076. New In: YINA, Sunny Ruckus, MOB Mascara
Plus Horror Month Feature No. 2: Decoding the “Modern Horror” section of Apple Movies
Hi, I’m Maggie, and welcome to Tender Forms Off-Camera: a weekly newsletter on all things slow: beauty, fashion, living. Links in this newsletter may include affiliate links or discount referrals. If you enjoy and would like to support this newsletter, click the button below or shop through my links! No pressure but thank you if you do.
I’ve gathered a bit of PR and purchases over the past few months and am excited to finally talk about these! It will be a mix of full reviews and first impressions, but spoiler alert: it’s been a month of hits!
YINA Bio-Cellulose Mask* (gifted, $20–$300, Single–20-pack)
I am not a sheet-mask person. The few that I’ve tried are all either too slippery, flimsy, or itchy. The mask material is as vital as the serum it soaks up and disperses. The YINA Bio-Cellulose Mask itself is a cushiony gel that adheres to skin so well and feels incredibly smooth and supple. This is one of the many reasons that this is the only sheet mask I use.
I first got the opportunity to use it thanks to my friend, Trish (@thefloraesthetic), before YINA had rebranded. This time around, I am so thankful for the team for sending it my way! I was over the moon. I’m already a fan of the rebrand, but the updated quantity in this version takes it to a whole other level. I am 99% sure that this holds much more excess serum than the previous version. I say this because the same tiny pot I used to save the additional serum was nowhere near large enough this time around! After I decant the remaining serum into a jar, I like to keep mine in the fridge for an extra cooling effect.
A testament to its 21-day fermentation process, infusing it with Ginseng, Centella, Mung Bean, Gingko, and so much more.
Results-wise, it is such a deeply hydrating and plumping mask. The serum has a delicately fresh scent. It’s very faint but definitely adds to the experience. I could not believe how hydrated, smooth, and fuller my face felt afterward. A testament to its 21-day fermentation process, infusing it with Ginseng, Centella, Mung Bean, Gingko, and so much more. It’s also an incredibly soothing mask, thanks to its much-welcomed cooling effect. It truly is the most soothing, hydrating sheet mask I’ve ever used.
In terms of pricing, the more you purchase, the less it is per mask. A single mask runs $20, but the 5-pack becomes $17 per mask and the 20-pack $15 per mask. Considering the results, its high-quality ingredients, formulation, and the additional serum to use all over the face and neck (for days afterward), $15 per mask is a steal for religious sheet-mask wearers.
With the holidays coming up, this would be an excellent gift for a loved one as well.
Sunny Ruckus Goofy Foot Soap ($12, 5oz)
My dear and talented friend, Marie (@rie.bags), launched her brand “Sunny Ruckus” earlier this year. I was, unfortunately, too late to the initial launch and missed out on the soap I was looking forward to most. Luckily, I set an alarm for the next release and purchased the Goofy Foot and Puka Shell soaps.
First, let’s take a moment to appreciate the incredibly rich texture of these soaps! Depending on where these soaps catch the light, they resemble the texture of mochi, where it weaves from transparent to opaque, all while looking creamy and delicious. (Don’t eat them!) Second, I love that she packaged them in recyclable paper sleeves with custom stickers and a screen-printed logo on the front.
Goofy Foot was the one I’d been waiting for. I did have the incredible opportunity to try some of her previous soaps while she was still in the R&D phase and already loved them. Goofy Foot is no different. Marie has an excellent intuition for scent, texture, and soap lather. This one has just the right amount of richness, where it’s hydrating, but it doesn’t cause my skin to break out or feel clogged. In fact, right out of the shower, my skin feels perfectly moisturized for our current Fall weather. It lathers beautifully in the shower but isn’t so rich that it feels like it doesn’t rinse clean.
Marie has an excellent intuition for scent, texture, and soap lather.
I haven’t even talked about its fantastic scent yet. I may be the only one who thinks this, but dry, the scent immediately transports me back to the sweets of my childhood because it smells just like PEZ candy. And I mean this most endearingly! In the shower, along with the steam, the sweetness dissipates, and it transforms into something deeper and more citrusy.
The sizes of these soaps are similar to those on the market. Goofy Foot is the same 5oz size as our Dr. Bronner’s bar soap. Because I have small hands and can be clumsy in the shower, I cut Goofy Foot in half to help it last longer and so I could hold it better. And I have to say, I love seeing its half-moon shape on our soap-dish in the shower. Small hands rejoice.
Sunny Ruckus Puka Shell Soap ($7, 4oz)
I haven’t used this one yet, but I will report back once I do! Inkling is I’ll love it because I think I tried an earlier version of it, and it was divine.
Sunny Ruckus Green Flash Oil Cleanser* (gift from friend, $50, 2.4floz)
Marie, the lovely friend she is, had some extra Green Flash and thoughtfully sent me some! I could not wait to try this. I was almost drooling while watching her YouTube video and hearing how she conceptualized and sourced the ingredients for this oil cleanser. To try it in person was a joy. This is packed to the brim with a blend of nourishing oils, infused oils, and extracts. It comes in a reusable bag with a tie-dyed organic bamboo washcloth, which I must admit I haven’t used because I can’t bear ruining it. (But I will probably use it this week because I’ve waited long enough!)
