Everything I Read, Wrote, Tested, and Finished in January
Plus a sneak peek at stories I'm currently working on and sources I'm seeking.
Would you believe me if I told you I meant to send this newsletter last week?
I had every intention of writing at least one more newsletter for January, but alas, the month was absolute chaos. Between covering beauty at CES 2025, the TikTok news (and the subsequent popularity of RedNote), and the LA wildfires, it was a crazy busy month. I’m also in the middle of trying to buy a house (?!?!?!), which also took up a lot of brain space last month and led to many sleepless nights. I haven’t felt this stressed since 2020, when I left my full-time job to enter the unpredictable world of freelance writing. The house-buying process has taken a wrecking ball to my mental health. Is this normal?! Does everyone feel this way when they’re buying a house??? Because I was (and am still) deeply unwell thinking about what a huge commitment it is, but that’s a problem for Future Me to unpack later in therapy.
But back to this post, which is the first in what I plan to make a monthly series. Each month, I’ll share a roundup of everything that crossed my desk and captured my attention—from books I’ve read to articles I’ve written and, of course, the endless parade of beauty products that made their way onto my face (and periodically into my trash bin).
Everything I Read:
The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron
Full disclosure: I started The Artist’s Way in November 2024, which is actually what gave me the push I needed to start this newsletter. It’s a 12-week program for creative recovery (or discovery), and it’s POWERFUL stuff. The first day I read it and journaled, I pitched an idea to a dream publication of mine, and it was accepted on the same day. Wild stuff.
I’ve been taking it slow, so I’m only on week two, but Dianna Cohen (founder of hair care line Crown Affair) recently shared that she’s hosting an Artist’s Way group on Substack chat, which I’ll be joining in the hopes that I can keep myself accountable to a weekly schedule. If you do want to start The Artist’s Way (which I HIGHLY encourage for everyone, not just “creatives”), you must get the actual book, not the e-book or audiobook. Think of The Artist’s Way as more of a workbook than anything else, so it helps to highlight important passages and write notes to yourself in the margins.
Bunny by Mona Awad
I picked up this book after my friend Becca Grischow named it her favorite read of last year, but it wasn't for me. The story takes place at an elite New England institution following students in an MFA graduate program, which is something that’s just completely unrelatable and unappealing to me. I know a lot of talented writers with MFAs, but it truly could never be me. The book is a horror story in some ways, which also isn’t my taste. I thought the mean girl, clique-y tropes would be enough to keep me locked into the story, but the main character lacks a firm grasp of reality that’s never fully explained, and I just can’t do that level of fantasy. This book was a hard pass for me, but it might be worth picking up if you love dark academia horror stories.
The Wedding People by Alison Espach
After I begrudgingly finished Bunny, I wanted to read a GOOD book. I did not want to take a chance on something that might be a dud. The Wedding People by Alison Espach absolutely did it for me. I know we’re only at the beginning of February, but this is at the top of my list for Best Books of 2025. The stakes were high and clear from the very beginning and immediately sucked me in. I loved everything about this book, and it’s one that I know I’ll go back and read again simply to study the plot structure because it is truly a masterpiece.
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn
Gillian Flynn is my favorite thriller author. I’m currently in the very beginning stages of plotting a thriller-y novel I want to start drafting this year, so I’m going back and reading everything Flynn wrote to see how she handles storytelling and plot structure. I jumped right into Riley Sager's The Only One Left after finishing this one, which has a plot that is super similar to Dark Places, something I was completely unaware of until I started reading it. Nothing will ever top Gone Girl for me personally, but Flynn can do no wrong in my eyes.
Everything I Wrote
How Renée Rouleau Built a Texan Skin Care Empire and Won Over Hollywood for Texas Monthly. This story was the one I pitched immediately after starting The Artist’s Way. I pitched it in November, spent two days with the subject in December, and turned it into my editor in mid-January. The story behind this one is truly wild and one that I need to dive into a future How This Story Got Made post, but safe to say it was a dream come true profiling a beauty industry icon for a legendary Texas publication.
