That’s how I’ve greeted all of you for the past two years; as it turns out, Hello, Gorgeous! was also part of an extremely silly volley in increasingly unrecognizable accents that I exchanged with Mariska Hargitay earlier this week.

In case you’ve been living under a giant rock for the past few decades, Mariska has starred as Olivia Benson on Law & Order: SVU for 27 years, with season 28 coming soon. She’s actual Hollywood royalty, as the daughter of one of the original blonde bombshells, Jayne Mansfield, and bodybuilding champ Mickey Hargitay. Mariska’s documentary about her mother, “My Mom Jayne,” came out last year and is available to stream on HBO Max. And at 62, Mariska made her Broadway debut in a one-woman show, Every Brilliant Thing.

While the reason for the meeting was to discuss her new campaign with Bristol Myers Squibb, Investigating Myeloma — which honors her father, Mickey, who died of multiple myeloma twenty years ago — I was also able to ask her a few questions specifically for Hello Gorgeous! readers. (You can read my full interview with her on Yahoo).

Incidentally, I’m going to be referring to her as Mariska in this piece, not because we’re besties (that seems reserved for Taylor Swift, with whom she shared a hugfest during Wednesday’s miracle Knicks comeback) but because I mention her father as well, and don’t want to keep going back and forth between Hargitays.

Back to the meeting.

I don’t usually tell people when I’m meeting or interviewing someone famous or fancy in advance. Things go wrong, people cancel, or it seems odd to mention what’s effectively just another part of my work. But for some reason I was actually nervous about meeting Mariska, and I told a few people. The reactions cemented my sense of the fandom of all things Mariska. One friend admitted to a decades-long crush. A cousin shared her SVU obsession. A colleague planned a return trip to NYC to see Mariska on Broadway in the same play she’d seen just weeks earlier. The collective crush was real. And that’s not to mention those of you who emailed me with your questions for her.

The game

Shortly after we met, Mariska asked what outlet I was writing for, and we segued to my book, Hello Gorgeous! Beauty Products in America ‘40s–’60s, which covers the very era her mother reigned over. Telling Jayne Mansfield’s daughter that her mother’s world inspired your first book is its own kind of full-circle moment. Telling her your newsletter shares the name is apparently an open invitation to spontaneous silliness.

A few minutes later, Mariska looked at me with a perfectly straight face and said “Hello Gorgeous!” in an accent I couldn’t begin to place. I returned the volley with a tragic attempt at a British accent. She lit up and sent it back in another accent entirely. Then another. I’d like to tell you I held my own as the child of two Eastern Europeans with significant accents, but I was playing accent tennis with a woman who’s been doing this professionally since before some of you had email addresses. I'd also like to think we bonded as two daughters of Hungarian fathers — but that part of the story belongs to the Yahoo piece. Incidentally, that became a running bit — whenever the conversation became too heavy or needed a reset, one of us (usually her) would serve up another round.

Feel the fear

I asked Mariska a question some of you had wondered about: how she manages to be so incredibly bold — the gift she gave herself of that beautiful documentary, and now being on freaking Broadway in a one-woman show. What do you even do with that? (Yes. That last part was verbatim).

“My dad taught me to challenge myself,” she told me. “My goal in life is to be all of myself. Again, this is about integration. This is about being all of myself.”

“My dad always told me I could do anything. So as I get older, I like to feel the fear and do it anyway. And I was terrified about this Broadway thing. I’d never done it before. These are completely different muscles.”

About the play arriving in her life when it did: “The play came to me at this time. Because it’s not an accident. You’ll see.”

“It was like, not only reclaiming my story, but reclaiming excised parts of myself, and I want, like all of us do, to be whole.”

~Mariska Hargitay

And then she gave me homework. “Have you seen it yet? Just come. Just make it happen. It’s an extraordinary play.” Reader, when Mariska Hargitay instructs you to come to her Broadway show, you start checking dates. (Every Brilliant Thing runs at the Hudson Theatre through July 5, if you’d like to receive the same assignment).

In case you're wondering: she really is gorgeous. I'm not talking about Hollywood's version of perfection either. I'm talking about presence that lit up a room and a smile that could probably be seen from space. And interestingly enough, when Mariska strode into the space asking if she had spinach in her teeth (she did not), she was in full Carole Lombard mode — stunning, screwball-lite, owning the space. Also, she smelled delicious — a subtle, this-is-probably-bespoke scent you can only catch if you're within inches of her glorious presence.

Reclaiming all of it

Here’s the part I most wanted to bring back to you. When Mariska talked about making “My Mom Jayne,” she talked about wholeness in a way that sounded less like celebrity press and more like every conversation I’ve ever had with the women who read this newsletter.

“The goal, right, to be a human being is to step into our true authenticity,” she said. “We are such complex beings, with so many parts, that all need attention... it was a time of integration. And realizing that we are so many things, and we don’t have to stay in one part or one self or one thing, but we can be all of ourselves.”

And this: “We feel these feelings, and we have this insecurity or fear... not feeling like enough or feeling less than. I think a lot of women feel that way. A lot of humans feel that way... This was about reclamation for me. It was like, not only reclaiming my story, but reclaiming excised parts of myself, and I want, like all of us do, to be whole.”

A woman who made the most revealing work of her life in her sixties, then walked onto a Broadway stage terrified and did it anyway. Reclamation has no expiration date.

She left me with one more line, and I’m leaving it with you, because it might be the most Hello Gorgeous! sentence ever spoken: “Nobody decides what you are. You decide. You decide.”

So this week, whatever the bold thing is — the one you’ve been circling, the one that requires completely different muscles — feel the fear and do it anyway.

Hello, Gorgeous! Right back at you.

So what bold thing would you like to tackle next? I’d love to finally finish my mystery series!
Let’s meet in the comment section to discuss.

Incidentally, yes. I do have a pic with her. But I decided to share the ones I took of her instead.

Rachel, your beauty concierge 💋

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Ah. The interwebs. Some of you received a newsletter on Monday. Some didn’t. When I tried to find it, it didn’t show up online or in my archives either. I’m going to take it as a sign to simply let it go…Or I wanted to, and then this popped up:

Moving right along.

To kick off the midweek roundups, I’m trying something new. In addition to connected themes or products, I’ll also be rounding up a handful of brands, finds, or people I think you should know about — the kind of discoveries that don’t always fit into regular columns but deserve more than a passing mention.

For the debut, I wanted to start with founders who were here before the flag, before the fireworks, before “shop small” was a hashtag. Call them proud Americans-ish. Four Indigenous-owned beauty and lifestyle brands building some of the most interesting businesses in their categories — and worth knowing about long before the July 4th sale emails start landing.

A (not so) small note before we begin: I’m always careful when featuring brands rooted in cultures that aren’t my own. The goal is to amplify, not appropriate, and to let founders speak for themselves. So while I’m always vigilant about honoring other cultures, I’m also leaning on their words, their nations, and their own descriptions of what they’re building.

N8iV Beauty

You may not have heard of N8iV (pronounced native) yet, but you will. The brand was named to TIME’s 100 Most Influential Companies of 2026 — one of the top 10 in fashion and beauty. Founded in 2022 by Ruth-Ann Thorn, an enrolled member of the Rincon Band of Luiseño/Payómkawichum Indians, the line was born from a question her teenage daughter Isabella asked her at Sephora in 2019: “Where’s the Native American section?”

The “8” in the name represents the eight-season calendar the Payómkawichum traditionally follow. The signature ingredient is kwíila — acorn oil, harvested once a year from tribal land and used in Native medicine for thousands of years. The line’s other ingredients carry their own heritage: seaweed and kelp (revered by coastal tribes like the Makah and Haida), aloe vera (used by the Navajo and Cherokee), pomegranate, cactus, and plant stem cells.

