|
|
|
|
Good morning!
I first came across Ingrid Nilsen's work back in 2008 when she was still vlogging on her (very popular) YouTube channel. As a mixed-race person with a unique skin tone and undertones, I remember the relief and excitement I felt when I found a beauty vlogger with similar tones as mine. From that day on, Ingrid found a true fan in me.
Fast forward to today, and Ingrid has founded The New Savant, a new candle company, after quitting a 10+ year (!) career on YouTube. Each candle is hand-poured by Ingrid herself in Brooklyn and features unique notes such as "cocoa dusting" mixed with pistachio. The minimal mini-paint-can-like stainless steel vessels sit pretty on a desk or coffee table. Fellow scent lovers will also appreciate the long "scent throw" (or intensity) of the candles, making it easy to fill your space with delicious smells. Truly, I could go on and on!
Ingrid agreed to take over today's recommendations for the newsletter and to no one's surprise, she came ready with all of the best beauty recommendations for you. Enjoy, and don't forget to scroll to the bottom for a special surprise! —Alisha Ramos, founder at GNI
P.S. The New Savant is offering GNI readers 15% off with the code GNISENTME. Thanks, Ingrid!
|
|
current beauty obsessions,
curated by Ingrid Nilsen
|
|
|
As a former (and quite popular!) beauty YouTuber, Ingrid knows a thing or two about what makes a great beauty product. We're excited to share her current beauty obsessions below.
- Moisturizer: CeraVe Healing Ointment
In the morning, I mix a pea sized amount of this thick, balmy ointment with my regular moisturizer to add extra occlusion and protection from friction due to mask wearing. Then, after my nighttime shower, I really go all out—I slather it on my feet, lips, and face. It works beautifully with or without makeup and keeps my skin plump, supple, and supported without costing a fortune.
- Sunscreen: Tower 28 Sunny Days Tinted Sunscreen SPF 30
Finding the right sunscreen can be a slog of a process, but Tower 28 has really knocked it out of the park with this product. It comes in 14 shades (I wear 10 Larchmont), feels creamy but not heavy, blends seamlessly, and doesn’t sting my eyes or leave a white cast. This is hands down the best tinted sunscreen I’ve ever used—it’s a gentle yet effective formula that works consistently every time I apply it.
-
Hair: Function of Beauty
Everyone's hair has different needs, which is why Function of Beauty offers fully customizable shampoos and conditioners based on your hair right now. Take the hair care quiz to build you profile and select your goals, then get your freshly-filled formula delivered straight to your door. Get ready for good hair days! Shop now for 20% off your first order when you subscribe. GNI Sponsor
- Skin Tint/Foundation: Salt New York Sneaky Balm
Let me just say this is not like any other skin tint out there. It’s a lightweight, hydrating balm that evens out my complexion and never ever looks cakey, even under my eyes and in my smile lines. Plus, I love that it’s handmade in NYC and the founder, Kiki, uses *actual* humans to create the shades!
- Mascara: Thrive Causemetics Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara
My friend Kackie introduced me to this mascara and it’s everything I’ve ever wanted: it adds length, holds a curl, doesn’t irritate my eyes, and I don’t have to furiously scrub my eyes to get it off. Since this is a tubing formula, it doesn’t smudge or flake during the day but when I’m ready to remove it at night, warm water washes all the little tubes away. It’s so satisfying!
- Lip Oil: iNNBEAUTY PROJECT Lip Oils
These lip oils are not only incredibly plush and nourishing, they’re also fun to use because each one is a different color and flavor. They’re my go-to lip product when I want something glossy and moisturizing. My favorites are Extra Glaze (sheer golden color with champagne shimmer that tastes like a glazed donut) and Cookie (sheer milky chocolate that tastes like a chocolate chip cookie).
- Cream Eyeshadow: Charlotte Tilbury Oyster Pearl
I’ve actually been using this popular cream eyeshadow as a bronzer recently and all I can say is WOW! The antique gold color adds just the right amount of warmth and luminosity and the whipped texture makes it super easy to blend with a brush or sponge. On days when I want a quick, polished, and cohesive look, I’ll swipe this on my eyes and cheeks. It instantly brings life and subtle definition to my features.
|
|
|
No pills or gummies here! GEM's chewable bite of daily nutrition delivers more than 15 key vitamins, minerals, and herbs. It features only plant ingredients—that's right, it's made from real food and is absorbed like real food (because it is!). GEM's multi(bite)amin targets your energy, mood, focus, and beauty.
