046. Empties, Pieces of a Woman, and Nomadland
Sharing my latest round of empties and two films that feed the soul.
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It’s always satisfying to write Empties newsletters because I get to take photos like these and then recycle everything! The declutter fiend in me is very happy.
Osmia Lip Doctor* (gift from friend, $12, 8g | 0.28oz) Repurchase? N
I’m so glad I finished this before reaching its 12-month PAO date (my friend Olivia sent this to me Spring of last year). Lip balms usually take me forever to finish, and 9 months in, this one still took a while too. However, I did use a good chunk of it for my DIY brow balm last Summer. I love the lightweight texture of this with its deeply moisturizing qualities. Texture-wise, it reminds me most of the French Girl Lip Balm, a hard balm that melts upon contact. This used to be one of my favorite lip balms but has since been knocked out by not one but two others. I’ll share them soon!
Nuori Protect+ Cleansing Milk (sample size)* (gift from friend, 5ml | .17floz) Repurchase? N
My dear friend Lulu sent me these three Nuori samples to try. You may remember I featured the brand in my skincare fantasy cart podcast; specifically, I wanted to try this cleanser from them. The texture straight out of the bottle isn’t what I would describe as a milk cleanser. It’s definitely more of a cream cleanser that turns milky when mixed with water and rinses clean. The scent is what I’m calling the Nuori signature scent: subtle sweet citrus that can lean candy-like sometimes but dissipates quickly depending on the product. I wanted to love this, but despite rinsing clean, it always felt like there was a film or greasiness left on the skin afterward. Sadly, I won’t be purchasing a full size.
Nuori Supreme Moisture Mask (sample size)* (gift from friend, 5ml | .17floz) Repurchase? N
As someone with easily dehydrated skin, I had high hopes for this. “Supreme Moisture Mask”? Sign me up! Same signature Nuori scent, though because this is a mask, it lingers around longer, but I didn’t mind it. The texture is the same as their Protect+ Cleansing Milk. It spreads across the skin effortlessly like a cream cleanser and my favorite part? It rinses clean! Surprisingly, there isn’t the same film or greasiness after using this product. However, it doesn’t impart moisture as well as I had hoped. My skin felt nice afterward, but I felt like I needed to go in with skincare to make sure I retained moisture. In other words, it didn’t do much for my skin. The texture also reminded me of the Kahina Giving Beauty Moisture Mask. The two are almost identical in amount and price. Nuori’s is $89 for 1.7floz, and Kahina’s is $88 for 1.6floz. I’ve also used the Kahina Moisture Mask as an overnight treatment and really enjoyed it. There wasn’t enough to try it that way in this sample, but maybe leaving it on for longer might have helped?
Nuori Vital Eye Cream (sample size)* (gift from friend, 3ml | .1oz) Repurchase? N
I mentioned this most recently in my morning skincare routine newsletter. I more or less raved about it, and at the time, that was true. However, after using it consistently, I developed milia! Of all the eye products I’ve ever used, I never experienced milia before. Needless to say, I stopped using it. I did use up the rest as a hand cream and loved it for that. I adore this cream’s texture because it feels more like a balm but in the consistency of a cream. I’m so saddened by this because I loved using it under the eyes. I’m still trying to get rid of the one milia left.
Marie Veronique Everyday Coverage Tinted Sunscreen SPF30 (sample size, Extra Light Tint) ($48, 2floz | 60ml)
This was also in the same morning skincare newsletter. I still stand by all that I said, and I love the texture of this new one. The tinted MyChelle Liquid Shield SPF50 is very similar. The MV is gel-like out of the bottle, while the MyChelle is much runnier. Both have a matte finish and can be drying without proper skincare underneath. I still think the MyChelle texture is better than MV, but I love that the MV comes in a pump dispenser rather than the dropper form of MyChelle (it gets messy quickly).
Surprisingly, the prices are exactly the same per ounce! MyChelle retails $24 for 1floz, and MV $48 for 2floz. It will come down to finding the right formula and tint for your skin tone. The biggest difference is in their ingredients list. MyChelle is oil-free and vegan, while MV contains oils and a medley of skincare ingredients that I love but includes pearl powder. MV is very limited with only three shades (extra light, light, medium). In comparison, MyChelle has expanded its shade range to four shades (light to dark) plus its non-tinted option. I love both and have yet to choose a favorite.