N8iV won an Allure Best of Beauty Award in 2025 for its exfoliator. This year it’s launching at Nordstrom, entering over 100 Ritz-Carlton spas, and joining Sephora’s* minority inclusion cohort. But that’s a conversation for another time. Back to N8iV, five percent of sales go to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women movement.

Two to try:

• Móomat “Ocean” Nutrient Rich Cleanser ($85) — móomat means ocean. A seaweed-and-kelp cleanser that purifies without stripping, and a smart starting point if you want to test the line before committing to the heavier hitters. My hypersensitive skin loves the way this makes my entire face—T-Zone and all—feel and look.

• Starlight Regenerative Cream ($165) — the nighttime cream that put N8iV on the map. Acorn oil, copper peptides, and plant stem cells, with packaging made from recycled materials. Suitable for all skin types and a good entry point into the brand’s anti-aging story.

n8ivbeauty.com

Manitobah

The one you’ve heard me rave about before. Founded in 1997 by Sean McCormick, a 23-year-old Métis entrepreneur from Manitoba (originally as Fleeceline, rebranded in 2008), Manitobah has become the brand that mainstreamed mukluks without flattening them. When Oprah ordered a pair in 2009, the business took off. Today it ships to over 150 countries, is sold by around 1,000 retailers globally including REI and Nordstrom, and is B Corp certified with an impact score nearly double the median.

What sets Manitobah apart is the Indigenous Market, an in-house platform where individual Indigenous artisans sell handmade, one-of-a-kind mukluks (some over $1,500) — and 100% of revenue goes to the artist. The brand also runs the Storyboot Project and a free Storyboot School that teaches traditional mukluk-making, including at a permanent space inside the Canadian Museum of History.

The only Canadian brand on this list. Worth the cross-border shipping. My fave right now are the Tolani Mocs in dusty pink. Perfect for working from home or a laid-back brunch ($120, manitobah.com).

Ah-Shí Beauty

You may not have heard of Ah-Shí, but Harper’s Bazaar has. The September 2020 issue called it a game changer — the first Native American-owned brand featured in their September print issue.

Founded in 2012 by Ahsaki Báá LaFrance-Chachere, an enrolled Diné (Navajo) and African American entrepreneur, the brand was built around a problem she knew personally: women on the Navajo reservation were mixing two foundations to get one match. So she spent six years developing her first formula. The foundation line now comes in 35 shades, made specifically for Indigenous complexions.

In Diné, Ah-Shí means this is me, this is mine. The translation: this is my beauty.

LaFrance-Chachere was named 2021 Native Woman Entrepreneur of the Year by the National Center for American Indian Economic Development. The skincare line is 98% botanical-based, with storefronts in Window Rock, Arizona (capital of the Navajo Nation) and Gallup, New Mexico.

ahshibeauty.com (If the site's giving you trouble, she's also on Instagram).

Eighth Generation

You may not have heard of Eighth Generation, but if you’ve been to Pike Place Market in Seattle, you’ve probably walked past their flagship. The brand was founded in 2008 by Louie Gong (Nooksack), who started by hand-customizing pairs of Vans shoes with a Sharpie in his 200-square-foot living room. He was raised by his Chinese grandfather and Native grandmother in a house with no running water in Ruskin, B.C., before moving to the Nooksack tribal community at 11.

In 2015, Eighth Generation became the first Native-owned business in North America to sell Native-designed wool blankets, reclaiming a category long dominated by non-Native companies selling “Native-inspired” knockoffs. In 2019, Gong sold the company to the Snoqualmie Tribe, making it the first lifestyle brand in the country owned by a Native American tribe.

Roughly 75% of the staff is Native, from warehouse to CEO. About 30 Indigenous artists design the products and are directly compensated. Every blanket arrives with a card naming the artist and telling their story.

The tagline says it all: Inspired Natives, not Native-inspired.

You can find a beautiful Sweet Birch handcrafted soap for $15 on eighthgeneration.com

I feel like all of these brands are worth a serious look.

Have you tried any of these lines? I’d love to hear about your favorite products or brands. Let’s meet in the comments to discuss!

Rachel, your beauty concierge 💋

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Quick note: I included some affiliate links and from time to time some sponsored products which means I might earn a small commission on sales made through these links, but I also throw in stuff I love just because. Prices are current at publish time.

*Tbh, Sephora has serious work to do on which founders it chooses to feature, having danced around calls to remove an extremely high-earning founder with years of spreading false conspiracy theories and vitriol aimed at Jews. At this point, Sephora's continued silence is its own statement.

Is it just me, or do the weeks get ever shorter and more stressful? I thought so. I’ve noticed that even though summer has barely made its presence known, people are still sneaking out early for the weekend. In a tiny bit of housekeeping, the weekend roundup will henceforth be known as the midweek roundup and will appear on Wednesdays. Cool, right?

So for today, let’s talk about those long showers (but not so long that you waste all the water) that wash away the week.

Colleen Rothschild Ritual Body Wash

I’m almost embarrassed to tell you just how many shower gels live in my shower, but it’s a lot. I rely on my morning or nighttime showers to help me get ready for my day or my bed. And that means that I choose my bathing partners intentionally.

Right now I’m more than a bit in love with the new drop from Colleen Rothschild: Ritual Body Wash. Avocado oil, squalane, sea buckthorn oil, vitamin C, and a blend of antioxidant-rich botanical extracts tick the box for me in terms of excellent ingredients. And it has just the right amount of frothy bubbles. But it’s the scent that really gets me. While I’m convinced I smelled mostly grapefruit, and once again, my nose was right — it's a light blend of sparkling citron, bergamot, pink grapefruit, and green notes. It also left my skin feeling replenished instead of dried out ($38, colleenrothschild.com).

Add a shower pouf

Want to up the spa factor? Cleanlogic has a whole bunch of body exfoliators and gentle scrubbers, including this slightly oversized antimicrobial mesh sponge that comes in a whole bunch of colors and tie-dyed patterns ($8 for two, cleanlogic.com).

And it’s going to be a scorcher of a weekend, so I predict a multi-shower day with some of my faves.

What’s your fave shower gel right now? For years I only used Neutrogena Rainbath, but I feel like I try pretty much anything these days. How about you? Let’s meet in the comments to discuss!

Rachel, your beauty concierge 💋

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Quick note: I included some affiliate links and from time to time some sponsored products which means I might earn a small commission on sales made through these links, but I also throw in stuff I love just because. Prices are

Next month, Hello Gorgeous! turns two.

I’ve been thinking about what I wanted to bring you to mark it. Something that actually says what these two years have meant, beyond a discount code or a giveaway. Something that shows you just how much I appreciate each and every one of you and also the way that Hello Gorgeous! is making its mark in the newsletter-verse. So here it is: next week I’m sitting down with Mariska Hargitay. In person, even though I’m the crankiest person in America and tend to rely on Zoom interviews these days because leaving the house requires a lot of effort (and travel!). The woman a generation knows as Olivia Benson is currently making her Broadway debut in Every Brilliant Thing, following a Tony-nominated Daniel Radcliffe, AKA Harry Potter. The glorious Hargitay has agreed to answer a couple of questions that I’m bringing straight from you.

When I started HG!, I wanted a space for women with no intention of fading into the background. You showed up. The brands followed (Olay, Helix, and more on the way). And now one of the most recognizable women in the country is going to talk directly to this community. Two years in, this is the gift I most wanted to give you: a real conversation with a woman this whole room admires. Someone who, it turns out, wants to hear what you have to say.

So tell me, what would you ask her?

I’m most curious what you’d ask a woman who keeps reinventing herself in full view. About second acts. About the people who shaped her. About doing some of the bravest work of her life in her 60s. The questions women like us would think to ask.

Leave questions in the comments or reply to this email by Friday. I’ll pick a few favorites to bring into the room, and her answers will land right back in your inbox.

Can’t wait to see what you come up with!

Rachel, your beauty concierge 💋

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I’ve been tinkering with some of the newsletter settings, so your emails for the next few days might look a bit wonky. My apologies in advance.

