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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2 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.

Do you ever fall in love with a brand so hard that you start imagining your life together? Something like, gosh, Yamazaki Home is sooo perfect for my kitchen, I think it would be equally amazing in my home office. That’s me. I fell hard for Yamazaki and nod my approval every time I use their kitchen products.

So imagine how excited I was to find out about Apto, their new launch that dropped earlier this month.

While Yamazaki Home is inspired by all things Japanese design, Apto combines great design aesthetic with pieces created to fit the contemporary American home. When they offered me a chance to be one of the first to try out one of the new designs, I nodded emphatically and pointed to the shoe rack. This, please!

Apto Obround Shoe Rack

While I’m no Imelda Marcos, I probably have way too many pairs of shoes (we won’t even begin to discuss my penchant for Mary Janes). And while I don’t subscribe to all elements of the Japanese lifestyle, shoes come off when I enter the house. While I used to keep a (great big) basket near the door for shoes, it became crowded and a little confusing to keep track of what got stuck at the bottom. Enter Obround.

This clever steel build holds up to 12 pairs of shoes and has a shelf up top for things like your keys or phone or eleven extra lip glosses. It’s tall, it’s sturdy, it keeps your entryway AKA the faux mudroom from looking like the proverbial hurricane hit.

One thing to keep in mind: Assembly is definitely required. On a scale of one to Ikea shelving unit, I’d give this one a three. It’s not complicated, but it’s not a breeze either. I relied heavily on the instructions very clearly provided on the website. I’m extremely handy though, so breaking out a screwdriver didn’t freak me out. But if you hate putting things together, you might have to enlist a friend to help.

So far this style only comes in black, but it’s great looking and keeps your shoes from taking over your living space ($225, theapto.com).

What’s the deal with your entryway? 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.

Yesterday I saw my sister and she said to me “Wow! You got such great color.” Only I didn’t. I slather on SPF at the best of times and was wearing a hat with a big brim. It seems she was actually commenting on my pinkish irritated skin which under duress could pass for a suntan-ish.

I panicked that this redness disguised as healthy color was a precursor for a skin-damaged summer. I did what any self-respecting beauty girl would do and raided my sample closet to find a brand I’ve never tried before (Which might actually have been a terrible idea since my skin is so sensitive, but it worked out).

Skincare inspired by wound care

At this age most of us have at least one scar (I’ve got dozens). And if you’re like me, you’ve spent time trying to figure out how to fade the look of those angry lines. So it stands to reason that skincare that incorporates that type of skin healing into their approach would be worth trying.

Calecim is a biotechnology-driven line with more than 20 years of stem cell research and a patented complex, PTT-6, (derived from wound repair science) designed to signal your skin (and scalp) to regenerate itself. In case you think this is the first instance of wound care to skincare, you’d be mistaken. La Mer was developed to aid in healing burns and has gone on to iconic status including the famous $1k a jar stuff said to be slathered on J.Lo’s tush.

So what does this top secret ingredient do? Instead of being a surface cream, this ingredient communicates with skin cells to boost your natural production of collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid AKA the things that make your skin look bouncy. And the clinical results are impressive: 83% increase in hyaluronic acid production, 600% increase in skin density, 56% increase in elastin.

While the Professional Serum has the most concentrated amount of actives, my two faves from the line are the Eye Contour Lifting Cream which made even my allergy puffy eyes look calmer while tackling fine lines, and the Restorative Hydration Cream which isn’t too heavy for springtime. It simultaneously calmed my skin down while making it look dare I say dewy? And not in a gooey sticky I-read-about-glass-skin-and-now-my-face-looks-like-I-bathe-in-Vaseline sort of way. Meanwhile, these are on the pricier side, ($165 for the eye cream on calecimprofessional.com, and $195 for the face cream also on calecimprofessional.com).

How’s your early spring skin looking? And have you switched up your skincare yet for the season? 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 can be a creature of habit. I love trying out new things, but in a pinch I tend to stick with my tried and true favorites - and that usually goes for nail polish as well. Make it shimmery/holo or downright freaky and I’m there for it. And when choosing spring colors I’ll usually veer toward orchid-y pinks. Which is why I surprised myself by falling hard for Her by Dazzle Dry. While I love pretty much everything Dazzle Dry, I don’t tend to usually love colors like this peachy pink frost. And yet somehow we’ve been going steady for the past few weeks.