Plus, did we mention GEM is convenient and sustainable? It's delivered to you monthly in eco-friendly and compostable packages. Get an additional 30% off your first month subscription with code GirlsNight.
|
|
|
|
this week's reads
- How a book is made! (The New York Times; gift link)
- Can a mom survive the “vibe shift?” A vulnerable look into irrelevance and the “invisibility of motherhood.” (Rich Text)
- I am, like most people, a big fan of not only the Armchair Expert podcast but also of its co-host, Monica Padman, so I was thrilled to know that she finally got the Vanity Fair profile treatment: Monica Padman’s Moment Is Now. (Vanity Fair)
- Why is a decent floor lamp so hard to find? Amanda Mull investigates. (The Atlantic)
- Fascinating thing: “Hitting mung” is a South Korean wellness trend about spacing out while in nature. (Today)
- All about the power of a good cry. (The New York Times; gift link)
|
|
|
Charming sunny side up coasters by Caroline Yoo.
just a few more recs for your weekend
- WATCH: I Want You Back, a new rom-com on Amazon starring Jenny Slate, Charlie Day, and Gina Rodriguez about two people who get dumped and work together to get back with their exes. Alllll sorts of desperate hijinks ensue. It’s an easy and delightful watch with some genuine laugh-out-loud moments if you’re looking for a pick-me-up this weekend. And also, who doesn’t love that cast?!
- LISTEN: Bone, Marry, Bury, a new fictional whodunnit podcast from friend-of-GNI Becca Freeman and Rachael King about a 26-year-old “hot mess” named Allie. It’s a funny and 20-minute doing-the-dishes or folding-the-laundry type of listen if you can’t get into a full audiobook right now and want a break from more newsy pods. Drag queens, New Year’s Eve crushes, and general raunchiness are involved in episode 1.
- READ: Brown Girls by Daphne Palasi Andreades, a debut novel about a group of friends and their immigrant families from Queens, New York. I just started reading this and can’t put it down. The depictions of girlhood, female friendship, and life in the city are real and tender. I can’t wait to finish it.
- TRY: A recommendation from Lyla, a GNI reader who wrote in response to last week’s issue: “I LOVE puzzles, and if you are remotely interested in them, you need to know about the Magic Puzzle Company. The art is stunning and complex; the pieces are so high quality (no glare, feel great in your fingers, sturdy), the piece shapes are SO UNIQUE. Best of all, there is a major secret at the end so that it is basically two puzzles in one........(spoiler alert, the puzzle moves around to become another puzzle). Get one right now for all your puzzle-loving and puzzle-curious friends.” Say no more; I’m sold!
- GET: I’ve been looking for a minimal, no-fuss pair of heeled sandals for spring, and these ones might just fit the bill.
- COOK: Hotteok, a Korean pancake (NYT gift link) filled with sugar, nuts, and cinnamon. I grew up buying and eating this on the wintry streets of Seoul and can attest it’s chewy, deliciously sweet, and surprisingly easy to make at home.
- EMBRACE WHIMSY: May I interest you in some whimsical egg coasters by artist Caroline Yoo? 🍳
|
|
|
|
|
take action and take care
Protect Black trans lives. Fight anti-trans legislation in your state, and donate to the Trans Lifeline, a trans-led organization offering a 24/7 hotline for trans people.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Your space is going to smell so good. We're giving away an exceptional candle from The New Savant.
For *this week only*, we've teamed up with The New Savant to give away a Mixed Feelings candle to one very lucky reader.
The backstory for Mixed Feelings: “When designing this fragrance, I knew I wanted to create something that embodied my Thai and Norwegian heritage. The scent profile includes notes that may seem in opposition to each other, like rice and florals or crisp pear and incense, but that was intentional. For me, this candle is an exploration of the tensions that come along with having layered identities—it’s emotional, beautiful, powerful and unabashedly unique.” —Ingrid
How to enter: Share this referral link with friends—when they subscribe to the GNI newsletter this week, you'll automatically be entered to win: https://sparklp.co/2bd325dd. Easy peasy!
(Psst, you've referred 0 friends so far.)
Eligibility to enter: The cut-off is next Friday, March 4th, at 5 pm EST. U.S.-based residents and those 18 or older.
|
|
|
One more thing! In the Downtime Diary we sent earlier this week, we mistakenly referred to the Future Is Color founder Erwin Hines as Edwin Hines. We regret the error.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
