BEAUTY UNDRESSED by Sunnie Brook

This Week’s Scoop

Zendaya and Olivia Rodrigo wore it, now it’s your turn. Here’s the Crown Braid plus all my pro tips. I like to use this before I braid to add volume and grip.
Fall hair color just went warm. Espresso brown is the shade.
Lindsay Lohan went back to being a redhead. What do you think?
Zoë Kravitz’s skincare routine has three steps. She gets tips from her mom Lisa Bonet.
This is my post-beach hair reset: 96% rose water, sweaty roots gone, hair feels day-one clean in seconds. Comes in travel size too!
Your gut and skin are talking. Scientists finally cracked the code.
Korea’s newest injectable is wild. It’s made from donated human skin.
Breakouts got you stumped? Your gut might be the culprit.
L’Oréal just made a big hire. Here’s what it signals.
e.l.f. just entered haircare. Straight to TikTok Shop and Target.
Retinol without the peeling might be real. This bakuchiol combo delivers.
Rosacea skin just got a lifeline. Algae-derived bio-retinol is having a moment.
Color fade just met its match. This leave-in claims 40 washes of protection. My all-time favorite shampoo and conditioner to protect your color.
Soft braids and deep side parts are in.
Y2K is back and not asking permission. Matte foundation and frosty everything are having a moment.
Byrdie just dropped their annual awards. These beat out thousands of products.
ELLE’s beauty desk has stories worth knowing. Two former beauty directors spill decades of secrets.
Sephora just made a big K-beauty move. 19 curated Korean brands land in 500 stores August 20.
L’Oréal and Kering just finalized a $4 billion beauty alliance.
Priyanka Chopra Jonas’s haircare brand just changed hands. Anomaly was sold to Reliance Retail.
Belle Brands just acquired Versed, Katherine Power’s clean skincare brand.
Lush is investing in the next generation. A new paid apprenticeship program just launched.
A celebrity aesthetician laid out where skincare is headed. Less products, more whole-body system.
Hand fans just had their runway moment. Vogue Scandinavia calls them fashion week’s surprise hero.
While in Mallorca I found a friend’s jewelry shop where you can design a custom hand fan that’s basically wearable jewelry.
Fragrance is being reformulated as a mood tool now. Brands are designing scents to shift how you feel.
I’ve been using this micro contour stick in color “refined” to fill in the areas where my sunglassed created a funny tan. The tone won’t leave you orange or ashy.
If you have wavy hair that goes frizzy in this heat this is what I use on my clients that feels like nothing in your hair and it lasts for two shampoos. If you have curly hair get this one instead.

I hope you enjoyed this weeks edit. Please be so kind to share this with a friend and drop a heart below! See you here in September!

My Beauty Edit No. 27

BEAUTY UNDRESSED — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 15:05:30 GMT

Summer is in full swing and I know many of you are traveling so I thought I’d make this weeks Beauty Edit a bit more snackable! I’d love to hear what you think. I hope this finds you enjoying sunshine, salty air, a cocktail or two! and making memories with your loved ones.

Let’s dive into this weeks edit!

If you enjoy these free edits, tap the heart or l…

10 Tips for Air Drying Your Hair

BEAUTY UNDRESSED — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 14:05:16 GMT

One of my favorite parts about sharing My Air Dry Guide was hearing from you afterward.

My inbox filled with photos of hair that looked like... your hair. Not salon hair. Not blowout hair. Just beautiful, lived-in, effortless hair that went from shower, to a few well-chosen products, to air drying without a hot tool in sight.

Some of you wrote to tell me, “I had no idea I actually had wave.”

That might have been my favorite.

You swapped in a beach spray or a texture spray, gave your hair just a little encouragement instead of trying to force it into submission, and suddenly there it was. The texture that had been hiding under years of blow drying, straightening, or simply using the wrong products.

Others told me the frizz they’d been fighting for years wasn’t really a frizz problem at all. It was just a product-order problem. A cream first, then a drop of oil instead of the other way around, and suddenly your hair made sense.

It’s always the smallest shifts that create the biggest change.

Those messages are exactly why I love being a hairdresser. Not because I want everyone to have “perfect” hair, but because I want you to realize you probably need to do far less than you’ve been told.

Less heat.

Less fighting.

Less fixing.

More understanding of what your own hair has been trying to do all along.

When you know how to work with your texture instead of against it, your routine gets simpler, your hair gets happier, and, honestly, you get more of your life back.

So after reading all of your messages, I started thinking about the ten tips I come back to over and over again. The little things I find myself saying behind the chair almost every day. Some you’ve heard me mention before, a few might surprise you, but together they’re the foundation of every great air dry.

My goal isn’t to get you to stop using your hot tools.

My goal is to give you the choice.

Everything below: my pro tips, method, and product suggestions is for paid subscribers. If this is the kind of inside knowledge you want every week, I would love to have you subscribe.

My Beauty Edit No. 26

BEAUTY UNDRESSED — Sun, 05 Jul 2026 14:56:17 GMT

I just got back from a much needed vacation and something really shifted for me. When the mental load lifted and the calendar went quiet, my mind finally had room to breathe . . . and with that came reflection, creativity, and a kind of clarity I didn’t realize I’d been missing. It felt like a full exhale for my creative soul!

And now I’m back, recharg…

My Beauty Edit No. 25

BEAUTY UNDRESSED — Sun, 14 Jun 2026 15:14:15 GMT

It’s been one of those stretches where work and life have blurred in the best possible way. I’ve spent the past few weeks between Spain, Italy and California. In between I’ve been testing an insane amount of products as a judge for the Marie Claire Beauty Awards and getting hands-on with new launches I genuinely cannot wait to tell you about! Also some …

My Air Dry Guide

BEAUTY UNDRESSED — Sun, 07 Jun 2026 15:05:22 GMT

Let me guess. You’ve convinced yourself you can’t air dry your hair.

