031. Empties, Emma.
A slew of hair care, body care, skincare empties, plus thoughts on ‘Emma.’
Hi! I’m Maggie, and welcome to Tender Forms Off-Camera: a weekly newsletter about slow beauty and slow living. If you enjoy and would like to support this newsletter, click the button below! No pressure but thank you if you do.
Josh Rosebrook Serum Spray ($28, 120ml | 4floz)
I purchased this back in December of last year and finished it in early October. I wish that it taking me so long was a positive thing, but it’s not. I trudged my way through this. When I first used it, it was glorious. My hair welcomed the change, and my scalp, which gets irritated and unbalanced easily, responded so well to it. For once, my scalp was balanced, not itchy or dry, and I enjoyed the lightweight feel. But fast forward a few weeks later, and the magic was gone. In the serum spray’s defense, my hair is quite moody. It loves when I use something new, but it never retains any positive changes (except for something I’m currently using, which I’ll share in the future). The scent of this serum spray is lovely: citrusy, slightly spicy, gender-neutral. I used this mostly right out of the shower. I’d spray three to four pumps into my palm, then distribute it through my entire head of hair. It indeed reduced frizz when I used this, but I don’t mind frizz that much to begin with. I have tried it on dry hair, and it’s fine. I don’t find that it texturizes much, but it smoothes it out some. I never style my hair, so I didn’t test it with any curlers, flat-irons, etc. Sadly, this won’t be a repurchase even though I really enjoy the scent of it.
Mo Mi Texture Mist* (from friend, $35, 100ml | 3.3floz)
My friend, Olivia, passed this along to me last year, and I finished it back in September. I don’t use texture mists mainly because I never think they’ll actually do much with my hair. I was wrong. This one is excellent and multipurpose. It works great when I want a slick pony to tame those flyaways and equally great when my hair is looking sad and flat, and I just want to add in some volume. I’ll do a few spritzes into the ends of my hair and crunch handfuls upwards. It adds volume, bounce, and texture! Plus, I love the scent. It is on the sweeter side, which usually I don’t go for, but something about this one is very uplifting, which always boosts my mood. I have tried it on my roots for more volume, but it didn’t work with my finicky scalp and would weigh down my hair if I wasn’t careful with the amount I used. I definitely prefer it for the middle and ends of my hair and as a hair perfume if you will! It took me a long time to finish this bottle, and I have to be truthful that I loved the scent so much that I’ve used it several times as a room spray! I don’t use much hair product in general, so I would opt to buy a travel version next time. They used to offer a travel size of just the texture mist, but it seems like now it’s only offered in a styling travel set. But the set also includes their dry shampoo and styling jelly (which I’ve only heard fantastic things about), so I wouldn’t mind purchasing the styling essentials set! And just so you know, I have long, fine hair, but a lot of it. The texture mist worked great for me but less so for Olivia who has beautiful, voluptuous curly hair. Food for thought, depending on your hair type!
Rainbo Lion’s Mane ($40, 100ml | 3.4floz)
We’ve already gone through a bottle and are currently about to finish another one. Both Husband and I take this. I love it; I’ve written an Instagram post on it before. My feelings remain the same (you can also see it in action in one of my previous YouTube videos). Unfortunately, I won’t be repurchasing for the struggles of shipping: cost and delivery timeframe. The bottle retails for $40, which I am happy to get on board with, but shipping alone costs over $13. This is a Canadian brand, and with the recent increase in shipping, it’s just too much. This year, I’ve been trying hard not to overbuy. While my old self would purchase multiple bottles to get free shipping, I’m making a conscious effort not to do that, especially with beautiful offerings from nature. I particularly loved this one because it’s very gentle (no burning sensation down my throat) and tastes like kombucha though it uses alcohol. Now I’m on the search for a new Lion’s Mane tincture from here in the U.S.
Monastery Rose Cleansing Oil* (from friend, $43, 60ml | 2.03floz)
I wrote about this back in Newsletter 011, and I have only grown to love it more. Back when I first used it, I found it a bit too astringent for my skin to use consistently. However, since then, I’ve continued to use it on its own with full-makeup days and mixed with other cleansers, and I love it both ways. Using this cleansing oil is truly one of the finest sensorial experiences. I’m not a rose fan, but I attribute my conversion to this cleanser! I’ve never smelled a more luxurious, sensual, abundant rose than with this. As if the scent straight out of the bottle isn’t enough to make you swoon, when you use a hot washcloth to steam and remove it, the experience deepens. The scent takes on a whole other quality: slightly smokey and like nighttime dew. I can smell it even now as I write this, months after I’ve finished this bottle. I’ve also mixed this in with other foaming cleansers, such as Klur’s Gentle Matter and Yuli’s Halcyon Rose (what an experience this one is), and it transforms both in the best of ways. It makes them gentler for my easily dehydrated skin, and the scent adds that something extra to the routine. If you’re looking for a cleanser or a holiday gift for a loved one, this one’s an excellent choice. (Discount link for 20% off your purchase.)
