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My Five Makeup #MustHaves

Plus, a moment of nap dress reflection and five recommendations for you.

Elizabeth Holmes

Oct 5, 2021
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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!

My five makeup #musthaves.

  1. 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.)

  2. 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.

  3. 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.)

  4. 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.

  5. 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!

***

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.

***

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)

***

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!

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Comments
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26 Comments

  • C'Anna Keffer
    Recently had a professional makeup artist introduce me to Danessa Myricks colorfix. I’ve since ordered thee shades - multi use product that I’ve been using the tiniest drop of on my eyes and blending — great color pay off, lasts all day and no creases.…
    See more
    Cosmetics, Beauty Products, Fragrances & Tools | Sephora
    SEPHORA.COM
    Cosmetics, Beauty Products, Fragrances & Tools | Sephora
    Cosmetics, Beauty Products, Fragrances & Tools | Sephora
    • 32w
  • Emily Fleck
    Re: calling the nap dress "inclusive." The size chart maxes out at a 48" hip, which is barely a US size 16, depending on your brand. In other words -- not even close to inclusive. According to its own size chart, The Nap Dress is for straight-size f…
    See more
    4
    • 32w
    View 1 more reply
    • Author
      Elizabeth Holmes
      Emily, thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. I apologize for any offense my newsletter caused and am grateful you took the time to write. I think it's so important to hold brands to account for their inclusivity and I appreciate you sharing your experience.
      2
      • 32w
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  • Heather Tomko
    For eyeshadow, I have converted almost exclusively to cream eye shadow sticks, because they are so EASY and still look polished! I use both the Laura Mercier Caviar Stick and the Bobbi Brown one too (can’t remember the exact name).
    3
    • 32w
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    • Author
      Elizabeth Holmes
      I don't know why these sticks scare me, Heather! I feel like it might be heavy? But you are right, I should give them a try.
      • 32w
    View 1 more reply
  • Jamie Kitano
    I love Supergoop's Shimmershade eyeshadow because it can be applied with a finger, contains SPF, stays put all day, you can mix two (or more) shades for different looks, it comes in a glass pot (hopefully easier to recycle!).
    • 32w
    • Author
      Elizabeth Holmes
      oooh recyling is so important to consider, thank you for this, Jamie!
      • 32w
  • Kendall Peterson
    I love this new shadow from Jones Road (Bobbi Brown's clean/minimal make-up line). You can even dab it on with your finger and it brighten things up just the right amount.
    https://jonesroadbeauty.com/products/just-a-sec...
    Just A Sec
    JONESROADBEAUTY.COM
    Just A Sec
    Just A Sec
    • 32w
    • Author
      Elizabeth Holmes
      Ooh, thank you! This might be just what I've been looking for!
      • 32w
  • Elizabeth VanDerwerken
    I love a subtle eyeshadow like a warm peach or taupe. I feel like a little eyeshadow goes a long way to making me feel a little more put-together! I have a couple palettes from ColourPop and really love them!
    • 32w
  • Caitlin Follstad
    My easy eyeshadow is the Thrive Causemetics Brilliant Eye Brightener in Mieko (soft pink shimmer). I discovered this when I was pregnant and very tired. It‘a a cream stick that makes me look much perkier than I feel and is super easy to apply. I also s…
    See more
    • 32w
  • Sinead Cronin
    Hi Elizabeth, I'm loving your newsletter! I put blusher and bronzer on my eye lids while I'm putting them on my cheeks / face. Try it out, it's quick, easy and really effective!
    • 32w
  • Jessica Young
    Yes I feel you on the makeup front! I do pretty much the same but blush vs bronzer. Add concealer (rms) and on fancy days, eyeliner and eyeshadow. But I second the caviar sticks below by Heather. As long as you blend with your fingers once applied(befo…
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    • 32w
  • Phyllis Bregman
    I’m one of those women who don’t get Hill Housedresses, mostly because they remind me of the frilly aprons women wore in the 50s and 60s. Do women put on the dresses just to nap, too?
    • 32w
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