Maybe you tried it once, it went sideways, and you’ve been reaching for the blow dryer ever since. Or maybe you’ve just never thought your hair was the air-drying type. Too frizzy, too flat, too unpredictable, too whatever the story is that you’ve been telling yourself since approximately 2009.

Here’s what I actually see when clients sit down in my chair: it’s almost never a hair problem. It’s a playbook problem. Somewhere along the way you inherited someone else’s routine, someone else’s products, someone else’s idea of what your hair is supposed to do and you’ve been running that play on repeat without stopping to ask if it’s actually working for you.

Air drying is the reset button. It strips everything back, slows you down, and gives you a real look at what your hair is actually trying to do when you stop intervening. And once you see it? Everything changes.

I’m sharing the three techniques I walk almost everyone through when we’re starting fresh and giving the hot tools a much needed vacation. Plus every product I’ve tested again and again so you don’t have to. Consider this your new playbook. One that’s actually written for your hair.

Everything below: the pro tips, method, the full hair type breakdown, and the product edit, is for paid subscribers. If this is the kind of inside knowledge you want every week, I would love to have you subscribe.

My Beauty Edit No. 24

BEAUTY UNDRESSED — Sun, 31 May 2026 14:38:51 GMT

It’s been a nonstop couple of weeks! Including a few dreamy days in Lake Como with a client, which felt like a movie set. But there’s nothing I love more than sitting down to dig into what’s happening in beauty for you.

Let’s get into it!

If you enjoy these free edits, tap the heart or leave a comment. It truly means so much. You can subscribe below for free or if you want full access to all the archives it’s just the cost of a coffee.

Much Love x

HAIR + BEAUTY

The Japanese bob is the sharp, geometric cut taking over and this is exactly what to ask for.
The French highlight is the color technique giving that effortless lived-in dimension everyone is asking for.
You're about to hear candlelit brunette and ethereal blonde everywhere so here's exactly what they mean.
Low-maintenance drama is officially a thing and halo curls and shredded bobs are leading the conversation.
Cuts designed to look just as good air-dried as styled — 10 hair trends dominating 2026 from cool-girl shags to amber auburn color.
Cushion sunscreens are everywhere right now but are they actually effective? Experts weigh in.
Suede bronzer and blurred lips are leading the 6 spring makeup trends poised to dominate right now and yes, I'm already obsessed.
Bold lips, dark browns, and true reds are what spring 2026 runway makeup is calling for.
The maximalist era is back! color-drenched lashes to cosmic highlighters
The beauty carousel is officially slowing down and these are the 7 spring/summer trends worth knowing including the return of the side part.
Frosty lipstick, matte makeup, and side bangs, 2026's top beauty trends are taking us straight back to 2006
Suede bronzer and blurred lips are leading the 6 spring makeup trends poised to dominate right now and yes, I'm already obsessed.
Celebrity colorists just named the 9 biggest spring color trends and strawberry brunette and teddy bronde caught my attention.
Vogue is finally saying what I’ve been seeing in my chair for years, haircare is about to become a very big deal.
For the first time, haircare is growing faster than both makeup and fragrance globally and luxury retailers are already shifting floor space to keep up.
The haircare trends set to define 2026
SKINCARE + AGING
Sofie Pavitt wrote the most honest account of getting a neck lift at 41, two years later, no regrets, and the transparency here is everything.
How to get the sexiest legs of your life
Scientist’s just proved magic mushrooms can reverse cellular aging by 57%
Seoul's newest skin booster Re20 is derived from donated cadaver cells and it's taking Korean aesthetic clinics by storm. The science behind it is wild and worth knowing about.
Cortisol is quietly breaking down your collagen
This reel on glass skin is making the rounds for good reason
NAD+ was a biohacker obsession and now it's showing up in mainstream skincare formulas from L'Oréal to Lancôme
Rich face vs. Old Money Face, let’s discuss
"Menopause performance skincare" is one of the most interesting rebrands happening in beauty right now.
The FDA peptide ban reversal is one of the biggest stories in wellness and aesthetics right now
Confidence peaks at 60, research shows beauty shifts from performance to presence with age
IN MY BAG
These are the products I kept reaching for on my travels and had to pack:
My friend Jo Baker, celebrity makeup artist, handed me this multi balm stick after doing my makeup and it’s become my go to for targeted glow on the go. I use it to hydrate smile lines around the eye area thru out the day. You need it.
It’s heating up, which means lots of high and tight ponytails and sleek buns. I carry one of these in my gym bag and one in my purse to keep flyaways tamed.
The beach/surf spray I personally use for that “vacation hair”
This face oil that brings life back into my skin without making it feel greasy
I use this oil applied to the ends of my hair before I even get in the shower to protect and repair. A must if your ends are dry and damaged.
This mini dry texture and volume spray to keep my roots lifted and maximize my fullness.