It’s peachy

Sometimes something as tiny as choosing a nail color out of your comfort zone can reset your mood in a big way. Right now every time I see my nails on my keyboard I smile. And the color has that Mad Men without the loathsome characters and dark plot lines vibe. Light. Fun. A different color experience than I usually have. ($22, dazzledry.com).

What’s your go-to nail color — and have you surprised yourself with an unexpected favorite lately? 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.

While I love fragrance, I don’t particularly love everyone else’s choices of scent. In fact, if a perfumed neighbor leaves the elevator before another enters, I always feel like I have to explain: THAT ISN’T MY HEAVY PERFUME. Ahem. I can barely take scent most days. That said, I really love the extremely light and gentle fragrance I’ve been wearing for about a decade now. It smells fresh enough and clean enough and if an inquisitive gentleman I may invite into closer proximity happens to give a sniff of my neck, it’s usually met with hearty approval. So imagine my disappointment in finding out that my particular scent has been discontinued and there’s no place to buy up vast amounts of back stock.

Commodity Fragrance Exploration Kit

In exploring loads of other options, I’m intrigued with Commodity Fragrance’s approach, and I absolutely love their descriptions of something they call Scent Space.

They also have a genius way to test out the fragrances. You can buy scent flights AKA a Personal Discovery Kit, where you test out six of their scents (They come in Personal, Expressive, and Bold. I chose Personal) to see which one suits your style. I’m still deciding. If you’re intrigued by all of them, you can opt for all 18 variations. The best part is that your purchase amount is applied to a full-sized fragrance if you buy both through their website (Personal Discovery Set - the one I bought - is $28, commodityfragrances.com).

Taking a spring break: Coming back with a giveaway!!

I’ve been pretty much running on fumes these past few weeks. I’ve been trying to figure out how to juggle Passover (which starts tomorrow night) and the rest of my work load and I realized that I can’t. And so I won’t. Hello Gorgeous! will be taking a short break starting April 1st and will be back on April 13th. No drama, just me time!

I’ll miss you all mightily, which is why I’m going to tease this now instead of waiting to drop it on your fine selves.

When I’m back, I’ll be announcing a fabulous giveaway sponsored by beautyhabit.com. So you can start making a wishlist in 3, 2, 1…GO!

Will you be celebrating any of the spring holidays or are you heading out of town for a bit? 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.

Feeling deeply crispy fried after an endless winter? Well. Here’s a fashion drop that brings the best of comfort food to comfy clothes.

KFC Brasil in partnership with ad agency Lola\TBWA, announced that they’ll be adding some texture to your favorite outfits. Have a jean jacket that needs a lift? They’ll add their signature fried chicken breading pattern (Maybe not the best idea before Passover?)

Opt for stylish instead

Love the lewk but think it’s silly to wear fast food-inspired fast fashion? Me, too. Which is why I found a better option.

Dudley Stephens makes the cutest, coziest fleece pullover that will see you through chilly early spring. You can find this adorbs Sherpa Fleece Palomino Pullover for 40% off at dudley-stephens.com (originally $168).

So what do you think about the KFC fashion - weird or wonderful? Let’s meet in the comments to discuss!

Rachel, Your beauty concierge 💋

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Quick note: I included some affiliate links 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.

Today was supposed to be a full roundup. But life. Oh, how it laughs at your best intentions!

So, I’ll share what I’ve been working on.

Today we launched Davidsbookshelf.org in honor of my late father David's birthday.

For those of you unfamiliar with my personal family history, I’m the child of a child concentration camp survivor from an extended family of survivors. I don’t talk about it often and probably not at all here, but with the terrifying rise of antisemitism globally, it’s really important to share these stories. You can skip it and come back to the beauty talk next week if you’d like! I promise not to be offended.

