I was crouching in the basement of High Valley Books looking for Linda Wells’ writing in Allure, when I found an article about beauty secrets from restaurant managers. It’s filled with lines like, “I always put women with overpowering fragrance in the corner, away from the kitchen.”
The business of food and beauty has forever been in a glissade towards each other, like Austenian lovers, corseted and thirsty. The result is something intellectually bizarre. This weekend, The Ordinary (the vegan skincare brand) sold cartons of eggs for $3.37 on Prince St. Native Deodorant has a collab with Dunkin’ Donuts, as does Dove X Crumbl. If you ever wanted to perspire with a hint of Boston Kreme, it’s game time, baby.
But this isn’t new, lest we forget the Elf x Chipotle pallete. As Boutayna Chokrane says, it’s “the sticky-sweet scent of capitalism wafting through the air.”
To commemorate this divine, syrupy moment, I asked waitresses from Prince to Duane Street, a West Village line cook, a restauranteur, a nightclub bartender, and more about their pre-and post-shift beauty routines.
wet ink costs $5/month, less than one cappuccino. You may also subscribe for free…
I wake up and right away drink a big glass of lukewarm water. Wash face with oatmeal cleansing powder and put on a Japanese mask [from Kose]. Make a big cup of matcha latte with collagen powder, turmeric, maca powder, honey and 2% fat milk. Take a bath with magnesium flakes (I take a bath every morning) and I put lotion or oil and massage with Brazilian body brush.
I wake up and go straight for the moka pot. If I’m feeling indulgent, I’ll throw a little sugar in there. Coffee in hand, I head to the roof, roll a cigarette with Norwegian blend—smooth and American despite what the packaging says.
When I come back down, I debate whether to shower. I usually cave. A bar of soap, ideally Kiehl’s. Cetaphil for the face. I don’t love using shampoo, but if I’m feeling particularly gnarly, there’s a bottle of African black soap shampoo and conditioner that does the trick. A gift from my roommate—a moisturizer from her work, Surreal Skincare. Then there’s the honey-scented body lotion I picked up in Berlin. Sunscreen, because I’m not trying to age like leather. Then another cigarette before heading to work.
Clock out, exhale. If the day’s been long, I’ll text a friend, see who’s around to split the g, wind down properly. Nothing complicated, nothing extravagant. Maybe end with another cigarette.
Tons of powder bronzer everywhere. I use the True Match powder but in a really dark shade with a fluffy brush from elf
I use the NYX lip liner in cold brew (it’s not my favorite but I’m telling you) then I put Benetint in red over the liner kind of like a lipstick, and FINALLY I put the Fenty gloss on or regular chapstick
I like to keep things pretty ‘simple, stupid.’ Less is more.
I rinse my face with water once a day. If it gets a little dry I will use Shea Butter, I really like it from Sun Potion. I will generally buy this from Dimes Market after I have had a healthy meal at their Deli. That's my frequent spot after my morning deliveries of Toms Juice on my bike.
Hydration is key, filtered water, Toms Juice, or my go to is my Toms Juice ginger lime shot mixed with a bottle of water.