BEAUTY WITHIN
6 Peptides that change how you look, feel and show up.
Metabolic Beauty , the visible biomarker of your inner health
Vogue is making the case for eggs and your immune system
Researchers just found a brand new type of cell that only exists during pregnancy Scientists literally said "no one knows what they are."
Sleep has become the ultimate status symbol in wellness and the science of what actually happens to your skin during deep sleep is worth a read.
The gut-skin connection is no longer a wellness talking point. It's the new clinical standard
The over-optimization backlash is real, wellness in 2026 is moving back toward joy, movement, and human connection as legitimate forms of care. LOVE THIS!
Regulating stress, cortisol, and your body's fight-or-flight response
BEAUTY OUT THERE
Pocketbook Hudson is a 1890s textile factory turned hotel, bathhouse, restaurant, and gallery in Hudson, NY
Bathhouse just raised $35M from the firm behind Glossier and Skims as NYC's "sauna wars" heat up
Gregg Renfrew built Beautycounter to a billion dollars, got pushed out, bought it back, lost it again, and rebuilt it as Counter this How I Built This episode is one of the best founder stories I've heard in years.
The Glossy Beauty Podcast's 2026 predictions, peptides, the death of no-makeup makeup, and which beauty bubbles are about to burst.
This Huberman Lab episode on skin health with Dr. Teo Soleymani
Hope you enjoyed this weeks beauty roundup! Please be so kind to share this with a friend and drop a heart below!
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My Beauty Edit No. 23

BEAUTY UNDRESSED — Sun, 03 May 2026 15:06:00 GMT

Lots of juicy finds this weeks beauty edit for you! If you enjoy these free edits, tap the heart or leave a comment! It means so much. You can subscribe below for free or if you want full access to all the archives it’s just the cost of a coffee.

Much Love x

Blood draws are the new welcome drinks at luxury resorts

HAIR + BEAUTY

No bleach brunette is having a serious moment and this is the best explanation I’ve seen for why it actually works.
21 Best New Beauty Launches of 2026, I’m curious to test out these collagen peptides, this eyelift peptide, and this bronzing cream.
Dyson Launches the Supersonic Travel Dryer, in this review it dry’s in 8 mins, fits in your hand bag, and universal voltage.
How Alix Earle Became Beauty's Biggest New Founder $5 million in sales on launch day, sold out by 4pm. The Reale Actives story is wild.
French blending is the gray hair technique I’ve been getting asked about nonstop and this breakdown explains exactly why it works.
These are the hair hacks pros do automatically but never talk about and Vogue finally spilled them.
Maddy Perez’s double winged liner from Euphoria season 3 is everywhere right now and honestly I get it, it’s that good.
A makeup artist who works with Sabrina Carpenter doesn’t even own color corrector, she uses blush instead and I had to share this easy trick with you.
Keri Russell's eye look broke the internet. The woman behind it? My friend and celeb MUA Jo Baker. We got together and she recreated it just for you. The eye palette I can’t live without and fine point black liner that are a must for recreating this easy smokey look!

SKINCARE + AGING

Top Skincare of 2026 and which ones are loosing their sizzle.
SPF is having a full glow-up this year. The new launches from ILIA, SkinCeuticals, La Roche-Posay, and more are actually treating your skin while they protect it.
Dermatologists are calling it: 2026 is the year we stop chasing quick fixes and start building routines that actually hold up long term.
The J-beauty secret that sake brewers have known for centuries is finally having its mainstream moment, and the skin benefits are genuinely impressive.
Exosomes are about to become standard, peptides are entering their most sophisticated era yet, and the whole industry is pivoting from anti-aging to skin that's biologically "well."
Longevity skincare is everywhere right now but the term gets thrown around loosely. This is the clearest explanation I've seen of what it actually means for your routine.
Elle's edit on where beauty and longevity science are colliding right now, from cellular health to the ingredients making skin perform longer.

IN MY BAG

Fall/winter is packed away, spring/summer is front and center and the beauty drawer refresh always follows. Six things currently in rotation:

The product giving my waves instant volume in seconds
The bronzer currently living in my tinted moisturizer
The sunscreen that glows, layers perfectly, and never peels
My non-aerosol dry shampoo I just refilled for the third time
What I’m using to calm my dry, itchy scalp right now
The best volume shampoo and conditioner duo for that squeaky clean, extra bouncy finish

BEAUTY WITHIN

The most quietly honest piece I’ve read in a while about the difference between real connection and the exhausting performance of it.
Fibermaxxing is a thing and turns out the science behind it is actually fascinating. This is the best plain-English breakdown of why fiber matters more than we thought.
A genuinely useful breakdown of dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins and the small daily moves that actually shift them.
Vogue tried to make tiny decorative tins of five cashews and a date sliver a thing, the internet was not having it, and the conversation it started about diet culture coming back is worth paying attention to.

BEAUTY OUT THERE

Science is officially backing what we already knew, dancing is one of the most complete longevity tools we have.

A genuinely useful protocol for the week before a trip that's less about dieting and more about digestion, hydration, and lymphatic support.

Turns out refillable packaging isn't quite the eco slam dunk we thought

From Brooklyn to Berlin, independent store owners are ditching e-commerce entirely and betting everything on the in-store experience.

What Is Nonnamaxxing?

Hope you enjoyed this weeks beauty roundup! Please be so kind to share this with a friend and drop a heart below!

My Beauty Edit No. 22

BEAUTY UNDRESSED — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 15:05:36 GMT

Hello! I am so excited to share this week's Beauty Edit with you. It is a big one. Lots of fresh finds, real talk, some things that genuinely stopped me mid-scroll, and a few podcast recommendations at the end that I think you are going to love.

If you enjoy these free edits, tap the heart or leave a comment! It means so much. You can subscribe below for free or if you want full access to all my archives it’s just the cost of a coffee.

