My Five Makeup #MustHaves

Welcome to So Many Thoughts, a semi-weekly newsletter about royal style and the other parts of life I want to think through with you. You can subscribe here and follow me on Instagram at @EHolmes. Thank you!

Confession: I’m prone to extremes. I joke that I’m either incredibly productive or sound asleep. This unfortunately extends to my beauty routine, too. For years, I wore a full face of makeup with a dozen-plus products or nothing whatsoever. Neither felt great! Channeling Goldilocks, I have been determined to find a more moderate middle ground, in makeup and <gestures wildly> life.

Life is still a work in progress but beauty is sorted! Thanks in large part to the early start time of my son's elementary school, I've had to whittle down my products to five faves I can apply in under three minutes. Feels like a win!

Saie Slip Tint ($30) This multi-tasking product is my fave from Saie, a clean beauty brand. It’s got SPF plus tinted moisturizer and just enough dewy sheen to look fresh faced but not shiny. (The shade range is great, too; I wear a three and a half.)
Benefit Hoola Matte Bronzer Mini ($17) Next I give a quick swipe of matte bronzer below my cheek bones and at the top of my forehead. My sister gave me this travel-sized compact as a gift and it has lasted forever.
NYX Tinted Brow Mascara ($8.49) Anyone else find filling in brows oddly satisfying?? NYX’s gel mascara coverage is on the heavier side, which is why I like it, but with a small-enough brush to be precise. (FWIW I wear the espresso shade.)
Glossier Lash Slick Mascara ($16) This was one of those “Where have you been all my life?” products. It lengthens and defines without any clumping. And it stays put. Huge fan.
Clinique Chubby Stick in Graped Up ($19) What can I say: old habits die hard! I’ve talked about this one a lot. It’s got sheer, buildable coverage in a shade that’s the perfect mix of berry and brown. PS Clinique is now available at some Targets!

Eye shadow still stumps me. Any suggestions? I would love a single shade that brightens and adds a hint of color to my lids. Please hit “Join the discussion” and share your faves in the comments.

Note: I use affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase I may get a small percentage at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting my work!

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My Thoughts on Your Questions!

I hear you, Erica! Before I share my thoughts, I want to recommend a piece by Buzzfeed’s Stephanie McNeal called “The Cult of the Nap Dress." It dives deep into the style’s popularity: “People who have embraced the grandmillennial aesthetic that the dress embodies say that by dressing in ruffles, hair bows, and flowy florals, they are reclaiming their femininity and shaking off the male gaze in a way that is incredibly empowering.” I love that.

My closet is home to five (whoa) of the Ellie Nap Dress. (I’m trying to remember the last time I bought five of any one thing? The only one that comes close would be my stack of Uniqlo's merino wool sweaters). I wear the dresses all the time, and often get asked about them.

For me, I think the appeal boils down to three things. Nap Dresses are:

Easy. I love wearing any sort of dress because it requires less thought. Throw on one garment and you’re done! I find the smocked top of the Nap Dress to be quite comfortable and durable, but I fully realize this may be because I’ve got a very small chest. I’m drawn to the Ellie because the straps are wide enough to be worn with a regular bra and the midi length means I can run around the playground without worrying about flashing someone.
Just fancy enough. There is something slightly extra about the Nap Dress. The prints, the colors, the ruffles — it’s about one half step fancier than the other day dresses in my closet. Putting one on makes me feel a bit more polished. Nap Dresses are also not (yet?) everywhere here in LA, or at least not everywhere I go. So they still feel special.
Made by a female-owned, inclusive brand. I’ve known Hill House Home’s Founder Nell Diamond for years and appreciate how she has grown her company. The marketing images are inclusive, the size ranges from 2XL to XXS, and I admire the company’s anti-racism work with Dr. Akilah Cadet of @ChangeCadet.

Lastly, I know from my years as a retail reporter that supply chain management — aka having the right amount of product for each launch — is tricky for a small business. My sense is that they’re clearly working to minimize the shopping frenzy. Right now, the Ellie style is available in a range of prints, colors, and sizes, several weeks after launch.

But mostly: Not every fashion trend or style or moment is for every person. And that's OK! When things pop up that I'd rather pass on, I think of Amy Poehler's words of wisdom: "Good for her! Not for me."

Have a question? I'd love to answer it! Please email at to hello@somanythoughts.com.

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Five Things To Check Out This Week

READ: Covid with cases dropping worldwide. HUZZAH. But in this uplifting report was an incredibly sobering revelation: Of the 700,000 Americans who have died, nearly 200,000 of those deaths could have been prevented by the vaccine: “It has been an unnecessarily terrible pandemic.” (New York Times)
SHOP: Wear your vaccinated status like a badge of honor with this perfect beaded bracelet. (I also snagged a personalized mask lanyard for my daughter, which is proving extremely useful for preschool.) (Etsy)
JOIN: Emily Ley of Simplified has chosen HRH for her October book club read! If you’ve been wanting to read or reread my book along with a fantastic community, please join the group. (Facebook)
SHOP: Morgan Harper Nichols, one of my absolute favorite Instagram follows, has a new collection of gorgeous framed pieces for sale. (Target)
LAUGH: Not me trying to make seasons happen in SoCal. (New Yorker)

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Hope your week is off to a great start. I will see you back on Friday with thoughts on the royals!

PS: Like what you’re reading? Please subscribe or share with a friend!

My Five Makeup #MustHaves

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