David’s Story

As a Jewish child living in Hungary under Nazi occupation, my father was forbidden to read anything. Not newspapers. Certainly no books. Later, he and his parents and some of his siblings were sent to a labor camp where he was a forced child slave, before being sent to a concentration camp. Miraculously, he and my grandparents survived along with his siblings, though the vast majority did not.
What also survived was my father's lifelong love of books.
Every year on his birthday I ask people to buy a book, share a book, or read to a child.

This year, my sister Kiki and I launched David's Bookshelf as part of our nonprofit, the RWR Network. We'll be adding Holocaust education resources for kids along with a David's Bookshelf Book Club.

If you'd like to support our mission, we're grateful for donations in any amount at https://paypal.me/RWRnetwork or simply donate a book to a library, buy one for a neighbor's child, or savor a story with a young person.

In case you're wondering just how much dad loved books: I learned to read at four and to celebrate my father treated me to my own magazine subscription - Humpty Dumpty magazine, no less! Every Friday night he'd bring home two books for each of us, and after the Shabbat meal we got to choose one. And one year for my birthday he gave me a complete SRA reading set.
Happy birthday, Ta. 💙

Do you love to read or are you a once-a-year kinda person ? 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 had a low-key laser treatment earlier this week (I’ll tell you about it soon), and for the past two days my nose sorta kinda looks like someone squished a tomato on it. Definitely not the look I was going for!

Meanwhile, the nurse/esthetician who performed said treatment asked me if I use sunscreen every day. I nodded in the affirmative.

“Are you sure you use it every day?” she asked.

“Every. Single. Day,” I responded, gesturing to what my mother charmingly describes as my fish belly white complexion.

“Well, then you’re my first client who does,” she said.

That led to her confessing that the vast majority of her clients never use sunscreen and kind of wave her off when she tells them how critical it is.

I worked for a dermatologist in college. I’ve seen firsthand what avoiding sunscreen can do to one’s face. It ain’t pretty. And it certainly can lead to future serious skin issues. So. I hope that you’re using sunscreen every day - either applied on its own or in your daily moisturizer.

Still not convinced? Then check out these options that will probably sway you to swap out a product for SPF-enhanced treatment version:

La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVAir Sunscreen Serum:

Just so you know, this one comes in very small packaging, so it seems like there’s less there, but it’s the full 1.7 oz. That said, it has SPF 50 and is infused with Niacinamide, Hyaluronic Acid & antioxidants. Here’s what I love about it. It’s an actual serum and unlike most SPFs I’ve tried, it doesn’t ball up or attract random black dust from the universe. It also weighs practically nothing and doesn’t leave a cast or tint on your skin. Great for keeping in your purse or overnight bag ($40, dermstore.com).

I've never fallen in love with my sun protection. I mean, I've been grateful for it — but cooing over SPF the way I might over lip gloss? Never. Until now.

Supergoop! new launches

Here are a few of my current faves:

• Mineral Glowscreen SPF 40: Like it’s name, this is a glowy tinted sunscreen that smoothes out and brightens skin. I love the three shades —Sunrise, Golden Hour, and Sunset — and that you can blend them with existing products for a more subtle glow ($40, supergoop.com).

• Glowscreen Sunlighter Stick: Wait, a bronzer/highlighter that also has SPF 45 in it? How is this anything but a win/win situation? (About $26, supergoop.com).

• Protec(tint) Daily SPF Tint SPF 50 Sunscreen Skin Tint: This one can replace your base or tinted moisturizer. It also comes in 14 shades so there’s a good chance you’ll find one that suits your skin. I also love that the tints range from warm to cool so if you have a tiny bit of color, you can enhance it with a slightly different shade than you’d normally use ($44, supergoop.com).

Is this enough to convince you to use SPF every day? 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.

A few months back I introduced you to Edjy nail cutters. And a lot of you were really excited about them. I’ll admit, until trying these next gen clippers cutters (that cut without mashing the keratin or destroying your nails), I really hadn’t given much thought to the idea of clippers since I usually file my nails. Then I tested them out and was amazed at how little damage there was to my nails.

If only they made toenail cutters I thought.

And now they do.

Edjy Toenail Cutter

Like the fingernail version, EDJY Toenail Cutters feature single-blade curve engineered to match toenail shape & reduce ingrown nails.