Much Love x

HAIR + BEAUTY

Digital perms are having their full cultural moment and they earned it. Softer, heat-set waves with none of the 80s crunch. The goal isn’t “I got a perm,” it’s “my hair just looks better, always”.
Korean air bangs are still a global takeover. Wispy, face-framing, just enough fringe to change your whole face without the commitment. If you’ve been bang-curious, this is your entry point.
Bob blindness is a thing and if you’ve been staring at the same shape wondering why it stopped working, this explains it
The bob in 2026 isn’t a bob, it’s a conversation. Curtain call bob, flip bob, low collarbone bob.
The color story this spring is dimensional and lived-in. Colorists are calling it: warm golden blonde inspired by Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy is going to be everywhere, and for brunettes, soft cocoa with subtle dimension is the most requested shade in salons right now.
My roundup of 2026 haircolor ideas that will inspire you!
8 of Springs hottest haircolor ideas
Tan line stickers are back and TikTok is obsessed. The Y2K Playboy bunny hip sticker has officially re-entered the chat. My take? Use them for a spray tan, get the full nostalgia hit, skip the UV damage. I spent enough time in a 2000s tanning bed for all of us
The only French Pharmacy guide you’ll need
Six hair and makeup trends from last year to avoid and what trends to be excited about this year!
What the cool mom’s are wearing
You might want to start saving your eggshells for your beauty routine
Olaplex just sold to Henkel for $1.4 billion. The brand that changed bond-building is now in the same family as Schwarzkopf.

SKIN + AGING

“High rise skin” is the new skin goal and celebrity makeup artist Daniel Martin coined it. The idea: if your skincare foundation isn’t strong, every layer of makeup above it crumbles. It’s about smoothness, evenness, and dimension that come from properly prepped skin, not from layering on more products. The skyscraper analogy is genuinely useful
If you’re looking for coverups and hats, read Sun protection for Hot People
What Hormones Reveal about Your Skin
The FDA quietly removed its black box warning on hormone replacement therapy in November 2025 and the beauty industry moved fast. Ulta and Sephora both launched dedicated menopause categories
The worlds first wearable hormone tracker
Exosomes are the ingredient everyone in aesthetics is whispering about. Naturally occurring cellular messengers that signal skin repair and collagen production. The data is still building but dermatologists are paying close attention.
The facelift conversation has completely changed. Surgeons are now calling for earlier, softer procedures, maintenance facelifts designed for subtle refresh rather than transformation, with less pain, less recovery, and results your friends simply cannot pinpoint.
Your grip strength is a better predictor of how long you’ll live than almost anything else you’re currently tracking.
The longevity research world has been running almost entirely on male data and women are finally calling it out. According to the Global Wellness Summit’s 2026 Trends Report, the longevity boom has been male-dominated for too long. Women age differently, and the ovaries are essentially the command center for heart health, bone density, brain function, and metabolism.
Poor sleep isn’t just making you tired, it is one of the most underrated skincare steps you have. Women who sleep less than five hours per day show decreased skin barrier function and slower recovery from UV damage.
This study from John Hopkins on why women’s fatigue isn’t physical depletion, it’s cognitive saturation.
The alternative to lip filler.

THE SEPHORA SALE ENDS MONDAY. HERE’S WHAT TO GRAB

Use code SPRINGSALE through April 20. Rouge saves 20%, VIB saves 15%, Insiders save 10%. These are the ones worth it.

RŌZ Milk Hydrating Leave-In Conditioner Hair Serum —Weightless, frizz-fighting, works wet or dry. One of those rare things that actually does what it says
Briogeo Style + Treat Yuzu + Plum Oil Sleek Stick — the product I reach for when someone wants a sleek ponytail, polished updo, or wants to tame flyaways without the crunch. Glides on without dragging, holds for 24 hours, smells like a dream, and is clean and nourishing at the same time.
K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask — four minutes, no rinse, genuinely reconnects broken bonds from color and heat. Stock up during the sale because this one earns every penny.
Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo — the number one dry shampoo brand for a reason and one of the best investments you can make during this sale. No white cast, no chalky residue, no stiff roots. It absorbs oil and actually adds body, which for fine hair is everything. Buy the big one. You will go through it. Pro Tip: Make sure you shake the bottle before you use it.
Tatcha The Silk Canvas Protective Primer — not technically a sunscreen but it protects, blurs, and makes everything on top of it last longer. Wear it alone for a polished no-makeup day or under your ILIA tint for a finish that stays flawless until evening.
ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 — the tinted moisturizer that convinced me to stop wearing foundation. Light, dewy, SPF built in, and skincare ingredients doing real work underneath.

If you want more recommendations of my tried and true at Sephora, check out this post.

BEAUTY WITHIN

The FDA just approved freezing cancer
Egg freezing is having its biggest moment yet and it’s younger women leading the charge. Elective egg freezing cycles nearly quadrupled between 2014 and 2021.
Vogue’s guide to reducing microplastic exposure overnight is genuinely eye-opening. Microplastics have been found in breast milk, the placenta, and the ovaries. Swap the plastic water bottle, ditch the non-stick pan, stop microwaving in plastic.
We are finally making peace with our faces and it’s about time. Women are asking “what works for me?” instead of “what is considered ideal?”
I wrote a personal piece about my thoughts on the most overused word in the beauty industry.
This interview with the celebrity makeup artist Pati Dubroff , the woman behind Margot Robbie’s looks, on self acceptance.

BEAUTY OUT THERE

Inside look at the celebrity hair and makeup industry with Mark Townsend (Jennifer Lawrence, the Olsen Twins) and Jamie Greenberg ( Kaley Cuoco, Rashida Jones)

Listen: The No BS Makeup Tips from Erica Taylor podcast

Listen: What the World’s Longest Living People Eat

Listen: 6 Steps to Overcoming the Perfection Mindset

Hope you enjoyed this weeks beauty roundup! Please be so kind to share this with a friend and drop a heart below!

See you next week x

Why "Anti-Aging" Is the Most Outdated Phrase in Beauty

BEAUTY UNDRESSED — Sun, 12 Apr 2026 15:05:45 GMT

A few weeks ago I turned 45. And something shifted, not in the way I expected, not in the way I had been quietly bracing for. I didn’t feel older. I felt clearer. More comfortable in my skin than I have ever been. More certain of who I am, what I like, what I am done apologizing for.