Last week, quite a few of my writer pals headed to a writer’s conference for healthcare writers. Many shared a single image on social media. It was a well-known shot of a professional truck driver with the left side of his face drooping drastically and practically sinking in because of wrinkles and excessive sun damage. Can you guess why? The left side of his face was in the sun for the most part while the right side was almost permanently in the shade. The moral of this story? Sun protection. All the time, especially in the summertime.

Sunscreen is the rare beauty category built for compliance, not consumer appeal. We wear it because we have to, not because we want to. burnd set out to change that.

Created by Dr. Mark Mitchnick, the pediatrician who invented transparent zinc oxide, burnd SPF 41 uses a water-in-oil formula that dries down invisible (no white cast), holds through sweat and water, and feels more like a high-end moisturizer than ordinary SPF. It’s broad-spectrum, reef-safe, fragrance-free, and genuinely lovely on 40+ skin ($35, getburnd.com).

A sunscreen you’ll actually want to reach for? Now that’s radical.

Do you use sunscreen religiously? Let’s meet in the comments to discuss!

Rachel, your beauty concierge 💋

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Quick note: I included some affiliate links and from time to time some sponsored products which means I might earn a small commission on sales made through these links, but I also throw in stuff I love just because. Prices are current at publish time.

You may remember that a few months ago, I declared my Helix Midnight Elite mattress the greatest sleep discovery of my life. I meant every word. As a lifelong insomniac who’s tested mattresses on multiple continents and once consulted with a hotel sleep concierge about 27 different pillow options, finding a mattress that delivered actual, restorative, deep sleep felt like winning an Olympic event I didn’t know I’d been competing in. Gold medal, baby.

And then I treated my mother to a Helix Sleep mattress for Mother’s Day. And everything changed.

A Gift for Mom. A Revelation for Me.

For Mother’s Day — AKA Rachel is the best daughter day — I gifted mom a Helix Twilight Elite Twin with a GlacioTex Elite Cooling Cover (About $2,400 retail). It’s a stunning mattress: firm, cool, luxurious. And as it turns out, I was there for the setup. Well, that’s only partially true. My bestie and I set up the mattress together. And then I did what any devoted daughter would do.

I took a little nap on it. (Mom, if you’re reading this, I promise it was barely a nap — more like a naplet). And after I woke up all refreshed and happy, I hauled myself off my mother’s new mattress, went home, and crawled into bed with my beloved Midnight Elite. And something felt... different. Not bad, exactly. But softer than I remembered. Softer than I wanted.

I had accidentally ruined my own mattress happiness. Or so I thought.

Crisis averted

Here’s the thing about finding the perfect sleep setup: once you’ve experienced something better, there’s no going back. My Midnight Elite had given me the best sleep of my life — and I wasn’t willing to settle for anything less than its absolute best version. So I did what any reasonable person would do at this point.

I contacted Helix.

Hello Gorgeous! readers get an exclusive 27% discount at helixsleep.com/hellogorgeous

What happened next (This is the part you need to know)

I want to be very clear about something: the relationship Helix has with its customers doesn’t end at purchase. It doesn’t even end at their 120-night guarantee (nearly three weeks longer than other brands). What I can tell you as a person madly in love with my mattress, is that their commitment to your sleep doesn't stop when the mattress arrives.

What I can tell you is this: I reached out, explained my situation, and within what felt like no time at all, the experts at Helix Sleep came back to me with a solution. Rather than suggesting I replace the entire mattress — thank God, my Midnight Elite and I have history, we’re deeply bonded, and frankly, we’ve been sleeping together for months — they identified the real issue: my insert.

Remember when I told you the Midnight Elite unzips? Like a very sophisticated toaster pastry, it has room for an internal insert. I had initially chosen a somewhat soft insert. What I needed, it turned out, was the Twilight insert — the firmer option.

Do not try this at home

When the Twilight insert arrived, I decided to handle the swap myself. This was brave. This was also incredibly stupid. Removing the original insert and replacing it with the new one was a full-body workout, and I paid for it with a charley horse that lasted days. By the time I was done, I was so thoroughly exhausted that I lay down on my bare, uncovered mattress to catch my breath. Can you guess what’s coming next?

I woke up two hours later.

Apparently, my body had opinions about the new insert before my brain even had a chance to weigh in.

The verdict

That night, I went to bed genuinely nervous. I’d already fallen asleep once that day — would I be able to again? (Listen, insomnia logic is its own particular brand of irrational.) I did not need to worry. The firmness was perfection. It has been perfect every single night since.

Here’s what I now understand about the Helix system that I didn’t fully appreciate before: this mattress was built to be customized. Helix notes that their mattresses are made to order — layering foam, rolling coils, sewing it up specifically for you. And as they put it, the bed takes time to learn your contours. Mine had learned mine. It just needed the right insert to reflect them back perfectly.

Pro tip: You’ll want extra-deep sheets for this beauty.

For you, Gorgeous

If you’ve been on the fence about investing in a Helix mattress, I want you to know two things:

First, Hello Gorgeous! readers get an exclusive 27% discount at helixsleep.com/hellogorgeous — and yes, that’s steeper than anything you’ll find on the Helix website even during their biggest holiday sales. And forgive my immodesty, but the Hello Gorgeous! deal is better than what you’ll find on Black Friday.

Second: when you buy a Helix, you’re not buying a mattress and walking away. You’re entering into a relationship with a company that will work with you to make sure you’re sleeping well. That, for a lifelong insomniac or very picky sleeper, might be the most luxurious thing of all. And did I mention it's made right here in the US — in Arizona — and ships free anywhere in the country? But perhaps most importantly: I love me a brand with incredible customer service.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a very firm, very perfect mattress calling my name. And this time, I’m putting the sheets on first.

Sweet dreams,

Rachel, your beauty concierge 💋

Meanwhile, am I the only one who goes into ecstacies when discussing her mattress? Let’s meet in the comment section to discuss.

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Quick note: I included some affiliate links and from time to time some sponsored products which means I might earn a small commission on sales made through these links, but I also throw in stuff I love just because. Prices are current at publish time.

Contouring had a moment. Then it had too many moments. Then it became part of social media’s unholy obsession with countless videos and reels featuring spackled on layers of product and a big reveal that looked like an overtired toddler with a brown crayon went to town on a Kardashian. We were told this was desirable, and for about 12 seconds, we actually believed it. Even for those 12 seconds, we were wrong.

That said, if you’re feeling a little yearny for faux cheekbones — no judgment, we all have weak moments — there’s a way to scratch that itch without fully falling off the no-aggressive-makeup wagon.

There’s a tool for that

The secret to grown-up contouring is less about product and more about the right tool. Specifically, about using the right sponge for the right job instead of one exhausted Beautyblender doing the work of five. Celebrity MUA Nova Kaplan spent a full week on press tour for Dutton Ranch (the latest in Taylor Sheridan’s Yellowstone-verse), keeping actress Natalie Lind (Oreana AKA the rich granddaughter looking for trouble) looking like herself — freckles intact, nothing overdone — by assigning each sponge a very specific, very contained task. Blend here. Set there. Soften this. Leave that alone.

The result was not glass skin, not “I woke up like this” — you didn’t. Beyoncé didn’t. None of us ever do — just beautiful skin with a tiny bit of blend going on. Which in 2026 is somehow still the hardest thing to pull off.

The piece that caught my attention was the Micro Mini — a tiny sponge designed specifically for eye work. Nova used it to brighten the inner corners after early call times and travel days, which is the kind of detail that separates a face that looks rested from one that’s just... trying really hard. If you’ve ever attempted precision eye work with a full-size sponge, you already know how that story ends.

If you want to start small on your blend-tastic journey, two Micro Mini Pro Makeup Sponges are $18 on beautyblender.com.

Contour isn’t dead. It’s just finally learned some manners.