They’re easy to hold - though until you get the hang of it, you might want to use a flat surface for support.

Amazingly, Edjy toenail cutters make cutting even gnarly toenails a breeze, probably because they’re doctor designed. One icky detail to be aware of, while the body of the Edjy collects clippings, there is a hazard for flying toenails while clipping. To minimize UFtOenails, consider tucking your toe into a baggie before cutting.

I’m ashamed to tell you that I haven’t had a pedicure since New Year’s, and it showed. A quick clip and Edjy saved me from toe fangs. Though in admitting this I’ve been inspired to book a pedi for next week! You can find these in single or double packs ($23/$44, edjy.com).

So do you ever clip your toenails or is it strictly a job for the pedicurist/chiropodist? 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.

As a rule, I go down every beauty rabbit hole possible - so you don’t have to. Imagine my surprise to discover that tongue tinting is a thing…or at least one company is trying to make it a thing. Let’s discuss. And then let’s all agree to sit this one out.

Remember breath strips? Those thin little dissolvable films were placed on your tongue and breath was instantly fresher! People were so excited with these that Time magazine named Listerine PocketPaks one of the best new inventions of 2002. And here’s another delightful little rabbit hole I’ll help you avoid falling down.

Listerine didn’t invent the concept. In fact, a Pfizer executive discovered the original product made by a Japanese company called Hayashibara known for manufacturing breath fresheners for smokers. Pfizer licensed the concept, improved the flavor, and added the same germ-killing oils used in liquid Listerine, and boom! A trend was born.

But back to the rabbit holes.

Rabbit Tongue Tint Film

Emulating bunnies as a beauty trend was definitely not on my beauty bingo card for spring 2026. And yet a Korean brand called Brissé has taken the idea of breath films and evolved them (dissolved them?) into a new angle of insecurity (as if fear of marionette lines and elevens haven’t traumatized me for life) If your tongue is weirdly white or cola-tinted from too many soft drinks, you can reset the look of your (searches for a cute way to say tongue but falls flat). In fact, this new tongue tint film is attempting to market its product as targeting hygiene AND aesthetics. The key ingredient called out on the packaging is pullulan — which is actually the same base ingredient as those original breath strips! So you can freshen up, all the while showing off a ladylike tinted tongue.

In case you didn’t know it: 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), studied the advertising targeting women in the midcentury. Every dang product promised dainty or ladylike results. It feels like this tongue tint would have felt right at home in the Mad Men era. Bonus points if you’ve ever spotted ads from my book in the opening credits for the show!

In case you’re clamoring for this very silly and wholly unnecessary product, I’m guessing it’ll drop soon on reputable K-beauty sites like Olive Young Global or StyleKorean.com which both carry popular K-products and ship to the U.S. But I’ll be honest, this is one beauty trend you don’t have to hop on. In fact, it inspired me to create a new section for Hello Gorgeous!

Skip It.

And this? This is the first one.

Are you even remotely interested in this trend, or can we all agree to skip it? 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.

My skin hasn’t loved this winter. Neither has my hair. Aside from an unfortunate run-in with some magenta hair dye a few weeks back, my hair has mostly been hidden under some hat or another. And it shows, and not in a good way.

Be a gloss boss

I’m not sure I’m able to adequately rave, (but rave I shall) about Glaze Supergloss which as it turns out does exactly what it says. Deepens and enhances tones for rich, luminous color? Why, yes. Yes, it does. Semi-permanent formula that lasts up to 10 washes for runway-ready shine? Well, I won’t be walking a catwalk anytime soon, but my hair looks…dare I say…sleek? And yes, there’s a heck of a lot of salon-worthy polish.

Notable: Some products in the line say they’re made for virgin hair. I chose to live dangerously and use on my aforementioned magenta-ish locks. I’m thrilled with the extremely subtle multi-hued effects. Also notable, you should apply while wearing gloves since this gives you an intense color boost and hands and nails could get stained from bare application. This was a fun and needed hair boost and makes a huge difference in my hair and mood ($18, glazehair.com). I’m pretty sure that if you use that link you’ll get a $10 Hello Gorgeous! discount, but I can’t guarantee it since I’m a bit distracted by admiring my hair.