And then I picked up my phone and the algorithm, apparently, had other ideas.

Suddenly everything being served to me was about loss. Firming. Lifting. Reversing. Products with names like “Youth Restore” and “Age Rewind” and “Repair Complex.” A whole new category of beauty, quietly waiting for me on the other side of 44, built entirely around the premise that I am now something to be corrected.

Something about it sat uneasy with me. I couldn’t quite name it at first. Just this quiet disconnect between how I was actually feeling and what I was being told I should be worried about.

Because if I’m honest, I have never felt more like myself than I do right now. More settled. More clear. And I know I’m not alone in that. The women around me at this age are not fading. They are coming into focus.

So why is everything being sold to us built around the idea that we are not?

Nobody celebrates a 1982 Bordeaux by calling it resistant to aging. They call it a vintage. They celebrate the year. They talk about complexity, depth, character, things that only time can build. And they charge more for it.

I think about that a lot.

I think about the women who sink into my chair, catch their reflection in the mirror, and apologize for their grays before we have even said hello. Who mention their age quietly, almost as an aside, like it is something that needs to be managed rather than owned. Women who are more interesting, more grounded, more certain of what they want than they have ever been, and still somehow carrying this low hum of apology for getting older.

I recognise that feeling. I also feel it too. And I keep thinking about where we learned it. Because I don’t think it appeared out of nowhere. I think it was sold to us, quietly and consistently, in the language of beauty itself. In phrases like “anti-aging.” Which sounds clinical, almost responsible. Like something you should be doing. But underneath it is a very simple message: that you are currently a problem, and that time is the enemy delivering it.

It is not beauty language. It is fear language. And once you see that, you cannot unsee it.

What I find myself drawn to instead are the women who have quietly stopped fighting. Not given up, nothing like that. Just shifted. They are not trying to erase anything. They are editing. Refining. Getting more specific about who they are and how they want to move through the world. There is something so much more compelling about that than the alternative.

You can feel it when you are around them. That particular kind of ease that has nothing to do with age and everything to do with having finally, slowly, stopped apologising for taking up space.

That is not anti-aging. That is something else entirely. And I think I finally found the word for it.

My Beauty Edit No. 21

BEAUTY UNDRESSED — Sun, 05 Apr 2026 15:05:46 GMT

Happy Sunday from Spring Break in Mallorca! Sunshine is out, flowers are blooming and the beaches are calling me for a nap and an aperol spritz! Grab a cozy spot and join me in discovering the latest in this weeks beauty edit!

And if this space feels like a little treat in your week, tap the heart or subscribe (these edits are free!). But if you’d like access to all my archives, it’s like buying me a coffee and helps me continue sharing my pro insight with you.

Grateful you’re here x

This clever alternative to pesticide spray is beautiful

HAIR + BEAUTY

Beyonce’s haircare brand, Cécred just dropped its first styling collection including a heat protectant, volumizing mousse, gel, hairspray, brushes and combs.
French girl hair is back (did it ever leave?!). Here is what it looks like in 2026
10 Second Day Hair Hacks from my pro chair that will give you time back
Cut your blow dry time in half with these tips
Miuccia Prada put the zig zag comb headband on the runway and Chloë Sevigny and Gillian Anderson wore them closing the show. That childhood accessory is officially fashion again. Run.
Menopausal hair thinning and why your diet might be why. Protein, iron, vitamin D and B vitamins are doing more for your hair than any shampoo right now.
The new hair color rule is simple . . match your shade to your skin tone and watch everything about your face change. Game changing and wildly underrated.
Violet Grey is quietly stepping into Europe with a London launch, testing its signature, tightly curated “Violet Code” approach through a Harvey Nichols pop-up and UK e-commerce before expanding further. Excited for my euro clients to finally get their hands (and hair!) on some of the best of the best!
Olaplex just sold to Henkel for $1.4 billion. The brand that revolutionized bond building is now officially part of the same family as Schwarzkopf. The industry is watching.
Celebrity hairstylist Mara Roszak, whose clients include Emma Stone, Nicole Kidman and Margot Robbie, tapped Lily Collins for her brand's "Hair That Shapes You" campaign and I was honored to share my own story too.
Marc Jacobs Beauty shut down in 2021 but a makeup artist just used their unreleased products backstage at NYFW, which is the industry's way of saying something is coming. Watch this space.
Makeup artist Lisa Eldridge has announced she is stepping down as Global Creative Director of Lancôme to focus on her own brand, a role she has held since 2014. A successor has not yet been named.
Musée Guimet in Paris is currently hosting an exhibition dedicated to K-beauty. On view through July 6, K-Beauty: Korean Beauty, Story of a Phenomenon explores the evolution of beauty practices in Korea, from historical traditions to the present day.
Revlon just relaunched Almay this week. The brand that was a staple in every medicine cabinet is back and in a beauty industry obsessed with nostalgia right now, the timing could not be more perfect.
Cardi B’s Grow-Good Beauty launches April 15 with everything under $20, rooted in Dominican heritage rituals and her own very real hair journey. When asked about competing with Beyoncé’s Cécred she said “It’s very f***ing good. I’m saying it with confidence.”