Carol Hamilton Steps Down from L'Oréal After 40-Year Career for BeautyMatter. HUGE beauty news this week. Carol Hamilton is truly an icon and was instrumental in L’Oreal’s success over the last 40 years. She was BeautyMatter’s 2023 NEXT Person of the Year, and this profile is an excellent look at her impact throughout her decades of work in the beauty industry.
Bizarre Beauty Merch That Broke the Internet for BeautyMatter. This was a fun one that my editor suggested after I saw Coors Light launch the Chill Face Roller, a custom tool designed to hold a 12-ounce can of Coors Light and act like a depuffing face roller. I was an OG Glossier Girl circa 2015, so I’ll always have a soft spot for beauty merch. It was fun to go back into the internet archives and find the most outrageous beauty merch for this roundup. I’m still bitter that I never got my hands on Merit’s Lighter Case. That shit looked so cool.
The Beauty Industry Rallies for Los Angeles Wildfire Relief for BeautyMatter. I was pretty proud that we were the first outlet to compile a list of resources and ways that the beauty industry came together to help those who lost everything to the insane LA wildfires. The list is truly a mile long, and I’m still getting messages from brands that are continuing to support relief efforts.
So many trend prediction articles, all of which are filled with actual trends, not just “biotech beauty,” or “AI,” both of which are no longer forward-thinking trends in 2025.
2025 Trends: What's Next for Wellness? for BeautyMatter
2025 Trends: What’s Next for Makeup? for BeautyMatter
2025 Predictions: What’s Next for Fragrance? for BeautyMatter
2025 Trends: What’s Next for Haircare? for BeautyMatter
2025 Predictions: What’s Next for Skincare? for BeautyMatter
How Lashify Fought Counterfeits and Won Big for BeautyMatter. I don’t know how this wasn’t bigger news when it first came out. Founder Sahara Lotti won $34 million in a patent infringement case against a Chinese competitor. It’s a huge precedent-setting case, both for the lash category and beauty in general.
Exclusive: Oak Essentials Lands in 250 Ulta Beauty Stores Nationwide for BeautyMatter. I broke the news for Oak Essentials, which is always an honor. The brand gave me great tidbits in the interviews, and I’m really gonna be watching this brand in 2025 and beyond because I think it’ll do well for Ulta.
Sephora Debuts "Faces of Music" Documentary on Hulu for BeautyMatter
How Beauty Brands Are Navigating TikTok's Uncertainty for BeautyMatter
How Beauty Brands Can Tap RedNote's Social Shopping Potential for BeautyMatter
The 16 Most Exciting Beauty Innovations from CES 2025 for BeautyMatter
Everything I Tested
Credo Skincare Serenity Mineral-Rich Body Wash ($34) + Submerge Green Algae Body Cream ($48): Last month, Credo expanded its in-house skincare range with Credo Body Care, and they were kind enough to send me samples in the mail. I’ve been using the body wash and body cream religiously. It’s funny because the other body wash in my shower was the Follain Everything Soap in Lemongrass ($24), which Credo acquired back in 2022. My fiancé prefers the scent of the Follain body wash, but I find the Credo to be more moisturizing. However, I do enjoy how the scent of Follain body wash lingers in the bathroom post-shower.
Exoceuticals EXO FACE® Perfection Moisturizer ($149): I’m working on a story on exosomes for February, so I requested a sample of this to test ahead of my interview with one of the founders. I’ve been enjoying it over the last two weeks I’ve been using it, but I’m still not sold on the idea of exosomes in skincare in general. I’m hoping a talk with founder Dr. Robin L. Smith will help me understand the science a bit more.
Jan Marini Bioglycolic Face Cleanser ($50): This was on my Christmas list, which is very rare that I even put a skincare product on my Christmas list because I get so many products sent to me that I rarely need to go out and purchase more. But I saw a TikTok video of someone raving about how this cleanser was the best one they’ve ever used, and I regret to inform you that they were right. This is the best cleanser I’ve ever used. And it’s $50. My number one piece of skincare advice use to be to save on cleansers so you can splurge on serums, but this cleanser has completely changed my mind. It’s slightly exfoliating and a little tingly in the best way. I typically have larger pores around my nose, which makes it feel slightly textured all the time, unless I do an at-home chemical peel, like the Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel ($92). Using this every day has completely erased the texture from my nose. This is one skincare product I will absolutely be repurchasing on my own whenever it runs out.