So how do we feel about contouring vs. blending right now? Let’s meet in the comments to discuss!

Rachel, your beauty concierge 💋

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Quick note: I included some affiliate links and from time to time some sponsored products which means I might earn a small commission on sales made through these links, but I also throw in stuff I love just because. Prices are current at publish time.

I’m taking a little pause for the next few days. Between Shavuot (the one with the cheesecake) and Memorial Day (the one with the hot dogs), it feels like a good time to indulge in a really long weekend.

I’ll be back in your inbox on Wednesday with the announcement of the giveaway winner. In case you missed it, Cher turned 80, OLAY continued to be amazing, and I debunked some beauty history mythology. Meanwhile, over on The Hot Sheet (my PR & communications newsletter) I discussed failed AI attempts and why writers are in demand again.

OH. And next week, watch this space for fun content along with a giant discount on Hello Gorgeous! partner brand Helix Sleep exclusively for subscribers.

Do you have any fun extended weekend plans? Let’s meet in the comments to discuss!

Rachel, your beauty concierge 💋

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Today is Cherilyn Sarkisian’s 80th birthday. Notable since we’ve all grown up with the larger-than-life presence known as Cher. I’m pretty sure that any woman over 40 had a moment when we realized that she didn’t look like anyone else, sound like anyone else, dress like anyone else or give a flying f*ck about anyone else.

Cher started as a backup singer and ended up changing music forever. In honor of her maximalist self, let’s celebrate her seven decades of reinvention, plus one wildcard, because Cher.

1. Cher sang on some of the greatest records ever made — and nobody knew it.

Before Cher was Cher, she was a teenager singing backup for producer Phil Spector. You’ve heard her voice on The Ronettes’ “Be My Baby”, The Righteous Brothers’ “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling”, and Darlene Love’s “A Fine, Fine Boy.” I know. I had no idea, either!

2. She broke free — and immediately had three #1 hits.

After a very public divorce from Sonny and breaking out of an exploitative contract that controlled her career, Cher didn’t skip a beat. “Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves,” “Half-Breed,” and “Dark Lady” hit #1 back to back. Turns out she was just fine on her own.

“I don’t think that this means that I am somebody, but I guess I’m on my way.”

~Cher

3. The industry laughed at her. Then she won an Oscar.

Hollywood didn’t take Cher seriously as an actress. So two years before her win, she showed up to the Oscars in that showstopping Bob Mackie outfit, which in theory was a lot like the dark warrior version of Cher’s original (and later deemed offensive) feathered headdresses worn when singing “Half Breed” (which she publicly committed to retiring from her set list in 2017). She was basically a one-woman warrior accented with sparkles. In 1988, Cher won Best Actress for Moonstruck, and closed her speech with: “I don’t think that this means that I am somebody, but I guess I’m on my way.”

4. At 52, she didn’t just make a comeback. She changed music forever.

When “Believe” dropped in 1998, it hit #1 in 23 countries. It also introduced the world to a deliberate use of Auto-Tune as a creative tool — a technique now so ubiquitous it has its own name: the Cher Effect. At 52, when the industry pretty much deemed her a has-been. Again. I’m no fan of auto-tune, but I love the implications of a woman in her 50s owning her sexy self while changing music forever.

5. She said goodbye for three years straight.

The Farewell Tour launched in 2002, ran 326 shows across multiple continents, grossed over $200 million, and set the Guinness World Record for highest-grossing tour by a female artist at the time. She kept adding dates because audiences kept showing up. Some farewells are just too good to end.

6. Broadway. Kennedy Center. ABBA. All in the same year.

In 2018, The Cher Show opened on Broadway while she was being celebrated at the Kennedy Center Honors — and her Dancing Queen ABBA covers album became the year’s highest-selling album by a female artist. Just a casual year.

7. She made history in her 70s. Then did it again.

In 2023, “DJ Play a Christmas Song” made her the only solo artist in history to have a Billboard #1 in seven consecutive decades. In 2024, Cher was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and cracked: “It was easier getting divorced from two men than it was getting into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.”

Wildcard: She’s been a Barbie since 1976.

Twiggy (classic blonde beauty for the wild Carnaby Street ‘60s) was the first celebrity Barbie in 1967. Cher got hers in 1976 — and has had multiple versions since, including one in the iconic Bob Mackie “If I Could Turn Back Time” look: see-through catsuit, leather jacket, cascade of curly hair. Even in plastic, she’s unmistakable.

Here’s the thing, there is so much more about Cher that changed the pop culture landscape forever beyond her movies and music. But of everything I love about Cher, it’s her ability to love out loud that impresses me most. Her husbands, her lovers, her kids. Cher didn’t need anyone to define her, but she chose her true loves to enhance the Cher experience.

Did you have a Cher Barbie or any other wacky Cher-inspired items? Let’s meet in the comments to discuss!

Rachel, Your beauty concierge 💋

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I cannot tell a lie. I reallllly wanted this one:

If you’ve read my first book Hello Gorgeous! Beauty Products in America ‘40s'-‘60s (A New York Public Library book of the year/Book for the Teen Age; I promise a reissue is coming sooner rather than later), you’ll know that I paid homage to some of the Jewish OGs who created the beauty industry as we know it. I say it not to brag about my people, but because May is Jewish American Heritage Month and perhaps reminding beauty people about the origins of their favorite brands may help them remember just how much members of the tribe contributed to the beauty industry.

But first, let’s debunk a common internet rumor about the history of the lipstick tube.

Did a Jewish inventor create the modern lipstick tube?

Sort of.

A popular tweet declares that Jewish inventor Maurice Levy invented the modern lipstick tube. The truth is that the lipstick tube wasn't invented by one person on one date. It evolved across 1,000+ years, multiple countries, and a tangle of competing patents. The viral version is a lovely story. It just isn't quite the whole story (I’m happy to talk ancient Mesopotamian lip sticks with anyone as obsessed with beauty history as I am!).

Did Elizabeth Arden hand out tubes of red lipstick to suffragettes marching down Fifth Avenue?

No. She did not.

Another hugely popular urban beauty legend is that Elizabeth Arden née Florence Nightingale Graham handed out tubes of red lipstick (often called "Red Door Red") to suffragettes marching down Fifth Avenue on May 4, 1912, as a symbol of solidarity. It's the kind of story that should be true — woman business owner, women's rights, red lips as rebellion. I've received many press releases from the Elizabeth Arden brand making that easily debunked claim over the years, including in their 2018 March On campaign with Reese Witherspoon. The problem? There's no evidence it actually happened. Historian Lucy Jane Santos went through the extensive New York Times coverage of the meticulously-planned 1912 march — every detail of what the women wore was reported, right down to the 30-cent white straw "suffragette hats" — and nobody mentioned lipstick. What Florence Graham did do that day was march in the rally herself. The lipstick handout was embroidered in later, by the brand, which feels like bad business. If you’re sharing false facts about the history of the brand, it could cause consumers to question product claims.

Now that we've cleared the (lipstick-smudged) air, let's talk about the real mensches of the Jewish American beauty industry.

• Helena Rubinstein, born Chaja Rubinstein in Kraków in 1872 to an Orthodox Jewish family, fled an arranged marriage at 18, ended up in Australia with twelve pots of her mother’s face cream in her luggage, and from that built the world’s first global beauty empire. By the time she died in 1965, she’d done it all — Paris, London, New York — and famously bought an entire Park Avenue building after being denied an apartment for being Jewish. Her motto: “Beauty is power.”

• Max Factor, born Maksymilian Faktorowicz in 1872 in Zduńska Wola, Poland, into a poor Polish-Jewish family. He fled Tsarist anti-Jewish persecution in 1904, landed in Hollywood, and invented the entire visual language of movie-star beauty. Jean Harlow’s platinum hair? Him. Clara Bow’s heart-shaped lips? Him. Joan Crawford’s overdrawn lip? Him. He also coined the word “make-up” as a noun, in 1920.