SKIN + AGING

Scientists just rejuvenated human skin cells by 30 years in a lab. More collagen. Faster healing. No loss of cell identity. It is still in a petri dish, not a person, but the implications are genuinely jaw dropping.
15 Tiny Tweaks every woman should consider after 35
The 10 best products for fine lines from a 30-year-old who tried Botox once and decided her money was better spent elsewhere. Retinol, peptides, hyaluronic acid, wrinkle patches. No needles required.
We’re finally making peace with our faces. Our roots though? Still a work in progress. No judgment here.
Can you actually lift and tone your face without a needle? Dermatologists weigh in on whether facial massage and muscle training can compete with injectables.
Model and Prakti Beauty founder Pritika Swarup says glowing skin has nothing to do with adding more products and everything to do with treating your skin like an ecosystem you have to balance. Her take on inflammation, facial massage and lymphatic health is one of the most refreshing things I have read in a while.
K-beauty broke $2 billion in U.S. sales in 2025. Now K-wellness is quietly doing the same thing. Collagen jellies, glutathione strips, pomegranate cutting sticks, probiotic sachets.
How to actually structure your skincare routine. Not which ingredients to use. When to use them. Circadian skin science, skin cycling, morning vs evening actives. This is the level of detail that actually changes your skin.

IN MY BAG

These are my seven beauty hero’s I’m reaching for again and again as the weather warms up!

Westman Atelier Bronzing Drops, the “I just got back from somewhere chic” glow without the airfare.
Alastin HydraTint Pro Mineral SPF 36, skincare doing the most so you can do the least.
Jones Road Miracle Balm, when your face needs life, not makeup.
Jones Road Highlighter , a soft, believable sheen… not a disco ball situation.
YSE Primer, the quiet overachiever that makes everything else look better.
Chris McMillan Glass Spray, that glossy, expensive finish that makes your hair look like it has its life together (even if you don’t).
Leonor Greyl Treatment Oil, sun, chlorine, and ocean water protection for your ends.

BEAUTY WITHIN

This list of 25 rules for a good life by Geri Hirsch
24 Ways to lean into your personal power (at any age) by Carrie-Anne Moss
One writer started eating dinner at 6pm and could not believe the difference. Better sleep, better digestion, better energy the next morning. Turns out your metabolism has a bedtime too and ignoring it has consequences. Worth a read if you've been a 9pm dinner person your whole life.
This dry float recovery system claims it will be the future. Kinda reminds me of the water bed my grandma slept on . . .but there is supporting data that this supports nervous system regulation
A list of foods that naturally lower cortisol
19 foods that have more protein than eggs
Sardines are having their moment and for good reason — omega-3s, selenium, vitamin D, collagen-building protein. But if the thought of a tin makes you gag, good news. Mackerel, Brazil nuts, walnuts and avocado will do the same job. Your skin does not care what form the omega-3 comes in.

BEAUTY OUT THERE

If you are still picturing a white tent on a lawn, this roundup of unexpected outdoor ceremony spaces will change how you think about your big day entirely.

A beauty journalist visits a village in Okinawa where people routinely live into their 90s and comes home questioning everything she thought she knew about aging.

A writer digs into her grandmother's extraordinary story and finds something she wasn't expecting. A reminder that the women before us were far more interesting than we ever gave them credit for.

Three strangers lie inside a sculptural chamber of light, sound and motion designed to guide their dreams. Wellness has officially entered its avant-garde era.

Blissful Sound Healing & Lying Down Classical Concert Experience to bookmark

Dying for Beauty, this take on Victorian era beauty

Aman’s new luxury hotel brand that isn’t what you’d expect

Hope you enjoyed this weeks beauty edit! See you here next week!

Second-Day Hair Hacks That Will Change Your Routine

BEAUTY UNDRESSED — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 15:05:40 GMT

What if I told you that your second day hair could actually look better than your first?

I mean it. After 25 years behind the chair, the number one thing I see women getting wrong is not their products, not their tools, and not their hair type. It’s what they do, or don’t do, the morning after a blowout.

Here’s what I actually see in my chair. Women who washed their hair, spent 20 minutes styling it, and walked in the next day looking like they’d completely given up. And every single time I want to say the same thing.

You didn’t need to start over. You just needed to know what to do.

Second day hair is not the problem. It’s actually an opportunity. An opportunity to save yourself time in the morning, extend the life of your blowout, and walk out the door feeling put together without touching the shampoo bottle.

So pull up a chair because I’m about to share everything. The exact knowledge I give every client who sits down and tells me she doesn’t have enough time. Once you have these moves in your pocket, your whole morning changes. I promise you that.

Let’s get into it!

My Beauty Edit No. 20

BEAUTY UNDRESSED — Sun, 22 Mar 2026 16:38:10 GMT

Beauty Undressed is officially one year old, and I’m turning 45 this week, which feels both deeply chic and slightly unhinged (my post next week will likely share my reflections on this but I also have a few time saving tips I’ve been wanting to share as well. So let’s roll the dice and see what lands! )

Honestly, I can’t think of a more fitting pairing. A one-year-old Substack and a 45-year-old woman who has finally stopped pretending she has to package every thought into something neat, polished, or algorithm-friendly.

I started this Substack because I had things to say and nowhere to put them that felt roomy enough. Instagram is fun, but it’s a terrible place for nuance. One minute you’re trying to explain scalp health, the next you’re fighting for your life in 2,200 characters and a cover image.

But this? This became something else.

Over the last year, Beauty Undressed has turned into my favorite corner of the internet. A place where I can tell the truth, share what I actually think, and go deeper on beauty, hair, motherhood, travel, getting older, getting wiser, and all the little things that make us feel more like ourselves. It’s where I get to bring you the things that don’t fit neatly into a Reel: the expertise, the opinions, the behind-the-chair wisdom, the stories, the products worth your money, and the ones I’d happily leave on a loading dock.

And somehow, in the middle of all of it, you found me here.

That part gets me. Because what started as a “let’s see where this goes” idea has grown into a real community of smart, curious, stylish women who want more than a quick tip or a trend report. You want context. Taste. Honesty. A little edge. Same.

And maybe that’s why this birthday feels different too.

Forty-five feels a little tender, a little thrilling, and very alive. I don’t have everything figured out, but I trust myself in a way I never used to. I know more. I care less about the wrong things. I pay closer attention to what feels real. And I think that energy is shaping this space, too.

