to your skin.
Let it sit for like a minute so it feels hydrating but not fully absorbed.
Heavily mist again and immediately apply the Skin Food so it’s covering your face. If it’s feeling extra dry, you can use extra so it’s almost like an overnight mask.
For my body, I use the skin food as well and will just apply it direct out of the shower (I prefer the light for body, and original for face — with enough mist, the original is extra malleable for facial application) 💚
Oh my word. Bless you. Bless your whole soul for this. You understood the assignment and over-delivered. I will be following every one of these steps. I already feel more moisturized, ha!
Wow. My routine is similar but a little different... sharing so you have options:
1. Double-cleanse with BanilaCo oil cleanser and Glossier Milky gelly.
2. Spray rose water all over - I get mine from Trader Joe's.
3. Milky toner from Laneige - by this point my face feels well moisturized and plump.
4. Face oil - marula oil from Trader Joe's (I've tried them all - drugstore, grocery store, high-end luxury... and this one is truly the best).
5. Waleda Skin Food - I like the original, it's so fucking thick and you need to work in it but my face can't get enough.
6. During the day - sunscreen.
Between steps I rub any excess product on my hands and my neck / chest area.
I just got back from Puerto Rico and my skin felt so great by the ocean. Here.... it's SOS time.
Weleda Skin Food is actually the o.g. brat 💚.
Also, seconding Petya re: sunscreen. My all-time fave is the La Roche-Posay Anthelios 50+ Gel (untinted).
And, Petya, since you mentioned it last year, whenever I buy pure rose water, I think of you and all the gorgeous Bulgarian rose products!
As a mist/toner back-up, I like both the rose/lavender Thayer's Witch Hazel in a spray bottle (dabbing it on doesn't work for me). The Avene thermal spring water is my number three.
Loved reading this per usual. I love seeing what other people enjoy tv shows and books and music. Wishing you more spaciousness to rest this month! Also this is the first winter my husband and I have experienced dry knuckles? It’s really bizarre. Like it’s bad his knuckles are cracking open 😭 probably our well water. The rare beauty hand lotion triangle thing is quite good. January is the longest month of the year for me but a good one so I hope a good one to you too beautiful!
Happy new year Kaitlyn! I always love these round ups - and the fun photos. So great!
My energy after the holidays is... empty battery 🪫 I bookmarked that yoga for comfort and nourishment video and basically just need to inject that one stat. Oh my, 'Medicine' by Daughters transports me back to 2012 and also breaks my heart open.
I am a big fan of La Roche Posay (Hydraphase Riche & Toleriane Sensitive Riche).
Great round-up as always. And since we have such similar taste, I'm curious to hear how you like The Diplomat (I find it ridiculous and frustrating but undeniably watchable) and read your issue on How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (a movie I watched about a hundred times in college.)
I just started Blue Sisters after finishing her first novel, Cleopatra and Frankenstein 10/10! Her writing is gorgeous and visual and just enviable! Also have wellness checked out from the library. Can’t wait to see what it’s all about!
Also love this season of shrinking although at times I want to shout to the void “this isn’t how it actually is!” But def want to adopt Gaby’s fashion sense and live in everyone’s beautifully designed homes. Can’t wait to see where this season goes!
Ohh I have so many thoughts, where to start! First, obviously, these are the cutest photos ever. Second, I also was obsessed with that MGMT video. What a time.
My January energy is next level! I love the fresh start of a new year and the anticipation of my favorite season in the next few months. I may even start working on my Substack again? The sky is the limit.
I feel ya on the dry skin thing and following for recs. I just used one of those foot peel masks which was disgusting but my feet are presentable again. Kerasal is also so good for dry heels. The rest of my skin I still have to figure out but hey at least my feet are cute?