The scent is almost as rich as the oil itself. It’s green; there’s a note of frankincense, with a hint of neroli contributing to a slightly citrusy and floral quality. I usually use a pump and a half as my first cleanse. It removes mineral sunscreen and makeup with ease and feels so nourishing on the face. It is a denser blend of oils, so I especially love it now that the weather’s cooler. It has an impressively luscious texture that makes me want to spend extra time massaging my face. I use a hot washcloth to remove it.
Because it’s a heavier oil cleanser, I need to do a second cleanse with it. If not, certain areas of my skin prone to clogging can feel a bit weighed down. But going in with my Earthwise Beauty Marshmallow Face Cleanser as a second cleanse removes any excess, and the combo leaves me with such hydrated, supple skin. I highly recommend giving her YouTube video a watch to hear more of the amazing goodness of Green Flash!
MOB Beauty Volumizing Mascara* (gifted, $24–$29, 7g | .25oz)
I am so thankful that the MOB Team sent me this mascara when they did. It was perfect timing. I had just finished a mascara and was this close to purchasing another volumizing one. This is a first impression, but what I can say is, I don’t feel the need to get the other volumizing mascara!
As with all things MOB, this is a vegan mascara, a rarity even amongst clean beauty as they usually contain beeswax. It comes with a bristle brush wand which has a rather unique shape. I have to say, I am no expert when it comes to mascara. I’ve used very few in my lifetime, but one thing I know is that I tend to prefer a plastic brush over a bristle. And that’s because of my eye shape. I have hooded monolids, which make applying mascara tricky. Plastic brush heads tend to be smaller and thinner compared to their bristle counterparts making application somewhat easier. However, this bristle brush may have converted me! Though it looks large, it was actually incredibly easy for me to coat my lashes without stabbing my eyes. I was shocked!
The other shocking factor was the performance. Straight from opening, this strikes an outstanding balance between too runny and too dry. It’s almost as if I’ve had this open for a week. This allowed me to coat my lashes and build volume without clumping or flaking. And let’s talk about the volume and curl; wow!
…and most importantly, gives me full and fluffy lashes instead of accentuating how few I have!
I tend to use lengthening mascaras because while my lashes have certainly multiplied and grown, they are not as full as those who tend to model mascara. And so, when I use a volumizing mascara, I feel it tends to spotlight how few and far between my lashes are, something I wish not to highlight. However, the MOB mascara provides volume in a natural way, and most importantly, gives me full and fluffy lashes instead of accentuating how few I have! This was also thanks to the fact that the bristle brush allowed me to build without clumping. The mascara is lightweight, non-itchy, non-irritating, wears incredibly soft, and the lift and curl are incredible. I know it’s a lightweight formula because if it weren’t, my stiff, stubborn, straight lashes would remain that way. This mascara lifts and curls all on its own! I was so impressed when I first wore it that I even ran to show Husband!
After my first day of wear, it did smudge slightly but only because I was in the rain. It’s amazing how little smudging there actually was since this isn’t waterproof. Super minimal and nothing I couldn’t wipe away with my finger. No deep raccoon eyes here. I also only noticed a few tiny flakes, again, due to the rain. All of this is great for someone with hooded monolids (me).
Removal was also a breeze. On one eye, I dampened a reusable cotton round with just water, held it to my closed eye for five seconds, and it started coming off immediately. No tugging and easy. On the other eye, I used my oil cleanser, and it removed easily with no tugging as well. I actually feel it’s easiest to remove with water! This way, I’m also not rubbing it all over the face while taking the rest of my makeup off. Again, for how easily it removes with water and a cotton round or washcloth, I’m surprised it held up so well in the rain!
And let’s talk about the richness of the inky black. I am amazed at how deep the pigment is without the use of carbon black! There are also no non-biodegradable ingredients such as micro-plastics, silicones, synthetic polymers, etc. This is why I love using MOB Beauty. I can have peace of mind knowing that anything I remove at the end of the day won’t harm the earth and can break down and become a part of it once more.
True to MOB’s better earth manifesto, the mascara is, of course, refillable. The refillable capsule costs $5, and refills are $24 with a 6-month PAO, which I love! In comparison, while the Kjaer Weis mascara refill costs the same, it has a stricter 3-month PAO and less product at 5g. The MOB mascara refill itself also uses 75% less material than the average mascara.
Final first impression? Color me impressed.
Earthwise Beauty: 20% off two any size skincare items with code “FallSale.”
Earlier last week, Earthwise Beauty surprised us with a Fall Sale! I can’t express what perfect timing this was for getting ahead of my holiday gift shopping. It’s for any two skincare items of any size. Meaning you can mix and match, maybe a full-size for a friend and a smaller size for your own backup!
If you need some inspiration, I stand by everything shown in my YouTube daily skincare demo. I also recommend the Catharsis Face Mask for acne-prone skin, Farizad’s Veil Sun Reflector for customizable sun protection, Imhotep’s Balsam Face Mask for dry skin, and the Selene Facial Steam shared above!