• Estée Lauder, born Josephine Esther Mentzer in Corona, Queens, in 1908, to Hungarian and Czech Jewish immigrants. Learned to make face cream from her chemist uncle John Schotz in his home laboratory. Launched Estée Lauder Cosmetics out of a former restaurant kitchen in 1946. Invented the “Gift with Purchase.” Today the Estée Lauder Companies own Clinique, MAC, La Mer, Aveda, Jo Malone, Too Faced — and yes, Bobbi Brown.

• Charles Revson, born Charles Haskell Revson in 1906 in Somerville, Massachusetts, to Lithuanian and German Jewish immigrant parents. Started Revlon in 1932 with his brother Joseph and chemist Charles Lachman (that’s the “L” in Revlon) — $300 and a single product: a brand-new opaque, pigmented nail enamel. He invented matching lips and fingertips in 1939, and one of the most-quoted lines in the history of marketing: “In the factory we make cosmetics; in the store we sell hope.”

• Bobbi Brown, born Bobbi Brown (yes, really Bobbi — not a nickname) in 1957 in Chicago to a Jewish family. Frustrated by the over-the-top 1980s palette, she partnered with a chemist to create ten natural-shade lipsticks, launched them at Bergdorf Goodman in 1991, and changed the way women wore makeup. Sold to Estée Lauder in 1995. Now running Jones Road. She’s also been openly Jewish about it, including a 2022 TikTok moment when she told her followers not to contour their “Jewish noses.”

• Vidal Sassoon, born in 1928 in London to Sephardi and Ashkenazi Jewish parents. His father walked out when he was three; his mother placed him in a Jewish orphanage where he stayed for seven years. He left school at 14, apprenticed as a hairdresser, and at 17 joined the 43 Group — a militant Jewish veterans' organization that physically broke up Oswald Mosley's post-war fascist rallies in East London. In 1948 he went to Israel and fought in the War of Independence. Then he came home and changed hair forever — the five-point cut, the wash-and-wear bob, the geometric architecture that freed women from the curler-and-hairspray tyranny of the 1950s. He later founded the Vidal Sassoon International Center for the Study of Antisemitism at Hebrew University. The man who said "if you don't look good, we don't look good" knew exactly what hatred looked like.

Beauty friends and fans, you know I never get political here and try to only mention joyous topics, but sometimes I have to speak up. Things are heating up in the world and Jews are on the receiving end of a lot of hatred and attacks. If you think you've never met anyone Jewish before, think again. You may have just powdered your nose, lined your lips, styled your hair with products invented by, or read beauty content written by a proud Jew.

Do you have any beauty myths you’d love debunked? Let’s meet in the comments to discuss!

Rachel, Your beauty concierge 💋

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Quick note: I included some affiliate links and from time to time some sponsored products which means I might earn a small commission on sales made through these links, but I also throw in stuff I love just because. Prices are current at publish time.

Last year I hopped a couple of international flights. Budget flights, something I didn’t fully grasp before boarding. I won’t say that these were the worst flights of my life. Okay, I lie. They were the worst flights of my life. (Though there was that time we had an emergency landing in Ireland because two rows of very drunk men got into merry fisticuffs. But I digress.)

Last year’s flights sucked in ways you can’t fathom including a barfing episode from the very drunk man one row in front of me, gingerly covered with blankets by the staff. I swear I’m not making this up.

Moving right along.

What I learned across those flights — somewhere between the budget seat and the purple barf blanket — is that what you wear matters more than where you sit. And reader, I was dressed for a last smooch with an overseas love interest who insisted on driving me to the airport. (It’s over, mom. Don’t plan the wedding). So I looked cute, but on the endless, barfiest flight, the flight attendants WARMED UP THE TUNA FISH SANDWICHES. It smelled like Gehenna. I felt like hell. I have not made that mistake since. You know why? Because I have discovered travel pants disguised as hiking pants (okay, they’re probably hiking pants). And I intend to discuss travel clothing a lot in the coming weeks.

Free Fly Women’s Breeze Drift Pant

I mentioned these in my Mother’s Day gift guide over on Yahoo, but I feel in my marrow that you must know about them too. While I aspire to cuteness in my coverage of comfy clothing, I do make exceptions. I mean, when is the last time you pulled on a pair of pants that were practically weightless? They also have UPF 50+, in case you actually do outdoor things. A waistband that doesn't feel like a corset and a secure zipper pocket for ID make them perfect for travel or walking. No. I do not go running. Do you still dress cute for flights? (Does anyone?) Are these the most flattering pants I've ever worn in my life? No. They are not. Do I care? Also, no. I suspect you won't either. Because comfort. For flights. Or hikes. They’re also stylish enough that it doesn’t look like you slipped into PJs before your flight and simply gave up on life ($98, freeflyapparel.com).

If you have a spare moment, can you tell me what you wear to travel? Let’s meet in the comments to discuss!

Rachel, Your beauty concierge 💋

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Quick note: I included some affiliate links and from time to time some sponsored products which means I might earn a small commission on sales made through these links, but I also throw in stuff I love just because. Prices are current at publish time.

Earlier this week I shared what amounted to a love letter to OLAY. Because OMG. Iconic and I shall pinch myself to be partnering with one of the top skincare brands in the world for a second time. Ahem. Let me calm down for a moment and try to explain.

Heads up: this post is a paid partnership with OLAY. (As you know, I only ever partner with brands I love — more on that below.) #ad

I don’t randomly partner with brands. In fact, call me snobbish, but I’m very picky about partnerships and have quite comfortably turned some down when they weren’t a good fit for my audience. But OLAY and Hello Gorgeous! We go together like peanut butter and jelly. Scratch that. Like Nutella and baguettes.

I’ve been writing about beauty for decades, have taught the history of beauty on the graduate and undergrad levels for years, and sometimes lecture on everything beauty on the corporate level. And you know what keeps coming up time and time again? OLAY. That’s what. It’s one of those brands that seems to keep improving with age (like we do!).

Most recently, OLAY introduced a revamped Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream. So that red jar you’ve loved for so long is now filled with even more skin loving goodness. Let’s discuss.

OLAY Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream

The iconic red jar now includes Triple Collagen Peptide and Pro-Vitamin B5. So not only is skin softer, but the formula also helps boost cell renewal while supporting natural collagen to give skin a firmer, smoother look — with visible results in 7 days. And yes, I tested it over an entire week to see if the claim was true. It is. I glow. True story.

OLAY Super Serum

In case you’re wondering if I test out every single product I write about, the answer is yes – with a caveat. Sometimes a product isn’t right for my skin or hair, so I enlist someone else to help with the product testing.

In the case of OLAY Super Serum I enlisted my sister Kiki to help. Not because it isn’t incredible for my skin (it is). And not because my super-sensitive skin reacted to the product (it didn’t). But because I needed someone I trusted to tell me in no uncertain terms if this serum lives up to the holy grail hype. It does. My big sis thinks so, too. And OLAY has the receipts to back it all up.

Based on a 6-year review of major beauty awards through June 2025, this seemingly magical jar of skin loving goodness has earned the title of most-awarded serum. And I can see why. Smoother texture? Check. More even tone? Oh, yes. Firmer-feeling skin? Excuse me while I check. Nods. Yup. That one, too. Visibly smoother lines? Even near my eyes! And long-lasting hydration? Oh, yes. Especially when layered underneath the aforementioned OLAY Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream.

P.S. Your mom was right

So, why is Mother’s Day the perfect time to remind you about OLAY? Because as it turns out, unlike TV stars or Hollywood celebs, mom was the original influencer in most of our lives. We watched carefully to see what she wore or the words she used. We paid attention to the way she styled her hair and the shoes she wore. And while mom wasn’t right about everything (my own mother wore sky-high heels for decades), she came pretty close. Which is why I’m quite comfortable saying that OLAY is the brand moms trusted and now I trust too. It’s that good. Sort of like mom’s foolproof meatloaf recipe!

