The Beauty Of Authenticity & Rare Beauty Lip Balms
...and a viral peanut butter fresh from NYC
A note from Donna š
Itās been a big week for The Beauty EdĀ® this week.
First, I was asked by the BBC to speak on their World Service radio channel about this news story which was reporting about the age-shaming trolling Catherine Zeta Jones received after an appearance on the red carpet. You can read more about what I had to say about this in the Goosebumps section belowā¦
And then today I had an article published in The Daily Mail about what I do to my skin instead of using Botox. I am always happy to talk about this subject as I believe there is so much pressure now for women to āfix their faceā with injectables and I like to show them that there is another way.
When I publish stories like this, I too receive my own share of trolling. The Daily Mail comment section can be particular spiteful but I choose not to read any of it. Itās sad that so many people have opinions about our looks and I am just happy that I can push through those ugly narratives and help women be proud, happy and content with the skin and face that they were born with and are growing into.
Talking of which, look out for a great column from Gia, my Gen Z beauty side-kick, all about the beauty of authenticity. She makes some important, insightful points on how we must try harder to celebrate our individuality. It really is a great read - I will publish it this week.
Donna
x
šļø Beauty News You May Have Missed This Week
By Giaā¦
Anyone who knows me knows Iām a lippy girl through and through, and that Rare Beauty basically owns half my makeup bag at this point. I love the products, I love the ethos, I love the way everything feels considered. So when they drop something new, I pay attention. A few days ago, they released their Find Comfort Lip Butter, powered by their new Hyaluronic Acid Butter formula.
Itās a two in one balm/mask hybrid that melts the second it touches your lips; no waxy drag, no shine that looks like youāve eaten a croissant, nothing heavy. Just smooth, wearable moisture that feels like it was made for people exactly like me.
Whatās inside:
Shea butter (vitamins A + E, softening, soothing, all the good things)
Vegan + paraben-free, of course!
š Shades:
Uplifting: deep cool berry (subtle vanilla scent)
Loved: tea rose (vanilla)
Friendly: muted caramel (vanilla)
Easygoing: clear (unscented)
Launch details: 12/12/25 on the app, 13/12/25 everywhere else.
(All three new products are already sitting quietly on the Rare Beauty site.)
Price: $18 each.
Stay tuned, a *Whereās My Lip Balm* review is coming soon, because Iām obviously trying them.
xo Gia
š„ GOOSEBUMPS
the people, places, things that we are loving this week
āØ Gia
New Glasses & A New Perspective
This weekās goosebumps happened in the most unglamorous place imaginable: the opticianās in London. Not exactly the setting for a life-changing moment, especially for someone who has spent years pretending she ādoesnāt needā glasses while very much straining her eyes in the process.
At some point this year, probably somewhere between too many late-night reads and too many hours staring at my laptop, I wrote on my mental to-do list: before 2026, invest in a pair of glasses you actually like. Ones Iād wear outside the house, not just while squinting at my flat screen.
And then Italy happened. In spring and summer, every girl with good taste seemed to be wearing those Miu Miu oval tortoiseshell frames. I tried them on whilst I was living there ājust to see,ā praying I wouldnāt fall in love with them. Of course I did. And I havenāt stopped thinking about them since.
So I finally booked the eye test. Fast forward to this week: my glasses were ready. Trying them onā¦ that was the goosebumps moment. Something is grounding about recognising yourself in the mirror, but a little clearer, a little steadier. I didnāt feel like someone reluctantly correcting her vision. I felt like someone making a choice; a small one, but still a shift.
And itās true what they say: the right pair of glasses doesnāt just help you see. They help you see yourself, too.
š² Donna
Ugly Viral Instagram Reels
Sometimes Instagram feeds me content that stops my doom scrolling and remind me of why I do what I do.
Last week, as I mentioned in this newsletter, a video of two so-called expert aestheticians dissecting Victoria Beckhamās face, telling the world what cosmetic surgery she should have done, enraged me. And it seems Iām not the only one who was angry about this ugly narrative as this reel that I filmed as a response now has over 50k views.
Reinforcing the narrative that we are never going to be good enough was also high-lighted in another viral reel this week, one that showed a close-up of actor Catherine Zeta Jones on the red carpet.
Commentary about how old and rough she looked followed.
I spoke about this on BBC World Service Radio. I told them that while I think itās awful that women still get this kind of commentary, Iām not surprised.
We are constantly fed a warped sense of reality about what real skin and skin texture looks like, so when we are shown *real skin* like Catherineās close up - with texture and pores - it gets picked on because we are not used to seeing it.
I have always been passionate about showing real skin - without filters or the retouching pen. Because if we start showing what real skin actually looks like on social media and in marketing, then it becomes normalised and we stop seeing it as something to troll.
Both moments gave me goosebumps for the same reason: they were reminders that showing up honestly, consistently, and without trying to be perfect actually matters.
Donna š¤
š Hayley
Butterfield Market in NYC (& THE viral peanut butter)
When it comes to grocery shopping, I try to think the European way. I was lucky enough to study in Ireland when I was younger, and it opened my eyes to how excessive our shopping habits can be in the States - everything in bulk, everything oversized, and so much wasted.
In Cork City, I would walk to the English Market every three days to pick up exactly what I needed: fresh meat, dairy, and bread. Of course, there were plenty of pints and Chipsy King fries along the way as well. That rhythm - buying just what you need, savoring whatās fresh is something Iāve been trying to bring back into my life here in New York City.
Butterfield Market allows me to do exactly thatā¦
Family-owned since 1915, Butterfield has grown from a simple grocery into a beloved neighborhood staple on both the Upper East Side and Upper West Side. That is what sparked this weekās goosebumps moment- wandering through the market, watching the bustling counters, seeing all walks of life, people popping in for a simple milk or picking up a full family dinner. I even brought my dog, Bear (despite the āno dogs allowedā sign, shhhā¦ itās NYC, dogs are basically children).
What I love most is how thoughtfully they curate everything: the menus, the seasonal specialties, the creative partnerships. One of the most exciting is their collaboration with CaffĆØ Panna, the extremely hyped ice-cream shop near Gramercy Park, which creates limited-edition flavors just for Butterfield. Todayās was Peppermint Chocolate Chip Cookie. I will absolutely report back.
I also managed to snag the viral One Trick Pony peanut butter - the latest craze, with peanuts sourced from South America. This will definitely need its own review!! Itās funny how, as we get older, the little things bring the most joy. If you told me ten years ago Iād be writing about a food store, I would never have believed you. Life is really about evolving. See you next week!
Xoxo, Hayley & Bear
Have a great week everyone - and look out for some great articles from the team ā¤ļøš