Rahua Hydration Detangler + UV Barrier ($34): I always use some kind of leave-in conditioner immediately after getting out of the shower and this is one I’ve been using lately. Last month, I colored my hair for the first time in probably a decade, so I’ve been trying to incorporate more hair products that protect my color. This leave-in spray feels super moisturizing and leaves my hair smelling slightly fruity.
Everything I Finished
Mother Science Molecular Genesis Barrier Repair Moisturizer ($68): Mother Science is probably my favorite skincare brand at the moment. I went in super skeptical but I’ve been truly blown away by everything I tried, including the serum and retinol. I got sent a lab sample of the moisturizer before it launched in January (which explains why this packaging is NOT what the actual product looks like!), and I quickly used it all up. A good moisturizer is the little black dress of the skincare world: everyone needs at least one in their wardrobe/routine. I fully expected this to cost ~$100, so I was pleasantly surprised to see it retail for under $70.
Naturium Phyto-Glow Lip Mask ($13): I always keep a GOOD lip mask (not a balm! There’s a difference) within arm’s reach on my desk, bedside table, and coffee table. This one lived on my coffee table because the packaging made it look way more luxe than it actually costs. Will definitely pick up another one on my next Target run.
Odele Curl Defining Conditioner ($13) and Odele Moisture Mask ($12): Odele is another of my favorite affordable beauty brands at Target. I treat hair masks like they’re conditioners, so I’m constantly switching between the two. Between the conditioner and the mask, I would repurchase the mask again. It felt ultra-moisturizing on my curls, and that price is unbeatable.
Isle of Paradise Brilliantly Bright Body Cleanser ($22): I typically hate niacinamide in my skincare (it’s in EVERYTHING these days) but I didn’t mind it in this body wash. It’s supposed to brighten dark spots and dullness, but truthfully, my legs haven’t seen the light of day in at least three months so I haven’t really noticed a difference. If you have KP on your arms and/or legs, you’ll probably love this. The best thing about this body wash is the rich lather and ultra-fresh scent – that’s honestly all I’m looking for from a body wash.
Goldie Locks Leave-In Conditioner ($41): This leave-in was nice but nothing special, and for $40+, I expected more.
What I’m Working On in February
Reach out to me via email if you want to chat about any of the below:
A story on exosomes for BeautyMatter. Still looking for experts for this one! I’m open to dermatologists and maybe brand founders, depending on what they’re wiling to share with me.
A story on inflammaging for BeautyMatter. I think I’ve got enough sources for this one, but if you have a unique perspective you want to share, please reach out.
A story on why Korean sunscreens are becoming harder to get in the states
A story on beauty brands working with fractional employees
A story on how beauty industry professionals (hairstylists, makeup artists, etc.) build their careers in 2025. I feel like so much has changed in the last decade in the professional beauty world and pros are being asked to do more and more to make close to the same amount of money.
A story on how hair pros can make high-fashion looks more attainable for their clients for Associated Hair Professional’s Indie Stylist Magazine (print and online). I’m looking to speak with hairstylists (and potentially a barber) who can explain how to navigate this kind of conversation with clients and some common alternatives to high-fashion looks (perhaps a blunt bob instead of a dramatic angled bob or a faux hawk instead of a mohawk).
And that’s a wrap on January! I’m off on vacation next weekend to go skiing in my favorite place in the world, New Mexico, so February is already looking up. We’re road-tripping from Austin to Red River, which is an 11-hour drive, so please drop any audiobook recommendations in the comments. We LOVED Project Hail Mary from Andy Weir, so let me know if you have any similar reccs.
Thank you for being here. It means the world to me. Follow me on Instagram; my DMs are always open to questions, comments, or horse memes.