You can find OLAY Super Serum ($30) and OLAY Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream ($27) on Amazon and still order in time for Mother’s Day!

And just for fun, here are a few of mom’s best life lessons some of you shared on my socials (gently edited for clarity):

• “Don’t stay mad at your sister. There are enough people in your life to fight with. Sisters are life’s version of a guardian angel.” Megan

• “Always wash your makeup off at the end of the day. Aunt Celia never did. Look at her skin.” Cheryl

• “Look at Jackie Onassis. She never followed trends. That’s why she’s a fashion icon.” Melanie

• “You don’t have to try every makeup trend. Leave some for other people.” Sara’le

• “There’s no shame in having thinner hair. It’s being too thin-skinned that’s the problem.” Adella

In case you’re looking for more Mother’s Day content, last week I posted a few fun Mother’s Day gift ideas. For a more robust Mother’s Day gift list, you can head over to my Yahoo Creator’s column, I Think You’ll Like This, (part of the Hello Gorgeous! universe) for some more ideas.

Do you have an aunt or female relative who can’t live without OLAY? Let’s meet in the comments to discuss!

Rachel, Your beauty concierge 💋

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Quick note: I included some affiliate links and from time to time some sponsored posts — like this one — which means I might earn a small commission on sales made through these links and/or was paid to write the content on the post. I also throw in stuff I love just because. Prices are current at publish time.

Heads up — I'm partnering with one of my all time favorite skincare brands - OLAY on a Mother's Day campaign this week, and today's post is the warm-up and love letter to them. Let’s get to it.

It’s May, which means that many of us are working to figure out what would make the perfect Mother’s Day gift.

This year, my partners at OLAY and I are taking a different approach to celebrating mom: Instead of wondering what we can buy for mom, we’re focusing on the gifts our mothers have given us over the years. And it’s not limited to the tangibles. Instead, we’re focusing on the positive lessons, habits, or quirks that make our daily lives better- courtesy of mom.

Mother’s Day can be a toughie for some of you. If any of this hits a tender spot, please skip and come back next week, since I’m going to be celebrating mom for the next few posts.

What are some lessons you’ve learned from your mother?

I could probably write a book about the things that I’ve learned from my mother. I'm not boasting when I say I'm a world-class cook, thanks to endless hours in the kitchen with mom. She also has an incredible fashion sense, and an unerring eye for color. One thing my mom and I differ on is our approach to beauty. If she swipes on lipstick or touches up her eyebrows on any given day, she’ll sigh dramatically and say she “did her face.” Me, on the other hand, if I’m not trying out a dozen or more products, I feel like my face is naked.

When it comes to skincare though, my mother and I adopt a similar approach. We both favor classic brands that keep improving with age…sort of like we do! And a lot like OLAY.

I should add that I joke that I grew up with four mothers - my aunts were definitely my bonus moms. No matter when I see her, my auntie S always asks me when I’m partnering with the skincare company with the red packaging (she means OLAY Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream, which is the only skin cream she’ll ever use. More about their fabulous updated formula on Friday).

So what are some lessons you’ve learned from your own moms? Be it skincare or manners, I’d love to hear about it and share with readers. I’ll be posting some of your best insights on Friday. And one of you will randomly win a gift bag crammed with this season’s best and newest launches.

Simply comment below or hit reply!

How do you implement wisdom from your mother in your everyday life? Let’s meet in the comments to discuss!

Rachel, Your beauty concierge 💋

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Quick note: I only partner with brands I adore. You won’t ever see random paid partnerships or sponsorships from sketchy brands or sketchy products. As for OLAY? True love! More coming on Friday.

Last week (as I do once a month) I taught a beauty class to Holocaust survivors. For about an hour we discussed the joy of a really good shower. From setting the temperature and heat level to indulging in hot towels or an incredible shower gel, your morning ablutions can be mini spa vacations. Mine frequently are. My morning shower today involved giant balls of floofy mousse courtesy of Dove’s new Plant Milk Whipped Shower Foam.

Feel like a kid again

Remember when you were little and bath time meant bubbles and piling your soapy hair on top of your head and feeling extremely glam? Well, Dove Beauty Whipped Shower Foam (I tried Oat Milk & Berry Brûlée) understands the assignment. While it’s described as an “ultra-creamy foam,” it’s more like GIANT BALLS OF FLOOF (and thank you, Dove PR, for the ridiculously cute floofy pink tote).

Remember when mousse for your hair was launched and how exciting it all felt? This has that same giddiness. Shake, press, and a giant, delicious-smelling macaron of mousse lands in your palm. It’s made with gentle cleansers, no sulfates, and no parabens, so your skin won’t feel dried out by the experience. I genuinely can’t describe how fun this is to use — I love it so much I still haven’t cracked open the body wash and body scrub that came with it. Bonus: makes a very cute Mother’s Day giftie for the vegan mom in your life ($14, Target.com).

P.S. I brought the pink tote to show the ladies. They lost it. These are women who've lived through more brutality than most of us can imagine, and a floofy pink bag made their whole afternoon!

What’s the most fun you’ve had in the shower lately? Ahem. Not that type of fun! Shower gel type fun. Let’s meet in the comments to discuss!

Rachel, Your beauty concierge 💋

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Quick note: I included some affiliate links and from time to time some sponsored products which means I might earn a small commission on sales made through these links, but I also throw in stuff I love just because. Prices are current at publish time.

Whoa, Nelly! A warm welcome to all the new subscribers. I guess you really want a chance to win the $100 gift card from Beautyhabit.

Let’s settle down and discuss the weekend.

This time around, gifts and treats that would make your momma happy in advance of Mother’s Day, or things you probably just want to treat yourself to.

Better skin in a flash

Remember Dermaflash? Back when it launched, Dermaflash was the first dermaplaning tool available at home. It gently exfoliated the topmost layer of skin without risk of cutting yourself. If it’s of concern to you, it also eliminates peach fuzz at the same time. The newest version is Dermaflash Luxe+ which uses proprietary Sonic Technology to safely + gently remove peach fuzz and exfoliate dead skin cells. I cannot tell a lie. I used this baby one time and join the masses who say they see results after a single use. Notable, please be careful when changing the (caged) blade. If you’re not careful it will fly across the room! (Why yes. I wasn’t careful and it flew across the room). Also notable, using it won’t increase hair growth. Also, also notable. OMG. This was the miraculous tool that made my blackhead inclined nose less so ($200, dermaflash.com).

Eye cream with silk protein

What can I say? I like trying glam eye creams. Silk or pearls as an active? Bring it!

I recently dove headfirst into a new collection by Olea Essence, a natural skincare line developed in Israel’s Galilee region. If you’ve ever used olive oil on your face, you know the almost instant feel of softness. The line takes it a bit further by using unfiltered extra virgin olive oil and botanical ingredients in all products. I tend to love using products made for tougher climates since they understand the assignment and everything is more nourishing or intense. Olea combines Mediterranean skincare practices with modern formulation. And while this is my favorite product in the line so far (be patient, I’m still testing it out!), I really love the Face Nourishing Night Cream as well. The Eye Cream with Silk Protein is $123, on oleaessence.com.

Instant gel mani

If you or your mom hate heading to the manicurist or want a manicure in a jif, you might end up fighting over ohora semi-cured gel strips. Right now I’m partial to the French mani kit. All ohora manicure sets are made of gel nail strips that are partially cured and then finished under a gel lamp. I tried the starter kit, and while they were really strong and mostly chip free, they peeled a bit and lasted about a week and not as long as a traditional gel mani. Honestly? I don’t care. I love these! You can get a full starter set with a full size lamp for about $22 on Amazon.

Throwing shade

If you or the mother figure in your life dream of being a Real Housewife, oversized shades are a must. Dimple eyeglasses from TIJN feature the best Fashion Week looks and are incredibly affordable. I also love the fact that you can instantly transform this frame by snapping on polarized sun lenses to the tiny invisible magnets on the frame and voila! your eyeglasses are now sunglasses! I sense the pink ones are in my future ($80, tijneyewear.com).

