Notes on Self: What Niche Fragrance Says About Who We Want to Be
Dust, Milk, Rubber—Why the Internet is obsessed with smelling different
Fashion - Beauty
Array
Retouch and Filter-Free: The Makeup Ads We Deserve
Beauty ads have spent decades convincing us that our skin is a flaw to fix, not a feature to embrace. This article exposes how one brand is dismantling that narrative and pushing for a future where real skin finally gets the representation it deserves.
The Must-See London Exhibition Exposing Our Obsession With Filters, Fillers and AI
Virtual Beauty at Somerset House is London’s unmissable exhibition of the season, confronting our obsession with filters, fillers, AI, and online beauty. Through provocative works by Orlan, Arvida Byström, Ines Alpha, and more, it challenges how we see ourselves—and whether technology empowers or distorts identity.
Facelifts Are the New Botox — The End of Wrinkles as We Know Them
Many celebrities have stepped out with a new, impossibly smooth face, and instead of ridicule, the internet wanted to know where they got it. With 15K and a plane ticket, women are now traveling to cities like Guadalajara or Bogotá for facelifts once reserved for the ultra-rich. TikTok has made surgeons go viral, reframing them as innovators. But if everyone over 50 can look 29, what does that mean for aging itself?
The Undetectable Era: The Rise of Stealth Cosmetic Procedures and the Body Horror Backlash
The undetectable era of cosmetic procedures is here, offering subtle enhancements that reverse aging naturally. While stealth cosmetics grow in popularity, cultural movements like body horror in fashion and film push back, critiquing our obsession with youth and perfection. This clash is reshaping how we view beauty and aging.
Weight loss injections on the road to success: Why I’m debating on buying Ozempic
Struggling with body image from a young age, my people share a deeply personal journey through disordered eating, societal pressures, and the relentless pursuit of thinness. With Ozempic now touted as a weight-loss miracle, the temptation to try it is undeniable—but at what cost? This piece explores the allure of quick fixes, the long-term dangers of eating disorders, and the complex relationship between self-worth and societal expectations.
The Essence of MATIERE PREMIERE: Where Nature Meets Luxury
Imagine a fragrance that doesn’t just smell good but connects you to nature in the most luxurious way possible. That’s exactly what MATIERE PREMIERE does—capturing the pure beauty of natural ingredients in every bottle. Founded by master perfumer Aurélien Guichard, this French perfume house takes a fresh, sustainable approach to luxury scents, focusing on the […]
Makeup in film – the role of blue eyeshadow in storytelling across screen media
Makeup is a key, albeit underrated, part of the language of cinema and television. Here, we look at the history of blue eyeshadow on screen and how film makeup artists use it to communicate characters' inner worlds.
From iPhone Face to Blush Blindness and Facial Harmony: When are our faces good enough?
Recent online trends encapsulate contemporary anxieties about beauty standards and technological influences on our self-image. "iPhone Face" refers to the perception that certain people have facial features that seem inherently modern, often linked to the pervasive use of technology and modern grooming practices. "Blush Blindness," meanwhile, highlights how heavy makeup and cosmetic procedures can mask natural features, leading to a homogenized appearance where individual uniqueness is lost. These concepts raise a critical question: When are our faces good enough?
FEMALE GAZE – Reclaiming the Power Through Self-Portraits. From Cindy Sherman to Harley Weir
„In a world ordered by sexual imbalance, pleasure in looking has been split between active/male and passive/female. The determining male gaze projects its fantasy onto the female figure, which is styled accordingly. In their traditional exhibitionist role women are simultaneously looked at and displayed, with their appearance coded for strong visual and erotic impact so that they can be said to connote to-be-looked-at-ness…“
