Jallab Syrup
It is said that one of the great joys of getting older is knowing yourself better. And indeed, I have recently had a moment of absolute self-knowledge: as soon as I read the ingredient list of Jallab, I knew I had to have it. Date and raisin syrup, rose wate..
Scents of the Day: Part 5
Last year, I did a project called Scent of the Day. For a month, every day, I talked about a scent on Facebook. I have been asked by friends to make these musings available on the blog, as it’s impossible to find anything on Facebook. So I’ll copy my mini-re..
Lumi Moisturizing Cleansing Milk
If you have been here before, you might already know I have a thing for proper cleansing and good cleansers. I have about ten of them in regular rotation and I’m very picky about the quality, with Eve Lom, Omorovicza, Tata Harper, Sunday Riley and Tatcha cle..
Why I Read Blogs
Reading is my poison. This is how I like to get my information, my entertainment, my emotional and intellectual kicks. I don’t think it’s superior to other methods of doing these things, it’s just what I prefer (OK, maybe I think it’s a little superior, but ..
Completely Normal
As a general rule, when people have nice photos taken of themselves, they go for a look that’s more dressed up and dramatic than their everyday outfits. For me, however, it has been the other way around: both proper shoots that I’ve done recently have been a..
13 Items of Korean Skincare I Have Just Bought
Yeah, I know. Thirteen. There are some mitigating factors, however: several of these come in trial size and there are quite a few individual sheet masks that I’ve also counted. And I didn’t really buy it all on the same day. But still, 13 skincare items is a..
Maleness in a Bottle
There is only one fragrance, ever, that I’ve bought solely for the bottle, and it happened last weekend. It’s not a Serge Lutens bell jar or an austerely beautiful Byredo or even a classic Chanel or Guerlain – although they all have bottles I covet. It’s a m..
Pomegranates
Some people say that the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge was not an apple but a pomegranate (although according to Wikipedia, it may also have been a fig, a carob, an etrog, a pear, a quince, a datura or possibly some grapes or mushrooms). I perso..
Chanel Stylo Eyeshadows
One of the biggest mysteries of the universe – right after the meaning of life and the Higgs boson – is why Chanel doesn’t make its Stylo Eyeshadows a permanent part of its make-up collection. Stylos appear now and then as limited editions, sell out in 7 sec..
The Persistent Blue
When I wrote about trends a while back, I mentioned the things that just keep going and going, until they stop being trends and enter our sartorial landscape as permanent features. This has been the case with ballet flats and skinny jeans and I think it has ..