Cute keys

I was in Staples a few months back and texted my sister an image of a key kiosk (key-osk?) to instantly make keys. Here’s what I didn’t know then. KeyMe kiosks are open 24/7 and have a ridiculous amount of cute keys including florals or homages to your mama. Visit key.me to find out more!

A heavenly scented candle

It’s been a while since I wandered the aisle of Whole Foods, but if you’re looking for a lovely gifty, check out Calyan Wax Co. Champagne/Rose candle. Made of 100% soy wax scented with sweet honey, pink grapefruit and amber this is a lovely scent to usher in springtime (and Mother’s Day if you so choose! $20, Whole Foods).

More Mother’s Day gift ideas coming next week here and on ITYLT (I Think You’ll Like This) part of the Hello Gorgeous! family on Yahoo.

Is Mother’s Day on your radar this year? Let’s meet in the comments to discuss!

Rachel, Your beauty concierge 💋

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Quick note: I included some affiliate links and from time to time some sponsored products which means I might earn a small commission on sales made through these links, but I also throw in stuff I love just because. Prices are current at publish time.

Have you ever felt that you needed a splurge to get through the week? I’m not talking about some extra foam on your latte. I mean the most silly, indulgent or random splurge that makes you smile throughout the day. Well, my pals over at BeautyHabit.com want to make that splurge dream come true. Scroll down for the giveaway specifics.

What would you spend $100 on?

This morning I tried to imagine what I would treat myself to if I had $100 to spend on BeautyHabit. I wanted to come up with indulgent things, and not the kind of stuff I’d need to buy to restock or upgrade my daily looks.

Here’s what I might treat myself to:

100% Pure Akoya Pearl Powder

A thousand years ago when I worked in the diamond industry we provided diamonds to a Japanese pearl jewelry company. There was a man named Koji who always tried to entice me with jewels. When that didn’t work, he promised me pure pearl powder saying it was a centuries-old beauty secret for Japanese women. Well, pretty much anyone can indulge in this beauty treatment which helps make your complexion look more luminous. Mix a tiny amount of Chidoriya pearl powder with your serum or moisturizer or even hair gel for a bit of that extra glow ($84, beautyhabit.com). Or check out the 100% silk powder skin enhancer which sounds pretty cool as well.

A gourmand scent

Foodie fragrances are still going strong and Beautyhabit understands the assignment. This spring they’ll be adding a travel size of their floral gourmand fragrance Morn to Dusk which will retail for $60. Scent notes include: Bergamot, Lily of the Valley, Bourbon Vanilla, Cedarwood and a hint of Musk.

A splurge-y hand soap

Listen, I’m truly okay using a $3 hand wash from the supermarket. But I also notice my cracked cuticles and dried out hands. I’m thinking that if I was in the mood to indulge big time, I might go crazy with a pricey hand wash (or buy one for mom for Mother’s Day!). I love the look of C. Atherley products, especially Geranium No.4 Hand Wash which sounds like a very James Bond type detail or clue in a twisty mystery ($54, beautyhabit.com).

A statement lipstick case

I think it’s time to revisit Paul+ Joe lipstick in general (I’m going back to delve into their sheer formulas as soon as this posts). Even more fun than the lippies is the collection of beautiful cases that make a statement and don’t cost a fortune. I love the Parisian charm of designer Sophie Mechaly’s spring blooms on this one ($9, beautyhabit.com).

Win $100 gift card to Beautyhabit.com + free shipping on your order

So, how can you win? It’s pretty easy, actually.

• Subscribe: to this newsletter Hello Gorgeous! and boom! You’re entered to win.

• Share: Post this giveaway to your notes on your own Substack or share in a post and boom x2. You’ve just gotten another entry!

• Socialize: Post about the Hello Gorgeous! newsletter x Beautyhabit.com giveaway on your socials and tag me on Facebook or Insta or link to this newsletter https://hellogorgeous.news and you’ll get another entry.

• Upgrade: Already a subscriber but want to do me a solid? Consider upgrading to a paid membership. As an independent beauty writer/editor I spend quite a bit of time creating original quality content weekly. Your support means the world to me!

• Comment: Drop a comment below about what you’d treat yourself to. Inquiring minds want to know.

So, what would you treat yourself to from beautyhabit.com? Let’s meet in the comments to discuss!

Rachel, Your beauty concierge 💋

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Quick note: I included some affiliate links and from time to time some sponsored products which means I might earn a small commission on sales made through these links, but I also throw in stuff I love just because. Prices are current at publish time.

Some fine print: Anyone connected to Hello Gorgeous! including partners, sponsors (and my sister) aren’t eligible to win this prize. You must be in the Continental U.S. or in locations that beautyhabit.com ships to.

One (1) winner will be chosen at random from all entries.

Giveaway begins 10:30 am ET 04/29/26 and ends 05/13/26 12:00 am ET. One (1) winner will be announced soon afterwards to win $100 gift code to beautyhabit.com with shipping charges included. Drop me a line at hellogorgeous@duck.com for full rules and regulations.

Last week I was at an in-person PR showcase event. Someone asked me, “So, do you only write about products or people pitched by publicists?” (now try saying that 3x fast). It was an odd question, but certainly not the first time I’ve been asked. In case you’re wondering, the response is most emphatically not.

I love discovering new products or trending ingredients or things no one else realizes will be huge at some point. And sometimes I just puzzle over the offerings. Like a new line at Ulta Dr. Melaxin. The name is said to be derived from "medical vaccine," positioning their products as treating and preventing skin concerns. That explains the somewhat clinical, slightly odd naming conventions I’ve been puzzling over. I can’t tell you exactly what it is about this K-Beauty brand that makes me question it, so I did a very gentle bit of digging, though there wasn’t a ton to dig my teeth into.

Do we still believe brand claims?

If Dr. Melaxin is to be believed, its TikTok Shop is a/the “No. 1 Beauty Best Seller.” But I’m not sure if they’re referencing a product or the line itself. For me at least, seeing them featured on Ulta gave me a bit more of the trust factor than their somewhat opaque claims. It also protects people from buying fakes, something Amazon is rampant with lately.

Dr. Melaxin seems to be a subsidiary of something called Brand 501 that relies heavily on brand ambassadors. One thing I love about the brand is their self-descriptor “a slow aging skincare brand.” Nice, no? But a lot of the rest seems to be double talk and I’m not entirely sure what the double talk was. That said, I’m slightly intrigued by some of the product names.

Product names that either attract or repel

I’m not going to delve too deeply into it, though I’ve named my fair share of products and brands over the years. Let’s just touch on a few:

• Peel Shot: This one is so good. It’s a peel! It’s a shot! It combines two active derm or skincare treatments in one for a nice come on. Does it work? No idea. I haven’t tried the line.

• Cactox (pore relief multi balm): This one feels kinda sorta forced to me, but still fun to say. It also has words like relief, pore, elixir, and priming, which feels like a mishmash of areas it can help or what it can do.

• Cemencrete: Ahh. You know how you joke about spackling on your makeup? This formulation seems to want to work to firm your eye area and specific spaces. It scares me.

• Eyephalt Eyebag Cream: Cute and creepy. I’d skip it.

• Melting cleanser: This one is a bit basic, but the color and packaging are soft and cute and reminiscent of the old Bliss products before the owners and formulations changed.

In all, I don’t feel pulled to try this brand, but I thought I’d share it with you in case you’ve tried it or are attracted (or repelled) by the premise! You can find 17 products from Dr. Melaxin on Ulta with prices ranging from about $19-$32.

What do you think? Is the marketing and brand name irresistible or will you give this one a skip? Have you tried any products in the line? Let’s meet in the comments to discuss!

