what's in their bag & summer sale items

plus what hair products I'd take to another planet

Jun 30, 2024

Hi! I’m SO happy to see so many new readers, welcome to this cozy place where we analyse and have fun with the newest beauty tricks & products together, while remaining a critical gaze towards marketing tactics & greenwashing.

Since a big chunk of you voted YES on my poll last time, which was about inviting inspiring people to ask them about their beauty secrets, let me introduce you to my new series!

WHAT’S IN HER BAG

We start with a girl bag! I just had to kick this off with a girl with stunning style, and on top of that she is truly a buzzing ball of positive energy:

Alice Betts <3

I got to know her when she was still working for acne studios, I invited her for a press day I organised in carmen amsterdam a couple of years ago for a beauty brand I used to work for. We did a little project together and kept in contact ever since. A blessing. She is one of those people who radiates real kindness to the world and I think that’s so special and something to be celebrated.

See below our Q&A. I asked her about beauty rituals, travel, products and the images that currently inspire her.

Hi Alice!

I love your miu miu bag, what’s the most surprising (beauty) product in your bag right now?

Thanks dear! not sure if this counts as a beauty product but a cinnamon flavoured mini toothpaste from Marvis, my boyfriend gave me a multipack of minis in different flavours and they're so cute

It does count! haha. What are your current favourite beauty products?

Mixsoon bean essence, Manasi 7 furora face cream, Saie dew blush in baby and Byredo satin lipstick

Oh I love ALL of those! Can you walk me through your morning ritual please?

Firstly I always put on coffee directly, it's my daily motivation for getting out of bed haha, then I burn palo santo and do a quick breathing exercise or meditation. Beauty wise - I wash my face with Kiehls ultra facial cleanser, then use cos rx snail essence followed by Manasi 7 furora cream and then I use a jade roller that I keep in the freezer and roll all the product into my face (it really wakes you up). Then always finish off with sunscreen before applying make-up, I'm on the lookout for a new sunscreen actually

That honestly sounds like a heavenly morning. On sunscreen, I keep on coming back to Benton Air Fit SPF50, there is just nothing better for me personally. You might love it as well!

Do you have a secret hair product or tip/trick?

I'm so low maintenance when it comes to hair, I just cut it really really short! But I love Davines products, the heart of glass line is so good for coloured blonde hair and it smells like the Prada perfume from the 90s

ohh that is so funny cause I prepped the other part of this article last week and I just talked about Davines heart of glass! There is truly no better smell, and I love that I can name the Prada reference now as well haha. Can you share a memorable beauty moment with me from the past month? Something that made you feel alive?

It would have to be doing an aromatic sauna followed by a cold swim in the ocean whilst I was working on a project on the west coast of Sweden - I felt reborn

Wow that is so Sweden coded I love it. What’s the most recent beauty addition to your bag and what’s the story behind it?

Byredo's new satin lipstick <3 I love the shades 9AM, Earth Dust and Subtropical - they feel like they give energy to my face and I’ve been wearing them almost every day

That’s funny cause 9AM & Earth Dust are also my favourite colours! What’s one beauty trend you think is here to stay and one you think will fade away?

I think and hope that more sustainable-focused brands that consider their impact on the environment are here to stay, I think that the lip craze will eventually die down

Yesss. What’s something you’d never pack in your bag?

I never really use a primer or any kind of contour, It's too many steps for me

Ugh same about the primer, my skincare is enough plus I cannot stand it if my primer badly interacts with oil based make-up and starts pilling! such a nightmare. Can you share a recent beauty or skincare discovery that you can’t stop raving about?

I'm super into doing infrared saunas and love using the infrared LED light masks, currently saving up to buy one of my own

When you travel, what’s in your bag for long flights?

I don't wear much makeup on long haul flights and try to focus on skincare - I always feel that I need extra moisture when flying so I normally have a solid moisturizer, I really like the cicaplast b5 cream from La Roche Posay - they also have a b5 sheetmask that is epic and perfect for long flights but hard to get a hold of (I always stock-up when I'm in Australia), a good face mist because it feels really nice when you're tired - I like the one from Josh Rosebrook (hydrating accelerator), I always have a roll on oil which simultaneously calms me down and makes me smell good (I can recommend the Byredo x Susanne Kaufmann one), lip balm from La Bruket (it has coconut oil in it which i love), rehydration/electrolyte tablets, shiseido eyelash curler, deodorant and then I always have a small crystal (either amethyst or selenite)

What’s the most impactful beauty advice you’ve ever received/ received recently and how has it changed your routine?

