All nice love tales have an ideal starting. Mine started with an e mail. Besides, it’s not the sort of love story you’re excited about. Mine is of nice friendship with my finest buddy, Daniela Morosini, who you may know from her reporting at The Enterprise of Magnificence. The yr was 2019, and I used to be working at New York’s The Lower 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 folks’s skincare secrets and techniques. On October 8, I wrote to Daniela, “Hope you’re effectively. May 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 yr 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 brief message would spark a years-long friendship that’s transcended an ocean—3,470 miles to be actual.

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 not too long ago, Locket, an iPhone widget that allows you to share reside photographs immediately on an individual’s homescreen. It’s at all times a vivid spot in my day after 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 women, we’ve left one another loads of product recs and evaluations, albeit brief ones (Locket solely permits you to depart a observe underneath 25 characters!), alongside the way in which. Forward of Galentine’s Day this yr, we wrote one another letters increasing our ideas on those we are able to’t cease gushing over. I hope they encourage you to write down your individual finest buddy 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 are able to 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 a couple of issues. You already know that I fell down the large flight of stairs in my constructing the opposite day (I’m bruised however tremendous!), however what I actually need to inform you is that I believe I might 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 fantastically with nearly any one in every of my lip glosses, however currently, I’ve been topping it off with Eadem Le Chouchou in Burnt Malai or Ami Colé lip oil in Excellence. I’m a sucker for dusty rose shades and people two completely match the invoice. And by the way in which, I’m nonetheless obsessive about the Lily-Rose Depp combo of Chanel lip liner in Nude Brun and Rouge Coco Flash in Boy. However after I need one thing a teensy bit brighter (don’t giggle, you understand 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 residence.

By the way in which, each single a part of my physique is dry as a husk proper now—horny, I do know—and the identical goes for my lips. Holding 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 stupendous 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 mentioned 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 further 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 day by day physique stone although. It’s extremely buttery and leaves my pores and skin so, so smooth. I need a unending provide. I can undergo them fairly rapidly, so with a view to make them final, Neutrogena’s mild sesame oil is my woman. I preserve 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.

Holding my face and palms moisturized is one other story. I’ve been exfoliating with Danucera’s D22 Tonic each morning and evening since I acquired a facial with Danuta at Rescue Spa—it’s important to go!—and that’s made an enormous distinction in the way in which 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 understand you bought me hooked on Extremely Violette Supreme Display screen 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 palms? Beneficiant layers of Koba’s hand cream and Dr. Dana’s cuticle oil—or Essies’ apricot curler after I need a bit perfume. I really 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 aspect? 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 any case—however for on a regular basis, I’ve been loving Steerage 46 by Amouage, Ambra by Santa Maria Novella, and The House by Abel, all blended with my signature Vanilj by Maya Njie—Amber Grimes advised me it’s important to confuse folks together 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’re keen on Steerage 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 acquired a mani-pedi at Jin Quickly in Tribeca this week—we’ll go while you’re right here, my deal with—and nonetheless acquired the traditional Daise combo: Catbird Child Pearl (I would like pearl every little thing, at all times) on my palms and Jin Quickly Crush (my substitute 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 had 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 essentially the most excellent flush. What’s your favourite shade?

My candy child Daise,

This week I’ve spoken about you a lot that one in every of my colleagues advised me, and I quote, “I can inform how a lot you’re keen on 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 persist with my again even whereas I’m shivering.

I spent all this week rattling round alone in my residence binge-watching Legislation and Order: SVU earlier than Netflix takes it offline in a couple of days right here. I notice that once we’re not bodily collectively, there are few people who I need to actually spend that a lot time with. This is a matter to such an extent that my therapist advised 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 start line, our North Star. As you understand, I simply acquired again from an extended journey to Melbourne, and packing for a visit is a superb check of what magnificence merchandise you really love. Right here’s what I realized: There are a lot of 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 after I did not 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 smooth hair. I like it! Different issues for my hair I couldn’t give up: Oribe’s Gold Lust masks, for further TLC. But additionally! In Australia I rediscovered Kevin Murphy. Did you ever get into this model? It was within the UK for a sizzling 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 understand I’m a make-up girlie. One of many many issues we’ve in widespread is a love of stuffing our purses so filled 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 provide you colour and shine however no stickiness. Blush Goals 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 an elegant gold tube, and a beautiful, satin-y colour payoff. I’ve been sporting Le 16 and La Peau Nue essentially 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 case you had 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’re keen on that), and I’d be getting you to select a sheet masks or two out of my cooler. My buddy Ramòn stocked me up final week, so I’ve hundreds that he acquired in Korea: CosRx, Dr. Jart+, JM Resolution… I’d for positive allow you to use my La Mer Tender Cream—nobody else although. Even if you happen to mentioned your elbows had 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 understand I really 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 had been good. I’ve misplaced depend of what number of toners/essences/milks I’m rocking with, but it surely’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. that I really 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 yr 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.

Pictures through Daise Bedolla and Daniela Morosini