Rachel, Your beauty concierge 💋

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Quick note: I included some affiliate links and from time to time some sponsored products which means I might earn a small commission on sales made through these links, but I also throw in stuff I love just because. Prices are current at publish time.

Spring officially started about a month ago, but NYC weather hasn’t quite caught up yet. Aside from some random unseasonable heat, it’s been cold or rainy and sometimes a little of both. Like today.

I was about to be cranky, but then I realized that I have a ridiculously cute and wholly waterproof pair of boots I can wear while trekking to and from meetings.

A few months back I featured Spruce Slip-Ons by Bogs. This time around, let’s discuss Bogs Chelsea Women’s Slip On Boots.

Hello Gorgeous! Beauty + Life

Is It A Boot Or A Sneaker?

Hello, Gorgeous…

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4 months ago · 3 likes · 2 comments

Bogs boots are so cute!

Inasmuch as clunky rain boots can be adorable, these sure are. They also are super comfortable and have a ton of support, so your feet actually feel secure while stomping through slippery puddles. They also have an Air Mesh lining and Max Wick coating to evaporate sweat, because there’s nothing quite as gross as feet trapped in rain boots that don’t breathe.

How cute are these boots you may ask? I actually built an outfit around them. Granted, it’s my standard basic black, but it’s standard basic black with cute rain boots in an unexpected shade of mauve, or Raisin, officially ($150, bogsfootwear.com).

Do you have a pair of designated rain boots? I’m not sure when I realized that I could no longer deal with soggy feet. Let’s meet in the comments to discuss!

Rachel, Your beauty concierge 💋

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Quick note: I included some affiliate links and from time to time some sponsored products which means I might earn a small commission on sales made through these links, but I also throw in stuff I love just because. Prices are current at publish time.

In three months Hello Gorgeous! the newsletter will be celebrating two years of publication and well over 155,000 unique readers.

Pinches myself.

Ouch. I’ve always been overenthusiastic in nearly everything I do!

When I launched HG! in July 2024 it was as a challenge to myself. I had no expectations other than to use my decades of experience as a lifestyle journalist and work as a beauty historian/former celeb makeup artist and beauty industry OG to produce a different type of newsletter. And man did I hit the ground running.

To pad out my content I posted daily. I wasn’t quite as organized then, but I fell into a really fun rhythm. And then something amazing happened. PEOPLE SIGNED UP! And then more people and great big partnerships like the one with Olay and one with Helix. I’m not angling to be the most popular person on Substack (TMPPoS?), and I don’t obsessively study my metrics, but even I’m a little impressed with me right now (but won’t pinch myself a second time, because ouch). I’m also a little bit exhausted, and casually trying to rekindle my social life.

N E W S: In the hopes of not burying the lede too deeply, I’m also (drum roll please) launching a small publishing company 60 Warriors Press. The first book we’ll be publishing is the 10th anniversary edition of my book Ancient Prayer. Our second title will be a memoir in short stories by a child Holocaust survivor.

I run three newsletters at this point (Please sign up for The Kumzits (Tuesdays and special editions) if Jewish topics interests you and/or The Hot Sheet (that goes out on Thursdays or whenever I need pitches) my call for pitches and media/comms newsletter). My day job is as a marketing/communications consultant and I so love working with clients (am rebranding that company as we speak!). I’m a certified chaplain first responder trained in Psychological First Aid (PFA) at Johns Hopkins. I’m currently overseeing the transition of a national organization for chaplains. I volunteer with Holocaust survivors as part of my nonprofit work/I co-founded a nonprofit, the RWR Network. I’m also trying to do a bit more on ITYLT (I Think You’ll Like This) on Yahoo. Suffice it to say I’m a slight bit overextended. And so I’m going to move Hello Gorgeous! to three newsletters a week instead of five. I’ll leave room for special announcements and updates. So, yeah, your inbox will be the slightest bit lonelier, but you also won’t have as much to catch up on!

And that’s my big announcement for today. Check back in on Wednesday to find out how you can win $100 gift certificate from Beautyhabit.com

Meanwhile, this plate by artist Carrie Reichardt is giving me all kinds of trust your gut vibes.

What? You were expecting a 🌿420 Day post today ? Let’s meet in the comments to discuss!

Rachel, Your beauty concierge 💋

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Quick note: I included some affiliate links and from time to time some sponsored products which means I might earn a small commission on sales made through these links, but I also throw in stuff I love just because. Prices are current at publish time.

No matter how tired I feel, it seems like my sweet tooth is always up for a new adventure.

This weekend I’m figuring out the difference between actually yum things, and things that just smell that way or are formulated with sensory overload in the best possible way.

Fresh Sugar Melt Lip Cream

I rejoice at pretty much any of Fresh’s new launches, but this one is triple the fun/triple the yum with flavors including Mango Pulp, Blood Orange Zest, and Watermelon Rind. This super sheer formulation boosts the moisture to your actual lip barrier, so lips won’t flake up as soon as the product dries.

And since I’m always a sucker for a great ingredient list, I really loved reading that hyaluronic acid filling spheres (an advanced form of hyaluronic acid), verbena phyto-peptides, activated sugar, and cold-pressed jojoba oil to keep lips extra plumped and smoochy looking ($25, fresh.com).

Truffles by America’s best chocolatier

I love chocolate. In fact, I’m not sure if I’d lose my own argument stating that I might possibly love chocolate even more than lip gloss (it’s probably a tie). So in the name of research I decided to taste every single truffle in Delysia Chocolatier’s Celebrating Her Love Collection for Mother’s Day, with my favorite being Ristretto Caramel (Espresso-Infused Dark Cacao + Muscovado Caramel + Toffee Shards). But don’t worry, even though it’s not Mother’s Day yet, I shared the beautifully decorated treats with my mom. We oohed and ahhed over Austin-based Chef Nicole Patel’s gorgeous chocolate artistry and finished them all waaaay before Mother’s Day ($68, for 16 pieces on delysia.com).

The Great Book of Chocolate

According to family lore, when my older sister and brother were little, they spent the weekend poring over a giant chocolate cookbook. I’m pretty sure their fave book looks at lot like legendary Chef David Lebovitz’s (revised edition) of The Great Book of Chocolate which will be out in early May. This weekend I’ll be making the chocolate olive oil spread on page 169 which promises to be a lot like Nutella ($24, pre-order on Amazon).

Dove Whole Body Deo

With Coachella last weekend and this one, festival season has begun with a bang, and that usually means a lot of sweaty bodies pressed up against each other listening to music. The music I like. The whiff I can definitely do without. Dove seems to have the same idea since they just launched their new full body spray with 72-hour odor control, making it great for road trips or extensive travel. I like that it’s dermatologist-tested for whole body use, from pits to toes, but nowhere near your lady bits. It comes in six scents, but my fave right now is Berry Blush ($12, Amazon).

Apple MacBook Neo

I’m a lifelong Windows person and for a while there, Microsoft would send me their newest laptops to test out as they launched. Since I’m going to be writing more about tech, I decided to treat myself to the Neo. As budget laptops go, this one is a winner. The screen is gorgeous, the build feels much more high end than you’d expect and it’s ridiculously fast. I don’t love the fact that there’s no touch screen though. Many MAC fans argue about the sophisticated mouse built into most MACs, but when playing with a laptop I like a more tactile approach. One thing that blew me away is the incredibly comfortable keyboard. Oh. Em. Gee. This keyboard is incredible. It’s wide enough not to cause your fingers to cramp and has an extra soft landing for each tap tap tap. Oh, and battery life is fantastic. While this one is informally marketed to students, this is one of my better tech treats in a while (Starting at about $600, Target.com).

So what’s your plan for the weekend? Let’s meet in the comments to discuss!

Rachel, Your beauty concierge 💋

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Quick note: I included some affiliate links and from time to time some sponsored products which means I might earn a small commission on sales made through these links, but I also throw in stuff I love just because. Prices are current at publish time.