One year in, I feel like I’m only just starting to say what I actually came here to say.

There is so much more I want to bring you in year two: more expert hair advice, more behind-the-beauty-curtain intel, more beauty edits, more real talk, and more of the things 20 years behind the chair have taught me about beauty, confidence, reinvention, and why a good haircut can sometimes fix more than therapy. Kidding. Sort of.

Thank you for being here for year one. For reading, commenting, subscribing, and making this feel like a conversation instead of me monologuing into the void in a silk robe with cold coffee.

If you’ve been enjoying these beauty edits, tap the heart or leave a comment and say hi. And if you want full access to everything I share here, becoming a paid subscriber would be a very chic birthday gift.

Now, let’s get into it!

Much love x
Sunnie

HAIR + BEAUTY

I can’t stop thinking about this chrome hair from Chanel!
If you’re still thinking about the c*nty bob, these high fashion versions are what I’m showing my clients as references.
As a hairdresser, the question I get most is some version of "why does my hair keep going brassy?" So I answered it. All of it. Semi-permanent at-home color options for brunettes going red or coppery, and my tried-and-true picks for blondes who want to stay bright.
If you’ve been thinking to go short here are my picks for 2026
Fat Mascara is back! If you're not already listening, it's the beauty podcast hosted by Jessica Matlin, former Beauty Director at Harper's Bazaar, where guests like Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Aniston, and Cindy Crawford actually open up and get real about beauty, and it just relaunched in partnership with People Inc.
This round up of interviews with female wellness founders, from Indie Lee and Vintner’s Daughter to Summer Fridays and Tower 28 and the through line in every single story is a woman who built something meaningful out of a deeply personal experience.
Jen Atkin, the woman behind haircare brands Ouai and Mane, sat down with WWD and dropped some real gems about building brands that talk with women, not at them, and why pre-Instagram marketing still inspires her more than anything today. Worth a read.
TRESemmé x The Devil Wears Prada 2: TRESemmé just became the official hair brand of The Devil Wears Prada 2 three limited-edition products drop April 1.
Beauty Bay, one of the UK's biggest online beauty retailers, went into administration and was quietly acquired by French-owned AA Investments Group, which is a reminder that even beloved beauty destinations aren't immune to the pressures hitting retail right now.
German giant Henkel just acquired Not Your Mother's in a deal estimated at around $927 million.
Monochrome makeup, Using the same shade across eyes, cheeks and lips makes everything feel pulled together, fast, chic and universally flattering.
Transparent fragrances, Subtle, intimate scents that work with your own skin chemistry rather than overpowering it
Korean lash lift vs traditional lash lift

SKIN + AGING

Xerf "a mini miracle" for lifting and collagen rebuilding with zero downtime.
The silent powerhouse aka peptide stacking
Velvet skin is taking over . . .think soft, blurred, filter-like finish that looks effortlessly real, works on every age and skin type, and feels like the most grown-up version of a full face of makeup.
In-shower hydration is my current favorite hack. Applying balms, oils, and lotions to wet skin right before you towel off locks in moisture better than any lotion you apply afterward.
A helpful read if you struggle with bumpy skin texture
A double board certified facial plastic surgeon breaks down the five things that actually matter to future proof your face.
Korean skincare devices coming to the US and a few great product recommendations
If you’re curious about Hydrafacials
Dermatologists break down the best OTC ingredients for fading scars including silicone, retinoids, and vitamin C.

IN MY BAG

After 25 years behind the chair, these are the six hair products I will use until the very last drop. No exceptions.

The leave-in spray I reach for on literally every single client. Heat protection, split end repair, instant shine. It does it all and your hair will thank you.
Brassy brunette? This is your at-home fix between appointments. No more orange, no excuses.
If you live somewhere with hard water (and most of us do), this is the product that removes it and any product buildup.
Curly and wavy girls, this is your blowout’s best friend. Frizz doesn’t stand a chance and it feels like you’re wearing nothing.
For the flyaways that absolutely refuse to cooperate. This little wand is the secret weapon I keep on my station at all times.
A clear dry shampoo that actually repairs your hair while extending your blowout. No white cast, no buildup, just clean.

BEAUTY WITHIN

A beautifully argued case for why wanting nice things and being deeply spiritual aren't contradictions at all, and why luxury from a place of wholeness is actually an expression of the soul, not the ego.
Creatine, long considered a gym bro staple, has officially crossed over into wellness girlie territory, and for good reason: women actually store 70-80% less creatine than men naturally, making supplementation even more beneficial for muscle strength, brain function, and energy, especially around hormonal shifts like perimenopause.
Insightful article that shares how much sleep you need according to your age.
20+ female beauty founders were asked what they'd tell the next generation of women leaders and the advice is everything: trust your lived experience, don't wait for permission, stop chasing perfect, and never shrink your ambition.
Metabolic beauty, A deeper, more personalized merging of technology and wellness is coming to the forefront, connecting what you eat, how you sleep and how your skin looks.

BEAUTY OUT THERE

Perfume clubs are replacing coffee dates
Wellness travel is less about escape and more about alignment, with the best retreats in the world now blending medical science, ancient healing rituals, hormone health, and skin-focused "glowcations" into experiences that actually change how you feel long after you leave.
Skincare: The New Edit by Caroline Hirons, No-nonsense, myth-busting, and wildly practical. The book version of a brutally honest best friend.
The exact K- beauty and skincare treatments worth your money podcast

Hope you enjoyed this weeks beauty edit! See you here next week!

My Beauty Edit No.19

BEAUTY UNDRESSED — Sun, 01 Mar 2026 16:05:17 GMT

How are you doing?! I’m over here in a face mask, sipping my favorite orange wine from Mallorca, and soaking in the sweet, sacred silence because the kids are finally asleep!