Wildcare Golden Hour Glowing Body Oil ($52, 100ml | 3.38floz)
It’s two months shy of a year, but I’ve finished Golden Hour. This was not difficult to get through. And the fact that it’s lasted this long is something I adore. I wrote a glowing review (pun intended) on Instagram back in February, which summarizes my love for it. Of course, since then, I’ve discovered new ways of using it and now love it even more. It is lightweight perfection when mixed with any hydrosol or mist. Whenever summertime rolls around, my skin craves lightweight moisturizers that still keep my easily dehydrated skin hydrated. I mixed in a bit of Rosemary + Bay and loved it, but my favorite to blend with it is their Lemon Light Hydrosol (coming up). My goodness, the combination is a match made in heaven. It turned the oil into a light cream and was perfect for the hotter months. I also particularly loved using the oil for my hands. I decanted some early on into another bottle and kept it by my desk. The scent was always a welcome moment of warmth and joy, and it helped my dry cuticles tremendously. I don’t think I’ll ever love a body oil as much as this one.
Wildcare Special Edition Hydrosol: Blue Chamomile* (gifted, $28, 50ml | 1.7floz)
Cortney (founder) was so incredibly sweet and generous. She knew money was tight and that I was currently on a no-buy, so it was such a surprise when I received this in the mail earlier this year. By now, you know Cort makes my favorite hydrosol, their Rosemary + Bay. She makes limited edition ones throughout the year, and her Blue Chamomile was nothing short of gorgeous. My skin loves any type of Chamomile, so it was no surprise that it drank this one up. It was soothing to my easily irritated skin and always delivered a fresh wave of calm. She’s since made another batch, and it’s still available on her site. I’m tempted to buy another bottle and/or the other special edition one!
Wildcare Lemon Light Hydrosol ($19, 50ml | 1.7floz)
Earlier this year, I purchased the trio of their permanent hydrosol offerings, which included Rosemary + Bay, Lavender, and Lemon Light ($50 instead of $57). I was so surprised by Lemon Light. For some reason, my dry, sensitive skin never thinks to use lemon, though it loves both lemon balm and now this Lemon Light hydrosol. It was so energizing to use this during the summertime. I kept it in the fridge (which I rarely do) and used it to spritz my face throughout the day. It felt cleansing, cooling, brightening, uplifting. In other words, all the good things. But as mentioned above, my favorite way to use this is mixed with Golden Hour. They compliment each other so well in scent and texture. If there’s a mist lover in your group, this trio will make an excellent holiday gift. Just saying.
Sundaze C-Shells SPF 30 ($30, 2oz | 57g)
I wrote a detailed account on this sunscreen back in Newsletter 019. I know there’s still some in the tube in this photo, but don’t worry, I have maybe two uses left now. I just wanted to include it in this round of empties. This has to be one of my favorite physical sunscreens on the market. And I’ve tried plenty. Sunscreen is very personal, and I’m always searching for the one, but this one is pretty darn close. It ticks all the major boxes for me: affordability, formula, feel, efficacy. The only place where it’s lacking is the white cast department. If you’re putting on enough to get the SPF 30, there’s an undeniable amount of white cast. The brand suggests using a 1/4 teaspoon for the full SPF30, and trust me, there’s no denying the white cast with that amount. That said, I really do love this sunscreen. I love it most during the colder months and for days where I’m not wearing any makeup. It acts as my skincare and SPF because it’s so nourishing. It’s also extremely comfortable to wear, and best of all doubles as an incredible primer for makeup. It noticeably increases the longevity of my makeup. I would definitely repurchase this next time I need sunscreen.
Live Botanical Seasonal Radiance Elixir Lemon Verbena & Calendula ($14, mini 15ml)
I purchased this and the next item back when they were having a sale in July. Everyone I know loves Live Botanical, and I can’t even believe how long it’s taken me to try the brand. I’d always heard fantastic things about their Radiance Elixir, so I knew I wanted to pick that one up. It was summer during the sale, and I love calendula, so I decided to pick up the summer edition. I loved the scent: bright, refreshing, indeed the perfect blend for summertime. However, there’s something in the blend of this elixir that’s proven too heavy for my skin. It is very hydrating. I have sensitive, acne-prone skin, and while every ingredient sounds absolutely wonderful, it just doesn’t mesh with my face. I say face because once I realized it doesn’t work for me as a facial mist, I started using it for my hands and loved it. A few spritzes of this delivered the same hydration and moisturization as a hand lotion! What concerns me is that if this is the summertime blend, does that mean the winter one is even more hydrating than this?! If your skin leans on the dry side, I think this would be an excellent item to incorporate into your routine. But if you’re on the oily side, I’d say try the mini first. I love that Carolyn offers minis for her line!