Tbh I get most of my recent advice these days from Soft Glow <3 I found so many good product recs that actually work for me

That truly means a lot. <3 What’s your secret weapon for looking fresh after a long travel day or a busy work day?

Eyelash curler always saves me, preferably the one from Shiseido

What are some exciting beauty brands at the moment and why?

I really love Byredo and a smaller Swedish beauty brand Manasi 7, I think that what they have created is really special and their aesthetic is beautiful. I'm also super keen to try U beauty and Rhode since I've heard so many good things

Please share some images that inspire you at the moment

Alice recently started a substack of her own, a stunning curation of her exquisite taste. Make sure to check it out <3

HAIR TALK

Since spending more time in barcelona my hair has gotten more brittle :( the water is not filtered here like it is in the netherlands (its actually crazy to think about that: we even have premium grade filtered drink water in the toilets over there, like ehmmm)

I have a whole line up of products that I use for repair, but if you would ask me which 3 products I would take to another planet - these are the ones

K18 hair leave-in hair mask - MAGIC in a bottle
fino Shiseido hair mask - what did they add in there? fairy dust? this formula feels luxurious, lush, and smells like money tbh
tsubaki hair oil or aromatica hair oil, tsubaki is harder to buy in Europe so as an alternative: aromatica has an amazing spa like scent to it and also works great!

wait I almost forgot: of course we need to wásh the hair don’t we.. In that case I would ditch the oil and take one of these favourites:

Olaplex shampoo is more gentle than others because of ideal ph but hair and scalp doesn’t feel squeaky clean (some days I mind, some days I prefer this, I guess it will depend on the climate of the planet lmao) so if you rather have that squeaky clean - but not dried out - feeling:
L’oreal Elvive total repair 5, an all time favorite of mine. shiny clean hair and scalp but lots of conditioning agents in there so hair feels soft, nourished, cared for. the opposite of dried out. very budget friendly. A great alternative with a bond repair agent in the formula is the Elvive full resist (€3,30 for 300ml)
Ouai detox shampoo, if you like a once a week hair wash day, this is for you. I would like to think of myself as a once a week hair wash girl, but unfortunately I work out daily these days and my fine hair doesn’t love product and sweat build up and this will lead to a flat, dirty looking coupe. not cute!

I did not think this through. 3 products is difficult. I feel like I cannot NOT talk about my favourite conditioners now!

One thing about me, I am not easy to please when it comes to shampoo & conditioners. I avoid so called “natural” and even a lot of “clean” options cause they usually lack the right ingredients (yes we need SLS or ingredients that are alike) and like most “natural” shampoo’s, can do more damage than good imo (hello huge dosages of essential oils), or are just SUPER oily/sticky and weird and don’t wash out at all. Here is your monthly reminder that nothing is scary about synthetic ingredients in a highly regulated continent, but if you follow me you probably know that already :)

Hello Klean’s conditioner is formulated to treat hair washed with hard water, which I need!

I also currently LOVE Intense Treatment - from the line Heart of Glass, by Davines. (Alice mentioning this as well was a cute synchronicity!) I leave it in for 10minutes after washing or after prepping with Instant Bonding Glow of the same line and brand.

I want to end with some Soft Glow approved products that are currently in sale at Cult Beauty. I just love their product selection, their marketing strategy, and even their copy so much!

This selection includes products I would buy for myself or as gifts to others! Some products are great but regularly overpriced in my opinion, so I couldn’t gatekeep a sale from on of the shops with best beauty selections!

dr. Jart+ BB Balm with SPF50 + niacinamide

Oribe hair travel set

Hourglass Soft Glow (I was there first lol) foundation

Peace Out Retinol face stick

Omorovicza Perfecting Lip Balm (10ml)

Dr.Jart+ Pore Remedy PHA Exfoliating Serum 30ml

Medik8 R-Retinoate Intense

THE NUE CO. MIND ENERGY, ENERGIZING FRAGRANCE TRAVEL SPRAY

Aesop Parsley Seed Facial Cleansing Oil 200ml

Jordan Samuel Skin Antioxidant Treatment Emulsion 50ml

Milk Makeup Hydro Ungrip Cleansing Pad Set

Omorovicza Thermal Cleansing Balm