Maison/Made Lavender Hydrosol* (gifted, $30, 50ml | 1.7floz) Repurchase? Y
This made it onto my 2020 Index (best of skincare edition), and I’m still sad it’s empty. However, one major gripe I had was with its packaging, specifically the pump mechanism. I’m unsure if it was just mine, but the pump sprayed downwards. I adjusted by lifting it above my face when spritzing, but at some point, it changed and sprayed upwards instead. The inconsistency of the sprayer bothered me because of the price point. I never wanted to waste any, but I could never figure out which direction it wanted to spritz that day, meaning it would often miss my face. And at $30 for 1.7floz with a PAO date of 3 months, I wanted to make sure I could get every last drop. Granted, this is a fine detail, nitpicky thing, but just food for thought, especially from a brand marketed as luxury skincare.
Earthwise Beauty Rosa Whole-Fruit Rosehip Oil (sample size)* (decant from friend, $16, 5ml | .17floz) Repurchase? Y
My friend Jess decanted this for me, and at first, I was scared. My skin is very selective when it comes to Rosehip Oil, especially if that’s the only ingredient. Most tend to clog and break me out, so I was reticent to try this. However, to my surprise, I loved it! First, let’s feast our eyes on the beautifully rich, golden amber hue. The phrase “beautifully rich” also applies to the texture of this oil: luscious. I can see this working splendidly with their Farizad’s Veil Sun Reflector. This duo is on my list to purchase!
Earthwise Beauty Cistus and Moonlight Face Mist* (gift from friend, $48, 3.4floz | 100ml) Repurchase? Y
I treasure this bottle so much because it was a gift from Lulu, and I’m in love with it. Cistus and Moonlight is the perfect name for this mist. The scent is incredible and so transporting. It instantly places me on the islands of Greece, watching the moonlight dance across the surface of the water. It’s midnight and quiet, and my spirit is soothed and delighted. Alright, technically, I’ve never been to Greece, but you get the picture. I love everything about this mist. However, I don’t use it for the face. I use it on the body instead, and it’s exquisite. As a face mist, it’s too astringent if I use it day after day. But as a body mist, it works every time. The scent is so pleasant, unlike anything else I have, and it helps my body lotion or oil of choice sink in effortlessly. Though the price of $48 a bottle may seem steep, it has 3.4floz and lasted me just shy of four months. And that’s using it all over the body every time after a shower! Once I’m done with a few of my other mists, I am purchasing a full-bottle!
Earthwise Beauty Catharsis Face Mask (sample size)* (gift from friend, sample $14, 4.2g | .15oz) Repurchase? M
I secretly think Lulu is just amazing at figuring out things I like even before I do? I recently wrote about how upon revisiting, I like this so much more than the first time around. The most significant difference was the texture. The powder this time around was so fine, and it made the mask a joy to use. Having tested it before and knowing less is more, I went in with the right amount and, mixed with pAra’s Soma mask, took it to another level. I also love how cooling it is. My skin can be reactive and inflamed, and Catharsis calms everything down. Because I have to use so little, I got five uses out of this sample jar! The only reason I’m saying it’s a maybe on the repurchase front is that I only mask once every week, so making my way through masks takes a while. If I had only one other mask, I would buy a full-size of this.
Uncommon Yarrow Yarrow Hydrosol* (gifted, $20, 2floz) Repurchase? Y
You’ve already heard me talk about this in, what is it up to now, three newsletters? Head to Newsletters 042, 043, and 045 to read more. The consensus is: 1000% yes, I would repurchase.
I set aside some time last weekend to rest. That usually means treating myself to watching a film (or two) that I’ve been saving up to relish, drown, and confide in. I’m so glad it was these two. *The following contains a few spoilers, but none that I feel ruin the film or details how it came to be.
‘Pieces of a Woman’ had been on my list since I first heard rumblings. After reading a quick synopsis, I was immediately sold knowing Vanessa Kirby and Shia LaBeouf would lead. This is one of the few manages to exceed my already high expectations.
I should begin that this an uncomfortable film to watch. Despite its rich cinematography, it feels voyeuristic. A door opens, and you find yourself at the heart of the most private, intimate, vulnerable moments of a couple. Kirby plays Martha, a vibrant and very pregnant woman just out on maternity leave, about to give birth. LaBeouf plays Sean, her partner, a father-to-be. Events transpire, and they lose their child. The film continues to follow them over the next seven months.
The opening act plays across the first 30 minutes, which is incredible and not what I expected. It goes from a short introduction of the two characters to a lengthy full labor and birth scene, which takes up roughly 80% of the half-hour. During the moments leading up to the birth, it suddenly clicked that this felt very much like a Lars von Trier film. The camera movement is slow and languid, but the scene is incredibly emotional and draining. It’s heady, makes you dizzy and anxious, and above all, feels like you’re watching something you shouldn’t be a part of, giving way to voyeurism.
Because there’s so little camera movement, any bit of action, no matter how small, feels tremendous and monumental. A simple lean towards each other comes across as a fusing of souls; a whimper becomes a storm of agony. I was blown away by the body language of our two leads. Both do a tremendous job conveying so much through a seemingly simple stare, a slumping of their shoulder, or a curl into themselves.