Do you love glossing treatments or do you leave the extras to the salon? 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.

My day went places no normal Friday should go. And so today will be a tad shorter and very sweet. I’ll probably revisit some of these beauties in a future post.

Seedlip non-alcoholic spirits

If you prefer your cocktails smooth and neither shaken nor stirred, you’re going to fall hard for Seedlip. In under a decade founder Ben Branson added a whole lot of oomph to his family’s 300-year farming heritage. The result are incredibly beautifully crafted mix-ins that elevate the idea of mocktails. Find out more at seedlipdrinks.com where you can also find yummy mocktail recipes. Also, please be very impressed with my personalized bottle pictured above. Cool, no?

Gua sha + red light? My chins say yes!

I love me a good gadget. Give me a beauty gadget and I’m in heaven, or at least that magical place beauty girls go when they find a new toy.

But first, a primer: Traditional gua sha uses a smooth stone tool (shaped somewhat like an elongated heart) to massage and sculpt the face, improving circulation, reducing puffiness, and encouraging lymphatic drainage (translation: less morning face, more cheekbones). Red light therapy, meanwhile, is the skincare world's not-so-secret weapon for boosting collagen, smoothing fine lines, and calming inflammation at the cellular level — no needles, no downtime, just light doing what it does to make you look better. Now imagine combining both into one tool, and you have the ORA Method LED Gua Sha which is pretty much the smartest thing you do for your face (and chins one and two) before turtleneck season is over. A round of applause for the way that ORA pairs traditional sculpting technique with red light and infrared therapy plus soothing vibration, working to lift, firm, and brighten in just 10 minutes. One important note: skip the face oil here. Unlike with traditional gua sha, oils can actually block the light from penetrating your skin. Use a gel-based product instead (ORA's Vital Hydrant Toning Gel was made for exactly this) and let the light do what light does best (ORA Method LED gua sha is $270, oramethod.com).

Ionic Hairdryer with Infrared Light

Speaking of red light treatment, this is the first time I’ve heard of red light being used in a blow dryer. And I’ll be honest, even with my baby fine hair, I noticed a difference after using SRI Labs DryQ Hair Dryer. While there’s a big frizz-fighting claim, I was most intrigued with the claims that the DryQ also uses infrared light therapy to strengthen weak, brittle hair while stimulating growth. It also dries hair quicker without damage. I haven’t noticed any hair growth action yet, but the floof factor alone makes it worth it. I could swear my hair is showing some extra body and is downright bouncing and behaving ($225, srilabs.com).

Ta ta, dry skin

I love pretty much anything made by skin guru Tata Harper, but I’m seriously digging her new launch: pro-aging formula, Crème Supreme, which forgoes a lot of endless copy to state: “For Resilient Skin.”

I also am delightfully amused by the ingredient list shared on the website:

100% Natural Origin Formula Powered By:

To Hydrate

• Polyglutamic Acid

• Natural Glyceryl Glucoside

To Nourish

• Estate Grown Beauty Complex

• Organic Rosehip Seed Oil

• Organic Green Tea Oil

To Strengthen the Skin Barrier

• Rock Rose, Immortal Grass & Amino Acid Blend

• Squalane

To Smooth Wrinkles

• Camellia Flavonoid

• Spanish Lavender

• Glycogen

To Brighten

• Super Critical CO2 Sandalwood

• Natural Glyceryl Glucoside

To Visibly Lift

• Marine Microorganisms

To Firm

• Super Critical CO2 Sandalwood

• Mulberry Phytosterols

I don’t know about you, but this seems like a very committed ingredient list. And I love the results. My very parched winter face isn’t quite glowing yet, but it does look amazing (she said modestly). Is it cheap? Nope. But then neither is growing the very best ingredients for incredible skincare $248, tataharperskincare.com).

And that’s it for this time around. Anyone else feel like having a dedicated beauty slumber party this 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.

For much of the week (and month) (and probably the year), I’ve been featuring products that have some sort of a food scent, flavor or inspiration. And there’s a good reason for it. The trend of gastrobeauty (I just made that up. It’s awkward but it’s staying) isn’t slowing down.