The sale runs through Tuesday, November 2.
As I was browsing Apple Movies the other day, I noticed a “Modern Horror” section. As a horror fan, naturally, I swiped and clicked through right away. It’s an interesting collection, and as I’ve watched just under 60% of them, I thought I’d help decode how Apple Movies defines a “modern horror.” (Bolded are ones I’ve watched and italicized are ones I’d recommend.) Plus, I wanted to talk about a few additional films I would add in there.
Here’s the complete list (in order from the app):
A Quiet Place Part II (2020)
Us (2019) ★★½
Hereditary (2018) ★★★★½
Midsommar (2019) ★★★★
World War Z (2013) ★★
A Quiet Place (2018) ★★★
10 Cloverfield Lane (2016)
The Invisible Man (2020) ★★★½
Zombieland: Double Tap (2019)
The Cabin in the Woods (2011) ★★
Shutter Island (2010) ★★★★
Insidious (2010) ★★★
Sinister (2012) ★★★½
Under the Skin (2013) ★★★★½
The Witch (2015) ★★★★½
Don’t Breathe (2016) ★★★½
Life (2017) ★★★
Escape Room (2019)
Underwater (2020) ★★★★
You Were Never Really Here (2017) ★★★★½
Zodiac (2007) ★★★★½
It Follows (2014) ★★★★
Searching (2018) ★★★
Fantasy Island (2020)
Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark (2019)
Lights Out (2016) ★★★
Brightburn (2019)
Pet Semetary (2019)
Crawl (2019) ★★★
Ma (2019)
Jigsaw (2017) ★
The Killing of a Sacred Deer (2017) ★★★★½
It Comes at Night (2017) ★★★★
The Crow (1994)
Insidious: The Last Key (2018) ★
The Intruder (2019)
The Dead Don’t Die (2019) ★★★
Happy Death Day 2 U (2019) ★★★½
Knock Knock (2015)
Ouija (2014) ★
Gretel & Hansel (2020) ★★★
Deliver Us From Evil (2014)
3 From Hell (2019)
Green Room (2015) ★★★★
Evil Dead (2013) ★★★
Alone (2020) ★★★★
The Grudge (2020)
Hell Fest (2018)
The Wolf of Snow Hollow (2020)
Unfriended: Dark Web (2018) ★★½
Slender Man (2018)
The Faculty (1998)
Host (2020)
Shelter in Place (2021)
Sator (2019)
The Resort (2021)
Tailgate (2019)
Ready or Not (2019) ★★★½
Right off the bat, it seems their definition of modern is literal. Almost all of the films are after 2010, with only two from the late ’90s. Here are the repeating genres: thriller, psychological, drama, supernatural, creature, fantasy, gore, digital. And it’s probably an even split between blockbuster and indie, with a few arthouse and B-movies sprinkled in. Overall, I think this is one of Apple Movies’ better curations. Out of the 34 I’ve seen, I’d recommend just under 75% of them! There is definitely something for everyone in here.
What I found most interesting is how they treated franchises. While it can be hit or miss if the first film in a franchise is better than its sophomore version, usually, I would recommend the prior ones instead. Take, for instance, both ‘Happy Death Day 2 U’ and ‘Unfriended: Dark Web.’ The reason Husband and I watched both of these is because we enjoyed the first film. And in both cases, the first movies were better.
It’s clear what counts for modern horror these days is more psychological than its storied blood-soaked past.
The second most interesting was their inclusion of thriller dramas. While some of these are among my favorites in the list (‘You Were Never Really Here,’ ‘Zodiac,’ ‘Shutter Island,’ to name a few), I wouldn’t consider them horror. It’s clear what counts for modern horror these days is more psychological than its storied blood-soaked past.
Thus, I would have included the following to this curation:
Prisoners (2013) ★★★★½
The Master (2012) ★★★★
High-Rise (2015) ★★★
The third is the inclusion of modern remakes despite not being better or better-received than the originals. To which I would have suggested instead:
It (2017) ★★★½
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007) ★★★
And here are a few extra just for fun:
The Conjuring (2013) ★★★★½ Seems like a wildly missed opportunity not to include this one. When I read “Modern Horror,” I think of this and James Wan.
Malignant (2021) ★★★★ If they were pushing new releases, another no-brainer.
The Lighthouse (2019) ★★★★½ Talk about delicious arthouse fantasy horror.
In the Earth (2021) ★★★★ Watched this last month and freaking loved it. If you enjoyed ‘Hereditary,’ ‘Midsommar,’ ‘It Comes at Night,’ this is for you.
Oculus (2013) ★★★½ / Anything from Mike Flanagan. I was extra surprised not to see any of his films in this curation. He’s another director I think of immediately when I read “Modern Horror.”
Thanks so much for reading! I hope you’ve been enjoying the somewhat more regular content on the @tenderforms Instagram. I’m trying to be less precious about perfection, making things, and just getting them out there! Let me know if you’ve tried anything new lately! Did you love it or hate it? Remember, you can always leave a comment or reply directly to this email to chat one-on-one.
As always, I hope you have a great start to your week and that you have/had a spooky and safe Halloween! See you November 14!