The transitory theme is woven deep within the film’s DNA in a majority of the shots. We witness the characters through many doorways, move parallel with them as they walk from point a to b, and find their reflections in mirrors or through glass windows and cabinets. The couple becomes individuals and moves through this time in their own unique way. Martha almost becomes mute and, whether consciously or not, tries to become as invisible as she can, wiping away all signs of their child except one. Sean, on the other hand, implodes and explodes with screams, punches, and tears. In the beginning, the couple is so in love, together, bound, and it’s heartbreaking to see them tear themselves apart and away from each other.
Though romantic in imagery, the film holds a realistic point of view on the life of relationships. There are also some incredibly tender moments within this exhibiting the unique ways we hold onto one another.
This leads me to the next film, ‘Nomadland.’
Another film I’ve been waiting for since last year. Frances McDormand plays Fern, a woman in her sixties who, after losing her husband, home, and job, embarks on her new life as a modern-day nomad. She places most of her belongings in storage, then drives and lives across the U.S. in her van.
Work dictates her travels as we soon see her at the monolithic corporation, Amazon, where she meets Linda. Linda is also a nomad and invites her to Arizona to meet Bob Wells, the head of a community that supports modern-day nomads. It’s when she meets her fellow nomads that we truly begin to understand their lifestyle.
Before, we saw Fern navigating the new hardships of van-life on her own: how to stay warm during brutal winter temperatures, where to park overnight, and the most difficult, finding work. Now in the community, we learn alongside Fern. How best to take care of your vehicle, staying safe and not getting arrested, even better bathroom practices. There’s so much joy within this community that it’s a jarring thrash back to reality when they all disperse again, each charting their own journey.
There are so many good stories in this film, and many true. Aside from Fern, all the nomads we meet are ones in real-life, and writer-director, Chloé Zhao, wove their stories into her script.
When I was watching this film, I immediately knew it would be a crowd-pleaser. It’s so accessible; everyone will find something that speaks to them here. It captures humanity so honestly, and its genuine quality stirs awake your own story.
Like ‘Pieces of a Woman,’ the film plays across roughly a year marked by Fern’s rotation in employment. Fern is also a woman in motion, transient. The film effortlessly captures the spirit of nomads. One looks at the scenery and understands the beauty they get to see and experience—our modern-day American pioneers. ‘Nomadland’ celebrates life.
It won the Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture: Drama and Best Director; Zhao is the second woman and first Asian woman to win. It also won the Golden Lion when it premiered at the Venice Film Festival and the People’s Choice Award at Toronto International Film Festival.
While refreshing my memory and researching for this portion, I came across some sad news. Michael Wolf Snyder who was the production sound mixer on ‘Nomadland’ recently died by suicide.1 He was only 35. Zhao gave the following statement:
On ‘The Rider’ and ‘Nomadland,’ I always looked at Wolf after each take. I didn’t wear headphones on set and so I heavily relied on Wolf to be my ears. He would nod at me with a happy grin, or tears in his eyes, or sometimes he would discreetly signal ‘one more.’ During ‘The Rider,’ Wolf suggested an idea we later took onto ‘Nomadland’ — recording room tones longer than we need as a chance to experience silence. After hustling on each location, we sat together, in silence, tuned in, listened and honored the world around us and each other. I will always miss him. He would always be with me on set, after each take, and in the silence of every room tone. See you down the road, my friend.
His father, David Snyder, posted the following:
We will never know what changed in the last month or two, but even his love for his family, as well as his love of film and his movie family, was not enough to conquer his demons. People have asked if his death was Covid related. I think we can assume that it played a role in the form of increased isolation and loneliness, but it was certainly more than that. Major Depression is a severe disease, causing people to suffer dark feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, and worthlessness, convinced that nothing can help them. And this is not a rare condition, affecting at least 15% of all of us at some time in our lives. In this day and age, it is nothing to be ashamed of, and there are many successful therapies available.
I am a psychiatrist who was not able to save his own son, partly because he would not share the depth of his pain. But I know that most people with this condition will recover with the proper help and support. I hope that the shocking nature of Michael’s death will alert others to speak up, risk being vulnerable, and seek the help that they need. It is such a tragic waste that a temporary heightening of despair can end a life with so much promise.
I know this seems like a sad note to end on, but it’s a reminder of the darkness many face. Please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255 or visit this page here if you or someone you know needs help.
Thanks so much for reading. You can always leave a comment (click the comment icon) or reply directly to this email to chat one on one. Have you seen either of these films? Were you happy or disappointed by the Golden Globe results? I’d love to know!
I hope you have a great start to your week. See you next Sunday!