Have you been following me on Yahoo Creators where I write a column called I Think You’ll Like This (ITYLT)? Yesterday I wrote a roundup of some of the best foodie beauty products.

One of my favorites from that piece deserves another mention here, because you only have a few more days to snag the sweet treats.

essie x Baked by Melissa: a collab that comes with actual cupcakes

In what might be the most delicious brand partnership I’ve seen in years, nail polish icon essie teamed up with bite-sized cupcake legend Baked by Melissa — the bakery’s first-ever beauty partnership. Three standout shades from essie’s new Gourmet Grocery spring collection have been reimagined as actual cupcakes: Marshmallow (the classic is it pink, is it nude? shade), Berry Naughty (exactly what it sounds like and perfect for early spring pedicures), and Unsalted (picture the lightest whipped butter possible made in the Alpine mountains and then transformed into nail polish and you’re on the right track). But the cupcakes are only available through March 23, in packs of 25 ($37) at BakedbyMelissa.com with nationwide shipping, or packs of 12 ($19) at store locations while supplies last. The polish itself sticks around the cupcakes won’t.

What’s the weirdest foodie beauty product you’ve tried? 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 love me some bubble tea. I can’t pin down the exact moment boba became my main squeeze, but we’ve been going steady for a few years now with no sign of a break. You can keep your coffee cult, breathing in some brown sugar boba during a particularly stressful moment acts as the only aromatherapy I’ll ever need. Or so I thought. Leave it to Native the brand thoughtfully formulated with plant-based ingredients (no aluminum, baking soda, parabens, or dyes — just dermatologist-tested, vegan, cruelty-free products) to create new scents that make my shower smell equally sublime.

Boba scents for the bath? Yes, please!

Native’s Boba Cafe collection spans everything from creamy and sugary to sweet and fruity. And most of the products in the line are available as body washes, deodorants, and shampoos and conditioner combos.

If you can’t get enough of the foodie fragrance trend, you might just love these:

• Strawberry Matcha: swirls together strawberries, matcha tea and orange blossoms.

• Berry Blossom Tea: combines red berries, mandarin orange and soft florals.

• Coconut Ube: this might be my favorite fragrance in the collection. It has the non cloying combo of coconut milk, sweet ube and a hint of amber.

• Brown Sugar Boba: this might be my favorite fragrance in the collection. Oh, wait. I just said that about the Coconut Ube. Please don’t make me choose! this one has a creamy deep brown sugar scent that is incredible.

Prices start at about $6-$12, and you can find all the products in this collection on Walmart.com.

Are you team Brown Sugar Boba or team Coconut Ube? How about both? 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 in middle of testing out a few new serums but wanted to share the delightful weirdness of a star ingredient in two new launches.

You know that feeling when you discover an ingredient has a thousand-year backstory? (Probably just me). Meet gallic acid — the unsung hero of both medieval manuscripts and your new favorite serum.

From scrolls to serums

For over 1,400 years, iron gall ink — made partly from gallic acid extracted from oak tree galls (those random weird bumps on oak trees) — was the ink of choice for everyone from monks copying scripture to Leonardo da Vinci sketching his masterpieces. Legal documents, royal records, Torah scrolls — all preserved by this remarkable compound’s ability to bond, protect and endure. It wasn’t just ink. It was history’s way of saying this matters, keep it safe.

Fast forward to 2026, and Cetaphil has essentially had the same idea about your skin.

They just dropped two new serums: Advanced Daily Defense Serum and Repair & Renew Serum. Both are built around Gallic AOX Power, their proprietary complex pairing gallic acid with vitamin E to defend against free radicals, pollution, and daily environmental stress.

I’ve only just started testing them out, but here are the claims:

• The daytime formula promises to visibly improve radiance and fine lines from first use.

• The overnight version works while you sleep, plumping skin, evening tone, and repairing your skin barrier, reportedly 2x faster than no treatment.

I love the fact that these are Cetaphil products which means they’re targeted for even the most sensitive skin. I’ll let you know what I think after I’ve used both for a few more days, though I’m pretty sure that even medieval monks would approve. Both products are about $20, on Walmart.com.

So what do you think about classic brands expanding their territory to targeted skincare? 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.