The Life of a Beauty Girl

A peek into my bathroom cabinet, plus, the routine treatments I partake in as an active participant in the Hot Girl Hamster Wheel economy

Oct 05, 2025

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Howdy, Showgirls!

Chances are that you, too, have been enraptured by The Life of a Showgirl since Friday’s album drop. And while I’ve been a bona fide Swiftie for well over a decade, I’m not in your inbox to add to the already abundant internet discourse on TS12. Bottom line: I love it.

What I’d like to do instead of debating the merits of Taylor’s lyrical prose is share some commentary on a topic related to the “Showgirl” life…beauty! Because being a showgirl isn’t just about sequins or spotlights; it’s about cultivating the kinds of routines that create stamina. It’s about getting the glow back on your face after a long week, finding small ways to sparkle when the world feels dull, and remembering that confidence takes as much practice as contour. We chat plenty about books and shopping here, but not nearly enough about beauty—which feels criminal, considering how much we all spend on it.

Before diving into the products I swear by, I want to pause on the why behind all this consumption. Our collective pursuit of beauty—and the painting, concealing, and constant optimizing that goes into achieving this empemral standard—is the the result of a cultural machine that profits from our shared desire to feel “enough.” Equally, it’s a game of keeping up. Because when everyone around you is participating, how could you possibly dream of ‘opting out’?

But the thing about me is, I’ve never once considered opting out. Since I was a little girl, I’ve loved makeup and being a girly girl. Today, in my West Village studio bathroom, I actually have the three photos below framed, showing me, my mom, and my nana primping when I was a toddler. They remind me of my inner child…the one whose snow blonde hair color I’d kill to get back (!!!!) and ultimately, to be a bit kinder to the 32-year-old whose reflection I see in the mirror.

If you’ve been a reader of TSS for a while, you know that I’m a huge fan of

Katie Gatti Tassin

(previous guest of The Sunday Series!) and think her theory around “The Hot Girl Hampster Wheel” is brilliant. If you haven’t heard of this theory before, I highly recommend a listen to this podcast, and then this check-in she did on the topic more recently.

Gatti Tassi’s Hot Girl Hamster Wheel theory suggests that every dollar spent on beauty locks us into spending more later—each treatment fades, each product runs out, and the natural illusion of permanence just finds us railing back for more. But she also makes a sharp point: these investments can act as a bridge to social (and actual) capital—helping us to be perceived in a better light, and yes, even paid better.

So now that we have our socioeconomic lens accurately cast on this conversation, please indulge me while I share with you just how far down the rabbit hole I am when it comes to beauty. And know that in my sharing, I’m certainly not suggesting that you, too, need this slew of lotions and potions and treatments…instead, please know this is just my response to the world we live in, in which I thoroughly enjoy seeing what other women are doing and using to look their best, and thought you might too!

Paid Subscriber Exclusive: I’ve recorded myself reading this entire edition! As someone who writes like I speak, I thought it might be fun to start working on this added bonus for paid subscribers so you can more easily consume on the go.
My favorite products that won in the Allure Best of Beauty Awards
A Deep Dive into my bathroom cabinet: breaking down all the products I use across skin, makeup, hair, and body
The Vault (Paid Subscriber Exclusive): A recap of the regular treatments I submit to as a part of my Hot Girl Hamster Wheel
The Vault (Paid Subscriber Exclusive): A curation of stories and podcasts that captured my attention this week

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This week was one where it seemed like so many of my holy grail products ran out—a deeply satisfying moment for all my fellow Virgos. Fittingly, the Allure Best of Beauty Awards also just dropped, which always feels like a little holiday for those of us who treat our medicine cabinets like a museum curation. I went through the full list of 352 winners (so you don’t have to) and pulled out a few favorites—plus a roundup of my own non-award-winning-but-should-be staples for you to peruse.

Here’s a roundup of some of the award winners that are in my regular rotation!

Skin: OleHenriksen Violet Ice Cold Plunge Pore Mask | Inspired by the Scandinavian cold plunge, this kaolin clay mask goes on purple, cools on contact, and leaves skin bright, tight, and ridiculously refreshed.

Primer: Smashbox The Original Photo Finish Smooth & Blur | A makeup artist staple that smooths texture, blurs pores, and grips makeup through anything. Think of it as an on-set filter, bottled.

Makeup: Saie Glowy Super Gel | Technically a primer, but I wear it in place of foundation often for that “I woke up like this” glow.

Depuffing Tool: TheraFace Depuffing Wand | Cool temps, less puff, tighter pores, happier face. It’s my under-eye iced coffee and a product I have recommended to SO many! Would make a fab gift.

Self-Tanner: Isle of Paradise Self-Tan Drops | Customizable color in drop form—three or four mixed into moisturizer gives a golden, streak-free glow with a faint coconut scent.

Hair: Bumble & Bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Long Lasting Styling Cream | Tames frizz, smooths ponytails, protects from heat, and adds shine—without stiffness.

Eyes: Ilia Eye Stylus Shadow Stick | One swipe delivers buttery pigment in wearable shades inspired by Renaissance paintings. Foolproof, elevated, and chic.

Fragrance: Hermès Barénia Eau de Parfum | Warm leather, oakwood, and an unexpected sweetness—sophisticated, sensual, and impossible to resist.

Lips: Guerlain Rouge G Lipstick | A customizable case-meets-accessory with a built-in mirror and refillable luxe formula. Makes a lovely gift!

Setting Spray: L’Oréal Paris Infallible 3-Second Setting Spray | Keeps makeup fresh all day without the “frozen face” finish. Sweat-proof, glow-friendly, and under $20.

Body: Osea Undaria Algae Body Oil | The glow that broke TikTok. Lightweight, citrusy, and delivers the kind of sheen that practically makes body lotion obsolete.

Hands: Touchland Power Mist Sanitizer | Kills germs, smells like perfume, and looks like an accessory. There’s one in every bag I own.

My Fave Winners

Okay, don’t kill me for these lists being so long, but when I took stock of what sits in my bathroom right now that I’m actually using on a daily/weekly basis, these are the products that made the cut. Notably, skincare is probably my biggest splurge because I really do think if you’re taking care of your face with medical-grade products, makeup is so secondary!