Now it’s my favorite ritual, diving into this week’s beauty finds and sharing the good stuff with you.

Thank you for being here. Truly. This little corner of the internet means so m…

My Beauty Edit No. 18

BEAUTY UNDRESSED — Sun, 22 Feb 2026 16:05:11 GMT

I’m editing this week’s Beauty Edit from NYC with a suitcase full of products and a brain full of conversations. The city always moves fast, but the beauty talk moves faster. Between editors, artists, and late night dinners that turned into strategy sessions, I feel like I need a full week just to process it all.

So let’s dive in!

If you enjoy my free b…

My Beauty Edit No.17

BEAUTY UNDRESSED — Sun, 08 Feb 2026 23:26:07 GMT

Hello, hello!
I’m so happy to finally sit down and share this weeks edit with you! Life has been full on in the best way! Press for a new show I already know you’re going to love: Imperfect Women, starring my friend and longtime client Elisabeth Moss (who also executive produces), alongside Kerry Washington and Kate Mara. Watch the trailer and mark Mar…

My Beauty Edit No.16

BEAUTY UNDRESSED — Sun, 25 Jan 2026 16:05:34 GMT

Hello, Beautiful!

How are you? I hope you’re year is unfolding in curious ways and if your’re wondering why this “2026 horse energy” we keep hearing about isn’t here yet, well that happens around Feb 17th so get ready! This week’s Beauty Edit is a mix of trends, industry news, skincare guides, honest conversations about aging and sameness, and a few thi…

Why We’re Letting Go of Perfect Beauty

BEAUTY UNDRESSED — Sun, 18 Jan 2026 16:05:30 GMT

I’ve been noticing a shift lately.
Not in headlines or trend reports, but in conversations.

In my chair. With girlfriends. In those quieter moments when people stop trying to sound polished and say what they actually feel.

“I’m tired of trying to look put together.”
“I just want to look like myself.”
“I don’t want to fix everything anymore.”

What stays with m…

My Beauty Edit No. 15

BEAUTY UNDRESSED — Sun, 11 Jan 2026 16:05:33 GMT

Hi! This week’s beauty edit is short, focused, and full of gems. If something catches your eye, tap the heart or subscribe. It genuinely helps me keep curating these for you.

Let’s get into the good stuff!

BIG LOVEx

HAIR + BEAUTY

Romantic vintage hairstyles, curtain bangs, curls, and bouffants, dominated the Critics Choice Awards, pointing to a retro-inspired hair moment this year.
Wine Brunette and Tuscan Leather haircolor. Would you try either? More haircolor trends for 2026 here.
Robotics and beauty are on the rise promising to save time and make beauty services more accessible, including this eyelash extension service at nordstrom
L’Oréal debuted a light-powered hair styler that uses infrared tech instead of extreme heat, promising healthier, shinier hair and faster results.
Glomads and how they are leading the travel revolution.
Mochi skin and how to get it
If your hair feels different than it used to, these are the real aging signs you should know (and what they mean).
If you want to do a deep dive into maxxing your hair, this guide is a mini beauty school scalp and hair 101.
Haircut ideas for thin hair and to get more volume and if your hair is shedding this may be why.
10 of my most asked hair questions and a few surprising tips you may not of thought of.
Red light shower filters have entered the chat! I’ll be testing and get back to you with my thoughts.
Subscribe now

IN MY BAG

Here are a few of the items I’ve been grabbing and I’m currently testing neck and chest creams, body products, and eye creams. Let me know your holy grails in the comments!

my go to for a frizz free blowout that feels product free
the perfect tool/product for those fuzzy hairs around your hairline or those “antenna” hairs that wont lay down after you blowout your hair.
heat protecting spray (if you’re not using one that’s why your hair feels like hay and won’t grow!)
never thought I’d get into scent layering but this and this for the winter is giving me cozy sweater on my skin feelings.
bleph in a bottle use code SUNNIE for 15% off
volume can start in your shower with this shampoo and conditioner
saving my dry lips
I love a red lip but it feels like a lot to maintain, so I found this lip tint that is my jam! Comes in a bunch of other colors!
When I’m too tired to exfoliate my dead skin I grab one of these pre soaked pads

SKIN + AGING

Lasers vs Microneedling and what you need to know
Taboo procedures are becoming open-book confessions that are reshaping beauty culture.
Jennifer Lopez just expanded JLo Beauty with a firming neck serum she’s calling a “non-negotiable” . . .an indicator of how neck care is getting real attention beyond the face.
Instead of chasing youth, the skin longevity movement reframes aging as strengthening your skin’s long-term health and resilience. These are the ingredients to keep an eye out for.
Discover the surprisingly simple at-home technique beauty insiders swear can de-puff, detox, and even redefine your features.
The dry bar for acne
10 “Botox in a bottle” derms swear by
This face yoga video will help with your dark undereyes and crows feet!

BEAUTY WITHIN

A one-week circadian reset that promises better sleep, steadier energy, and fewer late-night doom spirals without supplements or biohacking.
Could simply shifting when you eat dinner this winter help your sleep, digestion, and energy and what science says might be the ideal window.
The gut reset guide you need after the holidays.
Destressing with the 7 - 20 - 10 rule
Wellness trends, tested and reported back and how to make wellness work for you.
Why your brain fights change and how to use neuroplasticity to rewire your brain
An equation for intelligence?

BEAUTY OUT THERE

Train hopping, ancestry travel and more of the biggest travel trends of 2026
The best wellness hotels around the world
The Bucket List: 1000 Romantic Escapes
My Top 10 Spas to indulge from around the world

Hope you enjoyed this weeks beauty edit! See you here next week!