Live Botanical Greenhouse Glow Antioxidant Mask ($16, mini 10ml)
Speaking of minis, another one I knew I had to try was the Greenhouse Glow mask. I’ve heard Trish talk about this mask countless times, and I was influenced! The texture and color had me so intrigued, and I’m happy to say that both deliver in person. However, (I know, there’s that word again) like the Seasonal Radiance Elixir, this too is too heavy for my skin and causes breakouts if I’m not careful with how much I use. The first time I used it, I barely used 1/4 of a teaspoon because, for my sensitive skin, it’s always best to err on the side of caution when using new skincare. The scent is lovely and reminds me of a sweet drink from Taiwan that I can’t quite put my finger on. Needless to say, I welcome the nostalgia! This mask is fun. It’s a balm in the jar, but becomes a mousse-like texture when mixed with a bit of water! And yes, it applies and feels as great on the skin as you would imagine. After the first time, my skin was firm, glowy, and oh-so-plump with juiciness. The second time I used the recommended amount of half a teaspoon (website says 1/2–1 teaspoon); unfortunately, I broke out. I thought maybe I just incorporated too much too soon, so I went back to my original less than 1/4 and built up from there. Surely enough, once I hit 1/4 tsp, my skin was not happy with me. This mini jar lasted months because of how little I had to use. Sometimes even when I used less than 1/4, I would still break out. Because of that, this mask just isn’t for me.
A few weekends ago, I finally got to watch ‘Emma.’ I haven’t read any Jane Austen, so I can’t comment on how closely the film lies to the original novel, but the 2020 film can be best surmised as:
A triumphant study in theatre, laughter, and Ladurée.
I was emailing a newsletter subscriber (Hi, Jasmine!), and she commented on how visually stunning the film was. She is absolutely right. This film is a visual feast for the eyes in so many ways. Let’s talk theatre first (and yes, I’m adopting the British spelling for this one).
Aside from the beautiful set decoration and costume design, which we’ll get to in a moment, the part I loved most was how this film plays like theatre. The blocking and action were made for the stage, helping it stand out amongst the rest of the incredible backlog of all the ‘Emma’ film adaptations. It’s also where plenty of humor lies. The first scene where Bill Nighy’s character comes in had me gasp and laugh aloud immediately. And in case you didn’t know, I love Bill Nighy, in anything he’s done (even the ‘Underworld’ series). The cast interaction is so unbelievably cool: stylish, shocking, surprising, heartwrenching, beautiful.
Which brings me to the second strongest characteristic of this film: its ability to make you laugh. While I wouldn’t necessarily call this a feel-good-film (because when is the torture of unrequited love ever feel-good?), it’s well rounded in all emotion but sticks the landing every time in the humor category. This is a highly entertaining movie.
I accidentally had to split this viewing over three days, and it plays well even though I didn’t start and stop at each chapter/act/season. This makes me think it could have been a successful television original series in the same vein as Hulu’s ‘The Great!’
The third strength of this film is the aforementioned set decoration and costume design. More set than costume, it held a very familiar color palette to me: the one of Ladurée. In case you’re unfamiliar, Ladurée is a heritage Parisian pastry empire helmed by the Ladurée family since 1862. Its world-famous macarons have graced all the largest cities internationally, and if you’re a macaron connoisseur, you’ll know the ones. The shops themselves are glazed in spring green and feather pink. And their pastry boxes use a similar color palette though they expand further out within the delightful realm of pastels.
While the film may not have been directly inspired by Ladurée so much as the lush histories of both English and French interior design, the pink and greens of this film sure are close.
And the rest of the color palette and blocking are glorious. It was the perfect dive into all colors of an English Springtime for me, a brilliant mood-lifter. If you’re looking for an afternoon or evening of laughter, romance, and escape, this should be your top contender. Available on HBO Max.
Thanks so much for reading! There’s no better feeling than logging these empties, recycling them, and making room for more! What have you gone through this month? And have you watched ‘Emma?’ Did you love it, hate it, I want to know! Leave a comment or reply directly to this email to chat.
As always, I hope you have a great start to your week. See you next Sunday!
